PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 16 July 1919, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Patea County Council was held in tho Council Chambers on Monday, Mr. G. V. Pearce presiding. Messrs W. G. Bolton, C. D. Dickie, G. McGregor, 11. B. Cave, J. Hurley, J. R. Taylor and M. R. Murphy and J. Gibbs were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Boundary Adjustment The Council went into committee to consider the question of adjustment on the amount paid by the Patea County Council towards the upkeep of the Vi'anganui boundary road. The Council resumed and the Chairman reported that the matter would be probably amicably settled as the Wanganui Council had now received ihis Council's letter. A Moeawatect Deputation Mr. Paterson and Mr. Meson, of Moeawatea, waited on the Council regarding their road. Mr. Paterson said he waited on the Minister of Public Works in Wellington and he had promised to-do his best to provide the money to get the work done and so provide them with a cart track to their sections. The Atinister had asked that the Council forward them an estimate of the cost of the work.

The Chairman pointed out that the road in question was still in the hands of the Government and the Council did not want to take it over. Mr. Mason said that if the Council could put a surfaceman on the road from Niikahnu .and the Ahuroa i"<ad they would be able to get their wool out.

The Chairman pointed o- :■: the difficulty of getting a man :\-\ stated that there was no whare for him to live in.

Tho deputation was finally informed lhat the .Engineer would be instructed 1-) pi'Oj>:ire an estimate and send in a r-port requesting that the work be done. The Patea Footbridge The Chairman reported that just prior to the Patea bridge being built there was a Commission set up which f'xod the amount to be contributed by each Council. In P-Sf) it was Gazetted that the Borough Council contribute one-third of the cost and the County Council contribute two-thirds. The County Council was to ore<-t the bridge. Mr. lloriisM' had written to the authorises on the matter. After the bridge had been constructed they had received :i letter slating that the control of the bridge would be in the hands of the body erect in:; it. This was according to Act of Parliament and would override the Gazette notice. The Chairman also pointed out that the Borough Council could get a Commission set up and if it did so the Council might have to pay two-thirds of the cost.

Cr. Bolton said that perhaps it would bo a good tiling if a Commission were set up. Tho Borough would then have io pay a portion of the upkeep of the bridge. The matter then dropped. A Manutalii Telephone

Mr. A. G. Muggeridge, Manutalii, wrote asking the Council's permission f o erect a telephone wire from his store to the homestead.

Mr. Taylor moved that permission be granted to Mr. Muggeridge to erect the telephone poles subject to the approval of the Engineer.

Seconded by Cr. Gibbs and carried Hydro-Electro Scheme

The Patea Borough Council wrote that in view of the North Island Government Electrical Scheme coming into operation in the near future, the Council had adopted a report compiled by the Borough Electrical Engineer dealing with the subject in general. It was suggested that a conference be arranged between tho two bodies to discuss the matter. Tho Chairman said it seemed to him that the Borough Council were assuming they had full control of the lines to distribute electric energy throughout the Borough and surrounding district. This was a matter to be looked into.

It was pouted out that the Borough Council had to obtain permission from the County to lake the lines over the bridge and out to Kukaramoa.

The Chairman said that so far as ho could sec the Government were intending fo supply local bodies with electrical energy and they in turn could supply this to the consumer and perhaps make a profit. He thought that the Electrical Engineer was trying to gather information regarding the amount, of energy required for tho district, and this was a good idea, but as for the Borough Council taking control of all the lines throughout the County this wanted looking into. Cr. Dickie moved that the Chairman and Cr. Bolton be appointed delegates to meet tho .Borough Council regarding tho hydro-electric scheme. Seconded by (Jr. Taylor and carried. State Farm Road The Public Works Department wrote stilting that th-c'Council's application for a grant of £750 towards motailing the State Farm road would be considered when tho Estimates were being framed. Motor By-Laws The Secretary, Taranaki Counties' Association, wrote stating they thought it necessary to hold a conference to consider the recent by-laws re licensing of motor traflie. A meeting was to be hold in the Alhenieuin Hall at Kllhani on Friday, 18th hist., at 1D..".(1 a.m. fo consider the motor by-laws and other business. The Chairman said he had attended a conference at Kltlnni since last meeting, but there was little done, the matters discussed mostly requiring special legislation.

Cr. Gibbs moved that the letter lie on the table as this County docs not approve of another Counties' Association.

Seconded by Cr. Dickie and carried Mt. Eginont Railway

The Elihar.i County Council wrote asking that the Council join with them in urging i no Government to re-open ihe Waipuku line to enable them to get suitable metal at a reasonable price.

The Chairman said that the matter was important to the Council in that district, but he considered that the Belmont' metal was better than they could get from the mountain. He thought the metal from the reef on the mountain would be more uniform and much better than they had had before. The Engineer said the freight on metal from Eltham v.-as lis and 13s from Belmont.

The Chair:'".'-! moved that this Council was not against t'-e local bodies in Taranaki getting the -ino open but the Council would not be getting any metal from there as the Belmont metal was considered better, furthermore, the Council would do all they could to assist local bodies in obtaining a.supply. .Seconded by Cr. Belton and carried. A Surfaceman's Complaint

Mr. W. T. Dowman wrote asking why h-.i had not received his cheque for work done on the road about three. months ago. The Engineer said that Mr. Dowman had been paid some £l_, but the posili'in was that this money would have to come out of the grant: of £l.lO to be spent on the Pauroto road. He thought" Dowman had done a certain amount of work but he had done the work without authority. Cr. Dickie said that if the man had done the work he should be paid for it, as the road required opening up.

Cr. Taylor said that if the Council let a man go on and do any work he liked iliey would soon be in trouble. The Chairman moved that the Engineer notify Mr. Dowman to the effect that as soon as the contract is finished he would receive his money. Seconded by Cr. Murphy and carried. Freezing Company's Request

The Palca Freezing Company wrote a.'.king permission to lay a water pipe along Portland Quay about one foot below the surface but not interfering in any way with the metal road.

Cr. Belton moved that permission be ■. ranted subject to the work being done under the supervision of the Engineer. Seconded by Cr. Dickie and carried. Peace Celebration Holidays

The Chairman said (hat the Government had now made two days celebrations. He -would move that botli Saturday and Holiday be a holiday for the Council's employees. .Seconded by Or. Murphy and carried. Road Deviation The I 'a tea Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Company also wrote asking that the Council grant them permission io make a slight alteration in the plans required for deviating the road near vhe works. Cr. Dickie said they had been asked continually by the authorities to increase the storage capacity at the works, they had been doing this and now (he position was (hey required more land to build on.

Mr. F. L. Harrison explained the position to.lho Council.

The Chairman said ho would move (hat as far as the plan was concerned tli.' Council was satisfied with the pro-

position. Or. Dickie seconded the resolution, which was carried. A Settler's Request

Mr... A. P. Miller wrote asking the Council to assist him in doing up the road near his place.

Cr. Helton said that the Council had not spent any money on this road for a long time. He would move that the Engineer inspect the road with power to do the work. Seconded by Cr. Dickie and carried. Condemned Houses

The District Health Ofliccr wrote asking what action had been taken regarding the removal of premises condemned some time ago. Tlie Clerk was instructed to ascertain from the Inspector which the premises were and ask him to meet the Engineer on the matter. A Waitotara Bridge

Mr. Langdon wrote asking if the Council would assist him in rebuilding his bridge over the Waitotara river, which was carried away by flood and in widening and regradiug the present tracks to give access to his farm. Cr. Belton said Hie track at present was very narrow and required rcgrading. Jt wo::ld cost a considerable amount to do the work. Cr. Dickie said the Government or the County -were entitled to do something to the road. Cr. Belton moved that the Engineer prepare an estimate of the cost of doing the work required to the road. Seconded by Or. McGregor and carried. Wilforcl Road Messrs Hugh M'uldrock, 11. E. Allen and E. Thomas wrote calling the Council's attention to the, state of the Wil--I'iii-d road which was in a bad slate. The road required regrading. Cr. Gibbs said the surfaceman was supposed to go on with this work but nothing had been done. The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer to deal with at once. Orangimea Bridge Mr. Leith wired .stating that the school teacher had arrived but there was not any bridge up and she could not get to the school. He asked what the Council was doing in the matter. 'The Engineers said he had called for tenders but could get no one to do the work. The material was all on the ground, and the matter was very urgent. He thought that Mr. Sexton Cr. Grcgor McGregor moved that the Engineer be instructed to get the work done as soon as possible. Seconded by Or. Belton and carried.