PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume XLIV, 15 December 1920, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING.

The ordinary monthly meeting of Ihe Patea County Council was held on Monday, Or. W. G. Belton presiding. Crs. Matthews, Hurley, McDonald, Hooper, Gibbs, Taylo'r, Scown, and Watkins were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Cr. Bolton said, as acting-chairman of the Council, he would like to extend a hearty welcome to the newly-elected councillors. There were some of (he old councillors whose absence he regretted, but he hoped that the same cordial spirit- would animate them in the future as is had in the past. He iclt sure that councillors would find ample opportunity for thought whilst in it he Council, and hoped that they would devote the necessary amount of time in carrying out the ratepayers’ affairs. (Applause.) Correspondence was read as follows: Makakaho Road. Mr. 1., C. Wallace wrote asking the Council to do something to the Makakaho Road in (lie Upper Waitotara. Ho stak'd that with the road in its present stati' it was impossible to get Ids wool out.

Cr. Matthews said they had no money to spend on this road at present. The road was not finite as had as the letter stated, although there were a few bad slips in the locality. There were about four new settlers on the district. The road had been block (‘d during (lie winter. The councillors bod visited the place some time ago. Li some places it was fairly rough. The Engineer slated that the road near Wallace’s property was completely gam 1 . It would cost about .tIOO to reinstate it. He thought that as a whole (here was a pack-track to this pro-

property. The letter was received, no action being taken. Eangitatau Block.

.Messrs ’McKnight, Sullivan and Adair wrote requesting that their accrued thirds be spent on (he road from their sections to Waitotara. The chairman said the settlers wanted the work done under the jurisdiction of the Waitotara County. They refused to have the thirds expended on any other road. • Tlic Council could not do anything else but grant the rocpiost. Hi reply to a question, the Engineer said the amount in question was about Wit 10.

Cr. Hooper said lie thought the settlers were quite justiliol in spending the money on this road. Cr. Taylor; Would it not mean altering the boundaries* Cr. Hooper: No The Bngineer said .they hall permission from the Land Board to spend the money on (he Lower Waitotara Valley Hoad. The chairman moved that the settlers be informed that on receipt of a formal application from the Waitotara County Council the matter will receive consideration. Cr. Gibbs seconded the resolution, and said lie wanted to be on the safe side as far the authorities were concerned. The resolution was pul and carried. Motor Tyres. Mesrs. Haling and Co. wrote asking that if the Council intended passing a by-law prohibiting the use of twin solid tyres on motor lorries, would they supply information to the company, as it would affect them very materially, they being Hie X.Z. agents for “Connolly ” solid tyres. The chairman said this Council was not passing any by-laws in the direction indicated, although some Councils wen l . 'Letter received. Soldiers’ Land. The H.Z.R.S.A. wrote stating that the Association had decided to adopt a new land policy, and asking the Council to supply information as to suitable land for soldiers in this district.

it was decided that HO Odium. In.' taken, and the letter was received. Quarries Act.

The Inspector ef Slone Quarries wrote staling that the amendment to Hu l Stone Quarries Oct was now in force, anti asking for an early perusal of same. —Received. Karahaka Eoad.

Mr. G. E. Little wrote stating that In- understood that the Council had a grant of £_i)i) for expenditure on the hill between Messrs. Newlands’ and bis bouse on the above road. He stated that the hill was a bad one, and asked that something should be done shortly. Cr. Watkins asked if the Council had moved in the matter.

The chairman said nothing had been done by the Council, beyond applying for a grant.

Cr. Watkins moved that the two riding representatives and (he Engineer intorview Mr. Bobinson, to whom the land belonged. Seconded by Cr. Matthews, and carried. 1 Spence Road. Mr. .1. !■’. Williamson wrote enclosing a chcipie for £(> I l.Ss Sd as payment on account of subsidy in connection with Spence b’oad. He hoped to pay the balance after seeing Mr. Chamberlain about tire matter.

The clerk stated that lie had since received the balance of the account. The letter was received. Counties Conference.

The Taranaki Counties Conference wrote notifying tlni.t the next conference would be hefd on Wednesday, loth instant.

The letter was received. Levin Railway League,

The ‘above League wrote asking the Conneil to send a delegate to (he Minister’s visit to .the proposed route for (he Levin-Mart on railway.—Received. Patea Bridge

The Patea Borough Council wrote stating that the matter of the control of vehicular itrallic over the Patea bridge had been held over until a later meeting.—The letter was received.

County Boundaries. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote forwarding proclamation allotting the boundaries between Waitotara and Patea Counties, and stating that the alteration will take place on A])ril Ist, next. —Received. Half-holidays.

The Secretary for Labour wrote reminding the Council that the halfday tor the year should bo fixed at the • lanuary meeting.—The letter was received. «

Private Road, It was decided that the riding representatives and the Engineer meet Mr. Muldrock in connection with the (transfer of a road on his property. ANNUAL MEETING. _ Ihe annual meeting’ of the was then held.

The secretary called for nominations

tor the position of chairman. Cr. Watkins proposed that Cr. Belton

bo re-appointed. j Cr. Matthews seconded. Cr. Hurley proposed Cr. Gibbs. Or. Hooper seconded. On an election being taken, Cr Gibbs was declared elected.

Cr. Matthews asked permission to make a few remarks, and said that he thought personal fooling should be kept out ot Council matters. Ever since the general election there had been an element of feeling towards Cr. Belton.

Cr. Belton: Please don’t bring that up now. Cr. Matthews,

Cr. Matthews: But I don’t consider of lair that they should bring their grievances to the Council tabic.

(Ir. Belton: There is no necessity to bring that forward now, as I would rather have it drop. Or. Matthews sat down reluctantly. Or. Belton congratulated Cr. Gibbs, and said he had known him for six years, and know him to be a very thorough and reliable man. He hoped lie would be able to nveet it he chairman in the Council work in a most amicable way. \

Cr. Gibbs (lien took the chair, and thanked the Council for .his election. He would do his best to carry out his duties thoroughly and well.

Cr. Belton moved that the Council place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to the County by the late chairman, Hr. G. V. Pearce. Seconded by Cr. Taylor, and carried unanimously.

Cr. Hal t hews moved a hearty vote of thanks to .the Deputy-Chairman, Cr Belton, for his services daring the chairman’s absence. Seconded by the chairman, and carried unanimously. The ordinary busincs was then resumed. Meeting Date. The (chairman suggested that tho meeting day be changed from Monday, as it was rather inconvenient sometimes for councillors to get in on Monday. Cr. Taylor 'moved that the meeting day be changed from Holiday to Tuesday. Seconded by Cr. Watkins, and car ried. It was decided that the new meeting day .take effect at tho February meeting. Surfaceman. Cr. Belton reported that 14 applications for (he position of surfaceman hud been received. He had appointed Hr. Haywood to the position, as he knew him to be a good 'man. Ho asked the Council to endorse his action. On the motion of the chairman, soendd by Cr. Hurley, the action of Cr. Belton was confirmed. Hospital Board.

The following- councillors were appointed to represent the Council on the Hospital Board: Ors. Matthews, Hurley,, McDonald, Hooper, Watkins, Taylor, and Belton. Langdown’s Eoad. The Engineer read correspondence in connection with work on Langdown’s Bond. It was decided that the Momnahakl Riding- members and the Engineer visit the work, together with the Government Engineer. Kapara Riding. Cr. Matthews, in, referring to the state of the roads in the Kapara Riding, said it would be an eye-opener to the councillors to go up and sec the state (he roads were in. He also mentioned the matter of a suspension bridge.

Cr. MrDonald said there was no doubt the roads were in a bad state, lie wanted to know whore- the money was going to come from to do the bridge work and ( tho roads itoo.

Cr. Belton said lie luul had a knowledge of the Kapara Biding - for some time. The matter was a question of Jinanco. They had a largo expenditure in sight at the present time. In his opinion the Kapara Biding was not in a position to pay the money out of rates. The riding would either have to go in for a loan or pay the money out of tho general account. The Engineer staled that the Council could pay the money out of tho general account for this work. For a suspension .bridge, having a span of over 30 feet (hey could take the money from the general fund. Cr. Taylor 'expressed himself lit favour of raising a loan for the Kapara Biding. The other ridings should not have to bear the brupt of the Kapara ruling’s work.

The chairman said he was in favour of giving the Kapara Biding a grant. The riding hud not been .treated fairly in its aspect to the general fund. Of course, they could not do the whole of the work out of the general fund, but he thought if only fair (that a little help should be given. £BOO was available from the Government for work in this riding, and he thought £4ooshould be granted towards the erection of the

bridge. , After discussion the matter dropped, it being decided to defer consideration until a later meeting. War Memorial, Messrs. J. H. Cronin and F. Locker waited on the Council as a deputation from the* War Memorial Committee.

Mr. Cronin pointed out that the public of Patea and district had decided to erect a memorial gateway into the Patea Domain as a memorial to the fallen soldiers. Ho asked the Council to consider the cpicstion of a contribution towards the monument. The chairman said Alton was going to build a memorial, but had not yet approached the Council. In reply to a question, Air. Cronin said the Patea Borough Council, as far as he knew, intended giving about £2o. They did not know the exact cost of the memorial, but expected it to bo about £4OO. The deputation then withdrew. Cr. Hurley said if .the Council helped pfthc Patea memorial they would be obliged to help every other district in the Council’s area. The chairman moved that the Council did not see its way clear to contribute to the Pntca War Memorial, Seconded by Cr. Hooper, and carried. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer’s report was read and adopted. Whio Road. Cr. Belton said that some time ago the matter of the removal of gates from (this, road had come before the Council. Mr. Wishnosky had been given three months’ notice to remove the gates. The time had now expired, and nothing had been done. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Matthews, seconded by the chair.man, that the gates be removed from the road. General. Cr. Belton said that one grader was not sufficient for the Council’s work. They wanted at least two. A tractor would also be needed. He would like to see ithe Engineer prepare a report on the matter. A great deal of grading was required in the Moumahaki Riding, and he thought another grader was needed. The chairman quite agreed with Cr. Bolton that another grader was badly needed. The Engineer said it was not so much the grader as the hauling power. They wanted a tractor. The matter dropped, no action being taken. Cr. Taylor said he had seen the late chairman of the Manntahi Committee, who had stated that ithe Cemetery Committee was defunct. It was decided that the clerk supply information for the re-formation of the Cemetery *Commit(tco to the late chairman. Cr. McDonald said he had been asked to bring forward the question of toll gates at the meeting. It was decided that the matter be deferred until next meeting.

Accounts were read, and passed for payment, after which the meeting adjourned.