WAIROA COUNTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18756, 12 July 1935, Page 14

WAIROA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED (Herald Correspondent,! The Wairoa County Council met on Wednesday. Present: Crs. A. Q.-Nolan, W. J. Hill, A. T. Carroll, W. Tait, F. ii. Norris, J. Tait, and S. A. Dickie. Correspondence was read from the Treasury, State Advances Department, and tho Public Trustee in reference to certain refunds and the conversion loans, and in respect to the latter the formal motions were passed, and also one in regard to Hinckesinan’s loan, ibe Public Trustee being appointed the sinking fund commissioner. The Minister of Public Works wrote advising that he had decided to grant a £1 for £ll subsidy towards the cost ot re-erecting bridges destroyed by the recent floods. The chairman said a £1 for £1 proposition was no good to the council. The district engineer, Napier, advised that £1 for £1 subsidies for repairing bridges destroyed by the flood would be granted as follows: Tangiwui road bridge, £150; Tukemokihi bridgo, £1000; Styx Creek _ bridge, £250 ; Rinckesman’s bridge, £SOO. It was decided to write to Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., on the subject of flood damages, stating that the Government’s offer was out of all reason in' respect to the bridges and asking him to endeavor to secure better terms. The Minister of Internal Affairs notified that Wednesday, August 7, had been fixed for the observance of Arbor Day and requested the co-operation of the council. The chairman said the

council had no definite tree-planting scheme, but they were joining with the other' local bodies in planting an avenue of trees from the Wairoa Heads to Whakamahia. - v' : *

The Main Highways Board forwarded for execution by the council the agreement providing for the repayment of the council’s share of the cost of erection of the Ohinepake bridge, NapierGisborne main highway, in three annual instalments of £307 13s 9d each, comprising principal and interest at 3-j per rent, per annum. The chairman of the District Highways Council notified that until the estimated cost of the proposed new Te Beinga bridge was available, the Highways Board did not intend to consider the matter of allocating the cost. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Norris, it was decided to write to the district engineer asking him to Upeed up the arrangements' for the rebuilding of the bridge, as otherwise the settlers would be unable to get their produce out except at increased cost.

The inspector of stock, Wairoa, advised that there was an area of road reserve of 18£ acres between Mr. Eriksen’s property and the road boundary, and that the clearing of blackberry was a matter for the council to attend to. The engineer stated that the work was being attended to. Several councillors thought the land should be devoted to tree-planting. The Unemployment Board asked for an expression of the views of employment authorities as to the value of local or national assets which they have been able to with relief labor under No. 5 scheme. * The chairman said there was nothing of that nature that would be called a national asset except removing the dangerous corners on main highways. -

The health inspector, Mr. P. A

Milne, Reported that there had been no cases of infectious disease in the county reported for tho mouth. A total of 70 inspections had been made. The chairman and clerk were appointed delegates to.the Counties’ Conference in Wellington, and a sub-committee comprising the chairman, Cr. Hill and the clerk will prepare any remits. The association forwarded a letter received from tho Minister of Native Affairs in reply to a request made that where the Crown engaged in farming operations it should be bound by the provisions of tho Impounding Act. In effect it was stated to be a matter of policy that the Crown was not liable—that the King could do no wrong.. The Wairoa Hospital Board notified that the amount of hospital and charitable aid levy payable by the council for the year 1935-36 was-£3788, payable in four equal quarterly instalments of £947. It was stated that this was £471 in excess, of last year, Cr. Hill adding that a ' 40-bed hospital seemed to be evident. : • Applications . for slaughter-house licenses on behalf of Harrison Bros, and Cash and Carry were approved. The East Co»st Commissioner inquired what rebate the council would allow on overdue rates on Tawapata 4AI. 481, 482, 483 and 4A2. blocks for prompt payment. It was decided to rebate £75 out of £125 19s Id in. order that tin; commissioner should be. able to carry out certain access ;• roading, ' and that the rates would be paid regularly in future. It was agreed to give an order for the King’s portrait at- £2 17s 6d, the proceeds of which go to returned sol diers. Mr. G. M. Reynolds wrote asking the council to renew the application for a grant towards the erection of the Waiun River suspension bridge at Waireka on this year’s public works estimates, and to apply for a grant towards metalling the worst parts of the Putere-Wairekn road. It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Carroll, to state that the council had already applied for a giant for tho bridge, but, in respect to the metalling it was now too late to include it on the local estimates, as they had been passed, but if opportunity offered something would be done. It was mentioned by one councillor that if the council got the metal broken, Mr. Reynolds might be able to have the carting done. Mr. James Tait, Waikari, >vrote that he had started the work of forming his access road, and that he still desired the council to vote towards the cost of the work an amount equal to one year’s rates. The work was estimated to cost £BO, and the council made a vote of £3O. Permission was given to Mr. J. Tolme to cut a drain across the Ardkeen settlement road subject to the satisfaction of tne engineer. The county ranger reported having impounded two horses during the month. Tile Mahia Hunt Club was granted a refund of £3 on dog registration fees. The highways estimates were approved. The chairman mentioned that the Deep Creek bridge on the Hangaroa ioute to Gisborne was more urgent than Awatere. He moved, and Cr. Norris seconded, that the Public Works Department be asked to inspect the Deep Creek bridge on the road, via Hangaroa, with the idea of deciding the question of urgency and that the chairman of the Highways Council be also notified. On the question of restoring the Mangapoike bridge, it was stated that Tukemokihi woolshed was on the Gisliorne side of the-river, but access could be obtained Wairoa way by a ford as there was no chance of the bridge for some time. The traffic inspector, Mr. R. W. Hawthorne, reported that for the month 37 heavy 'drivers’ licenses had been taken

out, and 204 motor drivers’ licenses, the hitter total now being 544, but there were still about 200 not taken out. The June raid bad not been very successful. Further steps are to bo taken. The engineer’s estimated cost of permanent work at Hereheretau was £2OO, but £2O to £3O would put up the temporary low level bridge, which the settlers had done three times. The suin of £5 was voted to the Native Trustee, Wellington, in aid of the work. _ Cr. Dickie brought up the question of the blockage of drains on the Whakaki road by the absence of certain culverts or crossings. On a recent occasion premises were flooded up to the verandahs, which need not be. There were not sufficient outlets through the railway embankment. Un the motion of Cr. Dickie, it was decided to approach the resident engineer to ask that another opening be made in the Waikokopu railway embankment to enable the water on the north side to get away. Instructions were issued to the engineer in connection with the mill being installed by Messrs. Hcdley and Hcdley in the Omahanui area. The annual rates were struck, 5 per cent, rebate for prompt payment being agreed to.