COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19692, 26 July 1938, Page 6

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

WAIKOHU COUNCIL MEETS DJIA IN AC E AT I'l'll A RENEWED I'’LOOD EFFECTS (SpiM-.ial to tin' llovfild.) TE KARAKA, this day. Difficulties arising out of the eilectx of vecent heavy rainfall and flooding in the Waikohu County comprised a substantial proportion of the business dealt with at the monthly meeting of the council, held to-day. The council received a deputation from Puha settiers in connection with silting and surface-water, and agreed to make an inspection of the locality discussed by the deputation. There were present Crs. A. A. Fraser, chairman, 11. J. F. Tomblcson. M. Doyle, It. C. Boys, J. B. Williams, and C. Gaukrodgcr. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. IL 11. Dods, who was unable to attend owing to illness. The engineer, Mr. V. G. Lucas, reported that the mcr camped at the Makara road job ha., been prevented from getting on with their work by the unusually wet conditions, and that they had asked for a transfer to a job where they could get ahead with their work. The camp at Makara road was undoubtedly very wet at present and ho thought their request was a a - casern able one. and he proposed that the gang be shifted to the Moanui road, where money was available for spending.—The council granted authority for the transfer. Rates on Maori Lands

The registrar of the Native Land Court wrote asking whether flic council would accept a composition of rate accounts due on Maori lands under its control, as other local bodies had done. The basis of the composition with other councils was a payment of 50 per cent o! rates due to March 31. 1937, providing rates for the past year were paid.—The clerk, Mr. J. G. Appleton, reported that the arrears ol rates on the property under the control of the registrar was £BO, exclusive of the last year's demands. On the motion of Cr. Gaukrodgcr, the council decided that payment of £4O be accepted in full settlement of arrears, providing the current rates are kept up to date. A slaughterhouse license held by Mr. W. Thomas, Matawai, was renewed. Footpath at Matawai A request for the formation of a footpath from the police station to the school gate was received from the headmaster of the Matawai School, Mr. E. A. Ewen. The writer stated that GO children used the road daily. —Councillors were sympathetic to the request, and the engineer was given authority to inspect the section and give what relief was possible. Mr. Lucas mentioned that the council had not much money available for work on the road. The secretary of the Local Government Loans Board advised that the council's application for consent to raise the Whakarau loan of £2500 had been forwarded to the "Minister for the issue of a consenting order. — The clerk stated that forma! resolutions would be placed before the council at its next meeting. The council authorised the calling ot tenders for the supply of dog collars for 1939. From the Kairanga County Council came a proposal that the Government be asked to give some relief tec county ratepayers in respect of hospital maintenance levies. —The council supported the motion, which was in line with a series of proposals made by the Counties’ Association and hospital authorities over a number of years past. Stornr-water At l’ului Four Puha residents approached the council with a request that a drain be constructed from the culvert in Bridge's road and carried through to the river, to relieve their properties of storm-water draining down from land on a higher level, A deputation supported the request, a speaker stating that the conditions to-day were particularly bad, owing to the blockage of the council’s drains, The construction of a drain would give a discharge to the Waipaoa River. About 10 chains of new drain probably*would clear his and the adjoining properties. Cr. \l. Doyle stated that in his memory there had been a drain in existence at one time which had cleared the properties. It had been a source of trouble, however, owing to the liability to silting. The county engineer pointed out that the present trouble was due to silting, and that it would continue to give trouble if a new drain were made. The icouncil had put in one drain, and ill.! selllvs had agreed to keep it open, but it had silted up. Would there be aay .chance of keeping a new drain open, he asked, when the old di'ajin had been allowed to silt up? The deputation undertook to assist 1 he council lo keep the drain open. The chairman asked whether it would be worth while forming a small drainage area, with a small additional rate for county maintenance o', drains "For goodness' sake don't talk about any more rates, Mr. Chairman!'’ said the spokesman of the deputation, Mr. T. 11. Thompson. "We have all we can stand now.” He considered that if the old drain had been kept open in past years, there would have been no trouble at present. The chairman suggested that a visit of inspection should be made by the council, this being adopted.