Rodney County Council.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 12 June 1912, Page 5

Rodney County Council.

A meeting of the Rodney County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Warkworth, on; Monday, June 3rd. There were present: — Messrs G.-W. Thomson chairman, J. Blair; T. Alf. Gubb, J. E. McKenzie, J. Eoss, J. Scholium jr., J. A. Shepherd, D. Todd and J. C. Wyatt. Finance. After the confirmation of previous meetings' minutes the Finance Committee reported, "We have found the payments correctly charged, and have authorised new accounts for payment amounting to the sum of £1,546 12s 9d. James Eoss, , Chairman." The treasurer's balance sheet gave j the details of receipts between last meeting and date, which totalled £1360 3s 9d, the expenditure which amounted, to £1414 4s 6d. The receipts included payments on account of grants amounting to £1188 2s. The statement of assets and liabilities showed a debit of £684 8s 4d. In reply to a comment on the position the treasurer stated that if the Council resolved to allow the full cost of the quarry plant to stand as overdraft, it would give a further £570 for allocation. The balance sheet was received on the motion of Mr McKenzie. Chairman's Eeport. Mr Thomson reported he had re ceived a wire from Mr J. G. Coates, M.P., of the coming of the Minister of Public Works. The notice was too short to communicate with other members, he just had time to catch the train at Kaipara Flats and have a few minutes talk with the Minister. He had represented the need of the Warkworth-Kaipara Flats road to the best of his ability. Deputatioms. Messrs F. Jones and Joseph Phillips waited on the Council respecting the proposed deviation on the Kaipara Flats road through the property of Mr Lance Phillips. Mr Jones strongly objected to the closing of the road in i'rout of his property. In reply to questions Mr Jones admitted there was only one place where the present road touched his boundary.

Mr Phillips was the oldest settler in the vicinity. He believed that the removal of the willows would do away with the flooding of the road, and obviate the need of a deviation. He had written to the Minister of Public Works, ar>;d an engineer had been sent to report on the work. If the Council had acted, the trouble would have beeu ended. In dealing with the matter in committee, Mr Blair took exception to any Department sending an officer to report on requests of individuals, dealing with matters under the Council's control, without notifying the Council of the same. The Council could not act till it was decided whether the deviation should proceed. Messrs McKenzie and Shepherd presented their report, after examining the ground in company with the engineer and ridiug member. It favoured the deviation if it could be satisfactorily acquired. ■Mr iSi-iuimon stated there was no authority to expend a grant in repairing the present road as indicated by Mr Phillips. Different engineers of the Department favoured the deviation. It would certainly be much better had it beed possible to take it on the sunny side of the hill. Mr Blair acquiesced in the report of the committee. Mr Eoss moved '' That the boundaries of the reserve should be determined before any further steps ■were taken," seconded by Mr McKenzie and carried. Mr M. Came waited on the Council respecting the legalisation of road lines and deviations he had given. He had received £& and he signed no deed. When asked how long ago since lie had received the payment Mr Came thought it was 80 years since. On Mr Wyatt's motion, Mr Todd was asked to enquire and report to next meeting. TIMBEIt. Mr Gubb reported having sold three trees to Mr Ogle for 2s 6d per 100 ft. Action approved. Koad Wanted. Mrs Borkland of Pakiri asked for a road to her landi On the motion of Mr Eoss, the matter was referred to the Omaha riding member. PosirOXKMBNT. ; Owing to the non-arrival of the valuation rolls preventing the preparation of a estimate of- revenue and administrative ospenses, on the Chairman's motion, extention of time was given to the treasurer to prepare the same. Eoad To School. Mr T. O. Jenkins secretary to the Ahuroa school committtee, wrote de- ■ siring that the road through sections 33 and 34 Parish of Ahuroa, should be opened &o as to save schoolchildren trespassing over private property. The Chairman said he would have the request attended too. Stone Crusher. Mr Hisshion wrote per Mr Frearsor stating the bin at the stone crushei was lull of metal, and had been so foi over five weeks, and that he could noi stand by any longer. Mr Todd saic until eight weeks ago every one was working as busy as bees. turning ou; the metal. Then there was a smal piece of casting broken, through warn of care. That stopped the mill anc blocked the scows. The promise was that the piece would be repaired ,ai

quick as it could be done which was not quick at all. Darroch kept the scows hanging on and at last wired to Frearson to know when the cnislior would start again. Frearson couldU't say definitely because after the repaired piece was put in there was difficulty Immediately after lie had sent the reply, and the scows were ordered to other work, a Mr Me Mahon looks in when passing and had the machine going in two twos- The crusher committee did its very best in the matter. Hisshion was given a chance to take on the scow work and laS refused, and it is still open for him to do so. Under those circumstances no cause of .complaint can lie against the crusher committee. It was resolved on the motion of Mr McKenzie, to inform Mr Hission that all correspondence relative to the crusher should ba sent direct to Mr Todd, as the committee chairman. Disputed Grant. Mr Eoss who was appointed arbitrator in determining where the grant Wharehino to Wayby should be spent recommended that £50 should be spent at the Wharehine end and £100 at the Wayby end of the road. Mr Dudding, clerk of the Wharehine Eoad Board, wrote forwarding aresolution carried at the annual meeting of ratepayers in that district, claiming that their Board applied for and obtained the money and asking that it should be spent in the position indicated by the Albert riding member. Mr Todd moved " That the arbitrator's; recommendation be adopted "seconded by Mr Wyatt and carried. Slaughterhouse . The request of Mr Chas. Litten for a slaughterhouse license at Te Hana was granted subject to the approval of the Agricultural Department. Compulsory Training fob [Defence. The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce forwarded a resolutien expressing appreciation of the determination of the Minister of .Defence in enforcing- the law relating to the compulsory provisions of the Defence Act and asking the Council to endorse the same. Mr Boss thought the letter should not pass without the Council expressing its opinion. He thought the Defence Act was one of the best things New Zealand had yet done. Both Mr Blair and the chairman endorsed the Act and the action of the Minister. Mr Ross moved " That this Council endorses the Defence Minister's action re compulsory training " seconded by Mr McKenzie and and carried. .Mr Shepherd dissenting. Kaipaua Train Service. The following report was received from the delegates who attended the meeting in Helensville re train services : —■ Report of committee appointed to meet the Helensville Town Board and other delegates from Local Bodies in the Kai'para Electorate. Your delegates attended the meeting, a good deal of discussion took place and it was eventually agreed to place the decision of the meeting before the Minister for Eailways, most of the delegates accordingly "went to Auckland on that evening and were granted an interview. The next morning, as. time was short, the Minister suggested that a committee of three should be appointed to accompany the Manager of Eailways and see if a satisfactory arrangement could be come to. Messrs Stewart Harding and Thomson were appointed. The following arrangement was made, " That as soon as the railway is opened at Kaiwalca an express train will be run every day, leaving Auckland between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning arriving at Kaiwaka at 12 noon, and leaving Kaiwaka at 12.30 arriving at Auckland at 4.45 p.m. In amplifying .the report the Chairman stated the express would be an extra train, which would stop at all stations north of Helensville. It would mean the delivery of Warkworth mails about noon. " I Mr Ross moved " That the report be received and the Council's thanks be accorded to the delegates " seconded by Mr.Todd and carried. Local Government Act. The chairman and clerk reported on the Auckland Conference, and the clerk reported at length on the Wellington Conference. (The report appears in another column). The chairman commended the report and the work done by Mr French at the Dominion Conference. Mr Todd said that while neither Mr Thomson nor Mr French represented his views, they represented the views of the majority and had done their work well. He had read everything he could on the Dominion Conference, but he had not met with so complete a report of what they really wished to know, as the one just read by Mr French. He hoped it would be published in. full in the Eodney. Times. A.member: And in the Auckland papers. Continuing, Mr Todd said they knew that Mr French would be fair, and what was perhaps more important do his work with ability, while os for knowledge of: local government he did not know of anyone in the Connty that knew more than he. It was an excellent suggestion that they should express their views on the basis of subsidy advocated by the Minister. Personally he felt some satisfaction that the resolution he-had j)roposed last meeting was practically the same as the scheme adopted by the Conference. He would move "That a hearty vote of th.inks be accorded to the Chairman and Mr French for their services as delegates to the Auckland meeting, and to Mr French as delegate

to the Wellington Conference." After other complimentary references, the motion was carried.

Mr Todd then moved "That this Couucii strongly approves of the' suggestion of the Minister of Internal Affairs to adopt the systenvin use in New South Wales for assisting local bodies'finance in the way of subsidies " seconded by Mr McKenzie and carried. Mr Ross moved " That to.-far as the North of Auckland is concerned, this' Council is strongly of opinion that reduction in. the number of Counties would be a retiograde step " seconded by Mr Todd and carried. Cottage Hospital and Wharf. In a supplementary report Mr French stated :— "la connection with the Cottage Hospital proposal I, interviewed the Minister iv charge of Hospitals ; Dr. Valentine, Inspector General of Hospitals ; and the Chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board. Each of the gentlemen expressed the utmost sympathy with the project. The chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board requested a written application hq as to bring the request formally before the Board. Dr Valentine promised to visit the district as soon as he could arrange it. The Minister was good enough to say that he thought it was a case in which a special subsidy .should be given if required,though he did not make a promise it would be done, nor do I think it should be 'necessary. .-

With regard to the destruction of the Warkworth wharf shed by fire, I interviewed the Minister of Marine ; and while he stated the Grovernment did not like proceeding with unauthorised expenditure, he would, on the receipt of a written application bring the request before the Cabinet." A letter written by the clerk, in connection with the wharf shed, was read and approved, and directed to be sent to the Minister.

Mr Eoss thought if a small district financed a hospital it would be hard to prevent it growing into a heavy financial burden. Rather than that he would prefer district nurses. On it being stated that though it was suggested that Rodney County should be a hospital and charitable aid district on its own, that idea had been abandoned. It was not desirable, or would it be permissible. The aim was to have a base hospital in the large centres, and smaller hospitals for' urgent and minor cases. Mr Eoss then said that working m connection with the Auckland Board removed his difficulty, and he would heartily support the proposal. Mr Todd thought it was imperative that something should be done. One lady now alive and well, he had driven in a few years back, with the knowledge that it was a race for life. They reached Warkworth only to find the steamer had gone. Fortunately Mr W. J. Wilson had his launch at hand, and made the trip to Auckland, and the lady received the help iv time to save her life. A few hours delay and it would have been to late. Cases were constantly recurring that should have hospital treatment. When it came to finance last year they paid £388 levy to" the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. With the new re-valua-tion their levy would probably run to £700 and. the Government subsidised that amount £ for £. It was very little benefit that they had from that

expenditure, so that a cottage hospital was not only an urgent necessity, but they were really paying for some such accomodatiou. The chairman thought that the Council should make a request to the Hospital Board to establish a cottage hospital, and a committee should be set up to meet Dr Valentine when he visited Warkworth. The County should have better medical service. Mr McKenzie moved "That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the superintendent of Hospitals to consist of Messrs Todd, Ross and French " seconded by the chairman and carried.

Mr Todd moved " That the clerk be instructed to communicate with the Auckland Hospital Board re cottage hospital in Warkworth " seconded by Mr McKenzie and carried.

Engineer's report.

The engineer reported that he had taken levels and laid out work at takiri for the expenditure of the vote Whangaripo to Pakiri. Work for the Whangaripo Matakana vote had been laid off, and a contract let to W. Armour. On the Te Hana Maugawai road J. E. Brown and Co had completed 30 chains of metalling which was all that was expected to be done this season, the firm has a stone breaker at work. The balance of the metal will be broken through the winter ready for carting in the spring. 800 yards of stone was now. spauled in Nobilo's quarry for the same road. To replace the Warkworth wharf shed with a larger building than the one destroyed by fire is estimated to cost £400 which sum includes pile driving required. With regard to the bvicllo track up Pratt's hill, it would be very costly and the expenditure of £b would meet present requirements. Timber is on the ground for the repair of the Te Pahi- Hoteo bridge, Oauae's bridge, Whangaripo, and the Boulder Stream i bridge have been completed. O v,. the Waititi road a small bridge has collapsed, and it is arranged to replace it Fairy Hill bridge, a 39 year structure is condemned and a culvert of two sets of 18 inch pipes will replace it. Other works were also reported on. On the motion of Mr Shepherd the report was received. ' ' To be continued. :.-.

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