Rodney County Council.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 11 September 1912, Page 4

Rodney County Council.

FAREWELL TO BRIDGE FUND

(Continued)

In accordance with notice, Mr McKon/ie moved for the cancellation of the 'bridge fund established last year, the farthing of a general rate placed aside i'or that fund to Tbe credited to the respective riding accounts, and the work authorised, to be charged to the accounts of the ridings concerned, seconded by Mr Todd. The mover stated that as it was not intended by j the Council to continue the bridge fund, his motion would secure the adjustment necessary as at present all the ridings had paid their proportion, and some had not received any benefit. The motion was carried. Slaughterhouse License. Subject to the consent of the Minister of Agriculture the issue of a slaughterhouse license to Percy Laycock was granted, and a transfer of W. T. Sarah's license to W. Pulhani and Son was authorised. Telephone. Mr R. Buckton applied for permission to. erect teleghone poles and wires on the Mangakura road. The application was granted on the motion of Mr Ghibb. The Kiwitea County Council wrote advocating the reduction to owners of private telephone wires of the charge of speaking over the Government lines within a twenty five mile radius from sixpence to threepence for three minutes. The chairman explained that as the Council was a subscriber to the Warkworth exchange, if the clerk rang him up the charge was threepence, if he, being the owner of a private wire, rang up the clerk the charge was sixpence. Mr Todd moved " That the request of the Kiwitea County Council be endorsed," seconded by Mr Ross and carried. California^ Thistle. Mr A. V. Heywood wrote that a small patch of Californian thistle was growing at Te Hana and was in flower. Mr McKenzie moved '.' That the ■ Noxious Weeds Inspector be informed," motion carried. Mr McKenzie promised to see that the Aveed was cut before it .seeded. Engineer's Report. The engineer reported that he had arranged for Sutcliff and Mounce to dredge at the Warkworth wharf, and also to remove the bar just below the Masonic hall. The Public Works Department had approved of the proposed expenditure of the Mahurangi river grant of £200. Manuka piles had been secured for the Sandspit wharf. The rebuilding of Mark Phillip's bridge had been satisfactorily - :•■■:■ >?!.pM-nd. In company with Mr [ ■ , : i. Hie roads from Leigh to the ) i;,l :;;iu been inspected and a trial ; :;• "a [■• ..;is to be taken to secure a new

:;nv.l. ;>'ome 2000 yards of metal was irok.T. ready to go on the Te Hana Mniu.;awai road as soon as the weather Wiis lit for carting. Tenders were considered too high for the carting and break ing- of metal at Te Hana. J. W. Russell has made good progress with tho culverts at Te Arai and Fairy hill. The york for widening the Waiwhiu road had been completed. Timber for two bridges on the Puhoi Alvuroa road was on the ground. Surface work had been carried out in five of the ridings, The report was received on the motion of Mr Wyatt.

The coming season's work.

In accordance with the new scheme of working, Councillors were expected to submit a schedule of works proposed to be undertaken for the coining season Mr Blair said by the time he had spent £150 on Phillips deviation he would have nothing- beyond what was requisite for surface work. Mr Todd's list was held over for estimates of cost. Mr McKenzie proposed to spend £150 on an Austin grader, scoop and road plough. £116 for 40 days grading, £60 bridge at Te Arai, £37 10s bridge at Silver Hill, £30 on metal reserving close on to £200 for casual work. In Tauhoa riding Mr Gubb reserved close on £100 for surface work. Abreast cutting at the Te Pahi road saddle was ; expected to cost £20. Metalling the same, and repairing present metal, etc. £100. Grader work Tauhoa and Mangakura roads £20. Grader work Hoteo North £30. Breast cutting near J. Gibbs, Hoteo North £20. In Kaipara riding Mr Thomson submitted works to cost £260 divided as follows, for grading on West Coast road £50; the same on Komorkoriki road £25 • 100 yds of metal on new formation on Ahuroa road and widening siding £75 for easing grades Woodcock's to Wyatts road £50 ; grading on Williams to Onehunga ridge road £10 ; 10 chains pipe claying on Station Hill road and grading £50, and £10's worth of grading on the school road. Plans to fee prepared for Onehunga bridge near hall. Mr Shepherd pi-o-posed to spend £55 on Peannan's hill deviation. Metalling and repairs to Mr P. Becroft's corner £40, from thence to Port Albert wharf £10, Wharehine road £60. Page's corner to Wellsford £ for £ £50, Levefcs to Te Harm. £5. The schedules submitted were approved on the motion of Mr Ross.

Tho Chairman gave notice to move " That the Council considers the advisability of raising a County loan for the purpose of renewing bridges in reiiiioived concrete.

Mr Todd asked if it was not possible for the Hoteo riding member to use the present county grader. Mr McKenzie said he had decided to'procure an Austin grader, being convinced it was best, and having considerable

Lmouut of work ahead. When he had lone his work he would be pleased to lire the machine out. Asked what ;raction lie would use, Mr McKenzie •eplied that he had arranged with Mr Jonas Smyth for 14 bullocks and a Iriver. Adjustment. Mr Todd asked if some provision sould not be made for the Warkworth riding. Owing to the big reduction in the riding through the cutting out of the Town District, the revenue for the coming year would be all taken up in the present debit. It was pointed out that of the rates outstanding at March the 31st a very small per centage was due by Warkworth riding ratepayers. Had an allocation been made to riding accounts at that date, Warkworth riding would have received the largest share, as it had the largest valne. Since then through the cutting out of the Town District it stood to receive the smallest share of the remaining portion of last year's revenue though it has paid more than others. Then had the resolution to extend payment for the Council office over four years been adhered to as originally proposed further allocations could have been made before the end of March which would have placed the riding account in credit. As the cost of the new office was all paid last year it either meant that the Town District ratepayers had paid a tenth of the coat, or that the small remaining portion of the riding from would have to shoulder the liability. The treasurer stated £55 was approximately the sum which the reduced Warkworth riding would have to bear in addition to its quota unless an adjustment was made. On the motion of the Chairman the adjustment was directed to be made. Closing Roads. Mr Wyatt asked if the exchange of roads to Mr Neeley was complete. The clerk reported that after the Council had done what it could, the plans were hung up in Wellington. Mr Wyatt agreed it would be best to ask the Department for a definite reply whether it would or would not pass the plans. Riding Boundaries. Mr Ross, in accordance with notice, moved "That the ro-distribution of ridings be considered." The mover said that steps should be taken early, |so that if it were thought advisable to j ask any road boards to subdivide their districts it could be done. Mr Blair asked how that could be done. Mr Ross replied that if there was no legal subdivision the whole road district must be included in a riding. Wharehine had been instanced as a district where the southern end ought to be included in Tauhoa and the northern end in Albert. There might be others similiarly circumstanced. The chairman said that no alteration could legally be made until just before the poll, still ho thought it wise to bring forward the subject early. He thought it was difficult to form single ridings. Perhaps it would be best to divide the County in three. Mr Todd thought that the most populace corner of a riding might return the whole three members leaving the rest of the riding ■unrepresented. Mr Shepherd said from appearances Okahukura might soon be a riding- on its own. Mr McKenzie said he had getting- on for 200 square miles to look after in Hoteo riding, it was time the area was reduced. Mr Wyatt moved "That the chairman, Messrs Ross and Blair be appointed to report within three months on a re-arrangement of riding boundaries," seconded by Mr Shepherd and carried. Loans. Mr McKenzie asked how the Wellsfard Whangaripo loan was progressing. The reply was that the Advances Department had given provisional approval for a loan of £1275, and that the deposit of the special roll had been advertised. Mr Shepherd moved "That if it can be obtained from the Advances Department, a further ten per cent, on the Port Albert Wellsford road loan be taken up to enable the expenditure of £100 £ for £ grant for Pearman's hill deviation," seconded by Mr Todd and carried. Next meeting. qu Mr Ross' motion it was resolved " That the next meeting of the Council be held on October the 3rd.