WHANGAMOMONA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 8, 25 August 1911, Page 8

WHANGAMOMONA.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL The ordinary monthly ineclin</; of the Wrmgamomona County Council took place on Wednesday, when there were present: Crs Roberton, Anderson, Jones, Mcllroy, Davis and 1L McCluggage. Cr lloberton was voted to the chair in the absence of Cr Meredith,. Engineer's Report. The engineer (Mr E. C. Robinson) reported as follows: —In accordance with instructions, I wrote to the Public Works Department in connection with the vesting of roads, on which new formation had been carried out during the winter season; also in regard to the state of the Putikituna Road when it wsa handed over. The attention of the Department has in addition been drawn to the slips on Churn Road opposite Ngatimaru railway station, and the work of dealing them has been commenced. The work of repairing Putikituna Road below Vera Road junction has been carried out. The bridle track formation on Raekahua Road is progressing steadily. The first portion of this road requires rounding up, etc., and will be attended to shortly. Furthcr repairs are also required on Tahora, Kolmratahi, and Whitianga Roads, and the Marco Road requires water-tabling. These matters will bo attended to in the way of ordinary maintenance. Arrangements have boon made to carry out the. necessary repairs to Whangainomona Road. The Junction Road is still in a state of serious disrepair, in spite of the considerable amount of work recently carried out cn it. It would, however, at this season of the year, hardly he .advisable to do more than keep it open for bridle traffic. The work of re-decking the Arnold Road bridge has boon completed. The licensee of the Whangainomona Hotel desires to alter the position of tlm waterpipes leading from his reservoir to the hotel promises by bringing them straight down to Whangainomona Road, arid thence along the said road. At present they cross private property. I recommend that the request he granted subject to the pipes being laid and covered to the satisfaction of the Council. A large culvert on Ohura Road, near Ngatimaru railway station, is in a rotten condition, necessitating an early renewal. This would require about 40 feet of 30-inch concrete pipes, and would cost about £35. General maintenance work has been carried out during the month on the Strathmore Riding roads, which are in very fair order, considering the time of the year. The one matter requiring serious attention is the early renewal of the bridge at Strathmore, which is now getting into a very unsatisfactory condition. There are small balances in hand in connection with Whanganvomona Road and Mangare Road. The former could be spent in extension of metalling, and the latter in re-formation at a favourable season of the year. The Public Works Department asks that the Council give its consent to a deviation of Kolmratahi Road just over the Tangarakau River. The matter is all’ in order.

The report was adopted. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under : From the Defence Department, asking the Council’s kind co-operation, help and assistance in the training of the Senior Cadets and Territorial Forces now being organised throughout tho Dominion ; also enclosing extract from a circular to tho officers commanding military districts with reference to tho assistance needed.—lt was decided to inform the Defence Department that the Council lias no buildings suitable for that purpose. From R. G. Fawkner, manager of the Whangainomona branch of the Bank of Australasia (on behalf of the bank) asking that the privilege of occupying the Council’s offices bo extended until the hank’s new building is ready.—Request granted. From James Kerrisk, asking for an extension of time (one month) in order to complete contract No. 26, Upper Maugaelm Road.—Request granted.

From tho Valuation Department, informing tho Council that a voucher had been sent to the Treasury for tho payment of £SOO, subsidy due to the Council for the year 1911. From tho Department of Lands, New Plymouth, re “thirds” from section 2, block XV., Ponatu Survey District, informing the Council that the Land Board on tho I6t!i instant 'resolved to inform the Council that the Board’s previous resolution is in conformity with the provisions of section 115 of the land Act, 1908.-—Re-ceived.

From Win. Ward, Makahu, ro Tapuni Road bridge, asking for further assistance.—'The sum of £ls to he handed over after the land taken for tho road is surveyed, and Council’s title to same is put in order. From Frank H. Mills, asking tho Council to open tho Junction Road for wheel traffic so as to enable residents at Matau to get to the railway, . and stating that the slips can ho easily cleared for tho sum of £3.—Work to receive attention.

From tho Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, forwarding report of tho Health Officer’s visit to Whangainomona, with a recommendation that the matters referred to he attended to, and also asking the Council to consider the wisdom of com-p.-l'ing the burial of night-soil at a reasonable distance from the township.—On tho motion of Cr Roberton seconded hv Cr Mcllroy, it was re-

-live,! that tlio lettei In l acknowledged, tlio Council I>t'inunder Hie impression that it had handed over all its responsibility to Hie Stratfmd Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard.

I'hoai \V. Burnett. ranker, sliHnp;

that be bad sub-lot the cottage at Huiakama routed by him from the Council, and asking the Council's approval.—Agreed to.

Deputations. A deputation, consisting of Messrs W. A. MeCutehau, E. McCluggage, W. Hodge, and E. Hodder, representing the Central Riding ratepayers, waited on the Council, and asked that a rate bo levied over the Tahora Riding for the upkeep of the Ohura Road in the Central Riding. The Council decided to take the deputation’s wishes into consideration when allocating the rates. Mr McCntchan also waited on the Council with reference to the expenditure of thirds from section 2, Mock XV., Ponatu Survey District. Ho wished the Council to arrive at some definite conclusion as to what it intended to do in the matter, as it had already been hold up for some months.

After a short discussion, Cr Davis moved and Cr McClngago seconded, that the thirds from section 2, block XV., Ponatu Survey District, lie expended as scheduled, and the engineer be instructed to attend to same forthwith. This was carried on division. Ayes: Crs McCluggage, Davis, Anderson, and Mcllroy. Noes: Crs Jones and Roberton. Cr McCluggage moved and Cr McTlroy seconded, that one-third of the Maukn Road accrued rates ho allocated to the Whitianga Road.—Carried. Mr , McCntchan returned to the Council at a later stage, and on being informed of its decision thanked the Council, pointing out that he was .quite, agreeable to a third of the accrued rates being allocated to the Whitianga Road. Mr Hodge waited on the Council with reference to obtaining compensation for his accident on the Ohura Road, and wished the Council to pay at least his hospital expenses, amounting to £9 14s. It was decided that Mr Hodge he informed that the Council cannot recognise his claim. Mr Cleaver waited on the Council with a request to ho allowed to remove clay off the Ohura Road near the factory bridge.—Request granted, subject to the material being taken away to the approval of the County Engineer.

Mr Coxhoad waited on the Council with reference to the expenditure of thirds accrued from Vera Road. He : wished same to ho expended in repairing Vera Road bridge.—The Council decided to do this. Allocation of Thirds. It was decided to allocate thirds as follows : Strathmore Riding.—All thirds to he scheduled for maintenance on respective roads, with the exception of Whangainomona, Kolii, .and Tirohanga Roads. Pohokura Riding.— -Makahu Road: Sanding and maintenance. Ohura Road : , Metal! ing near station. Materangi Road: Sanding and widening road. Pohokura Road: Repairing road. Arnold Road: Repairing and bridge. Ohawae Road : Maintenance. Tawhiwhi Road: Extension of dray road. Whangainomona Road: Formation. Central Riding.—Ohura Road: Maintenance. Mangapaka Road (accrued from section 5, block XIII.): Rrospect Road. Marco Road: Extension of 12ft. formation. Prospect Road: Maintenance. Vera Road: With the exception of half thirds from section 6, to re-in-stating bridge and further metalling. Putikituna Road; Re-instating bridge. Whangainomona Road: Further 12ft. formation. Poarangi Road: 12ft. formation. Okara Road: 12ft. formation. Kolmratahi and Marangao Roads: Construction of 12ft. road across tho bridge. Tahora Riding.—The clerk was instructed to communicate with the chairman re his interview with tho Minister of Public Works, and if ho has obtained leave to hold thirds,* no scheduling he made; and if he has not obtained leave that the thirds he scheduled for metalling (a) filling in gaps of metal on saddle, (h) metalling on Tahora side of proposed Kolmratahi railway station, and that efforts he made for a £ for £ subsidy. Maiki Road : Maintenance. Rimuputa Road : Widening to 12ft. from Tahora Road northwards. Raekolma Rd.: 6ft. track. Pukcho Road: Oft. track. Whitianga Road: Maintenance.

General Rales. Notice was given of a motion to strike tho following rates at next meeting of the Council: —Strathmore 2d in tho £, Central 2d in the £, Taliora L}d in hie £, Pohokura lid in tho £. General. Two applications wore received for the position of pound-keeper of the Huiakama pound. The Council went into committee to decide the applications, and Mr W. Holtz was appointed. On Cr McClnggage’s motion, it was decided that the county engineer write to tho Public Works Department re repairs to tho Matarangi Road bridge. The special order, authorising tho raising of a £2500 loan for Upper Mangacliu . Road was confirmed. Tho chairman was authorised to sign and seal Road deviation plan forwarded by Public Works Department. The treasurer was authorised to sign and affix Council’s seal to Debenture No. 1, re Maugaowliata Road Loan.

On Cr Jones’ motion, it was decided that tho Mangaohu No. 11. Loan work lie laid off, and the county engineer submit the plans and specifications to the Public Works Department.

It was resolved that the Cloo .‘ss Id accrued ralas mi Tawhiwhi Road l»o spent in formal inn in conjunction with the thirds. It was also divided (hat Iho .Mold Road lia put in order.

Accounts amounting to C'22‘2 ISs Gel wore M'ead and passed for payment and the Council adjourned.

THE MOBOCCAN POSITION. THE CHAXCELLOiI’S SPEECH. Mr Lloyd-Goorge’s speech on tlie international situation, which has attracted so much attention in England and abroad, was dismissed in two or three lines by the Press Association agent. Jt was made on July 21st to a gathering of London bankers. According to the San Francisco “Chronicle,” Mr Lloyd-Georgo referred to Great Britain’s continuallygrowing prosperity, which, he said, could only be arrested by a disturbance cf the world’s peace. Therefore lie was ready to make great sacrifices to preserve peace, and would rejoice at the success of tiio arbitration negotiations with the United States. But, ho added, it was essential that Great Britain at all hazards should maintain her place and prestige among the great Powers. If a situation wore forced upon Great Britain where peace could only be preserved by the surrender of the position she had won by centuries of heroism and achievement, by allowing herself to bo treated where vital interests -were concerned as though she were of no account in the cabinet of nations, then, he said emphatically, peace at that price would bo a humiliation intolerable for a great country like England to endure. “National honour,” said the Chancellor, “is no party question. The security of our international trade is not a party question. The peace of the world is more likely to he secured if all nations realise fairly what the conditions of peace must be.” The speech, adds the correspondent, made a deep impression on his listeners. Lloyd-George’s midienco interpreted the speech to moan- that the Moroccan situation is serious enough to have decided the Cabinet to depute the Chancellor to take this opportunity of affirming the British standpoint.