WHANGAMOMONA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 29 December 1911, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONA.

MONTHLY MEETNG OF COUNTY COUNCIL. A LOT OF BUSINESS. The ordinary monthly meeting of tho above Council took place on Wednesday, when there were present Crs. A. Meredith (chairman), Jury, McCntchan, Coyne, Bacon, and Cleland. The minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. Engineer’s Report. Mr E. C. Robinson (engineer) reported as follows : Contracts.—Contract No. 28 (formation of portion of Mauku Road) is in progress, but lias been delayed on account of the very broken weather. Contract No. 29 (felling and clearing portion of Upper Mangaehu Road ) is just completed. Upper Mangaehu Road.—At last meeting of your Council a resolution was - passed instructing mo to pugh jon tJie formation of this road as quickly as possible, and if practicable to call tenders for this meeting. As tho next length to be formed is over the same ground as has just been felled and cleared under Contract No. 29, it is obvious that until such contract was completed, it was impossible to lay oil the work for formation. This will bo put in hand at the beginning of next week, and it rests with tiio Council to say whether the iilans of the work shall bo submitted to tho Government for approval, or whether such approval shall bo applied for hereafter, and tenders called in tho meantime.

Brewer Road.—Water-tabling and repairs to metalled roadway and culverts have been carried out by the foreman during the month. About ton cubic yards of motal will be required for repairs to Brewer Road tunnel, and about 200 superficial feet of decking for Makahu stream bridge. Noxious weeds have been grubbed out of Council’s reserve alongside Tapuni Road.

Makahu Road (Strathmore Riding). —Certain repairs have been carried out on this road, but more arc needed, and will be attended to during the coming month. Ohura Road (Strathmore Riding).— Twenty-two cubic yards of boulders have been obtained and delivered for repairs to this road between Te Wera and 26 mile peg. Repairs have been carried out between Strathmore and Te Wera. Akama Road.—This road has had some repairs made to it, but some sanding is necessary on bad places. Kiore Road.—Tho metal on this road is urgently in need of repairs, and the unmetalled portion requires rounding up. This will be done as soon as the weather takes up. Disappearance of tools, etc.—The Strathmore foreman reports the disappearance of two sets of truck wheels from Brewer Road tunnel,i also a wheelbarrow, from Makahu. Junction Road.—This road is now in fair order, a little more work requiring to bo completed near Ohura Roach

Tawin'whi Road.—l have arranged for the extension of formation on this road in connection with the expenditure of accrued thirds., , , , (t j PolioMuht Hoad.i-The! iVdrk j of 're!-' pairs'to this road' has'heeii in progress during the current month. ’ | ! Ohura Road (Central Riding).— This road through and above Whangamomona is cutting up freely. On my return to Stratford 1 will sec the Public Works Engineer in the matter of having some repairs made to it. i

Prospect Road;—The lower half-mild;' of this s road is in a very bad state indeed. Up to the present with the very broken weather experienced, it would have been a waste of rnonhy to try to do anything wi|;h; it. As soon as the weather clears, however, it will be formed up. Pntikituna Road.—During the month I received a letter from the Public Woi ■ks Department stating that £25 was being issued for repairs to tins road, and straightaway arranged for the work to be put in hand. It is still in progress. Mangaowata, Tahora, Kohuratahi, Whitianga and Whangamomona Roads. —Repairs to the above roads have been carried out during the month, but hampered owing to the wet weather. More are still needed. Marco Road.—l have as yet been unable to lay olf a further portion of this road for formation, but will do so immediately after the Now Year holidays. Decisions. The following business was transacted arising out of the engineer’s report:— Moved by Cr. McClutchan, seconded by Cr. Coyne, that with reference to contract Mo. 30 (formation on account of £2500 loan for Upper Mangaohu Road), the engineer be instructed to follow out the usual procedure with reference to the Covcrnment’s approval of plans for this work. in the event of approval of the loan being obtained early next month, .the Chairman be authorised to call for tenders to close at next meeting.—Carried.

It was decided that the matter of the missing Comity tools from Makahu and Brewer road tunnel works bo placed in the hands of the police. The report was adopted. Correspondence.

The following correspondence was read and dealt with as under:—

From Mr W. Holtz, Huiakama., offering the Council the sum of 5s per month for the use of the pound ‘paddock, stating that the grass was getting very long, and as no ranger will he appointed till April next, there will be no use for it till then, and asking the Council to comply with his request. Cr. McCutchan moved that the application bo acceded to, provided that the poundkeoper retains sufficient grass for impounded stock. —Carried.

From the Commissioner of Crown Lands informing the Council that its application for permission to pledge “thirds” from certain sections on Ohura Hoad in payment of interest on a loan proposed to lie raised for metalling the road within the Pohoknra Hiding, will be dealt with by the Land Board after the Hanger has reported on the matter. A further letter was received, dated 21st inst., stating that the Land Board, on the 19th, resolved that upon the Council complying with all formalities, the necessary certificate will bo issued, also enclosing form of application. Cr. McCutchan moved, and Cr. Coyne seconded, that the .Hiding member take a. copy of the correspondence, and place the matter before the ratepayers, and ascertain their wishes.— Canned. From the Commission of Crown Lands, re the Council’s proposals for expenditure of thirds accrued to March 3Lst last, and returning scheme for the Council to make a further proposal in accordance with the wishes of the lessee of section 8, block IT, Mahoo, who objects to the “thirds,” £2.9 10s, being spoilt as proposed. It was decided that the lessee be

written to enclosing copy of letter, and asking him to state in what direction ho w lolled his “thirds” spent. From Chas. J. O’Neill, Te Wera, applying for a slaughtering license.— Granted, subject to inspection and approval of tho Stock Department. From the Public Works Department, re Makahu Creek bridge, Matirangi Road, informing the Council regarding its application to have tho Matirangi Road bridge reinstated, that the Minister has approved of an authority being issued to the Council to have the work carried out. On cornpletion of the work, the bridge will bo formally vested in the Council, and the grant is being made only on the understanding that the Council will made no further claim on tho De-

partment in respect to this bridge. Cr. Jury moved, and Cr. Coyne seconded, that the Matirangi Road bridge be reinstated at the amount of the grant offered by the Government for tho work, and upon the terms stated.

From Wm. Ward, Makahu, re Tainini Road. It was resolved on tho notion of the Chairman that the clerk

write to Mr Ward, informing him that

he must make application to the Land Board and obtain its consent to the transfer of tho land in question to the Council, and the land required be forthwith surveyed. From F. K. Kopki, Makahu, en-

tering a xirotest against the expenditure of some £SO to the credit of the Murcott Road being spent on another road, and leaving the Murcott Road with no credit, and requesting the Council to keep the Murcott rates in future for emergency purposes.— The letter to be acknowledged, and ,he be advised that the credit has been transferred to the Brewer Road account, and that the Council will consider any applications he may make for work on the Murcott Road.—Carried.

From F. Calgher, applying for a lease of the road reserve in the township, situated between Mr Strombom’s section on one side, and Mr McCluggage’s section on the other with the scenery reserve adjoining the hack, and offering to pay £5 for a live years’ lease, with an increase of £1 per year up to 15 years, 81111)1*1 to twelve months’ notice to remove any property there may bo on the ground.

Cr Calgher also made an application for a lease of tho river reserve from and including tho township to Mr Agostineli’s place, and offered £2 a year for a seven years’ lease with the right of renewal or another seven years at £8 per annum. It was resolved, on tho motion of Cr. McCntchan, seconded by Cr Meredith, that Mr Calgher bo informed that the Council has no power to comply with the request contained in his letter, and that the Council’s powers in these matters are limited as per his existing agreement. Deputations.

Mr L. Smith waited on the Counil with respect to tho proposed exlenditure of certain Roarangi thirds,

and wished to have the scheduling oi his thirds altered.—lt was decided, on Cr. McCutchan’s motion, that the engineer proceed with the 12ft formation on I Poaraiigi Road to the extent of Hie accrued thirds and rate credit, the work to include the Idling, required by iMt 1 Smith. ■ !f

■Messrs E, arid C driver wgjteld on the''Council arid ‘ asked to> have. the formed portion! of tlic Whanga Road opened for traffic.— Crs. Bacon—Coyne, that the engineer give access as far as possible, to enable traffic to get through as soon as the weather ipermits.—Carried. Mr E. McCluggage waited on the Council and asked if the Council ■ would lease'him some road reserve in infer to enable him to put up a fence which he is unable to do at, present. The '■ erigilieer was instructed to re'port oifsarno at ’next meeting of the Council', d'' 1 ■ r ‘ Strathmore Riding.

The engineer was instructed to procure 20,0 ft of timber for the Makahu Road bridge, and also put in the i '.ecessa ry cu 1 verts. Pohokura Riding.

Cr. Jury brought up the question of reinstating the Makahu road bridge, and after general discussion moved that the bridge be re-built, and the cost of same be charged to the Makahu Road account, and that the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and call for tenders to close at next ordinary meeting of the Council.—Carried. It was also decided to ask the Land Board’s permission to alter the proposal for which the Makahu Road thirds are at present pledged. HolltiaysOn the motion of Cr. McCutchan, seconded by Cr. Meredith, the clerk was instructed to inform the Council’s outdoor permanent staff that the number of holidays granted last Christmas and New Year will bo available again for the same purpose this year.—Carried. Special Meeting. Cr. McCutchan moved, and Cr. Meredith seconded, that a special meeting of the Council bo called early next month for the purpose of considering at length the matter of offers of Government grants, etc., the date of the meeting to be determined by the Chairman, and notified by telegram. —Carried. General. The tender of Messrs Wilson and Son, of Stratford, was accepted for the supply of dog collars at 6-Jd each. It was decided to call for fresh applications for the position of dog tax collector to close with the Chairman in a fortnight’s time. Jn the event of no applications being accepted, the Chairman will make suitable arrangements. It was resolved, on tho motion of Cr. McCutchan, seconded by Cr. Bacon, that the foe for sporting dogs bo 10s, and for cattle and sheep dogs os each, to bo reducible by one-half in each case if paid by 31st March next. The' clerk produced a statement, of receipts and expenditure in connection with tlie £3BOO loan and subsidies in connection therewith, made by the Stratford County Council and the Whangamomona County Council. Tho statoipent was referred to the Riding members for one month for full consideration. It was resolved that Mr Klee, surfaceman, who wrote at last meeting of the Council for an increase in salary, be informed that the Council cannot see its way clear to comply with bis request. Messrs E. W. Hodder and Athol Meredith was granted permission to erect temporary fences and scaffolding on the footpath in connection with the buildings which will be in course of erection by them shortly. Tho clerk was instructed to write lo M< jssrs Court and Cottier requesting them to remove wood lying on the footpath in the township, which at present obstructs the footpath. Accounts amounting to £292 Us 3d were read and passed for payment, and the Council rose.