WHANGAMOMONOA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 99, 26 April 1912, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONOA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Whangiimomona Council was held on Wednesday. The councillors present were Messrs A. Meredith, W. A. McCutchan, A. Coyne, J. Higgins, E. .13. Roberton, W. Bacon, M. 1. Jury and \V. R. Cieland. Tne engineer's report was read and adopted by the Council. The Council then proceeded to deal with the following correspondence;— From Messrs Shield Bros., calling attention to a culvert on the Mangare, Hoad. The Council instructed the engineer to re-form the culvert with concrete pipes. Henderson Bros.’ letter bringing to the Council’s notice the state of the bridle track leading to their property on the Upper Mangachn Road was dealt with, it being decided to spend £5 on the track. With regard to a letter from Mr Malone re deviation of road in Mrs Ward’s property, Tapuni Hoad, the chairman was authorised to sign the plan consenting to same. A letter was read from the Government Printer informing the Council that copies of the Local Government Bodies Act, 1912, could he obtained at the rate of 2s each, one copy only being supplied free to local bodies. Cr Coyne wished to know if the expenditure involved in obtaining copies of the Act was justifiable. The chairman pointed out that thc_. Stratford County Council thought so, as they had ordered copies of the Act. Cr McCutchan said that the new Act was one of the most important matters that the Council had had to consider for a long time, and that it would require a special meeting of the Council to consider the working of the Act. The Council decided to order copies from the Government Printer, a license to keep a billiard room at a license to keep a hiliard room at Kohuratalii was considered. Letters from Messrs Court and Cottier and Mr Howard were read in support of the application. Cr Bacon stated that the rooms kept by applicant were well conducted and moved that the license he granted. The Council agreed to the license being granted. A letter was received from the Secretary of the G.P.0., Wellington, in which it was stated that the term of guarantee for a subsidy on account of the Kohuratalii telephone was expired and the bond cancelled, and that no guarantee was required on account of the Tab ora office. The chairman then reported to the Council the result of his interview with the Public Works Department’s engineer, re the Ohura Road, in which the. engineer had informed him that it was the .Department’s intention to maintain the road, and asking if the Council would consent to the laying of a tram line along the same to take heavy traffic, thus relieving the road considerably. It was resolved to write the Department. that the Council agreed to the plan'proposed by its engineer. The Council went into committee to consider tenders. On resuming the committee reported as follows: That Mr MePhee’s tender of £620 15s 4d for tender No. 35 (metalling Mangachn Road) be accepted provisionally, subject to the authority of the Government to expend same being obtained before the next meeting of the Council, and that| Mr MePhee’s request to rent cottage: from the Council be granted at a rent 1 •of 7s 6cl per week. Contract No. 40! (formation of 20 chains Paorangi Ilo;ut) it was recommended that Mr Augustinelle’s tender of £1.09 15s 4d be accepted . The Council adopted the committee’s' report. Notio3 of Motion. Cr Roherton’s notice of motion: “That as thirds amounting to £BB IGs 9d from Section 2 Block XV., Poaka (a section facing principally the Whitianga Road)) having been credited to the Manuku Road, a similar amount he, allocated from the Maku Road credit to the credit of the Whitianga Road, .such allocation to be minus £2B 17s Gd already allocated from the Mauku Road to the ’Whitianga Road.” On the above motion being rend Cr McCutchan rose to a point of order, which was “that no question or amendment can ho proposed or suggested the substance of which has been adopted or rejected by the Council previously.” The chairman requested Cr MeCutchan to state the application of the principle in the present instance, Cr McCutchan quoting the minute book in confirmation of his objection. The chairman held the objection valid. A general discussion ensued as to how the difficulty was to he overcome, Cr Roberton wishing to amend Ir.s notice of motion by deleting the word “thirds” and substituting in its stead “rates.” The Council allowed him to do this. Cr Roberton, speaking to the motion, thought that it was most unfair that thirds accruing should have been allocated to the Mauku Road and that his motion was to readjust matters between the two roads. Cr McCutchan pointed out that if the large amount of money proposed was taken out of the rates, it would be very unfair. Cr Coyne then proposed an amendment that the sum of £3O Gs 9d he ! transferred from the Mauku Road credit to that of the Whitianga Road, as he thought it would he unfair to take more from the credit of tin 1 .Mauku Road. Cr Coyne’s amendment lapsed, i Cr Bacon then stated that his -opinion was that Cr TvlcCntehan had seen | instrumental in baking the Mauku

Road formed to suit Ids own convenience. _ 6 Cr McCutchan rose at once, saying that Cr Bacon’s statement was scandalous and false, the road having been laid off and made by the Government, ami that he had never before had no unjust a statement made with, regard to himself. After a somewhat heated discussion the amended motion was put to the Council and carried. Deputations. A deputation consisting of Messrs Bradley and Ayhvard waited on the Council on behalf of the W-liangamo-uiona Domain Board, petitioning the Council to permit the placing of a fence three feet on the road, as it intended planting a live hedge on the road line, also asking to be allowed to remove some earth. Ihe deputation asked the Council for a donation to its funds. The Council agreed at Once to the first two requests of the deputation, subject to the engineer’s approval. Cr McCutchan thou moved taut a donation ount to be charged to the Central Riding special fund account. Cr Roberton objected. He thought that people who could afford tennis and croquet should pay for putting their grounds in order. Cr Bacon stated that the deputation was not asking for the whole cost of the work to be done, but for a donation. The Council divided oh the motion, which was earned. Mr O’Neil waited on the Council with a request- that a' drain on the road at Te Wera -should be' seen to as it was overflowing on to his land. The Council granted his request: Notice of Motion. Cr Bacon’s notice of motion: “That the resolution carried at the last Council meeting, dealing with the rates in the Strathmore Riding be rescinded.” Cr Bacon spoke to bis notice of motion, stating his object in moving it was to enable the rates of sections having access to the Whanga Road to be credited to the Central Riding, and he therefore 1 moved in terms of his notice of motion. Cr Coyne could not see that Cr Bacon had adduced any reasons why the motion should be rescinded. Cr. Diggins agreed with Cr. Coyne, Cr Bacon pointed out that ths Whanga Road passed through three ridings and was very unfortunately situated, and that he thought that it was a matter of common justice that the rates accruing should go to the credit of the Whanga Road. Cr. Higgins.then moved ,as an amendment, that, things remain .as at present until,a notification is, received .from the ratepayers interested. Cr Bacon thought that the course proposed' j>y Cr Higgins |vas ; not in conformity the usual practice ol the CounciL , h|( ;,, ■„ m ,r. , Cr McCutchan proposed that a circular letter he sent to the settlers interested asking for their wishes on this point. ~ Cr. Diggius ,absented addition to his jpppndment. Cr. Diggins’i amendment . \\;ns then put to the .Cquncil and carried. , Finance. ; > ■ The chairman drew the councillors’ attention to the fact that they had a substantial balance at the hank, and suggested the advisability of placing a portion of it on fixed deposit with the bank. The Council discussed pros-' pective liabilities and means. The clerk, Mr Coleman, fully explaining the matter, the Council resolved that £IOOO h<? placed on fixed deposit with the Bank 6f Australasia for twelve months. Riding Business. Strathmore Riding: Cr Diggius thought that the Council should consider the advisability of prospecting for metal on Mr M. Kelly’s section. The Council decided not to do anything at present. Cr Coyne moved that the engineer should call for tenders for another mile of formation on the Mangachn Road, this work being on account of the £2500 loan. The Council agreed to this. Pohokura Riding: No suggestion was offered. Central Riding: Cr, Bacon moved that the Kohuratalii Road he inspected by the engineer and put in a state of repair, the amount to be expended not to exceed‘£lo. Tahora Riding: Nothing proposed. No other < business lining proposed, the- Council adjourned.