Ohinemuri County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4383, 9 March 1909, Page 3

Ohinemuri County Council.

At the above meeting the following business of local interest was transacted :

—Otway’s Drain—

Mr Strange said this drain had not

- been cleared out for twelve years, and as i it was the outfall for four miles of road j he thought the Council should do something in the matter. Mr Crosby said 1 1 that if Mr Otway wanted the drain made *, he should pay half the cost.—Mr Strange i moved that tenders be called for the • 1 work if the settlers interested pay half , the cost.—This was carried. —Sinking Fund Commissioners A letter was received from the Auckland City Council, asking the Council to try and get repealed the clause of the Local Bodies Loans Act by which the Public Trustee was sinking fund commissioner for all future local body loans. Mr Strange moved, and Mr Corbett seconded, that the Council endorse the Auckland City Council’s action.—This was carried. —Explosives Landing— The Collector of Customs, Auckland, wrote asking what steps the Council had taken to decide on a landing place at Paeroa for explosives. - Consideration of the matter was deferred fora month. —County Rolls— Mr C. B. Gentil was appointed to compile the usual County rolls. —Reports— The usual monthly reports were read and adopted. —County Carpenter— Mr Lloyd suggested that the Council should employ a permanent carpenter, saying money would be saved thereby. On his motion, the engineer was instructed to report on the matter. —Mangaiti BridgeOn Mr Strange’s motion, it was decided to make a survey of the Mangaiti Bridge before next winter and then in the coming spring, so as to ascertain if the bridge was moving. - Paeroa Bridge— The engineer was instructed to report on the painting of the iron bridge at Paeroa. —County Finance — Mr Crosby said that after paying the accounts for this month the Council would have an overdraft of £13,000. He moved that they hold a special meeting to consider the question of reducing the expenses. - The Chairman said they had received no goldfields revenue or duty since the end of December, so there should be a considerable amount to come in soon.—Mr Crosby’s motion was not seconded, and it therefore lapsed. —Licensing Election Expenses——Council Refuses to Pay— 1 _____ c When it became known that after June next Ohinemuri would be a nolicense district, Mr P. Grace (Chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council) wired 1 to the Government, asking if it would be necessary to go to the expense of electing a Licensing Committee for the district.—The following telegram in , reply from the Hon. D. Buddo was received by Mr Grace, and was submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the Council: — :! “The position in the electorate of Ohinemuri is unusual, and I am sure that there is legislation provided to meet the position that you wish to deal with. I am making inquiries into the question, and hope to be able to communicate to you- by Friday next.” 'The following j letter was received by the Council from ] Mr Joseph Nathan, returning officer for j Ohinemuri : —“I have the honour to ] inform you that the Ohinemuri County j Council has been appointed the local authority within tjie Ohinemuri County Council has been appointed the local authority within the Ohinemuri licensing district for the purposes of the 1 Licensing Act, 1908- According to the 3 Act all costs and expenditure incident to the election of a Licensing Committee are to be paid by the Council, and the date for holding such election is fixed for March 9th. I shall require about * £IOO on account on that date, and if a poll is necessary the balance, amounting to about £l5O, will be required a week or so later.” Mr Franklin : Can’t that matter stand over too ? The Chairman (Mr Grace) : I don’t think so. Mr Crosby : I move that it stand over for a month. Mr Strange said they /should rj interview some of the candidates, and -r get enough to withdraw to save the ex- •. pense of an election. Otherwise, they vvou’d have the quite unnecessary expenditure of £l6O to flatter the vanity of a few men who wanted to go before the public.—Mr Nathan said that there hud already been a conference on the ques- \ tion of candidates between the no license J party and the licensed victuallers’ party, £ and they could not come to an agree- j ment.—Mr Laughlin suggested that they write to each of the candidates, asking them to agree to some of them withdrawing.—Mr Strange said it would be better to write to the leader of each 1 party. —Mr Corbett said he could not 1 see any use in having a Licensing Com- ’l mittee election. He was going to vote £ against paying the money.—Mr Nathan J said that a Licensing Cjm mittee had to 1 be elected in every district that was not a no-license district, and this would not be a no-license district until the end 6f next June He had kept the expenses down as much as possible, and although * the expense of the last licensing election had been £266, he did not think it would be> within £7O or £BO of that amount this time, —Mr Franklin moved that the money asked for by the returning •* officer be paid.—The Chairman seconded the motion.—On being put to the meeting, the motion was lost, the voting being : —Ayes, Messrs Grace, Franklin, Nathan, and Laughlin , noes, Messrs ■ Crosby, Marrinan, Lloyd, and Strange.— < Mr Franklin: You seem to want to hang on to your money as long as you can.—Mr Nathan :—You will have to pay in the end. I will have to give the deputies and the newspaper people orders i on the Council.—The Chairman : You i are only putting the returning officer to a < lot of trouble. • j