OTOROHANGA COUNTY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3846, 16 December 1936, Page 7

OTOROHANGA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. GENERAL BUSINESS DEALT WITH. (Our Resident Correspondent.) The Otorohanga Cdunty Council held their final meeting of the year on Tuesday, when the following were in attendance: Crs. Walter Bluck (chairman), F. Potts, W. Thomson, P. T. Crowley, V. W. Simms, H. E. Grierson, and H. Dymore-Brown, with Messrs S. J. Fortescue (county clerk), and Gerald Jackson (county engineer), in attendance. SODIUM CHLORATE SHORTAGE. The shortage of sodium chlorate, for the eradication of ragwort, is causing the Council some concern, as at this period of the growth of the menacing plant, huge quantities are required within the County. The clerk reported that five tons had been secured from the Agricultural Department, but, as fifty tons at least will be required, an order was placed for that quantity. The fact that the coming holidays will cause a fortnight’s stoppage in the operations of the various gangs is also a matter of concern as many plants will be fully seeded in another fortnight. TENDERS. The matter of tenders for the Ko-rakonui-Ngahape road improvements was left for the chairman and Riding members to deal with, as no tender had been received for the necessary formation work, before metalling. The engineer stated that, apparently there were no men available for heavy work just now. The report from the Main Highways Board was adopted, and the outward correspondence was approved. The tender of A. D. Hall, for the formation and metalling of the Te Raumauku Road, at £166 16s was accepted.

DEPUTATION FROM TOWN BOARD.

Mr H. E. Lawrence, a Commissioner of the Otorohanga Town Board, waited on the Council regarding the improvements, and upkeep of the local cemetery. As the expenditure was beyond the resources of the Board, he asked for assistance from the Council in order to maintain the cemetery in a proper manner. He suggested that the County make an annual grant, for this purpose, of £1 per week. The Chairman congratulated the Board on the present condition of the cemetery, which was a credit to them, in comparison with its neglected state of a few years ago. Councillors were of the opinion that a grant should be made from the general fund. The chairman and county clerk were authorised to confer with the chairman of the Town Board regarding the matter, before s. definite grant is fixed. On the motion of Cr. Simms, it was resolved to move for a loan of £lOO, to give access to Smith’s property, in the Otewa Riding. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Since the previous meeting of the Council, the rates paid .n to date show £42 in advance of the same period of last year. Consequently, the Riding- credit balances are reduced, although not very materially. With the exception of Wharepapa, the credit balances for the- time of the year are quite substantial. Wharepapa Riding, of course, has paid out cf its credit balance the cost of the truck. The credit balances of the Ridings are as follows: Honikiwi, £402 5s 9d; Mangaorongo, £1,524 19s Id; Te Rau-o-moa, £271 Ils lOd; Waipa, £432 4s 3d; Wharepapa, £126 14s 9d A total credit of £2, 757 15s Bd. The expenditure out of the Riding accounts with the annual limits in parenthesis, is as follows:—Honikiwi, £471 17s 2d (£500); Mangaorongo, £546 2s 4d (£800); Te Rau-a-moa, £468 19s 9d (£650); Waipa £329 7s 6d (£450); and Wharepapa £564 13s (£800). GENERAL BUSINESS. A complaint was received regarding a ragwort infested property in the Ngahape district, which was considered a grave menace, to the cleared dairying lands in the vicinity. The Riding member, Cr. Dymore-Brown, stated that the neighbours were constantly making complaints regarding this property—which was owned by the Barton Estate, and administered by the Native Department. That part of the property known as Percy Barton’s was in a very bad condition, and required immediate attention. The matter was left to the engineer to deal with, by using one of the gangs one day next week, and employing a mowing machine where circumstances permit its use. The Riding member was authorised to supervise the operations. It was decided to forego the rates due on two properties in the Maihiihi district in order to assist the sale of the holdings, to settlers who would be prepared to work the lands in a satisfactory manner. These farms have been badly neglected, in recent years, and are hotbeds of noxious weed growths. The Council decided to take out two insurance policies to cover passenger risks, in connection with the County motor vehicles. A large amount of the usual routine business was transacted, and a long list of accounts passed for payment. It was arranged that the first meeting in 1937 be held on January 26th. The chairman wished his fellow councillors, the Press, and the staff, the compliments of the approaching festive season, and thanked all for the assistance that they had rendered him, and the County, during 1936. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr G. Jackson submitted his monthly report as follows:—Since last meeting improved weather conditions have eased up maintenance work, and enabled preparations to be made for the coming holiday traffic. To this end both graders will be occupied on metalled roads up to the 23rd inst The contractor has commenced crushing at Te Rau-a-moa which will enable the restoration of flood damage from last Februarv to be completed. No reply has yet been received from the Minister of Public Works re re-

storation of Oamaru Road, other than notification that a report has been obtained Tenders have been called for metalling Puketarata and Te Rauamauku Roads, and formation of Ngahape-Ko-rakonui Road and raising the level of part of Honikiwi Main Highway. No inquiries have been received from prospective tenderers, and it is very doubtful if any tenders will be received. A special giant has been made for metalling that portion of Gallagher Road which gives access to Ivan Anso’s farm. The grant is on a £2 for £1 basis, and one third of the cost will be provided by Mr Anso. To enable, the work to proceed it will be necessary for the Council to pass the following resolution. Respecting the special grant of £240 made from the Public Works Fund for the year 1936-37 for metalling 35 chains of Gallagher Road at the western end. ' “It is resolved that the Council will maintain to the satisfaction of the Local Representative of the Public Works Department the road metalled under these proposals.” Ragwort Eradication is receiving all possible attention and the result of two months’ operations is that 73 farms have been cleaned up. The number of men on the pay sheets at December 4th, is 54. 225 tons of liffie and sodium chlorate mixture has been used, and 1588 man days have been used up. The Department of Agriculture has now advised that an additional 2!) percent. will be paid to cover cost of treating Crown and Native Lands, but unfortunately no chlorate of sodium is obtainable. Had materials been available two extra gangs would have been -ut on from December Ist to deal with Crown and Native Lands, but as no sodium can be got before the first week in Januar". the work must be deferred until then, which, though regrettable, is unavoidable.