WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4041, 29 April 1938, Page 8

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

APRIL MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. Cr S. C. Macky presided at the monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council on Wednesday, and also present were Crs J. T. Johnson, G. S. Clarke, W. McGee, G. S. Hall, J. W. Garland, R. J. Graham, E. F. Peacocke, N. Reid, F. L. Onion, D. B. Livingstone and T. Church. REMITS TO CONFERENCE. Remits to be considered at the annual meeting of the Counties' Association, in Wellington shortly, were forwarded for the Council’s information, with comment in each case from the executive. Several of them had direct application to Waipa County, and the chairman said it was hoped some good would result from the conference. Satisfaction was expressed at the assurance that in the case of projected mergers of local bodies, the Bill would be amended to require that the Minister or the body seeking amalgamation should prove their contentions instead of throwing the onus on local bodies which it was intended should be absorbed. SUBSIDY ON BRIDGES. The Board’s representative, No. 2 District Council, advised that the Main Highways Board had recently considered the matter of its subsidy for highway bridging, and it had decided to increase this subsidy rate to £3 for £1 as from Ist April, 1938. The , increased subsidy would apply to new bridging commenced after Ist April, and also to the completion of bridges already started, but only in respect of the work carried out after Ist April. CATTLE STOPS. Cr J. W. Garland asked if the Council could help a ratepayer in the Roto-o-rangi district in the matter of enabling him to maintain a cattle stop across a county’ drain in front of his farm. The legal position seemed to be rather involved; hence his inquiry a month ago. It was explained that the cattle stop had been placed in position without authority, and a beast on the roadside had broken its leg in trying to cross. The Council was now faced with a probable claim for damages. It was mentioned that one or two other settlers had similar obstacles. It was decided to notify property owners that they must remove the obstructions from county roads. COMPLIMENTARY. The town clerk, Te Awamutu, forwarded the following resolution passed by his Council at last’ meeting, when reference was made to the opening of the new bridge over the Mangapiko stream and the completion of the length of main highway: “Resolved that a letter be forwarded to the Waipa County Council conveying this Council’s congratulations on the completion of the main highways work and building of the necessary new bridge—altogether the completion of a very fine undertaking by the County Council and its engineers.” The chairman remarked that it was gratifying to receive such a compliment from another local body. A DRAINAGE MATTER. Mr J. H. Hendersomwrote pointing out in connection with the culvert which had been recently renewed across the Ngahinapouri-Ohaupo road near Mr Wilkinson’s property, that by deepening the drain and lowering the culvert about two feet at this point hundreds of acres of swamp

would be drained to a greater depth, and would increase the quantity of water in the boundary drain between the properties of Mr Wilkinson and the writer. He stated that it was some years now since he asked the County engineer if the next culvert over this drain, near Mr McWhannell’s, could be lowered so as to drain a further considerable area of good land which at present was practically useless. The writer thought it only reasonable to expect the Council to do something in connection with this matter. The clerk said a petition was being prepared asking the Council to form a special rating district. The settlers affected asked the Council lor an indication of its attitude. The chairman said the water all drained into the Mangatama stream, and thus any scheme should be part of the major one of clearing the stream for its full length. The Mangatama was to be cleared of willows. The engineer doubted whether the deepening by two feet would give the great results indicated. Cr Reid asked if the Council would give an indication of its attitude. The engineer was asked to prepare a report for consideration at a later meeting. AGREEMENT REACHED. Mr George Murdoch stated that he had been informed that there was a danger of a large volume of water being diverted on to his farm on Racecourse Road, Te Awamutu, and he lodged a formal objection to the diversion of the additional water in the drain running through his land. The chairman said all the parties had reached a very satisfactory agreement. CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. The joint secretaries of the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council forwarded copies of correspondence between the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Auckland Committee dealing with the question of centennial memorials. The chairman explained that authority was given to establish permanent memorials, such as sports grounds, children’s play-grounds, etc. The Government would subsidise subscriptions raised for these purposes, but not loan moneys. Cr Macky added that Hamilton had been made the centre of a South Auckland zone. He understood there was a project for merging the celebrations with the Waikato A. and P. Association’s annual show, making it a two-day affair. Ngaruawahia planned to arrange a special Maori ceremony in connection with the annual regatta in 1940. He had stated that Waipa County Council would co-operate with borough councils in any undertaking. The chairman’s attitude was ap-