MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Wairarapa Age, 15 March 1922, Page 6

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. . Members present yesterday were Crs. W. I. Armstrong (presiding), G. tl Mbore, junr., L. T. Daniell, H. H. c Mawley, W. Judd, and D. Me Lach- t lan. An apology for absence was re- j ceived from Cr. Dalziell. .a CORRESPONDENCE. '» ] From the State Forest Service, asking that tlhe Council permit the growing of trees on the sides of the roads within the County.—Cr. Daniell said this w,ould be a good idea if they had roads of a permanent nature, but would not be suitable on metal roads. , —The letter was received. From the Department of Labour, stating that the provisions of awards would not apply to relief works carried on by the Council.—The letter was received. From the Patangata County Council, suggesting that the Government be urged to reduce the unimproved value of grazing land within the area . between Cape Palliser and East Cape, the object being to get a reduction in the land tax. —The letter was supported, and the chairman was appointed a delegate on a deputation to interview the Prime Minister. From the Otago Hospital Board, protesting against the increase in audit fees.—Received. 1 From Messrs Bunny, Burridge and Douglas, concerning a complaint by Mr W. McKenzie, Manaia., that a drain crossing Millard avenue was overflowing on to his property.—The clerk stated that the matter had been attended to. From Mr Balfour Dawson, “Goodlands,” Te Ore Ore, complaining that though he had cleared the wi-Ajwk along the banks of the river passing through his property, in accordance with a notice from th© Council, his neighbour on the other side of the river had not received notice to cut the willows. He asked why he and his brother, as returned soldiers, sluould be singled out. —The clerk said he would see that the settler in question received a notice. From the Napier Borough Council, complaining that the banks appeared to be practically nullifying section 45 of the Finance Act, as when a local body took advantage of the authority granted it under thi s section the bank i either reduced the overdraft, or, if B the overdraft was granted, required ’ that the limit must not be used for ■ the repayment of moneys transferred from special loans accounts to the general account. The Napier Counc'l asked that the Government be urged to introduce legislation providing that credit balances of local authorities on loan accounts ghould be set off by the banks against debit balances on other accounts, as regarded the payment of interest on the latter accounts. —The clerk explained that section 45 permitted local bodies to transfer 'money from the loan account to the general account, for the purpose of reducing the interest payable. The money had to be re-transferred, however, before the end of the financial year. The complaint of the Napier Council did not apply to the Masterton Council.—Received. i OVERSEER’S REPORT. j The County overseer (Mr F. Exell) reported as follows: — I Opaki Riding.—Loose metal on Wadnga-wa to Camp road has been graded in, and 1 would suggest that work on Gordon street be attended 1 to as soon a s possible. Burnett’s road requires 100 cubic yards of metal for repairs; drains on Paieru Swamp road require cleaning. Rangitumau.—New culvert, 18 by 24 by 22ft, has been put in on James ■ road, and ,water-tables cleaned out. The County staff are engaged putting in culverts and taking off corners o» "Wangaehu road. Culvert near James’s is in bad state and new pipe culvert . is required in its place. Bridge at ! McCrae’s requires new deck. ’ Upper Taueru. —I inspected the various roads in this riding and found them satisfactory. The metalling on Te Ore Ore-Bideford road will be commenced in a few’ days. Te Whiti.—Drain on O’Dowd’s property has been cleaned out, and two men are engaged cleaning watertables on Millard avenue. Drains on Manaia-Gladstone road require cleaning. Wangaehu bridge, on Masterton- Waimata road, is in bad state and requires new deck and new end pier to make it safe for traffic. Ur^ti. —A new culvert has been put in on Masterton-Waimata road. ■ The I contractor commenced carting metal from Blairlogie quarry on Monday. j Wainuioru.—The contractor metal- ' ling Kakakine road has completed i about 30 chains. Cobb’s contract is progressing slowly owing to wet weather. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Finance Committee was held in the morning, when ’ the treasurer reported a credit bal- [ ance of £1279 0s 7d. The County j fund account showed a debit balance | of £2036 9s 2d, the loan account a credit of £2320 10s, the imprest account a credit of £5O, while £959 16s Id remained on fixed deposit. -Receipts since last meeting amounted to £3323 14s 6d. Accounts amounting to £3194 7s 8d were passed for payj ment.