WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 4854, 15 November 1911, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

| The Waipa County Council met at I Ohaupo yesterday. There were pre- ' sent: - Crs J. Fisher, Allen, Macky, Alexander, Poyntcr, Hyburn, Bryant, Teasdale and Mac Kinder. Chairman. Mr J. Fisher was reappointed chairman temporarily for a week pending the usual appointment at the annual meeting. Supervisor’s Report. The report of the supervisor was read as follows: Mangahoe bridge; As the consequence of heavy rain which fell last month, a considerable slip took place in the excavations for the new bridge, and the stability of the old one was imperilled. Moreover it was found the work at the new bridge was considerably hampered by having to keep the old one open tor traffic. It was therefore decided to erect a temporary structure to ensure the traffic being kept open, and this has been done. Serious trouble, which was not altogether unexpected, was met with in getting a foundation at the north end of the new bridge, and it was found to be absolutely necessary to drive piles to support the concrete. These works will, of course, materially increase the cost of the job, but so far as the piledriving is concerned it was absolutely unavoidable, and with regard to the temporary bridge, had it not been put up, traffic might have been stopped at any time, and there would besides have been serious risk of accident through collapse of the old structure. The graders; Both machines started about the middle of last month. No. 1 has completed the formation of the piece of road through Mr Allen’s subdivision, near Hamilton. It has also done some necessary work on the road leading to Messrs Hawkins’ and Peacock’s farms, and is now at work on the Ohanpo-Tubi-karamea road, widening the formation on the flat. I have further arranged for it to do some reforming work on the road between To Rore and Heather’s creek bridge. I think it would be advisable for this machine to da some construction work on the roads through the Innesfalleu property, ns at present communication between Paterangi and the Tuhikaramea-Ohaupo road is practically cut off owing to the old track, which runs over private land, having been fenced off. No. 2 machine first did a small piece of work on the road leading to the new Puniu bridge; afterwards it re-formed the road between Messrs Sing’s and Jephson’s farm at Patcrangi, and it is now at work on the Low road near the Mangapiko creamery. Waipa river gravel: Owing to thore having been plen'y of water in the river, the gravel has been coming to hand well. The 500 yards originally ordered for Te Rore is completed, and between 800 and 900 - yards delivered at Whatawhnta. I would suggest that, say, another 300 yards be got for To Roro before the contract is stopped. In connection with this work about 300 yards have been carted out to several roads in the neighbourhood of To Rore. A hill near the junction of the Te Roro bridge road with the main road has been graded, widened, and metalled, and is now a good job. Culver!; Further work is required on the road leading to Robinson's farm, where a large culvert is blocked, and a portion of the road adjacent to the creamery should be metalled. Trees: The trees growing on an unoccupied section of Crown land are doing much damage to the road. Delay on contract: The contract lot last month to .1. Kay for hauling metal from To Rore to Rhodes’ and Millar's hills at Patcrangi, is not yet started. Levels: Levels have been taken on several roads preparatory to grading, and in view of the proposed work at Walker’s gully, levels have been taken, and a section prepared. The line adopted was the one which would be most desirable, inasmuch as it would straighten the road across the gully; but it appears on getting out the section that to do this would make the job too large and costly, and consequently a less ambitious scheme will have to he adopted. Gravel pit at Te Rapa: 1 mot Mr Sims on the ground and pointed out the boundaries, and the survey has been made. Mr Swarbrick will now prepare the title.

Lowering culvert: Re the culvert proposed to ho lowered on the Cam-bridge-Te Awamutu road, Messrs Mac Kinder, Teasdale and myself met Mr Bertram on the grffimd and an arrangement was come to wherbey Mr Bertram is to pay two-thirda and the council one-third of the cost of the work. Grants: Blans and specifications for the various works to be done out of Government grants are now in course of preparation. A long discussion ensued on the subject of the culvert at Walker’s Gully, and the supervisor was instructed to take fresh levels in order to bring the cost within the £2OOO limit, and it was decided to apply to the Bukekura Road Board for a contribution towards the work. The supervisor’s action in connection with the extra expense at the Mangahoe bridge was approved. It was decided to obtain 300 yards of gravel for Te Rore. The report was then adopted. Closing Rond. The clerk to the Newcastle Rond Board wrote that the plana for the stopping of the road through Nicholson’s land at Te Kowhia had been altered so that the closing was restricted to between sections 54 and 62 and (53 and 68. —The matter was approved of.

River Board. The secretary of the Marine Department notified that the Department had no money available for improving the navigation of the Waipa river, and suggested the advisablcness of forming a river board to deal with the matter. Received. Tramway. A lot of correspondence was read in connection with the Waipa Railways and Colliery Company’s tramway, Mr Swarbrick reporting (hat the company had got a special Act passed last session, enabling them to deal directly with the Ngaruawahia Town Board. He also reported that Mr J. W. Ellis, on behalf of the company, had agreed to defray the expenses of the council in the matter. It was decided to cornpli.nent Mr Swarbrick on (ho stand lie hud taken in the matter, thus safeguarding the interests of the council, and at the same time a wish was expressed that the undertaking would be a profitable one for the company, the Ngaruawahia Town Board and the district generally. Absentee Allotments.

In regard to the large area of land at Pirongia. known as absentee acres, upon which rates have not been paid fur a considerable time, and which the council have from time to time proposed to sell, Mr Swarbrick wrote that about 12 months ago he was instructed by the council to take this matter in band, when he made an offer to put each section through at a fee of £2 2s if sold, and KJa (id for which he found an owner without having to sell the land. As it would have cost over £lO to search these titles by his agent in the ordinary way, having a special knowledge of the mutter he undertook the work himself, and spent several days at the Auckland Lands Office for this purpose. He wrote about 300 letters to all parts of the world endeavouring to trace the owners, and had accumulated a large amount of correspondence. He was then in a position to issue summonses and proceed, hut he found that unfortunately the hulk of these lands had been lumped together under the name of “owner,” rendering it impossible to proceed further, except against each individual owner. He did not wish to hind the council as to what method it adopted in the sale of these sections, and if it could he found cheaper to place them with the Public Trust Cilice, which re-

quired a guarantee of full expenses, he was perfectly willing to give tie council the benefit of the time ard money he had expended on the matter. The chairman was authorised to interview the Public Trustee and report to the council, members concurring in the opinion as to the desirableness of dealing with the sections at the earliest possible date. Conveyance. Mr W. Spragg, manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, wrote complaining of the delay in connection with the conveyance in regard to an exchange of land at Te Rapa.—lt was decided to call the attention of the council’s solicitor to the matter. Hospital and Harbour Boards Elections. The Ilorowbenun County Council asked the council's co-operation towards securing an amendment in “The Hospitals and Charitable Institutoins Act, 1909,” and “The Harbours Amendment Act, 1910,” whereby as far as possible, town and country districts shall have separate representation; but where this is not possible and a town district and county are combined, then the franchise, which is at present extended to practically the whole of the residents of,the borough shall be limited to that of the county, and the election conducted on the votes of ratepayers only. It was decided to inform the Horowhcnua Council that the Waipa Council had already moved in the matter of having the electoral franchise applied to such elections. Storage of Metal. The District Engineer notified that the council’s application to store metal at Te Awamutu, Ngaroto and Rukuhla Railway Stations had been refused. —Received. Leasing Authority, j The Under-Secretary of Public j Works asked if the council desired | to be gazetted a leasing authority under the Public Bodies Leasing Act. —lt was decided to apply for the necessary authority. Dcviaiton Mr R. Fisher, chairman of the Pukekura Road Board waited on the council and submitted documents in connection with a deviation at tbo Crow’s Nest for signature.—lt was decided to affix the seal of the council thereto. Noxious Weeds. Mr W. G. Sim, of Pirongia wrote asking for permission to place his fence 6ft on the road line in order to clear it of noxious weeds.—Referred to the supervisor. The Inspector of Noxious Weeds drew attention to the neglected condition of several reserves in the county, —lt was decided to have the reserves cleared. Grants. Notification of the following grants was received from the Under-Secre-tary : Whutawhata Swamp Road, £3OO (£ for £); Te Kowhai to To Rapa, £IOO. (£2 for £1) ; Walker’s Gully bridge, £330 (£1 for £2); Waipa bridge, £250 (£ for £); Rukuhia Station Road, £350 (£ for £); Hamilton to Tuhikararaea road, £200; Kihikihi to Waotu road, £250. A veto of thanks was passed to Mr Grcenslaae, M.P., and the Minister for Lands. Pirongia Bridge. The Clerk of the Raglan County Council wrote asking for particulars regarding the cost of erecting the Pirongia bridge, in order tnat the necessary steps might bo taken to raise the council’s proportion of the loan.—The clerk reported that he hud already forwarded the required information. Access to Property. Mr Geo. Tooman, Ohaupo, wrote asking for access to section 35G, Parish of Ngaroto.—The supervisor was empowered to act in conjunction with the riding members. Tenders. The following tenders were received for clearing the pine trees in front of Mr Hansen’s property at Ngaruawahin :-J. Mclndoe £l4; S. Crawford, £2O; Marshall and McKeown, £3O; J. Hay, £l3 2s fid; J. Donnelly, £l2. The tenders were ’'referred to Cr Poynter and Mr Hansen.

Magnet’s Road. Cr Poynter gave notice to move that the council take over Magner’s road, at present under the control of the Newcastle Road Board. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for payment:—F. Ticklcpenny, £3; J. McKinnon, £34 16s; J. Jess, £1 IDa 9d; J. Mawhinncy, £43 2s 6d; A. McNnull, £4 18s; A. Maisey, £2 Os 6d; C. Byeravo, £3O; H. Beere, £l3 2s Gd; F. J. Taltley, £Bl IGs Gd; J. Marshall, £7 Is; VV. Souter and Co., £1 7s; Waikato Argus, £3; Wilson and Co., £4l 10s; Cambridge Borough Council, £2G 14s 8d; C. Teddy, £2 13s 3i; Tnupo Totaru Co., £8 4s Gd; State Guaranteed Advances Office, £36 11s 3d; Waikato Times, £2 2s; H. T. Reilly, £l2. Dangerous Tree. Cr Bryant drew attention to a dangerous tree overhanging the road at Mystery Creek. —lt was decided to call the owner’s attention to the matter.