WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5155, 12 November 1912, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

The Waipa County Council met at Ohaupo, yesterday. There were present : - Cra John Fisher, chairman, Allen, Macky, Poynter, Ryburn and Teasdale, and the supervisor, Mr W. H. Mandeno, An apology was received from Cr Bryant. Resignation. Cr G. McKinder wrote resigning his position on the council on account of ill-health. The resignation was received with regret, the council ordering that an appreciation of Mr McKinder's services be recorded on the minute book. Road Improvements. Messrs Thos. Eckford and E. G. Jones wrote aksing that the road be sanded from the Ohaupo road to the long cutting, and offering to subscribe £5 each towards the work. Mr H. S. Hawkins requested that the road should be sanded beyond that point. He promised on behalf of himself and Mr E. F. Peacocke to contribute £3O towards the work. It was decided to carry out the work the council expressing its appreciation of the generous contributions towards the work. Gravel Pits.

The clerk of the Leamington Town Board wrote asking for an option over three acres in that district with a view to their being acquired for gravel pits.—Agreed to. A formal resolution agreeing to sell the land at £6O per acre was subsequently passed at a special meeting, and the clerk was instructed to comply with the special order. Trouble Over a Drain. Mr C. L. MacDiarmid, solicitor, wrote with reference to Jackson’s road, and asked that the council should consent to dedication. He said he understood the only objection was a drain leading from the road in question which had been blocked up by Messrs Owen Bros. He urged the council to have the obstruction removed and approve of the dedication forthwith as his cilent had done

ail in his power to faithfully carry out the requirements. It was decided, after a lengthy discussion, to request Mr Jackson to supply the name or names of the persons responsible for the trouble (about which there appeared to be some doubt), and that Mr Swarbrick be then instructed to take the necessary legal steps to compel the owner to clear the drain.

The chairman was empowered to sign the deed of dedication as soon as matters were satisfactorily arranged. New Road Asked For. Messrs J. Livingstone, J. P. Booth, A. C. Johnston, J. W. Madill, T. G. Johnston, L. Griffiths and W. R. Booth, ratepayers of Te Rapa, petitioned the council to open the road known as River road to connect with the road which runs at right angles to the Harnilton-Ngaruawahia main road, and known as Owen’s road. At present the river road led to the river; but they understood that the owner of the section through which the road runs was prepared to give the necessary land required to make the deviation in exchange for the old road; also, to give the land required for the road leading to the river in a more suitable place. They pointed out that if the road in question were opened up as shown on the plan it would be necessary to bridge a gully, which would probably cost some hundreds of pounds, whereas if deviated as suggested it would save the council a considerable sum. Mr 11. T. Gillies, accompanied by Mr 0. Farrer, waited on the council in connection with the same matter. The former submitted plans of the proposed work, which he said would be of great advantage to the settlers in the vicinity, besides inducing close settlement. Ha owned the land in question, and would be prepared to exchange it for the road it was proposed to close, thereby losing five acres, and if the council would carry out the formation work he would contribute half the cost.

The council expressed its sympathy with the proposal, and its desire to assist settlement where possible, and requested Mr Gillies to put hia ptoposals in writing when the council will give them due consideration. Tenders. The following tenders were received:—Formation, etc., Lake road, Frankton, i’hos. Tebbs, 1s 2£d per yard (accepted); W. J. Renner, Is 3d per yard; B. S. Jones, Is 5d per yard. Sanding at Roto-o-rangi and Rangiaohia; Garvey and Hall, 2s 9d per yard (accepte)d. As no tender was received from the work at Moanavule the matter was left in the hands of the chairman, Cr Allen and Mr Mandeno to ascertain whether it was decided to form a special rating area, in which case the council will be prepared to hand over the amount as a donation. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for paymentUrquhart Bros., £1 ss; J. Moore, 15s; W. Souter and Co., 10s; Speight, Pearce and Co., £2 la 4d; J. C. Muir, £SO; J. Mawhinney, £43 2s 6d; D. Welsh, £2 14s; A. Jennings, £5 12s: D. McCormick, £3 12s; C. Robkin, £4O 13a; H. Beere, £75 13s Hid; E. J. Perry, £1 Os 3d; J. M. McKinnon, £3 Is; W. J. Renner, £96 2s 4d; A. Love and Co., 13s; Waikato Argus, £] 7s; Farmers’ Auctioneering Co., 7s lid; A. Jane, £1 4s 9d; T. ( Bedford, 9s; L. Stringer, £2 18s; R. Browne, 12s 6d; C. Bygrave, £39 17s Gd; H. Riley, £5 12s; Treasury, interest, £36 Us 3d; D. O’Shea, £lO ss. Mangapiko Loan. At a special meeting held at held at noon a resolution was passed making a special rate to provide for interest, etc., on a loan of £250,' being 10 per cent, on the original loan of £2500 for Mangapiko, to complete works in the Mangapiko riding. The loan has already been provisionally approved. The Red Flag.

The clerk of the Waihi Borough Council wrote as follows: directed to call your attention to the attached resolution passed at a meeting of this council on 31st ult., and to ask that your council discuss the question of passing one of a like nature. The council realises that in many quarters it may bo considered ar-fetched and quite superfluous, but the trend of events in Waihi goes to prove what a condition of things may arise where the doctrines of socialism and an adherence to the principles of the rea flag find a footing unchecked. In communities where these are unknown it cannot be realised to what lengths the followers of the red flag are prepared to go, but the incident of tearing up the Union Jack in the main street of tVaihi may be quoted as an example. I would urge that this matter receives the serious attention of your council, and point out that no one enjoying the inestimable advantages of being under the Union Jack should raise an objection except on the point that hia or her loyalty is apparently questioned, and the declaration may speak for itself. This resolution read as follows: “That it be a condition of all future employment on borough works that each and every person employed by the Borough Council must sign a declaration affirming his or her loyalty to the King and the Union Jack, and that none others than those affirming their loyalty to the King and flag shall be employed in any capacity on the borough works, and that ic be an instruction to the town clerk to forward copies of this resolution to all local bodies throughout the Dominion inviting co-opera-tion.

On the motion of tlie chairman, seconded by Cr Allen, the council decided, on tho casting vote of the chairman, to support the Waihi Council in tho matter. An amendment, proposed by Cr Ryburn and seconded by Cr Macky, that the letter lie upon the table was supported by Cr Poynter, and lost on tho casting vote of the chairman. The mover of the amendment explained that he did not think any action was necessary, as it did not immediately concern the Waipa County. He was confident that the whole of the contractors were loyal.

and they should not mike any insinuation of disloyalty. The chairman said they did not know when the council v '.roing to be affected by the red i.ag movement.

Cr Teasdule agreed and stated that it was their duty to protect the flag. As previously stated the motion was carried on the casting vote of the chairman, Laying Water Pipes. The chairman of the Te Awarnutu Town Board applied for permission to lay the board’s water pipes along the Frontier road, and alongside the new Waipa bridge at Pirongia. He asked to be informed when the new bridge over the Waipa was likely to be completed. —Granted. Sinking Funds. The superintendent of the StateGuaranteed Advances Office wrote as follows ir response to an inquiry by the council as to whether the Government would undertake to pay the necessary sinking fund in the event of local bodies raising loans from private sources:—“l have to inform you that there is no authority in the existing law whereby sucli a course could be adopted.—Received. Mr J. a. Young, M.P., forwarded a reply which he had received from Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Finance, (nthe same subject. The Minister stated that the matter had not yet come up for consideration by the Government; but they were trying to provide in the new Loans to Local Bodies Bill, that the Government shall pay sinking fund on money advanced by the Crown iu certain cases.—Received. • Telephone Bureau Fees. Mr J. A. Young, M.P., also forwarded a reply he had received from the Postmaster-General, in which the Minister expressed regret that he was unable to reduce the minimum bureau charge payable by a private wire-holder from 6d to 3d. The halfrate charged to telephone exchange subscribers for a bureau communication up to a distance not exceeding 25 miles is a special rate fixed as an inducement to the public to become subscribers to an exchange, and the department cannot alford to extend the concession to private wire owners —Received. Insanitary Drain. The Newcastle Road Board suggested that the drain near the Whatawhata Post Office should be piped and closed in at a cost of £l6. It was stated that the postmaster would contribute one-third of the cost, and the board suggested that the council should share the balance, —The matter was left in the hands of Cr Poynter and the supervisor.

Ngaruawahia Footpatns.

Messrs Green and Colebrook, Ngaruawahia, applied for half the coat of laying down concrete footpath in front of their premises.—lt was decided to refer the applicants to the town board. Hospital Contribution. The Waikato Hospital Board notified the council that its contrinution for the year was £771 4s lOd of which £576 is payable at date. The council decided to pay the quarterly instalments promptly in future when due, but not in advance, Walker’s Gully Culvert. The culvert at Walker’s Gully is causing the council some trouble just now. A loan of £I7OO was raised, and this added to a grant of £3(JC

from the Government was considered sufficient to cover the cost of the work. Now, however, the Government engineer insists upon an alteration or extension in the apron which will necessitate an increased expenditure of £3OO. It was decided to apply to the Government for an additional grant, and in the meantime Mr Mandeno was instructed to call for the work. Supervisor’s Report. The supervisor’s report was read as follows: On the 14th ult. we received the first consignment of metal from Te Kuiti, and it has been coming to hand pretty regularly since that

date. Arrangements have bean made with Messrs Tebbs and Renner to receive the metal. The former is to cart it from the truck and dump it at the junction of the Whatawhata and Tuhikaramea roads, and the latter to cart and spread the metal straight from the truck on to the Whatawhata road. So far metal has only been consigned for the county to Frankton station, but I expect shortly to be getting it at Te Awamutu and Ohaupo..

The graders: The No. 1 machine started work on the road leading to Mr Hawkins' farm on the 10th of last month. Liu. .veil: has been very much deiayed owing to the unseasonable weatb^:. ;\ pu.iion of this road between Messrs t'eacock’s and Hawkins’ farms has been all hut impassable during the winter months; indeed Mr Hawkins had to put bis own men on and do a considerable amount of work, to enable even light traffic to get through. 1 have had this portion foiraed up to its full width with a high crown; but metalling is the only satisfactory remedy. Mr Hawkins has expressed his willingness to subsidise the work if the council will undertake it. There are about twenty chains in all, but I think if twelve chains were metalled it would cure the worst of it. 1 estimate the cost at between £7O and £BO. There is another portion of the same road about one mile in length, previously sanded, which badly needs re-sanding, and I would

like to have the authority to get it done. The No. 2 machine has been at work on the road between Ohaupo and Cambridge and is now working near Monavale. Contracts in hand have made good progress, due allowance being made for had weather. Renner’s contract for grading Walsh’s road is nnished, as well as an extension of the work which he subsequently, undertook. The two grading jobs in Mangapiko riding, near the Mangapiko school, are both practically finished. The contractors for grad-

ing at Mystery creek and on tne Ohnupo-Tuhikaramea road are both making as good progress as the weather will allow.

Quin’s road, Paterangi; At Mr Quin’s request 1 met Mr Sims on the ground and agreed as to the laying off of the necessary deviation. If the council authorises me to proceed with the work I will see about getting the timber required for the bridge. Leamington grave! reserve: The chairman, Cr. Allen and myself met on the ground with representatives of the Leamington Town Board, who asked that an option of purchase be given them. It was thought advisable to do this, and the price asked was £6O per acre. Jackson’s road: The chairman, C. Bryant and I met on the ground, and it was agreed to offer no further objection to the dedication of the roads, provided a certain outlet drain was put in good order. Mr Jackson undertook to see that this was done, but it seems there are still difficulties in the way, and a letter lias been received from Mr McDiarmid on the subject. Subdivisions! roads: At Mr Walsh’s request I went over his new road with his contractor for the work. I passed the formation and indicated the portion of the road where sand would be accepted. On the remaining part of the road I undertook to recommend that eight yards of metal, instead of 12, witli five yards of sand binding on top be accepted by the council. Mr Higgins, who interviewed the council last month, also requested me to inspect his proposed roads and inform him as to requirements. I subsequently wrote him that I would recommend formation 42ft, with 18in. crown, satisfactory drainage arrangements, eight yards of metal with four of sand binding on top. __Tlic report was adopted.