WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 188, 14 February 1913, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held at Ohaupo on Tuesday. There were present: —Crs J. Fisher, chairman, Alexander, Bryant, Macky, McGhie, Poynter, Ryburn, and Teasdale. Leave of absence was granted to Cr E. Allen.

Supervisor's Report,

The supervisor, Mr W. H. Mandeno, submitted a verbal report explaining that through being suddenly called upon at the latter end of last week to combat a big swamp fire threatening the road across the Moanavale swamp, he had been unable to prepare a written document. The fire had, after strenuous efforts on the part of several settlers been got under, though it had necessitated working on Sunday. All the works had been going on satisfactorily. A representative Of the Public Works Department had visited the county on matters connected with the expenditure of Government grants. This had necessitated measuring up 742 chains of metalling. There was no metal available for the Te Rapa-Te Kowhia road at present, as the manager of the Wilson's Quarry stated there was no prosj pect of increasing the output from there. He hoped to have all works subsidised by the Government completed befoi'e the close of the financial year. Cr Ryburn drew the supervisor's, attention to a fire that was burning on the Rukuhia swamp road, and was threatening the newly metalled portion. The question of fixing the responsibility for these fires was brought up, but the supervisor stated he had made inquiries with no satisfactory results. The supervisor's report was adopted,-and he was authorised to employ all laboir.' necessary to keep the fires under. Separate Districts.

The town clerk, Te Awamutu, wrote stating that application had been made to the Minister for Internal Affairs to have the town district of Te Awamutu declared to be no longer part of the Waipa County as from April Ist I9 X 3.

Messrs Swarbrick and Swarbrick writing re the severing of the Ngaruawahia town district from the County, advised that the best plan would be for representatives of the Council to meet representatives of the Board and make an arrangement which could be embodied in an agreement which the writers would draw up. The clerk was instructed to draw up a statement of accounts between the bodies interested and to submit same to the next meeting, and also to the respective town boards, preparatory to adjustment being made. An Unnecessary Request.

Some time last month the Te Awamutu Town Board applied to the Council for permission to attach brackets to the bridge about to be erected over the Waipa at Pirongia for the purpose of carrying water pipes across the river, and the Council referred the matter to the Department of Public Works. The Department has now replied that, seeing the Council is building the bridge, and will be responsible for it, the Department does not need to give any permission for this to be done.

The letter was received, the clerk being instructed to hand the permission on to the Town Board. The supervisor expressed regret that the Department would not view the arrangements for the erection of Walker's Gully bridge in the same light. Rural Mails. The hon. sec. to the Monavale Settlers' Association wrote stating that a daily mail delivery has recently been instituted throughout the district, and as the Government letter-boxes will require to be placed on posts which will stand a short distance in on the road from the side boundary, he asked for permission to put in these posts. He understood that it was customary for these rural delivery letter-boxes to be so placed. Permission was granted, subject'to the approval of the supervisor.

Offer for Sections.

The clerk to the Leamington Town Board wrote offering the Waipa Council £2OO for the four acres No. 525/26,529/30, Leamington.

The offer was declined, the Council deciding to adhere to its original valuation. Bad Piece of Road.

A joint letter from five settlers drew the attention of the Council to the bad state of the road at the foot of Stoke's Hill, suggesting that it be put in repair before next winter, otherwise the wet weather would render it impassable, and they did not want a repetition of last year's experiences. About six chains of metal would be required. Cr Alexander moved that the supervisor attend to this, suggesting that some filling be done before the metal is put down.

This was carried, the supervisor being also instructed to attend to the same road near the small white bridge. Carriage of Metal.

Mr J. A. Young, M.P., wrote forwarding the following letter which he had received from the Minister of Railways:—

" With reference to your letter of November 28 last and your representations in regard to the supply of waggons for the conveyance of road metal for the Waipa County Council, I have the honor to inform you that the Department carries metal for local bodies at rates which are far from remunerative, and conditions are necessarily laid down that the traffic can be undertakeu only at such times as are convenient to the Department. There has recently been an exceptionally heavy demand for rolling stock for the conveyance of wool .and other valuable traffic, which must necessarily take precedence over such goods as road metal. In the circumstances the Department has made the best possible arrangements to meet the convenience of the local bodies with the rolling stock available. The letter was received. Metal.

The Clerk to the Huntly Town Board wrote stating that the Board had no metal broken. If the Council could get it broken it could be had by paying the

royalty of 3d per yard. The ' metal could be loaded on to barges at the river bank opposite the quarry and could be carted to the bank for from Is 6d to 2s. Received, the county having arranged for a supply elsewhere. Building Permit.

MrChas. Teddy was granted

permission to erect a building (value £75) on the Lake Reserve, on the Paterangi-Ohaupo road, leased by him.

Grader,

Mr C. Teddy was appointed to work the No. I grading machine. • Tenders. Tenders were dealt with as follows :

Earthwork, Walker's Gully : Andrew and Son, 9:1 per cubic yard. There were 16 tenders for this work. The tenders for the Monavale road work were left in Mr Mandeno's hands to attend to.

Sanding Te Awamutu-Piron-gia : Two tenders were received, but both were considered too high, and the matter was left in Mr Mandeno's hands. The action of the supervisor in letting a contract for the repairing of the Whatawhata swamp road was approved. Mangapiko's Wants.

Cr Macky complained that there was a great deal of work for the grader to do in the Mangapiko Riding. Last year the grader was sent down at the end ot the season, when it was impossible to do any work, and the present season was passing. It seemed to him that they would be in the same position this year, and the roads really needed attention. He thought that they would have to consider the purchase of another grader.

The supervisor explained that the grader was now at liberty and would be removed Mangapiko. Cr Macky also asked for permission to erect poles for a party line to Paterangi, Cr Alexander had a similar request to make for poles along the same route, and suggested that they should have one line of poles to carry the three or four wires contemplated. This matter was left to the supervisor and riding members to arrange.