WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 331, 17 July 1914, Page 5

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The 1110:1 !hly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held on Tuesday at Ohaupo. Mr J. Fisher presided, and the other members present were : Crs Bryant, Teasdale, McGhie, Allan, Maokie, Alexander and Ryburn. Leave of absence was granted to Cr Poynter, with an expression of sympathy in regard to his wife’s serious illness.

THREATENED ACTION FOR DAMAGES.

Mr James ICeeley, Leamington, wrote on the 13th inst. that he had been waiting for _ eight months for a reply to his two letters for redress re destroying natural levels in Shakespeare street and in grading that street. Through the council’s action the culverts were lower in Browning street than in Shakespeare street, thus doing serious damage. Therefore, one month from date he intended to bring an action against the council for damage to property and loss of crop during eight months, expenses of getting plan of levels, petition of others interested, and legal expenses. The properties belonging to Mrs Ann Keeley would be separate from these actions. Mr Mandeno is to take levels and report to next meeting. SCARCITY OF METAL.

Mr Ivor D., Parsons, Whatiwhatihoe, Pirongia, wrote offering the sole right to take one acre of land for metal for a lump sum of £2OO, or the right to take metal for two years for 6d per yard royalty,—The supervisor having reported on metalling generally this matter was left to\ the riding members and the supervisor, with powers, along with another offer. ACQUISITION OF ROADS. Mr W. Taylor, Te Awamutu, re proposed roads through his property, wrote that for the one from the Paterangi side coming out at Dr Reekie’s road he was willing to give 15 yards wide free of any cost to the council, provided approved legal fences were made, and gates put in, and costs of survey and dedication paid by the council. The other route coming out at McGuire’s he 'did not like, as it would depreciate the value of his property, and he would want substantial compensation.—lt was agreed that the two riding 'members, the chairman and the supervisor should interview Mr Taylor. £3,000 LOAN.

The State Guarantee Advances Office, . with reference to the Council’s application for a loan of £3,000, to metal roads in Rangiaohia Riding,stated that the Advances Board had decided to entertain the application at the rate of 4% per cent per annum, with a currency at 36% years. The half yearly instalment in respect of principal and interest would be £2 16s id for each £IOO of the loan. Cr Teasdale referred to the public benefit of the proposed works, and it was resolved to proceed in terms of the letter. TREES ON FRONTIER ROAD.

Fourteen residents signed a letter drawing attention to the unsatisfactory state of the Frontier Road, owing to trees and tall hedges throwing a shade over it, and requested that steps be taken to remove these nuisances. Cr Alexander said this looked like a joke. He thought there would be some trouble, as they needed some shelter. —Cr Alexander and the supervisor to report. A COUNCILLOR’S PRIVILEGE. Messrs Swarbrick and Swarbrick, county solicitors, advising as to whether Cr Alexander, being owner of certain lands in a portion of West Taupo County, proposed to be added to Waipa County, was precluded from voting on the question, stated that they did not think the court would hold that his voting was illegal. They did not think that the fact of a councillor deriving a greater benefit than the general public would deprive him of his right to vote. Cr Alexander’s interest, though it might be greater than anyone else’s, was of exactly the same kind as that of many other people. The chairman said Cr Ryburn said he was not raising the motion in opposition to the extension.

Cr Alexander said he had expected something of the kind from Cr Ryburn, and had made sure of his position beforehand. Cr Teasdale said he did not see why Cr Alexander should not have moved the resolution.

Cr Ryburn said he had merely men.!toned the matter to the chairman outside the council to settle a legal difficulty, and not to gain any advantage, as there was a substantial majority in favour of the resolution. The letter W3S received. A PIRONGIA SECTION. Mr ii. Herbert applied for the lease of section 520 (municipal reserve) Pirongia, which it was ids intention to bring into cultivation and later, when the land was in proper condition, to plant

with fruit trees, also to build a house.—Agreed to advertise on above conditions, when the clerk ascertains whether the land is vested in the council. Mr Bowden was also instructed

to find out whether municipal land could be dealt with under a Glasgow lease. GRANTS DESIRED. The Minister of Public Works wrote that the council’s applications for grants for road works could be considered when the estimates were being prepared. — Received. RATES FIXED. It was agreed, in accordance with notice, to fix a general rate of 9-l6d in the £, a special county rate of %d, and a special rate on property in Mangapiko riding of 5-32 J for Mangapiko .bridge and metalling roads in the riding.

WHATAWHATA SWAMP ROAD.

The district Engineer, Auckland, sent approval of the plans for expending the £l5O, £ for £, grant for Whatawhata swamp road, on condition that channelling is provided, and the metal spread entirely on the surface of the completed formation. Communications with Messrs Young and Bollard, M.’sP., were also read, and it was agreed to thank Mr Bollard for his telegram on the subject and proceed. WORK COMPLETED. It was agreed to render the claim for £250, £ for £, for the completed work,. Pirongia to Te Awamutu. CLIMATIC RESERVES/ In intimating the Government’s decision to set apart s°°° acres on Pirongia the Minister for Lands stated that the question of reserving land on Maungatautari Mountain was under consideration. —Received. MISCELLANEOUS.

Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union applied for detailed information re native lands. —Received.

The Paterangi branch of the Farmers’ Union objected to paying for part of the material for the erection of a water trough at the creamery cornen. —The chairman pointed out that the council erected troughs at their expense where there was a natural flow of water, but that was as far as they had gone for any locality. He instanced Monavale. — Agreed to make no alteration on the conditions.

The Distriot Engineer asked for an estimate of the cost to the Government of the proposed repairs to the Whatiwhatihoe bridge. —It was agreed on Mr Mandeno’s suggestion, owing to the necessary repairs having seriously increased, to ask the Department to carry out the work. The Leamington Town Board asked that the supervisor meet them to see about the formation of a footpath in Shakespeare street. —Mr Mandeno to see the board and inform them that if they wanted for the formation of paths the council would see them through. The Piron-gia branch of the Farmers’ Union requested that all expedition should be used in dealing with the absentee sections in and around Pirongia. — It was agreed to write to the solicitors and ask them to push the matter on. —On the motion of Cr Alexander it was agreed to write Mr Swarbrick to have vested in the council the four market sections. SUPERVISOR’S REPORT.

Mr Mandeno reported as follows A number of contracts have been finished during the month, and work now is pretty well confined to repairs and maintenance, with the exception that the No. 2 grader is still fully employed. The work now being done by this machine is only on by-roads where there is little or no traffic. A good deal of this kind of work is required, and I anticipate keeping this machine going right through the year. The No. I machine is at present laid up. I have an application for its hire for private work, and as it would be in charge of a reliable man I recommend his being allowed the use of it. Metalling. —The work lately done on the Te Awamutu-Pi-rongia road has been passed by the district engineer, and application has been sent in for the money granted. The work on the Whatawhata Swamp road in expenditure of the .Government grant is completed, and when it is inspected the grant money will be available.

The repairs ordered last month on the Hamilton-Ohaupo road have been attended to, several chains of metalling having been I done, and holes repaired. The j metalling on the Te Rapa road is not yet started, as it has been im- | possible to obtain the metal, owI ing to alterations and extensions ! at the quarry. The manager ex- | pects to have things in full swing ! again this week. Gravelling. The contract ; undertaken by the Te Kowhai settlers on the Te Rapa road has been completed in record time, , and although the quantity put on

somewhat exceeded that specified, still a very satisfactory job has been done. In the neighbourhood of Pirongia about 15 chains of metalling has been done from the Whatiwhatihoe pit.' Owners of land upon which this metal is found have been interviewed, and it seems as if something should be done to -secure our supply. This is a matter requiring attention in several parts of the county. In view of loan money shortly to be expended in the Mangapiko and Tuhikaramea ridings, our supply of metal at Hodgson’s quarry is likely to prove insufficient. The position at Frankton has already been referred to, and so far no satisfactory solution has been arrived at. Maintenance.—A large amount of surface work has been done all over the county, and I think with very satisfactory results, although there are still some localities where no suitable man has been found to undertake the work. At Frankton I. have a good man on, but he is handicapped for want of a horse and cart. If it were possible to secure a suitable piece of ground by lease or otherwise, I certainly think it would be well to establish a permanent man with horse and cart in this centre.

Mystery Creek. The. earthwork contract on our side is completed, and the Pukekura side is well in hand.

Walker’s Gully.—This work is proceeding satisfactorily. Patcrangi-Te Awamutu direct road.—The councillors for Mangapiko riding and myself have met Mr Taylor on the ground, and have discussed the position. A written proposal from Mr Taylor will come before the meeting.— The report was adopted.