COUNTY OF WAITOMO

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1128, 13 August 1921, Page 5

COUNTY OF WAITOMO

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

MATTERS OF INTEREST,

The monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was held last Thursday, when there were present: Crs J. Wall (chairman), Were, Sangster, /Hargreaves, Lee, Phillips, Wynyard, Potts, and Wilson. Chairman’s Report.

The. chairman reported the conference with local bodies re proposed technical school had not yet taken place. With reference to the conference with the Awakino County Council, he said things had 'been brought to a finality and accounts balanced. Mr Wilson had gone through the books and examined the clerk's system, but his report had not yet arrived. \

The engineer of the Rangitikei County Council had gone through the engineer’s books, but his report also had not yet come to hand. With reference to the legal case of Scholes v. the Council, a claim for compensation, the case had been heard, but was not yet finished. Vote of Condolence. A vote of condolence was passed to the chairman in connection with the heath of his father. Pukekaiva and Rangitoto. The clerk stated that he had written to the Minister of Public Works re the subsidy for the roads east of the railway line, and had furnished a statement of expenditure on the roads, but he had not as yet recived any reply regarding the subsidy. Otorolianga-Otewa Road. IMr J. C. Paterson wrote drawing attention to the position on the Otoro-hanga-Otewa-Rangiatea road (near Otewa). He said that during the flood in June, 1920, a portion' of this road was completely washed away, and up to the present the County Council has not taken land to make good the road for traffic. The public have been using a portion of Mr J. J. Walker’s land for a distance of about three chains up to July 11th, 1921, since when iMr Walker has fenced his property to the water’s edge, and also put up a notice, “no thoroughfare,” and that on and after that date his gate will be locked. Mr Walker informed me that I was not to use this outlet, as he did not intend me to use it from private reasons. As I have no other outlet from my property, which lies east of Mr Walker’s, without going through privatf property, 1 urge you to negotiate with Mr Walker with regard to purchasing a piece of this land for the purpose of making the road good. On the motion of Cr. Phillips it was resolved that the engineer and the mover negotiate with Mr Walker with the object of acquiring land to devi-. ate the road referred to in the letters from J. C. Paterson and J. J. Walker, and that an estimate be prepared of the cost of diverting the strehm and protecting the bank from further erosion. ' Tapuae Block Road. Mr Fullerton and Mr Hogg waited on the Council in connection with the state of the Tapuae road, where a continuous slipping took place, whereby access to 1 their property was jeoardised. They said they recognised the job would be an expensive one, but if nothing was done the road itself would probably disappear. The length affected was not more than two chains. Mr Fullerton said he had been there eight years, and did not yet have proper and safe access. He said that if their requests were not attended to he would appeal to other authorities. This was not a threat, but an indication as to the straits he especially was reduced to, owing to this piece of road not having been attended to. The engineer said he recognised that the whole t piece of country was slippery, and it- was no use attempting to stop the slip. The only way was to cut back and let the slip have its way. The cost would he at least £2O. After discussion it was resolved that the engineer and Or. Were interview the settlers ' concerned to se if a scheme can be devised to raise a loan to clear Fullerton’s slip and do metalling. Taihaia Road. ♦ On the motion of Cr. Phillips, seconded by Cr. Wynyard, it was resolved that owing to the inability (through sickness) of the engineer to do the engineering work on the Taihaia soldiers’ settlement road the Council instruct iMr Browne to do the work immediately, and that labour be provided to do the fencing for Mr Mahood, as agreed upon. . Kaipaki Road. Mr G. P. Finlay wrote stating he had been interviewed by Mr Spratt (solicitor); and Messrs Brown (manager), and Joll (one of the directors of the Hawera Sash and Door Factory, Ltd.), with reference to the matter of damage to the Kaipaki road. Mr Spratt had acted as spokesman, and made the following representations: (1) H;e contended that the Council was, although not legally, but to some measure morally bound, by the terms of the arrangement it expressed itself willing to accept when a deputation waited on the Council recently. In this connection Mr Spratt admitted that as back-loading at 1/6 per yard was one of the terms prescribed by the Council it was impossible of performance by the company, and that the arrangement was by no means binding. ' (2) That the incompleteness of this arrangement was 'completely covered by the subsequent agreement alleged to have been made between /Mr Brown and the County engineer, whereby it was arranged that the back loading should be done at 6/ per yard. (3) That without regard to the matters just mentioned the company was not liable to contribute towards the reinstatement of the read m such a way that the reinstated road would be a better class of road than it was before the company commenced carting. but could be asked only to contribute towards the cost of remstatement. After an infinite amount of discussion (wrote Mr Finlay) Mr Spratt offered to pay £l5O at once for all past damage, and to pay £l5O on

February Ist, 1922, to cover any damage which might be done between the present date and the end of January 1922. He founded his offer in a measure on'the terms of the Council’s originally expressed intention of willingness to accept i.e. £SO down and £4 per week for six months. Cr. Hargreaves said he was totally adverse to such an offer being considered. The settlers had been done out of the use of their road owing to the wear and tear by the carting ot timber. He moved that the chairman and Crs. Hargreaves and Wynyard confer with the County’s solicitor as suggested, and insist that all damage be made good by the Hawera Sash and Door Factory. The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Julian, who had written anenl the same matter, and tell him what action the Council intended to take as regards the Kapaki-Aratoro road. Mungaim Cut. Mr A. Scholes wrote stating that his attention had been drawn by several ratepayers in the Te Kuiti-Oto-rohanga special drainage area to what is considered division of loan moneys, viz., in opening up the old closed channel of the Mangapu river north of the cut, near Otorohanga. They claimed that the original loan was raised for the purpose of clearing the Mangapu and Mangaokewa rivers. Any money spent out of the loan for the purpose of diverting the Waipa would be mis-spent, and not spent for the purpose for which it was raised, but rather to benefit Otorohanga Town Board, which body the Council must remember, refused to contribute the paltry sum of £lO per annum towards paying interest and sinking fund -on the present loan. Further, they claimed that the cut is the property of the ratepayers specially rated for the purpose of making it, and the Council have no right to send the money to assist the Waipa to run through it. It was to be sincerely hoped that the Council’s explanation of this matter would show that they had been misinformed. On the other hand, if their information was correct, and the Council continue the work referred to, they would have no option but to test the legality of such proceedings. It was resolved on the motion of Crs. Phillips and Hargreaves that the work on the old mouth of the Mangapu is within the proposal, both as to locality for work and also as part of the compensation necessary in connection with the oeratlons. Butter Factory.

The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company wrote asking if the Council could undertake to give them an entrance to the side of their Otorohanga factory for loading goods into the storeroom. If it was a question of finance the company would assist by finding money for say six or twelve months until the rates come in. It was 1 resolved that Cr. Phillips make arrangements with the Dairy Company to do the work at their own expense. Leave of Absence. The chairman brought up the question of the engineer’s health, saying that the doctor had ordered him away for a rest from work. He, had arranged with Mr Hogg that leave of be granted him if he Applied for it. Cr. Wilson thought they had not been fair to Mr 'Hogg, who had been doing three-men’s work. In reply to questions, Mr Hogg said he thought a would suffice,, but this idea was scouted, the term not being long enough. On the motion of Cr. Phillips, it was resolved that Mr Hogg have one month’s leave of absence. It was further resolved that Mi Browne, who had been assistant engineer, undertake Mr Hogg’s routine duties during his absence.

FINANCE REPORT,

THE CLERK RESIGNS.

The Finance Committee reported as follows: —“At the committee meeting last night a letter from the State Advances Superintendent to the chairman, dated 27/7/21, was produced, in which the superintendent refers to a letter of the 10th May before the Coun--1911 (demanding immediate payment of arrears of interest, which had noi been answered. The chairman on receipt of same enquired from the clerk his reasons for not bringing the leter of the 10th May before the Council. The clerk gave a similar explanation (of oversight) to that in a letter from him (undated) to the State Advances Superintendent (evidently written in the beginning—say 6th of August). This letter to the chairman is the first intimation the chairman or the Council members have had from the State Advances office.

“We have decided to plac# the letters and this explanation before the full Council, at the first opportunity. Referring to the arrears: We would state that the notices for the instalment due in September. 1920, were received in August. 1920. They have not been submitted to the committee for consideration. The notices for the March instalment (which also include arrears from September, 1920) were received in February, 1921. These also were not placed before the Council or the Finance Committee. The only indication the Council has had that the payments were in arrears was the item (interest on loans. £3000) in the balance sheet from 31st March ,1921. The amount due to March 31st exceeded £3OOO by several hundreds, and the exact figures should have been available from the clerk. We deem it necessary the Council should know of the nonpresentation to any of its members of the letter of May 10th. It is obviously the duty of the clerk to place all accounts and letters promptly before the Council.

“We now have to report that the clerk has handed in his resignation.” Mr Mora’s resignation was written as follows: “Gentlemen,—l beg to tender my resignation as clerk, treasurer, and returning officer to the County. In doing so 1 have felt for the last two or three years that the County has grown too big for me, and seeing that your Council are anxious for improved systems, have decided that in the interests of the Council

and myself that I should take this step. I have always endeavoured to carry out my duties conscientiously and to the satisfaction of the Council. I regret that the expert appointed by the Council has not forwarded his report as to the administration and working of the Council, but I trust that the same will be satisfactory. I have been in the employ of the Council nearly twelve years, and I would appreciate a testimonial from the Council.—l am, etc.. P. Mora.” * Cr Were moved that Mr Mora’s resignation as clerk a'nd treasurer be accepted, and that it take place three months from date. Cr. Wall said there was nothing whatever against Mr Mora’s integrity.

The chairman was authorised to give rMr Mora the testimonial asked for.

On the motion of Cr. Wall a vote of thanks was accorded Crs. Wynyard and Phillips for valuable reports submitted. and that the same be adopted and their recommendations be given effect to. On the motion of Crs. Hargreaves and Wynyard. it was resolved that applications be called by advertisement for the following positions: (1) The position of clerk, returning officer and collector for the Council at a salary of £4OO a year. (2>For the position of assistant collector and rate clerk at a salary of £5 a week. That with regard to the assistant collector his appointment be left to the Rates Committee with power to act. That the applications for the County clerk’s position be opened by the Finance Committee, -and a report on same be submitted to the next County meeting. Terms of engagement in each case to be subject to three months’ notice in writing on either side. Advertisements for all applications to be inserted in the King Country Chronicle, Otorohanga -Times, Waipa Post, New Zealand Herald. Auckland Star, and the Dominion. Shingle. A report (with plans) from the Government Lands Deportment re the gravel dposdts at Otorohanga, was read, and the - matter was deferred for discussion'until the indicated reserves had been, visited by the County officials. Messrs Tate and Duthie wrote asking for permission to take shingle from the County gravel reserves at Otorohanga. estimating their requirements at 10,000 cubic yords per annum. They also undertook to supply the County Councli at 5/ per cubic yard on trucks. Resolved that the letter be received, and a reply deferred until the Council visited and inspected the gravel reserves. On the motion of Cr. Hargreaves it was decided: “That the engineer report on what beds of shingle in the Waimiha and,. Ongarue rivers should be taken for the County’s use. Honikhvi. In reply to an- offer, front Messrs Mirfin and Rowen to provide twentyfive yards of metal for repairs to road, and also to a letter from Mr B. Budden, Cr. Phillips and the engineer were appointed to see wliat arrangements could be made, the cost and repairs to be limited to £25.