WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1339, 9 January 1923, Page 5

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING OK WW COUNCIL. SUMMARY OF BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Waipa ~ County Council was held at Ohaupo yesterday. The chairman iMr S. Raid) presided, and there were also prfea|nt Crs C. M. Alexander, C. C*V,,k, A. H. Storey, A. H. Crawford, A. Livingstone. E. J. Edwards, J. S. Fisher. H. J. Coxhead, S. (.". Macky, E. F. Peacocke and A. 11. Ellicott, Mr J. W. Civil (engineer), and Mr C. Bowden (clerk). Congratulatory. Mr F. F. Hockly. M.P., thanked the Council for its congratulations extended to him on his re-election to Parliament and conveyed seasonable greetings to the Council Sir F. W. Lang, acknowledging the Council's communication to him, thanked the Councillors for their sympathy on his defeat at the recent Parliamentary elections. Tt was. j he said, gratifying to him to have received so many letters and telegrams from friends in all parts of the Dominion, and particularly the one from the Council, with which he was connected for so many years.

\ Bnd Road. C. W. Perkins, Te Kowhai, recalled a petition signed some time ago asking that the road to his place he attended to. Nothing has been done and the road is in a terrible state. He protested that it seems hardly fair that sound roads should be ripped up and metalled, while other roads are axle deep in mud. Cr Crawford said that this road is to he repaired, the necessary arrangements having been made. Stock Inspector's Telephone. Replying to the representations made for the residence of the Inspector of Stock at Te Awamutu to he connected with the telephone exchange, the Minister of Agriculture | said that the matter' will be carefully considered and the Council advised of a decision in due course. A later letter was in effect that after consultation with the responsible officers of the Department the Miniser could not see his way to comply with the request. The refusal was considered 'absurd' and dictated by departmental officials without due regard to the public needs. It was therefore decided to renew the application. An Insurance Claim. The Government Life Insurance Department forwarded cheque in part settlement of the Council's claim tor compensation arising in consequence of an accident to its engineer.—Received. Information Wanted. The chairman of the Raglan County Council (Mr Campbell Johnston) wrote saying that he had noticed from press report that the Waipa Council ■ had received a petition from ratepayers regarding the road from > Whatawhata to Frankton. As the Raglan Council is concerned in this road, he asked to be supplied with a copy of ;he petition. After a short discussion, it was considered improper that this document should go to another county: the ratepuayers' petition had been sent to Waipa. and it was of no rea' concern to Raglan. Therefore the application was refused. In the discussion the chairman said that he had promised Mr Johnston when speaking to him on the 'phone, to send him a copy of the petition, but Mr Johnston now wrote as chairman of the county. It was a different thing to supply information for his own private use to sending it officially to his Council. Counties' Conference. .-, The N.Z. Counties' Association acknowledged the receipt of a remit from Waipa desiring alteration of regulations regarding the provisional approval of loans, and this would be listed for consideration at the next conference. —Received. Special Rate Levy. The Council's solicitors advising on a question whether the Council may remit special rates due on a property included in a special rating area in spite of the owners' protest that they derived no benefit from the expenditure of the loan, stated that the property owners in question had . the right to object to the special roll J under section :-! (3e) of the Local Bodies' Loans Act 1913. Having failed to do so they could not now object and the rate was legally recoverable. The Council's power of remission of ' Tates was only in a case of extreme poverty or in the case of lands used exclusively for agricultural shows or athletic sports. There was no general power to remit rates and the inclusion of these special powers in the Statute was strong grounds for holding that there was no such general power. The chairman said it was clear that there were several settlers affected, unfairly so. Cr Alexander added that there was not the least doubt that these people had been " fraudulently" treated by the old Waitomo County and it was a harsh and unjust position. Waipa had no legal alternative; were the control stfrll in Waitomo the settlers would perhaps have a remedy. Councillors agreed with the 'injustice of the position, but was bound by law in terms of the legal adviser's opinion. * Overpaid Rates. The solicitors also advised regarding , a Cambridge ratepayer's assessment whereby over a series of years he had paid rates in respect to 119 acres not owned by him. After traversing the law on the subject it was feeld that the Council could nof amend the valuation rolls and must collect. I its rates on the basis shown and that it could not make a refund of rates i . overpaid. It was decided to act in accordance with the solicitor's opinion, a copy of | which is to lie sent to the ratepayer's , solicitor. It was felt that redress, if any, would have to be sought from j the Valuation Department, A Plumbing .Area. The District Medical Officer of 1

Health, writing in regard to a discussion at the previous meeting of the Council on contribution to the inspector's salary, wherein some councillors had remarked that it was the first time they had heard of "the plumbing area" on the outskirts of Hamilton borough, enclosed a Gazette notice of 17th August last dealing with the matter. —Received. Health Officer's Salary. The suggested increase in the County's contribution was from £ll6 to £2!'-! per annum. It was asked that the Council nominate a sum that it would be prepared to pay. The rhiirman said the Council should uphold its objection to increase the contribution in any way. In the past they had been paying too much and ha opposed any increase. It was decided to reply accordingly. StatHiry Half Holiday. The Labour Department wrote pointing out that the Council is required to hold a special meeting in January te fix the day for .he observance of the statutorv half holiday. If the Council failed to nominate a day, tin Minister would himself appoint the weekly half holiday.—No action was taken. >l'irigii|»ilu» Riding Loan. Writing in regard to the Council's proposal tor a loan of £6OOO for the Mangapiko riding, the Deputy Superintendent for State Advances advised that if the Council intended lifting £IOOO during the current financial year the application should be amended to one for that amount. The clerk reported that arrangements were in progress. Metal Supplies. J. H. Miller, Roto Rangi, wrote authorising the Council to cart metal from the pit on his property, He asked for Is per yard royalty and imposed a condition that the Council repair any damage to his fences or private road.—Approved. The Otorohanga Gravel Co. wrote advising that the quotation for shingle from January Ist would he reduced to 5s per yard on trucks at Otorohanga.—Received. Financial. The clerk was given authority to pay off the antecedent liability as outstanding on March 31st last, charging the amount through the district fund account for the current year. The engineer was instructed to apply to the Department tor the payment of all authorised grants for completed road works so as \to put all the accounts in order by the close of the current financial year. Riding Works. Cr Ellicott put forward a plea for certain works to be done in the Hamilton Riding which had the money in hand and needed work done while the weather is favourable. The engineer explained that grading is needed and it was all a matter of how quickly they could free the graders; certain works would have to be done by contract. Tenders are to be called for sanding Te Kowhai road.

Cr Macky put forward a claim on behalf of Mangapiko, and several repair works were authorised. Cr Coxhead followed with a claim tor Grice's road at Te Rore, and this was approved for attention. Cr Edwards applied for grading on the back'swamp road and this is to be done: he also asked that the grader be used to clear out the water tables. In reply to an enquiry the engineer said that communications are in progress with the Railway Department regarding the railway bridge. The County could not touch the bridge until the Department approves. Cr Storey urged that the contract at Potts' hiil be hastened.—-The engineer explained the position and that the work would be done this summer. Cr Crook said the Maori Land Board had the money available for the work at the Owairaka Valley road. The work had been held up for many years, and the road is urgently needed. It was decided to \yrite to the Maori Land Board and the Public Works Department urging that the road be done this summer. Cr Crook also move<" for authority tor COO yards of mela. on the Kihi-kihi-Waotu road. Cr Alexander moved authority for the expenditure of the accumulated "thirds" in front of the school, the mtney to be supplemented so as to bring the available amount up to £IOO for this metalling. Regarding Harris' road, he asked for the expenditure of £SO on 15 chains of formation legalised road, subject to the money being available. Cr Alexander also urged that the Council should immediately bring matters to finality regarding the adjustment of finances with Waitomo.

The chairman asked tor sanding on Hamilton-Tuhikaramea Road, on the Rukuhia road, and claying on the Hamilton swamp road, and urged that tenders for these works be invited.—Approved.