WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3470, 24 May 1934, Page 5

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

GENERAL BUSINESS DEALT WITH.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Wiaipa County Council was held on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr S. C. B. Macky) presiding; also present were Crs J. T. Johnson, G. S. Clarke, W. McGee, E. F. Peacocke, N. Reid, D. B. Livingstone, F. L. Onion, and T. Church.

The clerk (Mr T. Grant) and the engineer (Mr J. W. Civil) were in attendance. Leave of absence was granted to Crs A. H. Storey and J. S. Fisher. The A'ssistant-Under-Secretary ot the Public Works Department forwarded a copv of a warrant authorising the Wiaikato Coumty Council to construct a bridge over the Waikato River, and apportioning the cost in terms of section 135 of the Public Works Act, 1928. The warrant provided that the Waipa County Council should pay one-ninth of the cost ot the bridge,-4Reee:ved, the chairman remarking that Waipa County Council would have to make arrangements to provide its proportion (£2251) ot the cost.—The clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £2250. It was stated that the total cost of the bridge would be £27 562 The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, forwarded a copy of the Gazette of 10th May containing an Order-in-Council abolishing the Tuatuamoana drainage district.— The same writer, in reply to inquiries made bv the clerk, stated that he was unable to furnish a complete statement of assets and liaoilities oi the Tuatuamoana Drainage Board as he was not in possession of the bal-ance-sheet. The following liabilities of the Board, however, were known to the Department: £l6 18s 5d halfyearly to Lower Mangapiko Drainage Board, £9 12s 6d to Messrs Buddie, Richmond, and Buddie; also interest due on State Advances loans. In connection with the later item the Under-Secretarv stated that he had asked the Superintendent to furnish a statement of the position to date so far as the State Advances Office was concerned.—The clerk stated that a Cambridge firm of solicitors had possession of the books, and he understood that no steps had been taken to recover outstanding rates, some oi which might possibly be statutebarred. A Commission had yet to sit to determine which local body should take over control. . The secretary, Te Rapa Drainage Board, confirmed an arrangement made with the county engineer lor a contribution of £5 per annum to Te Rapa Drainage Board. This arrangement was without prejudice and subject to review should circumstances alter.—Received. Messrs Swarbnck and Swarbrick advised that on 23rd October, 1930, the Council passed a resolution exempting from the provisions of secS 128 of the Public Works Act, 1928 a piece of road fronting the land owned, by Mr H. P- Nelson-in the Pukekura riding. The Council had now made an arrangement with Mr F Wu Skeet to purchase and dedicate as a public road a strip of land through Mr Skeet's property connecing the road with a chain-w.de road to the north of Mr Nelson's property. The eastern boundary of the new road was the western boundary of Mr Nelson's land, so that the continuation of the exempted road past the end of the proposed new road was not exempted, and section 128 of the Public Works Act applied to it. Section 128 provided that when land having a frontage to any existing road ot less than 66 feet was subdivided into allotments for the purpose of sale the owner should set back the frontage of the land to a distance of at least 33 feet from the centre> Ue of road. Section 129 provided that lor the purposes of section 128 the division of a piece of land into two or more allotments should be deemed to be a subdivision for the purposes ot sale if at -least one allotment was ir.tended for disposal by way of sale. As Mr Skeet proposed to sell the strip of land for a road the plan thus effected a subdivis.on within the meaning of section 128. It would, therefore, be necessary either to exempt the half-chain road on Mr Skeet's boundary from the provisions of section 128 or for Mr Skeet to dedicate a strip of land along his boundary so that his frontage would be 33 feet from the centre of the present road.—The engineer explained the position, and said it would be desirable to grant the exemption, m view of the peculiar circumstances. The Government put in the half-chain road.—lt was decided to take the necesary steps to give effect to tne arrangement made by the engineer. Mr H. S. McWilliam requested the Council's permisison -to run a water-pipe line across Chamberlains :Road Granted. The clerk, Waitomo County Council, advised that as the majority of county councils were in favour ot first approaching the executive of the Counties' Association before submitting a test case concerning the State Advances Department's liability for rates on freehold land, his Counc.l had decided to adopt that course.— Received. ~ The clerk, Waiapu County Council, advised that the conference of county councils on the question of native rating would be held at Rotorua at 10 a.m. on 30th instant.—Received. The clerk, Kihikihi Town Board, asked if attention could be given to water-tables and culverts in Lyon and Whitmore Streets.—Referred to the engineer. . . Messrs Swarbrick and Swarbrick advised that they had obtained the consent of the owner and the mortgagee in connection with the taking and closing of a road through and adjoining lot 1 on plan 3921 and lots 1 and 2 on plan 24893, of allotment 225, parish of Pulkekura, and forwarded tracings of plan 27126 for the purpose of having the Councils' consent endorsed thereon. —Agreed to. Mr J. Simpson and five others called attention to a nuisance which had occurred in Livingstone Avenue through the blockage of all culverts leading from the footpath to the roadway, and asked that instructions be given to have the matter remedied An opinion is to be obtained from the Counties' Association's solicitor . as to the Council's liability in such a case.

The secretary, Pukeatna Hall Committee advised that protests have been made to the charge of 6s for use of social rooms in the Pukeatua Hall, and in consequence it had been decided to recommend the following amended charges: Use of rooms free, light 2s, kitchen Is 6d, radiaton point or points Is 6d, total 5s. —Deferred until next meeting. Messrs Delamare and Jackson advised that Mr Threlkeld has agreed to dedicate the strip of land drawn on a rough plan before the council for the purposes of a public read. The writers stated that they are going ahead with the dedication immediatey and understand arrangements haye been made for lodging £l5O in respect of formation. In order to save time they ask that provisional authority be given at the meeting of the council to be held on Wednesday.—Approved, subject to the £l5O being lodged with the council. The Commissioner of Transport advised that in view of the representations made to his Department from time to time it is considered most desirable that the views of representative traffic officers throughout the Dominion be obtained on the various regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, Public Works Act, 1928, and the Transport Licensing Act, 1931. The Depaitment therefore proposes to hold a conference in Wellington on the 19th June. The writer feels sure the council will fully appreciate the value and desii ability of a conference of this kind designed as it is to a greater measure of uniformity than exists at present, and to endeavour to bring about greater safety in road use. It is suggested that as every phase of traffic control will be open to discission permission shou'd be granted to the council's traffic inspector to be present. The council is also invited to submit any matters it desires to be brought before the. conference at the conclusion of which the recommendations arising out of the discussions will be circulated to all local bodies concerned for consideration and comment before any changes are made in the statutes or ; regulations. The proposed conference was approved, as being likely to "result in removing anomalies in the regulations and tend to provide for more uniform action. The secretary, Education Board, requested the co-operation of traffic inspectors appointed under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, in respect to the inspection of buses used for conveyance of school children. These vehicles are now exempt during the years 1934 and 1935 from the requirement? of ceitificates of fitness under the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, provided the Education Department has satisfactory assurance as to the suitability of the vehicle, and provided further that such vehicles are used for the carriage of no other passengers than school children.—Referred to Traffic Group for favourable consideration.