WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15024, 22 August 1922, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The August meeting of the Waipa County Council, held at Ohaupo yesterday, was attended by Crs. S. Reid (chairman), E. F. Peacocke, A. H. El icott, S. C. Macky, J. Coxshead. E. J: Edwards, ,T. Fisher, A. Livingstone, A. H. Crawford, J. Storey, and C. M. Alexander. Roto-o-rangi Property. Mr .T. M. Miller applied to the Council for permission to buy two aicres of land which formerly belonged to the Pukekura Rfi»ad Board and which adjoined the writer’s property at Roto-o-rangi. , „ , It was pointed out that the property Was given to the inhabitants of Pukekura from the original Roto-o-rangi 6S teller It was resolved to give the applicant the right to fence a chain, as an outlet was required, the right to be for 12 months-, half an acre to be reserved for a hall site whenever such was required, and the Council to retain the remainder. ’ Workers’ Dwelling Loan. The Council’s solicitors advised in regard to the Council’s right to use the proceeds of a loan raised for workers’ dwellings to purchase land to erect the dwellings that power to purchase land for dwellings and also to erect them on land already owned by the county was given by Section 3i of “The Counties Amendment Act, 1913. ’ “The Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1913,” gave no power for the Slate Advances Office to lend money for this purpose, and any loan raised by a county would have had to be borrowed from other lenders. t “The Housing Act, 1919 (section 51) gave power to the State Advances Office to lend money.for the erection of workers’ dwellings, but not for the purchase of lahd for this purpose. The loan of £BOOO was raised by the Council on June 8, 1920, under the authority of this section, and the special order accordingly stated that the loan was for “the erection of workers’ dwellings.” Had it been otherwise expressed the money could not have been borrowed from the State Advances Office. ■ Section 14 of “The Housing Amendment Act, 1920,” empowered the State Advances Office to ,lend money for the acquisition of land (whether with or Without dwellings thereon) for the purposes of workers’ dwellings, but this Act did not corne into force until November 9, 1920, and in any ease the purposes for which the Council’s loan could be used were already fixed. It was therefore clear that the loan could not be used to purchase land but only to erect Workers’ dwellings on land otherwise acquired. The Council resolved to review the Whole situation later, when the question of land purchase for buildings will come forward. This point was deferred to enable members to consider the matter.

Mangapiko Drainage. A request was placed before the Council asking that a loan be raised for cleaning and deepening the whole of the balance of the main drain and maintaining it. The distance was 150 chains and the work could be done for 25s per chain. The sum of £3OO was asked to be raised. v It was resolved to ask the riding members, the chairman and the solicitor to go into the matter. It was pointed out that the_Gouncil had made a promise in regard to the matter, hut that it should make it clear that no liability for future maintenance should fall on the Council. Ruakura Farm School. ** The Auckland ' Provincial Agricultural Educational Committee sought the influence and assistance of o the Council in furtherance of the first step towards the realisation of establishing a fal-m school at Ruakura. It was decided to give the scheme support) Cr. Ellicott remarking upon the wisdom of such a consummation.

\pokuru swing Bridge. Mr F. W. J. Wilkenirig, Pokuru, asked that repairs be effected to the swing bridge across the Punlu river at Harris’ crossing. Cr. Alexander thought that £3O would do the work. It was decided to have the work done, the Whole County to contribute. WaiteWhiriwhtri Bridging. The Hamilton Council advised in response to an enquiry from Waipa County dealing with the Maeroa bridge over the Wallewhiriwliiri stream that tiie borough engineer had reported that except for some broken guardwires between the handrailing and deck the bridge was as safe as when erected. It wag proposed to fix timber guard-rails some time during the year and the county would be consulted in regard to portion of payment. Meanwhile the wires would be mended. Cr. Ellicott pointed out that the approach at the far end of the bridge had suffered a washout, and certainly could not be said to be in good order. The engineer said that the Council’s watercourse was causing the trouble, but Hamilton was the controlling authority. The matter was left with the engineer to arrange.

Rates too High. A deputation from the lloto-O-rangi Road Board's district, which is now included in the Pukekura riding of the county, waited on the Council arid asked that consideration be given to trie blatter of amelioration in rates. It Was pointed out that the new rate would be exactly double what obtained under trie board. The chairman said that there was no power to make a differential rate over a riding. Or. Fisher said that he would like to meet the deputation, but lie could not see that he could offer them much. With £750 for surfacemen and £450 to b 6 expended on the Te AwamutuCambridge road there was little more available. There was, of course, the promise to these people that the whole of their rates would be expended for

the first year in their area. The deputation pointed out that the valuation Was made there in boom times and was Very high. There was much unimproved land in the territory. The Council, while sympathetic, could promise nothing delinite. It was decided, however, to make some refund at the end of the financial year, if siaCh were possible. The figure, if ariy, will be the difference between the amount expended on the roads and the total of the rates collected. Various Matters. The Opotiki County Council asked for support to a resolution urging the Government to inake the cost of erecting dips to deui with cattle-tick a charge on the Consolidated Fund. — The Council supported I lie resolution. The Waikato Hospital Board made application for £2624. Hie county levy for tile year ending 1922-23, which i was due on .July 24. —The clerk was instructed to arrange for reduction of the amount. Messrs Walts and Armstrong, solicitors, Hamilton, forwarded deed of dedication of Rhode Street, Frarikion, on behalf of Mr \V. S. Higgins—The Council's seal to be affixed. The Ashley County Council asked

the Council to support a resolution advocating a proposal that one-third of the annual hospital levy should be calculated on population and twothirds on capital value. —The Council supported the resolution. Mr W. Tudhope, solicitor, on behalf of Mr A. A. Holmes, of Te Rapa, notified the Council to stop the damage which it was alleged was being occasioned to the latter’s properly owing to excavating for gravel being carried on ._nefo. r rcd to Cr. Ellicott and the engineer to investigate. Messrs Swarbrick and Swarbrick advised that the agreement fur sale and purchase of allotments 33 and 40, village of Te Awamutu, had been prepared and forwarded to the Council for execution. —Acceded to. Messrs Swarbrick and Swarbrick, writing in reference to leases 520 and .517, Alexandra East, sought further instructions in regard to the matter. — Referred to Cr. Macky to investigate and act. The Leamington Town Board wrote thanking the Council for its assistance in meeting the wishes of the Board in handing over the county roads and the inclusion of Flat Park into the Town Board area. A petition was received asking the Council to take over the 300 chains of roads in the Reynolds’ Estate. —Cr. Fisher advocated that some assistance should be forthcoming from the Public Works Department in the way of grants towards these roads, and the Council deputed Cr. Fisher and the engineer to further enquire into the matter with the object of having something achieved along the lines suggested. On the suggestion of Cr. Ellicott, this member and the engineer were deputed to investigate and have Norton road drainage at a certain point carried out through private properly, the owners of which were agreeable. The engineer and the riding members, the latter so far as it affected their districts, were authorised to deal with the disposal of timber from bridges. REPORT BY ENGINEER. The engineer, Mr J. W. Civil, presented the following report to yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council on work under way, completed or contemplated to August 21 in the following ridingsNewcastle. *— Tuhikaramea-Whata-whata-Ngaruawahia road grant, £2OOO (£1 for £2) : Proposals and specifications have been approved of by the 'Public Works Department and authority has been received for the expenditure of £2OOO. Contracts have been let for the quarrying of Hodgson's quarry and loading of barges, also for unloading metal at Blackett’s and Whatawhata landings, the lowing being carried out by day labour. A start has been made to deliver metal, and some 200 cubic yards landed at Blackett’s landing, and now with plenty of water in the river a good show should be made during the next few months. Have arranged with Moore to sand portion of above road near Slow’s culvert. Cox’s culvert: Re laying new culvert at 3ft lower level than Hie old culvert, some 14 36in. concrete pipes and 12 bags of cement have been ordered and delivered to Horotiu, and carted to site by the settlers interested in the drainage scheme, who have also excavated the foundations and laid pipes under the supervision of Mr T. Nicoil, the Council’s bridge-builder. Whatawhata to Hamilton road: Have arranged for the repairing- of the most Urgently needed portion of this road with the metal dumped for repairs. Re maintenarice of this road, letters .are before this meeting from the Hamilton Borough Council and Baglan County Council. With regard to conveying coal over the road, I have interviewed the manager of the transport company r<3 paying a royalty for all coal carried over this portion ol’ road, and he is going into the matter and would like to come to a settlement. I would suggest a committee be appointed, with power to act. Re mile posts: I have measured and placed pegs for the erection of mile-posts from Ngaruawaiiia to Whatawhata, 1 to 10 miles; also on the HamiltonNgaruawahia road from riding boundary to Ngaruawahia, 7 to 10 miles. Repairs have been carried out on various- roads by surfaceman. Hamilton. —Repairs have been carried out oh various roads by the surfaceman.

Rukuhia. —Mahoe street: I have made an engineering survey of this work, some 25 chains in length) re improving grade, etc., and preparing same ready for metalling, and plans are being prepared for same. I would have liked, in conjunction with Mahoe street, to have improved the grade on the main llarnilton-Te Awamutil road from Mahoe street to junction of Peacock’s road, f but this would mean ripping up metal, so will have to leave

it on accounl of cost. Narrows’ road: Drains have been cleared out and concrete walerLrougli erected and in use. The worst portions of road have been repaired by surfaceman Alwill, and I expect to put No. 3 truck on for several days ttiis week for completing the repairs. Herman’s access road: I have written to Messrs Ferguson and Herman informing Ihctn that our requirements could not be reduced. Hamilton to Te Awamutu road: I have chained and placed pegs for the erection of mile-posts from :lj to 8 miles. Sur r face work has been carried out on various other roads. Tuliikaramea. Surfaceman’s cottage, Ngahinepouri: (J. H. Drabble is making fair progress with the cottage. Kaipakl.—Walker’s Gully to Oltaupo road: Surface work, sanding, etc., has been carried out on this road. I have marked positions for mile-posts 0 to G miles. Repairs have been carried out oh various roads. Pukekura. —Carnbridge-t’uahUe road via Sotorangi creamery; Surfacemen Harris ahd Read liave been carrying out sanding portions of this road from Peppercorn’s pit. Have marked positions for mile-posts on this road from 2i to 7 miles. Cambridge-Te Awamutu road: Have marked positions for mile-posts on this road from 1 lo 7} miles. Repairs have been carried out

on various other roads. Gr. Fisher and I inspected all the roads that were in the Rolo-o-i'angl Road Board district. Rangiaohia.—Te Awamutu to Cambridge road: Some 30 cubic yards metal has been conveyed from trie Te Awamutu railway station out by No. 3 truck, and road has been repaired with same from Te Awamutu to Hairini. Te Awamutu to Puahue: Some 50 ctibic yards metal has been conveyed out by No. 3 truck and road repaired with same. Te Awamutu to Te Raliu: Some 50 cubic yards rhbtal has been conveyed out by No. 3 truck and road repaired with same. Te AwamuluHarhiltoh road: HaVe marked positions for mile-poslS Oil this road from the 13 to 17 miles. Orakau. —Te Awamutu - Pukealua road: Repairs lo melai ahd gravel have been parried out with motor truck and surfaceman. I have pegged positions for mile-posts from 1 lo 12 miles on Hie road. Repairs have been carried oul on various roads. Mangapiko.—Pirongia lo Te Awamutu: Repairs to rnetal have been carried out on this rbad ahd work in progress. Pirongia to Te Rore: fib* pairs have beeft carried but on this road. Ohaupo-Paterangi road (Gra-

ham’s hill) : Metal has been conveyed out by No. 3 truck and this hill repaired; pipes also have been conveyed out and a 9in. pipe culvert laid and surfacework carried out. Repairs have been carried out on other works. Kakcpuku.—-Mangarnahoe concrete bridge: Contractor Perrin has stripped the structure, which is satisfactorily completed. Bridge approaches: Contractor J. R. Hayes lias completed his contract, and I have arranged with R. If. Westbrook to fix up the fencing of approaches; am also arranging to get poplars planted where required. To Awamutu-Otorohanga road, via Kakapuku School: I have marked positions for mile-posts 2 to 6 miles. The report was adopted.