WAIKATO COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15314, 15 August 1923, Page 6

WAIKATO COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly •meeting of the Waikato County Council, held in Hamilton yesterday, was attended hy Crs. J. P. Bailey (chairman), T. Clarkin, w. Henry, T. H. Henderson, T. Hinlon, and T. B. Insoll (secretary). The Highways Bill.

In reporting- upon his visit to the N.Z. Counties' Conference at Wellington, the chairman said that the consensus of opinion in regard to the Highways Bill was that it should be given a fair trial and the necessary amendments to the Bill could be made as time went on. Finance was the main question, and this was not altogether assured. The clerk explained the scheme, and said thai, the financing was to be equally divided between the Government, acting through the boards and the local bodies. Or. Henderson observed that many side-roads were of more importance to settlers than the m:vn highways.

The chairman n vied that the feeders to the railw.. should be made first. Cr. Henderson contended that the Bill was* not sufficiently far-reaching as it did not take sufficiently into account the side or feeder roads.

Afetr a general review of the many points of the Bill the Council resolved to give it its hearty support. Payment of Soldiers' Rates.

The Minister of Lands advised that the matter of the county taking action against the department for arrears of rates owing by soldier-settlers at Te Miro had been referred to the Attorney-General. Regarding the Council's request that an allowance be made to meet the present unsatisfactory position regarding rates, the Minister stated that the request could not be acceded to. The department suggested that the rates be written off, as extensive proposals were under consideration for granting soldiers some ■relief in necessitous cases. It was resolved to intimate to the Minister that the Council could not at present accede to the suggestion that such rates be written off. Revaluation Declined.

In regard to the Council's request for a revaluation of all properties In the «ounty, Mr J. A. Young, M.P.. advised that the Prime Minister had replied that several similar requests had been made by local bodies, but they had not been acceded to, as since 1914 practically all the rural districts in the Dominion 'had been revalued. Any attempt at present to establish a new basis of unimproved values would result in a greater risk of error than the basis now in use. Power Board for Franklin.

The Franklin County Council submitted the minutes of a conference of local authorities held at Pukekohe to consider the question of an electric power board for the Franklin district. At that meeting it was stated that the Franklin County Council had been advised that there was a chance of a supply being available in 1924. The Government was prepared to erect a sub-station near Pukekohe providing £I2OO was guaranteed. A committee set up to collect data consisted of five representatives from Franklin County, three from Pukekohe Borough, two from Tuakau Town Board, two from Waikato, and two from Raglan Counties, with power to add. The chairman and Cr. Hinton were appointed to represent the county at a later conference. Bridge Inspector Suggested. The Ngaruawahia Chamber of Commerce wrote advocating that a competent inspector be permanently employed by a number of counties and boroughs grouped under the Highways Act. "There would be plenty for him to do," was an observation made, but the Council took no action. Stoney Creek Bridge. The engineer reported on the proposed bridge over Stoney Creek, on the Maramarua to Miranda road. It was proposed to construct the bridge of hardwood. The report was referred te Cr. Taylor, the riding representative, to re-' view. Merging Advocated. Nineteen ratepayers of tiia Tauhei district petitioned the Council and asked that merging of their territories into Piako County be given effect to A deputation waited upon the Council in further support of the request. The area concerned was from the junction of the roads known as Orini corner io the Conllscation Lino. It was slated that the capital value of the nrjpartios concerned w«2 £7iV4lO.

The chairman was of the opinion that th<3 Confiscation Line was the best line that could bo followed. When informed that there was a counter-petition in circulation, the deputation replied that they were aware of it, though they considered that it was being signed in the belief that the mergers would require to also contribute "to Piako loans now existent, which was not the case.

The deputation said that it was 11 miles to Morrinsville and 22 miles to Hamilton, and pointed out Ihal the shorter route was naturally much more favoured. The deputation was advised that the Council would decide the petition at its iuxt meeting. Woodlands Drainage.

It was resolved to pay £llO in contributions to the Woodlands Drainage Board and lo request the board to notify the Council before proceeding with further work.

Heavy Traffic Limit. Cr. Henderson said that the resolution of the Council at lasL meeting was lo limit the load on vehicles to four tons, which was to include the weight of the vehicle. The report had not indicated that the weight of the vehicle had lo be taken into account, and consequently it was misleading. He thought that it was only fair that these terms of the decision of the Council should be made public, so as to avoid any misconception. The speaker considered ihal the speed of vehicles should also be limited.