WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 6

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council, held at Ohaupo yesterday, was attended by Crs. D. S. Reid (chairman), H. Reilly, E. F. Peacooke, S. C. Macky, J. Fisher, R. G. Speake, A. Livingstone, Saulbrey, W. McGee, C. Alexander, J. W. Cavil (engineer), and C. Bowden (clerk). The chairman extended a welcome to the table to Cr. Saulbrey, one of the representatives of the Newcastle riding. Liens against Land. The county solicitors advised on the probable cost of obtaining liens against certain lands in the Kakepuku riding for rates due. The letter concluded: "It must of course be remembered that when the lien is registered the effect is merely to prohibit any dealings being registered against the land until the Men is paid. The Council may therefore have to wait over a long period before obtaining its rates, and indeed there is no guarantee that they will ever obtain them at all under this system." The subject was referred to Cr. Alexander and the.clerk to investigate..

Financial Adjustments. The assistant under-secrctary Internal Affairs Department forwarded the award made by Mr Wylie, audit inspector, in respect of the financial adjustments between the counties of Waitomo and Waipa. The latter is to pay Waitomo £257 15s, as follows: £BS 15s 7d for Te Rau-a-moa riding, £ls 8s 5d for Kakepuku loan interest account, £2O lis 9d for Kawa loan interest account, £25 19s 3d for unpaid liabilities, and £IOO towards cost of metalling Kawa station road. Waitomo is to pay to Waipa £523 15s, being £BO of unexpended balance of thirds, £ll 9s 7d unexpended balance of bridge rates collected, £344 5s 9d on Kakepuku loan account, £43 13s 6d portion of reserves and property, and £4l Is 3d portion of plant, machinery and office furniture. Kakepuku loan of £ISOO is to be transferred to Waipa. Waipa is to pay half-yearly to Waitomo £4l 6s lOd as interest and sinking fund on Kawa loan of £3500. and £4 15s 8d interest and sinking fund on Waitomo County loan of £5000; Waipa is to receive £534 18s 3d of unpaid rates. Waitomo is to pay to Waipa all thirds in respect of the area transferred for the period ended March 31, 1922. The costs of the award, £l4 14s, are to be equally divided.

The Waitomo clerk wrote that he proposed to forward a cheque for £l3B 2s 8d to Waipa when that body approved of the allocations'. The Council received the communication. Harbours' Elections. The secretary Marine Department wrote pointing out that the Harbours' Consolidation Bill passed last session provides for. the ■grouping of Raglan, Waipa, and Waikato counties. as ; one combined district-to elect a member of the Auckland Harbour Board, and the boroughs of Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Ngaruawahia as another combined district to elect one member. The new basis will become operative on January 1, 1924. In receiving the communication the chairman remarked that it would be looked on with favour. General Matters. The chairman of the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund thanked the Council for its contribution of £25. Received.

The county solicitor advdsed that the Governor-General had consented to the closing of several roads in the township of Whatawhata. The next step was for the Council to declare the roads closed. —Received.

Mr Miles Schofleld, writing in regard to being placed in a rating area for Tawa Street loan, objected to bedng rated for the full extent of his property, where he was now left without an entrance. —It was resolved to give the writer entrance, the full area to stand in the rate levied. Mr C Oxenham asked that the improvements promised for Forest Lake Avenue at Frankton be carried out, as the recent rains had made the road impassable.—lt was pointed out that the work had been authorised. Messrs C. B. Elliott, G. Baird, CM. Davidson and J. G. Browne asked that attention be given to part of Grandeview road, at Frankton. —Referred to riding member and engineer to inspect, Cr. Reilly remarking that the hill portion of the road should be completed. The Minister of Finance advised that he was arranging for early consideration to be given to the Council's application for permission to raise loans of £2OO, £I2OO and £I6OO respectively.— Received. Mr W. Hobbs asked that users of the gravel pit near the Narrows be requested to keep the gates closed. — Instructions to be Issued as required. Mr W. Cooper-Smith, Tuhikaramea road, asked the Council's assistance in having two fences across the Koromatua road removed, as they blocked his access.—lt was resolved to request that the fences- be removed.

The hon. secretary Te Awamutu ibranch of N.Z. Plunket Society Invited a donation towards its funds, adding that the branch -was endeavouring to arrange for a resident Plunket nurse and every penny contributed would be very necessary.—Received.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that arrangements- were being made to sell section 220 a, Parish of Pukekura. It was understood that the Pukekura Road Board had been collecting the rent, which revenue should be lodged with the Lands Department, as the section was Crown land.—Steps to be taken to secure the pit on the land in question. The Waikato Hospital Board advised that included in the proposed capital expenditure for the current financial, year was £6OOO for parts of the Huntly and Matamata hospitals, isolation ward and nurses' home. The loan was over 21 years at 6 per cent., and the estimated contribution from the Council was £2B 10s capital and £l4 5s interest.—Received.

Cr. Livingstone was granted permission to have Lindsay's, Higginson's and the Cemetery road in the Newcastle riding sanded, and Blackett's road formed and sanded. The clerk was instructed to make application for the transfer of a grant for subsidy of £640 from Newcastle to Mangapi'ko ridings. The Newcastle members expressed themselves as in agreement with the transfer. The heavy traffic by-laws were given consideration. Information was before the Council from its solicitors, and the whole subject was' referred to the special committee which has had the subject in hand. Engineer's Report. The engineer reported on the work of the various ridings for the past month as follows: — Newcastle. Tuhikaramea-Whala-whata-Ngaruawahia road: Some 500 cubic yards yards metal from Hodgfcon's quarry has been landed at Hlackett's landing. Tenders for delivering some 1400 cubic yards metal from Whatawhata landing on to above j-oad were, before the meeting. Te

/ ; 1 Kowhal to Horotdu grant (£750, £1 tot '—' | £3): Speoifloations and proposals have .j been prepared for this work and forwarded to Public Works Department u for approval. The earthworks required from La Trobe’s to foot of Pope’s hill were practically completed. Te Kowhal to Te Rapa (£I2OO, £1 for £3): Specifications and proposals had been prepared for taking up some £550 of this grant and forwarded to PubMc Works Department for approval. Horotiu to Te Rapa (Young’s road loan . money): Tenders called for one seo- *£ tion i mile 38 chains of the 21 mile? > of this road were before the meeting. i t j Campbell’s road: Reforming, grading : t ft and water-tabling has been carried out v; on this road. A good line of road on good grades could be got from Campbell's to main Hamilton-Whatawhata road by a deviation from present line, which I think could be arranged for. ! This and some minor alterations of other roads to fit in with deviation would improve roading system in this block. Higginson’s road: Works to ' improve portion of this road had been laid off. Matthews and Davies’ road: The matter of re-survey and legalising line of road through this property, fintersecting old road at either end, had been considered. A good and practically level road can be obtained from Blackett’s landing to road in front of Mr Collie’s by deviation of small portion of road in Blackett’s, then following through Matthew and Davies’, Reid •“ Barton’s and Collie’s 1 properties. Messrs Blackett, Matthew and Davies are v agreeable, and I am arranging to meet Mr Collie at an early date re same. < The new suggested line of road would link up what is at present two dead £ •ends. , , Hamilton.—Horotiu to Te Rapa, via , ? Young’s: Plans have been prepared, & but owing to legalising of this portion not being completed cannot call tenders until such is completed. Rukuhia.—Hamilton to Ohaupo and Rukuhia station roads: Some 148 cubic yards ljin has been delivered to Rukuhia railway station for repairing above roads, and a good portion has been carted out on to roads. I have been > over roads in the riding and have arranged for works to be carried out this season. Am arranging with engineer of the Raglan County Council ij for supply of some 250 cubic yards metal for repair work and to complete .1) hospital deviation. y Tuhikaramea. —Rukuhia to Ohaupo, via McGregor’s (west side railway): Re new bridge, with the chairman I went into the matter re bridge site, and have .arranged to place new bridge i some three chains higher up stream from the legalised line of road and deviate from old line of road a dis- . tance of 70 to 80 chains, which will be a big improvement in grades and 4 will be cheaper to construct. Mr McGregor is agreeable to proposed altera- 5 tion on condition that the council meets . expense of removing and erecting j fences. On Higginson’s and other ad- 1 jacent roads arrangements to have re- «• pairs l carried out are under way. Nga-hinepouri-Rukuhia station road: Some 40 cubic yds of l*in. metal has been dumped at Rukuhia railway station for A. repairing this road. * Kaipaki.—Te Awamutu - Hamilton road: 1 Jtin. metal has been conveyed on to road and dumped for repairs.

Pukekura. —Surfaceman's -cottage at Rotorangi practically completed, also building of 22ft x 12ft shed for road plant and feed-room. CambridgePuahue road: Some 67 chains drain has been cleaned out by Hickey. Grad- g ing and sanding has; been carried out * on various roads in the riding. { Rangiaohia.—Weal's' road: Bygrave and party have completed hte forming of this road as laid out, and 40ft x 14in x, Din culvert has been laid at junction. Branch road near Mr MonteQore's residence : The hill portion of this road lias been reformed by Bygrave and party; the fiat will have to be left until weather is more settled, as flat will have to be raised.

Orakau. —Cambridge-Arapunl Road, Waatetei stream bridge: With Cr. McGee I met the chairman, Cr. Judd and engineer of the . Matamata County Council re portion of this road, which is on the boundary between the two counties, which will have to be deviated on account of spillway of Arapuni dam. There was also a deputation of settlers in regard to deviation of the present road from Pukeatua to Arapuni dam. A good road could be obtained on the suggested line, but there will not be the saving in distance as was made out. It was a case of going into the matter more deeply, as grades of the present road could be improved and by deviating portion of old road might meet requirements.

Mangapiko.—Ballinger's road: Dixon has completed building of 36ft x 4ft x 3ft 6in culvert. Paterangi to Te Awamutu road: Work for re-forming portion of this' road that is to be metalled has been started. Pirongda to Te Rore: I intend calling tenders for carting metal for repair of this road and linking up unmetalled portions. OhaupoPaterangi road: Metal repairs carried out. some metal being dumped for further requirements. Kakepuku.—Webster's gate to Harris' crossing (3m. 65c.) : Tenders' for forming this road are before this meeting. Te Awamutu to Otorohanga, via Kakepuku school: Tenders were called for quarrying, breaking and stacking some 3500 cubio yards metal spawls, but no tenders received. Cruickshank's road: An engineering survey has been made of the whole length of this road, consisting of 2 miles 30 chains, and plans are being prepared for same. I found it necessary so as' to improve grade to deviate slightly into Mr Calder's property. The removing and erecting of fences opposite Rushbrook's and Mr Daniell's properties has been completed. Repairs to various roads in the riding have been carried out. The report as a whole was adopted.