HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3744, 16 July 1883, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

This Day

Tho Council mot at 10.30 a.m. Present : Mr J. jsr. Wiliams (in the chair), and Cra. J. G. Kinross, P. Dolbel, W. A. Couper, a. Ryraer, and J. A. Cunningham.

rBESEXTATION TO ME. SUTTON. The Chairman said tho pkto for presentation to Mr Sutton had arrived, and in tho absence of Mr Sutton at Wellington ho moved that the following letter be addressed to that gentleman:—Frederick Sutton, Esq., M.H.R., Chairman, County of Hawke's Bay. Sir, —I have tho honor, by direction of the Council, to inform you that the presentation service voted to you for your valuable services by tho Hawko's Bay County Council has arrived from England, and has been forwarded to your residence. Tho Council regrets that, owing to your absence at the seat of government, it was impossible to mako the presentation in person, but trust that it will bo none tho less worthy of your acceptance as a token of thoir appreciation of your past and present services.—l have, &c, J. N. Williams. This was agreed to. COKRESPONDENCE.

The following inward correspondence waa read:—

From Mr Thomas Mitchell, protesting against two of his cows being taken to the Taradale pound by the Ranger. The fenco of the paddock in which tho cows were depasturing had been broken by the limba of the willows overhanging the road now in process of being cut down.—Referred to the Ranger for his report.

From the clerk Hcretaunsra Road Board, forwarding copy of a resolution passed at a general meeting of the Board on the 17th instant as follows:—"That tho County Council bo requested to take over and maintain that portion of tho Te-Awa-to-Atua road loading- from the junction of the cross roads at Willow Pa to Paki Pitki. —No action taken.

From tho Chairman Taraclalo Board »f River Conservators, asking that oeier willows bo planted in rear of the groin opposite Mr George Condie's blue gums situatod on the Rcdclyft'c road.—Approved. From Mr F. Sutton, M.H.R., (telegram), stating that progress payment of £1500 under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act would probably be remitted by wire on Monday (this day). From the Town Clerk, Wellington, offoring to dispose of a quantity of surplus •waterworks plant to the county.—No action taken.

From the Property Tax Department, stating that the word "exempt," which appeared in the margin of the roll for Clyde riding opposite entry No. 90a, Karaitiana's ostate, was inserted in error** i

From the Inspector of Slaughter Houses, reporting that all the private slaughter houses under his supervision had been propprly conducted during the month. From Messrs E. D. Tanner, E. Reigner, C.P., M. Bazilname, Charles Villers, J. A. Ton , , A. T. Haultain, Joseph Horatio Gilpin, and D. P. Balfour, applying to hare their names inserted in the electoral rolls for their respective districts.—Agreed to. KNOINEEU'S EEPORP. The following report was received from the county engineer: — During the past month the engineering survey of the proposed neir road from Felane to Pohui has boon proceeded -with, and in ordor to expedite tho work I have engaged special extra assistance. A total distance of eleven milos is now located on the ground, and plan and sections of tho first six miles wero forwarded to Wellington on the 27th ultimo. The remaining tactions will be completed before tho end of the month should the weather remain favourable. In company with Mr Tracy I inspooted No. 1 contract on t,ho Omahu-Patearoad on the 21st ultimo, and found the contractor making fair progress. ■ Plans of tho Okawa, Meanee, Clive, and Havelock Road Board districts are forwarded herewith.—l have, &c, C. D. Kennedy, County Engineer. ItOAD OVERSEER'S KEI'ORT. The read overseer reported on the works done during the month, and atate of the roads, &c, as follows:— All metalled county roads have been patched and repaired whero required. Hastings-Omahu Road.—l beg to recommend that seventy chains of this road be re-formed, commencing at Captain Russell's plantation gate and running towards Omahu, at a cost of £40. Rcdclifl'o - Omahu Okawa - Tunanui Road Contracts.—The metalling of 164 chains of this road between tho Omahu mill and Omalm-Ngaruroro bridge is nearly completed. There has been very bad progross made on road formation contracts ou this lino of road dining tho month. I have notified the contractors that the time for completing their contracts has expired. Mangawharc - Kuripapanga - Tararau Road.—Mr O'Brien has commenced his metal quarrying contract on the Blowhard and Kuripapanga road. There are seven surface-men employed on this road attonding to surface repairs. As a surface road in winter it is in fair order fur traffic. Potane-Wairoa Road. —As authorised I have commenced forming and metalling this road between Mr Villers' blacksmith's ahop and Kiamate store. I find that forming and metalling same during the winter months where it has to be kept open for traffic during the construction of the works is a mistake, and recommend that this work be deferred until the spring. On examining a portion of this road from Petane river running through the Maori Pa a distance of about fifteen chains I find vory crooked, and more liko a ditich or drain than a road. I have interviewed the natives as to a dircot right of road running through a cultivation paddock, and they aro willing to give this right on condition that the county erects a fence on both sides of the road and forms the road. Tho coat will bo about £10. I beg to recommend that this work bo authorised, and the work commenced at once before the Maoris commence planting thoir crops. I also beg to draw your attention to a swamp about thirty chains from the Maori Pa ou this road, which overflows the road for a di-tance of about twenty chains in time of freshets, and to recommend that a drain bo cut at a cost of £50, to drain this swamp. The natives will give £2.3, guaranteed byMr Thomas Tanner, provided the work bo authorised by tho Council. Bridges.—Tho difficulty in obtaining heart of totara for bridge planking has delayed tho progress of bridge repairs authorised last month. Willow Planting.—l beg to recommend that £50 be expended in planting willows whero required on tho road along the river bank at Puketapu-Hakawai, also at Galbraith's corner, Clive. Willow and Gorse Obstructions.—On examining tho county roade lately I find that property-owners are removing the obstruction of overhanging -willows and gorse complained of by the trarolling public. Joira Tkacy, Road Ovciaecr. The several recommendations in tho report were approved. With refence to timber for bridges the Chairman said it wnsinrpossible to got heart of totara. It might be as well, therefore, to obtain kauri. The overseer was of opinion that, although totara was not nearly bo liable to rot as kauri, the latter would withstand the wear as flooring equally well. Cr. Kinross said he feared it would bp vory difficult to obtain even kauri. It was also dearer than totara. The Chairman said kauri was quotod this morning at lfjs. *■ Cr. Dolbel would recommend blue gum as far superior for flooring to kauri. Tho latter timber was brittle, and very liable to rot. He would move that blue gum be employed. Tho Chairman asked if Cr. Dolbel had any idea of the cost of blue gum ? Cr. Dolbel replied that it might cost 2s or 2s (id more than kauri, but it would last twice as long. It was ultimately agreed that, if blue gum can be obtained at a satisfactory price, it bo used for flooring instead of kauri. I'nOVOSEL) KOAD STOPPAOiB. A letter was read from Mr H. A. Cornford, .solicitor, ou behalf of Major Richardson, of Petaue, requesting thp Council to be good enough to defer consideration of a petition re stoppage pf a road to his client's property until next meeting, so as to enable him (Mr Coruford) to submit Mr Richardson'e objections to the proposed stoppage. Cr liyiner eaid he had seen Major Richardson in the street this morning, when he expressed a dewiro to have the matter dealt with at onco. Tho Chairman remarked that it was a pity Major Richardson had not put that in writing. Tho only thing now boforo the Council was Mr Cornford's letter. After Bomo further discuEßßon, in wbioh C*

Cunningham and the Chairman took part, it was agreed to postpone consideration of ihe matter until next meeting. TIIK I'APAJUJRA KOAD. With respect to a petition from tho chairman and wardens of tho Meanee Road Board, read at the last meeting, Cr Rymcr moved, in accordance with previous notice, that the county do take over and maintain the Papakura road. Cr Dolbel seconded the motion. Cr Rymcr said the road had been formed sixteen years ago, and was several times damaged by floods. The rates of the district were for the greater part expended on it, and it was evident to anyone that tho road districthad striven hard in its endoavors to keep tho road open for traffic. The great claim tho ratepayers had to be relieved of the road was that it was su liable to suffer damage through the overflow of tho Ngaruroro river. It was highly essential that the road should bo kept in good repair. Cγ. Kinross said, if the county was to eetablish a precedent of taking- over roads because they were susceptible to damage by floods, it would not be long before other Road Boards would ask to bo treated similarly. He hoped the petitioners would be satisfied with a, grant-in-aid ; If such ■was proposed he would vote for it, but not for taking the road over. Tho Chairman asked if there was not a Board of River Conservators on the Papakura aide of the river the same as at Taradale ? Cr. Rymer replied in tho negative. There was the difficulty of a large native block on the Papakura side. Cr. Cunningham agreed with tho proposal of Cr. Kinross. By assenting to Cr. Eymer's motion the Council would be assuming the functions of a Board of River Conservators. He hoped Cr. Rynier would agreo to the suggestion of a grant-in-aid. The Council divided. Ayes: Crs. Rymer, Dolbel, and C'ouper. Noes; Grs. Kinross and Cunningham. I'UKETATU ROAD. Cr Dolbel moved that the road from Apley sheep yards to tho Patoka station bo taken over and maintained by the county. Cr Kinross said, after the former resolution that had been passed, he would second this resolution. What was good for one district was good for another. Cr Cunningham nrould support the motion for tho same reason as that expressed by Cr Kinross. Ho thought, however, the proposal might go further, and include the full line of road. Thero was no reason that he knew of why it should stop at Patoka. The motion was then put and earned unanimously. NOTICES OF MOTION. Cγ Kinross to mo-re : That tlie road from Hakawai to Mungawharo be taken over as a county road. Cr Dolbel to move:—That the county tako over the road from Patoka to the junction of the Petano riding. The Council then adjourned.