WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3772, 17 August 1883, Page 2

WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tkuesday, August 14

An adjourned mseting of the Waipawa County Council was held yesterday._ The Council met at noon. Present: Crs. Johnston (chairman), McGrcevy, Dillon, Eoss, and Bibby.

COBRKSrONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and dealt with :—

Two petitions from ratepayers in the Makaretu district, asking the Council to take the necessary stops for cutting , off portions of the existing Makaretu road district, and gazetting them as separate districts.—Resolved that petitioners be informed thntno action could be taken uponja petition of the kind unless signed by twothirds of the ratepayers of the whole district.

From the Norsewood Road Board, asking for the services of the engineer.—The cleric was instructed to reply that the County needed all the time at the engineer's disposal for county work. From Mr W. 'F. Howlett, Makaretu, stating that he had caused a dangerous bridge to be repaired, at a cost of £2, and asking to be reimbursed.—Referred to the Makaretu Ron d Board. From Mr L. Bradford, Woodvillo, asking the Council to clear out a drain on his property.—lt was resolved that, as tho drain was not a jjublic one tho Council could not act in the matter. From Mr "W. C. Smith, M.H.R., statingthat Mr Carr's late letter to the Council, and the allegations contained therein, on N >~ the subject of tho "Waipukurau-Walling-ford road, were being fully enquired into by the Government. From Mr J. Inglis, Hampden, withdrawing his recent opposition to thf diversion of a road as proposed by th(> Jforth Ruataniwha Road Board.

From Mr 11. A. Cornford, solicitor, Napier, stating - that Mr Burg-ess could not withdraw his opposition to the proposed action of the North Ruatauiwha Road Board unless the latter executed a proper agreement, in terms stated. "From the North Ruataniwha Road Board, explaining that Messrs Inglis and Burgess had withdrawn their opposition to the proposed action of the Board relative to diverting a road in the district. —The cleric was instructed to forward to the Board a copy of the letters- of Messrs Inglis and Burgess. From the Dancvirke Road Board, asking what subsidy the Council intended to vote to the Board this year; also that the rates collected within the Board's boundaries should not bo credited to the i - iding, but to the Board direct.—No action was taken oil the latter request, and in reference to the former the cleric was instructed to reply that the Council did not at present know whether any subsidy would he voted to the Board. If one were voted it would depend upon financial reasons, and the needs of tho Board as compared with other districts what the amount would be.

From the Norsewood Road Board, relating to two alleged subsidies of £G0 each, not yet credited to tho Board.—Resolved that a reply be sent that only one £60 subsidey had been voted, which would be at once credited to tho Board per voucher.

The remainder of the correspondence was of a purely formal nature.

STRAYING CATTLE NUISANCE. A petition from a number of ratepayers in the Patangata district, complaining of the great nuisance and damage caused by straying cattle, was presented by Cr. Dillon. This petition caused considerable discussion. Most of those present agreed that it was necessary to put a stop to the nuisance of straying cattle, and tho action of Hawke's Bay County in paying two rangers to impound straying stock was instanced. A proposal that the surfacemen in all the ridings should be empowered to impound was negatived on the voices, and it was ultimately moved by Cr. Dillon, seconded by Cr. McGreevy, and carried, that the surfacemen at Patangata should bo authorised to impound all cattle and horses found upon the roads.

lIAMPDEN ItOAD. Cr. Bibby presented a petition from payers at Hampden, asking that a bad of road in the district be repaired, and moved that tho engineer bo instructed to carry out tho work as prayed. Seconded by Cr. MoGree\y, and carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report from tho county engineer was read: — •* Patangata Riding.—The late fresh in the "Waipawn river has washed away a portion of tho road at present being used between Homcwood and Tamuinu, leaving the traffic way rather narrow. It will therefore bo necessary to open new roads immediately. Nothing has been done to Homewood bridge since last meeting, as the timber has not been delivered. .The unmetalled portions of the road between the Waipawa and Tuki Tuki rivers are in bad order, but beyond general surface work nothing can be done at present.

! Waipawa Riding.—l have not had timo to prepare the contract for portions of Waipawa-Tamumu road, as requested at last meeting, but will do so as soon as, possible. The metal en the main road through Waipawa is getting worn out, and I propose starting to spread a thin coat in a day or two. The roads generally are in fair order. Waipukurau Riding.—A portion of tho district road at the gate near the Maori pa is in very bad order. If it is the duty of the Council to get it put in order, I would suggest that I be instructed to that effect. Otherwise, the roads in the riding arc in fair order. Eparaima Riding.—l have been engaged preparing , a contract for a portion of tho AVallingford road near Wanstead, and will have plans and specifications completed in a day or two. As the quarry pointed out by Percy lias turned out a failure, and no other payable quarry has been discovered, I would suggest that the metalling of tho new port!oil" be not included in the contract. The roads in tho riding are in their usual state. Porangahau Riding—Tho roads in this riding are in their usual winter state. Woodville Riding — The roads are at present in fair winter order, but are beingcut up by the heavy timber and other traffic in connection with Government contracts, and will consequently require a considerable amount of metalling to be done in a few months to keep them in repairs. Seventy-mile Bush Road —Tho same remarks apply to this road as to roads in Woodville Riding. Norscwood Riding—lsaacson has finished his contract on the Ormondville road, and the road is in much better order.

Ruataniwha Riding—l have prepared a contract, and advertised for tenders, for formation of a portion of the Takapau-Ashley-Clintoii road, but no tenders have been received. I would recommend that fresh tenders be invited, lie letter from Mr Ellingham about condition of road at Mitchcl's bridge, I find that the'grade of the road at present is 1 in G, too steep for wheel traffic, and to make it easier, say I in 10, would cost between £50 and £00. R. A. Brown. County Engineer. I'ATANGATA IJOAD. Cr. Dillon moved that the worst part of Patangata road, about 80 chains near Collins', be repaired at once. Seconded by Cr. Bibby, and carried. lIOMEWOOD KOAD. Cr. Dillon also moved, seconded by Cr,

Ross, that tenders be called for repairs and / formation on tho Homewood road. — A Carried. WAII'AAVA TOWNSHIP. Iv reference to that portion of the engineer's report dealing with the roads in Waipawa, Cr. Bibby moved that a thin coating of metal be placed on tho worst portions of the road only, between the Waipawa Hotel and Britten's butchery. Tho motion was seconded by Or. Ross, and carried. waipawa tiivkti approach._ Cr. Bibby moved that tho engineer be instructed to form and repair tho river approach, and also to fix booms to the piles driven at tho head of the groin, so as to still further protect tho approach. .Seconded by Cr. Dillon, and carried. DEPOSITING- RUBBISH. In reply to a question by Cr. Dillon, the Chairman stated that no person was allowed to deposit filth or rubbish on or near the river approach, nor upon any other road or public place in the county. It was the duty of the county officials to prosecute any person so offending. CROWN AND NATIVE LANDS. Tho Chairman asked if any rates on Crown or native lands had been yet paid to the Council. The clerk replied in the negative. ASHLEY-CLINTON ROAD. The Chninnan moved, seconded by Cr. Ross, and it was carried, that fresh tenders be called for works on the Ashley-Clinton road. elmnoham's road. The Chairman said he thought the best way to deal with this road would bo for the Tiikapau Koad Board to take it over and repair it. Cr. Ross, on behalf of his riding, said lie would not object, and the matter dropped. MAKARETU ROAD HOARD. Cr. Ross moved that Messrs P. Jensen, A. Stenberg, A. Harrison, 11. Hcmining,sen, A. Coles, 11. Pedersen, M. Sattrup, N. Loye, and P. Forward bo appointed by tlio Council as the nine wardens for the Mtikiiretu road district. This motion caused considerable discussion, Crs. Bibby and McGreevy objecting to nine members on the Board, and the way in which each ward was represented. One ward returned three members. It would bo hotter if each of the five wards returned one warden each only. Cr. Itoss pointed out that his motion was not framed by himself," but represented the wishes of a largo majority of ratepayers, expressed at a public meeting called a short time since at Makaretu to discuss the question. Tho motion was eventually seconded by Cr. Bibby, so as not to delay the constitution of a Eoa'd Board, and carried. DISSOLUTION OF HOARDS. Cr. McGreevy gave notice that he would move, at tho next meeting of the Council, and in accordance with the provisions of the Road Boards Act, ISSIi, that tho Oero, Patangata, Waipawa, and Tamumu Road Boards be dissolved. Cr. Bibby proposed, seconded by Cr. Mcr Grcew, that the following persons bo appointed returning officers and clerks for the purpose of the elections consequent upon the carrying of Cr. McGrocvy's motion :— Tor Waipawa, Mr B. B. Johnson ; Tamiimu, Mr J. Westmoreland ; Patangata, Mr S. Lozell; Oero, Mr C. II Stewart. Tho motion was carried. CORRECTION OF COUNTY ROLL. A largo number of mistakes in the county roll were altered and initialled by the Chairman, with a view to submit the amendments to tho Revision Court to sit at Waipawa on Saturday. The Council then adjourned.