Kiwitea County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 173, 21 January 1895, Page 2

Kiwitea County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above body was held in their office, j Feilding, on Saturday afternoon last. Present— Crs J. Reid (chairman), J. J. * Williamson, W. Morton, W. F. Jacob, F. Homer. . I Tne minutes of the previous meeting ' were read and confirmed. j Correspondence was received and j dealt with as follows : — ' From L.C Kllerin, asking the Council to clear and culvert Cheltenham Cross i road, from Mackay's line, to enable him 1 to get a dray into his section. ' From Laud and Income Tax Department, a voucher for subsidy of £375. ! From Assistant Surveyor-General, re ; deviation of road through sections 167, 169, 171, etc., stating he would require a tracing for a record. From W. A. Sandilands, Mayor of : Feilding, suggesting that the Council proclaim the weekly half-holiday on Wednesdays. — No action taken. From Clerk Rangitikei County Council forwarding detailed account of expenditure on Onepuhi bridge, this Council's share being £91 4s sd. From Watt and Stevens, Raugiwahia, applying for a slaughtering license. From C. London, senr., re his claim for clearing slips off road, asking that it should receive favorable consideration under the circumstances. From E. Sandeman, solicitor, Birmingham, on behalf of Mr Lowes, complaining that a culvert opposite Mr Lowes' hotel was the cause of that gentleman's property beiug inundated in time of heavy rains, and asking that it be attended to. From Secretary to Treasury, stating that the Colonial Treasurer could not provisionally approve of the Council's applications for loans of ±1000 for Vinegar Hill bridge, and £420 for Cheltenham Cross road bridge until defects in the act of merger of the Kiwi tea road district into the Council are remedied. From T. Lowes, asking permission to fell bush on road. liDes, opposite town section No 67, on Grammar and Waugh streets. Permission granted usual terms. From C. Clayton, stating that he intended to apply to the Council for a slaughter license. From C. T. Cook, protesting that the right to cut cocksfoot on Bryce'a road was not given to him, his offer being the highest. From J Bruc3, Cheltenham, asking that he and Mr Mills be allowed to attach a wire to Kiwitea bridge on which to hang a light flood gate. From W. H. Brewster and P. Wotton, asking that their names be placed on the rate roll for sections 75 and 76, Hautapu, in place of W. and A. Bosher. Alterations to be made as requested. From A. T. Campbell, offering £1 for right to cut grass seed on Perry and Mcßeth's roads. — Offer accepted by Cr Morton. From W. F. Marsh, offering 28s for right to cut grass seed on Kimbolton road.— Accepted by Cr Morton. From W. G. Ashworth, and seven other settlers in the Coal Creek Block, drawing Council's attention to dangerous state of Branch road, leading to the Oroua river. From Messrs Bruce and Burrell, asking the Council to place their names on rate roll for section 2, Block VI, Apiti, in place of Paiue Bros. —Alteration to be made as requested. From A. H. Tompkins, asking the Council to do something to the road between his store and the hotel before winter, and offering to advance sufficient money, provided the Council refunds it when available, should they not be in funds. From Auditor-General, returning audited balance-sheet. From Cameron and McGregor, J. D. McDonald, W. and A. Bosher, E. McGregor, asking that a return of the amount of thirds received by the Council on their section be prepared. From Clerk of Pohangina County Council, enclosing plans for proposed bridge across the Oroua river on the road leading to Apiti, and applying to this Council for nearly one-fourth the cost (£495 18s 8d). The estimated cost of the bridge is £1707 10s and the approaches £280 6s, making a total cost of £1987 16s. The Pohangina County would pay £991 17s 4d, and the Government have granted a subsidy of £500. The Treasurer reported that the overdraft that day was £2174, which, with accounts for £440 against the general account to be passed for payment would bring the overdraft over the limit. Councillors suggested that the roadmen should be taken off during the fine weather to reduce expenditure. DEPUTATION RE OTARA BRIDGE. A deputation consisting of Messrs E. McGregor, F. W. Pemberton and W. Pauline waited on the Council in support of a petition from settlers in the northern portion of the County asking the Council to proceed with the erection of a bridge over the Rangitikei river at Ofcara. The petition contained the names of twenty settlers who would use the bridge. Cr. Jacob pointed out there were names of ratepayers on the petition who would use the Vinegar Hill and not the Otara bridge. Mr Pemberfcon said the whole of the settlers in the Wanganui Block (containing about 80 sections) and everyone signing the petition for separation of the northern portion of the County would use the Otara bridge. The people in the Feilding Small Farm Block would also benefit. It took him at present three days to get a load of wool out to Feilding whereas if the Otara bridge was built, he cjmld get to Ohingaiti station and back in one day. The Government had granted a subsidy of £1250 and had promised another £625, which would be available until the erd of the financial year (March 31), after which time the probabilities are the vote would lapse if not applied for. Cr. Williamson thought that, owing to the impecunious state of the Council, if the settlers could make t-vo bridges do instead of three it would be advisable to do without the third ( He understood the Government were making the approaches to Vinegar Hill bridge. The approaches to the Otara bridge would be a big item, besides there was no road leading to it from Pemberton. Mr McGregor said there was a road through his property and he could not stop anyone from going through. In reply to questions from the Councillors, the Engineer said the Mangamako road, which would connect with the proposed Otara bridge, would be, as near as he could tell, eight miles long, six being through open country and two through bush. Stock could not be driven along the surveyed road at present. Cr Jacob wanted to know how they could get to the bridge without a road. Gr Reid understood from settlers they preferred having the bridge to a road. Mr Pemberton said it would not cost much to make a sheep track. Mr McGregor pointed out that the property adjacent would next year be rated for about three-fourths more than in the past. Mr Jacob asked if the settlers wanting the bridge would be willing to contribute a greater portion than at present suggested, that is, would they be prepared to rate themselves for half the cost of approaches to the bridge, which, was estimated to cost £2000. Mr Pemberton did not think they would. Mr McGregor did not think they should be saddled with any greater portion than had already been agreed to. Small farmers in that district were jiot 4iirAs<Mdtiott to pay extra, rates. " , dj<snot gee why abridges -

should be built so close together, he understood there was likely to be one at ThreeLog Whare. Mr McGregor said the land adjacent to Three Log Whare had been loaded with five shillings an acre for a bridge at that site. Cr Williamson thought the roads should be made first. He would oppose building a bridge at Ofcara, as he could not see the utility of spending £6000 for that purpose when there were no roads leading to it. Mr McGregor asked, if they presented a petition agreeing to rate themselves for £3000 for road making, would the Council agree to construct the bridge ? Cr Morton would not oppose constructing the bridge if there was a road to it. The approach on the flat should be considered as portion of the road. Cr Jacob said the approach wonld cost £1000 and the road £3000. He considered those settlers interested should rate themselves for these amounts. Cr Williamson saw no reason why a wire rope would not do for the present. It was understood, after a lengthy discussion, that the deputation would place the v'ews of the Council before..the ratepayei s, and the Council would enquire of tha Government if the vote would lapse if not applied for before the end of the financial year. KESOLUTIONS. Resolved, That Mr Bruce be given permission to erect a flood gate at the Kiwitea bridge, subject to the approval of the Engineer. Proposed by Cr. Horner, seconded by Cr. Reid, That the petition re separation be returned to the chairman of the separation committee, pointing out that sufficient signatures are not attachedCarried. Resolved, That the action of Cr. Morton iu accepting the offers of A.. T, Campbell and W. F. Marsh for cutting grass seed on Kimbolton road and Perry and Mcßeth's roads be endorsed by the Council. Resolved, That a slaughtering license be granted to Messrs Watt and Stevens as soon as the fee is received. A special meeting was held to Confirm special orders relative to rates on loans of LIOO andL3oointhe Oroua and Makiuo ridings respectively. Proposed by Cr. Morton, seconded by Cr. Horner, That the chairman and Cr. Jacobjbe authorised to secnre|a site for the offices at Birmingham and to get plans drawn for same and report at next meeting — Carried. Proposed by Cr. Jacob, seconded by Cr. Morton, That the Clerk apply at once for the amount of Oroua and Makino loans, viz., LIOOO and L3OO respectively — Carried. Proposed by Cr. Jacob, seconded by Cr. Williamson, That the Engineer prepare an estimate of the cost of establish* ing a punt at Otara, with the probable yearly cost of maintenance and working. Negatived. Crs. Jacob and Williamson voted for the motion and Crs. Reid and Horner against. Cr Morton abstaining from voting, the motion was consequently lost on the casting vote of the chairman. Resolved, That the following tenders be accepted : — Mangaone road Nos. 1 and '2 D. Buchanan L2O and L34 15s, respectively. Kiwitea-Tapuae road — J. KeeDan 9s Id per chain for the whole. Proposed by Cr. Jacob, seconded by Cr. Williamson, That Mr McGregor and the other ratepayers be informed that if they are willing to raise a loan to provide one-half the cost of the approaches, viz., LIOOO, and for completing the formation of the road from Pemberton, this Council will probably consider proceeding with the Otara bridge as soon as funds will permit — Carried. The usual monthly accounts were passed for payment and the Council adjourned .