Kiwitea County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 19, 22 July 1895, Page 2

Kiwitea County Council.

The monthly meeting of the above was held at their office, Feilding, on Saturday last. Present- -Crs J. Reid (chairman), J. J. Williamson, W. Morton, W. F. Jacob, W. Jones, G. ; Shannon, F. Homer. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : — From W. Watson, Apiti, offering to clear slips and open out watertables on Gorge road track for £2 10s, to get access to his property. — Eogineer instructed to get work done, providing the cost does not exceed thirds in hand. From 11. S. Meads, account for £10 for felling bush on road line. From Jas. Tem parley, applying f< r permission to fell bu«h on road line fronting sections I, 2, 3, Rangiwahia. — Agreed to on the usual terms. From Department of Agriculture, pamphlets re Arbor Day, August Tth, for distribution. From A. L. Stokes, Birmingham, re bad metal put ou roads. [This letter was held over from last meeting] From T. Munt requesting that his name be removed from rate roll and that of H. R. J. Southee for section 18, and li. W. Southee for section 17, be substituted.— Alteration agreed to. FrornT. Lowes and A. W. Harrison, requesting alteration of name on rate roll from former to latter for sections 7, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 12, 14, 89, 90 Birmingham.— Alteration made as requested. From H. H. Venables, account for bushfelling, amounting to £5 ss. Fiom C Clayton, objecting to being rated for SOO acres, whereas he only held 640.— Clerk to find out proper area and charge rates on same. From Gr. Potts, account of £6 for bushfelling. From H. D. Atkinson, Secretary Nesv Zealaud Counties' Association, stating the annual meeting would be held on August 9th. From tho Commissioner of Taxes, vouchor for payment of £125 subsidy du--* to the Council. From A. N. Galpin, account of £5 8s 6d for bushfelling on road line. From Clerk of Rangitikei County Council, enclosing letter from his local body to tho Government re the Otara bridge subsidy, and reply thereto from the Department of Lands and Survey to the effect that tho Government had granted £1092 13s 1 Id for the work. From Colonial Secretary's office, stating the special order merging the Kiwitea Road District into the county was gazetted. From Mayor Feilding Borough Council, asking if this Council would agree to deferring the erection of the Kiwitea bridge on Kimbolton road without prejudice to the award. From Palmerston Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, cheque for £31 15s for charitable aid ; also, a request that a cheque for the levy be forwarded. The Engineer, C. Bray, junr., reported : — The contractor for putting metal on Kimbolton road was making slow progress, and he had been instructed to put on more teams. Mr Doherty was making good progress on his contract for forming and culverting the Mangamako road. There is a large and dangerous subsidence of the Kimbolton road opposite Mr E. Moore's residence, and steps will have to be taken immediately to make about five chains of new road or traffic will be completely stopped. He inspected the drains and overflows complained of by Mr Riddiford on the Cheltenham Cross-road and Mr McDermott on the Oroua Valley road. To stop the overflow on the Cheltenham Cross-road would be an expensive matter, as the only way it can be done would be by woing into Mr Elkington's land and bringing up a large drain and putting in a very large culvert across the road. Re Mr McDermott's complaint, the overflow can be stopped by forming and ditching about eight chains of road at a cost of about £10. He had also inspected the Terrace road and finds there are several slips down and the gravel wants raking in. Resolved, That this Council agrees to join the County Council Association and that Cr Jacob be appointed to attend the coming conference on behalf of this Council. Proposed by Cr Reid, seconded by Cr Shannon, That the several applicants for payment of bushfelling on roads be paid when they pay their rates — Carried. Resolved, That the Council agree to take over the Terrace road as requested by the Pohangina County Council. Resolved, that the Engineer arrange with Mr Paul to erect two chains totara stab fencing at approach to footbridge oa Mackiy's road, cost not to exceed £2, SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting was held to make a special order providing for the interest on a loan of £2,750, for providing a share of the cost of erecting a bridge across ih9 Rangitikei river at Vinegar Hill, a Tate of 117 th of a penny in the £ to be struck over the whole of the Kiwitea County to cover interest on same. That a special rate of 1-100 of a penny jn the £ be struck over the whole of the rateable property within the County to cover interest on loan of £481 9s lid for the purpose of providing one-third of the cost of erecting a bridge across the Kiwitea stream on Cheltenham Cross road. ORDINARY MEETING. Proposed by Cr Homer, seconded by Cr Jacob, That the ranger be instructed to impound all cattle and horses wandering on roads within the Waituna riding upon receipt of a notice to so from Cr J. J. Williamson. — Carried. Resolved, That the balance-sheet be published and that the Chairman invite tenders from the Star and Advocate for one insertion of balance-sheet, and except the lowest tender, and that one dozen copies of the paper be sent to the County office. OTARA BRIDGE;. Messrs E. McGregor and D. Robb waited on. the Couuc.il with reference to the roads connecting with the proposed Otara bridge. Mr McGregor acted as spokesman and wished the Council to reconsider the question of constructing a bridge at Otara and roads leading thereto. At a previous -meeting, the Council passed a resolution agreeing to go on with the construction, providing half the cost, of approaches were paid by the settlers immediately Interested ■:. ;;out of loan money. The settlers thbughir.it funfair : that they should have to contribbute' so much wffiS&Nthey had their own loads

to make, and seeing the Government are contributing s o much, and the Rangitikei County Council paying half the balance. Besides, the cost of tbe bridge was now considerably below the original estimate. It is, then, only fair that they should not contribute more than £625 towards the approaches, and he asked tbe Council to agree to this and put tbe bridge in hand as soon as possible. The settlors would agree to making the road to the top of the cliff and the gravelling on Kimbolton road, but wanted the polls taken over separate rating districts, tbe one for £625 over the whole special rating district, and the one for £2000 odd for metalling Kimbolton road and forming the road from Pemberton to tbe bridge over a smaller district. It would be unfair to the settlers north of the bridge to include them in the latter loan as they had their own road to make, and, if they were included in the latter, would be prevented from raising a future • loan to open up Peka road to gain access to the bridge. They wanted two polls instead of one. Cr Williamson thought they should take the polls for the roads first and when tbey were carried the bridge would be gone on with. The road should be metalled to the bridge, and not merely formed. Cr Reid considered it advisable to take the polls separately, as suggested, but on the same day. Cr Jacob intended to support the motion, as the position had now changed somewhat, and the estimated cost of the bridge was reduced. The chairman -was prepared to stand or fall by these loans. If lost, the responsibility would rest on the settlers, and on these conditions he supported the motion. He still thought the Mangaweka bridge would be better, but if the loans are carried it would be an indication that the settlers were opposed to the Mangaweka site, while on the other hand if lost it would be an indication that they did rob want the Otara bridge. Unless the two jjolls are carried the Council would oppose the bridge. Or Reid thought this ouly fair and reasonable, and if the polls are lost he would take it they did not want the bridge, and he would abide by the deci.sion. Proposed by Cr Reid, seconded by Cr Homer, That the resolution of March 9fch, re special rating district in connection with Otara road and approaches, be altered by inserting the words " £625 towards " instead of the words " onehalf ;" one special rating district to be formed to complete road from Otara to Pemberton and metal two miles of the Kimbolten road and the other to include approaches to Otara bridge. — Carried. GENERAL. Mr Larsen waited on the Council, requesting that he be given an outlet to his section. Proposed by Cr Reid, seconded by Cr Morton, That the Engineer be instructed to proceed with tbe survey and formation of continuation of Taylor's road as far as the thirds will allow.— Carried. Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to take legal proceedings against all persons whose rates are not paid before August 20th. Proposed by Cr Homer, seconded by Jacob, That Cr Homer, and the Engineer arrange for a deviation of Kimbolton road, opposite Mr Moore's, for a distance of five or six chains, and call for tenders for the work, provided the cost does not exceed £45 including compensation, but exclusive of title and survey. — Carried. Accounts were passed for payment and the Council adjourned. ■ i»iii i«mr-i-— nrrT-B m **_— —