Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 114, 12 November 1895, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the | Pohangina County Council was held on j Saturday last. Present— Crs H. Dickin (chairman) W. Vicary, E. Bell, C. Selby, R. \V. Brown, H. Fra6er. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence wsb received and dealt with as follows : — From Adsett and Son, re a resolution passed by the Council requesting that they pay forthwith the royalty on totara taken from Council's property, and stating that tba Council were indebted to them for timber supplied. From E. F. Eagar, complaining that men telling bush on roadline had blocked access to his sections ; also damaged his fence. From F. Owen, surveyor, offering to ! survey roads for the Council. ! From C. E. O. Smith, offering to survey roads for the Council. From W. A. Sanchlaneta, accepting position as solicitor to the Council. From Cr H. Fraser stating that the poll resulted in favor of the proposal to borrow £8904. From Secretary Hospital and C.A. Board, Palmerston N. stating that the Pohangina County had been grouped with the Kiwitea County to return one member, and that the election would take place at the Manchester Road Board office, Feilding, at noon on Nov. 27. From T. Etherington and E. Nix accounts for bushfelling. From T. Harrowcr and A. S. Aldrich approving of proposal to make road through Messrs Fiunis and Maxwell's properties, and agreeing to be included in special rating district for same. From C. Y. Daly, applying for permission to put a culvert in front of his shop, Apiti — Granted subject to approval of Engineer. From W. T. Benefield, complaining that the Council had not put proper shoot to drain over terrace in his property as agreed, which causes damage to his property. From Wm. Maxwell objecting to the Council continuing -Awa road through his property, as it would ruin it. From clerk Kiwitea County Council, enclosing copy of agreement at separation. From settlers in Malfcon Special Settlement Block requesting the Council to form a special rating district to raise a loan of £600 for road work in the block. From G. F. d<* ft. Baylis, hon. secretary Pohangina Ratepayers' Association, enclosing resolutions passed at their last meeting as suggestions to the Council. It was their desire to work with the Council. He trusted the Council would meet his Association in an amicable spirit as two bodies working for the common prosperity of the district. — Letter received. The Engineer Mr H. J. Hayn, reported : — Umntoi riding— The co-opera-tive men were pushing on with their several contracts. In the Salisbury block the work consists of forming a 6ft bridle track and culverts and the contractors are making good headway with same. In the Delaware block there are six gangs at work clearing bush off roads and they are also making good progress. He had instructed Mr E. Wagstaff to* make a small cutting from near the river to the rising ground to allow settlers going to the Salisbury Block to haul their drays clear of risk of flood waters. He intended, as instructed, to place men on at once to make a 6 foot track on to flat road near E. Wagstaff 's. Tamaki riding— The bluff in Forest Reserve would be a source of expenso to protect. He recommended that Government be approached for a grant in aid of this particular work. It was lately proposed to spend the rates from the Hawkes' Bay Timber Company to form this road again, but the amount due by the said company would not be anything like sufficient, and to spend same on this work would be throwing money away without being subsidised to a large amount. He suggested calling for tenders for metalling through the Forest Reserve. The contractor for road near Mr Philpott's had not started work, and he suggested that fresh tenders be called. Awahou riding — Roads generally were in fair order. He waited instruction from the Council in the matter of having a road surveyed through G. A. Lyne's property. Pohangina riding.— He had prepared an accouut of cost of placing road from sawmill to F. Sinclair's gate in repair. Mr Esleensen had finished the road as per agreement. He considered £3 was sufficient royalty for scrub taken fpom Mr Bhadbolt's property. Mangaone riding — He had started the two roadmen on Taonui road. He recommended a timber shoot being built down the cliff in Mr Benefield's land to carry away water from newly cut drain. Coal Creek ridingContractors are pushing on with their seyeral contracts. Hirst and O'Leary were burying timber under the sidling formation, and he suggested that a substantial amount be deducted from contract price unless the timber is taken out. He suggested calling tenders for metalling the balance of formed roads in this riding. Mangapikopiko riding.— Mr Bacon was not carrying on bis contract on Uppermost Cross road in an unsatisfactory manner and he (Mr Hayn) had wuitten to him refusing to certify to any further payment. Other contractors were carrying out their contracts satisfactorily. He suggested calling tenders for metalling Main Ridge road in this riding, being the contract just finished by Hirst and O'Leary. Cr Brown presented a petition signed by 89 ratepayers in the Mangaone riding, remonstrating against the proposal to force a road through Messrs Maxwell, Finnis, and McNie's properties, believing such a step to be unnecessary and injurious to tbe best interests of the district; also, that the proposed road was not necessary, because a road already exists for all requirements ; that the road would be taken through the properties of persons whoatrongly object to such a step ; the expense in forcing the road would be great and would, therefore, tend to raise the rates ; that the road would only benefit a few by shortening the distance slightly, whila the expense would fall on many who would derive no benefit at all ; and, further, it would almost ruin the proper- 1 tics through which it is proposed to be j taken. The petitioners, therefore, asked j that consideration of the proposal be refused.— Signed by F. Clissold, G. Billett, G. Bailey, and 36 others. Mr Haselden waited on tbe Council in support of the petition from the Maltou Special Settlement settlers requesting that a loan be raised for road work in the block. The Chairinau informed him they wgre not quite certain whether all the settlers petitioning were in this district, but when the map they had sent for arrived and it was found these sections were in the county, tbe necessary steps would be taken to* accede to the wishes of the settlers petitioning. Resolved, That Cr Wagstaff be granted leave of absence from this meeting. Resolved, That the working hours of all roadmen in the employ of this Council be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Proposed by Cr Vicary, seqonded. by Or Selby, $hat the Engitieer'(Sall tenders for metalling 90 chains Main Ridge road, Mangapikopiko riding. Tenders to be in by next ordinary meeting of the Council.— Carried. Resolved, That the Engineer communicate with Mr Benefield to the following effect: That the Pohangina Road Bpard allowed him to cat an outlet

drain ; that this extra flood water caused road drains to scour ; tbat this Council I in view of this found it necessary to ! close outlet and arranged to cut drain ! and make a shoot, that they now find it j impracticable to make a shoot and desire to arrange with Mrßenefield to close the drain or divert it ; that this Council is willing to contribute up to £5 towards making a shoot, or diverting drains as Mr Benefield may suggest, subject to the approval of the County Engineer ; that if no arrangement can be come to on these lines the Council must close drain from road to Mr Benefield's land and deny all further liability. - Carried. Resolved, That the inspectors of roads in the Pohangina County be authorised to stop any contractor from going on with his contract if he is not doing the work according to specifications, and report at once to the Engineer. Resolved, That the following alterations be made on the rate roll : — E. Le Prou in place af E. Nix for section 25, Apiti : E. T. Rankin in place of G. Bankin for section 173, Apiti ; Fritz Jensen's name for the Hawke's Bay timber Co. ; that the names of W. Hitchman be struck off the rate roll for section 27, Block IV, Umutoi and C. Selby for sec tiou '27, block XVI, Apiti , J. Mortensen in place of John Print for section 4, block 11, Gorge ; A. J. Tuxward in place of W. Braruley for section 1, block XI, Pohangina. Proposed by Cr Brown seconded by Cr Dickin, That with reference to the petitions for and against the construction of a road through sections Nos. 3 and 13, Block V, Pohangina S.D., the Engineer be instructed to prepare estimates of cost of constructing the proposed road and, also, the road as already shown on the plan. Also, cost of constructing xoad from the end of Awa road to connect with Kimbolton road. Carried. Resolved, That the Engineer place a pipe or small box drain in the drain near the school grounds in the Pohangina township. Resolved, That J. McKenzie be paid the amount due him for felling bush on Weka street. Resolved, That Mr F. M. Hazelden be granted permission to fell bush on road line in front of section 2, Block 11, Gorge S.D. Proposed by Cr Selby, seconded by Cr Dickin, That the Engineer advertise proposals for construction of roads Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10 of the loan proposals of 16th September, 1895 ; and that the Pohangina Small Farm Association, consisting of Sections 6 to 30, Block VI ; and sections Ito 18, Block X ; also, sections 6 p,nd 9, Block V; and sections 68, 66, 65, 62, and 61, Block IX, Mangaone riding, be formed in a special rating district for the purpose of raising a loan of £4663 for the above works. The rate to be levied on sections 68, 66, 65, 62 and 61 be one-third the rate levied on the other part of the district.— Carried. Resolutions were passed giving notice that it was the intention of the Council to confirm (on December 11th) special orders striking a special rate of one penny and five-eighths of a penny in the £ on the rateable value of the rateable property (excepting sections 43, Block X, and 65, Block XI, Apiti ; 25 and 140, Blocks XV and XIV ; and 6, Block XIV, Apiti ; and Block 11, Pohangina ; 5, 4, 8, 12a, Block II ; 1 and 6, Block IU ; 34, Block VI ; 7, Block III ; and 5, Block VIII, Pohangina), in the Coal Creek riding, for the purpose of providing in* terest on a loan of £300 for construction of Branch road from terrace road to the Oroua river in the Kiwitea County. Resolved, That tenders be called for forming and culverting the road in front of Mr Phillpotts ; and, also, clearing slips off the road in front of his property; tenders to be in by the next meeting of the Council. Resolved, That this Council desires to place on record its entire satisfaction with the services of Mr Hankins as solicitor to this Council, and that the resolution of last meeting was only passed to facilitate the business of the Council in employing someone in Feilding. Resolved, That the Secretary have the accounts for bushfelling on road lines laid on the table at the next meeting of the Council. Resolved, That Mr H. J. Hayns bo appointed presiding officer to preside at meeting of ratepayers to be held on the 26th November at Mr Howie's woolshed for the purpose of considering proposals to raise a loan of £4,900 for the construction of roads in the Coal Creek Riding. Also, that be be appointed to preside at meetings of ratepayers at Guy's Hall, Apiti, on November 27th, to consider loans of £1500, £929, and £120 in the Mangapikopiko Riding. Resolved, That the Engineer be instructed to engage Mr F. Owen, to lay off road through section 45, Block X, Pohangina Survey District, and that the Council's solicitor be instructed to prepare necessary deed conveying -road to Council in exchange for road originally laid off. Resolved, That the Council acknowledge receipt of letter and account from Adsett and Son for £18 3s 5d for timber supplied to the county and deduct £15 0 lOd for royalty on totara cut on road} lines and that the Clerk be instructed tQ check same and pay balance owing in due course, provided the bush has been, felled on road lines as per agreement. Resolved, That the clerk apply to, Messrs Adsett and Roberts for the sum, of £24 0s Id. The cost; of repairing the. road damaged by them by extraordinary traffic ; but in view of their having paid £6 towards making part of the road in the first instance, that that sum be allowed them in this claim, without prejudice, if they settle the claim amicably. Resolved, That in tbe matter of a representative for the Palmerston North Hospital Board, this Council leave it to the Kiwitea Council to appoint a representative for this, tern^, Resolved, That the secretary be in.strqcted to write to the Manchester Road Board, asking them if they are, prepared to make a road through Mr Warne's property from the Ashurss. Pohangina main road to the Pohangina river, In lieu of tho road laid off between Messrs Capper's and Whitehead's sections, provided settlers interested are prepared to purchase the land necessary for the proposed new road. Resolved, That the tender of D. Burke for carting and spreading metal at Is lgd per cubic yard, and clearing slips and watertables for £12, in the Coal Creek riding, be accepted. The Council then adjourned till the 27th instant, when the annual meeting will bo hs!d.