Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 186, 10 February 1896, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

♦ I The regular monthly meeting of the above was held at their office, Pohangina, on Saturday last. Present — Crs. H. Dickiu (chairman), W. Vicary, E. Bell, A. A. Wagstaff, C. Selby, R. W. Brown, H. Fraser. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows :— From Survey Department, re Council's application to have culverts and bridges placed on Makiki road, Salisbury Block, and stating that if there is any money in hand after the works now in progress are completed the matter will receive consideration. From W. D. Nicholas, applying for position of Inspector over the Apiti bridge contract. From Manager, Bank of New Zealand ! Palmerston, stating tho Bank rate of interest had been reduced to 6 per cent. From C. London, senr., complaining that the contractor for Sandon's road had taken metal from his property. From F. Clissold and W. T. Oakley, with reference to transfer of names on rate roll from former to latter as requested at previous meeting. From P. McConnell, asking the Council to fell bush on road lines iv Apiti ; also, to clear trees from other roads. From Jas. Vile, applying for permismifou to fell bush on road line — Granted, payment to be made when road is formed. From J. and J. Johnston asking the Council to make Finnis' road to their property passable and offering to do the work for i'2o, the Engineer's estimate being .£25. From J. Roberts, holding the Council responsible for any damage done to his property through the creek being diverted. From Isabella Bankiu. F. S. Guy and seven others, requesting the Council to have road between sections 10 and 15, 11 and 14, 12 and 13, about 5 chains formed. From Treasury approving application for loan of £300 for Branch road ; also loan of £1300 for construction of roads in Tamaki riding. From D. Burke, asking the Council to allow 5d per yard for first mile above contract prices as he had lost .£9O on the work. From C. A. Lindsay, asking the Council to allow their engineer to resurvey the road to give him an outlet. From General Post office, stating the Upper Pohangina mail service would not be extended at present, but the question would be considered when tenders are being called for inland mails. The Engineer, reported on the roads in the County beiag in good order and contracts were being pushed on rapidly. Resolved, That the name of W. T. Oakley be placed on rato roll for 130 acres of F. Clissold's land, and that this Council regret having misunderstood the letter sent by them. Resolved, That the following alterations be made on rate roll : — E. B. Cocks for J. E. Waugh, section 9, Block XII, Apiti ; Jas. Johnston for F. Newman, section 72, Block IX, Pohangina ; C. Wildbore for J. Husband, section 2, Pohangina ; R. D. Tosswill for R. A. R. Oldham, for section 8, Block XII, and section 44, Block XI ; M. Holmes for D. J. Holmes, for section 4, Block V, Pohangina ; R. J. Port for section 29, Block IV ; and that Mr Hitchman's name for section 9, Umutoi ; Mr J. R. Mclntosh's for section 29, Block IV, Pohangina Small Farm Association ibe struck off the roll when rates due are paid ; J. W. Copithorne's name in place of M. A. H. Emmett's for section 3, Block XI. Resolved, That the Clerk inform Messrs Hart and Jeffries that payment for felling bush on roadline cannot be made until the road is formed, and that the Engineer inspect the work done by J. Shadbolt. A discussion arose on a motion of Cr Wagstaff 's to call for applications for the positions of Clerk and overseer of road work. In speaking to tho motion he thought that the present Clerk and Engineer, Mr Hayn, had not time to attend to all the work in the County and that two persons should be appointedone as Clerk, rate collector, etc., and another as overseer of road •work. He did not think they could afford to appoint a qualified Engineer and, also, a competent Clerk. Cr Fraser preferred the appointment of an overseer and a Clerk as they could not afford an Engineer. He thought they should have two men. Cr Vicary advocated postponing calling for applications for the positions of Clerk and overseer until January 1897, as the present Councillors would go out of office in November next, when the new Councillors would be at liberty to engage their own officers. He thought they should re-appoint Mr Hayn until then as the work was being done cheap and satisfactorily. Crs Selby and Bell supported Cr Vicary. Cr Brown thought they would work much better with a good clerk and an overseer than with an engineer and a boy under him to do clerical work The present jenpineer was also clerk, and he would like to have the duties separate, with a foreman of -works and to get an outside engineer to give advice. Ho suggested inviting alternate applications. An amendment was proposed by Cr Vicary and seconded by Cr Selby, That the consideration of calling for applications for clerk, treasurer and rate collector be postponed until next meeting i of the Council.— Lost by four votes to three. Proposed by Cr Wagstaff seconded by Cr Brown, That as Mr Hayns' engagement terminates on the 3rd May, 1896 ; applications be invited for the positions of clerk, treasurer, rate collector ; and also engineer or foreman of works, to the Pohangina County Council, separately or jointly. Applicant to state salary and qualifications with copies of testimonials, to be in by March 14tb, 1896. Residence in the Pobangina County preferred — Carried. Resolved, That the chairman instruct Mr Sandilands to advertise for applications for the office of clerk, engineer, etc, as per former motion and to draw up specification of duties required. A special meeting was held, striking of special rates to cover interest on loans of £1500, £120, £152 and £135. Resolved, That D. McKenzie be informed that section 177 fronts. Main road," Apiti township, and' is' not blocked With a" fence as stated in 'his letter. Resolved, That Mr W. D. Nicholas be appointed as Inspector for the construction of the Apiti bridge. Proposed by Cr Vicary, seconded b.y Cr Wagstaff, That the sum of £992, for the Apiti b,r|dge, be p}acecj[ aj. interest for three months in the Ban k of Bfe/jy Zealand, Palmerston N. — Carried . Proposed by Cr Bell, seconded by Cr Vicary, That -the Engineer call for tenders for metalling Main Ridge road from the boundary of the Mangapikopjkp riding and Coal Creek riding as far itftikd &<>P££ gttJ g<* 5 fcjntjsrs to ctose on FeWnafyi2-4tlJ,'at'l?o«Flers, at iga.nj. $he tenders to bis ppene'ej. sind"&cc6t>ted $j flip £n<| niqye}:;— ported. ' B&.solypd; TJjgl ikjje'JSngjneer inspegt the road mentioned by, tto Bgjiftiqners, Isabella C. Rankin, F. S. Gay, and seven others, and report at the next meeting of the Council. Proposed by Cr Bell, seconded by Cr Wagstaff, That Mr C. Lundon be allowed H per yard |or the metal taken ■■.'.'■ ■ '"'■". •.'.'♦■"■' '.

off his land ; and that Mr Burke be allowed nothing extra for the work on London's road. — Carried. Resolved, That the sum of £1 19s 2d be transferred to the Eiwitea County Council, the same having been paid in error to this Council by H. H. Liddle ; also, the sum of £2 16s lOd be refunded to I. A. Hagan, the same rate having already been paid by W. S. Barber. Resolved, That in reference to Messrs Abraham and William's letter re rates sections 21, 74, 76, 77, the Clerk inform them that the name of Mr Skerman being on the rate roll for these sections this Council holds him liable for the rates until the name is altered with the consent of the party whose name is published. Resolved, That in reference to Mr Jeffries' letters re rates the clerk inform him that as any owneriof a section must know that he is liable for rates thereon, it is his duty to see that the Council has his proper address, and, therefore, the Council is not liable for the interest he asks for. Resolved, That in all future specifications for metalling contracts, the clerk be instructed to insert a clause that the Council's roadmen be approved to spread the metal. Resolved, That the roadmen be instructed to put Finnis' road in repair from the metal to Johnston's whare, so as, if possible, to let a trap along. Resolved, That tenders be called for forming and metalling from the boundary of Awahou riding to the forest reserve, and for forming and metalling through C. McKenzie's ; and for clearing slips and metalling in front of Mr Philpotts' and Mr D. McKenzie's properties. Tenders to be in by next meeting of the Council. Money to be paid as soon as received from the Government. Resolved, That the Engineer call for tenders for forming and metalling Branch road from the Terrace road to the Oroua river. Tenders to close on February 24th, at Fowlers', at noon, and to be opened by the Engineer and mover, with power to let the work. Resolved, That the Engineer be instructed to lay off, and advertise for tenders for forming and metalling remainder of Main road North, Awahoa riding. Resolved, That the time for closing all tenders and applications be extended from 14th to 21st March, when the next meeting will be held. Resolved, That the following tenders be accepted : — For erecting bridge across the Oroua river at Apiti, D. Sinclair, i! 2287 ; contract No. 85, Alfred Oldfield, for £U» 7s ; contract No. 87, S. McMillan, £Td 15s 6d ; contract No 83, A. J. Pettigrew and Co, £325 10s 6d ; collecting dog tax, W. S. Barker, .£l6 11s. Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to forward to Clerk General Post Office the envelopes of two letters over-carried from Feilding to Marton and ask for an explanation. Notice of motion was given by Cr Vicary, That the Engineer and Clerk of the Council be retained in bis present position until January Ist, 1897. The meeting then adjourned.