Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1896, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting ot the above body was held at their • offices, Pohangina, on Saturday last. Present— Crs H. Dickin (chairman), W. Vicary, E. Bell, O. JSelby, B. W. Brown, H. Fraaer, A. A. Wagataff. The minutes of the previous meeticg were read and confirmed. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows : — From Lands and Survey Department re Apiti bridge subsidy and stating the balance of the £500 subsidy (£294 5s 4d) was awaiting application ; also, enquiring if they under stood this Council's request was for another £500. From A. Adsett, asking permission to erect timber skids on Pohangina road opposite his house. — Granted, to remain only during pleasure of the Council. ; 'roni T. Yourg, asking for extention of tiir.e fur gravelling contract No. 92, as he was forced to abandon it ouin<, r to the softness of the road. From William Coupe, offering to supply plan for a suspension bridge over the Pohangina river. From P. McCurdy, stating he was overrated on section 10, Block 11, Gorge, and objected to pay for same. From Eagar and Lloyd, stating there were no arrears for rates on sec tion 20, Block IV, Uroutoi, they hay ing purchased it from the Government in September 1895. From W. D. Nicholas, re bis last month's account ; and stating that he was away for three days when there was no work going on, with the consent of the Engineer, and that he was always present, night and day, when the work %vas going on. From C G. Phyn, stating he was Wt responsible for arrears of rates, only having occupied the section for a few months, besides he had now surrendered it. From W. Spurway, «ppty for lease of gravel reserve on section 7, Apiti. From P. G. Grant, secretary Norse \vood-A.piti Road Committee, Norse wood, requesting the co operation of this Council in urging on the Minister of Lands the necessity of constructing a road across the Ruahine ranges. From D. Bacon, asking for payment for work done in Apiti. From H. J. Gawler, asking the Council to reduce his rates to half, the School Commissioners having reduced the area by half (to 21 acres) owing to that quantity having been wasted away. trom J. Stratton, complaining of the drain cut from watertable to lead water into his section, — Engineer to report. From J. W. Copithorne, Wellington, objecting to payment of interest on overdue rates as he had not received notice of the amount due ; filso, applying tor payment for bushfelling. From Treasury, voucher for £552 on account of Awahou Riding loan ; also, provisionally approving of £324 for construction of roads in the Mangapikopiko riding ; also, provisionally approving loan of £2,959 for road construction in Mangaone and Pohangina riding. From C. London, senr., asking by what authority the Council proposed to lay off a road through his property without consulting him, and stating he would require compensation. From H. Burne, asking that his name be placed on the rate roll for section 11, Block VII, and sections 117 and 47, Apiti. From the following, re change of names on rate roll : — Wm. Port, in place of Wm. J. Port, for section 5, Block XIV, Pohangina ; Wm. J. Port, in place of Wm. Port, for section 22, Block X, Awahou. From Treasury, asking on what grounds this Council made an application for loan of £ 1 52 as their share of repairs to Onepuhi bridge ; also, stating they could not accept special order for a loan of J5141 for KiwiteaKimbolton road bridge as it was sot made in the required form. With reference to the Onepuhi bridge loan the chairman said tbat at the separation of the Pohangina Road Board from the Kiwitea Road Board, it was arranged that this Council should pay .£ll per year as its share of interest on said loan. The Rangitikei County Council has now applied to the Kiwitea County Council for its share of cost of reconstruction of the Onepuhi bridge, and the latter had in turn applied to this Council for a proportion of cost. Application had been made, accordingly, to the Treasury for a loan of £152, but the Treasury seemed to think that this Council could not raise a loan under the Governor's warrant apportioning the cost. I The Clerk explained that he hud replied to the letter from the Treasury, and that he had explained the agreement signed at the separation, which provided that this Council should pay for maintenance according to propor tion of rates. Froai A. E. Terry, requesting payment for bushfelling on road line. From J. Whittakor, ranger, asking the Council to define the boundary of the district over which he could impound cattle : also, whether he could engage an assistant. Tbc Engineer reported that he had laid off and called for tenders for works as directed at last meeting with the exception of Opawe creek road ; he had attended to the works required in the Salisbury Block ; there had been some very bad slips on the main road, Pohangina; he had taken over Mr Shadholt's felling and clearing con, tract in the Tamaki riding ; the contractor for Patterson's Spur road would complete his road in about two weeks. Mr Sinclair, contractor for the Apiti bridge, was pushing on with the cylinders, one of which was 10ft in papa and 1 4ft in shingle and the other 1 lft in papa and 13ft in shingle ; he had made arrangements with Mr ! Sinclair to put on an addition of 2 lft I on the Apiti side of the bridge ; this j was necessary to prevent the ec.bankmerit from washing away, to, keep ■ open the road below the bridge, and for fencing the approach on the Apiti 3ide. Re the <tavi.il ion on Ukj Opawe road, he found the be-t road wttuld be through Mr Egling ton's section ; this would be about half a mile shorter than present road line and it would be considerably -better. From Mr Esbenson, offering to make 3i chains drain in Weka street for £1, Mr Bglingtou waited on the Council in support of this application.

y.v ShadUolt waited ou the Council with a request that he be paid for bushfellinsr 0:1 road line. — He was informed he would be paid when loan money came to hand in a month or two. From A. Coburn and W. A. Spicer, requesting that their names be placed on electoral roll. Mr EgLinton waited on the Council and objected to the proposed road through his section. Mr R Curran waited on the Council to a&k the Council to define the ranger's boundary. He resided in the Pohangina riding at the boundary with the Mangaone riding. - - The chairman said the boundary was down the centre of the road. Mr Jos. Shapleski waited on the Council with a request that a portion of money due to him (£223 18s lid) on contract be paid, as he had only 30 chains of metalling to do, and this he would complete as soon as the weather permitted. Mr Woodley waited on the Council and requested that his name be placed on electoral roll. Mr Lucas waited on the Council to ask ■what they intended to do with reference to his contract for widening cutting. Resolved, That Messrs Lucas Bros, be paid £12 in full settlement of their claim tor £16 for widening cutting on Pohan-gina-Asburst road, the work not having been done according to the understanding with the Council. Proposed by Cr Bell, seconded by Cr Dickin, That the Eugineer lay off at once tbc road from Captain Johnston's gate to Dr Johnston's gate on the Main Ridge Road, also from the formation in front of Mr Smith's to Mr Watchorn'a propertj*. — Carried. Resolved, That Mr Spurway be granted the lease of gravel reserve 26, Block VII, Apiti, containing two acres, at a yearly rental of 7s per acre. Resolved, That Mr Shadbolt be granted permission to fell bush on road line, a3 requested ; also to W. Stanton between Sections No. 15 and 16, Pohangina riding, on the Council's usual terms Resolved, That the clerk apply to the Kiwitea County Council for a progress payment of their share of the cost of the Apiti bridge. Resolved, That the clerk write to Mr Pirani. M.H.R., and urge him to join with Mr John Hall, M.H.R., in petting Government to construct a road connection between the east and west coast, over the Ruabine range, at an early date. Resolved Tbat the engineer call for tenders to form a six-foot track from Pobangina river to top of sideling leading to Delaware Association; tenders to close at next meeting of Council. Resolved, That the rateable area of H. J. Gowler's section be reduced to 21 acres, and that the rates be reduced accordingly. Mr Vicary asked for the opinion of the Council with respect to the position of the roadman in the case of his (the roadman's) having to remove slips from the road on to private property. He stated that a settler had stopped a roadman from removing a slip, and he wished to know if he had any authority to do .so. In any case where a fence was damaged by the removal of a slip compensation could be claimed. The Chairman did not think any property owner could prevent a slip being removed on to the lower side of the road, but could claim compensation for damage to fences. Resolved, Thai alterations to the approach to Apiti bridge as recommended by the Engineer be approved. Resolved, That the Engineer instruct roadman Babbage to remove all slips off the Oroua Valley road and repair damage to settlers' fences to their satisfaction. Resolved, That T. Young be granted extension of time to complete contract No 92, but to go on with the metalling as soon as the Engineer considers the road is fit to cart the metal on. Also, that be be paid £20 on contract 92 for for removing slips. Resolved, That the Engineer inspect the drain which Messrs Esbenson and Milverton request to be cleaned out and get the work done as cheaply as possible, either by Mr Esbenson or by the roadman. Proposed by Cr Vicary, seconded by Cr Brown, Tbat the Clerk apply to the Treasury for the balance of the Government subsidy to the Apiti bridge (.£294 5s 4d) and, also, write to the UnderSecretary of Lands, and explain that the request is for another £500 as the cost of the bridge will exceed the original estimate by about £600.— Carried. Resolved, That Mr Sandiland? be reinstracted to recover all outstanding rates for 1894 5 and 1895 6 at once. That the Engineer be instructed to snrvey the continuation of No 1 line as far as Davis Bros.' section through Me Aldersen's section. Resolved, Tbat the Engineer take steps to have the bluff through the Totara Reserve road blasted, preparatory to forming and protecting the road from the river. Resolved, That J. Shapleski be paid £45 progress payment on contract No. 83, Main Cross road, Apiti; and the deposit on the contract be returned. Resolved, tbat the clerk be instructed to write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for permission to construct a mad through Mr Aldersen's section, No 5,, Block? XI, Pohangina Survey district. Proposed by Cr Bell, seconded by Cc Dickin» Tbat the clerk be instructed ta write to the Commissioner of Crowu Lands to ascertain whether there is a road along the bank of the Oroua river from Mr Lindsay's section through • the Ferry Reserve as the < ouncil wish toconstruct a road through this reserve.— Carried. Re-solved, Tbat the chairman beanth. orised to engage the services of a con> ! petont man to assist Mr Watson in the discharge of his duties until the end ot the term of his notice. Resolved, That applications be invited for the positioa of clerk, treasurer and rate collector a* a salary of i-150 per annum, as por former specifications, ex,copt that the office be opened six days a week and residence in or near the township necessary. Resolved, That the Engineer be, instructed to write to the Governmenfcand ask them to give this Council one chain of land for a road along the east boundary of the Sorest reserve from the Opawa road, about 40 chains, to a ravine that ruus across the said boundary and fcave same surveyed ; and, also, to survey the deviation as proposed by the Engineer through Mr Eglinton'a property. Resolved. That the clerk be instructed to pay J. W. Copitborne for the bnshfellins be has done on No 1 line, Awabou. riding. Resolved, That Messrs Bartholomew Bros.' offer to send a man and twot-horse dray one week to cart metal on to the road through the forest reserve be accepted, and the roadman bo instructed to act one man for aaid week to help to loat) the dvay. Resolved, That the roadman in the Mangapikopiko and Coal Creek ridin«s (P. Babbage) be appointed raager ander the Impounding Act, 1896; ; also, under the bye laws of th<s County relating to destroying pigs ot goats found wandering about the roads. Accounts were passed for payment and the Council adjourned.