Kiwitea County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 71, 21 September 1896, Page 2

Kiwitea County Council.

The ordinary monthly reeling of the Kiwitea County Council was held on Saturday Jast. Present. - Crs W. , F. Jacob (chairman), J. J William- j son, W. Morton, A. H. Tompkins, G. Shannon, Jas Rfid, W, Jo'^s. j The miiiut(-s of the pre\ ious meet- j ing were rend and cor.fi rmod Correspondence was received and j dealt with ay follows : — I Prom Receiver of Land Revenue, vouchers for £7 3s and £687 3s, amount of ordinary revenue and hypothecated " thirds." From Com misssinner of Crown Lands, re over-pay men t of hypothecated " thirds," stating that as sufficient money had accumulated on hypothecated thirds to balance the amount wrongly paid, proposals could be submitted for their expenditure; also, re hypothecation of " thirds " in reduction of rates on Junction and McBetli's roads. From Treasury, voucher for £1 fees due to Council ; also, voucher for £3"20, third advance on account of £2571 loan, Kiwitea Cross and two other roads ; al>o, £130, fourth advance on account of £928 loan, Meßeth's road ; also, £223, second and final advance on account of £496 loan, Oroua river bridge ; also, £300 on account of loan for approaches to Otara bridge site ; also, provisionally approving of further loan of £275 on account of Vinegar Hill road bridge. The Chairman stated that the Engineer had succeeded in inducing the Treasury to advance £300 on account of the Otara bridge approach loan and thftt the Government Engineer (Mr Murray) had promised to sign a voucher for another £300, which would complete the formation contract and the contractor had been instructed to go on with the work. Prom Lands and Snrvey Department, re this Council's application that a sum of £500 be provided on the Estimates for further expenditure in metalling Kimbolton road as far as Rangiwabia, and stating the request would be considered ; also, authorising the application of " thirds" on certain perpetual lease aud deferred payment sections in blocks XIII and IX, Apiti, to ordinary revenue, an undertakding having been given that roads leading thereto would be made; also, certificate enabling " thirds" on certain sections in block XIV, Apiti, being applied to reduction of special rates for Branch and Terrace roads ; also, certificate authorising application of " thirds" on certain sections in blocks VI, VII, IX, and X, Apiti, to reduction of special rates on Peep-o'-day, Kiwitea Cross and Bluff roads. From the following re change of names on rate roll : — W. H. Jenkins in place of C. K. K. Cbamen, section 3, block VI, Apiti ; J. C. Meyer in place of J. Hall, section 38, block IV, Apifci ; J. Bryce for sections 252, 255, 256, 248, 269, 270, 271, block I, Pobangina, in place of T. Bryoe ; G. R. Howell in place of A. H. Tompkins. section 8, block XII. Ongo ; W. Joughin in place of D. Kane, section 15, block V, Apiti; Jos. Shapleski in place of Geo. Richardson as executor m McNaughton's estate, section 75, blockXlV, Apiti. —Alterations agreed to. From K. G. Humphrey, requesting that bis name be placed on rate roll for part of section 18, block XV., Ongo. — Cannot be complied with until further particulars supplied. From A. D. Stanley, requesting that tbe name of W. F. Stanley be placed on rate roll for sections 40 and 41, block XV., Apiti, in place of bis. — Consent of W. F. Stanley to be obtained. From the following, accounts for felling bush on road lines : — C. B. Swainson, £4 Is; E. H. Crabb, £4 4s : Brew ster and Wotton, £18 8s ; G. Martin, From the following applying for permission to fell bush on road line :— G. Ewart, H. A. Euscoe, E. M. Anyon. — Permission granted, excepting to G. Ewart, in which case there was valuable timber on road line. From W. S. Barber, re pigs running on roads. From J. Jobnstone, order re payment of money due to .1. Mclntosh. From A. Gerke, stating he did not own section 90, Birmingham. From Cameron and McGregor, W. S. Marshall, R. E. Beckett, T. Bennett, applying for payment of advance made to Council for forming Whare and Ruae roads. From Hanson and Son, order for pay ment of money due to J. Mclntosh to them. From C. Gerke, re Mr Greves acting as grave digger at Birmingham. From F. G. Carthew, enquiring as to tbe cause of delay in constructing Manpipi road. — The Engineer explained he had called tenders for as much of the road, 250 in place of 380 chains, as be thought the money would do. — Tenders to be called for balance of road as soon as sufficient money in band. From H. Franklin, enquiring what the Council intended to do about deviation. — To be attended to at once. From J. Waugh, re Terrace road, aud objecting to anyone going on bis section. - Road formation would not touch section. From F. E. Pickering, J. G. Oldham, L. C. Ellerm, E. H. Wilhelm, asking the Council to open that portion of Cheltenham Crossroad between Mackay's line and Bracelin's corner.— Held over until next meeting. From Rangitikei County Council, final statement showing expenditure on Vinegar Hill bridge, this Council's share being £881 48 lid. From R. Mcßetb, asking for a statement of the amount of land taken for deviation of road through his own and his brother's sections. The Engineer reported on the suggested road through Mr Bathe's property leading to Mr Davis 1 section as follows, viz., tbe length of the proposed road would be 31 chains and the cost £121, exclusive of cost of survey and transfer ; the cost being made up as follows, viz., 3 and 110 th acres of land at £10— £31 ; 62 chains fencing £62 ; four gates, £8 ; maintenance of gates and fences £20. The chairman stated, with reference to this road, the whole of the money in hand would be required to pay the cost of purchasing, survey and transfer of the land required. There were about £25 of thirds in hand from Mr Davis' section. Mr D. Davis waited on the Council to see what they intended to do about giving him a road to bis section. The Engineer's report was read to him and it was pointed out that the survey and transfer would cost about another £tso. It was understood the Land Board intended to give him a road through Mr Perry's, besides, the chairman stated it would be impossible for the Council to do anything unless Mr Davis found half the money. The Land Board might be induced to put a road through Mr Perry's or they might take the road through Mr Bathe's and charge the cost against his (Mr Davis'; section. -^ Mr Davis said he cduld not find half the money. He was advised to make further application to the Land Board. Messrs G. Anyon aud E. Palmer waited on the Council to request that tbe road leading to the Birmingham school gate be made. They offered to

find half the cubt, cdtiuiat .-.1 at iB by the Engineer. Mr liobiii>oa waited oc :he Council witli a request that sn additional section of the Tapuae road be l'cri- od to bring the road to witbin 100 civ >m of him. There wero from 110 to 12U chains, which would not cast m O ,;< ibnn £100. Ho offered to advance sufficient money to do the work, nnMI the 31 st March, without interest, when the loan money wo old be available. Mr Hockley waited on the Council with reference to McCallum'g contract Mangatikei road, and requested that it be altered so that the bridge be omitted from it, and another half-mile of formation done. The bridge was let for £77 and he and his brother, the settlers most interested, preferred that tbti formation should be done and the bridge at present existing should be widened to enable dray traffic to cross. The latter could be done at a cost of about £10. In discussion members seemed to think it would be better to allow the contractor to proceed with the erection of the new bridge and that renders should be called for forming an additional half mile. Mr Hockly gaid the settlers would prefer the road being formed out of the loan money first, and that when the formation was completed the bridge might be built. There was a slip coming down which wan likely to damage the bridge. He also asked, that something be done to the road leading to Vinegar Hill bridge. Mr E. Lawrence waited on the Council on behalf of Messrs W. and H. V. Hammond with reference to a fence alleged to have been destroyed by a contractor on the Pakibikara'road. He said twenty five chains had been smashed by debris being thrown on it by the road contractor and he now desirad the Conncil to complete an undertaking alleged to have been given compelling the contractor to make good the damage. The chairman did not think the Conncil were liable, but they wonld consider the matter. Messrs Rogers and Cornfoot waited on the Council to complain of the manner in which the contractor on Tapnae ridge road was carrying out the formation. Iv reply to questions the Engineer said he would not take over the road as it was. Independent of its being packed up with timber it was not the proper width. The contractor would either have to remove the wood or cut out the proper width out of the solid. The chairman promised to go into the matter with the Engineer to see what could be done towards compelling the proper construction of the road. (Jr Reid reported that he and the Engineer had interviewed the Minister of Lands with reference to the Otara bridge to see if he would agree to eliminating the extra expense added to the plans by the Government Engineer or that they should give an additional grant to make up the difference in the cost as between the estimated cost according to the plans prepared by the County Engineer and the alterations made to same by the Government Engineer, increasing the estimated cost of the bridge. He had suggested their being allowed to erect a cylinder bridge at a lesser cost than the suspension bridge, but the Minister preferred the latter as he thought it would be cheaper and better. The Minister said he would further consider the request when the correspondence between Mr Murray (the Government Engineer) and Mr Bray was before him, and he would then consult the Engineer-in-Chief. He (Cr Reid) bad enquired about the subsidy already promised, the reply being that there was £1092 available for this year, and the Minister had promised that the balance of the £1675 would be given. He, also, asked if the Government would put LSOO on the estimate for work on the Kimbolton Road but the Minister would not commit himself, and only promised to consider the application when the estimates were being prepared. Resolved, That Crs Morton and Jacob be authorised to enter into an agreement, on behalf of the Council, with Messrs R. and D. Mcßeth for the purchase of the land contained ife proposed deviations of Mcßeth's road. Resolved, That the names forwarded by the Commissioner ef Crown Lands be placed oh the rate roll for sections purchased in the Pakihikura and Rewa Village settlements. Resolved, That Messrs Cameron, W. Marshall, Beckett, and Bennett be informed that the Council cannot entertain their request for refund on the Whare and Ruae roads. Proposed by Cr Reid, seconded by Cr Jones, That the Rangitikei County Council be informed that this Council is unaware of any agreement to pay half the cast of surveying and fencing the Vinegar Hill bridge road ; also, that the Kiwitea Road Board, by resolution dated January 20th, 1894, agreed to pay onehalf the cost of making said road at an estimated cost of £1200, as per letter from Rangitikei County Council dated December 22, 1893, and not an amount of over £1600, as now furnished, with* out being consulted.— Carried. In discussing the action of the Rangitikei County Council in charging the COSt of surveying road for approach to the Vinegar Hill bridge the chairman thought they were not liable for the survey, and should not pay the amount claimed. The estimated cost of the approach was £1200, and this Council was not consulted about the increased cost. Resolved, That £2000 of the land fund be placed on deposit for 12 months. Resolved, That Mr Gerke he intormed that the cemetery trnstees have employed Mr Grieves to act as sexton for ths Birmingham cemetery, and that legal proceedings will be taken against anyene digeing graves in the cemetery without written instructions "from the trustees. Proposed by Cr Reid, seconded by Cr Tompkias, That the Engineer be instructed to lay off half a mile of the Mangatikei road ; tenders to close in a fortnight, the Chairman and Engineer to deal with same.— Carried. Proposed by Cr Tompkina, seconded by Cr Shannon, That the Engineer call tenders for metalling Junction, Bluff, and Peep o'- Day roads for the amount of loan money on hand. — Carried. ! Proposed by Cr Tompkins, seconded i by Cr Shannon, That the clerk write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands pointing out the urgent need of having the reserves vested in the Council as quickly as possible. — Carried. Resolved, That the Engineer be instructed to lay off work to the amount of about £8 to provide access to schoolground, provided the Birmingham school committee contribute £ for £ on amount expended. Proposed by Cr Jacob, seconded by Cr Williamson, That the chairman be authorised to institute further proceedings iv the case of this Council v. C. Bath.— Carried. Resolved, That the Chairman arrange with Mr Barber to summons the owners of pigs running on the road in the county. Resolved, That the clerk be instructed to apply for a further advance of £450 on account of the Ongo loan. Proposed by Cr Shannon, seconded fejr Cr Morton, That tenders be called for the formation of 120 chains on the. Kiwitea- Tapnae road.— Carried.. A motion by Cr Shannon, That the ranger be instructed not to impound dairy cattle in the On<>o riding between sunrise and sunset from October Ist, 1896, to March 81st, 1897, was lost. Resolved, That Mr E. Lawrence's offer on behalf of Hammond Bros, be agreed to, in terms submitted to the Council.