Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 94, 17 October 1896, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

The monthly meeting of the above was held in their offices, Pohangina, yesterday. Present— Messrs H. Dicken (chairman), W. Vicary, E. Bell, A. A. Wagstaff, C. Selby, R. W. Brown, H. Fraser. The minutes of previous meeting were react and confirmed. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : — I From Treasury, re £1200 (part of • £4900) loan for roads in Coal Creek | riding ; also, provisionally approving of loan of £141 for Kiwitea-Kimbolton road bridge ; also, loan of ±'152 for repairs to Onepuhi bridge ; also, enquiring, in reply to petition re Apiti-Norsewood, if the works are included in any loans provisionally approved ; also, provisionally approving of loan of £3971 for work in the Pohangina and Mangaone ridings ; also, voucher for payment of £956 on account of reads in Tamaki riding. From Lands and Survey Office, re hypothecation of thirds in Coal Creek riding ; also, stating the interest of C. Gordon Pnynn in section 34. Block VII, Umutoi. had been cancelled. From clerk Manchester Road Board, drawing attention to the necessity for local bodies uniting and framing byelaws to regulate beavy traffic over roads, and suggesting that this Council appoint a delegate to a conference to discuss the' matter. From J. L. Wildbore, stating he had forfeited a section in Pohangina. From W. A. Sandilands, a legal opinion to the effect that the Council could recover, from persons damaging the roads by excessive weight passing over them, the costs of putting such roads in repair ; also, re sueing for outstanding rates. From Morison and Loughnan, solicitors, Wellington, re costs in suggested action against the Wanganui Harbor Board for the recovery of thirds. From settlers in the Umutoi riding, asking that a polling booth be appointed in Apiti. From Resident Engineer Railway Department re cost of iron rails. From W. H. Lucas, Pohangina, applying for permission to fell bush on road line. — Granted. From H. Fraser, applying for lease of strip of land between his property and the river and along Digger's creek. From the following applying for payment for bushfelling on road lines : — J. W. Copithorne, J. Buckman, P. McConnell, G. Buckman, J. W. Clark, A. Fraser.— Re J. Backman referred te Engineer. From C. Coad, Hunterville, in reply to application for payment of rates, stating he never owned a section in Pohangina. From C. G. Calling, applying for- permission to erect fence across Tni street, Pohangina. — Granted. From D. Sinclair, stating he was now prepared to commence his duties as Engineer. From J. Fisher, asking permission to erect a fence on road. The Chairman referred to statements made by a ratepayer with reference to the accounts in connection with the county, which led to the belief that the cost of administration was excessive. He characterised these statements as untruthful, and that ratepayers wishing to make such should go to the proper authorities for information in place of getting fragmentary evidence. To show that the revenue was considerably above L2OOO, he said the County clerk had been instructed to prepare a statement showing the total amount of income and the cost of administration for the year ended Sept. 30, 1896, in which it was shown that the total income from all sources was L 8824: that the total cost of management for the half year ended Sept. 30, 1896, was L 251 16s lid and if this was doubled it would give L 603 Its lOd for the year, giving the total cost of administration as 5$ per cent of the total income and not 30 per cent as alleged. Mr J. G. Browne, who was present, desired to make an explanation with reference to the chairman's condemnatory remarks, but the latter ruled that he could not allow an outsider to ad dress the Council as he (the chairman) was making an explanation to the Council. Cr Vicary said that the amonnt spent, including land fund and grant to Apiti bridge would amount to about £10,000 during the past year. The chairman said it stood to reason that the thousands of pounds spent on the various works could not be administered without expense and he was compelled to reply to the statements made by a ratepayer. The Engineer a report, in which he recommended that the Apiti bridge be painted and that the present wooden pier be concreted ; also, that the slips on London's and Ridge roads should be removed. He had pegged out 276 chains on Ridge road from Mr Johnston's gate to Dr Johnston's, and also 40 chains from Mr Smith's house. Plans and specifications of protective works at the bluff had been submitted to Capt. Turner, who had not yet returned them. Cr Brown presented a petition from ratepayers in the Mangaone riding praying that cattle be kept off the roads continuously in that riding. He thought it might be desirable that the ranger should be taken off the roads during summer as at first intended, to allow settlers to run their cows on the roads and thereby reduce the danger of fire spreading along the roadsides.— Held over until next meeting, Resolved, That Mr A. A. McDowall be granted a lease of section 46, metal reserve, Awahou riding, for 21 years at a rental of Is per acre for the first term of seven years, 3s per acre for the second term of seven years, and 5s 6d for the third term of seven years. Resolved, That the action of the committee in appointing Mr W. S. Harper to fill the positions of clerk, treasurer, rate collector and returning officer to the Pohangina County Council be hereby confirmed. A special meeting was held for the purpose of confirming special orders with reference to loans of L 929 (upper cross road), LISOO (Table Flat), L 4900 (Coal Creek Riding), Ll2O (main cross road. Resolved, that the clerk be instructed to take all necessary steps for raising a loan of LIOOO for the construction of the Gorge road from the Manchester boundary to the western boundary of the Malton Small farm block, and that sections, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Block 11, Gorge S.D. be formed into a special rating district for the purposes of said loan. Resolved that the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifica* tions, and to advertise for tenders for the formation of number 1 line from the end of present formation to Mr Arbuckle's section ; tenders to be in by next meeting of the Council. Resolved that the returning officer be instructed to do all things necessary for the general election of the Council to be held on the 11th day of November next ; (a) notice of the election to be given on the 28th inst. ; (b) nominations to close on the 7th November ; (c) a polling booth to be provided in each riding. Polling place for Pohangina riding, Council office; Mangaone riding, somewhere on Zigzag road ; Coal Creek, Mr Howie's woolshed ; Umutoi riding, Mr Shadbolt's house, Apiti-Norsewood road ; Mangapikopiko riding, Guy's Hall, Apiti ; Tamaki riding, Bartholomew Bros*, bouse ; Awabou riding, Sangster's woolshed. Resolved, That the following alterations be made on rate toll : G. Adsett in place of H. Adsett and, Son for section 87, Pohangina. township; Thomas Rob-

erts, Kichard Roberts, and Mrs Sarah Macdouald, for section 1, Block XIV and XV, Pohangiua, in place of Percy O. Collins; Thomas Hall in place of W. Stretton for section 53, Block XIII ; W. Burrows in place of G- Buckman for secti on 159, A piti ; F. W. Lucas in place of P. A. Lucas for section 19, Block VIII, Pohangina township ; R. H. Brown for whole of section in place of J. G. Browne for part ; J. G. Browne in place of J. J. Wearne for section 52, Pohangina ; J. Palmer in place of M. P. Mai for section 33, Pohangina township ; H. Holmes in place of H. W. Holmes for section 12, Pohangina ; D. Wangh in place of W. F. Marsh for section 37, Block XII, Apiti ; Job Palmer, for section 63, Pohangina ; H. G. Sinclair for section 14, Block VI ; G. H. Robinson, section 61 ; Dnncan Bell, section 2, Block 15 ; H. W. Oliver, section 50, Block X ; J. G. Wildbore be taken off roll ; A. M. McMeikan's name be placed on rate roll for section 15, Apiti ; Lionel Vicary in place of W. H. Webb, section 120, Apiti. Resolved, That the clerk reply to the letter from Treasury re petition from settlers on the Apiti-Norsewood road, stating a loan of L 929 was polled for and carried, but has net been pro* visionally approved by the Treasury. Resolved, That Crs Fraser and Wagstaff be authorised to meet Mr Eglinton and make arrangements with him about taking the road through his property. Proposed by Cr Vicary, seconded by Cr Bell, That the Engineer be instructed to lay off for forming and metalling about 100 chains on the Table Flat road, known as Uppermost Gross road ; tenders to be in by next meeting of the Council if money is available tor same.— Carried. Resolved, That this Council agree with the Manchester Road Board as to the necessity of preventing damage to roads through hauling excessive loads on them and hereby appoint the chairman of the Conncil to act as delegate. Resolved, That John Fisher be allowed to erect a fence on the southern side of drainage reserve opposite sections 59 and 60, Pohangina road, for one chain ; the fence to remain during the Council's pleasure. Resolved, That the offer of Lowes and Jarvis to give totara timoer for drinking trough on the Apiti Valley road be accepted. Proposed by Cr Vicary, seconded by Cr Bell, That the clerk at once make application to the Treasury for £324 of the .£ISOO loan for Table Flat road, Mangapikopiko riding ; £106 of the £120 loan for the Main Cross road in the above riding. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Bell, seconded by Cr Vicary, That the clerk at once make application to the Treasury for £1200 of the £4900 loan for making roads in the Coal Creek Block. — Carried. Resolved, That Mr H. Fraser be granted a lease of the river reserve in in front of his property for 21 years for the purpose of planting willows for protection ; rent to be Is per acre per anDum, Mr Fraser to undertake to give any outlet that may be required from time to time. Proposed by Cr Selby, seconded by Cr Brown, That the Clerk as soon as possible apply to the Treasury tor £245 on account of loan of £1000 for Pohangina township, and for £1144 on account of loan of £4668 in the Pohangina and Mangaonel ridings, of which £3971 has been provisionally sanctioned.— Carried. Proposed by Cr Vicary, seconded by Cr Wagstaff, That the clerk write to the Treasury and ask if the whole o| subsidy for the Apiti bridge is available for payment at once as the work is now finished. — Carried. Resolved, That the clerk apply to the Kiwitea County Council for the balance due on the Apiti bridge contract. Resolved, That the Engineer prepare plans and specifications and call for tenders for felling and clearing the road along the forest reserve, being part of deviation of the Opawi road ; tenders to be in by 11 o'clock on Friday, October 30th ; also, other works as per instructions at last meeting. Crs Dicken and Fraser to open tenders. Resolved, That the clerk write to Mr E. Nix and point out to him that he was over paid in Jane last a sum of 21s, and request him to refund the amount at once. Resolved, That Mr C. Thompson be authorised to form the approach from the end of No 1 line down te the river beach for the sum of £1. Resolved that this Council desires to testify ita appreciation of the way its engineer, Mr Scott, has carried out his duties during the time he hat been in their employment. Proposed by Cr Brown, seconded by Cr Selby, that this Council desires to re* cord itß appreciation of the valuable services which Mr Dicken has rendered the Council in acting as chairman since the constitution of the county and to tender him their heartiest thanks for these services. — Carried unanimously. Crs Brown, Vieary and Wagstaff re« ferred in complimentary terms to the work done, and devoted to Council work, by his chairman and to his general courteous manner. The Chairman thanked Crs for their kind expression. Cr Brown, at the request of the ranger, brought up the matter of ratepayers herding cattle on the roads in the Mangaone riding, and asked for instructions as to what steps the ranger should take. In discussion, the Councillors held that the Council could not take up the position of legal adviser to the poundkeeper or ratepayers, but that they would support the former in carrying out the pro* visions of the Impounding Act. Mr D. Sinclair contractor for the Apiti bridge waited on the Council to ask that he be allowed something extra for the additional sinking of the cylinders. His schedule price was LI 15s a foot and the actual cost L 8 10s. He had sunk the cylinders 26 feet, 14 feet being through shingle and the balance through papa. The contract signed by him was for sinking four feet in papa and he wanted an allowance above schedule price on the extra depth. Resolved, That Mr Sinclair's application for extras on Apiti bridge contract be considered at next meeting of Council. Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting adjourned.