Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 215, 15 March 1897, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the ' above CounGil was held at their offices, , Pobangina. on Saturday last. Present , —Crs H. Dickin (chairman), W. Vicary, W. Ashworth, D. Currie, H. Fraser, R. ' W. Brown, W. Cornfoot. Correspondence was received and l dealt with as follows: — < From D. Enrigbt, applying for a ' passenger license for his mail coach. • —No bye-laws dealing with license * fees. From J. Shannon, requesting an ex- ' tension of time for completion of con- 1 tract on Apiti-Norsewood road owing to • wet weather. — Ono month's extension of time granted. i From Captain Turner, stating a 1 voucher for £905 6s 7d final advance of ' Apiti bridge subsidy might now be sent in. Also, re Apiti-Norsewood road ' diviation and stating thafc as the road is ' in charge of tbe county the Council ' should proceed in the usual way ; in the case of an encroachment on the Education reserve the council should arrange with school commissioners. From Minister of Public Works, stating that tbe matter of repairing Makiekie road had been referred to the Minister for lands. From D. Johnston, objecting to pay rent for section 7 block XV, Apiti, as, amongst otber reasons, the Council had no title to the land ior which they claimed rent. From G. L. R. Scott, forwarding plan of road deviation through Mr Eglinton'a section. From W. Puklowski, stating he had forfeited tbe section for which he was rated. From F. W. Daxfield, applying for permission to fell bush on road line opposite section 29, Block VI, Pohangina. — Permission granted. From R. J. Whibley, on behalf of himself and other settlers, requesting that a drain be dug for thirty chains along main Pohangina Valley road. From the following, requesting change of names on rate roll:— A. H. Finnis in place of McNie and Son, section 13, Block V; W. E. Wellsted, in place of L. J. Skerman, section 37, Block IX ; R. yon Mirbach in place of F. O. B. Lougbnan, part Te Ohu block. — The two former applications granted, From W. S. Barber, stating he had registered 131 dogs. From J. Whittaker, ranger, stating that fche three months for which he was suspended had expired on February 25, aud that he had not received instructions to resume bis duties, and thafc he would bold tbe Council responsible for loss of time. — Ranger to be reinstated from March 18th. From the Treasury stating thafc the payments made on account of loans during the current financial year amounted to £4853 and, therefore, a further advance of not more tban £1181 could be made before April 1 ; the loan of £2959 (now cancelled) could not at present be " re instated," but a loan of not more than £1181, on account of the said £2959 loan for construction of roads iv tbe Mangaone and Pohangina ridings could be submitted for the Colonial Treasurer's provisional approval.-While tbe Council was sitting a wire was received from the Treasury stating there was no necessity to take steps over agaiu for fche £2959 loan, and a loan of £1181 on account could now be provisionally approved aud tbe balance would be approyed after March 81. From R. Currie, applying for payment for bushfelling on road line. — To be paid when road opened for traffic and when passed by Engineer. From A. A. Wagstaff stating hs had surrendered his interest in section 2, Block A, Umutoi, and requesting that his name be removed from rate roll. — Name to be removed from roll. The Engineer, Mr D. Sinclair, reported — Awahou riding — Roads in fair order ; many small slips and watertables would require the roadman's attention. Tamaki riding— contracts were proceeding satisfactorily ; tbe proposed deviation at the Bluff Totara reserve was about 110 chains with a grade of 1 in 15 up and down with 30 chains flat on top, all fairly good road line with plenty of metal to be had in tbe formation. He suggested the Government be asked to grant the £100 promised for the Bluff to pay for the clearing of the new line as soon as the deviation is approved of. Tbe Opawe road is now ready for formation on such parts as required when funds are available. Mangaone riding— The roads were in fair order ; 93 chains had been metalled on Zig Zag road ; Ferry road contract was being proceeded with. Pohangina riding — Works were progressing; the horso track from junction on Branch road to the township could not be done at present as the cost was too great. Branch road should be cleared of timber and a narrow track out on the grade line to encourage the land to slip during the wet season would save very much in repairs after the road is formed to its full width. Coal Creek riding— Contracts on Main Ridgs road were nearing completion ; metalling contracts should be let with as little delay as possible. Mangipikopiko riding— Roads in good order and contracts progressing fairly well, but were hindored by bad weather. Umutoi riding — Very little was being done except keeping tracks open* Cr Cornfoot reported that he attended at tha Council office on February 27th with the Engineer and opened tenders for metalling the Ferry road and bridges in tha Awahou riding, accepting that of J. Stretton at 19s Od per chain and that of Lyon and son for the bridges at £366 7s. Also, on tbe same date met a deputation from the Pohangina Small Farm Association and discussed the estimates for roads and approved of same. In discussing the proposed Pohangina Association loan, Cr Brown protested strongly against the five Mangaone sections being included in the loan as it was unfair to these settlers. Thoy were to be included for the purpose of raising half the cost of a portion of the dividing road estimated at £65. He was willing to pay this amount out of the general revenue provided tbese five sections were omitted. It was unfair to include them as owing to their being rated at £6 an acre they would have to contribute £15 a year for 26 years, ; while the sections in the Pohangina riding were rated at from £1 to £3 an acre. J The Council bad no right to permit auoh ] an injustice. He asked that the five sec- * tions in question be omitted and his riding would find the £65. \ Cr Cornfoot contended thafc they were - justified in including these five sections, * as the Pohangina riding was paying a j special rate for a loan expended in the j Mangaone riding and it was only fair * ratepayers in the latter should contribute j to this loan. ( The chairman pointed out that there J: was no alternatiye but to let the proposals (- go to she poll, they having been advertised* Cr Brown still held it was an injustice which should not be permitted and said * be would resign if the proposals were * allowed to pass aa they stood. * Cr Brown gave notice of his intention ~ io move the following resolution at the * next meeting ofthe Council :— That proceedings be stopped in the matter of tho £5885. loan for (be Pohangina and Manga* me ridings and sections Gl, 62, 65, 66, 6*l, Block I&. be omitted from these pro- C josals, their share of the money spent in iront pf them being paid fron; the Manga*. IN >ne riding general land. Cr Cornfoot presented a petition signed >y S. Moar and five others, requesting hat a track be made to give tbem egress rom their sections with stock. At pre- tc ent they used Beehive creek, but tbe oi iver waa making the entrance dangerous Cl

and it miphfc at any time become impassable, when they would be unable to get out of their sections. Messrs A. A. Wagstaff and Baylies waited on tbe Council in support of this request. The Engineer estimated the coat of a track as requested at about .£7O. Resolved, Tbat in future all tenders be opened in committee and tbat tbe amount of the accepted tender only bt published until after the contract is signed, any former resolution to the contrary to be rescinded. Resolved, That the Engineer apply to the school commissioners with regard to tha deviation on the Apiti-Norsewood road. Resolved, That the Engineer prepare an estimate of tbe coat of erection of a pound at Apiti— separate estimate! for matai and totara poats. Proposed by Cr Ashworth, seconded by Cr Vicary, That the Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for metalling 250 chains, more or less, of tbe Main Ridge road in two contracts : tenders to be in by tbe 27th inst, and the Engineer and the mover be empowered to open and deal with tbe same. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Dickin, seconded by Cr Brown, Tbat the special rate for payment of interest on loan of £3394 10s Sd for works in tbe Pohangina and Mangaone ridings be collected on the last triennal valuation.— Carried ; Ayes— Crs Dicken, Brown, Ashworth, and Currie ; Noes — Crs Vicary, Cornfoot, and Fraser. (Balance of report held over )