Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 88, 11 October 1897, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held on Saturday last. Present— Crs H. Dicken (chairman), W. Vicary, W. A»b worth, D. Carrie, H. Fraser, R. W. Brown, W. Cornfoot. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows :— From F. L. Bebrent thanking the Council for cancelling contracts Nos. 146 and 150 and asking that the forfeited deposits be refunded.— To be informed that the Council cannot see its way to return deposits. From E. Piorard and eleven others in Awahou Riding, requesting that balance of loan money (£2O) lie ex« pended in lowering grade of cutting between Spellman's bridge and Mr W. Hunts.— The Engineer to prepare an estimate of cost of reducing grade. The Department of Lands and Survey stating a warrant had been issued authorising expenditure on Onepubi bridge ; also, that there was no avail* able funds for further expenditure in Mnlton Block. : Fitm F* W. Arbon offering to lease roadline in front of his property. From the Secretary of the Counties Association stating that the Executive had no present intention of culling a meeting of conference as it was improbable the Local Government Bill would be introduced this session. From G Saundcrs, asking for pay* ment for bushfelling on road line from Awa road to Oroua river.— Held over. From F. Owen, surveyor, offering to survey road deviations. From H. Bailey, asking for a new lease of reserve section 17, block IX. From W. Watson, Apiti, asking that his rates and "fourths" be spent on making a track to his property. From Surveyor General, stating part of Apiti-Norsewood road in Mangoira Coal Creek Block had been gazetted a County road. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, enquiring for particulars re hypothecation of "thirds" for £4900 and £2000 loans. From S. Macdonald asking for consent to transfer of lease of reserve from R, H. Port. Transfer approved or. From G. Buckman, asking for £10 compensation for alleged damage to big contract on Apiti Norsewood road. — To be informed the Engineer advises the Council he has no claim for damages on his contract on the Apiti-Norsewood road. From the Engineer reporting; on the condition of roads in tbe County. Awahou riding Roads in fairly good order ; a fence was necessary on No. 1 line at top of cliff to prevent an accident ; the top end of No. 4 line required £10 apeut on it to improve grade. Tamaki riding — Roads were bad in f laces ; formation should be done on lower end of Opawe road. Urcutoi rididg—The horse tracks through the bush tre all in a bad state. Manga pikopiko riding — Roads in fair order; repairs would be done when the roads are dry; new works were progressing satisfactorily. Coal Creek riding— Many of slips now removed from older roads which would be ready for metalling when dry ; on newly finished roads slips were heavy ; a plan and estimate was being prepared for the proposed alterations to the eastern end of tbe Apiti bridge ; action should now be taken in this matter to secure a sbare of any money the Government may be induced to grant to local bodiefi to repair damage by late floods. Pobangina rid ■ ing — Most of the new contracts were started ; he asked that an inspector be engaged for a short time as so much work was in course of progress which required attention that one roan could not attend to all ; there were twenty-five contracts in progress A further length of road line clearing should cow be let on Branch and Pohangina Valley roads. MangaoDe riding — Roads were in good order ; metal for repairs would be re* quired. He thought the timo had ar« rived when maintenance metalling should be let by contract. Resolved, That Mr Thompson be informed that the reserves ha has applied for are not yet vested in the Council. Resolved, That the Engineer inspect Mr Watson's outlet on the Gorge road, Apiti, and arrange to have the money spent to the best advantage. Resolved, That Mr H. Bailey's offer to lease gravel reserve section 17, block XII, Oroua, for seven yean at 4s 6d per acre be accepted. Resolved, That Mr Arbon bo granted a lease of the temporarily abandoned road in front of bis property and to in* elude road reserve on the eastern side of the new road ; lease to be for seven years at Is per acre per year with right of renewal, but the Council reserye the right to cancel tbe lease at any time in case the road should be required. Resolved, That Mr Sinclair lie allowed to employ the permanent roaiman (Mr J. S. Harrison) as inspectou* on tbe Pollock's road and Awa road contracts, cost to be charged to loans. Resolved, That tbe Engineer be instructed to lay off the road through the Ferry Reserve to Pearson and Signal's section. Resolved, That the Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for metalling about three miles on the Mum Ridge Road north ; tenders to be in by next meeting of the Council. Resolved, That the following alterations be made on the rate roll:-G. Rankin, junior, for sections 175 and 176, Apiti, in place of H. W. Bennett and A. C. Bennett ; Henry W. Bennett for section 10, block VII, Apiti, in place of A- C. Bennett ; E. F. Eagar for section 19, block IV, Umutoi, in place of J. Entwisle ; Jesse Tapp for suction 85, Apiti, in place of Mrs H. E. Gay. Resolved, That the action of Crs Brown and Cornfoot in accepting tenders for contracts 148, 150, 156, 157, 162, 168 be approved. Resolved, That the Clerk write and ask tbe Hanger for the Mangapikopiko and Coal Creek ridings to nominate a sub-ranger for the above ridings. Resolved, That fifty copies of th» county balance sheet for the year ending March 31st, 1897, be printed and that copies be lodged at the residences of tbe respective Councillors for Inspection. Resolved, That the Engineer draw up specifications and call for tenders for one or two horses and dray to cart metal for repairing roads in tbe various ridings of the county (Umutei oxeepted), price to be at per day ; contract to last for one year. Resolved, That the Engineer be instructed to erect the fence required on No. 1 line ; also, carry out tbn work at the top of No. 4 line ; also spread repairing metal where required us recommended in his report. Resolved, That Messrs Abnvham and Williams be asked if they are still willing to grant the use of their sale yards at Pohangina for a pound and if so the board be removed from Mr Wnittaker's and applications be called for a poundkeeper. Notice of motion was givon by Cr Vicary " That the motion passed at tbe Aiguat meeting appointing the second Wednesday io each month to be pound sale day at the Apiti and Maugaone pounds be rescinded and in lieu thereof sales be held every Wednesday if necessary." Resolved, That the clerk write to tbe assistant Surveyor- General informiug aim that the £80 expended by the Woodville Road Board in opening up tbe Malton Block was a separate grant and in addition to the £300 with which tbe actions were weighted, aud that tbis

Council is of opinion that the £80 (balance of £300) is still unexpended. The clerk, also, to write to Mr Charles Hall, Woodville, for his opinion on the above matter. Resolved, That £1201 4s accrued " thirds " be placed on fixed deposit for one year. Resolved, That the Clerk write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands and ask why no " thirds " have been haudt d to the Council on section 38, block XII, Apiti, as the land has been occupied nearly five years. The following tenders were accepted : — Contract No. 142, 70 chains road clearing and forming 6 foot track, Malton Block, Cowen and Marphy, i'Bl ; contract 164, formation and culverts, 60 chains, Makiakieroad Pohangina Valley, A. Brooking and Co, 1131 ; contract 165, formation 58 chains Opawo road, E. Wagstaff and Co, £68. Resolved, That this Council desires to plac* on record its appreciation of the services of Mr Greville, Audit Inspector, for the painstaking manner in which he audited the County accounts for the past year. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Auditor»Oeneral. Accounts amounting to £601 14s lid were passed for payment and the meeting adjourned to November 24tb, when the annual meeting will be held.