WAIAPU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 415, 15 May 1902, Page 4

WAIAPU COUNTY COUNCIL.

(From our own Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the above Council, held at Waipiro last Wednesday, was attended by Councillors Sherwood, A. B. Williams, T. S. Williams, and Milner. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr A. H. Wallis, Cr Sherwood was voted to the chair.

CORRESPONDENCE,

A letter was received from Mr Freitzberg, of Cape Runaway, stating that Mr McKay, of that district, had locked the gate of a road which had been used by the public for the last 20 years. He asked that the Council should make enquiries into the matter, as it was causing a great deal of annoyance to residents in that district. Mr O’Ryan asked the Council if it were a public coast road. If it were a public road for the length of time Mr Frietzberg stated in his letter he thought Mr McKay could not block the public road under any conditions. He suggested that it might have been a road established by himself in the first instance. It was proposed by Cr T. S. Williams that Mr McKay be written to and asked for full explanation. This was seconded by the Chairman and adopted.

A RESIGNATION,

Cr W. D. S. McDonald wrote stating that owing to his business affairs having increased lie was sorry to be compelled to tender his resignation. It was proposed by Cr A. B. Williams tliat Mr W. D. S. McDonald’s resignation be acce ted with regret. Seconded by Cr T. S. Williams, and carried,

OATES ON HOADS. Mr It. wrote asking if the Council would take steps to close the road between Mangahiwini and Pawariki, as the public were in the habit of going that way and leaving gates open, thereby causing a certain amount of damage and loss of stock, instead of going by. the road made by the Council a short time ago. It was proposed by Cr A. B. Williams that the Engineer, Mr O’Ryan, be instructed to writo to Mr Kemp stating that the Council would take all necessary steps in the matter without further delay. This was seconded by Cr Milner, who stated that it was a very serious matser, as Mr Kemp would be at a loss on account of people going that way, when a good road was provided for them. WAIAPU HIVEE FERITY. Mr D. McDonald, of Port Awanui, wrote saying that the oars used by the ferryman on the Waiapu river, at the upper ferry, Kahukura, were in a very bad state, and that an accident was liable to occur at any time. He asked the Council to see into the matter as soon as possible. Cr Milner proposed that the oars should be supplied without any delay. This was seconded by Cr A. B. Williams, who remarked that it would be very serious if an accidont should occur, and that it would be advisable to procure the material asked for at once. Mr O’Ryan, tbe Engineer, said that the s.s. Omapero would be leaving Gisborne in the course of a few days, and ho had better wire for them. Cr Milner remarked that the sooner the oars wore there tho better for the security of the travelling p üblic.

ENGINEER S REPORT. Mr O’Ryan, Engineer, reported that the fourth bridge on tbe Hikuwai was completed as far as was required for public traffic, but had yet to receive its finishing touches. The road machine had now completed the road between Te Puia (Hot Springs) and the Mangahawini creek, making tho road now between Tokomaru and Waipiro Bay almost complete. He thought it would be advisable to employ two or three men for about five or gix weeks on the road between Whareponga aud Tuparoa, in order that they might bo able to afford protection to that road this winter from the violent floods which often visit that place. The road could bo protected by blasting some of the large boulders which are tho cause of driving the stream against the bank, thereby undermining tbe road. It often caused the Council a lot of trouble and heavy expenditure to keep that road in order. He also recommended that tho clearing of slips should be seen to, as the road was now almost impassable. The Chairman asked Mr O’Ryan where ho intended to store the road .machine during the winter, when they would be unablo to use it. Mr O’Ryan replied that he thought Tokomaru Bay would be the most suitable place to store the machine. He thought he could procure a shed to store it in.

TUPAROA-REPOUTJA ROAD. Cr Milner called attention to a few dangerous places on the road between Tuparoa and Reporua. It was decided by the Council that the matter be left in the Engineer’s hands. HALF-YEARLY BALANCE. It was proposed by the Chairman that a meeting for the examination of the halfyearly balance be held on Wednesday, the 28th of May. Carried. TENDERS. The Coun oil then, on a motion proposed’ went into co mmittee to consider the different tenders for the formation of roads and bridges along the Hikuwai. The following tenders were received ;—No. 7 : R. Armstrong 12139 15s, W. Oates ±‘l99, J. A. Nicol £llß ss, McNeill and Son £ll9, G. McDonald £lls 8s (accepted). No. 8 : R. Armstrong £4l, A. 0. Forrester £43, W. Oates £45 3s 6d, J. A. Nicol £49 15s, McNeill and Son £29, G. McDonald £2B 9s (accepted). No. 9 : R. Armstrong £l6 16s, A. 0. Forrester £2l 10s, W. Oates £22, J. A. Nicol £26, McNeill aud Son £l4, G. McDonald £l2 7s 6d (accepted). No. 10 : A. Armstrong £B3 9s, W. Oates £96 7s 6d, J. A. Nicol £75, .McNeill and Son £69 Bs, G. McDonald £4l 16s 6d (accepted). No. 11 : R. Armstrong £l7 17s, W. Oates £ls, McNeill and Son £9 7s.

DISTRICT WORKS,

Mr D. N. McMillan, Rjad Surveyor, Napier, forwarded a schedule for works required in the district in order that they might bo provided for on tho estimates.-k The Engineer stated that, together with the Chairman, he had prepared and forwarded the schedule.—A further letter was received extending tho timo for preparation of the schedule to May 24. Received,

TAPAWIROA LOAN. The Secretary to the Treasury wrote, replying to the Council’s application for tbe Tapawiroa loan of £IOOO, that it had been provisionally accepted, and that the Council should take tbe steps required under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1901.—Received.

TAUWHAREPARAE ROAU. Letters were received from Messrs Murphy and Hindtiiarsh in reference to the road from the Hikuwai to Tauwhareparae, stating that Messrs Fitzgerald Bros, intended to fall bush to block T, so as to block the same. They requested that steps be taken to have the road surveyed and formed. - Cr Sherwood proposed than the Engineer be instructed to examine the road, see Messrs Fitzgerald and other parties, and report at nest meeting.—Agreed to. MISCELLANEOUS. A memorandum from the Colonial Treasurer was received, forwarding the Inspector’s note for Hikuwai loan to February 1, 1902—viz., £6lOl 9s 7d. Mr T, S. Williams proposed that the scrub ou tbo Hikuwai road between the second and third bridges be cleared, and that the culvert be placed in the watercourse on the flat north of the second bridge.—Agreed to. It was resolved, on Cr Sherwood’s proposition, that the manuka growing on the new Tapaweroa line near Waiorongornia be cleared, at a cost not to exceed £lO. Accounts amounting to £2070 14s Id were presented and passed for payment, aud included an instalment of £ISOO to P. McLoughlin, the Hikuwai bridges contractor. It was agreed, as urged by Cr T. S. Williams, that the Engineer form the track and approach to the river near Traihia Mataheki’s house, at the Hikuwai. The Engineer was instructed that, in keeping the Whareponga-Tuparoa road, he should oniy expend sufficient to keep traffic open.