CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1057, 26 November 1903, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Waiapu County Council wrote regrotting their inability to contribute towards the cost of constructing portions between Tolago Bay and tho southern boundary of tho Waiapu County. Mr Charles H. Seymour wrote regarding a road to be takon through his property at Wbangara. The c-ffect would bo to completely cut him off from the water, and it would bo necessary for tho road to be fenced. Ho was willing that a trial should be made of a gate on the road, but should this purposo fail tho Council would havo to put water-troughs where necessary, and fenco tho road off. Provided this were done ho did not purpose making a claim on the Council for the land to bo taken. If a gate wore put on tho road it would havo to bo kept closed. Tho County Engineer drew the Council’s attention to the state of a bridge which was unsafe for traffic on tho inland Waiapu road. Ho had considered it advisable to at ones effect repairs. He was unablo to say what the cost would be, but it would exceed tho limit of £lO, to which he had been authorised. TOWN BRIDGES.

The Gisborne Town Clerk wroto stating that a conference of local bodies to discuss the question of tho erection of a second bridge over the Taruheiu river would be held at 8.30 p.m. on Thursday next, at the Harbor Board office, and the County Council were requested to appoint delegates, It was decided that any members of tho Council who could do so would attend. A RECENT ACCIDENT.

The Department of Justieo wrote forwarding a copy of the rider to the verdict arrived at by the jury at the inquest on the body of Thomas Glovor, who was killed recently at Tolago Bay. Tho Chairman thought that tho matter should bo roforcod to the Minister of Public Works, who should bo asked to give a voto for the purposo of ropairing the roads in Tolago Bay. This was all they conld do as there was no Road Board in tho distrist.

Tho Chairman’s suggestion was adopted. CEMETERY AND ABATTOIR SITES. Tho Borough Council wrote asking for a further contribution of D 95 4s lOd, the Council’s share of tho oost of land taken at Awapuni for oomotory and abattoir purposes. Tho sum of ,6200 had previously beeu paid. Tho Chairman said that thoro was a petition beforo Parliament from the Natives interested in regard tq tho excessive amount of land taken.,

Cr Harding favored tho amount being paid.;(J Or Matthc-ws said that whilst not desiring to bo an alarmist hs was of opinion that if tbo groyne were further extended tho whole of tho land taken would disappear into the ocean. Ho had made a survoy a couple of years back and was surprised to see the way in which tho sea had encroached. Three or four chains had disappeared in that number of years. Cr White ; Is that the reason you have bumped up tho values ?—Laughter. Cr Harding: Wo must not make this an excuse for creeping out of our liability. Cr Clayton : Of course wo shall havo to pay our share.

Cr White : If Cr Matthows is right we shall be able to go yachting on it. Tho Chairman : I say give up a portion of it.

Cr Clayton : I should give up iho lot. Tho Chairman said that the .£2OO already paid had not b3on disbursed to the Nativo ovvnors. Tho money was probably in the bank reducing interest on tho Borough’s overdraft. They should pay no more just now. Ho moved a resolution to that effect', Cr HardiDg thought the Council should acknowledge tho liability of .695 4s 10d, and pay tho amount when a settlement was arrived at with the Natives. Ho moved an amendmont to that offcct. Cr Mat-thews said he would vot9 for neither the resolution or amendment. The Council should see that the Harbor Board put an opon viaduct there, otherwise the wholo of tho money was being thrown away.

The resolution was carried, Crs Clayton, Murphy, Sherratt, Gray, and tho Chairman voting for it, and Crs Harding, Richardson and White against. i JCr Harding: It teaches this Council to keep a record of its deliberations.

The Chairman : It will teach the Borough Council to exercise a little patience. . After further discussion the Chairman said that the Council .were liable to pay a third of tho coat, but they were just as good custodians of the money as the Thorough Council. They cou.d pay the balance when the amount already paid had been disbursed. WAIMATA CROSSING.

Alessrs Tombleson, Kenway, and Strachan waited upon the Council in regard to tho Walmsta crossing. Mr Tombleson said that the old crossing was much safer than the new one in flood tirno, and thoy did not wish to lose the right to use it, which would result if the exchange to Mr Kenway was allowed fco go through. , , . Mr Strachan said that he carted his own wool, and with the present crossing he had hud to considerably reduce his loads. He protested against the old crossing being closed, and suggested to the Council the advisability of taking over both, lhey had no right to close tho old crossing, which had been proved to be a good one. Tho Engineer thought it would be better to retain the old crossing. Air Strachan said that he understood Air Keuway intended to close tho old road. Air Konway said that Mr Strachan wub one of the persons who proposed the exchange. He intended to give the land for tho new crossing on condition that the old one was closed. As to opening the two reserves and the old road, it was expecting rather too much from him. The old crossing hud cost the Council u gesufc dealj especially in time of floods. Mr Strachan strongly protested against the old crossing being closed. Mr Kenway wished to have the matter deferred until after his brother s return.

Mr Strachan contended that tho land leading to both crossings should be taken. The Council were only aciing as trustees, and should do the best for tho settlers.

Mr Kenway was prepared the settlers in a reasonable way. The settlers of the Waimata wero not. ho said, unanimous in regard to tho application made by Messrs Tombleson and Strachan. "Mr Tombleson said that the settlers had hitherto no opportunity to object. Mr Kenway urged that the matter should be allowed ' to stand over until his brother’s return, but Mr Strachan made a vigorous protest against any delay. The Council should decide the matter that afternoon. Consideration was deferred.

WHATATUTU ROAD. Mr Geoffrey McLean, representing Messrs Bloomfield Bros., waited upon the Council and asked that the road machine should be put on tho Whatatutu road, as promised by tho Council some time ago. His principals had paid from .-62000 to J 62500 in rates during the last ten years, and had received little benefit in the way of expenditure on the road. Unfortunately his district had been poorly represented on the Council in the past. The Engineer said the road machine was at present on the Motu road. Consideration deferred.

REBATE OF RATES. Mr Spurroll waited upon the Council in regard to certain rates which he had paid, and which other settlers had not been charged with. He was the only one of a number of settlers who took up land in 1891, whose name was placed on the roll. He asked that oithor all the settlers should bo made to pay or else ho should be given a clean sheet for that year. The Chairman said that either tho applicant was liable for rates or he was not. The matter was one for which tho Valuation Department was responsible. Mr Spurred said that the persons who took up land in Aprii, 1891, wero allowed to go free, whilst he takiug up land in May was dropped upon. The whole thing was unjust. The Chairman replied that the roll was made by tho Council. Cr Harding : If wo receive rates for which wo are not entitled, wo should not demur in handing them back. Tho Chairman : If Mr Spurred was improperly put on the roll |ho was right, in representing the matter to the Valuation general. Wo cannot alter the roll. Tho probability is that tho other settlers ought t) have been put on the roll. The Chairman recommended tho applicant to interview the District Valuer. Tho recommendation of the Engineer in regard to tho Waimata bridges was adopted. The report was adopted. TOLAGO BAY PETITION.

Mr Murphy presented a petition from tho ratepayers of the Tolago Bay riding. Tho petition pointed out that the sum of £IBOO was to their credit, and they desired a portion of it spent on necessary works in that district. Councillors could see from the petition that the petitioners were paying heavy rates and receiving no benefit. Ho thought that if tho Council could not undertake the expenditure the races should be reduced.

Cr Hardiug understood that as soon as the plans were to hand tenders wero to be called for the bridges. Or White said there was £4OO on the estimates for bridges. Cr Murphy : With the income wo have in tho riding we ought to have the best roads in the district.

Or Matthews : Whataupoko is entitled to a share of the expenditure from the Tolago riding. Or Murphy : There is no inducement to save. If a voto is passed and not takon someone olse grabs tho money. The Chairman said that the expenditure of Whataupoko and Waimata, which roads wero used by Tolago Bay settlers, were in a measure chargeable on Tolago Bay. Without these roads settlers could not get to town. Cr White, reading from a statement showing tho position of the several ridings, said in March next there would be J 2500 available, and settlers asked for an expenditure amounting to nearly £2OOO. Cr Murphy : We only asU for the expenditure o£ the amount we pay in rates, less tho ordinary charges for administration, etc.

The Chairman thought the Tolago Bay riding was as much chargeablu for the maintenance of the town bridges as auy other riding. Cr Mutlliews said that it appeared to him a very narrow spirit for a riding to say that all the money derived in rates should be spent, and that it should not be chargeable for tho maintenance of roads and bridges which were used by settlers. Cr Murphy cruised tho different systems under which tho Council had worked in different years. Cr Gray thought the outlying ridings should allow something for the roads near town. Cr Whito said that as far as possible it was wise to spend the rates derived from each riding in that riding, but it was impossible to make this a bard and fast rule, there being so many works to which all ridings should contribute. The Chairman thought that tho two ridings that had most to complain of were Waikohu and Te Aral. Cr Matthews pointed out that Whataupoko was paying off .£3OO per year. Cr Murphy: We have money to our credit—the Tolago Bay riding. Why should wo not have an overdraft the same us any other riding '? Cr Matthews : There will bo a considerable reduction from the Tolago Bay riding now that Wigan has been taken by

the Government. Cr Murphy, calling to mind the vigorous manner in which Mr Strachan had protested in regard to the exchange of the Waimata crossing, remarked ■. "' We want Mr Strachan to represent this riding, he would see we had our share.” (LaughtelQn the motion of the Chairman it was decided to reply to the petitioners as foljows That some of the works have already been ordered ; that the interests of the riding is being fuslly represented by Cr Murphy ; and that so far as the funds will allow the further works will bo attended to.” ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The Engineer reported as follows : t, T k e Pauikau and Pouawa roads have been put in fair repair for wheel traffic, also the Mangatokorau and Arakihi roads as far as Hood’s gate. A road party is at present engaged in opomug up the section from Mangatotoi towards Huanm and Lowucn Hills, after which the portion from Hood’s gate to the Waimata Road Board’s north boundary will be taken in hand. The flanges of the Tplago punt being in bad order, I have had tbe same rene "fhoistSfle: U LSsL f^beSo taken and plans prepared for formation and metalling at Whangara a d,stance of about 30 chains. On the Waiomoko road approaches have been formed to the new

suspension bridge from funds available from loan, and the bush felled leading to Messrs Hood Bros.’ section from funds in hand from, deferred thirds. “ On the Pouawa road repairs have been effected, and I should recommend the erection of two small bridges, money for which is available (thirds). “ The Tatapouri and Makarori hills hav6 been put in fair order, and I shall shortly call tenders for metal repairs in accordance with the approved schedule.

“ The new depot platform at Patutabi has been completed, and hand rails fixed on one of the beam bridges. The earthwork for approaches at Lavenham bridge is in hand. On tho inland Waiapu road a new bridge has been erected at tho northern end, according to instructions, and a bridge or, Ngakaroa (truss) being insecure I have at once put in hand the necessary repairs (on this matter I have already notified you). A bridgo on tho Waimata road having broken down, it was found that freuh decking will have to be laid. “ On the Motu road I have pointed out to the naan in charge what work is necessary wiijh the road machine, and a start will be naado at once with work from Rangariri creek southwards. “ I have interviewed the district road engineer with regard to tho local votes, and he has promised to forward a list of what moneys will be available for expenditure by the local body. I should recommend the Council immediately on receipt of theso particulars to request tho head office to furnish the necessary authorities for proceeding with the work, otherwise delay may occur in getting tho work let, as in previous years. “ Two single horse-scoops in good order are for sale cheap. I should recommend the purchase by tho Council.

“ Tonders for tho following works are advertised to close at this meeting—viz., motaliing Wainui road, sheathing Kaitaratahi bridge, painting bridges, carting metal to depots, metalling (Whangara), metalling (Murewai). Tho motaliing of different short lengths on tho Waiupu inland and Whatatutu roads could best bo done by day labor with tho roadman assisting, and I should recommend this com-30 being adopted with the small sums available. According to instructions, I havo let contracts satisfactorily for approaches to tho Lavenham bridge and formation and bushfelliug at Maraotahi.”

TENDERS. Tho following tenders wero received : Supplying 1600 dog-collars: Primrose and Leslio, £39 ss, accepted. For supplying metal to depots the following tenders were accepted Witters and Liuklater, contracts Nos. 4,6, 7,7 a, 8, 10, 11, 19a; Rodgers, Greaves, and Co., 1,3, 3a, 18d, 18e, 18f, 15a, 16, 17a, and 17; William Jones, 2; Partington and Co., 23, 24, 25, 26a, 26/27, 23, 29, 30, and 31.

Authority was given to tho Engineor to call for tenders for those contracts for which no tenders were received.

Several tenders were received for formation works on Whangara, but none of them being satisfactory it was decided to call for fresh tonders. Sheathing Kaitaratahi bridge : M. McLeod £l9B, P. McLaughlin £195, S. Boland £173 19s, Currie and Bains £154 15s (accepted). Metalling near creamery, Wainui: Herrawell and Brosuahan, clay 2s per cubic yard, metal 7s per yard ; Ben Hird, clay Is 9d per yard, metal 7s per yard (accepted). Painting county bridges : McLaughlin £266 15s, Malcolm McLeod £lO6 10s (accepted). Metalling contract No. 84 : No tenders being received for this contract, tho matter was left to the Engineer.