MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 79, 3 June 1879, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Yesterday

The Council met at 2 p.m. Present — Mossrs Macai'thur (chairman), Halcombfi, Linton, Carr, Grower, Sanson, Kebbell, and Dr Rockstrow.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE,

A letter was read from the Foxfcon Local Board, asking the Council to refund £10, which the Board had been compelled to pay, owing to au error in the laying out of the Main street, which is a County road. The matter was ordered to stand over uniil uext meeting.

Letter road from 'ftfe Secretary to the Treasury requesting that three copies of the balance sheet might be forwarded, one for each House of the' Assembly, and one for record ia the Treasury.

From J. Hillary, resigning the position of poundkeeper at Foxton. Messrs Rock 1 strow, and Grower were authorised to make the best possible arrangements.

From Mr Trowson, covering copy of Climie's topographical map. From Mr J. T. Stewart, District Kngir eer, stating the Ohau punt was ready, and asking whether any one was appointed to tako charge of it. i

From the Colonial Secretary's Depart* inent re Bye Laws unier " Tin slaughter, houses Act, 1877," and suggesting that the legal adviser of the Council should frame them .

From tho Manawatu Highways Board, asking the Counnil to curtuil bush falling in Kiwitea District.

From Mr lioudon,. as follows: — "Please excuse my absence from the Council, which is unavoidable, as it was previous meeting, though business engagements (or rather complications) over which I have no control.—Yours faithfully, F« Loudon."

From Mr T. Bradley, asking the Council to give him an extension of time. He attributed the delay to scarcity of teams and laborors. The request was not granted. From the Hutt Council, asking for refund of £13, one half cost of maintenance of Waikanae ferry.

From the Chairman of the Wairurapa Wegt County, asking the co-operation of the Council, regarding the maintenance of the road through the Seventy Mile Bush, which was more colonial than local, and suggesting a deputation to the Government regarding the matter. The Council resolved to protest against a license being grantei to Mr William Udy, at Otaki, as unnece isary now that the ferry was further inland. COLLECTOESHIP. The following tenders were opened for the collectorship : — J. A. Knocks, for Horowhenua Riding only, 10 per cent; R. Mackie, Palmerston, 5 per cent ; T. Walton Palmerston, 3£ per cent ; It. G-. Knight, Foxtou, 5 per cent ; F. Mowleni, Palmers ton, 3£ per cent; 0". Burrel, Foilding, 10 per cent ; S. S. Quinn, Foxton, 7 per cent ; H. J. Booth, for Manchester 0n1y ,5 per cent — for the County, 7 per cent.

Mr Gower asked whether it wa3 decided to'uppoint a Collector. Several members said they understood the appointment would be made. Air Sanson opposed any appointment. The Clerk's salary had been raised, and he ob jected to increased rates for the purpose of paying fresh officers. Hitherto the ruto | had been struck late in the year, but as they had struck it early in the year no collector was wanted. Kxtra clerical assistance could be obtained for the office whilst the clerk was out collecting. Things wero dull just now, and people wanted the extra rates spent in roads, lie moved, " That the rates be collected by the clerk as heretofore." The motion was not seconded.

Mr Linton said it was important the rates should be got in as early as possible. If they had a special collector, he would ask until the rate 3 were paid. He moved, " That Mr F. Mowlem be appointed Collector." Seconded by Mr Halcombe. The Chairman said that wo>'ks had been delayed owing to the rates not being col* lectcd. As a matter of economy, they would save the cost of collection by the interest on overdraft. The work had increased, and the Clerk could not do the the work. Large arrears were outstanding, and would not be got iv by the Clerk. [Mr SanßOii — Nor by auyone else.] Mr Gower said the work was being done cheap. He expected perhaps 2J per cent would have been the cost, but he would agree to 3j per cent. Mr Linton pointed out that in this in* stance the cost would be largely reduced by the Collector being compelled to pay for postage and stamps. Mr Sanson strongly opposed the motion, which he said would throw away £140 at least. If they went from house to house, they would find 80 per oent of the people were opposed to the shilling rate, and the multiplication of offices. In former days, the Chairman and those who acted with him, were economical Now, things were altered. Mr Halcombo said the two offices of Clerk and Collector were sot (distinct that they could not be united with advantage. The only icstance in which he had opposed ex* penditure in the way' mentioned by Mr Sanson, were the Chairman's salary in tho first case, and the erection of County build ings at Foxtou

The Chairman defended his aotion. The motion was oarried. TUB XORTKKBN HIDINGS.

Iv referanoa to the work in Taonui, metal' ling 4 miles on Kangitikei line Mr Grower proposed, and Dr iiockstrow seconded — "That in the present state of funds in Taonui riding, no tenders for any work be aocepted, and that this continues to be the case until this Riding hare the needful funds at its command,"

In answer to a question, the Ohairm in stated that Taonui riding was overdrawn about £560.

Mr Sanson thought extreme care ought to be taken to keep their expenditure wtlr in thoir revenue. With the Is rate, provid* ing the proposed expenditure was made, this riding would be about £800 overdrawn. He reminded Councillors that they were liable aa private individuals if they borrowed money and could' not pay it back ; and he was not inclined to incur that risk.

Mr Linton said be was glad to see Mr Sanson make a start at curtailing the expenditure with his riding. He might point out that about £2001) was likely to accrue from Taonui through the sale of land. He thought the work should be done, as it was a very necessary one. If this request wu granted, he promised not to make any more demand] until the indebtedness of his riding was reduced. Mr Gower said he moved the resolution because ne thought the proposal was uu

just. He had been led away by the cry that the North was so prosperous, aud had taken it for granted that such Was the case. He regretted now lie had not looked into the state of things before , for he, found no w that a great deal was owing; ; mid he for ono was determined to use every legitr mate means to slop expenditure there until the indebtedness was reduced. When he had come With a simitar proposal for his riding", the Northern members banded to.' aether to hit him hard, but they would find that he was pugnacious, and likud to do to others as they did unto him. He asked tho Northern representatives as a matter of justice to vote against tins pro" posal. lie fouLd that the state of nuances at end of year was simply disgraceful to the Northern ridingß. Thja had been done at the expense of the Southern ridings. He trusted the motion would be name .1, and that no more money would be spent until the balances were made more even. There were mudholes in his riding us well as in Air Linton's.

Mr Sanson suggested that the resolution should be altered so as to refer to any riding whose account was overdrawn.

The Chairman said Mr G-ower was unfair. Councillors would recollect that it was arranged each ridiug should bo allowed to anticipate its revenue, so thut the metalling could be done iv so >son. The reason Mr Glower's overdraft was refused was becausjo hi* revenue showed no surplus over fixed expenses. He thought Mr Grower, in view of this, had been treated exceptionally well, as he had overdrawn £180. Tile southern ridings had not been treatod unfairly by the northern. The Rank account showed that only £2 14s had been piid as interest on overdraft, whilst £43 5s 9d had accrued on credit balance. No very great injury had therefore been done. The estimates Wore unavoidably imperfect when printed. One error was, £50 was estimated to be spent on a culvert instead of a bridgo on the Avenue in Awahou. The Tnonui riding w:is over drawn, but ; t and Kiwitea were very mv povtant ones, and the County would derive thousands of poun<ls from them. The Government hal the power to make the roads if they did not, and charge the County, lie belisved the money to be received during the year from the land fund would clear the Taonui riding If the expenditure was for new work, he would oppose it; but metalling the the road now before the surface was broken, would save a considerable amount.

Mr Halcombe said views of the question had been put forth unfair to his constituents. If the money had been in bank during the winter, his cons 'ituents would hare had to wade through mud. He did not feel any shame ut the position of his riding, and did not think any riding had cause to complain.

Mr Gower,in reply said Councillors did not think any work needed to be done in his riding at all. Great progress had been made in Kawakawa Tho Land Fund was doubtful, and the land from which Xaonui expected to derive the revenue was unsale* able until drainage works only just commenced were completed. He would, on principle, object to any votes for Taonui whilst its funds were in such a bad con' dition.

Upon a divifrion, the motion was lest, only the mover and seconder voting for it-

INLAND ROAD.

A letter was read trem J. Aitlcen, contractor for a part of the Foxton-Otafci road, declining to go on with the work, as the ground was flooded at high tide. It was reported that work to tho extent of £15 had been finished, but the contractor had not signed the agreement. The Council decided to give Mr Aitken the opportunity of doing the work next season.

A conversation took place regarding the stoppage of the survey by the natives The following tenders wero received for the construction of -±5 chains : — D. Sheehan, £3; J. Gueriu, £3 15s; J. Wilson, £3 10s None of tho tenders were accepted

TENDERS ACCEPTED

The following tenders were accepted : — For metalling Rangitikei Road, Win McKillop* 3s 2d per yard ; for bush falling and clearing, Taonui riding, Line B, £1 Is 6d ; stumping and clearing, 18s 2d, James Fletcher ; Line A, felling and clearing, £1 9s ; stumping and clearing, 19s ; Peter Jansen ; Lino D, bush felling and clearing, £1 fa sd, James Fletcher; Kiwitea riding, Line F, bush felling and clearing, £1 os 6d, James Hocking