EVENING- SITTING.

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

EVENING- SITTING.

The Council met at 7.30. The same members were present.

Tha Engineer's report was read. Mr Halcombe thought it hardly fair to the County Solicitor that the leases of last year should be copied. New ones should be drawn up, as it would cost the Council nothing. Mr Sanson objected to the expense as unnecessary.

The Clerk explained .hat £15 was paid for two leases and bonds by the Council. The Chairman thought the copying legitimate. Dr Rockstrow quoted the law bearing on the question of agreements.

BALANCE SHEET. The Chairman pointed out that the balance sheet had not been returned by the Auditor in time to carry out tho require* ments of the Act, winch required a special meeting in M;iy to consider it.

The balance shout was passed, and ordered to be inserted in the County papers

WAIKANAB BOAD

Mr Kebbell stated that in conjunction with Mr W Johnston,,, MHß, ha had spoken to Mr Macandfew in Wellington regarding the Waikanae road That gentleman had promised assistance to the Council in the matter, and had said the whole question of main roads would likely come up next session. Ho proposed, " That the resolution passed at the last sitting of this Council asking the Government to place the sum of £l-i,00) on the Estimates for the ensuing y>ar for the formation of the inland road from Foxton to Waikanae be forwarded to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce at Wellington, with a request for their assistance in the matter."

Seconded by Mr Halcombe, and carried

FOXTON BANSOS BAIJ.WAY

Mr Sanson moved, That the Engineer be allowed to undertake the survey, preparing of plans and specifications for the Poxton and Sanson Kail way ; provided the County work be not allowed tesufferin consequence. He said the live went along the County road, and the interests of the County would be best looked after by the Engineer, in whom the promoters had every confidence. It was perhaps the largest work that would be undertaken by the public for some years to come, and as the Engineer was a resident, he would like to sco the work done by him.

Seconded by Mr Linton,

Mr Halcombe said the motion was an* expected They were piling on work to the Engineer The work proposed would take a great deal of time He would like to know how far it was compatible with the County work

Mr Grower thought the resolution a reasonable one It would be a road as well as a railway They had oonfideno

in the Engineer, as he had the interest of the County us a. whole at heart A time would cd:no wheri an assistant engineer wonld bo required. This Would be a good precedent They would sooner trust ttie County Engineer than an unknown person

Tho Chairman suiil he know the work had been too much for the Engineer in the pasfc

The Engineer said tho whole Work would require about a month The promoters had asked him to find an assistant to do his own work whilst engaged on the rail* way If required to lay out County works he would leave the railway

The Chairman said if an efficient substi' tute were provided he had no objection. The motion w".is carried t OROUA BIDIXd, The Council resolved upon the motion of Mr Sanaon to subsidise the Highway Board £200 to form Fagin's line of road to the boundary of Ward No 2 : the balance to be spent in clearing the road leading to. the Foxton Sanson Main road. VALUATION" The Council went into Committee to consider the recent valuation Mr Goiver said that Mr J. Bull not being rated in Oroua riding, the County lost in rates and subsidy over £51 0s lOd, and that through there being no lateonMr M'Don* aid, of Awiihuii, £18 14s was lost. £140 ■was lost to the County and Highway Board through those omissions. The Chairman said the Kiwitea riding had lost £225 through land worth £2 being rated at los He thought the Bating Act should be amended, so as to give the County power to object to a bad valuation, or strike a rate for itself The County should pay a man to object in cases where pro' perty was undervalued. It was too late to do anything this year Rlr'Sanson said that 2600 acres bnlong ing to Mr Bull were completely left out from the valuation ; also 2200 belonging to Air McDonald, of Awahuri There were at least 20 others whoss names were quite omitted Tliers was a loss of at least £200 to the Oroua and Kawakawa ridings through the valuation

Mr Halcombe suggested that when the next valuation was made, the Council should confer with the local bodies interested upon the matter They would doubtless be will' ing to join in securing a good and correct valuation

Mr Gower proposed, " Tnat this Council desires to nail the attention of the Mana* watu Highways Board to the grave omissions in the valuation of that District, en' tailing serious loss botb on the Highway Board and the County Council, and trusts that the Highway Board will unite with the Council in taking measures to secure a more correct valuation for the future." Seconded by Mr Halcombe, and carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Upon the motion o^of Mr Gower it was resolved to spend £50 in clearing thd Whale line of road

The shilling rate was struck

In accordance with the Engineer's report the Council resolvod to make several addi" tions to the Foxton ferry house.

Accounts amounting to £1166 19s were passed.

The next meeting will take plaoa on July 7, at 2 p.m.