MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 28, 28 November 1879, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wf.hxbsd.yv, November 26. •• Tho Council met at noon. PresentMessrs. Maotrthur (Chairman), Unlcombe, Gower, London, Carr, Liuton, Kebbell, Rockstrow, and Sanson. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. ELECTION Or CKAIUMAX. Tho Chairman pointed out that it was tho duty of the Council to elect a Chairman. The Act required that they should meet at noon on tho fourth "Wednesday in November, for tho purpose of electing a Chairman. It was not neoeasarily the first business, but he thought it expedient ii should be gone through at once. Mr. Uockstrow moved, " That Councillor D. H. Macarthur be appointed Connfcy Chairman during the ensuing year." He said it gave him great pleasure to do so, as he was rather last year inclined to vote against Mr Macarthur as Chairman, bixt during the year he had come to the conclusion that they could not do better. Mr Maoarthur had aated throughout in an impartial manner, and had not joined in any intrigue. Though representing a part of the district whose interests were not exactly parallel with South Uanawatu, he acted fairly to all.

Mr Linton seconded the motion, believing that Mr fllacarthur was a most efficient Chairman. In the past he had acted in a fair, honorable, and upright manner. He therefore seconded the motion with pleasure. There being no amendment, the resolution was put and curried unanimously. The Chairman briefly thanked the Council for the renewed proof of its confidence. CORHESPOXDEXCa. Letter lead from the Treasury, stating that £13U8 12s 3d, being subsidy from Government, had been lodged at the Bank. Received. Letter road from Chairman of Hult County Council, forwarding account for t'l3j being one-half of payment made to JCr Walker, ferryman at Waikunac. The account whs passed for payment. Telegram read from Treasury, stating that £G1 7s had been ,'odged to credit of the Council at Bunk of Austral isio, for Foxton Otaki Road fund. Received. Letter read from the Under Secretary, acknowledging receipt of resolution re do.» tax, and stating that the Cjlonial Secretary thought the state of public business would not permit of the matter being dealt with this session. Received. BANGITIHEI FBKIIY DESERVE. Mr Sanson brought up a report from tho Committee appointod to call for tenders for lease for 14 years of Ferry Ueserve near Rangitikei River. Air Sanson stated that the matter had been put in the hands of Messrs Stevens and Gorton, of Bulls. One tender, from Mr Bull, for £10 nor annum, was sent in. The Committee thought this a fair price. The reserve comprised 16 acres. The tender was accepted. MANAWATU BRIDGE. Letter read from Town Clerk of Palmerston, forwarding account for JJ3 ba 3d, being half cost of repairs to Manawutu Bridge during floods of last winter. ■ The account was passed for payment. FOXTOX-OTAKI BOAD. Letter read from |Hon. John Johnston, stating that ho would be satisfied to accept whatever price Mr Stewart, District Engineer, thought he should get for his land if taken, for road purposes through Foxton towards Otaki.

The Chairman said that as instructed by tbe Council, he had written to the Hon. J. Johnston, and the letter above referred to was the reply. He had spoken to Mr Stewart on the matter, and that gentleman thought that from his official position it would be better for him not to interfere, as •on some future occasion it might be neces--Baay for him to value it for the Government. It would therefore be necessary to ask Mr Johnston either to appoint another valuer or to accept the valuation of some disinterested person to be appointed by tho Council. Mr Rockstrow said that he had spoken to several persons on the matter. The land taken from Mr Johnston would be about one fourth of an acre,of the value of £50 5 the fencing would cost about another .£SO, wlmh would be much cheaper than the price asked for Mr Hillary's section. The Engineer, also, had told him that the cost of maintaining and forming the river bank road would be considerable. Tho matter was dropped at this point, but later in the day, the following resolution was passed : — Proposed by Mr Halcombe, and seconded by Mr Kebbell "That Mr Gower be requested to interview tha Hon. John Johnston with reference to the purchase of the road line required through his property." BLAUGUTER LICENSES. Application received from W. B. Olley and A. Bell for slaughter licenses, and asking that the licenses might be dated January 1, 18S0. The Chairman said this opened up an important matter. He thought it was not fair that a butcher obtaining a license so near the end of the year should be compelled to pay the full fee. A pro rata scale might be arranged. Mr Sanson suggested that quarterly licenses should be issued. The Chairman pointed out the inconvenience of the present licensing periods, which were from January 1 to December 31, whereas the Council's financial year terminated on March 31. Mr Linton thought the quarterly licenses would be fairer than the present system. The Chairman said the schedule of the Act, by which the Council was tied the same as by one of the clauses, compelled them to make the licenses terminable on December 31. He thought it better to deal with the cases before them, and afterwards make a general provision. Mr Halcomb9 thought the Council might remit a portion of the fee, whore a butcher was unable to take advantage of the license during a great portion of the year. Mr Rock* trow suggested that if the li cense were, used for six months it should be £3, and if for three months £2. Licenses were granted to W. B. Olley and A. Bell, »o date from January 1, 1881). A renewal of his license was also granted to Joseph beale. THE GOUGE ROAD. Tho Chairman stated that the Government had deducted a large amount from the land fund revenue, as repayment of money spent in maintaining Gorge Road. He thought they should protest, as on former occasions. Mr Sanson held the same opinjon, as, if no protest were made/ the Government might suppose the Council acquiesced in the deduction. Proposed by Mr Gower, seconded by Mr Sanson, and carried :— " That the Chairman be requested to write to the ' Government, and protest in the same way as last year, against any reduction being made for maintenance of the Gorge Road j it not being a County Road." FINANCIAL POSITION. The Chairman made a few remarks upon the financial position of the Kiwitea and Tftonui Ridings, as affected by the receipts

from land revenue. He said that when he drew up the estimates, Kiwitea was shown with a debit balance of £338 for tho year ; its estimated revenue being £425 12s, and its estimated expenditure £7G3 12s 7d. He was pleased to state the deficit did not exist, tho sum of £110 having been received from land revenue. Hud the rates been equal to the estimate, Kiwitea would by now have had a credit balance of £116. In making the estimate of rates, he had calculated on receiving £125 from the Wanganui Harbor Endowment Block, which was situated iv that Riding. The Wanganui Harbor Hoard had, however, taken advice on the matter, and declared they were not owners within the meaning of the Rating Act, and therefore could not be rated, having power to neither lease nor sell, as the property was required by law to pass through the hands of the Crown Lands Board, the proceeds being handed over to the Wanganai Harbor Board. This amount of £125 not being forthcoming had upset his calculations to that extent, but the amount was compensated for by the receipts from land fund. Turning to the Taonui Block, it was estimated there wouU be a balance deficit of £771, but £179 had been received in land fund, and would reduce the sum by thut amount. He also hoped before the close of the year, to have further receipts from the same source. One other fact he would point out was that during the six month's ending October 14, the credit interest reached £13 11 s, whilst the debit interest amounted to £l ia 6d. Mr Linton concurred iv the remarks of the Chairman regarding the land fund from Taonui. He thought other amounts would sooii be coming in from land sold in that riding. MR FURCEM/s CLAIM. Mr Purcell's claim for £8 compensation for damage done to grass and ornamental trees on his property, owing to defective drainago on No. I Live, which had been held over from last meeting, was brought up for consideracion. Mr Rockstrow thought the claim should not bo entertained. The Chairman said the Public Work* Act required that claims for compensation should be made according f-o a schedule. This had not been done by Mr Purcell. But his main objection" to tho claim was founded on the 72nd section of the Public Works Act, which required that any claim should bo sent in six months after the work was done which caused the damage. The drain in question had been in existence a number of years, and he therefore thought Mr Purcell had no case. Mr Gower pointed out that within six mights there might not occur a flood which would test the matter. — there might not be a combination of causes to show whether or not compensation was required. The culvert might have been put in five years before, but no damage have been done. At the same time, ho could not understand how damage of the amount stated could have been caused. Mr Sanson remarked that the Council had not constructed the drain referred to. It had nothing to do with it. Mr Loudon confirmed this, remarking that it was an old watercourse, used before even a Local Board was formed. The Chairman said it would be monstrous for the Council to accept responsibility for all damage thit might be done in the County through tho overflowing of drains and creeks. Mr Kebbell thonght all the members might not be aware that this case had already^been before the R.M. Court, when Mr Furcell sued the Local Board for the amount claimed, but was nonsuited on the ground that the County Council was the responsible body, and not the Local Board. Since that date, however, the Council had by resolution handed over to the Local and Highways Boards the charge of all drains and watercourses in the County. Mr Halcombe proposed, « That this Council cannot recognise the claim for damages made by Mr Purcell." ° Seconded by Mr Kebbell, and carried. THE RAILWAY JUNCTION. Mr Rockstrow moved tho suspension of Standing Qrdc- No. 4, to enable him to make a statement. Mr Sanson would like to know what tho statement referred to. The Chairman said, that must be left to the Councillor who asked permission to make it. The standing order having been suspended by resolution of the Council, t Mr Rockstrow rose aud said no doub members of the- Council had seen an account of a deputation having waited upon the Government;, asking them to commence the construction of the railway at the Foxton end. He had been asked by several influential ratepayers to call attention to this, and deny that any such deputation had bben appointed, or that Messrs Loudon and Russell had expressed the wish of tho people. A groat number of the electors considered this a broach of faith, as the matter had been left to the Engineers. He would emphatically deny that the memorial was in any way authorised, as no public meeting was held. He wished the Upper District to know that this was not done with the sanction of the ratepayers, and he would assure the representatives of that pnrt of the County that the people of Foxton did not authorise any such action. (Hear, hear, from Mr Halcombe.) The Council then adjourned till 1.20 p.m. TENDERS. Several tenders were opened for bush felling and clearing in Taonui Riding. G. Allcrby's tender, at 15s per chain, was accepted. PKKBY RESERVE. Mr Rockstrow asked why no steps had been taken in reference to the fencing of the Ferry Reservo at Foxton. The Engineer said Mr Easton, the contractor, had promised to proceed with the work immediately. He was liable to a penalty if not completed within one month's time. RESOLUTIONS PASSEn. Proposed by Mr Gower, seconded by Mr Rockstrow, — " That it is necessary that all snags now obstructing the piles of the Rangitikei bridge be removed." A copy of this resolution was ordered to be sent to the Rangitikei County Council. Proposed by Mr Gower, and seconded by Mr UocUstiow,— " That the balance of vote of £302 to Whale line, amounting to £252, be at once expended in occordanoe with % resolution of Nov. 27, 1878." Proposed by Mr Gower, seconded by Mr Sanson, and carried : — " That tenders be at onoe called for metalling about 30 chains of road near Campion's, connecting the metalled ro&d with sandy formation." Proposed by Mr Sanson, seconded by Mr Gower, " That the County cheques be made payable to bearer, and that the Engineer countersign cheques." ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £546 were passed for payment. WANOANVI HOSPITAL. On the item in the accounts for maintenance of a man named Phillis at Wanganui hospital, being read, Mr Rockstrow said the man was a pensioner, and asked if he could not be made to pay some portion of the money required for his keep. The Chairman said the matter was ea-

tirely in the hands of tho Councillor who sent the man there.

Mr Rockstrow replied that in that ease ho thought Councillor Loudon was not justified in sending him there, as the man *vas likely to be there for a long time. He thought Phillis should piy a portion of the money, as he was receiving a pension regularly. The County money should not be spent foolishly. Mr Sanson said it was not worth while bartering over such an amount. The pension was small, and barely snfliuient to keep a man in pocket money whilo in tho hospital. The other members agreed with tlm, and the item was passed. ■\VOBK AT rALMEttf-TOJT. A discussion arose in regard to an application made by the Palmer&ton Borough Council, for a small amount for work done on a County road, in mistake. The Chairman said it was a similar oase to the applioatiou made by the Foxton Looat Board, and, if passed, would establish a bad precedent. Th«( item was withdrawn, on the suggestion/of Mr Linton. / i'OXTOX«OTAKI ROAD. / Mr Kebbell proposed, and Sir Gower ; seconded, — •« That tenders be called for the formation of the Foxton-Otaki road, commencing on the north bank of the Manawatu River, from thence to the corner of section 424." Mr Rockstrow said lie was taken by surpriso by this resolution, as he thought the representatives of Awahou Riding were quite competent to look after its welfare. Further, than that, he could not see how Mr Gower could second this resolution, when he was going to act for the Council in another matter relating to the same road. Mr Kebbell replied that he remembered the Awahou representatives interfering with his Riding, and in acting as he had done, ho was only paying them back in their own coin. Apart from that, the money to be spent was not Riding money, but a portion of the £3000 voted for the Foxton- Otaki Road. In moving tho resolution ho would point out that the present was the most favorable time for roadmaking through tho swamp, and the road when constructed, would give settlers up the river a mean* of reaching their homes, without trespassing on other people's property, besides forming a portion of the rofid to Otaki. Air Grower defended his action in seconding the motion, and said it would not interfere with his doing his best for the Council with Air Johnston. He might remark that tenders had been called last year for this work, but through the wet season coming on, the work had been abandoned. The proposed road would shorten the distance ♦o be travelled by settlers up the river by sonio miles. He thought the money would be spent properly in making the road as proposed by Mr Kebbell. Mr Linton said he should support the money being spent on the work for which it was first voted, and where ho thought it would be of the most service. The motion was carried. PoXTON-SANSON RAILWAY. Mr Rockstrow asked if tho County Engineer was still allowed to do the survey work for the Foxton-Sausou Railway Company. He understood the work was to have been done in the winter months, and he thought that as the summer had now come on, and the Directors had not taken advantage of the offer, permission should be withdrawn. Mr Sanson said no time was fixed by tha Council, aud the Directors were therefore not limited to any particular period. The Chaiiman thought the plea urged at the time permission was given was the same as stated by Mr Rockstrow. He thought the Work of tho Council was so great, that a mistake had been made in allowing the Engineer to do any work outside his duties as Engineer to the County Council and Manawatu Highways Board. He considered it a mistake that the Engineer was allowed to do work for tho Borough Council of Palmerston. Mr Rockstrow asked if any agreement existed between the Engineer and the Council. Tho Chairman said that ho did not know. : lie was a member of the Committee appointed to consider the tender?, but was not Chairman at the time. The Engineer, in reply to the Chairman, said no agreement was in existence botw cc him nnd the Council. His tender was th only paper "he had signed. Mr liocks trow said he thought tho time had come for an agreement to be drawn up between the Council ami the Engineer. Being a good Engineer, Mr Hayns' services were sought for on every hand. If necessary to give an increase, he would willingly do so. Ho would propose that a special meeting bo held to consider the matter. The Chairman said such a course was unnecessary. Mr Rockstrow said he would not give a notice of motion, but would warn Councillors that he intended to bring the matter up. Tho Chairman said the bjtler course would be to give notice of motion, so that the Council might know whether Mr Rockstrow intended merely to bring up the Engineer's relations to the Foxton- ISanson1 Sanson itiilway Co., or the whole question. Mr Rockstrow then handed in the follow ing notice of motion : — " That an agreement be entered into with the County Engineer defining the duties of his office." NEXT MEETING. The Council then fixed the date of the next meeting ibr December 22, and aijourncd at 3 p.m.