MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 10, 5 October 1880, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ .. . YESTERDAY. The Council met at 2 p.m. yesterday. Present — Messrs Macarthur (chairman), Douglas, M'Beth, Snnson, Kebbell, M'Len. nan, Rockstrow, and Gray. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. COBRE9PONDENCB Letter read from Mr V. Monrad, Karere, enclosing account for bush falling on the Palmerston-Foxton-road, and asking that tho amount might be deducted from his rates. Referred to the Enginenr. A similar application from Ann Wbaley, Kareie, was also referred to the Engineer. Letter read from Mr Ldnton, asking leave of absence through uicknes->. Granted. Letter read from Treasury, informing the Council that £101 los 5Jd hud beer, deposi'ed to credit of the Council, being 20 per cent, of land fund. Letter read from F. Mowlem, accepting the position of Dog Tax and Kate Collector on the terms agreed to by the Council at lust meeting*. Letter read from the Rate Collector, sugge^ing that from moneys payable to T. Roach, of Ohau, ns ferryman, certain unpaid rates should be deducted. — Mr Kebbell said it had come under his notice that part of the amount proposed to be deducted became due while Mi Bright was owner of tho Ohau Hotel, Mr ftoach being merely a daily servant. —The Chairman uaid if Mr Roaoh's name was rntered in the ratebook he was liable to pay, irrespective of his exact position as regards the buildiner. Letter read from R. C. Dowling, of Feilding, enclosing a resolution passed at a meeting of settlers, requesting the Council to proceed at once with the cutting at foot of road below Davies', on Kiwitea road (continuation of Mackay'a line ) Received Letter read from J. C. Nathan, of Palmerston, asking for extension of time for completion of contract on Kiwitea roarl. It whs reported that the contract had been in hand long: past the time allowed. The Engineer was instructed to request Nafhan i to push on with the work, and on comple- 1

tion of his contract the Council would take into consideration the remission of the fine. Letter read from Rev. J. M'William, ot Otaki, statiug that certain moneys due on aooouat of John May were owing, and asking that the allowance for him might be i ontinued up to the end of August. Granted. Letter raad from the Agent of the Bank «f jAustralasia, Foxton, stating that interest would not be allowed iv futuie on the current accounts of the Council. Letter read from the Native Office, dated September 30, as follows:— "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st ult., enquiring whether any provision exists in the grants of the blocks of lend set forth in the list enclosed therein for a reservation of a right of road through such lands, and, in reply, am directed by the Eon. Native Minister to inform you that enquiry has been made into the matter, but that it has been found necessary to communicate with the Native Land Court office, in Auckland, to obtain further information on the subject." Letter read from Mr Piers Warburton, accepting the position of Returning officer for Taonui Ridin?, also from Mr Toinlinson, accepting the same appointment for Qroua riding Telegram f»'om the Treasury read, announcing that £253 3s 2d had been deposited to credit of Foxton-Otaki road, and £200 on account of Karere road. Letter read from Thos. Roach, a»Hing for payment of his quarter's salary as ferryman nt Ohau. Latter read from Public Woi ks Department, culling altontion to various sect'ons of " The Public Works Act, 1880," which will materially simplify the moda of procedure regarding the exchange, sale or stoppage of roads, and enable local bodies to complete these matters without direct reference to the Public Works Department, as heretofore. Various letters were read, giving information as to the date of the proclamation of the Foxton ferry, and the adjoining reserves. Letter read from Mr Hnyns, accepting the position of Engineer upon the termß suggested by the Council. 1 Letter read from the Rate Collector, explaining how he had .»pent certain moneys entrusted to him with which to sue defaulters. Letter rend from the Treasury, stating that £1 16 6s 8d had been posted under grant for the Fitzherbert road. Letter read from Mr Douglas, Councillor for Manchester, stating he had given an order of admission to Wanganui Hospital to J Itasmus Neilsen. IH6 HOKOWHENUA ROAD. The lettor recently published in this journal from the Horowhenua natives was read. The Chairman said the Horowhenua natives did not send in their objections according to the Public Works Act. The Council h'»d requested all natives who had objections to appear and substantiate the same. The Horow henua natives did not follow thi3 course. Mr Kebbell asked if a copy of tbe resolution passed at last meeting had been sent tojthe Horowhenua natives. The Chairman replied in the negativeAll who sent iv objections according to the pchedule of the Public Works ActjKad been or would be answered within the exty days. A form was provided, and as the Horowhenua natives did not follow it, he ignored them. The Act distinctly drew a difference between persons who objected, and those who do-sired compensation. CATTLE AT FOXTON. Mr Rockstrow proposed, "That £25 be voted for a Ranger to lay information against owners of wandering cattle in Awahou." He referred to the heavy cost of maintenance, owing to the damages done by wandering cattle. Mr Gray seconded the motion. Mr Sanson thought this proposal would involve the Council in trouble, as the Ranger might engage a lawyer, and thus land the Council in great expense. Besides, the oxtent of the County road iv Awahou was very small. The matter should have come from the Local Board. Mr Rockstrow said the Local Board would consider tho desirability of subsidising a Ranger at next meeting, and he had been asked to bring up the matter in anticipation of their action. He would remind Mr Sanson that most of the rond work at Foxton was done by votes from the Council, so thufc the Council was more deeply interested in this matter than Mr Sanson thought. The Chairman thought that if only one of the ferrymen was appointed poundkeeper, the other could impound wandering cattle. He was opposed to any money being voted for the purpose, until the Foxton Local Board took the initiative. That body should take the responsibility, and the Council assist. He thought the motion Bhould be withdrawn. Mr Rockstrow then withdrew the motion. DOG TAX COLLECTION. Mr McCulloch'B formal resignation &b Dog Tax Collector was read and Mr Mowletn's appointment to that office \ras made. Mr Sanson proposed, " That tenders bo called within the Manawatu County for the supply of 1,000 dog collars of the various sizes required, and that the Engineer prepare specifications for same. Tenders to be in in time for next jneeting." Seconded by Mr Kebbell, and carried. HALCOMBE POUND. Proposed by Mr Douglas, seconded by Mr Kebbell, and carried, " That Mr Bell's stockyard, at the corner of Willoughby and Levin streets, Halcombe, be declared a public pound, and that Mr Ed. Child, of Halcombe, be declared poundkeeper, and further, that the Chairman be requested to have the same gazetted as soon as possible." TENDERS. A large number of tenders for formation of Foxton-Sanson road were received. The tender of Messrs. Monteith and Dove, for the first eight sections — from Carnarvon junction to Mr McLennan's gate — for £74 6s was accepted The tender of H. Den ton, at 15s pt-r chain, for 84 chains, being from Mr McLennan's gate to the Whule line of road, was also accepted. AVENUE noAD. Upon the motion of Mr Rocketrow, seconded by Mr Gray, it was resolved, "That the balance of £51 granted for the formation of the Avenue, bo expended for metalling the formed part." ACCOUNTS. Included in the list of accounts was one from Mr C. L. Maclean, of Bulls, which has been several times before the Council. The original account amounted to £29 fis 4d, but the Finance Committee reduced the amount to £J8 6s lOd, which sum was passed by the Council. John Harms, late Lower Gorge ferryman, sent in a claim for £6t5 17s, partly for compensation through the punt not being in a workable condition for 26 days, the remaiuder for gear, &c, supplied. The Engineer reported tnat £1 10s was all that he considered was due to Harms. The matter was held over, and it is likely a I contra claim will be made by the Council I against Harms for cost of putting the punt

in it workable state, it having broken away through his alleged negligence. Upon an acoount for timber from Messrs Eiohter & Co. being read, Mr Rockstrow snid the Finance Committee were of opiuiya that the charges were high Compared with the prices paid by private individuals, and they thought tenders should be called for the supply of timber required by the Council. This view commended -tself to the Council, and the Engineer was instructed to prepare specifications for the supply of timber required by the Council. The acoounts passed amounted to £762 7s4d. THE 7EBBIBB. Proposed by Mr Sanson, seconded by Mr Gray, and carried, " That a Committee be appointed to prepare speoificationg for leasing the ferries in the Manawatu County fora period not exceeding seven years; such Committee to consist of Messrs. Macarthur, Linton, Rookstrow, and the mover ; to meet in Feilding, and report at next meeting." The above will probably apply to the Gorge ferry.