HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5079, 4 July 1877, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council sat 1 p.m. Present: The Chair-

man (Mr. Mason), Councillors Taylor, Lancaster, Morgan, Speedy, Monaghan, Dick, Smith, and Chew. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. PETITION. Councillor Taylor presented a petition from eighty residents of Kaiwarra, praying the Council to raise the northern approach to the bridge. The petition set out that the road was now dangerous. The Chairman said he believed some persons did not desire the work done, and he suggested that the matter should be referred to the Kaiwarra Local Board to report upon. The suggestion was agreed to unanimously. MARKET PLACE. The Chairman reported that he had written to the Government in reference to reserving a piece of land on the new reclamation for a market place, and also reported the receipt of a letter in reply setting forth that th* land in question had certain liabilities attached to it, in order to meet which it would be necessary to dispose of those parts of the lands not required by the Government. Under these circumstances the Government could not make the'reserve as requested. .

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £532 sa. lid. wereT passed for payment. s

RESOLUTIONS. Councillor Taylor, in moving that a respectful address be presented to the Government, requesting them" to hand over to the Hutt County Council the reserve at the back oi the Telegraph Office at the Hutt, for the purpose of building offices for the use of the Hutt County Council and Highway District Board, disclaimed any absolute desire to remove from the present place of meeting, but they were there under sufferance, and liable to removal at any time. It would be £75 a year to rent offices, whereas for ati expenditure of some £2OO they could put up the offices proposed. Councillor Speedy seconded the motion. Councillor Chew was in favor of holding, the meetings in Wellington if possible. Councillor Monaghan oppo-ed the motion when every possible accommodation for the meetings of the County Council was at present afforded. Councillor Taylor’s motion seemed to him to be made purely in the interests of the Wellington Highway Board. He moved os an amendment, —That no petition to the Government was necessary. Councillor Morgan supported the motion, as it did not necessitate the immediate erection of a building, but merely provided for what might happen in the future. Councillor Smith thought it would he well to pass the resolution, as a months’ notice which was all the Government need give them to quit their present place of meeting was not a long one, and the Hutt was the moat central place for holding meetings.

Councillor Lancaster was in favor of the motion.

Councillor Monaghan’s amendment was not seconded.

Councillor Taylor having replied, his motion was put and carried by 6 votes to 2. Councillor Monaghan proposed.—That the Engineer should visit the roads in- the county, and report on them once a quarter. Councillor Taylor seconded, and the motion was carried. On the motion of Councillor Monaghan, power was delegated to the Highway Boards within the county to manage their roads until the 31st March, 1878. Councillor Taylor proposed,—That the offer of the Wellington Highway Board to contritribute £SO a year for the services of clerk bo accepted. The motion was carried unanimously. engineer’s report.

The County Engineer reported as follows; “ Great North-Eastern Line. —Starting from Wellington, the road is very much cut up as

I far as Petone; this portion being very much in tKe shade,''lt is almost' impossible during the winter months-to. keep."it in thorough order ; but although wet and sloppy, the rpad |s sound, a great quantity of metal having "been put on. ■ The remaining portion; through the Lower and Upper Hutt to the Rimutaka, is in very good repair. “Great North-Western Line.—-Starting from Nghauranga the road for about a mile has been very much out up, as there is a very great deal of' traffic, a number of carts being employed carting stone." The remaining portions through Porirua, Tawa Flat, Porirua Bay, ,Pahautanui, and Horokiwi are in very good order indeed, the worst parts having been metalled during the month of June. The road over the Paikakariki hill has been very much improved, by having it widened and clearing off the slips. It is in better order than it has been for some years past. “ Contracts.—The contractors for the supply of road metal are progressing favorably, and will, I expect, finish the delivery about the end of the present month. I have now a number of men on breaking stones, so that I hope to have the majority of the metal on before the end of August. Porirua Ferry Bridge.—The timber for this bridge is now all upon the site, and the contractor will at once proceed with the erection. Pahautanui Bridge.—Most of the timber required for the repairs of this bridge have been ordered, and hope in a few few weeks to have the repairs completed. Hutt Bridge. —A portion of 'the timber for replanking the Hutt Bridge has been delivered. I will therefore have the necessary repairs attended to. “New Roads.—During the last month I have laid out the following new lines of roadSpeedy’s Hue—Upon this line I have laid out 12 chains of side cutting, being a continuation of the present bridle-path. Road to Mr. Lynch’s—l have laid out 105 chains of the above line, towards Mr. Lynch’s property, Whereroa, West Coast, being a continuation of the fine of road from Paikakarika to Waikauae. I have prepared a plan and specification for 64 chains of this road ; the remaining portion will simply require to be cleared of the rushes to make it passable, as it is quite flat and solid.

“ Pahautanui Bridge (at the upper crossing leading to the Small Farms).—l have taken the necessary levels, and prepared a plan and specification for the above bridge. - My estimate for same, including approaches, will be £2OO. “ Ohariu Road Extension.—l have inspected the line of road as at present laid out, through Bryant arid Kelly’s. The line as at present laid out is impracticable. In the first place it crosses the stream nine times, which would be an endless expense to bridge ; and secondly, it would always be subject to be washed away. I propose to deviate. Instead of following up the centre of the gully, I propose skirting the foot of the hill, thus doing away with eight bridges, and also shortening the line. I hope to be able to go out next week and take the necessary levels, &c. Messrs. Bryant and Kelly strongly object to the road going through their property, unless the Road Board agree to fence both sides of the line. For the present they would agree to lease gates placed at each dividing fence, such gates to be erected at the expense of the Board. “ Deviation of West Coast Lines of Road.— Mungaroa to Waikanu contract: The contractor for this road will, I expect, finish his present contract in about two or three weeks; there is still a balance of £450 standing to the credit of the road, unexpended. , I should like to have the opinion of the Council as to the best mode of spending the sum, whether to continue on or complete the portion uncompleted at the Upper Hutt end. A ford could then he made so that the settlers could get in and out of the valley without trespassing upon private property.” The Engineer's report was received ; and it was resolved that he be empowered to carry out the works recommended therein. , The Council then adjourned.