HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5158, 3 October 1877, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met at one o’clock yesterday. Present Messrs. Mason (in the chair), Monaghan, Smith, Dick, Speedy, Morgan, Lancaster, Chew, and Taylor.

engineer’s report. The report o£ the engineer was read as follows : . “ I have the honor to submit the following report of the roads in the above county : “Ist. Main Roads.—Since my last report, three months ago, the main roads_ of this county have wonderfully improved in consequence of the weather becoming dry. They are now in very good order for summer roads ; but before the wet season sets in, preparations will have to be made for providing a supply of metal sufficient for giving the whole of the main roads a thorough good coat. Although the roads appear good at the present time, a very little wet will render them bad, as the metal is completely worn out, and in many places the original formation is left bare. By obtaining a supply of metal' during the summer, and having it laid on in the end of autumn, it will save both labor and expense, and enable the roadmen to keep the road in better order. The bridge over the Porirua Perry Creek has been completed satisfactorily. The bridge over the Pahautanui stream has been putm thorough repair, and will now last for some four to five years. The whole of the metal contracts have been completed, and contractors paid. About two-thirds of the metal has been broken ready for use. With respect to providing metal for the future, my opinion is that metal can be procured by day labor at a much cheaper rate than by contract. I have proved this by putting on carts and men, and measuring up the metal hauled out during the day. The expenditure upon the two main roads, as you will see by the pay-sheets, is now reduced to a minimum, and for the next two months I am in hopes there will be no increase. X wish to call your attention to the Hutt-road from Wellington to Petoni. Previous to the construction of the railway we were enabled to procure boulders from the beach, which is the very best metal, far superior to the Ngahauranga stone, which costs more; but now we cannot get down to the beach, as the few crossings which are there are almost useless. Not only is the cost of procuring metal greater, but the refuse from drains, road scrapings, and slips, ‘ which latter constantly occur owing to the base of the hills having been cut away to form the railway line,’ costs I may say ten times more to remove, as every shovelfull has to be carted to a level crossing, ‘ which are in some cases one and a-half miles apart,’ to be deposited on to the sea beach. I should say the extra cost of keeping the six miles in repair would not be less than £2OO per annum. I find upon enquiry that a promise was made in writing by the Minister of Public Works to the late Superintendent of Wellington, to the effect that nine level crossings would be put in ; instead of which, I find there are only five, and some of these are useless, as the embankments are much too high for a cart to get down. I may also mention that there are a number of places where the road is extremely narrow between the fence and the bank ; these places could be widened by moving the fence out about four feet, which would not interfere with the railway line in any way, as it is some twenty feet away from the fence. Accidents have already happened at these places ; and as the traffic is greatly on the increase, it would prevent accidents in the future. “ 2nd District Bonds.—During the last nine months I have inspected most of the district roads throughout the county, as requested to do by a resolution of the Council. 1. The following is a list of the roads I found in good passable repair Pilot Station road, Karori-Ma-kara-road, Pahautanui Small Farm, Horokiwi District (North), Western Hutt, Upper and Lower Wadestovvn, Belmont (about one half, &c.), Mungaroa. I must say of aU the above roads tlje Karori-Makara-road certainly bears the palm, for it is the best kept line in the Wellington County. The Wainui-o-Mata, especially the hill jjortion, was in almost an impassable state during the last winter ; the portion down tho Valley was in better repair, having evidently received a greater share of attention and outlay. 1 would suggest with respect to the hill portion of this road that river metal be used instead of the rotten rock now used for motal. One load of good broken river metal would he worth at least three of the other. I would also recommend that more small box culverts should be put in, and tho water tables and drains kept cleaned out. At present the centre of the road is much lower than the sides, and not having sufficient culverts, the water runs down'the centre. The scru b should also be kept down, v/liich would allow the sun and wind to penetrate. “The Belmont Koad.—Tho first half mile of this road might bo greatly improved by bavin" some of the worst places widened, which would° render it much safer for traffic, and would also improve the road by costing less for

repairs. About a mile of this road, at the Pahautanui end, has been very bad indeed during last winter, and in fact is very little better how. For some chains the water has been allowed to flow down the centre of the road, consequently the traffic has worked it up into a quagmire, hardly safe for a horse to travel over. This might have been obviated by putting in three or four small culverts, and having the scrub cleared away, so that the sun and wind might penetrate. I may here mention that this road is used to a very great extent by people travelling to and from the West Coast.

“ Whiteman’s "Valley Bead.—This road requires much more attention, especially the fiat portion, which has been metalled for a considerable distance with excellent metal, but has been neglected, consequently the metal is not binding, but rolling off the road, for want of being broken and properly raked in. If this were done the portion now metalled would make a splendid road in a very short time. The rest of the roads, such as bridle tracks, &c., are in very fair order. With regard to bridle tracks I should like to make a few remarks :—lst. That all existing bridle tracks be made into cart roads, as they are of no use as they are at present. 2nd. And that for the future all roads be made not less than twelve feet wide. It would be much better to complete the existing roads and bridle tracks now laid out rather than undertake any new works. I might here make a suggestion with respect to laying out new roads, viz., that in all cases they be laid out to a width of 66ft., and that the owners or occupiers be made to fence on the proper boundary, otherwise when it is necessary to widen the road it will be considered a hardship when people have to remove their fences ; also, that upon all Government land where roads are laid out, metal reserves should be made convenient to the road. At the present time I have constantly to remunerate owners of property for being allowed to take metal from their land.

“New Hoads, Bridges, &c. —I have laid out and prepared plans and specifications for the following works :—72 chains road towards Mr. Lynch’s, 12 chains road near Mr. Speedy’s, 134 chains road Ohario to Second Valley, S 3 chains road Mungaroa to Waikanae. Plans —Pahautanui Small Farm bridge; 19 chains footpath, Pahautanui ; 12 chains footpath, Kaiwarra ; 30 chains footpath, Lower Hutt; 13 chains road, Kaiwarra. I have also explored the line of road from a point on the Ngahauranga line known as Sim’s Sheep-pen to the Horokiwi-road near Mr. Dimant’s. The whole length of the line will be about 2A miles, about 1J miles being dense bush, the remainder clear. The first 50 chains will be rather steep, a portion of which is already constructed ; the remaining portion would be easily constructed. I would recommend that the 50 chains at starting be completed, and that the bush be cut down a chain wide upon the remainder. The road can then be made as funds are available. There is no doubt this road would greatly benefit the settlers in the Horikiwi District, as it would give them an easy access to the main Ngahauranga-road, and also he almost level. I have accepted a tender for the construction of the 83 chains on the Mungaroa to Waikanae line for the sum of £405. This will leave £591. I will therefore prepare plans and specifications for another section, and call for tenders at once.” On the motion of Councillor Monaghan, seconded by Councillor Smith, the report was adopted. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £l6l Is. lid. were ordered to be paid. MEETINGS. Councillor Taylor moved, —That after November next the meetings of the Council be held on the second Tuesday in each month, instead of the first Tuesday. Councillor Dick seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. EXPENSES. In reply to Councillor Chew, who said that the committee appointed for the several ridings had been overridden by the Chairman, that gentleman replied that he had instructed the engineer to keep down the expense as much as possible, in view of the state of the funds, TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES. The following resolution was proposed by Councillor Taylor, and seconded by Councillor Dick ;—That, in the opinion of this Council, an allowance for travelling expenses should be allowed to members of the Council attending meetings, and that the Government should be requested to introduce a clause to that effect in the Amended Counties Act, and that it should be retrospective. special meeting. A special meeting of the Council was held, at which the following resolution was passed unanimously, on the motion of Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Smith That this Council adopts the by-laws as printed (and appended to the resolution) to regulate the meeting, proceedings, debates, and general conduct of the business of the Council. This concluded the business.