Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 5 July 1895, Page 3

Taranaki County Council.

The ordinary meeting of the Tarauaki County Council was held on Monday. Present: Messrs Bewley (chairman), Peters, Horrocks, Connett, Okey, Tate, McCullum, McGloin, and Adlara. TENDERS. The members of the Parihaka Riding notified by writing that the tender of B. Warner (£1 153 per chain), for gravelling on the Eltham Eoad had been accepted.—Action confirmed. BBIDGE BUILDING. In connection with bridge building, Mr Peters said it had been suggested to him that the Council should redeck all the new bridges with blocks of wood, rubbed over with sand and tar. He had gone into the matter, and thought the suggestion was a good one and well worthy of consideration, as it would mean an ultimate saving to the Council. He moved that the suggestion be adopted as an experiment in building the Manganaeai bridge.—Agreed to. SLAUGHTER LICENSE. On Mr McCullum's motion, seconded by Mr McGloin, it was decided to in r form Mr Barnard that he must take out a slaughter license, or-proceedings will be taken against him. PARIHAKA ENGINEER. Mr O'Brien, engineer of the Parihaka Ridiug, wrote with reference to a request from the Council that he should send in his resignation, stating that he preferred to finish the Eltham contract, and he would also like a settlement of his account. Mr McGloin said he thought some of the items of the account might be gone into: The matter was allowed to stand over until the accounts were being passed. EXTENSION OE TIME. The contractors asked for an extension of time in which to complete the Kaihihi bridge, the work having been delayed owing to difficulty in procuring totara. It was decided not to enforce the penalties. TARIKI TOLLGATE. Mr Horrocks' action in instructing that the Tariki tollgate and house be sold to Mr Curtis for £9 was confirmed. A GRAVELLING QUESTION. The Council had under consideration the question of contributing half the cost of gravelling in front of storekeepers' places at Rahotu. Mr McCullum brought the matter up, and contended that the Council would only be doing justice in.granting therequests. Mr McGloin moved that the application be acceded to, provided the storekeepers pay half the cost and er«ct stone culverts. Mr Connett said a similar request was made by a business man in Bell Block, but the Council did.not make any concession. The Chairman replied that an application from Bell Block would be brought up for consideration later on. Mr McCullum said that the Council should grant the consideration if it were only to provide convenience for the ratepayers and travelling public. Mr Counett failed to see why a distinction should be made between private individuals and storekeepers. Mr Okey moved as an amendment, That the Rahotu storekeepers be allowed to place metal in front of their premises on condition they place stone culverts to carry off the water* the work to be carried out under the

supervision ol she ovu' ; o..i\ and to be no expense to the Council. A division to k place on tbc amendment aad rrsultd: Ayes 16), Messrs Connett, Tate, Adlam, Okey, Peters, and Horvocks ; Noes (8), the Clinkman, Messrs McCullum and McGloiu. Mr Gr.nville, of Bell Block, made a similar replication. On Mr Conuett's motion, seconded by Mr Tate, it was decided that the request bo dealt with in the terms of the previous resolution. A COMPLAINT. Mr F. Morris, of Oakura, wrote, complaining that the contractors were cutting up his land in taking gravel from the pit. Mr Okey moved, That Mr Morris be paid £2 per year for the use of a portion of his laud, one chain in width, as a road. Seconded by Mr Tate. A ROLLER. Mr Peters moved, That the Council procure a road roller. He pointed out that the roller would do good service, and would be one of the most profitable investments the Council ever made. Mr Horrocks seconded tho proposition. The Chairman said the Council must consider whether the roads or bridges can stand the weight. Mr Connett stated a roller like the one under consideration would be all very well if the roads were not metalled; but as most of the roads were .metalled, he did not think much benefit would be obtained. Mr Adlam said if the roller was taken into the Parihaka Riding he was afraid it would disappear. Mr McGloin : And I swear that we wouldn't recover it. Mr Okey did not think the Council required any more white elephants. Mr Peters said some of the Councillors were no doubt under the impression that they were perpetrating a joke when they talked about the roller disappearing. It was not such a formidable afiair, and would not require a team of elephants to pull it. After further discussion the resolution was put and negatived. . . NEW BRIDGES. Mr McCullum .pointed out the urgency of having new bridges erected at Warakino and Maxwell's.'He moved that plans and specifications be prepared for the structures. Mr McGloin seconded the motion, but stated that he did not thiuk the Council was in a position to build the Warakino bridge. It was decided to leave the lastnamed bridge out of the motion. A discussion then took place on the question of whether the Council should employ Mr O'Brien to draw the plans or someone else. Mr O'Brien's engagement terminates on 31st July. Mr Adlam thought Mr O'Brien might be employed. Mr McCullum : If he is then I will withdraw my motion. The matter was definitely settled by allowing the resolution to stand over for a month.—News.