Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 149, 6 December 1895, Page 3

Taranaki County Council.

The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held on Monday. Present: Messrs Bewley (chairman), Horrocks, Peters, Okey, Adlam. McGloin, McCullum, Counett, and Tate. When the minutes of the special meeting, at which the Chairman of the Council and members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board were elected, were read, Mr McCullum said he did not wish to be antagonistic, but he objected to the minutes, as the chairman did not vote for the resolution, electing the members to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. — Mr Bewley said he did vote for the resolution.—Mr McCullum said that he did not hear the chairman. —The Chairman said he did not see the point raised, but at the present time Mr McCullum w'as not in order, as the question was whether the minutes were correct. If Mr McCullum had any matter to bring forward he could do so afterwards. —Mr Okey said he objected to Mr McCullum speaking, as he was out of order. —Mr McGloin said the Council had not done justice to the ratepayers beyond Oakura, as they were not represented on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.—The Chairman said the minutes would have to be dealt with first.—The minutes were then carried.—Mr McCullum then raised his point as to whether the chairman had voted on the resolution appointing members to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The Chairman said he had seconded the resolution, and as there was no call for a division he took it that the resolution was carried. Mr McCullum contended the chairman should have signified the way he voted. The Chairman said he could not take the objection, as the proceedings were irregular. Mr McGloin said he did not wish to raise any dispute, but it appeared to him that the Council had made a mistake in leaving the Parihaka Riding unrepresented on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Messrs Peters and Adlam also spoke,, and the discussion ceased. Mr Horrocks said that he had not received notice of the special meeting, and as a technical objection might arise therefrom, he would move that the elections made at the special meeting be confirmed. This was carried.

Messrs F. Sal way and A. J. Hoskin waited on the Council and asked that a piece of metalling be done on the North Eoad leading to the Co-opera-tive Dairy Factory, It was decided to -do the work at a cost not to exceed £2. • The Moa foreman reported on work that had been done. He had seen to the cutting away of flood timber that had collected near certain bridges. The foreman also reported on the fact that three contractors had not signed their contracts.—Mr Peters explained in the case of two contractors. It was decided to notify the third contractor that he must sign within a week or the deposit will be forfeited.—The Council decided to agree to the recommendations of the foreman in respect to repair of damage done by floods.— Mr Peters informed the Council that the Railway Department had endangered the Council’s bridge over the Piakau by putting a centre pier in the railway bridge, ;in consequence of which flood timber had banked up to such an extent that it had already cost the Council £5 in clearing it away, and still the Council’s bridge was in danger.—Mr Peters moved, That the Railway Department be asked for assistance in the matter, failing which to get the solicitor’s opinion as to the Council’s position in the matter. This was carried. Mr L. M. Monteith, on behalf of the settlers on the Tariki Road, wrote asking for assistance to keep the road to the creamery open for traffic.—Mr Bewley said that no doubt the road was in a bad state. —Mr Peters moved, That £ls be voted for the road. Carried, Mr J. R. Stewart gave the scale on which be would be prepared to do engineering work in the Parihaka Riding. Mr Peters asked if it was not carried at last meeting that the appointment of an engineer was to be held over to the end of the financial year.—The Chairman said that it was deferred, but it was understood that Mr Stewart be written to asking him to supply his scale so that if the Council wanted engineering work done they would know the scale of charges.—Messrs McGloin and McCullum said it was so understood.— Mr Horrocks said that as long as the Council did not make an appointment it was alright.—A resolution was finally passed that Mr Stewart be employed on the scale &c., named when his services are required. The Parihaka foreman reported on his Riding. The foreman was in--structed to cart timber to bridges as required.—Mr McGloin explained with regard to shelter houses at Taungatara and Mangahume bridges that the places were only dens for loafers, and might be burned down any time; and it was therefore better to sell them, even if they only realised a few pounds. It was decided to sell the buildings. The Foreman reported on works that were required. Mr McGloin favored tenders being called for mending parts of the road as mentioned by the foreman, and let the liability go against next years’ rates. The work could be done now more cheaply than in the financial year. The road was almost completely gone in some places.—The Chairman said it was a question for the Council to decide on. No doubt it would be the cheaper plan to mend the road now and not let it go so bad as that portion between the chain bridge and Inglewood, which cost the Conncil from 80 to 100 per cent more than if the road had been taken in hand before it completely broke through.—Mr Horrocks said it was a •question of overdraft to anticipate re-

venue. Mr Okey moved. That tenders be called for the works specified by the Parihaka foreman at a cost of £255. —Mr Adlam seconded the resolution, and said that the road was worn out in places.—Mr McCullum favored the motion.—Mr Peters opposed the motion, as it was not policy in anticipating next years’ revenue to so large an extent as proposed. Suppose some unforeseen work as the replacing of a bridge was forced on the Council, then they would find out that it was not a good policy to anticipate revenue as proposed.—Mr Tait said that it was a good season to do the work, but he would not like to see the Council go too far in anticipating the next years’ revenue.—Mr Connett supported the motion, and said it was better now to do the work before the road got too bad. —The resolution was carried.— The quantity of stone to patch in the same riding was reduced.to 100 yards. The Chairman said that a sum of £B4 was in credit to the Parihaka Riding- . , , Mr G. Latham wrote with reference to the delay in his contract for building the Tangahaku bridge which was owing to his not being able to get totara. The expenditure of certain d.p. money, in the Parihaka Riding was left to the foreman. A slaughter license will be issued to Mr W. Barnard to kill at Moturoa, on payment of the usual fees. Mr R. Stevens reported on the question of Mr Bielby being rated for 7 acres too much. —It was decided to reduce the valuation as recommended by the valuator.

The Clerk of the Opunake Town Board wrote stating that they onlj asked if the Council was willing to hand over the main read through Opunake township. They did not want the road handed over until they knew the terms. Mr McGloin said it was a misunderstanding, as the Town Board did not want to take the road over until the conditions were known. Mr Peters said that the misunderstanding w r as all on the Town Board’s part. [The clerk read the letter from the Board, the Council’s resolution, and the clerk’s reply to the Board.] Mr Peters said nothing could be simpler. The Town Board asked for the control, and the Council gave them control as from a date. Mr McCullum said according to the correspondence the Town Board was in the wrong.

Mr Spearman tollgate lessee, asked if a man who used his own dray, and worked for a contractor who had a contract from the Council, was liable to toll.—Mr Peters objected to giving legal advice. Mr Spearman should go to the proper quarters for his legal advice.—Mr Okey said some assistance should be given to their lessees. —lt was decided to inform Mr Spearman that the owner of the dray was liable. Mr McCullum said he would like to move, That the resolution appointing members to the Hospital, and Charitable Aid Board be rescinded.—The Chairman said he could not take the motion. The representatives had been elected, the Hospital and Charitable \id Board had been notified, and it was too late to move in the matter now.—The Clerk said that the proper course would be that the members would have to send their resignations in to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.—The Chairman said he could not take Mr McCullum’s resolution under the circumstances. Mr R. H. Davies, engineer for the Moa Riding, reported on the contracts for bridges that were now in hand.— Mr Peters said that the time had expired for the works, and a fuller report should have been received from the engineer. It was decided to notify Mr Davies on the matter. Mr Bewley said that there was a great deal of traffic now on the roads on account of the dairy traffic, and as the wheel tax had been abolished the time had arrived for the Council to consider the question of introducing width of tire regulations. He moved That a committee consisting of Messrs Peters, Okey, McCullum, Connett, and the mover make enquiries and report at next meeting.—Mr Okey; It would be worse than any wheel tax, and will meet with more opposition from the settlers. —Mr McGloin was sure that tire regulations would be worse than wheel tax.—Mr Connett was of the same opinion.—The Chairman : Well; something will have to be done as the roads are being worn out rapidly.—Mr Horrocks seconded the motion jno forma . —Mr Peters was not in favor of the proposition. He maintained that it was the wheel tax in another form and they would have extreme opposition to it. The regulation of tires was the same as “ the boy who was hanged last month, only he had a new suit of clothes.”— Mr McCullum said a tire regulation would cost him £25 to start with.— Mr Connett; If it was only you affected it would not matter.—Mr Horrocks said it was only asking the Council to ressurrect the deceased—the wheel tax. —Mr Tate suggested that traffic could be diverted to the side tracks by placing notices at the dairy factory gates. The question could be allowed to stand over till the proposed Counties Bill was settled,— Mr McCullum was of opinion that the Council would have to ressurect the wheel tax, for they could not do without it.—The Chairman said he was agreeable to let the matter stand over as suggested by Mr Tate —Mr Adlam was of the samo opinion.—The matter then dropped. Enquiry will be made as to a wire rope that was used at the Mangahume river, Eltham Road. On Mr Adlam’s motion, two bottle jacks will be provided for the Omata and Parihaka ridings.

Mr McCullum said that it had been reported that the Maoris were going to evade toll at the Heimama tollgate on tha 18th. He wanted to know if

the Council was going to take any action to protect the keeper. Mr Okey considered the keeper should apply to the police. Mr McCullum said it had been reported that the Maoris were going to evade the wheel tax and drive through the tollgate, and if they were stopped they would take the gate off. Mr Okey:—Let them do it; that’s all. The Chairman said the police would see to any breach of the law. Mr C. N. Hodder of Stratford wrote complaining that while driving through to Opunake on a trip he was accosted for wheel tax. Mr McGloin said he had informed the foreman that this was a case where discretion had to be used. The other members concurred. An application from Mr H. Olson for land at Meeting of the Waters was deferred till next meeting pending further information. Waitara foreman’s report was read,and several matters attended to. <&The Omato foreman’s report was read. The members of the Riding (Messrs Okey and Adlam) were instructed to inspect the Tapuae bridge in company with the foreman and report at next meeting on its condition. The Council on the Foreman’s report will instruct the engineer Mr Davies to inspect the Waingona and Mangaraka bridges on the Devon Line. The members of the Waitara Riding were asked to report upon a ssheme to complete a further portion of the Mountain Road near Sentry Hill. The Council decided to ask the railway department to clear the furze off the land in front of the line near Sentry Hill. Accounts were passed, and the Council adjourned.—Herald.