PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 320, 11 May 1878, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

None of the members of Council being present on the ordinary day of meeting (Ist May') the Clerk adjourned the meeting until Bth May. The Council accordingly met on Wednesday last. Present: Messrs Bridge (in the chair) Kells, Livingstone, Sherwood and Millie. The Chairman read letter from the Returning Officer, notifying the election, of Mr Milne.

Mr Sherwood, asked leave to retire, and the meeting adjourned to 11.30. On reassembling, Mr Dale took his seat ; Mr Sherwood being then absent. Minutes of last ordinary and special meetings were read'and confirmed. Correspondence read.

On the motion of Mr Livingstone, seconded by Mr Kells, it was resolved, Tliat the Council could not entertain the application made by the Carlyle Town Board, for assistance in forming the main road its whole width through Carlyle. Moved by Mr Livingstone, seconded by Mr Bridge, and lost, “ That Mr Tapiin be informed that this Council regret they have not the power to alter or amend the valuation roll after its being signed by the Judge of the Assessment Court.” An amendment by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Milne, was carried, “ That the question of a refund to Mr Tapiin, stand over till next meeting.”

Abstract of account's in continuation of month of March, showed ; Receipts— General rates, £4l 7s 2d ; repayment of summons, 5s ; securities, £l7 ; interest on Bank account, £s' 9s ; total £97 Is 2d. Expenditure—Public Works account, £l3B 10s 9d ; Hospital account, £l6O 13s lOd ; General Account, £36 Ss 7d. An audited •statement of accounts, and balance sheet for the year ending' 3lst March, was also laid before tin; Council, and accounts were passed for payment. The F ore man of Works reported the main lino of road in good order ; contract No 15, gravelling near Kakaramea and

Patea, completed last month ; bush falling, No 1 contract, Mountain Hoad, likely to bo finished in a fortnight ; recommended fences crossing Oh.angi Hoad, to be taken down, to allow traffic to pass over, preparatory to forming road next spring - . Seven men had been employed, with horse and cart, gravelling between Waitotara and Hawera, and in repairing flooring of bridges. Mountain Hoad from Hawera to Ketemarac had been so improved, that the occasional emplovment oi: one t mau would keep it good through the winter. The survey of Mountain Hoad had been expeditiously performed, and tenders for two miles con'd bo at once called —probably more. The lieport was received. The meeting adjourned to 2 p.m. On re-assembling, it was moved by Mr Bridge, seconded by.Mr Dale, and resoved, “ That this Council desires to urge upon the Government the necessity of vigorously pushing on the railway works on the Wanganui-Patea Line, not only because of the certainty of this being a line, that, when extended into this Comity, will be a paying line, but also upon grounds of economy, for when ilie railway was open from Wanganui to Hawera. the heavy traffic would be taken off the County Hoad, and thereby relieve the ratepayers of a large yearly expenditure.” It was resolved that a copy of tire foregoing resolution should be forwarded to

the Government, and also to Messrs Fox, Bryce, and Major Atkinson, M.H.H.’s, requesting them to urge this lino strongly upon the Government next session.. Moved by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Livingstone)3ro forma, and, by leave, withdrawn, “ That this Council having reason for believing that the Carlyle Town Board have not managed the Hospital Reserve Trust in a proper manner, that the Government be communicated with on the subject, requesting that some person be appointed to examine the Trust accounts.”

Proposed by Mr Livingstone, seconded Mi - Milne, and resolved, “ That the Government be requested to vest the Hospital Reserves in the County Council, with a view of having the funds derived therefrom exnended under the control of the Council.”

The Council went into committee to consider tenders. On resuming the report read hy the Committee was adopted. The following tenders were received : No 2 contract, J.Twigg, £395 11s 6d—accepted. No 3 contract, W. Hill, £l70 —accepted. The following were declined —D. Glendening, Nos 2 and 3, £596 ; J. Stevenson, No 2 and 3, £624 10s 8d ; W, Dingle and W. Aikman, No 2 £486 7s, No 3 £200; J. Johnston, Nos 2 and 3, £749 ; J. Caddy, No 8, £l9B ; Holden and Kelly, No 3, £224 10s ; J. Treweek and J. Gibson, No 3, £340. It was resolved that general meetings for the election of Commissioners for the various KoadDistrictsshould be held on the 7ch and Bth June. The Council adjourned, until day of nest ordinary meeting. Two special meetings were next held, at which were present Messrs Bridge (chairman), Kells, Livingstone, Milne, and Dale. At the first balance sheet and statement of accounts for the year ending 31st' March, was read and adopted. At the second resolution passed on 2nd April adopting bye-laws relating to slaughter of cattle was confirmed.