PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 398, 8 February 1879, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tiik regular monthly meeting of the above body, was held in the Council Chambers, on Wednesday last. Present: Messrs McGuire (chairman), Winchcomb, Dale, Sherwood, Milne, Hornev, Partridge, and King. Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. Correspondence included—Several letters from Government; officers, rc Hospital.; letters and telegrams about the Waitotara 101 l gate; letter from T. Humphries, Taranaki, rc deviation through Stratford ; from Commissioner Crowu Lands, Wellington, rc Education Deserve on llomahaiti ; telegram from C. M. Crombie, re Momahaki Education lleserve ; from Waverley Town Board, re taking over Main Load ; from Cimvn Lands Office, Wellington, covering copy of correspondence re deferred payment moneys, Whakanuira ; from Treasury, covering statement ot quarter’s land revenue ; from M. T. Baird, Hawera, requesting that his name be erased from petition re new Load Board, Whakamara ; from G. T. Bayly, Mokoia, same request. Other correspondence was read, and dealt with by the Council. Mr Brewer, newly-elected member for Waverley Hiding, was introduced by Mr Horner, and took ins seat. A hater from Mr Brudie, complaining of culvert, &c., in front of his house, Wavcr-h-y, was referred to the Foreman of Works, to report upon. Mr Sherwood, in speaking of the Stratford deviation, stated that in laying out the Town of Stratford, it was intended to sell equal portions on both sides of the Patoa Kiver, but the Taranaki Waste Lands Board in its wisdom, had taken care to sell only on the Taranaki side. Slaughter-house licenses were granted to McL’Dowie, Perry, & Co., Hawera ; Davis & Higgins, Nonnanby; H. F. Mason, W'averlev.

Proposed by Mr. Sherwood, seconded by Mr. Partridge, and carried, “That the letter of Messrs fisher and Ballain be referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs Dale, Brewer, and the mover, to report at this meeting.” The matter complained of was that a sum of money had been paid to Manning and Hughes as an advance on works completed, and that I’isher and Ballam as sureties had to take over and finish the contract.

Mr Partridge, as a member of the Hawera Hoad Board, said that that body had received a communication from the Crown Lands Office, New Plymouth, stating that the action of the Road Board, in spending money on the Noonan Road, out of deferred payment moneys, was illegal, inasmuch as the Road Board had not furnished the Waste Lands Board with a statement. The Road Board seemed to have two masters—the Land Board in New Plymouth, and the Patea County Council, and he did not know which they were to obey. It was very puzzling to the Board.

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr 'Winchconib, and carried, “ That this Council protests against the setting aside of land in the Momahaki Block for the purpose of endowing a High School in Wanganui.”—The mover said it was high time something was done to put a stop to this wholesale robbery. Power was given in the Education Act for an endowment of ■ill o,ooo in the Provincial District of Wellington, and the first place that took the eye was Patea district. He had not that faith in Governments or local bodies to think that they would not acquire money for one purpose and apply it to another. A case in point had just occurred in the Wanganui Education Board, where the teachers’ salaries had been raised, and charged against the building fund. There was no doubt this was only a side wind, and that if the land was set aside for secondary education, it would be used to support a High School in Wanganui. Mr Dale also spoke against the injustice of taking the Momahaki land for endowing a High School in Wanganui, but thought that if laud were taken for secondary education, it would only be fair, as Patea was in the Wanganui education District. Messrs Horner, Winchconib, and Brewer also spoke on the matter. Mr Louis’ application for a pedlar’s licence was complied with. A petition was presented by Mr Sherwood from settlers in the Whakamara Block, praying the Council not to proclaim the Whakamaia Block a Road District. Petition received.

The Council adjourned till 2.30 p.m.' On re-assembling’, The report of the Committee appointed to inquire into Fisher and Ballam’s com-plaint-was received and adopted, and it was deciiled to sit again. The Foreman of Works’ report was received and adopted. Proposed b/ Mr Winchcomb, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and carried, “ That tenders be called for to remove the earth by the Post Office, Waverley, and to fill up the gully opposite.” Mr Dale, although he agreed with the motion, would point out to the members that this was different to the action previous!}’ taken by the Council. The mode hitherto had been only to do the centre of the main road through any town, leaving an}’ other improvements to the local body.—Mr Sherwood said the present case was an entirely different one.

Mr Nathan waited on the Council, in respect to gravel condemned by the Foreman of Works. The Council decided to see if there were any other pits in the neighbourhood. Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr Brewer, and carried, “ That the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare estimates of cost of repairing all the bridges through the County, specifying those that require thorough sheeting, or partially repairing.” Proposed by Air Partridge, seconded by Mr King, and carried, “ That the Foreman bo instructed to repair the road from the old school-house, Nonnanby, to Hawera.”

The Committee of the whole Council appointed at last meeting, met on the 23rd January, for the purpose of inspecting the District Valuation Rolls. The following report agreed to by the Committee was read and adopted by the Council ; Sir, —Your Committee have the honor to report as follows : That having carefully examined the rolls of the various districts, they find that the Hawera Road Board’s roll is not in accordance with “ The Rating Act, 187G,” and further, that the valuation is far too low. The Hawera Town Board, with slight alterations, which might be left to the Board to see to, is on the whole a fair valuation. Patea West Road Board, Waverley Town Board, and Carlyle Town Board, appear to be fairly valued. Tno Patea East, however, appears to be valued on an equal basis ; but a deduction of one-third of the value lias been made by the valuator, contrary to the provisions of the Act. The Wairoa Highway Board also appears to bo valued far too low. Your Committee would therefore recommend tiiat the resolutions appended hereto, which have been duly passed by the Committee, bo adopted by the Council, and that immediate action be taken to give effect to them. F. McGuire, Chairman Committee.

1. That this Committee recommend the Council to object to the Valuation List for the llawera Load Districl, on the ground that the rateable value of the properties therein named arc greater than in the said list set forth.

2. That the Rato Roll of the llawera (or 24th) Road District be objected to, on the ground that the said roll is not in the form specified in the second schedule of “ The Rating Act, 1870,” and that the grounds of objection be set out under sub-section C of section No. 1, fourth schedule of the said Act.

3. That this Committee recommend the Council to object to the Valuation List far the Wairoa Highway Board District, and the Palea East Road Board District, on the grounds that the rateable value of the properties therein named tiro greater than in the said lists set forth.

In moving - Urn adoption of the report, presented by tliu Valuation Committee., Mr Sherwood said he was sorry to hear that the valuators of the Hawcra Hoad Hoard had been paid for their work. He had never seen a worse valuation in his life ; in fact, it was disgraceful. On the motion of Mr Partridge, seconded by Mr King, the Clerk was appointed to represent the Council at the Assessment Court;

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milne, and carried, “That notice of the objections be inserted once in the Wanganui Herald and Chronicle.''’ Proposed by Mr Partridge, seconded by Mr King and carried, “That tenders be

called for raising the formation of Dingle Brothers contract to 15 inches, where the road goes through tiie bush.” Proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Milne, and carried, “ That the Chairman bo authorised to accept tenders for the work mentioned in the previous resolution.”

Abstract of accounts for month of January, showed—Receipts: Bates, 1877-8, £G 14s 4d ; rates, 1878-9, £92 Os 7d ; licenses, £l3 10s ; total, £ll2 4s lid. Expenditure : Salaries, &c., £llß Is ; public works, £531 IGs 3d ; printing, &c., £G 9s ; Mountain Road, £525 7s lOd; miscellaneous, £2 2s 8d ; Hospital, £5 18s : total, £1,189 15s 3d. Accounts were passed for payment.

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr 'Winchcomb, and carried, “That the Commissioner of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board be informed that the Council is aware of the provisions of ‘ The Land Act, -1877,’ which requires that the Land Board shall be furnished with plans of roads upon which it is proposed to expend moneys received from sales of land on deferred payment, and in the event of the Council having to expend such moneys, it will not fail to famish the Board with the necessary information.” Mr Dale moved, seconded by Mr King, proforma , and lost, “That the petition of the settlers residing between the Manawapou and Tongahoe Rivers, praying that the lands within the district mentioned, be formed into a Road District.” Mr Dale in making the proposition, stated that ho did not think it fair for settlers living at Mokoia to be paying rates to the Hawera Road Board, which might be expended at Norrnanby, or some equally distant part of the district.—lt was moved as an amendment by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milne, and carried, “ That the prayer of the petition of the Whakamara settlers, praying that the new Road Boaid be not constituted, be acceded to.” The mover stated that the mass of the settlers were not in favor of establishing new Road Boards, but were willing to see them all merged into the County Council. These Boards could not afford to pay their officers fair salaries, and consequently their work was not properly done. It was a notorious fact that a man would sit in a Road Board till he got a road made to his own place. He, for one, would not assist to add to the already too numerous number of Road Boards. The only assistance he would be prepared to give, would be to give them a speedy despatch. There were only a very few settlers in the Whakamara Block, and if a Road Board were formed, it would be a happy family. There were the same names on the iwo petitions.

Mr Partridge would support the second petition. He would only be too happy,’ however, to see a Road Board formed in the Whakamara District—for there was one energetic settler in that Block who was more regular in Ji is .Ttterjdflnce at til<3 Hawera Road Board meetings than some of the members of the Board.

Mr Dale, in reply, said as long as Road Boards were in existence, and the majority of settlers wished a Road Board, they should have one.

. Proposed by Mr Winchcomb, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and lost, “ That this Council is of opinion that for the bettor management of local affairs, the Road Boards should merge.” Proposed as an amendment by Mr King, seconded by Mr Milne, and carried, “ That Councillor Winchcomb’s resolution rcßoad Boards merging, be postponed until the next meeting of the Council.” Proposed b}’ Mr Winchcomb, seconded by Mr King, and lost on division, “That the 20th and 21st of February be proclaimed public holidays in the Countv of Patea.” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Partridge, and carried on division, “ That the Colonial Secretary be asked to proclaim the 20tb and 21st instants public holidays within this County.” The Council adjourned, and on reassembling, it was proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milne, and carried, “ That the amount of £2 2s 9d, charged in error to Mr Tapliu, in the roll, be refunded.” V Proposed by Mr Winchcomb, seconded V by Mr Sheiwood, and carried, “That the application of the Waverley Town Board, re handing over portion of main road, stand over until next ordinary meeting of the Council.” The Council then went info Committee on tenders, toll gate, &c. On resuming, the report of the Committee was received and adopted. The Council adjourned. SPECIAL’ MEETINGS. Bye-laws for slaughter-houses, and hawkcis and peddlers licenses were confirmed. A second special meeting altered the duties of Clerk, making the hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturdays, instead of to 4 p.m.