PATE A COUNTY COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 433, 7 June 1879, Page 2

PATE A COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above body was held at the Council Chambers, Carlyle, on Wednesday. Present— Messrs McGuire (chairman), Dale, Winchcomb, Brewer, Horner, King, Gane, Partridge, and Milne. Owing to the illness of the Clerk, Mr Dale acted as Secretary. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed, after which standing orders were suspended in order to allow Mr Dale to move, “ That in the opinion of this Council, Councillor King acted in a manner unbecoming a Councillor, in moving resolution No. 5-10; also, for taking advantage of Councillor .Dale in asking him to second it, he [Cr DJ not being aware that the plans prepared by the Foreman ot Works were different to the report of the Public Works Committee;

while Councillor King, by his own admission, was aware that the work proposed by him was diferont altogether from that authorised by the Council.'’ Each member of the Council spoke ou the aboge resolution, and there were unanimous in condeming the action Mr. King had taken. The Chairman and also the Public Works Committee were blamed, insanmch as they, by virtue of their office, should have made themselves acquainted with the report of the Foreman of Works, before, any resolution was allowed to be tabled on the matters therein recommended.

After a somewhat lengthy discussion, the motion was put, and carried, there being only one dissenting voice ; but in order that there might be a record of the voting on the minute book, Mr Dale called lor a division, which was taken as follows: —Ayes: Winchcomh, Brewer, Cane, Partridge, Horner, Mihns* Dale, McGuire, Noes: —Nil. A letter having been received from the Hawera Hoad Board, asking that the time for the election of Commissioners and Auditors be extended, it was proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr King, and carried “ Thai the request of the Hawera Road Board, re extending the time for holding the annual election, be granted, and Saturday, 28th instant, be fixed for that purpose,” ,■ A letter was read from John McLean, contractor, stating that he had finished contract No. 14, and was now going on with No. 15, and asked that specifications might be sent up.—lt appears that some grave misunderstanding has cropped up with regard to this contract. Mr McLean wished the Council to understand that he was going on with it right or wrong, and that on its completion, he would receive the sum of £SOO. The late chairman and]] another member of the Council had arranged the matter with the contractor (according to Mr McLean), and proof could be produced in Wellington. However, the members of the Council did not wish to go by what could be proved in Wellington, and therefore decided not to make matters more complicated by offering Mr McLean the £SOO, considering they held bis tender for said contract fwhl'* 1 * had been held over ofilng to a deviating question cropping up) for the sum of £162. Here the matter rested for a time.

The resignation of Messrs H. I. Davis, (Carlyle Poundkeeper) and J. Southcombe (Waitotara Poundkeeper) were accepted. Mr Anthony was appointed in the latter’s place. Permission was granted to Mr Gibson to lay drain tiles in Taranaki Road. The Foreman of Works report was read and adopted. At the last meeting of the Council, Mr Dale brought under the notice of members a report that he had heard with regard to a portion of the Mountain Road (J. McLean’s contract) being wrongly constructed, viz, by throwing brushwood .into the centre of the road, aim mung up 'vnm ctuvu, «*•&..wagTl this statement a Committee, consisting of Messrs McGnire and Partridge, were appointed to inspect and report on same, and the following is the report:—The Committee had inspected the works on the Mountain Road, and from what they could see, everything was being carried out in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. They believed that no logs had been used to fill up the gullies, or as part of the formation. Persons travelling the road were misled by seeing a quantity of logs lying in two places, and naturally came to the conclusion that they would be covered up, while in fact the line of road slightly deviated in those places, thereby avoiding the logs and stumps. Persons not acquainted with the nature of the work might imagine that limbs of trees were used in the formation ; but the contracts which had already been completed by Mr McLean showed no sign of any material other than earth having been used, and the Committee had no reason to think otherwise. There were a great number of men- employed in the work, and the contractor seemed anxious to get throngh as speedily as possible. The Committee would also mention that at contractor’s camp, they were shown good samples of gravel which was obtained about three and a half chains off the road.

Mr Tregear (who had reported the above matter to Mr Dale) was requested by the Council to state what he bad seen; and he repeated in a very earnest manner that he ' had distinctly seen limbs of trees piled on top of one another in places along the Mountain Road, and as a ratepayer he Lad made it his business to report the same. This sort of formation would not do, as in a very short time the timber would rot, and the road would be nothing but bog-holes. Without the Committee had dug holes in places, he would stand by his statement.

Mr Gane considered that Mr Tregear was entitled to the thanks of the whole community for the action he had taken. Mr Milne upheld Mr Tregear, and said a few big logs were very handy for filling up holes. The Committee stated that they bad not dug holes to find out whether limbs had been used in filling np or not.

Other members spoke in support of Mr Tregear, and it was suggested that a Committee be appointed to see who was right or wrong; if Mr Tregear could not point out where the limbs of trees had been used for formation, &c., he should pay the expenses of the Committee; if he was right, then his expenses be paid by the Council —which was readily agreed to by Mr Tregear. Mr McLean —You’ll have to pay for if.

Proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Winchcomb, and carried, “ That this Council request Mr Tregear to point out to the Public Works Committee the places complained of by f him as being improperly done on the Mountain Road.”

Proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Partridge, and carried, “ That an ad vertisement be inserted in the Patea Mail, inviting applications from persons willing to provide pounds at Carlyle and Hawera, and act as ponndkeepers from the fees derived therefrom.” The Council then went into Committee on tenders, and bn resuming, the following were dealt with:— No. 49, Robson and Dudley, Waverify, £25 (accepted)*., Declined —J. Hughes. £2B 15s; D, McGee, £64; J. Stevenson, £45; Bowie and Co, £35 ; R. Olson, £36. For facining 4 chains on the Mountain Road, J. McLean, at £5 per chain (accepted). No. 15, Mountain Road (old tender), J. McLean, £162, (accepted). No. 51, depositing 800 yards of gravel, J. Stevenson, at 5s lid per yard (accepted). Declined—H. George, 6s 3d per yard; C. Tait, 7s per yard ; J. Johnston, 7s 6d per yard; Dingle Bros., 6s 6d per yard; T. Henley, 7s per yard.

Contracts Nos. 24 and 50 were not accepted. Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr Horner, and lost on division, “ That this County 'Council do not agree to insure the Hospital building in the name of the Carlyle Town Board.” Ayes— King, Gane, Partridge, Horner. Noes —Winchomb, Brewer, Dale, Milne, McGuire. .

Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr King, and carried, “ That tenders be called for the necessary work through the Town of Havrera, and that the Chaiman with Mr Dale be empowered to open and accept the same within two weeks of the present date.” Proposed by Kr King seconded by Mr Winchomb, ami carried, “ That for the future copies of the plans and specifications be left at Waverley and Hawera for public inspection.” Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr King, and lost on division—“ That this Council agrees with the petition of the Whakamara scttleis to giant their prayer, viz., to devide the £3OO fairly between the respective roads within, and on (.ne "Whakamara Block. Ayes— Gane, King. Noes Winchcorab, Brewer, Partridge, Plorner, Milne, Dale, McGuire.

Mr King’s notice of motion with reference to the abolishing of the Public Works Committee, and that a proper Engineer be appointed to the Council—were withdrawn.

Accounts passed, and the meeting adjourned.