COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 507, 10 April 1880, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of this Council was held in Carlyle on Wednesday. Present, Mr.W. Dale, chairman; Councillors Winchcomb, Winks, Hunter, Gane, Partridge, Horner, and Milne. PATEA “LAKE.”

A letter from Mr James Jackson complained of a serious nuisance partly on his property in Bedford street, caused by stagnant water which had deviated from the county road and lodged partly on his land. He had made a previous request for its removal, but nothing had been done. He bad also appealed to the Town Board, with no better result. The nuisance had meanwhile increased to an alarming extent, and is now positively injurious to the health of the locality, if not to the whole town. If the nuisance be not removed, he will be compelled to leave the place. He believes the law would be on his side if he demanded the removal of the water’, as there is no doubt it comes off the county road. Councillor Homer said—lt appears the legal opinion is that this Council has no right to move the water. Who is the of tire land ? yfhe Chairman —The Education Board leased it to Mr Jackson.

Cr Horner —Then the Education Board ought to improve their own property. The Council instructed the Clerk to inform Mr Jackson that no action can be taken in the matter, as the Council have no power to interfere. The Foreman of Works, Mr Harden, informed the Council that he did not think the water is on any portion of road belonging to the Couiioh. It is a large pond. Cr Gane—“ (Laughter.) Clerk —If the water is on the road, Mr Jackson’s house is on'the' road .also. Cr Horner—l should say it is a chain off the line of the road. -We should be trenching on private property. Cr. Partridge—Yes; but if we lead water from the ditch on to our road and on that properly, we are responsible. The Chairman—A legal opinion was taken previously, to the effect that if the water had been on the land before Mr Jackson went there, we are not responsible. A drain will have to be made there some day, no doubt, either by the Town Board or by this Council. Cr Horner —I fancy there is a strong clay at the bottom, and the water won’t soak in.

CTbe subject then dropped. LOCAL INDUSTKIKS,

A circular letter from the chairman of the JLooal Industries Commission asked for information regarding’ the local industries or manufactures in the district of Taranaki, together with any suggestions Jo.- establishing new, or promoting existing industries. The letter was received without comment. TELEGRAPH POLES. A letter from the engineer of Government telegraphs informed the Council, in reply to complaint, that the telegraph poles in this district do not infringe on the footways, except possibly where tracks could not be recognised through being overgrown with vegetation. Cr Homer —My experience is that after the poles pass Carlyle on the road they are placed on our foot tracks all along towards Hawera. Wherever our tracks are at all available, there is a telegraph pole. Or Gane —The telegraph engineer stated he would have kept tiie poles farther in against the fence, if the matter had been pointed out to him. Cr Horner —His letter says he has put them in only just enough to ensure the safety of the poles. Ci Gane —He told me that if the fence took fire, it might burn the poles down. A committee to watch this matter was suggested, but the subject dropped without action. MOUNTAIN ROAD GRADIENTS. A letter from Major Atkinson, at \Velhngton, stated that he was advised the work on the Mountain-road, where the Council was lowering the grades, would be detrimental to the railway contract. He asked, therefore, whether the grades are not good enough as they stand, or whether the work could not be postponed till after the railway contract is finished. The Chairman—l believe the Government engineer has since inspected the work we were doing, and has told the railway contractor that the alteration of grades would do him good rather than harm. 1 may say, however, that the work is finished now. SLAUGHTERING LICENSES. These were applied for and granted to E, E. Mcßae, Kakaramea; to Gowland, Adamson, & Co., Carlyle ; and to E. M. Honeyfield, who has been in partnership with W. Colson, and now applied on his own account. WAVEKLEY ROADS. A letter from T. Woolston called attention to “ the miserable state of the road” in front of his premises ; also to the flooding at the back having spoiled the water in his well. He would pay part of the expense, if necessary. foreman of works had been already in sleeted to inspect the place. SUBSIDIES STOPPED. A circular letter from the Treasury notified the discontinuance of subsidies from Government towards the County Council and all other local funds, in accordance with the decision of Parliament. Cr Gane—Do I understand that subsidies have ceased ? The Chairman—Yes. Cr Gane—Then wc can get no more money. The Chairman Unless Parliament chooses to grant it specially. Cr Gane—Then we must take care to make the best of what remains to the Council. REPORT OF WORKS. The Foreman of Works, Mr Harden, reported on works during March as follows : Contracts for gravelling at Waverley are in progress, also contract for the metalling of Manwhapou hill. I would recommend that contract No. 53 be extended, or tenders called for an extra 200 or 300 yards, for the purpose of gravellingWheiiuakura hill, both sides of the river. During this mouth I have examined a giavel pit pointed out to me by Mr H. J. Davis, on the banks of the Patea river, about three miles up stream from the town

of .Carlyle, and would strongly n'ge the necessity for utilising this grav'd without delay. Contract No. 31 on the Mountain mad is completed. Tenders have been called for delivering gravel on the Taranaki road. These, together with plan and estimate for reducing grade on the Patea hill, will be laid before you. Mr. Harden was called in, and answered various questions upon his report. CONTRACT FOR FILLING-IN. For filling-in Taranaki road, between Patea Bridge and the Saw-mills, with 800 yards of gravel, samples of gravel and tenders were sent in by D. Hughes, 4s lid per yard ; Mace and Basset, 8s per yard ; H. J. Davis, 4s fid per yard : P. Larsen and J. Mouri, 8s ; G. H. Dickson, 4s 4d ; Johnston and Nelson, 8s 3d ; Anderson and Sangster, 4s I Id. Resolved that D. Hughes’s tender at 4s lid be accepted. GRAVELLING AT WHENUAKURA. Cr Winchcomb proposed, and Cr Milne seconded, that tenders be invited for gravelling about 300 yards at Whenuakura Hill. Cr Qane —Have we any funds for this ? The Chairman—We shall have a few hundred pounds on hand at the end of the year, from subsidies and grants. We have not yet spent the amount. We shall have to find funds for necessary works, in an}' case. Cr Gane—l should like an approximate statement before us, as we are to get no more subsidies. It is not prudent to accept any tenders before we have a statement of our finances. Clerk—Approximately, the Council has about £250 in hand, after all present contracts are paid for. The Chairman—And we shall have a lot of licenses shortly. The financial year ended 31st March ; and you must now go into a fresh year’s expenditure. Cr Winks—As little money as possible should be spent, now that the Council is on its own resources, the subsidies being stopped. Cr Gane—l propose, as an amendment about gravelling, that no tender be called for. We are told that other parts of the road are a great deal worse ; therefore, let us do the worst parts first. Cr Milne—This work is really necessary. It is a bad piece of road, a side cutting that must be done, and money should be found for it. Cr Gane—This is a question of funds, no matter whether we are dealing with a new year or an old j'ear. The worst part of the road should be attended to iirat. Having only £250 in hand, we should make it spread over the bad parts of the road as far as possible. Cr Winchcomb—l oppose this amendment, on the old idea that a stitch in time saves nine. It will be better to keep that place in repair, than to let it get into a worse stale in winter, and then have to spend double or treble the amount we shall have to spend now. A division was taken. For the amendment : Winks, Hunter, Gane, and Partridge. Against : Winchcomb, Horner, Milne, and Dale. The Chairman gave his casting vote against the amendment. The original motion was then formally put and carried. A committee of three Waverley members was appointed to open the tenders at Waverley, and accept any one. Cr Hunter—A limit should be fixed for the amount of tender to be accepted. The Chairman—The foreman of works will make an estimate, and that will be sent to the committee at Waverley, along with the tenders. Cr Milne—Are we not to go beyond the foreman’s estimate ? The Chairman—No, it is only to guide you. Cr Milne—l should prefer a limit. Cr Horner—We appoint a committee, and leave the tenders to their business judgment. Cr Hunter—l am satisfied. HOSPITAL GRIEVANCES. The Secretary to the Council, Mr J. Black, had written to Dr. Croft as follows: “ Sir, —I am directed to inform yomthat a number of complaints have been made to the Council regarding the management of the Hospital underyour charge. An enquiry has been made, the result of which has disclosed a state of things not to be tolerated. The Council are- informed that the dietary guide for the steward has been very rarely attended to ; in fact this matter appears to have been left entirely to his discretion. It has also been shown that the steward has received little or no support from you in carrying out the regulations, especially with reference to cleanliness, and to patients being allowed to come and go into the Hospital whenever they felt inclined. lam directed to mention these matters, which are a few of many disclosed at the enquiry. lam also directed to ask you to take steps to place the management on a more satisfactory basis for the future, and to give the Council some explanation regarding the loose manner in which it has hitherto been conducted.” Dr Croft wrote at the foot of the letter a reply to the Chairman, as follows ; “ I have neither time nor inclination to reply to such trash. If you arc dissatisfied with me, as the medical officer to your Hospital, you have the remedy in your own hands.”

The Council went into committe, and discussed at some length the best method of ensuring better management of the Hospital in future, and to what extent the medical officer could be held responsible for certain grievances in the past. Discussion in committee being treated as private, we can only report results. Cr Partridge moved, and the Council resolved, “ That notice be given to Dr Crofi that the County Council does not require his services after three months from date.” NEW SURGEON WANTED. The Council also resolved, in committee, « That application be invited for the office of hospital surgeon to the Patoa Hospital, the surgeon to find all medicines, and to take sole charge of the same.” VISITING COMMITTEE. Cr Milne proposed, “That a committee consisting of Councillors Dole, Horner, and Gane bo a Hospital Visiting Committee, with power to add four persons not members of the .Committee.” This was discussed and adopted ; there being also a suggestion that the outside visitors to be nominated might include one or two ladies. HOSPITAL REPORT. The medical officer’s usual report on the Hospital for the month was as follows - In door patients, Henry Daily, phithisis

pulmonalis ; Arthur Birk, cortcussion of brain; Edwin Hall, gastric fever; W. Nicholls, dysentery ; E. Eastwood, gastric fever. All are propressing favorably. A BLIND PAUPER. The case of the blind man Hudson was discussed in committee. He is maintained in Carlyle at a cost of los. a week, and the Council cannot transfer him as a burden to any other district. Shipowners will not take such persons back to England, unless guaranteed against loss. The Council had on a previous occasion sent a pauper to the hospital at Christchurch, from which district he had come ; but the man deported back to Patea, at a total coat to the Council of about £4O. Hudson’s case was left over. The Council then resumed, and confirmed resolutions passed in the stage of committee. PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY. The Chairman said—Our Foreman o f Works seems to stand in need of a fresh title. The Council has required certain engineering works to be done lately, and tiie foreman oi; works, wbo is quite coinpotent to do such engineering work, and is willing, finds it necessary to ask the Council to give him a direct authority for doing such work, so that outside engineers may not look on him as encroaching on their professional business. We might alter his title to that of “ Foreman Engineer.’' He is reallj engineer. Cr Hornor—Call him “ County Engineer.” It don’t cost any more, you know. (Laughter.) Cr Gane—Oh, yes, add two or three more letters to his title. Call him Captain or Major, if you like. Resolved, that he be styled County Engineer. ESTIMATE FOR NEW WORKS. The Chairman—Another question is whether you take steps to get an estimate of new works for the new year made out at once, so that a rate may be struck earlier than in previous years. Wo have had grants from Government which we may not get this yeai. The foreman of woiks might prepare an estimate for next meeting as to what works will bo most urgently required.

Cr Gane—Lot us see how the roads will stand wear and tear duiiug the winter, before we make fresh estimates, which might prove to bo wrong. No man can tell what part of a road will give out first. Cr Winks moved “ That the Engineer do prepare an approximate statement of works urgently required, to be Jaici before the Council at next meeting.” Cr Hunter seconded, Ci Partridge—Do you mean that for works wanted now ?

Cr Winks—ln order that we may have some idea of what works wo have ahead of us, and we can strike an estimate accordingly. Cr Partridge—None of those works could be clone before the winter. The Engineer could form an estimate better after the wear of the roads in winter. The Chairman —We should not wait till the harvest season comes in befoie striking a rate. We have to advertise a statement of the proposed necessary expenditure, and of all the revenue we expect to get in, and you must always allow for contingencies. The motion was then adopted.

WATER NUISANCE AT WAVERLEY. Cr. Milne moved, “ That the foreman of works inspect the hollow opposite the Presbyterian Church at Waverley, with a view to removing the water that lodges there, and to report at next meeting.” That water can be easily done away with by deepening a drain about U chains along the road, at a small expense. Cr Winchcorab seconded, and it was agreed to. HAWERA STREETS. The Chairman —There is a letter from G-. Haywood about a bye-street at Hawera; but tliis Council has nothing to do with Hawera streets. That is the business of the Town Board. NOTICE TO SERVANTS. Cr Hunter proposed, and Cr Winks seconded, “ That notice be given to the engineer and foreman of works, and the clerk, that after three months from date one month’s notice on either side be sufficient to terminate engagement with them ; and that the engagement with the doctor be the same.” Cr Gaue—l cordially support that. It is better for both sides to have a short notice, and I think one month ample. Ur Croft’s is a case in point. A deal of mischief might be done in three months ; and we might not be always in a position to say, “ You take three months’ salary and beclear.” The Chairman—On previous occasions the same question arose, and I voted against it. Even if your servant wishes to give you notice at the beginning of a month, there is not time, as a rule, to fill his place. If I could not trust a man during three months, I would sooner give him his salary and let him go, if I could do without him at the time. One month is not sufficient to enable us to get a proper servant. ’ There might be a mutual arrangement: Cr Horner —If we want to get good servants, we must put them in a fair position. Cr Partridge—The class of gentlemen we require as engineer and clerk should have longer notice than a month. The present foreman of works, for instance, came here on the understanding of three months’ notice, and he came from a long distance. Cr Hunter—Don’t you think we would have been a great deal better had we had the power to dismiss the last foreman of works within a montlq and then, if not able to get a man to suit us, to appoint some man temporarily ? We could get them by the dozen. As for the clerk, we could get clerks by hundreds. On a division, 3 voted for and 5 against the motion. It was therefore lost. clerk’s SALARY. Cr Gane proposed, and Cr Hunter seconded, “ That the County Council clerk’s salary for the future be £SO per, annum.” Cr Gane said ; This is ample.for the work; and if we put the other £200.a-year on the roads, we should be benefitting the ratepayers generally. We don’t want the clerk’s whole time. It is, a luxury we cannot afford to indulge in': We have no fault to find with the clerk. Fix the salary at £SO, which I consider abundance for what we have to do. • We are taxed up to our eyes, and it is our bounden duty to ourselves and fellow-ratepayers to keep

the taxes down to the lowest possible consistent point. This office never was worth £250 a-year. In fact, I don’t believe it is worth £SO per annum, which I consider good pay. The Chairman—lf you wish to reduce the salary, your first plan would be to give notice to the clerk that his services should be dispensed with. Cr Gane—lf the clerk chooses to also follow some agency or'commission business in connection with this wdrk, well and good. . .. . The Chairman—You might say that at the end of three months his salary be reduced to this, and then you could give him notice accordingly. Cr Gane—Then I will say three months from date.

The Chairman—The amount of rates we have been collecting is About £1,700 per annum. This county has not a large number of small townships within its boundaries. The collecting of the rates for this county is far moie trouble than for Taranaki or Wanganui. You could hardly get the rates collected under 5 per cent. A large number of communications also are continually cropping up. No competent man would dream of accepting the position at £SO per annum. Little road boards in the county give that for clerk’s work, and the whole work can be done one day' a month. O Horner asked for information about clerk’s salaries in other comities.

Cr Gane —Wanganui bus, I believe, £SO. I have been told of three or four others ; and we are the highest in the whole of New Zealand. The Chairman —Certainly not.

Cr Horner—There is one who is a member of tiie House, and baa £4OO a-year. He is a clerk.

Cr Gane—l want only to take the case on its merits. All the rates are brought to the ollice : there is no expense in collecting. There will be less and less to do every day in connection with this county, as the Government are taking so much under their control. £SO a year is a veiy good screw for the job. Or Winchcomb—Would you like it? Cr Gane—Yes, and bo glad to get the chance. On a division, only two voted for the motion, and six against, it was therefore lost. Cr Partridge then moved, “ That the Chairman request the Wanganui and Taranaki County Councils to furnish this Council with report of amount paid to their respective olerlca.” Agreed to. ADVERTISING. Cr Hunter—Mr Galvin has made an application for a share of the advertisements connected with the Council, and I think the county ought to give him ashare : that it will be in the interest of the county to do so. I have forgotten to bring the letter. FINANCIAL REPORT. The accounts for March showed the following figures : Receipts —Bates £lsl 3s 9d, Government remittances £9SG ss, licenses £l2 ; total £1,119 8s 9d. Disbursements Public Works —J. Cheyne, £109; J. Bowie, £IBB 3s; 11. Sangster and Mercer, £lO5 ; Keller and Murphy, £SO ; Kennedy & Co., £123 15s ; H. 1. Davis, £l7B IGs ; Hudson, Guy, and Co., £9 8s ; J. O’Sullivan, £135 16s 8d ; Sangster and Mercer, £77 18s 4d ; W. Bassett, £l7 ; S. Tanlin, £2 15s lOd ; salaries, £2O IGs 8d ; Wages, £73 2s ; advertising Patea Mail, £3 10s 6d. Mountain Hoad—Wages, £ll7 14s ; W. Terry, £25 ; 11. McDevitt, £75 ; Dingle Brothers, £lB7 10s. Hospital—Mrs O’Connor, £1 1b Gd ; J. O’Brien, £3 15s ; S. Taplin, £l2 7s 8d ; T. North; £1 8s Gd W. Dale, £1 10s 7d. Salaries Clerk and Chairman — £37 10. Miscellaneous —Sangster, 10s ; S, Taplin, £1 ; Ilawera Town Hall, £2 12s Gd ; total, £1,572 0s lid. Accounts for Payment —J. O’Brien, board for Hudson (blind pauper), £3 15s ; Mrs O’Connor, washing, £1 9s 4d ; W. McLeod, ironwork, £1 Gs ; J, Verry, gravel contract, £1 13s 4d; W. Overend, tools,, 5s Gd ; J. Fisher, tools, £2 Is 3d ; Dr Croft, medicine, £lO Is ; J. Smith, setting oven, 7s Gd ; A. il. Pye, fixings for tanks, £2 7s; D. Smith, carting, &c., 13s Gd ; Patea Mail, advertising's 12s Gd; W. Dixon, sundries, 12s Gd ; J. Kenworthy, stationery, £1 16s Id ; S. Taplin, hospital, £ls 9a 10a ; S. Taplin, public works, £l2 Is; wages, Mountain Road, £96 17s Gd ; wages, main road, £BB 12s ; total, £247 11s lOd. This concluded the business.