COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, 7 August 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday. Present, Messrs Dale, (in the chair), Brewer,Hunter,Ganc, Partrideg, Horner, and Milne. Mr Bridge was present at the latter pait of the meeting. FEES FOB THE SLAUGHTER INSPECTOR. With reference to the resolution passed at last meeting respecting the right of Mr Harden, inspector of slaughter-houses, to receive fees for his own benefit, the chairman said he had taken legal advice by consulting Mr Fitzherbert, of Wanganui. He now read a telegram from Mr Fitzhcrbcrt, stating that, under the circumstances of the appointment, the inspector is entitled to the fees. Mr Gane rose to question the legal correctness of that opinion. The Chairman ruled him out of order, and said he could allow on more discussion on the subject, unless the Council chose to alter the bye-laws which regulate that appointment. MR HARDEN’S LETTER. Mr Harden had written a letter resigning the office of inspector of slaughterhouses, leaving the Council to take such action as it deemed proper ; and on this letter being read at a subsequent stage of the day’s business, the resignation was accepted, on the understanding that the bye-laws shall be altered before any reappointment is considered. sir m’lean’s claim. This long-standing claim of a contractor came again before the Council on another letter from Mr M'Lean’s solicitors, asking for consent to an arbitration. The Chairman said : When in Wellington I interviewed Mr 011ivcr with reference to this matter, pointing out that the Council had no connection with this matter farther than acting as agents of Government in getting certain work done by contract ; that if Government wished the claim of Mr M‘Lean to go to arbitration, the Council were willing to refer it; but that we had taken every precaution against getting into a mess with Mr M‘Lcan. having had reason to be cautious with him. The only point lam in doubt about is as to whether the Public Works Committee may have given Mr M‘Lcan any authority to do that No. 15 contract differently from the specification. Mr Partridge: No, wc gave no such instruction.

Chairman : The Government take this position, that they leave the matter in our hands, and they expect us to see it carried through. If we have acted in a businesslike manner, any court of law will no doubt give a verdict in our favor. If, on the other hand, the case went against us in the court, it would then be a matter for consideration of the Government to make good any loss wo sustained. As to the sum of £162 for part of the work, although Mr M’Lean never signed the contract, he went on with the work, and we have to a certain extent agreed, by not stopping him, to let him go on. Therefore our best plan is to pay that £162, which we admit we owe ; and we could pay that sum, without prejudice, to his solicitors, and if he sues for the balance of money he says is due to him, the case would go against him. But if he goes to the court and gets a verdict against us for the £162 which we admit we owe, that verdict might carry costs. Therefore we had better tender that sum to his solicitors without prejudice. Then as to balance due on contracts 12, 13, and 14, Mr M’Lean did not complete the work to the satisfaction of the Couch's surveyor who measured the work. There was a certain amount of money coming to Mr M’Lean had he finished that work. The balance of that money has been paid to Mr Fraser, and some to Mr M’Dcvitt, leaving £2 5s lOd due to Mr M’Lean. I would ask whether you would pay that to his solicitors without prejudice, or whether you would make a claim for fines which he incurred for over-time. Perhaps the best course would be to make a claim against him for fines. Mr Gane : Docs he claim anything for extras ? Chairman : Yes.

Mr Bridge moved, Mr Milne seconded, and the Council agreed, “That the sum of £162 be offered, without prejudice, to Mr McLean’s solicitors, in payment of No 15 contract, Mountain road.” Mr Bridge moved, Mr Gane seconded, anti the Council agreed, “That a statement of accounts of Nos. 12,13, and 14 contracts, Mountain road, be sent to Mr McLean’s solicitors, with a demand for the penalty for over-time up to the date that the Council commenced to complete these contracts.”

MB WINCHCOMB AND THE DOG TAX. The default of Mr Winchcomb, lately collector of the dog-tax at Waverley, in not accounting for moneys i-cccivecl for badges, was considered in committee, upon on explanatory letter received from the defaulter. The result was the adoption of the following resolution : “ That an advertisement be inserted in the Patea Maid asking all those that have paid the dog-tax to Mr Winchcomb to forward their names to the tax-collector at Carlyle, at their earliest convenience. ” WAVERLEY POUND. Mr D. Ballam resigned the office of pound-keeper at Waverley ; and Mr J. B. Taylor was appointed in his stead, on the motion of Mr Milne, seconded by Mr Horner. ROAD GRIEVANCES, NGAIRE DISTRICT AND MOUNTAIN ROAD. A letter from Mr 0. D. Whitcombe, Crown Lands Commissioner, informed the Council of great complaints made by purchasers of land between the Patea river at Stratford and Katemarae, the Ngaire district, relative to the state of the roads ; and suggesting the desirability of constituting a separate Road Board district. All the roads throughout the surveyed portions of the district have been or are iu course of being felled for the full width of one chain, and cleared in the centre to the width of 15 feet. The greater part of the laud in this largo district has been taken up on terms of deferred payments, and a considerable sum of money therefore lies in the Treasury ready to be handed over to the Road Commissioners so soon as a road district shall have been constituted, and a plan of proposed expenditure on road works approved by the Land Board. The Commissioner therefore suggested the desirability of taking steps to render these idle funds available for improving the roads between Stratford and Ketemarae, by constituting the Ngaire Road District,

A letter was also read from Messrs Bony and Newman calling attention to the Mountain road as being nearly impassable.

The Chairman said : The County fund® cannot be applied to these roads. That is not a Government road : it is really a district load within the boundaries of some road district. It is really a portion of the Hawcra road district. If I had ordered any expenditure of money on that road, I should have been held personally accountable to this Council. I have noticed several remarks in the papers about that, but it should be clearly understood that the Council funds cannot be expended on it. Mr Hunter: In explanation of this general impression, that this ought to be a County road, it is really a continuation of the road from Patea to New Plymouth ; and there is a large portion of the settlers from Hawera who seem to think it is an unjust thing that this part of the road should not be a County road, otherwise they get no benefit from the County funds. That road is used about nine-tenths as much as any other piece of road between the bush and Carlyle. Mr Partridge : If it is not a County road, the sooner it is made one the better, A large amount of rates comes from persons who have to use that road, and it seems unreasonable that a few pounds should not be expended on it. It is contrary to common sense that the road should not be made passable at the expense of a few pounds. Mr Milne : The proper course for them to take would be to get this Council to proclaim the road from the main road toNormanby a County road. I quite agree that the settlers there are entitled to a portion of tho County rates. Mr Gane : I think tho general Government have made and maintained that road until now as a colonial road. It would bo a most suicidal step for the Council to take over that road. 1 would rather sec a few loads of gravel expended irregularly rather than take the road over altogether. The Act enables us to assist or subsidise any local bodies, and I presume there is equal power to tip a few loads of gravel. If we do that, I don’t see who is to say nay to it. Chairman : I have simply acted in accordance with my duties as chairman ; that is, not to illegally spend County funds on this road.

Mr Brewer: What constitutes a County road : is it the main road ?

Mr Gane : It must be proclaimed, must it not ? Chairman : Yes.

Mr Brewer ; There is really not the slightest doubt that the Mountain road is the main road, and it is perhaps an unwise thing these hard times for the Council to saddle themselves with expenses they can get out of. Suppose that was proclaimed

the main road, could we give up the other part ? Chairman, Oh, no. Mr Partridge : We could get a portion of it. Chairman : Yes,: we can proclaim any portion of a road a Countj* road, but if 3’ou once start taking over these district roads, you will have cases from Waverley, A# where the road leads into the bush, and they would naturally want assistance ; also cases in the Patea district, and other applications. If you give to one you must to another.

Mr Partridge : Ho, this is the main trunk line to New Plymouth, Mr Horner ; Has any action been taken to ascertain wbat the Government mean to do do with that road ? Chairman : The Government think they have done enough. Mr Horner : If we were willing to have this part of the road gazetted as a County road, we might fairly ask the Government to give us a fair start by putting it in good repair. Mr Brewer : We might get the responsibility and not get the fair start. Mr Gane ; The wisest course is to put a few loads of gravel on the road. Chairman : What I contend is that it is a road within the Hawcra district. Mr Ganc ; It is the general Government road. Stick to that. They have got the biggest backs. NEW ROAD BOARD. Mr Hunter moved, and Mr Gane seconded, .“That a meetiug .be called of those interested in forming a Road Board in Ngaire district, to be held at in Brett & Johnstone’s Hotel, for tlie purpose of the settlers nominating out of their number 7 persons to constitute a new board, the boundaries to be from the Hawera road district to the boundaries of the County"” The motion was agreed to. USE OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS. A letter from the newly formed Good Templar lodge at Patea asked for the use of the Council chamber once a week for meetings. Chairman; I had an application yesterday for the use of the chamber as a night school. Mr Gane proposed and Mr Hunter seconded that the Good Templars’ application be complied with. Chairman : Other societies in the town have to pay rent for this chamber, and if wc grant it free to one we shall have to grant it to various bodies. The motion was put and negatived. DRAIN IN TARANAKI-UOAD, Mr J. Gibson, Patea, having again called attention to the want of a drain on the road opposite his paddock, to prevent flooding of his land ; and the work having been ordered to be done some time ago, the engineer was now authorised to construct a short drain. WORKS REPORT. The Engineer reported to the following effect:—The supply of metal on Mokoia flat is completed. The staff employed spreading metal at Mauawapou have been engaged about half the month repairing the road between there and Burke’s hill. The road between Hawcra and Waitotara is in fair running order, but northward of Hawcra the road is much broken. Tho stone delivered and broken on Mokoia flat is in excess of specified quantity by 70 to 100 cubic yards. GRAVEL AT WAVERLEY. 11l a supplementary report, the Engineer stated that the contract for depositing 650 cubic yards of gravel at Waverley is not completed by about 120 yards, and Mr Cbeyne bad informed him that be will be unable to land any more until line weather sets iu, as tbe approaches to tbe pit being impassable. Tbe contract time expired last April, and the contractor is liable to a penalty of £1 per day. The Engineer explained to the Council that this contractor had done bis work so well in a previous contract, that he would be exceptionally lenient in the case. The present contract bad been taken at a low price ; and Mr Cbeyne having more work than be could perform during tbe fine weather, tbe price was too low to enable him to employ labour, and so bo bad not finished this gravelling while tbe weather was fine. The Council left the Engineer to use his discretion in the matter. REPAIRS TO HOSPITAL. Dr Keating, resident surgeon, reported as follows: “ I have been requested to submit, for your consideration, some brief report concerning the Hospital building. Tbe kitchen requires to be lined, to be furnished with a pantry, a few shelves, a safe, and a sink. It is most desirable that the upper storey should be lined throughout; more especially on the south side of the

building;, from which quarter the most severe storms appear to come. There were great leaks in every room on south side of the building during the storm of July 31st, and also in the storm}' weather that occurred tlircc wcelcs before.. It. seems inevitable that a large building, in a very exposed situation, cannot remain watertight when the upper storey is nothingbut a shell of bare boards, surmounted with some sheets of zinc or iron. Probably some small repairs arc also needed, and it might bo well to commission a competent builder to examine and report upon what is necessary, and the probable expense of such improvements. 1 believe that it has been contemplated to partition off one or two rooms in upper storey, and it is desirable that increased accommodation should be provided as soon as practicable.” The Chairman said : I requested Dr Keating to make a report on the state of the Hospital, because there is a bill before Parliament affecting hospitals. It is the surgeon’s duty to cure patients as quickly as possible, and if he says the building is not in a proper state, it is bis duty to report to the Council. I don’t intend to ask the Council to vote any money for improvements at present. The Council might empower me to employ a competent builder to report as to repairs the building requires. At our next meeting, when the bill will probably have become law, we shall be better able to act. The report was ordered to lie over for consideration. [The Bill referred to is thrown out.] ROAD TO THE HOSITTAf., Chairman : As to the state of the road, I admit it is not a good one to take sick patients over - but I was taken over it recently ,in a conveyance, after the accident to my leg, and I was not upset. A Councillor ; The newspaper says the road is impassable for sick persons. Another Councillor: We don’t mind what the newspapers say. (Laughter.) HOSPITAL STEWARDS. Ten applications were received, by tender, for the position of steward and stewardess (married couple) at the Hospital. The tenders ranged from £SO to £B4. That of Mr and Mrs Donley, who had been in temporary charge of the Hospital, was accepted, at £B4. The details of tenders arc reported elsewhere. WAVERLEY RECREATION GROUND. A report was received from the committee appointed to recommend what course the Council should adopt as trustees of certain funds for the Recreation Ground at Waverley. Mr Bridge, chairman of the Committee, reported the Committee’s proceedings as follow : “ Proposed by Or. Bridge that £3O b e paid to the Waverley Wnitotara Jockey Club for the improvements now made ; that a butt, five mounds, and a small house be built on the rifle range at a total cost not exceeding £25, the balance of the money to be spent in enclosing and planting the said hill at the lower end of the ground ; and that the Waverley members be appointed a committee to carry this resolution into effect. —Carried.”

“ Proposed by Mr Brewer, that in the event of there not being sufficient funds at present to the credit of the Wavcrloy Recreation Ground to plant the whole of the land proposed to be enclosed, the committee be authorised to make arrangement# with'the persons they employ in anticipation of any rent that may hereafter be derived from the ground.—Carried.” Mr Bridge moved the adoption of the report, and said ho did not think the money could be spent in a better manner than that recommended by the Committee. Mr Milne : There seems to be a sort of feeling that this money cannot be legally voted for the purpose which the Committee recommend. This money to be handed over to the Jockey Club is money spent by them in improving the Recreation Ground It is not a racecourse. The Jockey Club is allowed to use that ground, but when the club holds a race meeting there, they will not be able to charge for admission. Mr Gane seconded the adoption of the report. Mr Bridge: There is an impression in the minds of some councillors that we cannot pay this money to the Jockey Club. I do not at all intend that we should pay the money without receiving a voucher for it. Chairman : I quite agree that we have power to put up buildings for ornamental purposes, but I cannot agree that a butt and five mounds and a small house would bo in accordance with the Act providing that buildings may be put up for ornamental purposes. As to expenditure for racecourse, I don’t think that is laying out the ground for beds and walks. This trust is a sort of white elephant. It is no interest to the Council ; but ns the thing

stands I cannot vote for the adoption of the report. Mr Bridge : Do yon rule that the building of a butt and the building of five mounds cannot bo included in the expres-: si on in tlic Act, laid out”? The Chairman : I cannot see bow the mound could come under the expression “ laid out for ornamental purposes.” Mr Bridge : I ask you to rule on that point. This is granted as a Recreation Ground, and I maintain that rifle-shooting is a portion of recreation. We can adopt any form of recreation that we choose. Chairman : Had it been gazetted as a public recreation reserve, I should have had to rule that money could not be spent on a butt ; but I find the ground was gazetted for public purposes, and therefore it can bo used as a rifle range. As for racecourses, there is a distinct provision in the Act. Mr Bridge : If gazetted for public purposes, the race-course would bo a public purpose. Chairman ; The Act provides separately for race-courses. Mr Bridge : I think it would be advisable not to enclose thb ground this present season, as it is too late for planting ; but merely to enclose the butts. The report was then adopted. TRUSTEES roll THE GROUND. Mr Bridge gave notice of the following motion, for next meeting :—“ That the management of the Waverley Recreation ground be handed over to a committee of five, to be elected annually by electors in the Waverley riding, on the first Monday in September, at a meeting to be called by the Chairman of the County Council, of which not less than 14 days, notice shall be given. The committee shall receive all rents derived from the reserve, loss any charges ; and may expend the same in improving the ground in such manner as they think fit. The committee shall forward an audited balance sheet to the Council on or before the last Monday in August in each year. ”

FINANCES. The monthly balance sheet showed a total expenditure of £5713 16s lid, including £B2 to Me Devitt for the Mountain road, and £254 5s 4d in public works contracts, and £129 14s 6d in wages. The receipts for the month were £236 Is for licenses, £lO 17s for dog fees, £3 donation to Hospital, and subsidy £6Ol 3s 3d total receipts, £B5l Is Bd. Accounts wore passed for payment as follow :—Dr Croft, £26 11s Gd ; daymen, £l2l Is ; F. F. Fookes, use of hall at Waverley, £1 10s ; Galvin and Co., £2 3s 6d : S. Taplin, Hospital stores, £l6 2s 9d ; A. Owen, £1 ; Mrs O’Connor, £1 12s 6d ; Baxter, £2 ; S. Taplin, 13s ; total, £l7O 16s 3d. BLIND PAUPER, Dr Keating forwarded a letter advising that if Hudson could be sent to Wellington or elsewhere, to undergo an operation by a professional oculist—the cutting of a window or orifice at the back of the eye—it was highly probable the man’s sight would be restored or improved considerably. Mr Horner moved that Hudson be sent to Wellington Hospital, for an operation. He said Dr Keating had had a great deal of piactice in Canada, in cases of snowblindness, and in recommending this operation, it was probable the man would have his sight restored, and would not be a permanent burthen on the County rates. The man was very willing to have it done. Mr Hunter seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. MOUNTAIN HOAD. Mr Hunter gave notice of motion “ That, this Council take over that part of the Mountain road beginning at the junction with the County road, and ending at the commencement of the bush.” WAITOTABA ELECTION. llespccting the claim of Mr Jordan for travelling expenses when acting as returning officer at the Waitotara election, Mr Brewer gave notice of motion for next meeting, “ That the amount of £1 be allowed to Mr Jordan, as travelling expenses from Great Valley to Waitotara.” COUTY REVENUE AND RATES. The Chairman made a statement as to the revenue estimated to be derivable from land sales and from Crown and native lands which the Government proposed to make available for rating purposes in aid of local bodies. A report of this matter will be found in another column. The other business of the Council was unimportant.