COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, 25 November 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

The annual meeting of the Council was held yesterday, and the ordinary business of the December meeting had been fixed for the same date. Present Messrs Dale (in the chair), Bridge, Brewer, Hunter, Gane, Partridge, Horner, and Milne. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr Milne proposed the re-election of Mr Dale as chairman. He had given thorough satisfaction during his term in that office, and had always given his decisions in an unbiassed manner. No member of the Council could better discharge the duties. Mr Horner seconded, and said Mr Dale had given every satisfaction in the office. His residing close to the centre of business facilitated very much his action in the matte)’. Mr Gane, after a pause : You have it all your own way, Mr Dale. The motion was put and adopted unanimously. Mr Horner then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his services during the past year. Mr Partridge : Cannot we get up a division over this ? Mr Brewer : I am glad to see him reelected as Chairman. He has performed his duties in a most satisfactory manner to the majority. Mr Gane : I don’t hold the sentiments expressed by previous speakers. I don’t think the Chairman has given general satisfaction; and eighteen-twentieths of his rulings I believe to be wrong. (Laughter.) And to-day my reason for not proposing anj r candidate is that the one I in tended to propose declines to stand, he having got no time. Any way it would have been seconded, and we might have had a debate on tho subject. Although the Chairman acts according to tho best of his ]udgraent, I believe that 18 times out of 20 he has been wrong. Mr Bridge : I feel glad to see Mr Dale rc-clected to the chair ; though I am somewhat of Mr Gane’a opinion with regard to your ruling. In many cases I have to disagree with your ruling, but I am of opinion it is most to the advantage of the Council to have a Chairman resident in Patea, He can be in the Council-office if - he likes every day, it being no loss of time, whereas a Chairman resident at a distance would have to come here on purpose, and lose a day, and would be often absent when wanted. Chairman : I may thank the Council for the honor they have done me. I have endeavored to perform the duties to the best of my ability. I don’t pretend that I am infallible, that every decision I give is right ; but every decision I have given has been to the best of my belief a proper one. I may have erred in some, but I don’t think you would find pue-twentieth on the wrong side. X have endeavored to act fairly and impartially, regardless of any opposition from individuals. This was the only special business for the annual meeting. Tho ordinary business of the monthly meeting was proceeded with. MEDICAL COMFORTS. Mr Bridge asked what wag-Ahe present expense in the Hospital account for medical comforts. He had noticed the Wellington Hospital enquiry had shown an extraordinary expenditure for wine and porter as medical comforts, and he would like to know what was going on at the Patea Hospital. The Clerk : The expense for wine porter is very little now. It was considerable during the time of tiie previous medical officer ; but since Dr Keating took charge, the average has been bottles of wine per week, jand no porter for some ime.

HAWERA ROAD PETITION. Mr Partridge presented the following petition “ Wc, the undersigned, having learned that a petition prepared by a section of the settlers will be presented to the Council, urging the withdrawing of the lower To Ngaerc district from the jurisdiction of the Hawera Road Board, and amalgamating it with the upper Tc Ngacre district, bog most respectfully to ask the Council to withhold their sanctionWe believe the gentlemen composing the Hawera Road Board will faithfully and impartially expend our money for the benefit of all ; and from their experience and independent position will hasten to givo us an outlet. We therefore foci assured the Council will accede to our earnest wish to remain as wc are at present. (Signed), C. H. McCutchan, W. G. White, William Stuart, P. O’Connor, James Pratt, Edward Kelly, James McCutchan, Win. Broderick, David Brown, Arthur Gibson, Henry Gibson, John and Win. Clearer, Michael M. Hogan, John Twigg. The other petition had not arrived. WORKS REPORT. The Foreman of Works presented the following report“ The road each side of Patea bridge is completely destitute of gravel on the hill to gravel pit, owing to the heavy traffic hauling gravel for harbor purposes, and, unless re-gravelled, will be very heavy for traffic during next winter, A culvert at Manutahi gorge has collapsed, being rotten ; a new one to replace it is now in progress. I purpose placing heaps of gravel at intervals on the side of road between Waihi creek and Waingongoro, as the cheapest means of keeping this portion of road in repair during the winter months. I would suggest that tenders be called for the supply of gravel for the following places: Hawera junction to boundary line between Messrs Ircdale and Hicks, Tongahoc hill (both sides of river), Whenuakura hill to Mr Horner’s gate, and Patea bridge to top of cast side.” PATEA HILL GRADIENT, Mr Bridge : There ought to bo something done to Patea hill. It is in a bad condition, and unless kept passable it will spoil the rest of the road. Chairman: I noticed yesterday it is very bad. Mr Horner : There was a question some time ago about lowering that hill to get an easier gradient, and there ought to be mature consideration before laying out any surface money. Hardly a week passes without some dray going over. I have been waiting patiently to see what our finances would be, with reference to the expense of lowering that hill. Chairman : The Foreman’s proposal was to make a side-cutting along a lower level of the hill, abandoning the present road part of the distance. Mr Bridge: Would it be necessary to acquire any fresh land, because that would mean compensation ? Chairman: There was a question of taking a piece from Mr Teniient’s land, and it was understood ho would be willing to give it if the alteration would improve his frontage. I noticed a dray over the side yesterday. Mr Bridge : I seo from the Foreman’s plan of proposed alteration of level, that the grade would bo 1 in 14. Chairman : I think the Foreman said it is lin 8 in parts at present. The Council agreed to inspect the hill at the close of business, and come to a decision on the spot. They visited the bill, but no resolution was adopted. HOSPITAL SUBSIDY. Mr Bridge : Can the Chairman tell us whether the Hospital subsidy of pound for pound will be discontinued after the Slat March next ? : I noticed in connection with the Wellington Hospital, that a statement to that effect was made. Have you any information ? Chairman : I am not aware of any notice on the subject. The Government bill relating to hospitals was postponed till next session. HOW MUCH TO SPEND ? Mr Bridge : Can the Chairman tell us what it will cost to cany on the Council for tho next year ? A committee of the Council recommended a certain amount as being required for the roads, and the recommendation was adopted, yet a rate has been struck that will bring in a far less amount than they recommended. Have wc money to go on with ?' Chairman ; The Foreman is laying out work; according to the amount ho will have tospend. CLAIM FOR GRAVEL. Mr W. Dale having sent in a claim of £5 for 600 yards of gravel at 2d per yard, taken from his section abutting the road

1 on Patea liill, and a further request to have the ground levelled, a discussion i arose as to the propriety of the demand for having any levelling done. It appeared the Council had used part of the land as a gravel pit, and when Mr Dale bought the section from Dr Percy, ho told the then Foreman of Works he would expect the usual 2d per load which the Council paid for gravel, and that the surface should be finally left in the same state as it then was. The Council passed the account for gravel, £5, but several Councillors desired to be satisfied that the Council were responsible for levelling the surface. After much talk, it was agreed to inspect the ground at the close of business. The Chairman said the levelling would coat probably £2O. He wanted to make use of the ground as a building section. The Council inspected the land, but deferred any resolution. MONTHLY ACCOUNTS. The monthly statement of accounts showed receipts from rates £3l 2s Bd, Icenses 10s, dog fees £2 19s ; total £3-1 11s Bd. The expenditure for the month was nil. This does not include salaries, but shows that all road labor is stopped. Accounts passed for payment were — County Mail £1 9s 3d, Wanganui County Council £l7 11s, W. Dale, for gravel, £5. GOVERNMENT AID. Chairman : A telegram from Major Atkinson, in reply to an application from this Council, says the Government much regrets inability' to comply with our request to contribute towards the cost of keeping the main roads in repair. PATEA V. CAUEVEE. Mr Bridge : With regard to the name of this township, I think the Chairman of the Council should call a public meeting, to petition the Government to do away with the present confusion of calling the town by two names. The name of a township is hardly a matter for the Council to vote on, but it seems an anomaty for this place to be called Carlyle when its name is Patea. 1 send a letter to Carlyle and receive an answer from Patea, with the postmark of Patea. It is the same with telegrams. I propose that the Chairman call a public meeting for petitioning the Government to alter the oilicial name from Carlyle to Patea. Wc had to do this at Waverley, It was called Wairoa, but ns there arc many Wairoas in the colony, wc petitioned the Government to alter the name to Waverley, and it was done. Mr Partridge : I second that. Mr Horner : Was not some action taken by the Town Board to alter the name ? It was explained that the Town Board passed a resolution to take the necessaiy stops to have the name of the towm altered back to the old name of Patea. Chairman : The difficulty is in getting the public to attend a meeting. The motion was adopted unanimously. COUNTY RATE. The Chairman proposed, and Mr Horner seconded, “That a rate of Gd in the pound be now struck on all rateable property within the County for the period from 24th November 1880, to 31st March 1881 inclusive, such rate to be due and payable on December Ist, 1880.” Agreed to without discussion. COUNTY V. ROAD BOARDS. The adjourned debate on this question was resumed. It had been postponed to obtain returns showing the expenditure of the County and of the several Road and Town Boards for three years, in order to ascertain the proportionate cost per cent, of managing roads under each system. The County returns for that period were complete, and also those of the Patea West Hoad Board and Wairoa, but other Boards had sent accounts for only one year, and the Waverley Town Board had not sent a return. Chairman : I find the Patea West Road Board management is 16 per cent, on the total expenditure, Mr Bridge : It is more than they ought to have expended. That of Wairoa has been about 7 per cent, for the three yearsFrom that average I exclude an item of £67 9s Gd expended through the County Council trying to upset our rate ; and I omit the valuer, because the Council has no corresponding expense. Mr Brewer : Why should you not include all the expenses ? To omit certain items will mislead the public, who ought to have the whole cost placed before them. The item as regards the law case ought also to be in the return. Mr Bridge : Ycs,Jthat item ought to be in, to show the ratepayers what the Council has cost them. We cannot judge the expense from one year’s returns, because i the items of one year overlap another.

Mr Horner : I can prove from the returns of the Patea East for three years that the expense has been 28 per cent of the outlay on roads. Mr Ganc : One year’s accounts are no criterion to go by. Mr Brewer : As some of these Boards had no accounts properly kept for the two previous years, we cannot hope to get proper returns. Mr Gano proposed a farther adjournment of the debate. This was seconded. Mr Milne : I think this subject has stood over long enough. A number of returns arc on the table, but hardly one of them can be depended on. I think the sooner this subject is shelved the better. Chairman : I am of the same opinion. All you can say will not make the Road Boards take the roads from us, unless the Council are prepared to guarantee them ample funds to maintain the roads; and this we arc not in a position to do. The motion to adjourn discussion was put and negatived. . Mr Hunter then spoke to his oiiginal motion which had raised the debate, his proposal being in eJfcct that the Council should take over a portion of the Mountain road nearest to Normanby and maintain it, because the Government failed to keep it in repair. Mr Bridge’s amendment to that motion had been that Road Boards, &c, be invited to manage the County roads within their several districts. The amendment was put to the vote, and lost by 5 to 3. Mr Hunter’s motion to take over part of the Mountain road was then put. For— Hunter, Gaue, and Partridge. Against— Bridge, Brewer, Horner, Milne, and Chairman. Lost by sto 3. Chairman : I should have been in favor of taking it over if the Council had voted sufficient money to maintain the roads; but not having done so, 1 object to take over more road. Mr Bridge : Can wc got rid of a part of what is now a County road ? Chairman : No. Mr Bridge : Thou wo have to maintain two County roads through Hawera. The Council adjourned till January.