KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8720, 21 January 1907, Page 4

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of above was held on Saturday. Present Crs Carman (Chairman), Hockley, Short, Mclntyre, Alford, MoNeal, and Fowler. Correspondence was read : . ■ From Oroua County Council, stating that its representatives will meet Kiwitea > County Council in respect to sharing cost [ of roads used by their ratepayers.—The Chairman and Cr Short were appointed to confer with Oroua Council’s representative re roads used by Messrs McLennan and J. G. Wilson, at Feilding, on Friday, 25th inst., at 11 a.m.From Treasury, stating that loan of JK2500 for road work in Sandon Block is now available.

From Department of Hoads, stating that owing to the abolition of the franking system it will Vie necessary to use stamps for all communications in future. From Audit Department, re Engineer’s charges that local authorities were authorised to make a charge against thirds” of 5 per cent to cover Engineer’s cost, provided the Engineer was paid by commission and not salary.—The Chairman commented on -the unreasonable methods of the Audit Department in not passing the balance-sheet, as it was correct except for several technical points. From C. E. Johnston, Cheltenham, stating that as he is paying the Id general rate on his Cheltenham property under protest, and makes the reservation that this payment will not bar an action at law to recover any amount or amounts spent out of Cheltenham Elding after payment of the general expenses as provided by the Counties Act.—Protest noted.

From Department of Land and Survey stating that the Gazette of 10th inst. contains an Order-in-Counoil vesting section 108, Block XIV., Apiti Survey District, in Kiwitea County Council, in trust, as a reserve for road and ferry

purposes. •. From Department of Roads, re bridge over Oroua River at Loudon’s ford, stating that Council’s objections have been noted, and will be dealt with as required by law.—The Works and Loan Committee were instructed to prepare .Council’s

case. Ki'oui J. O. '.Wilson, stating that the crock at |Potakataku is still cutting into the new road leading to Ids daughter s property, which will soon bo impassable, ‘and asking to have it repaired.—The Engineer was instructed to have the road made passable. The Engineer reported that excellent progress had been made with metalling Ohingaiti-Pemberton road, and it will bo j completed as far as money will allow in a fortnight. The showery weather has delayed completion of metalling on Apiti Main South road. The contractors are pushing on with formation of Coulter’s Lino. The heavy ram brought down a good many slips leading down to the river, and this portion of the road is likely to give trouble owing to the loose nature of the clay. A little work has been done in widening of Forest Eoad The contractor advises a start has been made on Kawbatau Valley Koad. The work was commenced of metalling Forest Koad before the holidays. Nothing has been done to metalling Kimbolton-stroet, the contractor wishing to finish the Forest Eoad first. The road machine is working on Peep o’ Day portion of Mangapipi Koad, it will afterwards proceed along Kiwitea-Tapuae and down Mangapapa Eoad. The fencing on Kelpie Eoad is in progress. Mr Moir, the Kangitikoi engineer, had wired he will lie at Kimbolton on Monday next. Although very heavy rain fell in many parts of the county, ho had not heard of any very serious damages having been done. The metalled roads have kept in wonderfully good order, but many of them being very bare of metal would soon cut up with bad weather. Mr Birch, the builder, made a thorough inspection of the Council offices, and states it is very necessary that the walls should be made watertight as soon as possible to prevent any further decay of the timber, ho also gives an estimate. The Treasurer reported that the following amounts had been received j—Bates, etc. .£1378 Gd, Papaaui loan AI2OO, Mam gatoki loan A 1250, cemetery A 1 7s Gd. The general account stands with a credit of i:l 124 IC* lid, and the accounts to be passed for payment amounted to . A 2252 Os Bd. Kesolved, That John Lowrie’s order in favour of 1 Mr D. S. M. Turnbull be accepted as far as money owing will allow. That the tender of Mr E. L. Birch for alteration to Council office bo accepted. That Mrs Dierp bo informed that the Council is willing to give £l2 for maintaining and keeping Middle Eoad in ; order under same conditions as last year, That Mr A. N. Halpin’s request to take a pipe across the roiid fronting section 15, Block XVI, Hautapo, be granted subject 1 to Engineer’s approval. That Council confirms special order striking special rate of U-G4th of a penny to pay interest and sinking fund on Loan of £2OO to continue metalling Peka Eoad, That settlers on Ohingaiti-Pemberton Eoad be recommended to raise a Loan to complete metalling as this Council has no funds lor new work, 'That Air A. G. Carty be informed that no account has beeu received from Mr Perry for fencing on Coulter’s Lino, aud tlxat as soon as survey of land taken is completed the plans will be forwarded. That a special order bo adopted to raise a loan of AGO for continuing metalling of Mcßoth's Eoad, being 10 per cent on the original loan, aud that a special rate of 5-25Gth of a penny in the £ be struck to provide interest and sinking fund. That the Engineer be instructed to have slips cleared on Mongokokiki Koad, cost not to exceed Al 5, the former portion to be widened out of loan. That sections 2G and 27, Kangiwahia township, bo gazetted a Public Pound, and that the Engineer be instructed to 1 have the necessary work done as soon as funds will permit, to be charged to the Eangiwahia and Hautapu ridings. That W. Aldorson’s tender for contract No. 31, and Jacob Shapleski’s for contract No, 32, bo accepted, Timt fresh tenders for right of dog-tax collection bo invited, That A 428 IGs Id, balance In hapd of Auputa-Pourangaki loan, be re-deposited with bank for twelve months. That tenders be called for maintenance juetal, as per Engineer’s estimate, to be in by next meeting. Tluit Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for metalling on Mpßoth’s Koad up to Al2O to bo paid for in following manner : —AGO to be raised by special order, 10 per cent on Loan, A3O each from Kimbolton and Kiwitea Hidings. Tenders to close on Monday 28th. That Councillor for Hautapu’s action in accepting Messrs Voss and Fenton’s offer of A 8 for Mangarimu and A 4 for Cross Eoad for right of cutting grass seed, also the offer of .Mr A. Cuff of A 1 be confirmed. That resignation of Councillor Alford ha accepted with regret, A petition stated to be from a majority of business people in County of Kiwitea was read. It requested that they be compelled to close at 6 p.m. on four days in the week. Speaking on the question Cr Hockley said it was very hard on the employees who had to return to work after 6 o’clock to suit the pleasure of a small section of I the community. The Chairman quite agreed, with the ; principle of the petition, but he did not think it was representative of the district aud was only a Kimbolton petition. He would like the matter put both ways, for and against. Further discussing the question, he said the petition was informal. If a proper petition were sent he had no doubt the Council would support the movement. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. The chairman said the question of voting a sum of money as requested by Mr I/., E- Jackson towards technical ! education in the County had been held overdrew last meeting owing to several councillor* being absent. Ho suggested, that a aaavis Vo wA* throughout the district.

Cr Guthrie, who is a member of the Wanganui Education Board, said that the Board was doing its utmost to promote technical education. At the present time the towns were receiving the benefit of this, but as the funds came out of consolidated revenue the Board thought it only fair to give the country districts the same advantages as far as possible. Ho pointed out that this could not be done without some assistance, as it was beyond the power of the Board to find all the money required. A supervisor had been appointed but he also had duties in connection with teaching at Wanganui, with the result that no organising had been don# in the country by him. Feilding had however come forward in a handsome way, and when the proposed school was erected there, it would be second only to Wanganui, and would afford a school for pupils of this district who a ished to attend. He hoped the Council would favourably consider contributing towards the school extension in the country. Cr Hockley said that where everybody benefited, everyone should contribute, and he supported the motion that the Council should contribute. On the motion of Cr Guthrie, seconded by Cr Hockley it was the decided : —That this Council favourably consider the Education Board’s proposal to extend the advantage of technical education to the outlying country districts and that the Council contribute £io towards cost of establishing same in Kiwitea County.