KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8743, 18 February 1907, Page 3

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present : Crs S. J. -■ gatman (chairman), H. Fowler, F. *■'*s Hockley, E. Short, J. Bruce, D. H. • Gnthrie, J. MoNoill and 0. Mclntyre. Cr*'Morton sent to Say that hisjab-

senoe was caused by/ an engagement ‘ he had made prior to his election, CORRESPONDENCE, From A. G. Grant, asking permission to erect an eight-wire fence along Hair’s road line, —Granted on usual terms. From James Gardner, Kawhatau, asking that Court proceedings for recovery of his rates be suspended as he had been unwell recently.—The Chairman said this with ether cases was already in the hands of the solicitor, —No action taken. From Otto Russell, Beaconafield, asking permission to split totara on the river bed opposite Mr R. Taylor’s residence: —The Chairman said the Council had no control over the river bed.—Referred to the Public Works Department. From Chief Postmaster, Wellington, informing the Council that the Minister of Public Works refused to receive unstamped letters. From Department of Lands and Survey, notifying Council' that section 108, block 15, Apiti, had teen vested in Council.—To be leased to Mr A. H, Tompkins for balance of his term. From Department of Roads, stating that all authorities for expenditure issued before September 21st, 1906, and in respect of which no action had been taken prior to 21st March next, will be cancelled. From L. Bauer, Kimbolton, for permission to erect fence on the edge of Terraco road.—Granted, From R. Mayhew, offering to paint West, Waitapu cemetery fence for £1 10s. —Accepted. From F. W. Btobie, offering to paint board at Waitapu cemetery for £1 14s.—Accepted. From L. Lehokle, informing the Council that a contractor had not paid him for timber supplied, value £ls 7s 6d, and asking Council to atop that amount in payment of contract. —The contract having been paid for, Council is unable to assist applicant. From F. H. Vile, giving an order in favour of W. J. Neill for payment of dog-collars, £25 15s.—Agreed to.

From R. U. Harden, enclosing an order from Jacob Bhapleaki, junr., for payment of £2O 10s—Order not accepted as it did not bear the signature of Shapleski Bros. From R. P. Jensen, offering to metal 90 chains of Forest road for £146 5s. —Accepted, From A. Dalzieil, asking that Council approve of transfer of lease of reserve at Mangarere bridge to him.—Agreed to, and Mr Dalzieil to be advised to consult with engineer re widening of road. From Rewa Dairy Co., requesting renewal of lease of reserve 18, Waituna West —Granted at 10s a year.

From F. Kensington, Eewa, raking permission to lay a pipe under road betweeff sections 60 and 68, block 12.—Granted. From Kimbolton Domain Board, staling that part of Domain fence had been removed and a quantity of gravel taken, and Board held Council liable. —Besolved that Council would as far as possible protect the Domain, but refused to admit responsibility. From Oroua Council, refusing to contribute to cost of metalling road in Kiwltea County, but used only by Mr McLennan, whose land is ia the Oroua County. The chairman, referring to the interview held with Oroua Council on the matter, said the cost would be £602 15s. He had reminded Oroua Council that it had received ho less than £7OO in general rates since the road had been taken over from Mr Manson. His figures had been disputed but he had since ascertained that the amount was £673 14s 4d, and that the total amount paid in respect of the property was £996 6s Id. Now, after twelve years, the most the Council proposed to do for the occupier was to make a road diversion, which to be of any use would necessitate the making of three more miles of road over a rough country. Cr Short said Kiwitea Council had formed the piece of road out of rates for the sole use of a ratepayer in another County, with the expectation that Oroua Council would recognize its responsibility in the matter. All traffic from the adjoining section also went over Kiwitea Council roads.

Or Short proposed, That owing to the action of Oroua Council in refusing to metal a portion of MoLennan’s road this Council is reluctantly compelled to request the Governor (under section 321 of the Counties Act) to decide how the rates from Messrs McLennan’s and Bowen’s properties shall be expended in future; seconded by chairman and carried. REPORTS. Among other matters the Engineer reported that the approach to Cheltenham Cross Road bridge had been partly washed away. Thera were several sharp corners on Waituna Valley road which should bo widened. He recommended that the work be done before maintenance metal was put on. He had arranged to inspect River Bank road, near Rata, as Mr ■Wilson had written stating that protective works would bo required in addition to widening the road. Owing to the breakage of the road machine it was idle for a fortnight. He had ordered timber for re-decking a small bridge on Mangoira road, which was unsafe for traffic. The Treasurer reported that since last meeting the following accounts had been received :—Rates, etc., £447 9s 8d ; boundary thirds, £430 4s 6d. There was a credit balance of £239 10s 4d on general account, and amounts to be passed for payment that meeting were ; On general account, £374 9s Id; cemeteries, £3 Is; loans, £658 7s lid. Total, £1035 16s. RESOLUTIONS. That engineer be instructed to have a culvert put in at junction of Kimbolton and Slaughter - house road, Rangiwahia. That the dangerous places of the incline on Kimbolton road, near Cheltenham, be protected. That chairman be authorised to take all necessary steps, legal or otherwise, to prepare Council’s case for the commission, re London’s bridge. That engineer have tenders called for first contract on Lagoon road, also metalling lower half of Kawhatau Valley road, commencing at Western end ; and that his recommendations, re Valley road, be carried out.

That Mr D. A. Guthrie be granted lease of section 30, block 14, Hautapu, at 2s per acre. Proposed by Cr Guthrie, and seconded by Cr Hockley,. that owing to the large amount of extra engineering work required consequent on the large expenditure at presentgoing on in the County, it is necessary to appoint a temporary foreman, for necessary pex’iod, to assist the engineer in supervision, and that applications for this position be invited, salary to be X 3 a week. Cr Guthrie said in support of the motion that the Council was spending several thousands a year in road construction, and it was quite cut of the power of the engineer to give adequate supervision. The Council

would save money in adoption of course proposed. Cr Fowler, who objected to the extra expenditure proposed, was reminded by Cr Guthrie that provision had jireviously been made for payment of engineering expenses in respect to road construction out of loan money.—The motion was agreed to. The following tenders were accepted : —No. 34, J. McColl; 35, R. P. Jensen; 33, E. Sinclair; 37, R. P. Jensen; 38, 11. T. Manning; 39, F. Palmer; 40, F. W. Thiers; 41, F. W. Thiers; 47, H. T. Manning; 49, H. T. Manning; 50, H. T. Manning; 51, J. Wright; 52, W. 0. Anderson.

It was resolved that contracts Nos. 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 48 be readvertised, tenders to close on March Ist, acceptance of tenders to be left in the bauds of the chairman and engineer. Resolved that the engineer be instructed to have all scrub cut down at the back of formation of KiwiteaTapuae road between Kimbolton and Peep-o'-Day Ridings. That Chairman be empowered (pending appointment of a County Solicitor) to obtain such legal assistance as he may find necessary. That thanks of this Council be tendered to. Mr Mair, engineer to Rangitikei County, for the valuable services rendered to this county by his inspection and report on the proposed bridge at London’s ford. That Council collect dog tax during this year by its own officers, and not by tender, and that the method of so doing be by advertisement in the local papers and notices to individual owners that they must pay the tax direct to the County Clerk.