POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8892, 12 August 1907, Page 2

POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho monthly meeting• of 'tho Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. Browne (Chairman), Burno, Jackson, Oliver, Howie, Haudley, and Smith.

CORRESPONDENCE. Prom hon. sec. Apiti technical classes, asking for donation. —£7 10s granted. From R. S. Ronnthwaite, suggesting that Council tako tho usual legal steps in preparation for the erection of bridge at Loudon's ford.— Chairman and Crs. Smith and Howie Jo wait on the Kiwitea County

Council on the matter. From T. Sinclair and others, reqnsting that drain along Tni street be cleaned out. —Work to be done. From J. D. McLauriu, for permission to erect fence along Huia street and across JTui street. — Granted. From Backhaul and Hart and H.

W. Smart, calling attention to bad state of Pattorson's Spur road.—To be repaired at once for light traffic. From J. O. Murray, for permission to erect fenco on rondsido fronting section 124, block 14. Granted.

From William Stevens, offering to

sell his two sections, Nos. (> and 7, block !), Pohangina township, for £8 per section. Ho considered the placing of a largo culvert in Tuku road would damage his property.— Culvert to go in and question of purchase of sections to be held over.

From A. A. Wagstaff, thanking Council for donation to Pohangina Technical School, aud stating much interest was evinced in the subjects.

From Department of Lauds and Survey," stating that Miss E. A. Caldwell would proparo tracings of tho several Ridings at a cost of £29. From P. Hencghau, Niksu, stating that Council's roadmen had cut down his sholtor bush and made a calvert with the timber. His charge was £3. —Engineer to report. From Department of Roads, notifying that Kiwitea County Council intended to construct a bridge ovor tho O.roua River in the Marton Block at a cost of £1033.—N0 objection to bo made, it being understood that the Government boars onethird of the cost. From F. Petersen, surrendering his share of contract for quarrying and breaking metal at Apiti.—Accepted. From Ales. Dick, notifying that unless his deposits on contracts wero returned to him with 10 per cent interest for delay he would take legal action.—lt was stated part of deposit had been retained for rates due. Demand to be referred to Council's solicitor. From Agnes Shannon, stating sho would not sign any document resigning irore land on Creamery road to Council than there was absolutely

need of.—Matter referred to Council's solicitor. Prom Wm. H. Tong, stating that owing to Kis having taken a position at Feilding ho would be tillable to complete the thirds book. From J. Cameron, asking for progress payment on erection of the To Awa branch road fence. —Tho Engineer stated that ho had inspected the fencing timber on July 31st and condemned the most of it. Mr Balmer waited on the Council on the matter, and stated that tho timber was of much better quality than had been specified.—The request was refused. REPORTS.

Tho Treasurer reported:—Tho balances at the bank are: General account, Dr. £3143 18s 7d; loan account, Or. £ll7B 6s lid. The Opawa Creek bridge loan of £260 has been received from the Treasury and has been placed to the Loana Account Fund. Tho Palmerston North Sash and Door Timber Co. has forwarded a cheque for £SO, being balance of amount promised for upkeep ;of roads. The debit balances of the Riding accounts on Ist instant were :—Awahou £2711 5s 4d, Coal Creek £290 Is 2d, Mangaone £19(5 Os 3d, Mangapikopiko £334 16s Bd, Pohangina £385 4s 6d, Tamaki £5Bl Is 3d, Unmtoi £1162 9s lOd. The accounts to be submitted for payment amount to £62 8s Bd, of which £lO9 10s 9d is chargeable against the loans account. The estimates for each Riding and the County have been based on a uniform rating of Id, and l%d respectively. The differential rating last year averaged over the whole County, and produced £4901. The debits of the Ridings were reduced by £16544 2s Id from £3342 12s 8d on April Ist, 1906, to £1798 10s 7d on March 31st, 1907. The estimated overdraft on March 81st next, if a uniform general rate 'bo struck, ia £2869 14s 9d at Id, £2448 3s 3d if at l%d, and £2026 lis 9d if at l^d. The Engineer reported that the eastern approach to the Pohangina bridge had been very troublesome during the past month. He had not been able to undertake tho groyne work recommended at last meeting. In the Coal Creek Riding the contractor had made a start with the repairing of the Oroua Valley road, Apiti. The timber for the large cnlvert on Finnis' road, Mangaone Riding, had been delivered. A new culvert had been put in the road at the top of the Horseshoe bend. Tho contract for stone breaking at Apiti had been commenced, and a considerable number of wood blocks for the footpath had been delivered. In the Pohangina Riding the Te Awa branch road had teen completed, The culvert in Kuku road would bo placed in position in a few days. With regard to Mesdames Wheeler and Cockbnrn's letter, re flood water from County road, he would recommend that a drain be dug through Mrs Cockburn's paddock by tho owner. In the Tamaki Rid-

ing a groyne had been placed in Diggers' Creek, and the men were now repiring the Piripiri crossing. During the month willows had been planted at Holly's Hill and the Ferry Road, and the top groyne had been strengthened. The report was adopted. GENERAL BUSINESS. "

Cr. Jackson asked the Council to approve a loan of £l5O, and allow £SO out of the general fund for the construction of the Opawe road. He thought the claim was a fair one on account of the manner in which the thirds had been spent in the past.—The Council favourably considered the request; decision to be given at next meeting after inspection of road by Chairman. * It was resolved that R. L. Birch's tender of £33 14s 6d be accepted for building a" two-roomed cottage at Umutoi for roadman.

That the County solicitor obtain from Mr H. S. Fifczherbert the plan of the Pohangina bridge, plan of the proposed bridge at London's ford, plan of piece of land transferred from Munro, and the map of the Pohangina County. RATING. On the matter of striking a rata the Chairman said if a uniform one of was levied it would be making the Mangaone and some of the other Ridings pay more than its share of the cost of road; maintenance, and if, on Cthe other hand, a uniform rate of Id only were struct the effect would be to starve the Umutoi. He thought they could legally strike a uniform Id rate and separate rates for special purposes. He believed that the Hutt County case had largelyjdeoided the question of County roads. Cr. Howie said if three solicitors to whom the question might be referred declared the Concil had the right to strike a separate rate he would consent to the arrangement, bnt if a separate rate were struck without such advice he would contest it. The Chairman paid the Council could strike the Id uniform rate and keep down'expenditure in Cr Howie's Riding. Cr. Howie said the Council would be legally bound to keep the roads in his Riding in a condition to carry ordinary traffic, and he referred to the case of the Kiwitea County Council having been compelled to open London's road to prove hio statement.

Cr. Oliver spoke in favour of a uniform rate of IJ^d. Cr. Howie's motion for the strife, ing of a uniform rate was seconded by Or. Handley. : The Chairman moved, and Cr. Jackson seconded, as an amendment, "That the Council strike a general rate of Id in each Riding in the County, and separate rates as re« quired." The amendment was adopted, Crs. Howie, Handley, and Oliver voting against. • It was then resolved to strike a uniform rate of Id and separate ratea of %d in the Awahou, Mangapi« kopiko, and Pohangina, MCL in Tamaki, and Id in the Umntoi; Crs* Howie, Handley, and Oliver oppos. ing.

It was resolved that Mr Letli* bridge, M.H R., be requested to urge the Government to. pass the remit from County Council Con- . ; ; jterence legalising differential rates ',, as soon as possible, as the present * state of the law is likely to involve;'; .„ the Gouncjl in expensive litifiati<% - p