KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9013, 28 November 1907, Page 2

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Above mot yesterday. Present: Or. Carman (chairman), Crs. Short, Fowler, Mclntyre, Hockley, Morton, M-- ; .1. Apologies were received Tom Crs. Guthrie and Bruce. CORRESPONDENCE. From Feilding Borough Couuicl, asking for Council’s views ou question of devising ways aud moans for coping with erosions and floodings of Orona and Mauawatn rivers.—lt was resolved-that this Council will be represented when a conference of Local Bodies is called to consider tho matter. From T. H. Vile, Rongotea, tendering for dog collars at Od each. —Referred to Works Committee. „ H. Wilson, Bulls, asking Council to proceed with opening Potaka road to Miss Wilson’s homestead.—Engineer had inspected road,_ and written Mr Wilson that he is endeavouring to got men to open it;_ J. It. McLennan, Arapata, Feilding, wrote as’follows : —" ‘I have approached you ou more than one occasion, aud the Oroua County Council, with reference to metalling tho lower portion of Williamson’s road, this being tho only possible outlet from my property in the latter County, hut so far with no material result. I am a ratepayer, like yourselves, and have been expecting only common justice, but this, apparently, is not to be expected from some local bodies, though I have to thank your Council for all that has been done to date, i.e., forming the road. Had this not been clone the road would have been quite impassable this last very wet winter. The Engineer estimated that it will take not more than £OO to metal the 33 chains, and as I do not care to put in another winter on such mud I will offer two-thirds of the estimated cost to you towards the job, namely, £4O, aud you find the rest and do the work this coming autumn.” —Or. Short stated that during tho past ten years Mr McLennan had paid tho Oroua County Council upwards of £llOO in rates, aud they had uot given him an outlet from his land. He (Cr. Short) would give £lO towards the cost, as, if the work were done, It would be of benefit to him also'. He moved ‘ ‘ That this Council agrees to accept Mr McLennan’s offer to give £4O towards Installing lower portion of Williamson’s road, the mover having promised £lO towards the cost, this Council agreeing to find the balance ; tenders to be called early in tho autumn. ’ ’ Seconded by Or. Fowler and carried.

Mr A. Pole, Ruahiue, stating his private road is impassable, and asking Council to have public road patched up a little.—Referred to Engineer.

Department of Lands, stating the amount of £250, part of £BOO loan for Orona River bridge, appears on this year’s Estimates. Department of Lauds, reporting there is apparently no gravel on re: serve section 5, block iy., Apiti, and stating the Department cannot recommend same as a gravel reserve. T. A. Mnnro, with lease of sec. 3 ■A, block X., Hautapu S.D., and asking Council to transfer same to A. Dalziell.—Application granted. A. Gerke, complaining that gravel for use of Council had been taken from his'pit, and fence under, mined.—Engineer had inspected, and it was decided to allow Mr Garko for gravel taken, six loads. T. W. Newton, Road Overseer, resigning position. —Accepted, and Chairman to appoint successor. RESOLUTIONS. Ors. Hockley—McNeil: That a ratepayers’ meeting be called to receive objections to the closing of Oroua 1 road. Grs. Hockley—McNeil: That Richardson’s tender at 5s per yard for shell rock bo accepted for contract No. 61, subject to Engineer’s approval of material; if shell rock not suitable Engineer to. Jet contract on best terms possible. Ors. Morton—Eowlor: That a meeting of ratepayers in Kiwitea Riding be hold to discuss the question of closing portion of Bryce’s road. Crs. Mclntyre—McNeil; That the Commissioner of Crown' Lands be asked to vest sec. 5, block IV., Apiti, in this Council.

Ors; Carman—McNeil: That the attention of the Stock Department (Wanganui District) be drawn to tho fact that rabbits are steadily on the increase throughout the County; that the efforts of the various Rabbit Committees are not _ appreciated and backed up by the settlers as they should be, and that in the opinion of the Council it is urgently necessary that the department should take all such steps as the law allows to compel united action to combat the increase of the pest. Referring to this matter the Chairman said ho had an interview with the Rabbit Inspector, and had pointed out to him that rabbits were increasing at an alarming rate in some parts of the county. He ] ! said there was a deal of apathy ; shown by landowners, some would I not bother to get poison, and others | got it and did not lay it down, the j result being that there was nothing systematic done. Unless the Stock j Department wnuld enforce the regn- i lations in regard to noxious vermin ! it did not seem to him any use for > the Council to spend a lot of money on poison and get no benefit from it. :i Four years'ago he brought the ques- I tion of increase -of rabbits under the j notice of the Council, but no action ■ , was taken, in fact he was considered unwise in referring to the matter, I as it would reduce the valpo of property. Strong representation should be made to the Department to endeavour to get them to back up

- t —'.JS— : u—u*—I— . |N jus « tho''Council in this important matter. fiThis opinion was endorsed by several of tho councillors, aud Or. Fgwler said that out of 93 landowners in tho district only 19 had paid tlie stnalljovy made iu connection with fighting tho nuisance. Ci-s Carman—Hockley: That contractors for metalling on Coulter’s luie, Kiwitea-Tnpuae, Kawhatau and Pika roads be notified that work must be proceeded with at once. REPORTS. Tlie Engineer’s report, amongst other matters, stated no metal had been delivered on Kiwitea-Tapuae road aud Pakiliikura road, but tho contractor had been written to; contractor will recommence work of metalling 220 chains Kawhatau road next week; improvements will be made on formation 48 chains of Umutoi road; tho contractor for metalling 190 chains of Coulter’s lino has been' written to make a start; all material is on the ground, and a start has been made on tho truss bridge on Lagoon road; made inspection of Wilson’s road, and of opinion work could bo done within the estimate; slips on Upper Pakihikura road opened to wheeled traffic ; slight movement going on at tho subsidence on Pakiliikura Valley road, and consider it not advisable to have it metalled until quite settled, road is perfectly safe for wool carting; Mangapipi and Kawhatau roads now closed to wheel traffic, aud it is impossible to got men; Maugarere road iu a bad state at upper end, men are opening tho road at bridge end for settlors to get their wool out; plans aud specifications for Martou Block bridge scut to District Engined! - ; 172 chains of Lagoon road lias been surveyed, aud tenders will bo called for work as soon as grant is received; survey lias 'peers made of tho swamp ca ’ Buchauatl aud Pussell’s sections, aud I recommend that a drain bo cut for 13 chains aud an ISiu’pipo placed across tho road.

Tho apoiutment of a road overseer was left iu tho hands of tho Chairman. SPECIAL MEETING Tho Council, confirmed the special order authorising the raising of a special loan of £OOO to erect Martou Block bridge. On the motion o{ tl>e Chairman, seconded by Or. Short, Cr. Fowler was rc-olected the Council’s representative ou tho Hospital aud Charitable Aid Board. ANNUAL MEETING.. Ou the motion of Or. Hockley, seconded by Or. McNoil, Cr. S. J, Carman was unanimously elected Chairman uf the Council for tho ensuing year. In nominating Or. S. J. Carman as Chairman, Cr. Hockley congratulated tho Council in having tho op: portunity to retain tho services outlie Chairman for another year. Thft executive head of tho Council should be an energetic man, with -y thorough grasp of County affairs, ono who was untiring and not afraid to give Ills time and abilities •for the hone fit of tho Council aud tho ratepayers. Cr. Carman’s capacity for hard work was phenomenal, aud ho had much pleasure ii* nominating him for the position. This was seconded by Cr. McNoil, who endorsed tho previous speaker’s remarks, aud hoped Ox - . Carman would ho for many years 1 to come. In returning thanks for re-clecciou, Cr.Carman stated he was pleased to have the confidence of tho Council, It iiad always been a pleasure forhim to do what he could for tlie county. It occupied all aud a little more than his spare time and the work ou his first taking office had been very arduous; tho accounts were all wrong, everything was upside down, no records were kept, and, iu fact, tho affairs of the county were iu a deplorable condition, r financially aud otherwise. With the asssistauco of Mr Baynes, County Engineer, everything had been reorganised, tho finances had been looked after, ami now, ho was pleased to say, all were in good working order. The financial aspect of tho county is bright, and since bo took over tho Chairmanship the county is in ■ a bettor position by £5064 Us Gd. He considered tho Couuicil and ratepayers bad reason to be proud of tho improved comlitoin of affairs. Ho specially wished to thank Or. Short, tho chairman 'os - Finance Committee, and Cr. Fowler, for valuable' assistance iu connection with the work of. placing affairs on a sound footing. Tho County Clerk aud Engineer wore also to bo thanked for the very efficient and intelligent manner in which they carried out their duties..