KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9148, 18 May 1908, Page 5

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. JPreseut: Ors. S. J. Carman (chairman), H, Fowler, W. Morton, Mclntyre, F. Hockley, Guthrie and J. McNeal. Apologies were received for the non-attendance of Grs. Bruce and Short. correspondence. Prom A. W. O’Dwyer, and others, asking Council to have an estimate made of cost of proposed bridge and deviation in road at Kawhatau crossing. Mr Remnigton, M.P. had promised his assistance to obtain a Government grant.—To be considered with the estimates.

From O. B. Collins, on behalf of Brice. Broad & Co., requesting the Council to retain all monies due to H. P. Matson. “ From Manager of Kimboiton Branch of Bank of New Zealand, stating that he had been instructed to increase the rates on advances one half per cent from Ist April. This will make interest payable by the Council six per cent. Prom Treasury, notifying that various amounts had been paid to the creditors of the Council for com pletiou, formation, metalling and bridging, Kawhatau road and stating that loan of £B2s> for KiwiteaTapuae road was available, that loan of £l2O for work on Lagoon road had been provisionally approved.

From Controller and AuditorGeneral, on the subject of the exceptions embodied in his certificate to the County balance-sheet for the half year ended 30th September, 1907, stating: 1 beg to say if you will be good enough to show me that the sum of £3597 17s was at the credit of the County fund on the 30th September I shall be pleased to remove the exception referred to. And in another letter : I beg to say there was nothing in the statement of the balances to indicate that the amount standing to the credit of the Land Fund accounts at the Bank represented the amount of unexpended rates collected to pay interest. I, however, accept your assurance that such is the case and under the circumstances consent ta the deletion of exception No. 2 from my certificate to the balancesheet.—The Chairman said the Council looked to the Auditor to ascertain whether the securities were duly in hand or else what was the value of the audit.

From F. C. Ross, secretary of Cheltenham Dairy Company, stating that their man did not charge for carrying passengers. From H. Lewer, stating he had a license from the Raugitikei County Council.

From R. A. Gower, Ohiugaiti, stating he had not done carting with dray or waggon. It was resolved that the necessary steps be taken to collect iieavy traffic licenses throughout the County. From William Warren, asking that all money due to Warren and Prince be paid into the account of E. Warren. —Order accepted. From Albert Abbiss, asking for permission to fence along edge of formation on the Mangapipi road.— Referred to Engineer. From G. H. Stokes, offering to pay rates on lots 4, 13, 14, 15, and 12, block 2, Cheltenham, if allowed to graze them .—Referred to chairman and Or. Bruce.

From Raugitikei County Council, stating that the chairman and Engineer had been appointed to arrange concerning the heavy traffic license fees.

From same, stating that a subsidy had been promised towards the cost of a bridge over the Kawhatau on the Potaka road, and suggesting that the Kiwitea Council pay one-third of the cost.—To be favourably considered when definite information has been supplied. From John Kraiger, asking the Council to protect the road at the Kawhatau cliff.—Referred to Engineer. From H. W. Somerville, G. H. Bsard and S. G. Pickering, asking permission to erect a ‘fence on edge of road in front of their sections.— Referred to Engineer. From David Robb, objecting to some remarks of Cr. Hockley re Peka loan and subsidy expenditure. From Overseer, reporting that the following had stock straying on the road last month: —S. W. R. Evans, F. Bismark, O. Pussell, R. Taylor, R. Martin, A. Eggers, F. Russell, W. Treveua, A. F. Groves, O. Reilly, H. P. Matson, Card Bros., A. F. Behrent, M. Bielski, ;and C. McKinnon, sen.

It was resolved— That the various owners of straying cattle as reported in the Overseer’s report be advised that if they are again reported they will be prosecuted without further notice; also that the Overseer have the unowned stock impounded. That the Engineer have the JLagoon road open for traffic at a cost not exceeding £lO.

That the Engineer be instructed to get Mr Davis, the roadman to put in three days in taking off the sharp curve on the Tapuae road oaused”by a slip on the road between Kimbolton and Peep-o’-Day Ridings fronting Mrs Wilson’s sections." From Johnston & Son, re order given in their favour by W. Smith. Mr Smith attended the meeting and explained why he had withdrawn the order.

The Council decided that it had no option but to pay Mr Smith the money due to him. From J. Harris re claim for £1 cost on a summons issued for unpaid rates, Mr Harris having paid the amount direct to the Council.—Copy of County solicitor’s letter to be sent to Mr Harris.

From E. Short, as follows ;si Through continued illness I beg to tender you my resignation. I am sorry a few of my ratepayers are discontented who should have sat upon the Council when I first took office. I thank yon and all for the interest you took in my Riding while absent and that confidence has never been broken. —It was resolved that Or. Short be asked to reconsider his determination to resign his seat on the Council at any rate until the expiry of the term of the present Council. REPORTS. The treasurer reported the receipt since last meeting:—Rates, etc. £97 (!h 7d ; Kimbolton Cemetery £3 ; 10 per cent on Yalley loan £180; total £230 (is 9d. The general account stood at a credit balance of £193. Accounts amounting to £2005 0s 9d would be submitted to be passed for payment. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. I bog to submit the following report in progress of contracts since last mooting s Contract 54--Metalling 300 chains of Kawhutau Yalley road, on making an inspection I found the stones not broken to gauge although I had ro-

peatedly drawn the contractor’s attention to the rough metal during the progress of the work—as the settlers were continually complaining I decided to engage men and have the stones broken according to specification, the cost to bo deducted from money in hand, This'has been done and tbs final payment will be made to-day. I have had to take the same steps on two other contracts where the metal was not broken satisfactorily. Contract 61—Metalling 100 chains of Waipuru road, about a mile completed. Contract 62—Forming and cnlvertingl 70 chains of Lagoon road, good progress has been made and there are now about 100* chains roughly finished.

Contract 63*—Metalling 20 chains of Mangapapa road : the contractor with his teams left here yesterday for Pakihikura*, and the work will be started at once if the formation is in a fit state to receive the metal; he also has two contracts on the Pakihiknra road which he should be able to commence at an early date. Contract 61—Trimming and metalling 113 chains of the Kawhatau road, completed satisfactorily. Contract 65—Delivery of metal on Kimboiton road, Mackey’s Line and Cheltenham Cross roads, completed. Contract 66—Maintenance metal on Playpes’, Perry’s and Mcßeth’s roads, completed. Contract 67—Metalling on Kimboiton and Bryce’s road, completed. Contract 68—Delivery of metal on Sinclair’s and Williamson’s East road', about 300 yards delivered. Contract 69—Delivery of metal on Benson’s, Williamson’s East and West and Wilson’s roads, 200 yards delivered. Mr Palmer, the contractor has still about 150 yards to deliver on Sinclair’s, Williamson’s East and West, Wilson’s and Waituna Valley roads, and at his present rate of progress will not complete the work before the bad weather sets in.

Contract 73- Delivery of metal on Mackay’s and Kiwitea Tapuae roads ; nothing done, the contractor having three contracts on Pakihikura road to complete. Contract 76-—Delivery of metal on Forest road and Kimbolton footpath, completed. Contract 77 —Maintenance metal on Kimbolton and Pukerimu roads, completed. Contract 79 —Delivery of 200 yards of metal on Te Para Para and Apiti Main South roads, 100 yards delivered on former road. Contract »o—Delivery of 775 yards of metal on Mangawharariki and Auputa roads, a start has been made but it is extremely doubtful if the work will be finished this autumn. Mr Brady has delivered 360 yards of metal on the Maugawhariki road. The 550 yards of metal on the KawhatauiYalley road has also been delivered. Contract 80a—Metalling about 60 chains of Apiti South road, the contractors are prepared to make a.start next week, but unfortunately the thirds for this road are not yet available, and I would like the instructions of the Council as to whether the work should proceed—■ I may mention there is a Government grant in connection with this metalling. Contract 85a—Metalling 35 chains of Williamson’s West road at McLennan’s, completed.

Contract 86—Erection of Marton Block bridge the contractor was here a few days ago and stated there was great difficulty in getting an early delivery of ironbark, but hope to have it in July, when he will lose no time in making a start. Contract 87—For trimming and metalling a portion of Auputa, Pourangaki roads, Mr Brady’s tender was accepted since last meeting, and the work commenced, but the last rain so softened the formation that I don’t think any further metalling will be done before the spring.

I interviewed Mr Larsen with respect to the construction of Taylor’s road, Beaoonsfield, and he stated that he would not be in favour of any loan that would not complete the road to the Kiwitea stream. Mr Taylor was from home although I had made an appointment by letter at his request. With Councillor Bruce I inspected the drain through the hotel property at Cheltenham, complained of by Mr Evans,;; whowishes a portion of the drain, about 100 feet either covered in or closed and the water taken elsewhere. I do not favour the former plan, as it would not only be expensive but there would be every danger of pipes silting up, the fall being very slight and not sufficient to flush the pipes in dry weather, besides there would still be about .8 chains of open drain to maintain which is mostly through private property. What I propose is to take the water across the Main road in pipes and cut an open drain through Councillor Bruce’s property for about two chains Jto a creek—At present nowever, I am not certain about the levels, and will make a survey and estimate of cost before next meeting.

The fencing on Cheltenham hill has been done, and I have also had the embankment widened near Davis’ cutting. ' With the approval of the Council I will invite tenders 'for fencing Pound Reserve > and erection of shed at Rangawahia.

I have noticed several settlers carting metal when the roads were in anything but a fit state for the work, this shows a great want of consideration on their part.

I will be glad if Councillors will notify me ,of any grants they wish to be applied for. It was resolved, That the Engineer be instructed to see that all contractors carry out the contracts according to specifications, failing which ‘penalties in all cases- are to be enforced and that the action of the Engineer in taking the stonebreaking contract No. 54 and others out of the hands of the contractors and having the work done at their expense be confirmed. The Council confirmed the motion passed at last meeting to strike a general rate of %A in the £.