POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9440, 10 May 1909, Page 5

POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present: Ors. Brown (chairman), Bailey. Eglington, Wagstaff, Howie. Smith and Bnrne. CORRESPONDENCE. From W. H. Rutherford, drawing attention to rough state of portion of Coulter’s Line. The metal needed a coating of clay.—-Will be attended to. From Ohaa. Searle, Piripiri, offering to erect substantial fence to reserve on which roadman’s cottage stands at 16s per chain, and provide the material.— -Accepted, Council to pay half cost. From EE. W. Prince, asking for rebate on his heavy traffic license fee as he had stopped carting.—Cannot be legally done. Prom E. H. Oonmmerfleld, Apiti, desiring hia complaint re water from Ridge Road flowing on to his section attended to at once. —Being attended to. From P. J. Roberts, asking the Council to fence the piece of road next the, swamp at Raunaai.— Engineer to inspect-and report. From Secretary of Raumai Hall Co., asking that 12 loads of gravel bo delivered free of cost at the entrance of the building Granted at cost J P ri - e -

From Palmerston North Sash & Door Co,, asking to be allowed to continue carting timber over the roads while the weather remained good.—Refused. From J. E. Fulton, O E , offering to design a bridge suitable for London’s ford at one-third the cose of that indicated by the plan proposed, providing competitive designs were invited.—Too late to be considered.

From R. S, Roanthwaite, offering to allow his dispute with Council re his account to be settled by arbitration or by a friendly suit in the Supreme Court.--Refused, as equal to 7 per oent on the work not completed had been offered. From several applicants for position of roadman.—L. T. Harland was appointed. From A. E. Oioutman, Awahon, asking to be allowed to take 20 loads of metal from Mr Whitehead’s pit.— Granted at the usual royalty. From William Anderson, Waiata, notifying that he intended to resign care of telephone office. —Held over pending other arrangements From John O’Donnell, contractor for Pohangina bridge, stating that he would be ready to commence work in 'a week unless legally advised teat such a course would prejudice his claim on the Council.—He having failed to commence on the 6th as he had promised, Mr O’Donnell to be asked why the contract should not be cancelled ■ and his deposit forfeited.

From tne Treasury, approving of application for additional loan of £l4O, 10 per cent, on £I4OO, raised for erection of Pohangina bridge, and £BO, 10 per cent on £BOO. From the Weber County Council, requesting Council’s assistance for an amendment to the Public Worts Act to give Local Bodies the riglit to take wood off private property to burn papa.—No action taken From Pohangina School Committee, asking payment of promised donation towards erection of room to school for technical instruction. — Money to be available as soon as the room has been ereoted.

From G Harvey, A. Drummond, and J. Montgomery, roadmen, asking for an increase of wages from 8s to 9s per day.—Several Councillors said there was more likely to be a reduction than a rise.—lt was resolved that the Council's rate of wages for roadmen and casual hands be Bs, per day from the Ist April. Some aie now paid 9s. REPORTS The Engineer reported; Pohangina bridge site; £IBO has been spent up to date. Weather permitting the bridge site will be cleared out within a week.

Maugaplkppiko Riding : The metal pits have been stripped and the stone breaking contract Is now in progress. The road leading to the Marton Block bridge is very narrow in places and requires fencing. Mr Rankin has been permitted to fence on the road aide. Nine thousand feet of timber is required for redecking of the Apiti bridge. This work should bo taken in hand as soon as possible. Pohangiua Riding: Applications have been called for a permanent man to work on the back portion of this Riding. I have four teams at work repairing the roads with gravel. I have inspected Messrs Brooking and Harkness’ road and my estimate of the cost of construction is £lO for metalling and £lO for formation. Umutoi Riding : About 40 yards of gravel is required to repair the road at the top end of Table Flat. I have given Instructions for this work to be done. It was stated that there was no public road to Messrs ‘Brooking and Harkness’ place, and before spending public money on the proposed road, the clerk was directed to ascertain whether such road rights through the scenery reserve as the settlers named possess can be handed over to the Council.

The Treasurer reported the balances, as under :—General fund or. £152 14s sd, loans account or. £650 Is 3d. Riding facoonnts: Awafcou or. £llO 2s 4d, Goal Greek or. £l4 3s 3d, Mangaona dr. £172 12s 9d, Mangapikopiko dr, 74 12s ICd, Pobangina or. £65 3s sd, Tamaki dr. £286 8a 2d, Umutoi dr. £BOO Is 4d. The sum of £295 16s 4d has been received from thel Treasury on account of repairs to Pobangina bridge and £2OO has been received on’ loan account of Marton Block bridge. OTHER BUSINESS. Resolved—

That (Ors. Brown —Borne) the Engineer be .instructed to call tenders for redecking the Apiti bridge, to close at Apiti on 21st, and that the Kiwitea County Council be notified that it will be required to pav one-third of the cost. That (Ors. Bailey—Bgiington) Mr Rounthwaite be informed that as the Council's offer in payment of his account amounts to 7 per cent, on the cost of the new span of the Pohangina bridge (which has not yet been erected and which he will not have the responsibility of passing), it cannot see its way to increase same. It. however, admits his claim for £4 18s lOd for transfer of Monro’s land. Should Mr, Rounthwaite not see his ■sv ay St o "accept the amount this Council is prepared to take action to determine Mr Ronnthwaite’s responsibility. That (Ors. Wagstaff—Bgiington) the engineer prepare for next meeting a plan of necessary drainage for the township. That (Ors. Bailey—Bgiington) Mr A. Pearl’s tender for the supply of 170 bushels of oats at 2s (according to sample) and Mr T. McIvor’s tender for the supply of chaff at £3 per ton (as per sample) be accepted. That (Ors. Howie—Smith) proceedings be taken against owners of stock straying on County roads after 24th May. Roadmen and engineer to report at each meeting of the Council. Mr Fred Matthews attended and asked the Oonnoil to deepen the main drain in the Pohangina Township in order that he may drain his property. The chairman said It was deep enough to take the water off the road, and the request was refused,