MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8182, 13 July 1906, Page 6

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the : Finanoe Committee was held yesterday morning. There weie present Crs. Welch (obairinan), Harris, Warren, Guild, Morris and Cookburn Hood. The Treasurer reported as follows:—Bank, General Fund Account, or., £52 6s 7d; Local Bodies Loan Account, or, £1,243 Is; Accounts, credit balance, £1,150 Os 5d receipts for the mouth, £246 7s Accounts, amounting to £2,076 lis 4d, (including £1,221 15s 4d interest on Government loans due AugUßt Ist), were passed tor payment. It was decided that the letter from Mr R. B. Owen, with referenoe to the hypothecation of thirds from land in his occupation for meeting interest on the Saunders Road Loan be referred to the representative of the Alfredton Riding,and the County Clerk to inquire into and deal with. The question of erecting a partition in the public office was left to the Clerk to arrange for, as the circumstances required The Clerk was directed to ascertain at what price per oubio yard Mr Hugh McPhee, of Carterton, was prepared to break stone with his crusher. :' COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Oounoil was held yesterday afternoon. There were present:—Cr C. E. Gookburn-Llood (ohairman), W. J. Welob, W. Harris, J. Morris, jnr., H. Toogood, Holmes Warren, and Guild. Mrs P. Oarr waited on the Council and asked that something should be done to clear away the water that collected in front of the entranoe to her husband's property at Te Ore Ore. The matter was left in the bands of Crs Welch and Guild and the Engineer to deal with. With reference to the closing of the road connecting the Opaki Road and the Mount Bruce Road, between Messrs Soorrar, Manning, Day and Moje's property and the opening of a connecting road through Mr Pharazyn's property, the matter was left in the hands of - Cra Welch and Harris to deal with. Mr Charles Smith wrote drawing attention tu the condition of the Waihoki hoad, and Bsking that the same be remedied. The matter was referred tu Cr Holmes Warren and the Engineer. Concerning Mr G. Moore's application for assistance from the Council to make a bridle track connecting the Masterton-East Coast and the Uriti shipping-shed, the Council decided that it could not grant any subsidy. Mrs Seddon wrotd&acknowledging the Council's resolution of sympathy with her in her recest bereavement. Or J. Morris wrote acknowledging the Council's letter of sympathy in connection with the death of hie father. Replying to a request from the Council, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.H.R., wrote stating that, with referenoe to supporting the Council's applications for grants, any thing that he could do would be most cheerfully done. Letters were received from the Hutt, Wairarapa Soutbj and Castlepoint County Councils stating that they wonld nut support the memorial to the House of Representatives regarding'special rating. The Cnief Engineer of Roads wrote stating that eleven more culverts would be required on the Puketoi Road, but in the meantime provision had been made for the storm water by cross outs in solid ground. The question of providing further funds would be considered when the estimates were being prepared for the coming year. The Clerk was instructed to oommunioate with ihe Roads Department asking them to have the sum of £l5O (£ for £) placed on the Estimates for the erection of a bridge across the Patinui River in lieu of the £3OO asked for at the last meeting of the Council. The Council decided to bold a special meeting on Saturday, July 21st, to deal with the general by-laws of the County. With reference to rubbish being deposited on the County roads, as mentioned in the Engineer's report, the Oleik. and the Engineer were latbbffced co flame a by-law" deal* ing with the nuisance, and submit it tj the County solicitor. It was also deoided to draw the attention of the Borough Council to the fact that the borough servants had deposited rubbish from the borough into the river-bed instead of into the rubbish pit. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Connty Engineer reported as follows to the meeting of the Masterton County Council yesterday :■— Opaki Riding.—Matahiwi Road, oontraot No. 87, has been duly oompleted. The surface repairs authorised at last meeting of the Counoil on the Opaki District and Mlki Miki Roads are now being executed. Mr A. MoLeod's accrued thirds— As instructed by the Counoil, Goun. cillor Harris and myself conferred with Mr MoLeod as to the allocation of his accrued thirdo, and it was deemed advantageous to continue the formation recently made by the Government over some siding ground. Tne amount allocated by the Council at laat meeting", for improving the footpaths on the lower levels of the Adams' Estate Road is now bung expended in gravelling a narrow traek on either aide of the roud. This will cover the wettesj: portion of the paths complained of. I beg to direct the Council's attention to tho necessity for checking tbe pernaoioua practice of carters depositing refuse upon tho rivor-beds and reserves within the County boundary. Many of the deposits comprise broken bottles, waste sheetiron, zinc, hoops, orookery-ware and other offensive matter. Unless the habit is stopped it will prove a menace to tbe travelling public. The Waipoua river-bed along the Borough boundary seems to bave been claimed as the chief receptacle, 'and during the flood much of the matter deposited is carried down stream and lodged at crossings to

the set ions risk of injuring stock. Te Whiti Riding. Manterton, Gladstone and branch roads, contract No. 56—The surface repairs on the above roads are completed with the exception of some stone-break-ing- i fa Karaka Road—The amount allocated by the Council and contribution is insufficient to oulvert and make continuous formation on to easy ground. For the further sum of £lO a somewhat satisfactory result might be had, and Mr Donald has offered to contribute half the amount. J would respeotfully recommend that this offer be accepted and the work carried our. Te Ore Ore Estate Roads—The unformed length of Brown's Road has been ploughed preparatory to forming with the grader when weather permits. 1 will attend to the draining in the eidewirtths of the School ground when (he grader is in the locality. Waiuuioru Riding. MastertonWaimata Road—The top-decking of the three 80 feet truss spans and a 30-feet approach stringer span have been re-sheeted with a two and a-balf-inoh red bi'ob planking. There nre still four 30-feet stringer spans on the western approach whioh will require re-deoking during the coming summer. It has been necessary to strengthen some of the joists which have been found weakened with decay. Weraiti-Ferny hurst Road, contract No. 94a— The oontraotor is making good progress with his work. One of the main truss spans is well on the way towards being framed on the platform. The foundation of the main pier on the eastern bank (which is to be built on sills) is found to be admirably suitable, being of firm sand-stone. Upper Taueru Riding.—Glendon-ald-Wairere Road—The selection of the bridge site over the Tauera River at Glendonald crossing might be reviewed with advantage, having in view the possible destruction of the bush whioh is at present holding together the alluvial banks on the selected site (whioh is undoubtedly the narrowest). With an alteration of design a crossing lower down the stream, though longer, might be more economically bridged by two 72-feet truss spans and a small approaoh stringer span and with less risk of disturbing the bush and banks. The pier in the centre of the river will, in my opinion, have the effect of concentrating the main stream, and will little effect the ford; this, I understand, was the main reason for the Committee of ratepayers stipulating the long clear epan of 110 feet. Oontraot No. 72—The defeots in this oontraot have been remedied and the work taken from the contractor. Oontraot No. 66—The building of Wilton's Bridge has been oompleted and the construction of the earthwork approaches has been satisfactorily finished, and the bridge is now open for traffic. ' Mangarai Road, oontraot No. 91, 27 chains of formation, etc, is in progress. Alfredton Riding. Flat Bush Road, oontraot No. 73, 37 chains of formation, oulverting, etc. The opntraotor has yet to provide an allowance of material on the fillings for shrinkage. , Contract No. 90, 60.70 chains of formation, bridging, etc.—The coni tractor has made a start with the formation. P.S.—Mr Drummond'a complaint I have examined the roadway at the position complained of, and find that it will be neossary to prevent the further undermining of the bank to lay down about 2% chains of 9-inoh pipes, to coat Is per foot. The position complained of is on a steep grade, where the action of the water has the effeot of cutting out a deep obannel of two to three feet, thereby disturbing the batters.. To prevent this action the drain will either have~to be shifted further on to the road, where it would be a source of danger, or covered in with pipes as suggested. The fence might then be made secure.