MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8357, 13 February 1907, Page 7

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. . The monthly meeting of the Finance Committee of the Mastertor. County Council was held yesterday morning. There were. present—Crs Welch (chairman), .Cockburn-Hood, Harris, Toogood, Murray, Beetham, and Kebbell. , The Treasurer reported as follows —Bank General Fund Account, dr., £B2 347 4s 2d; Local Bodies Loans Accont, cr., £1,322 7s lOd; Accounts, dr. balance £743 9s lid; receipts for the month, £1,338 6s sd. Accounts amounting to £2,061 7s 3d were passed for payment. • At the request of the Chairman, and with the consent of the committee, a letter 'froin the District Road Engineer, on the subject of the plans for a suspension bridge over the Ihuraua Stream on the Moroa Road, prepared by Mr J. Dawson was repd. A long discussion took place, but no resolution was proposed, and the matter was left over until the Council meeting. COUNCIL MEETING. \ The ordinary meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday afternoon. Ihere were present Crs C. E. Cockburn-Hood (chairman), W. H. Beetham, A« Murray, C. Kebbell, D. Guild, -H. Toogood, W. Harris, and W. J. Welch. Messrs H. G. and A. Williams wrote asking the Council's permissio to erect five temporary gates on the Weraiti-Fernyhurst road. The application was allowed to stand over until the next meeting in order that the Act might be complied with in connection with advertising the matter. ~ Mr R. Buick wrote urging on the Council the necessity for cleaning out the drain on his,road frontage at Opaki, and pointing out the delay on the part of the Council in carrying out the work. ' „ . Cr Welch thought- that Mr Buick had good reason to complain. He was sorry to see road' had been neglected, for .it was not only an inconvenience to Mr Buick, but to the other-settlers who used the road. ■ . The Engineer stated that the work was in hand, but he had taken the man who {had been employed on the work, away for a few days and had put him to more important work. A letter from Mr D. Pitcaithly, -asking the Council to reject Cr Murray's notice of motion with reference to reducing the > fees on motor-cars passing through the Tawataia tollgate, was allowed to lay on the table. Mr J. Boustead, Alfredton, wrote asking the Council to take steps to have a suspension bridge erected over the Ihuraua Stream on the IhurauaMoroa road. In reference to this matter, the District Road Engineer wrote stating that he would approve .of the plans and specifications of the bridge if the Council would pass a resolution to the effect that it id satisfied with the design and strength of the bridge as shown on the plans; also thslt, on ' completion of the bridge,the Council would at once accept charge of it and hold the Government free from all responsibility in regard to its safety and maintenance. _ The Council decided to refer the whole matter back to the settlers in-j terested in , the construction of the proposed: bridge, and ■ the representatives for the. riding "for their recons ideratibrif . Mr A. H. Johnston wrote complaining of the discharge of storm-water /from the roads in Adams' Estate on to his property. The matter was referred to Cr Harris and the Engirieer. , The District Road Engineer wrote agreeing to pay the sum of £46 lis 6d for the work of screwing-up and painting the Ruamahanga bridge at Opak:', on the completion of the work. The Chief Engineer of Roads notified the Council that the cancellation of authority for spending, £l5O on the Kakaamu road was withdrawn. The, Special Order authorising the raising of a loan of £3OO for metalling the Opaki District Road, which was at the meetihg on January Bth, .was confirmed. On tlie motion of Cr Harris, it was decided to call tenders for metalling the road, to close on February ,23rd. ' m 1 The Engineer was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for a bridge over the Patanui Stream, and to call for tender's for the work. The Engineer was also instructed to prepare plans and specifications for works in the Opaki riding, the grants for which haye not yet been 'expended. The Engineer was authorised to form the road between Homewood and Kaiwhata by day labour, and have the work put in. hand once. On the motion of Cr Guild, the Engineer was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of strengthening the County bridge over the Waipoua River and submit the estimate to the next meeting of the Council. The tender of MessrsfWilkinson and Braggins, at £59 8s ? was accepted for paipting the suspension bridge over the Ruamahanga, River at Mount Bruce. The Engineer was instructed to proceed with the painting of the bridge over the Taueru Rives on Wilton's road. It was decided to call fresh tenders for the work of "strengthening" the irietal for 3J miles on the Kakaamu • road. The Engineer was instructed tc prepare a report on the condition of all the cottages in the Mastertdn County occupied by County roadmen.