MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8879, 13 November 1907, Page 7

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. The ordinary meeting of the Finance Committee of the County Council was held yesterday morning, when there were present:—Crs Welch .(chairman), Cockburn-Hood, Harris, Morris, Colquhoun, Murray, Kebbell and Toogood. The Treasurer reported as follows: —General Fund Amount, dr., £2,194 17s 4d; Local Bodies' Loans Account, cr., £1,145 17s lOd; accounts, dr., £l,OBl 10s 4d; receipts for the month, £1,696 16s 4d. Accounts amounting to £1,284 15s 6d were .passed for payment. In answer to an application from ffche Masterton Fruitgrowers' Association for funds to suppress the tsmall birds nuisance, the committee decided that they had no funds at present available for this purpose. It was decided to inform the Akitio County Council that unless they are prepared to give a substantial contribution towards the Waihoki road, the Masterton Council will have to .apply for a commission to adjust matters between the two Councils. It was. resolved to inform Mr H. P. Hansen that Cr Murray will interview the settlers on the Rakaunui .road, and arrange for the work of clearing the slips to be done. Consideration of the matter of repairing the swing bridge over the Waingawa river, as requested by the iWairarapa South County Council, \vas allowed to stand over until the next meeting. The committee resolved to accept Mv M. Kerins.' explanation for declining to proceed with the Mt. Baker road contract, and to release him from his obligations under the contract. It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the erection of a new cottage at Rorokoko at a cost not exceeding £l2O. The Clerk was directed to prepare a form for the ratepayers' consent to a loan of £I,OOO for the AlfredtonWeber road iiifsonnection with Mr H. Burli'ng's offer to give £SOO for the work.

COUNCIL MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Council was held yesterday afternoon. There were present:— Crs C. E. Cock burn - Hood (chairman), R. F. Beetham. C. Kebbell, A. Murray, H. O. Toogood, J. Colquhoun, J. Morris, W. Harris and W. J. Welch. Mr J. Wingate wrote stating that as no grant was available for improving Castle Hill Road, he would ask the Council to do something towards making the road passable, so that settlers may get their wool out. It was decided to apply for a grant to be placed on the supplementary estimates and failing this to anticipate next year's revenue by £2O to improve the road. Cr. H. Pauling, of the Masterton Borough Council, waited on the Council and asked permission to take the water' from the reservoir across the Fernridge road to Mr Dagg's property. The borough council would run the water across the road either in a culvert or open water course, and the county would not be put to any expense. It was decided to grant the necessary permission to take the water across the road, provided a culvert was used.

Mr W. L. Falcor.er attendee! the meeting and presented a petition, ! signed by seven residents of Fernridge, askingr, the council to borrow £SOO for Constructing irrigation works at Fernridge. The petitioners agreed to pay annually 4 per cent, on the amount of the proposed loan during the 42 years of its currency. Mr Falconer explained that the Government valuer had agreed to the area to be rated. The council, however, resolved to ask Mr Falconer to have the area properly defined before the council could accept the plans. Mr H. Burling, jnr., wrote consenting to keep his offer of £SOO for road metalling open until December lltb, as requested by the council. \ Mr Isaac Pol wrote asking the council to clear the slips on the road leading to his property. The engineer was instructed to attend to the matter. The Acting-Minister for Public Works wrote informing the Council that the application for a subsidy on the East Coa3t road loan would receive consideration wheri the supplementary estimates were being prepared. On the motion of Cr Murray, it was decided to expend the thirds of Messrs A. J. Patchell, H. P. Hansen and Tulloch in improving the sharp bends and bad portions of the Rakaunui road. The council confirmed the special order passed at the last meeting authorising the raising of a loan of £2CO for Robieson's road and striking the special rate as security for the same.