MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9139, 15 July 1908, Page 6

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday. There were present —Crs. W. J. Welch (chairman), R- F. Beetham, A. Murray, C. C. Kebbell, J. Colquhoun. li. O. Toogood, J. Morris, J. Miller, and W. Harris. Mr Walter Cameron wrote stating that the river at Matahiwi had got beyond the groin on the Matapihi ! Road.—The Engineer was instructed I to deal with the matter.

Mr A. Nelson wrote asking the Council to clear slips on Pori Road. —lt was decided to attend to the matter.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands notified the Council that the consent of settlers to the expenditure of accrued thirds would no longer be required, in lieu of such consent an ollicer of the Land Buard to report upon proposals for expenditure of thirds.

Mr Win. Perry drew the Council's attention to persons removing gravel from the south end of Waingawa bridge. He pointed out that if this practice was allowed to continue the same trouble would be experienced at the southern approach to the bridge as had been the case at the north end.—the Council decided to fence off tho river bed, and to ask the co-operation of the South Wairarapa County Council. Mr L. Donald wrote on behalf of several Te Ore Ore settlers intimating that they proposed to erect a stop-bank on the eastern .side of the Kuamahanga River, immediately above and below the bridge if the Council approved.—The Council de~ cidtd to grant permission for the work to be done, subject to the Engineer's approval. Mr W. Boustead drew the Council's attention to the lerge number of stock straying on the Alf redton Road. —lt was resolved to procure a legal opinion as to whether the Council can impound stock under existing conditions in the riding. A letter from the Minister of Roads was received (per MrA.W. Hogg, M.P.), acknowledging receipt of an application from the Council for a grant of £I,OOO for metalling the Alfredton-Weber Road from the Waitawhiti stream to Waterfalls bridge, and stating that the request would be carefully considered when the estimates of for the Roads Department were being arranged. Mr Hogg mentioned that ' there was a prospect of a substantial grant if the settlers could be induced to raise an equal amount. Six settlers on the East Coast Road wrote asking the Council to expend part of the balance of the East Coast Road loan in metalling the road to Uriti shipping place, which was used by all the settlers and was in a very bad state. —It was decided to refer the petition back to the settlers and ask them to procure the unanimous consent of the settlers rated under the loan to the proposition made. Dr. Dawson wrote under date June 11th reporting a case of scarlet fever at Langdale. Mr C. E. Daniell wrote suggesting that Mr J. Macara be thanked for the ready manner in which he gave, the permission to the writer to remove metal from his (Mr Macara's) river bed. —The Finance Committee adopted Mr Daniell's suggestion. Dr Cowie wrote under date June 15th reporting a case of infectious disease at Te Ore Ore.

Mr F. C. O'Connor wrote offering £3 5s per year rent for the lease of the paddock at Taueru toll gate.—Mr O'Connor's offer was accepted. The Public Trust office notified the Council that the County Sinking Fund had a dr balance of £773 12s 7d.

Mr T. Saunders, Alfredton, wrote stating that he would not permit any more metal to be removed from the pit in front of his house at less than 3d per yard. A letter was received from Messrs Jackson Bros., asking permission to continue the Upper Opaki telephone line to settlers' places further along the road.—The application was granted, on the usual conditions. The Engineer of Roads wrote stating that the application for £3OO subsidy on the £3,000 East Coast Road loan would receive consideration. Mr W. Fisher wrote asking the Council if it would pay for therepairing of his cart shafts broken through a defective culvert on the Kopuaranga Road.—The Council adopted the Finance Committee's recommendation to favourably consider the application. Mr C. E. Daniell wrote in reference to the metalling on the Matahiwi Road done by him, in which he asked if the Council would pay Is per yard for the metal according to its The Finance Committee reported on this application that it could not recommend favourable consideration of it until the full 500 yards of metal had been put on the road.—The report was adopted. The Council decided to declare the proposed bridge over the Taueru River on the Alfredton-Tinui Road a benefit to the Masterton County, as a joint loan of £250 was proposed to be raised by the Masterton and Castlepoint County Councils to erect the bridge. A copy of the agreement to raise the loan was endorsed by the Council and signed k by the Chairman. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Finance Committee met in the morning. There were present—Crs Mu'-ray (in the chair), Harris, Welch, Miller, Morris, and Colquhoun. The treasurer reported as follows: —Bank General Fund account, dr., £1,497 4s 4d; L.B.L. account, cr., £660 12s lOd; Accounts, dr balance, £948 8s 6d; receipts since June 9th, £lsl lis. Accounts amounting to £2,628 17s lid were passed for payment. It was decided to recommend the Council to pay 75 per cent, of the price agreed upon with Mr A. P. Rawson for surveys of Rorokoko cottage site and two sites for cottages purchased W. Kebbell and Mr J. G. Holmes, in the Alfredton riding. It was resolved to ask Mr H. Holmes to make a special contribution of £25 towards the {cost of maintainingjthe section of the Matahiwi Road over which timber from his bush is being drawn by Mr C. E. Daniell.