MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10017, 13 April 1910, Page 6

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MMETINf?. The monthly meeting of the Council was hold yesterday (Tuesday, April 12th). There were present:— Crs W. J. Welch (chairman), J. Morris, D. W. Forn.an. H. Toogond, R. F. R. Beetham, J. Miller and C. Kebbell, ' [.Correspondence was read from K. C. Jackson, drawing attention to the manner in which trees on private properties were endangering the private telephone line. The danger, be stated, was becoming more acute 313 the young trees grew i up, and he asked the Council either to consider question of giving "him authority to cut the irees or uf§ serving the ownsrs with notice to do ?o. It was resolved to reply that if a list of owners be furnished where trees overhang notice will be served oil them to remove the o\erhanging branches. From the Treasury advising the remittance of the followng grants. Alfredton-Tinui road. £l2O lis lid; Alfredton-Weber road formation, £100; Alfredton-Weber road metalling, £740 43. From the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board asking the use of the Council Chamber as a meeting rooms. It was resolved that permission be granted as requested. From C. E. Daniell quoting the price of hydraulic ram buffers. The County Clerk was instructed o order what was required. From R. Rnidiford enclosing £SO as his contribution towards improving the Riversdale road. From W. Cross asking that a small iece of roau in the Alfredton township be formed. —Left in the hands of Cr Kebbell and the Engineer to deal with.

From the Public Works Department asking for the balances of authorities in the hands of the Council up to March 31st.—The secretary reported having forwarded the information, of which particulars, are given, showing the name of the work and the amount of liability: Homewood to Kaiwhala, £137 9s sd; Upper OpaKi, £sl 12s 2d; Mangarai, £l9 17s 10d; Blairlogie to Homewood. £6 lis; Alfredton to Weber, nil: Taueru (Alfredton to Weber), £4O; miscellaneous works and Uriti and Riversdale roads, £SO. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands drawing the attention of the Council to the fact that there is a considerable sum of over accrued thirds now in hand, and that if proposals are not made within three months for the expenditure of the sum the money will be handed over to the Public Works Department for expenditure. The Clerk reported the matter was receiving attention. , From M. Kerins asking payment of balance, £5, on Opaki waterworks contract. Mr G. Laing-Meason wrote that he was unable to certify to any further payment to one of the contractors in connection with the Opaki-Lansdo«ne water supply scheme, as it had cost the Council more than the amount claimed, £5, to carry out the work left undone.

It was resolved to notify the contractor to that effect. From the Masterton Chamber of Commerce asking the Cr-uncil to consider the question of erecting bridges over the Waipoua river in concrete instead of wood. The Chairman said this was a matter that had been before the Council on several occasions. The Council had always given the Chambet ol Commerce every consideration when their recommendations came before them. He must say the letter of the Chamber showed a want of courtesy to tha Council, taking nto account the fact that the matter was completely settled. He moved that this Council, having devoted a great deal of time and thought to the question, is of opinion that the Echeme submitted by theiCouaty Engineer and approved by the two local bodies is tha one that is most suited to the requirements of the community, and has no intention of re-opening the question again. The motion was seconded by Cr Xebbell and carried. From the Assistant Road Engineer re expenditure of £>.oo, £ for £, grant Alfredton- Weber road.

Prom the Public works Department forwarding Gazette notice of . Puketoi road being declare;* a County i*o ul. j From the Public Works Department stating a new authority for expenditure of £l2O grant ior Kiversdale and Uriti roads was not necessary. From tlvj Treasury advising remittance of £99 18s Bd, balance of Blairloj ie- Holmwood metalling grant. From the Akitio County Council asking what proportion of the grant for road maintenance should be spent on the main road. It was resolved to recommend about half the grant be spent on the main read. from the Superintendent of the State Guarantee Advances stating that the Fernridge waterworks loan of £SOO had been held over pending the engineer's report, and that the Mangarai loan of £6CO had been provisionally approved oi. , From G. C. Williams putting a value of £l7 per acre on a four-acre site for a roadman's whare. From the Treasury advising remittance of £SO Waihoki Vahey road grnat. From settlers interested in the Mangarai road asking the Council to proceed with the proposal to build a bridge and extend formation on the Mangarai road under guarantee lo raise a Joan for that purpose. From the Inspector-Geaeral of Hospitßls, explaining reasons for combining Masterlon and Castiepoint Counties for purposes of the eiection of a new Board.

From C. A. Pownall objecting on behalf of S. Connell to the Council enlarging the bridge on Akura roaci. From the Public Works Department stating £SO is available for expenditure on Ruamahanga river ford.

From D. L. Cochrane offering to construct reinforced concrete bridges at £6' los per lineal foot.—Resolved that Mr Cochrane be thanked for the information.

x?rom the Public Works Department stating the grant of £230 Ai-fredton-Weber road cannot be made uncondilitisl without the sanction of Parliament.

From the Public Works Department advising £226 19s 8d is available for expenditure on Barton's line to Mangamahoe road. From Public Works Department advising £129 8s Id is now available for expenditure on the AlfredtonTinui road.

From the Under-Secretary Public Works with schedule of balances available for expenditura through the Ciuncil.

From the Public Works Department enclosing a Warrant under the hand of the Miniser of Public Works certifying that the two bridges over the Waipoua river on the main road require to be entirely rebuilt. The Engineer was authorised to inspect the culvert which discharges water at Mr A. J. Cooper's property at Lansdowne. It was decided that notice to remove the willows from the Kopuarangs, Waikoura, and Waagaehu streams, be served on the ssttlers whose properties abutted the streams. On the motion of Cr Toogood it was resolved that £l7O be expended on the Riversdale road and £l2O on the Uriti road. On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to instruct the Engineer to make an estimate for renewing the bridge over the Black Creek at Kaituna for the purpose of allowing the settlers to take up a loan for the work. The Financs Committee's report waß read and adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S KEPORT. The Treasurer reported as fallows:—Bank balance, general fund account, cr., £3,194 6s 6d; local bodies loans account, cr., £933; accounts, creditbalance, £4,004 4s lid; receipts since Bth March, 1910, Rates £6,215 10s sd; lean interest paid by Castlepoint County, £64 13s 8d; loan interest, paid by Mauriceville County £lB 16s 2d; contributions to Upper Plain water supply, £lB 12s sd; tolls, £4O; deposit on contracts, £25 3s 6d; foreign special rates collected by W.S.C.C., £2 Is lOd; Castlepoint County Council, £lB 6s lid; contributions from ratepayers,£s7 10s,-refunds costs, £3 10s— Waingawa bridge and

Upper Plain water supply £196 lis, . Court costs 15s; wire netting sold, £9 12a; by-laws, Is; engineer's expenses Vallance's road. £2l 12s; additional 10 per cent, on rates, £8 j 9a lid; Blairlogie-Holmwood roaci | grant, ,£99 18s Sd; Alfredton-Tinui j road grant, £l2O lis lid; Alfredton-Wefc-er road repairs grant, £100; Alf red ton- Weber metalling grant, £740 4a; total, £7,764 lis. ™ Accounts amounting to £1944 4s 2(1 were recommended for payment. It was recommended that an additional 3s per day wagea and 4s per day travelling expenses be paid Mr G. Blane during the time the Engineer was confined to bin bouse through indisposition. That the Council direct a fresh consent to a loan of £6OO far bridge building and formation on Mangarai road bs prepared at once, and a3 soon as tne necessary formalities are complete to proceed with the work.

It was recommended the Council to closo vvith Mr to. H. Bcetham's offer to dispose of half an acre of lanj at Taueru for a gravel reserve for the sum of £2O. That it be a recommendation to the Council to join with the Masterton Borough Council in receiving and, if necessary, entertaining His Excellency the Governor; who proposes making an official visit to Masterton on the 20£ h inst., and in the event of such being arranged that Messrs W. and H. Beetham, and Mr Cock- ! burnrOood, be asked to be.present and assist at the function.