MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10117, 12 October 1910, Page 5

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

I The monthly meeting of the Mas terton County Council ic" on I Tuesday there being preIsent: Councillors W. J. Welch (chairman), R. F. Beetham, A. Murray, P. J. Cameron, J. Miller, D. W. Foreman, and H. Toogood. MV. James Hourigan wrote, askingpermission to graze stock on the river-bed and roads in the vicinity of his property ai Manaia. Councillors pointed out that the grafting of the permission asked for might create trouble with neighbours.— The application was declined. The Chief Surveyor returned an approved plan of the land proposed to be taken under the Public Works Act for a roadman's cottage site on the Weraiti-Fernyhurst road. Mr. J. F. Heckler asked that repairs be effected to the Alfredton road. On the motion of Councillor Murray, it was decided v that the matter, be referred to Councillor Kebbell and the engineer, with power to do whatever work they might consider necessary.

The Public Trustee notified that a sum of £63 9s. would be remitted to the Council's account in connection with the Tawataia; toll sinking fund. Mr. C. A. C. Woodford, of the District Survey Office, forwarded a plan showing certain boundaries in the vicinity of the Opaki bridge, Ruamahunga river, in reference to Bourke's fencing. f The New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Office notified that the inviting of tenders for the Waipoua bridge approaches need not be delayodv Mr. J. H. Murray Jackson intimated his willingness to accept nomination for the vacancy on the Hospital • and Charitable Aid Board caused by the retirement of Councillor Morris. On the motion of Councillor Foreman, seconded by Councillor Beetham, it was decided that Mr. Murray Jackson be dominated to the vacancy.- . The Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that a plan showing the river, fence and railway boundaries at the Opaki were in his possession, and a tracing would be supplied on a payment of 10s.-6d. It was decided to procure a tracing. Mr. W. B. Ingram, licensee of the Lower Taueru Hotel, applied for a lease, at a small rental, of the paddock near the approach to the Taueru bridge, opposite his hotel. He promised not to interfere with the grazing of the school children's horses. He wanted the paddock for holding sheep at night. On the motion of Councillor Toogood, the application was declined.

The State Guaranteed Advance Office advised that the £3OOO loan for the northern approaches had been legally passed.

Messrs. W. C. Buchanan and A. W. Hogg, M.P.'s, acknowledged the receipt of a communication re the By-laws Bill, and stated that they would take the first opportunity of urging the representations of the Council upon the powers that be. The State Guaranteed Advances Office intimated that provisional approval had been granted for a £2OO loan for the Black Creek bridge. Conucillor C. C. Kebbell wrote under date September 19th, asking if a poll of ratepayers could be taken on the question of amalgamating the Alfredton Riding with the Ekotahuna County, and what steps would be necessary to be taken. Messrs. Wise, and Knight drew

attention to the bad state of the road giving access to the property of S. M. George in Alfredton. The matter was referred to Councillor Kebbell and the engineer. •Mr. H. Harris asked the Council to spend about £2O in making re- > pairs to the road at Wainui-o-mapu, 1

as it was inconvenient for him

get the wool out with the road in i its present condition. The matter was dealt witli by the Works and Finance Committee. Mr. J. Vvestbrook, roadman, asked for a small allowance for extra work entailed through his.losing his j assistant. This matter was also dealt with by the Finance Committee.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The report of the meeting of the Finance Commitee was read and approved. The treasurer's report showed a credit on the general fund account of £lB2 6s. 6c1., and on the local bodies loans account of £1542 15s. The receints for the month amounted to £1754 Bs. lOd. The usual monthly riding accounts were laid before the committee, and accounts amounting to £194 18s. 3d. were recommended for payment. On the motion of Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Foreman, it was decided that in view of the extra travelling done by Roadman Westbrook during the past four months, since his assistant had left, ho be granted the sum of £5 as an extia allowance for liorse-feed. On the motion of Councillor Miller, >.eeor"!ed by Councillor Cameron, it was resolved that it be a recommendation to the Council to accede to the lequest of Mr. H.' Harris for the expenditure of the sum of £2O in making a cutting out of the creek en the road giving access to his property. The clerk reported verbally having received a notice from the secretary to the local branch of the Drivers' Union, calling upon the council to either dismiss one of its employees (casually engaged in driving a cai't) or insist upon his joining the union.

GENERAL

Councillor Beetham stated that Mr. M'Rae had agYeed to sell a metal pit on his property at Woraiti.

Oil the motion of Councillor Murray it was decided • that tenders be invited for a roadman's cottage at the junction of the Alfredton and Waihoki Valley roads. On the motion of Councillor Beetham it was resolved that the clerk he instructed to pay Mr. Andrews ,2s. 6d. apiece for thirty-seven strainers cut on the Weraiti road. It was decided, on the motion of Councillor Cameron, that any communication between the employees of the Council and the Council as a body be addressed to the engineer.

Several recommendations contained in the engineer's report were approved, and instructions given accordingly.