HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 145, 13 May 1892, Page 2

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

A Special meeting of the Hobson Countv Council was held in the Council Chambers, Aratapu, on Wednesday to consider a By-e-law- regulating the width of tires of vehicles travelling over County- roads during v-inter months. Present Crs. Harding (chairman), Spiers, Dargaville and Cobbald, The clauses of the Bye-law were considered seriatim, amended in several particulars, and jpade to a-pply to unmetalled roads onlv. The Bye-law yyas then adopted as amended. The ordinary meeting of the Council was held at the close of the Special meeting-. The minutes of last meeting were read and approved Mr J, McCraith wrote stating that the work the Council had agreed to do on Dreadon's deviation could be done with advantage at present time and contractors would be content to wait till November for the money.—Resolved that the matter stand over till next meeting for the at-’-"ce of Cr. Berridge, rpT n " r owners have paid wharfage dues lie UspiVj Spiers reported that the to end ot year—w * the fcnder iles of Osprey had damaged one o A - -p n the Dargaville wharf,-Kesolved ' gineer inspect tlie damage and report. The Chairman reported that the Clerk had been put to extra personal expense in attending Court in Dog Registration cases and Court; had refused to allow his expenses, and seeing that

the Counly had received 23s from the fines he moved that the Clerk he allowed 10s for expos —Carried. Resolved that Mr J. Fulham, Dog- Registrar, be informed that the Council will hold themselves response ido for costs in any- eases lie may- take to Court, provided such cases he first approved by the County solicitor. Mr Nairn’s application for shelling of footpath, towards cost of which he offered £o, was again considered.—Resolved on the motion of Cr, Si's on- that the Council agree to spend £5. and the work he proceeded with as soon as the contribution offered is paid in . Resolved that the Clerk write to the Government again urging- the necessity- for the construction of a bridge over the Tangawhine Creek. Mr N. McLeod of Redhill wrote complaining of the removal of his name from the roll of the Kopuru riding. Resolved that the Clerk inform Mr McLeod that tie alteration was made in good faith and he must apply to the Revision Court to have it replaced. Mr E. \V. Matthews wrote calling atten ion to the gorse on the road near Andrews’ and stating tha t it impossible to drive cattle past and he had already- lost two beasts in consequence. Resolved on the motion of Cr. Cobbald that the gorse be cleared for full width of road Mr R. Powell Junr., who was present applied for permission to be allowed to slaughter odd beasts about Aratapu as there was no Slaughterhouse nearer than Aoroa. If permission were not granted small butchers would he prohibited from buying odd cattle from settlers in different pa its.—Resolved on the motion of Chairman that the Council cannot grant the permission as it is contrary to the ‘ Slaughter House Act 1877.’ Augustus Copedo and George Mills applied for licenses for vehicles. Allowed to stand over. Resolved that all the County live hairs shall come into force on 4th July- 1892. Resolved that the Clerk write to the North Auckland Charitable Aid Board requesting immediate payment of £53 12s Cd now due, and informing them that in future the Council cannot allow amount to exceed £4O ; otherwise local charitable aid must cease. Resolved that £6, the cost of Jenkin’s maintenance in the Costley Home, be demanded from Mr Powell. Hesketh and Richmond wrote asking for the settlement of their account amounting to £4O 18s 6d. James Vaughan wrote on behalf of settlers in Kai Iwi, Kaihu, and Waipoua surrey- districts asking for assistance to cut a bridle track and build {bridge over crock.—Resolved that the Engineer be instructed to inspect; and report on. the work asked for by- Mr Vaughan. Mr N. A. McLeod wrote informing the Council that hawkers of smoked fish would have to take out licenses, as only fresh fish was exempt. Hawkers of shell fish must also take out licenses. Resolved that Mr G. Mills be informed that there are no funds available for the draining he asks for. The Aratapu School Committee’s application for drain from School reserve was again brought up. —Cr Bassett, urged the necessity of the work and moved that the Engineer prepare plans for drain along Church Street and have tenders in by- next meeting. Cost of work not to exceed £lO.

Cr. Bassett moved that a Committee consisting of Chairman, Cr. Bassett and Clerk be appointed to go into the matter of the roads occupied by- tlie Kaihu Bailey railway and draw up a letter to the Government re the same. The Chairman reported that by the amalgamating of the offices of Rate-Collector and Slaughter-house Inspector, tbo collecting of Wharf dues, and the employ-ment of Cadet as chainrnan, the County- had saved a sum of £B9. The additional work had entailed a lot of extra travelling expenses on the Clerk and he thought the Council should acknowledge the extra work done. Resolved that a bonus of £5 per annum be voted to the Clerk. engineer’s report. To the Chairman, Sir, —I have the honour to submit to you the following report. Mititai wharf steps repair.—l have had the damage done to the Mititai wharf steps by the s.s. Durham repaired by Mr Ilaswell, and in such a manner as to be in exactly the same state and place as previously. The cost of the work (without allowing- for my- own time) is £5 13s lOd, and my- services I estimate at 10s 6d. Webb’s drain. —I have had the drain along the Kopuru road, in front of Mr "Webb’s property, cleaned out by- the surface man. Dreadon’s deviation.—l have arranged to meet the settlers who have agreed todo one third of the formation of Dreadon’sdeviation on time round on Monday next, and to mark off their portion of toe work and show them how it is to be executed. Opanake.—The.chief surveyor has agreed to allow the repairs of the Opanake-Mang-anui Bluff road to be done by day labour, therefore I have sent the surface man, with two others, to do the work, and I will visit them on Saturday-, when I shall be pleased if any- Councillor would accompany me, and see the state of the roads, Aratapu.—l am having the metal on the Aratapu road near the wharf blinded with ballast that is being discharged from the Waitemata, MaugaWtture,—The roaej. from Mang'-uwharo lo the Wesleyan church is beginning- to be cut up with the heavy traffic and wot weather, and needs to, s be metalled if possible at once. I have about 100 cubic yards of metal broken at Aratapu w-hioh could be used, and would do 8 chains S feet wide and 71- inches deep. Mr McLeod from Helensville called upon me yesterday to see if I would contract with him for a supply- of metal, and agreed to wire me to- — how much a yard he can deliver it for at tlie d a j - - wharf, so that you will be able to Mangawhare - decide whether it is ~ . ' - from him.

If the road is not metalled then it will be necessary to at least have it repaired by filling up the holes, and rounding it up in the centre before any more wet sets in.; or else stop all vehicle traffic on this portion of the road for the winter. Awakino.—The road along the flat on the Dargaville side of the A wakino Creek is sadly- in need of repair, and if funds will permit should be attended to. Encroaching open roads without consent.—l would like to draw your attention to the necessity- for the Council to take stringent measures to stop the practice (that has become quite common) of persons (without she consent of the Council) encroaching upon the roads, by digging drains, moving soil, and doing whatever in their sweet will, they may-feel inclined to do. It is quite a common practice where there is a drain along- a road for persons to connect their land drain with it, thereby bringing a larger body of water down in a less time during' rains, and then the property- owners on the lower lands complain tha t the drains overflow and arejjnot lai-ge enough to carry tnc water led in!o them. I can onlv remember two or three instances where permission has been asked, and in very few instances has any contribution been given for enlarging or cleaning out the main drains, thus throwing the cost of draining the flat lands upon the general ratepayers. The ‘ Public Works Act ’ provides a penalty in the before mentioned cases, but only by- order of the Council. Careless driving.—l would also like to point out the excessive wear and tear upon the roads generally- caused by- careless driving. It is a custom for most persons driving a vehicle to follow exactly in the line of every other one that has gone before him, as if he were confined to a tram line. This practice causes a deep rut to be formed on each side of the road where the wheels travel. The water lies in the ruts and every vehicle travelling cuts it deeper instead of the driver keeping out of the ruts and so help to preserve tlie roads. Ido know a few persons present who study the roads when driving, but they are very- few. HORACE HAMMOND. Engineer.

Resolved that the Cflerk inform the N.R.S.N. Co. that the damage to the Mititai wharf had been repaired at a cost of £6 4s lOd, and request pay-ment of same.

Mr W. McLeod of Helensville wrote offering to deliver metal at Mangawhare at 7s per yard. —Cr. Bassett agreed that the road between the Mangawhare store and Church was in a very had state. If the Council would vote for a three halfpenny rate the work could be done and the cost met, and with that in view he moved that the Engieeer he instructed to have 100 yards of metal at Aratapu punted up to Mangawhare and to procure another 150 yards from Mr W. Me Leod and have the whole sj read between the Mangawhare Church and Bank Resolved that the Engineer be instructed to repair the worst places at the Awakino Creek at a cost not exceeding £lO. Resolved that the Council notify the public that it will in future proceed against any person or persons digging drains, removing soil or otherwise interfering with the surface on County roads. Resolved that the next meeting of the Council be held on the loth June. Resolved that the Chairman he authorised to arrange with the Bank for an overdraft of £9OO. The Chairman asked the permission of the. Council to clean out two drains across the road. ACCOUNTS CONFIRMED AND PASSED. Hammond £l9 3s 4d, Lendrum £2 la 8d Vincent £lO, Filey £3 os, Cody £5 4s, Rin-rose £B. Total £4/ 14s. John Burns and Co £2 11s, F. McCowan £4 Ss6d, Miscellaneous £2 15s 3d,Champtaloup and Cooper £1 3s, Wm. Dreadon(Compensation) £65 17s, R. Flood £8 13s sd, A. Morton (Charitable Aid, Collins and Galen) £3 3s 4d, W Haswell £5 13s lOd, N. A- McLeod £ls 3s lOd, Pulham £2 Ids, Mitchelson (Charitable Aid, Burrows) £1 7s Id. ' C. Bassett reported that he had interviewed Mr Day re lighting of lamp on Aratapu wharf, but Mr Day' had not accepted, so he had agreed with Mr Rowland for the lighting for the sum of £5 per annum. Action confirmed Overdraft May 11th £678 Ids 2d. With above accounts added £792 ds 3d. Council rose at 4.30 p.m.