HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 158, 12 August 1892, Page 6

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Hobson County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Aratapu, on Wednesday. Present.—Crs. Harding (chairman), Bassett, Cobbald, Dargaville, Beri-idge, Spiers, and Paynes. The minutes of last meeting were read and approved. Mrs D. Clark wrote that Mr Stokes had paid £3 on account of £6 for the right of hauling timber over her property, lot 22 Wnakahara not being specially specified. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Paynes that the matter of recovery of £lO promised by Mr T. Slater towards forming of deviation through section 22 be placed in the hands of the County solicitor. Inspector Bioham wrote asking whether the Council wished the police to enforce all the County Bj'-laws, and in reply to a further communication wrote that the jjolice had been instructed to enforce the Hawkers and Pedlars. Licensing of vehicles,and Width of tires By-laws. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman *het a copy of the By laws be supplied to • srA.; oiml ; ;>ob of the Constables, i,:: •t- o ' ■ same to the public be re I l ' ■■ d o ]<“■■ copy. ... -■•••u-' ! ' Thompson M’s.H.R. vvro- using to do all that was possible in the matter of securing road to Opanake station. The Minister of Public Works wrote that if the Council would have the road suiveyed and plans drawn the Government would take the road under the Public Works Act. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman that the Clerk write to the Minister of Public Works informing him that a survey has been made by Mr Percy Holt and the plans must be in the Govern merit Office. The cutting of drain on West Coast road was further deferred as not being absolutely necessary. The Chairman moved that the Cleric write to Mr John Harrison and the Northern Union Steamship Company drawing their attention to the necessity and good opening for a weekly steamboat service between Hargavil'e and Tangitcroria. A Return of the expenditure in the Dargaville Riding during the term of present Council (11 years) was laid on the table as follows : Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of THE DahBAVILLK TOWNSHIP. Prom November 26th 1890 to July :31st. 1892. Receipts,

. to sublu of receipts and expend. >.m c ' i ’ ■ e D .rgaville Township for the period (20 mouths) of the present Council's terra or ofti o to date, but in presenting it to you I feel it my duty to poiut out the fallacy of such return inasmuch as it commences at a period not being the commencement of a financial year and not ending with a financial year. t- For instance the amount of rates shown are all that are receivable for two years with the exeeption"of £1 12s 6d. The subsidy and publicans’ licenses are for two years but were actually received within the stated period; while on the side of expenditure there is only one item namely Hospital and Charitable Aid rate that covers two years and one item that of Interest on loan does nat even cover the 20 months. Horace Hammomd. 31/7/92. Cr. Dargaville considered the return no guide to the public and moved for a. return showing the expenditure and income of the township since the Town Board was abolished out of the General revenue and the township’s proportion of loan. —Chairman seconded. —Lost. Crs. Berridge and Bassett moved an amendment that the statement be for each Riding from the formation of the County. Lost. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote that the Te Kuri sections would be put up for sale as asked for by the Council. Mititai Landing Reserve.—Mr Kitehing tendered 13s per annum for first term of jjve years and £2 per annum for second

term and stipulating that he be allowed to remove buildings if lease be not renewed at end of first term. Crs. Berridge and Chairman moved that Mr Kitehing’s tender be accepted. Mr A. Black, wrote on behalf of Natives, asking for £1 for trees taken for road work. Agreed to. Thomas O’Cari'ol wrote requesting to be allowed to spend thircy-six shillings on the Main road at Tangihua in fixing dangerous places. Granted on the motionjof Cr. Spiers. Mr Schwabbe wrote agreeing to give land for road required by Council at Whakahara on terms offered (£2 per acre) if the Council would fence both sides of road. The matter was allowed to stand over.

A Return of the Income and Expenditure of Charitable Aid prepared by the Cleik showed ■that the North Auckland Charitable Aid Board had in three years received £605 on behalf of this County for Charitable Aid purposes while this County had only expended £494 in relief leaving a balance of £llO in in favour of this County. The Secretary of North Auckland Charitable Aid Board wrote informing Council that a Charitable Aid rate of one-eight of a penny had been struck and asking the Council to forward the sum of £137 due by Hobson Ccuuty for current year, Cr. Bassett moved—That this Council refuse to pay any further rate to the North Auckland Charitable Aid Board until steps are taken to recover the arrears due by other Counties.

Mr R. Mitchelson wrote asking to be allowed £2 for repair of road at Babylon. Resolved that the surface man be sent up to do the work.

Mr West, Kopuru, wrote asking for road in front of his property to be made fit for wheeled traffic, and for a culvert to be placed across road, and also complaining of gumdiggers making deep holes in the road.

Resolved that the County Solicitor be instructed to take proceedings against J. Johnston and A. Sjostrom under the Public Works Act for digging up road at Kopuru in front of West’s.

Sewell, pensioner at Redhill, wrote asking for pair blankets and pair boots. Resolved that Clerk be authorised to supply the articles.

James Kidd wrote complainin g of dangerous state of bridge between M. Harding’s and his property and stating that although he had two roads about his property he had never had a penny expenditure from County rates.

Resolved that Mr Kidd he authorised to repair the bridge.

Resolved that the Clerk write to Messrs Houston and Thompson asking them to nr. e upon the Government to complete the purchase of ballast pit at Kaihu Valley. Mr Vaughan wrote stating that road at Kai I wi had been cleared to a uniform width and logs jacked off. Mr F. P. Langford’s application for a Slaughterhouse license at Tatarariki was granted.

Mr P. Langton wrote asking to have road cleared as he was about to fence.

Resolved that the Engineer arrange with Mr Langton for the clearing of the road. The same also wrote re removal of dead trees on road and stating that he had met with an accident from same.

Resolved that the surface’man be employed follows : —at Babylon, six days, at Vincent, three days, Bradley’s Landing two days, Kohekohe two days, and Tangiteroria Roadtill further orders. Mr John McMulkin applied for dray license M r McGowan and Mr S. Stansfield. : • ! wo latter subject to receipt of Mr Matthews wrote saying that petition re Kopuru Drainage District would not be in till next meeting. Rev T. F. Baker wrote that C. Henly was the purchaser of sections 7,8, 9 and 10, Okabu. Resolved that the Clerk procure twentyfive plates for use of licensed vehicles. The Secretary New Zealand Farmer and Country Settlers League, Christchurch, wroteasking Council to take steps to establish a branch of the league in the dirtriot. Resolved tsat the circular be referred to the N. W. Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

The Colonial Secretary, Wellington, wrote saying that £328 12s 7d had been remitted to the credit of County. Resolved that the Clerk write to the Colonial Secretary asking why a refund of Auctioneers’ license fees, £7 l()s, had not been made. Resolved that the Clerk be instructed in future to credit Auctioneers’ license fees equally between the several ridings. Mr Eric Thompson agreed to accept the sum of Eighteen pounds in payment of all claims in respect of recovery and hire of punt sunk at Mangawhare and for raising the •same, and tlio Chairman had accepted the contract. The action of the Chairman was confirmed. Resolved that the Clerk be authorised to pay Insurance premium whenever it becomes line. Messrs J. Mitchelson and J. Dennin wrote

offering a compromise in the matter cf Mr Beart’s bond and the proposal was accepted by the Council. Cr. Raynes moved as an amendment that the County solicitor be instructed to offer to compromise with Mr B°ale on payment of £ls within fourteen days, other rise to pro - ceed against Mr Beale forthwith in the 11. M. Court. Resolve < that Mr McLeod be 'inst - i;.t. ■ to obtain a transfer of Denis Sulivan’s laud to the Council. Resolved on the motion of Chairman ;hat Mr McLeod be instructed to frame a resolution to meet his suggestion as to the verbal definition of the Slaughterhouse inspector. engineer’s report. The Chairman, Sir,—l have the honour to submit to you the following report : Wordsworth’s road. As instructed I have made a survey of the road at Kopuru through Mr Wordsworth's property and as soon as the plan is completed I will forward it to the County Solicitor for the preparation of a deed of transfer. I would now suggest that the road be cleared and foi - med and that the road from the Cliff to ihe Kopuru West Coast Road be cleared and gum holes filled in the whole cost of which would be about £l2, hunter's road. In company with Mr Cobbald I visited the road at Hunter’s (West Coast) and as the adjoining owner was about to fence we found it necessary to make the road good in front of his property as well as Hunter’s, therefore I have let a contract to Peter Glink to do the whole of the work, putting in four culverts, cutting four chains of a drain and some four chains of a sidling for the sum of £B. While out we visited the Tatarariki and Red Hill Districts and would suggest that the work in Thirds expenditure of £l4 odd be done by day labour instead of contract, as the work will be scattered. bradley’s landing wi-iarf. I have had Bradley's Landing wharf repaired and made safe for the travelling public. dreadon’s deviation. I would remind you that it is necessary to have tenders in by next meeting for the formation of Dreadon’s Deviation to comply with Council’s resolution to have the road finished by November next. fhe transfers from Messrs Dreadon, Powell, and Hamlyn have been executed and are now all completechurch eoad. Mr H. Maurice, the contractor for drain along Church rood, has completed his work in a very satisfactory manner. I have to draw your at ten Lion to the fact mat some person or persons have been laying sawdust along the Church road on tl e side near the drain instead of along ch j centre, thus interfering with the formation iust finished. The sawdust will need to be removed from the side of the road and the persons who put it there should remove it. While at the Redhill Mr Cobbald told me that Johnson is willing to make a cutting towards his property and Glinke’s for the sum of £3 and I would strongly recommend that the work be done at that cost as it is necessary to open up a road to these properties, Horace Hammond, County Engineer. Resolved that work on Wordsworth’s road be deferred till road is surveyed.

Resolved that action of engineer and Or. Cobbald in letting contract of £8 at Redhill be confirmed. Resolved that surface man attend to Thirds’ work at Tatarariki after finishing at Tangit eroria.

The work on Dreadon’s deviation was allowed to stand over as the settlers had nut yet completed their portion of the work. Resolved that notice be sent to Constable Scott that unless the sawdust placed on the Church road be removed to the centre, the same will be done by the County at the expense of those who placed it there. Resolved on the motion of Cr. Cobbald that Mr Johnson’s offer to make cutting at Redhill for the sum of £3 be accepted. Resolved that the metalling of road from Mangawhare Church to Store be placed oil the list of necessary works. STRIKING OE RATE. Cr. Spiers moved that a General Rate of a penny in the £ be struck. The Dargaville Riding had a credit of nearly £7OO and the Wairoa £4OO, and he saw no reason why a heavier rate should be struck in them. Every riding should have its own rates spent within its boundaries. If the other ridings desired a heavier rate they could strike a special rate. Cr. Raynes seconded. He had read the Wairoa Bell very carefully and gathered a lot of information, but he still considered the penny rate sufficient for his riding. Gr. Bassett moved as an amendment that a General rate of three halfpence in the pound be struck in all the ridings except. Kopuru. His reason for omitting Kopuru from the heavier rate was that, a Dmiiiage District was about to be formed there over which it was proposed to stri’ a an aci ge rate of sixpence an acre ar J_ lie.; with . heother rating would he equiva sni; to : y nt 2 Id in the pound. The Chairman seconded .he raiendur >• . j Ur. Dargaville said that ah hue Oouu -id rs [ had made up their minds and ii vasiist worth

*v j■< it omc t - mg 1.,. .i* -i. The Chairman said that a good deal had been said from time to time as to the money raised in the ridings being spent within the same limits, and he read Section 145 of the Counties Act which very clearly states that the mail: and County roads must first be provided :.oi- before the rates available for expend!? ore err; iriioned between .he several - gs. Tl Riding Brlunces were simply . on the be from .me to time to show ■ ctmciilors how the funds were b. ing expanded. His wish was to pay off the apparent, indebtedness of his riding as fast as possible, and this was being done. Cr Sp’OTs—What Main roads do the Wairoa. ratepayers use ? Cr. R idge —It is the Wairoa settlers that in- y use the main roads in Okabu; they are principally used for the through traffic. Cr. Fpi-.rs did not agree with Cr. Berridge and could not see why Wairoa with such a large credit should l a asked to pay a three-half-penr.y rate. The Chairman —Messrs H. Smith and M. Harding, two of the largest ratepayers in the Riding, are both in favour of the higher rate. If the lower rate is carried he should resign the Chairmanship. Cr Cobbald—"Unless the drainage scheme be carried into effect they cannot do with loss than a three-halfpenny rate in the Kopuru riding. He agreed somewhat with Cr. Spiers and did not see why the Wairoa riding should be made to pay the higher rate, but as to the Dargaville people the main road was as much for their benefit as for others and they should pay the higher one. The amendment was then put and lost. Eor, Crs. Bassett, Berridge and the Chairman; Against, Crs. Spiers, Raynes, Dargaville and Cobbald. The Chairman moved and Cr. Bassett seconded a further amendment that a rate of three-halfpence be struck over the whole County with the exception of the Wairoa riding in which latter a rate of a penny be struck. Amendment lost. The voting being the same as on the previous amendment. Cr. Cobbald voted against because he did not desire the higher rate in his riding in addition to the: Drainage District Special rate. Cr. Dargaville thought the Council had got along ■ Ary web in the pasi and L. did not see what they wanted with the higher rate. have done no work, ex -opt or. rh . ..u. Now a halfpenny rate wr,s needed to pay interest on loan, Cbail-man moved and Cr Berridge seconded a further amendment that a three-halfpenny rate be -truck in the Aratapu, Okabu and Dargaville ridings and a penny rate in the Wairoa and Kopuru ridings. Cr. Raynes objected to the continued amendmcid's as being out of order, as also did Cr. Spiers. The Chairman said that the proceedings were quite in accordance with parliamentary usage arid invited any Councillor to Repeal to Sir Maurice O’Rorko. Cr. T rgaville questioned the order of proceedings and described it as “ funnv business. ’ The amendment was then put and carried. For, Crs. Chairman, Bassett, Berridge and Cobbald. Against, Crs. Spiers, Raynes and Dargavvle. The Amendment then became the substantive !notion and there being no further amendments it was duly put and carried.

Cr. Dargaville then drew attention to the need of something being done to the Kaihu bridge.

Cr. Bassett moved and the Chairman seconded —That the Engineer, Chairman and Cr. Cobbald be appointed a committee to inspect the County and report upon the most suitable places for procuring metal. Carried. Permission was granted Mr Stallworthy to place a culvert in the Aratapu road. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were confirmed : C H. Miller £3, C. Cody Jnnr. £1 19s 6d, W. Ringrose £S, E. Thompson £lB, H. Hammond £l9 3s 4d, R. Lend rum £2 Is Sd, F. Filby £3 ss. Total. The following- accounts were passed for payment : —F. McGowan £4 Bs, E. Maurice £l2, U. Jones £8 17s, J. McMulkin £7 8s 6d, Ananea £l, J. Vaughan £2, P. Mu.phy £2, J. Cun: £’-, A. J. Jones £2. R. Hall, W. Andcrs.H’ £2 2s Id, J. Nixon £2 7s (id, Mitchelson Bros, £1 16s lid, Douglas Eros, and others £4 17s Id, Stansfield 13s. Insurance .£! 17s 6d. Overdraft £560 17. 7d. The council rose at 5 p.m

£ s. d. General Rates (2 years) 213 19 8 Subsidy •jy 0 0 Auctioneers’ Licenses (20 months) i 2 0 0 Publican’s Licenses (2 years) 120 10 0 Registrars of Log's (20 months) 4 3 0 Weights and Measures „ 4 3 "Wharfage dues ,, 6 7 G Refund of Law costs 1 7 0 Contribution to works 16 0 0 Sale of Artesian AVell pipes 3 3 0 £426 14 5 Expenditure. £ s. d. Salaries and Rate Collecting 25 12 0 Office expenses 7 4 0 Advertising- and Printing 3 6 Law costs 18 17 0 Dog Registration 1 19 0 Election and Licensing expenses (> yrs) 19 71 7) 0 Plospital and Charitable Aid rate (2 bowels and Works 6 8 0 yv: crL 10 19 1 0 8