HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairoa Bell, 16 June 1893, Page 7

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Hobson County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Aratapu, on Wednesday, June 14th. Present : Crs. A. E. Harding (chairman), Bassett, Cobbald, Dargaville, Dodd, Nairn, and Spiers. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Timber Floating Licenses.—The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote that Messrs Bradley and Co. and the Kauri Company were the only persons who held timber floating licenses in the Hobson County. — Resolved that the Clerk send the Commissioner a list of those persons believed to be floating timber on this river. Gum Licenses.—The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote that he had no power to appoint collectors of license fees, and in a later letter asked for the name of the County Clerk so that he might be gazetted a Receiver of such fees. Resolved that the Council be represented before the Gurofields* Commission by the Chairman and Cr. Bassett. County v. Kauri Company. Messrs Whitaker and Russell advised that the Council had no claim against the Kauri Company for rates on Opanaki block, and sent their account amounting to £5 2s. The chief objection to the Council’s claim being that the Company do not hold an exclusive right to the land. Mr N. A. Mcleod wrote that not taken proceedings against the Company for rates on the Onnuwaho and Omu blocks as he thought these were similar to the case of the Opanaki block.—lt was resolved that the Clerk write to the Thames and Coromandel County Conncils and ask whether they have any similar cases as above with the Kauri Company, and if so will they join this Council in a test case in the Supreme Court.

The County Solicitor advised that Mr Kidd could not recover for cleaning drain as threatened by him under the Drainage Act unless drains were made by the Drainage Board. Under the Public Works Act the Council were responsible for the keeping open of publie drains. Foreshore, Dargaville.—Mr E. A. McKechnie wrote notifying Council that if they leased foreshore legal proceedings would at once be taken against them.—The County Solicitor advised that Council had power to let portion of road not required, but thought it would be well to leave full chain width for road.

Cr. Spiers applied for lease of part of foreshore at Dargaville. Numerous similar leases had been grantel in several parts of the district. Mr Dargaville had raised no objection till it came to his own door. Chairman moved and Cr. Spiers seconded that tenders be called for a twelve months’ lease ©f the section near boat landing on foreshore at Dargaville, giving fifty feet frontage to Victoria Street Dargaville.— Carried. Crs. Dargaville, Nairn and Dodd against.

Maropiu Bridges.—Mr Snowdon wrote that he was proceeding with bridges at Maropiu and at Taita. E. Trounson also wrote offering use of bridge recently erected and asking that Council in place of building second bridge expend a sum equal to the cost of same in repairing bad places on the road. —Resolved that Mr Trounson’s offer be accepted and the Engineer authorised to expend the amount on the road. Hukatere Ballast.—Letters were received from Lands office and from chairman Otamatea County. The ballast on foreshore is vested in the Otamatea County Council and the ocher is on private land. The Otamatea Council desired to know what royalty the Hobson County would pay. Mr R. Thompson, M. H. R,, and Mr Houston, M.H.R., wrote promising to push Council’s request for vote for works before the Government. Contract LXIII. For the supply of *7,500 cubic yards road metal: E. Thompson and John Hendrickson at 5s lid per cubic yard, or £2,218 15s. The price was considered rather high and Cr. Spiers moved : That the Engineer be instructed to have the stone-breaker put together at Aratapu and have a trial of the machine. Carried. the tender be deferred to next meeting. Contract LXIV.—Mr G. Webb, £l7 17 s 6d.; Len Kitching, £l9 15s; G. W. Roger's, £2O 19s. —Resolved that Mr Webb’s tender be accepted subject to the appointment at next meeting of a Poundkeeper and Ranger for a term of twelve months. Culvert at Bradley’s Landing.—Cr. Dodd considered that a 3ft. culvert should be put in as a foot one was ridiculous in a place where there had been a large creek.—Resolved on the motion of Cr. Spiers that tenders returnable at next meeting be called for a 4x4 culvert. Andrew’s Road Enclosure.—The County Solicitor wrote that the Council should move £he Crown to enter a plaint in the local R M.

Court to compel Mr Andrew to remove his fence. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman that the course suggestsd by the County Solicitor be followed as soon as the road is blocked by Mr Cobbald fencing in his property. Resolved that Mr B. C. New’s offer for timber on section at Arapohue be accepted. Cr. Dodd reported against Messrs Buchanan’s and others application for cutting track at Okahu and it was not entertained. Resolved that the Chairman be authorised to arrange for overdraft at Bank of New Zealand during current year up to £BOO. Marine Department wrote that Kauri Company had applied for transfer to them of Dr. Campbell’s interest in reclamation at Kepuru wharf.—A statement of the Council’s case had been sent and was approved by Council. It was further resolved that the Clerk write informing Marine Department that the Council is agreeable to the reclamation in front of Company’s property being transferred to them provided they be compelled to keep same in order. Mrs De Grantville wrote' that she had sold her property to several different parties named. Resolved that the Engineer be authorised to have metal at Aoroa broken at 4s per yard. J. L. Clark, Zimmerman, Bright and others of Maungakaramea wrote that owing to the state of the roads they were dependent on pack horses for their living, and asking Council’s assistance towards making a sledge road.—Resolved that the Clerk inform petitioners that the Council I d always spent more than the rates receiver In the district and would continue to do so, thevirates for this year would amount to £6 12s. The Chairman Raglan County Council applied for copy of solicitor’s opinion on Ridings’ Accounts procured on motion of Cr. Berridge. Crs. Spiers and Nairn moved that request be granted.—Carried. R. Mailer, Redhill, asked for road to his property and offered to make same for £3.— Declined. Mr E. Cartwright notified the sale of his section at Newport to Mr Seymour. Resolved that Messrs Brown and Mansill be placed in Rate Book as occupiers of Omu block. James Vaughan, Kai Iwi, wrote asking for Engineer’s instructions re contract on hand. R. Powell, Senr., complained of road on river bank being trampled in by cattle and asking Council to provide timber for culvert which he guaranteed to put in himself. —Resolved that timber be supplied for culvert fifteen feet long. Audit Department returned Balance Sheet duly certified. Resolved that a special meeting be called for 10 a.m. on second Wednesday in next month to consider Balance Sheet Mr B- C. New applied for Slaughterhouse license at Okahu.—Granted. Vehicle licenses were granted to T. Asher and A. Underwood. Joseph Jordan wrote asking what steps were being taken in reference to the erection of a wharf at Te Kopuru. J. Brown, Omu, wrote re closing of track at Omu. It was resolved that a bridle track be cut round Mr Brown’s fence. W. T. Brown, Mannganui Bluff, wrote calling attention to damage to roads by water, and asking whether Council had taken any steps re survey of road to railway. —Resolved that Engineer be authorised to have bad places repaired when in the district next week. It was resolved that the Chairman, Engineer and Cr. Dargaville interview Commissioner of Crown Lands when in district to urge the connection of Taheke and Bluff roads. Sergeant Black applied for usual fee of £1 for Clerk of Dargaville Licensing Court.— Granted. The striking of a General rate of three halfpence in the £ was confirmed. Engineer’s Report. Sir, —I have the honor to submit the following report:— Mr Rogers has completed his contract for a bridge-culvert at Paton’s Flat on the Okahu Main road On this contract I authorised an extra for fascines at a cost of £l. Mr Peterson has completed his contract for cleaning Bassett’s drain, and has done the work in such an efficient manner as to reflect great credit upon himself. The native Walter Teto has completed his contract for clearing the Tangiteroria road near Moengewhaki bridge. Still the bridge is of little use as Mr Lamb refuses to allow persons to travel through his land in front of the hotel. Tenders are due to-day for Contract LXIII for a five years’ supply of metal at the rate of 1,500 cubic yards per annum* I sect a copy of the specifications &c. to Auckland and one to Helensville. I estimate the value of the work at os 6d per cubic yard. I have prepared plans &c. for a Public Pound at Arapohue, and called for tenders which are returnable to-day. 1 estimate the work at £l6 without printing on board, which will be extra. For the printing I proposed getting the printed

card-boards from the 1 Herald ’ office, which are £1 the set. Only 120 cubic yards of broken metal arrived by the Doran and as directed I had it spread along Victoria-street, Dargaville. The surface man while cleaning out the water tables is using the earth to blind the metal with. From the Onyx 1 got 180 tons of good breaking stone and as instructed I had it landed at the Aoroa wharf. I would suggest that it be broken and the work offered at 4s per cubic yard. By the Coquette came 100 yards of scoria ash, which was landed at Aoroa wharf and has been spread along the Main road near Underwood’s I had it spread in a narrow track sufficient for equestrians and I would strongly recommend this system to be carried out until it is completed from Aratapu to Dargaville, after which the track may be widened from time to time as metal s available. The Tatarariki road has been 'repaired as far as the sum voted by the Council together with the assistance given by the settlers would go, and I would suggest that a further sum of £5 be voted to further improve the road. Mr Anderson has removed the obstruction from the outlet creek running through his property, and with the help of Mr S. Webb has cleaned out the creek. Mr Seymour has removed the dam from the outlet running between his and Mr Cobbald’s lands, and until the drain is cleared and put into thorough working order it is useless making him remove the railings, as at present they are no obstruction whatever but are a benefit by keeping the cattle out of the drain. Since the dam was constructed in the drain in front of Mr Thos. Webb’s property, Mr Webb has cut a small drain leading the water around the dam and into the ctrain instead of allowing it to flow into his land. If this is not altered the cost of the dam will be thrown away as the sand will follow the water back into the drain instead of being spread over Mr Webb’s land as was intended when the dam was constructed. T have made a survey and prepared a plan of Victoria-street. Dargaville, from the Kaihu Bridge to opposite the Public Hall. The plan will show the quantity of land on the river front which is not likely to be required for road purposes for some time to come. The track through the bush cut by Mr Dawson along the road to his place has become very much out up owing to its being narrow and the sun and wind not being able to dry up the wet on account of the bush not having been fallen ; therefore I would suggest that the bush be fil - led a chain wide as far as the road is used by Mr Dawson.—l have &c. Horace Hammond, County Engineer. It was resolved that notice be given that at the next meeting of the Council a drainage rate of fid per acre will be struck over the Tatarariki Drainage district. Cr. Cobbald moved that John Hendrickson’s tender be accepted for Leabourne’s drain and that the Chairman be authorised to arrange for an overdraft of £IOO to meet cost, the same with interest to be repaid Out of the drainage rates. —Carried. Besolved that the Clerk write to Mr Kidd asking him whether the opening of Leabourne’s drain will obviate the opening of his drain. The following accounts were confirmed:— G. W. Rogers £ll, F. Patterson £2O 6s, W. Teto £lO, F. W. Matthews £2O, Captain of Onyx £l3 10s, C. Richards £1 6s, W. Ringlose £8 9s, F. Filby £3 ss, H. Hammond £l9 3s 4d, R. Lendrutu £2 10s, F. W. Matthews £36. Total £l4B 9s 4d. The following accounts were passed for payment : —S. W. Stansfield £3 6s fid, Hendrickson £5 10s, F. Robinson £2 10s, J. Spence £7 17s 6d, J. Seymour £1 18s 6d, J. Anderson £1 1 s 6d, R. Widdup 7s, F. Peterson 19s, A Rogers 13s, Miscellaneous 14s, W. Watson £1 10s, G. W. Rogers £2 14s, J. McMulkiu £5 18s 6d, Office Expenses £1 2s lOd, Bowring and Lusher £5 ss, Audit Office £3 6s Sd, N. McLeod £5 18s 7d, A. Morton £1 I s 7d, N. Hendy £3, Auckland Hospital £9, Mitchelson Bros. £1 ss, J. Black £3, J. Fulham £1 18s, N. A. McLeod £8 10s 2d, Whitaker and Russell £5 2s, P. Black £1 Is, A. Under - wood £2 Ba. Total £79 2s 4d. Overdraft when above amounts are paid, LS7O 6s lOd. Resolved that the five pounds asked for by Engineer be authorised for Tatarariki road. The Council rose at 5.20 p.m.