WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 24, 4 December 1878, Page 3

WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL

meeting of the County Council was hiltt at Waipawa yesterday at 11.30 a.m. There were present—Messrs Johnson (Chairman), Dillon, Levy, Sowry, Rathbone, Russell, and Lieutenant-Colonel Herrick,

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr Batkin, stating that a sum of £IB9O had been placed to the credit of the Waipawa County Council at the Union Bank, Waipukurau. A letter was read from Mr H. Ferguson, the new poundkceper at Takapau, asking for instructions as to fees, Ac., in reference to the pound. The clerk stated that he had sent the information. A letter was read from Messrs Dinwid«iie A Co., stating that they had charged little more than half what they were entitled to for publishing the byelaws. The account was referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

The Chairman said according to a statement furnished the sum expended on the Seventy-Mile Bush road, exceeded the amount of the Government grant. The County Engineer explained that the amount included liabilities. There was enough money left to meet all the works proposed to be undertaken. Mr Levy said there was £4700 voted for the road from Kopua to Woodville and the Bush settlements.

Mr Russell said the money voted last session was intended to open up country for settlement, and not for repairing roads. Mr Russell read :hc particulars of the appropriations. The Chairman was instructed to write to the Colonial Secretary, asking what money had been placed at the disposal of the Council, and for what purposes. In reference to a letter from Mr Speedy, of Wainui, the Engineer stated the reason the plan of the road was not laid before the Couneil was that the locality was not connected with the triangulation of the province. A plan of the road would shortly be made, and would be submitted to Mr Speedy. The deviation made in the road was to keep it on ground not liable to floods. The alteration was a minor one, it did not alter the area of the land taken, and in no way prejudicially affected Mr Speedy’s property. The matter was referred to the Engineer, to report at the next meeting of the Council, and communicate with Mr Speedy in the meantime.

A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the usual subsidies in charitable aid had not been paid by the County, and trusted that the Council would in future arrange with the Waipuktirau Road Board with reference to payments to the Hospital, without the interference of the Government. A letter was read from J. N. Wilson, as attorney for Mr Stokes, in reference to a dispute between the Road Board and Mr Stokes with regard to the main road between Waipawa and Hampden. The letter suggested that one or more member f the Council should meet the Chairmen f the Road Board to definitely settle the long-standing dispute. Mr Rathbone explained that the public used the road on sufferance. At the same time there was a number of roads laid ont through the block which Mr Stokes had never purchased. He thought the matter could be easily arranged. Mr Russell moved that the Chairman undertake to meet Mr Wilson, and the Chairman of the North Rua Taniwha Road Board to ascertain the position of affairs. Lieut.-Colonel Herrick was of opinion that Mr Rath!>one, the member of the district, would lie the best party to meet Mr Wilson and the Chairman of the Road Board, as lie was best acquainted with the circumstances. Mr Russell would most willingly amend his motion in the direction intimated, and moved that Mr Rathbone meet the Chairman of the Road Board and Mr Wilson, to endeavor to arrange a basis of settlement, to be submitted to the Council. The motion was agreed to. The Clerk stated that there was a sum of £1037 to the eredit of the Council in the Bank at Waipukurau. The Clerk read the engineer’s report of the progress of works during the month. Mr Russell said there would be a great demand for labor during the next few months, and lie thought the works should not be unduly pushed forward. He would suggest that, owing to the scarcity of lalx>r, the engineer be instructed not to push on any large works which were not immediately necessary. Mr Sowrv hoped his portion of the County would be exempt from the scope of the motion. Between now and February would be the best time for road making. W hat is to be done by the Council should be done within the next three months. At other m asons the district would lie soaking wet. After some further discussion, Mr Russell said he would withdraw his motion. His suggestion would not have interfered with any works which it was necessary to proceed with, only that the engineer should be empowered to study the convenience of the settlers in the various districts. With reference to Mr White’s application for a small expenditure on a road leading to his property at Porangahau, the Council was of opinion that the application could not be entertained, as the road in question was not a public one. With reference to a letter from Mr J. D. Hamilton, Tajioraite, drawing attention to the bad state of the road between Tahoraite and Kaitoke, and suggesting that a portion of the rates raised on the two stations should be expended on the road, the Engineer suggested that an expenditure of £3O l>e incurred in widening the bush clearing, the amount to be deducted from next year’s rates. The road is a public one. The matter was deferred till next meeting of the Council. A letter was read from certain residents in Patangata, with reference to a line of road, in which there appeared to be a mistake* as to the proper route. The W' . ,*s asked that the line should be properL so that they might proceed with their fencing. The entire length was about one mile and a half. From the report of the Engineer, it appeared that the Patangata Road Board had mistaken the eeutre pegs for the boundary' of the road, and that a sum of about £l2O lias already been expended in making culverts. Ac., on the mistaken line. The interests of the County would not suffer by adopting the deviation. Mr Dillon said flint the alteration of the

road was necessitated by the encroachments of the Waipawa River. At present there was no road to Tamumu. He would move that the whole matter be referred to the County Engineer. • The motion was put and agreed to. Messrs Rathbone and Dillon were appointed a Finance Committee, and the same gentlemen were appointed members, in conjunction with the County Engineer, to open tenders. Lieut.-Colonel Herrick was appointed to sign cheques on behalf of the Council. Accounts to the extent of £1,020 were fassed, subject to the approval of the inance Committee. In reply to Mr Rathbone, the Chairman said no report had been received from the Dog Inspector, nor had any moneys been paid in by him during the month. Mr Levy said it was time that steps should be taken to appoint a valuator for the County. The valuation had to be completed by the 15th of January next, and as the next meeting of the Council did not take place till the 7th of January, it would not be advisable to postpone the matter till then. The Chairman said the Council had no power to appoint a valuer for the whole County, but only for the outlying districts. The Road Boards would undertake the j valuations, and the Council would adopt them. Lieut.-Colonel Herrick said they were not bound to accept the valuation of Road Boards. The Chairman, after reading the Act, was of opinion that they were bound to accept the valuation of the Road Boards. He thought it was a pity that the Council had not the power of making a uniform valuation. Mr Levy moved that the Chairman be empowered to obtain the services of a valuator for the outlying districts, and that he should call for tenders for the office.—Agreed to. Mr Russell moved, and Mr Dillon seconded, that a return be laid on the table at the next meeting of the Council, showing the total expenditure on the different lines of roads within the County, and all contributions received from persons in regard to same.—Agreed to. Mr Sowry moved, and Lieut.-Colonel Herrick seconded, that the Finance Committee inquire upop what terms the local banks will undertake the banking account of the Council. Mr Russell gave notice that he would move at the next meeting of the Council that the question of subsidies to Road Boards and private settlers in thinly-peo-pled districts be taken into consideration. Lieut.-Colonel Herrick gave notice of alteration in Bye-law No. 3. The Council then adjourned.