COUNTY COUNCIL EAST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 140, 22 April 1879, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL EAST.

A,meeting,of the ibove 1 Council was held, in the Highway- Board Office yesterday.'. 'V;''

Present—Mr Beetham(chairrf)an); and Crs Maunsell, Meredith,' Wingato, Bunny and Pharazyn. The minutes of-the_previous meeting were read and confirmed

CORRESPONDENCE. Outward. Letter re scab in Nativo Districts.' To the Minister of Public Works re payment of contractors in County East. To the Clork of the Masterton Borough Council re plans of new Council Chambers. To the Waiohine River Board re inability to subsidize the Board, Inward. ' 1 From Treasury, stating that the sum of £440 was placed to the credit of the County. From John Groves, jun,, objecting to the Mungapakeha road passing through a paddock belonging to him without compensation. From Coroinandel County Council, advocating hospital maintenance throughout the colony out of colonial funds. Certificate from Mr King, stating that Mr Petherick was proceeding satisfactorily with his contract for building the Council Chambers. treasuree's report. The Treasurer read the following report : Sir,—l liavo the honor to report that, in accordanco .with the , Act, tho halfyearly and yearly balance sheets have been forwarded to the auditor, and a special meeting of the Council will have to be held in May to consider the same.

. On the 21st ult, the overdraft at tho Bank amounted to £423 3a Bd, since which,time the sum of £440 has been paid in the credit of the County by Government on the Mungapakeha vote. The amount of money available for future expenditure on contract Mungapakeha is between' £600 : and after allowing for expenses of survey. Tho position of the general account, as shown in the statement of the assets and liabilities, on the 31st March, is credit balance £51619s 3d, but the account will probably remain overdrawn for sometime, until tho special loans aro raised

I think it advisable to keep a separato banking account of the special loans, as that appears to be the intention of the Act, and it simplifies the working of tho accounts. Present overdraft £213 3s Bd, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, R, Wilsone, Treasurer.

The Chairman, W, E. County Council. PROPOSED WHAKEAMA. HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

The Chairman submitted to the meeting a mass of papers re the proposed Whareama Highway District, the petition for which had been referred to the Oastlepointßoard, whichhad pronounced against it, and had then been referred to the Masterton Highway Board, which opposed it, and was now submitted by the Government for the opinion of the Council. Or, Pharazyn: Cannot we refer it to someone else ?

The Chairman explained that tho proposed new district was partly within the boundaries of the Castlepoint Highway District and partly within the limits of the Masterton Highway District. The document was signed by 15 persons, who represented 50 votes. Cr Meredith pointed out that the Castlepoint Highway Board gave no reason for its opposition to the proposal; The principal argument in favor of it was that die Lower Whareama was entirely without roads, and the rates it : had contributed to the Masterton Highway Board had not been expended in the Ward. The time and intelligence of the Council was then somewhat severely taxed in deciphering some caligraphy of Mr Andrew, in which that gentleman opposed the formation of the proposed new district. Or. Meredith claimed that there was a complete identity of interest oil the part of all who signed the petition. Numerous applications for roads in his district had been made to the Masterton Highway Board, none of which had been complied with. The Castlepoint Board, on the other hand, spent what little money it had on the Blairlogie road, which was useless to the settlers in the Lower Whareama. He moved—That this Council approve of the proposed new Highway District,

Cr Maunsell-saw one objection only to the proposal, viz,, that the new district would have on its hands a considerable length of the main road, and it would not bo strong enough to maintain it. Cr. Wingate moved as an amendment— That it was not desirable, in the interests of the County, to proclaim the proposed now district. He urged that if the district were proclaimed the rates in it would be diverted from the main thoroughfare, which would become neglected, Or, Meredith said that the raising of the debentures iu the Lower Whareama for the loan depended in a great measure upon the new district being adopted. The Lower Whareama could not get a road to Masterton without going through the Castlepoint Highway District, and the latter would not help them.

Cr. Pharazyn supported the amendment. He admitted tho Lower Whareama had a fair ground of complaint, but they had another remedy. He objected to cutting the County up into weak Soad Boards which. would. ultimately have to amalgamate again. .He also pointed out topographical objections in the plan of the proposed new district.

The Chairman agreed with Cr. Pliarazyn. The Lower Whareama settlers were doing themselves an injustice by the proposal. He admitted that they had a claim on the Masterton Highway Board, and he understood that the members of that Board not only admitted it, but were prepared within tho next few months to expend the sum due to the Ward. If the Lower Whareama did not get justice from the Board he would support tho petition; He read a return from the Masterton Highway Board, showing that on tho Alfredton Ward there was a balance due of £47; on the Masterton Ward there was a balance owing to the general account of £1098; on the Opaki Ward a balance owing of £9l; to the Wainuioru Ward a balance due of £32; to the Gladstone Ward of £9; and to the East Coast Coast (Lower Whareama) Ward, L 558 6s lid. ; The amendment was then carried on the voices.

THE BLACK Hilt LINE, . The followiner report of Mr King was read

Masterton, 21st April, 1879. To the Chairman of the Wairarapa East Couuty Council.' '"

Sir,—l have the honor to report that the survey for formation of that portion of the Masterton to Oastlepoint road from

the Mungapakehti Valley to/ Tenui, is now completed, Tenders have been received for two miles of ihe work, but owing from instructions from you npt to accept any tenders, tliey have been held over. Mr Price's tender is .the lowest, and is a very reasonable one; he is a thoroughly competent man, who may be expected to carry out the works in a satisfactory manner, The length of the road from its junction with the Uiriti road to Tenui is four miles and forty-three chains. The length of the proposed road as now- located by the Mungapakeha Bridge and the valley of the Whareama river, is five miles and 90 chains. It will thus be seen that the •saving in length efiected by adopting the direct route would be one mile and 27 chains. The ascents on the road which I have located over the hill amount to 19ft. more than the ascent on the other line. The severest gradient on my line is 1 in 15-6, and the severest gradient on the Whareama line is 1 in 10.18. Besides, the advantages enumerated above, the direct line is on much sounder ground than can be obtained anywhere else in that neighborhood. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, John King,

The Chairman stated that the amount available for expenditure on the lino was LCSO. The lowest tender (Mr Price's) wasLGBO. LIOOO would, after the LGSO hadbeen expended, berequired to complete the line to Tenui. The LIOOO could only be raised by loan, and if, as he understood, settlers were dissatisfied with the road, and did not raise the money, the L 650 would be thrown away.

Or. Maunsell wished to know from Mr King the distance the Black Hill road wentthrough Mr Groves' land.

Mr King could not speak accurately without his Hold book, but he thought about half a mile. The Lower Whareama line was not only longer, but the ground softer and more uneven, Two bridges on it would, in his opinion, be required over the Whareama River, which together would cost from a thousand to twelve hundred pounds. He could not, if the Black Hill line were not adopted, recommend the Council to adopt the Lower Whareama route for these reasons.

Cr. Wingate complained that Mr King had misled them os to the difference in length of the two routes, and recommended that a proper survey should bo made of the lower road. .

Cr, Maunsell believed with Mr Wingate that they had been grossly misled by the Engineer, who had reported at a former meeting that the Black Hill line was 2 miles and '2*J chains shorter than the lower road, whereas now they found that it was only 1 mile 27 chains shorter. Mr King, too, had made a detour from ■the Black Hill through Mr Groves' land, which was unauthorized by the Council, and involved it in an additional claim for compensation. It was also wrong to have called for tenders without submitting the plans and specifications to the Castlepoint Highway Board, in accordance with a resolution passed in July last. He stated that unless they had money to carry the road through the present contract would be useless, as Mr Bennet would fence right across the road. He would moveThat no tender be accepted at present for the Black Hill line.

The Chairman had gone over the line with Mr.King, and quite approved of the detour made on Mr Groves' land. It was Mr King's duty to take the best line available.

Cr. Wingate seconded Or. Munsell's proposal, and advocated Mr King taking levels on the Lower Whareama road.

Cr, Pliar:izyn took exception to the remarks made by Cr. Maunsell respecting their Engineer. In the first place, the Council had asked Mr King to give, against his will, a guess as to the length of the Black Hill route, and then, because a subsequent survey did not confirm the guess, Cr. Maunsell most unfairly blamed the Engineer. 'His impression was that Mr King, in the first instance, told them that the line might be lengthened, with a view to obtain easier grades. In his opinion Mr King had been consistent throughout in his statements, It was nonsense to compare the length of the. lower road with that of the Black Hill line without taking into consideration that the steepest grade in the former was 1 in 10, and in the latter lin 15, If the grades were made equal the lower road would have to be lengthened, and the result would be a difference which would confirm Mr King's original rough estimate. He would not vote for the adoption of any but the Black Hill line. He blamed the Whareama settlers for harping on little differences. If they did not have the Black Hill road he believed they would get no road at all, and the result would serve them right. If the two Councillors who represented the neighborhood chose to take the responsibility on themselves he would not opposo them, but let it bo distinctly understood that all responsibility rested on them in the matter.

Cr Wingate contended that the fault did not lie with the Whareama people, but with the Council's Engineer. The Chairman expected he should be called upon to give a casting vote, The LGSO had to be spent, and if the settlers in the Lower Whareama were not prepared to accept the Black Hill line and to raise the money by debenture for its completion, it would be better for the public interests, in his opinion,- to. spend the L 650 elsewhere in the lower Yalley. After tome further discussian it was resolved on the motion of Cr Maunsell, seconded by Cr Wingate, " That the County Engineer be instructed to examine the road by the Lower Whareama as laid off by Castlepoint Highway Board, or any other line leading to Tenui, and report to Council, and that in the meantime the acceptance of the Black Hill tenders be postponed." The Council, after passing the following accounts, adjourned. PAYMENTS,

L S. D. Insurance on offices 1210 0 Brown &' Turner, advertising 22 0 W, H, Smith, printing 7 7 0 Kibblewhite Bros,, repairs to buggy: ... 15 0 0 Wairarapa Daily,advertising 13 9 0 Lyon and Blair, printin? debentures ... 10 12 6 Masterton Highway Board, sum advanced . 27 0 *7 McCarthy and Falloon, hire... 3 2 0 Wairarapa Standard 6 18 0 Bish, drawing paper 0 15 0 H. Bannister, rent of offices... 20 16 0 Lyttelton Times, advertising,.. 016 0 West CoUnty Council, advertising: 3 6 0 Thos Guerin, balance contract and extras, Mungapakeha 232 5 0