WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 511, 9 July 1880, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY

-council:' A meeting of the above took place at the Council Chambers, Carterton, at 11 a.m., yesterday. Present-Crs 0. Pharazyn, (Chairman), F. G. Moore, D. McGregor, Coleman Phillips, H, H, Jackson, Jas, Donald, B. Boys, and Thomas Benneti

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, The Chairman aiid there was nothing important to consider that day beyondfinancial proposals, Government had now made proposals in the Financial Statement. The Council would not Have sufficient figures before tlisui that day to show how matters stood, but it would-be evident that if proposals were carried, and acted upon, it would,mean closing the road through the Bush, and as these proposals were not yet passed anything emanating from the Council would have weight, and it would therefore be advisable to pans a resolution on the subjeot. Ho alluded to timber beingsent from Carterton now by rail, winch would do away with one of the difficulties in : maintaining the maiu road and Black Bridge, . ' CORRESPONDENCE,

Inwardß—From fluri Te Iro, Manawatu Ferry, saying he had received a letter in June, complaining of the unsatisfactory state of the ferry, and stating he did not like receiving such an abrupt letter, and declined giving up the ferry to Mr Carver.—From *Y, Dale, Chairman Patea County Council, enclosing a resolution relative to the appointment of County Councils as Land..Boards.—From . R Fairbrother, re Te Ore Ore contract.— From Chief Surveyor's office re deviation in survey of roads in Pahiatua Block; From Public Works office re Wainhine bridge at Matarawa.—From the same re the overflow of river at Opaki, stating that the Minister could not agree to any portion of the £SOOO vote being taken for the purpose ; letter from Wairarapa East County Council, enclosing resolutions passed at last meeting re holding conference between two Councils relative to.amalgamaof Counties; from same, re leave of absence to County Engineer j from A, R, Bunny, solioitor, re staying of monies on Harvey's contract, and enclosing injunction from JA.M, Court. The outward correspondence since last meeting was then read.

The Chairman stated he had interviewed; the Under-Secretary, Mr Lewis, in reference to the native difficulty at the Manawatu Ferry, and wm informed that Mr Maunsell would be sent up to arrange matters with the natives.

After a good deal of discussion, it was decided to reply to tho natives that Mi Maunsell had been instructed to see them, and it was also resolved to send the! folresolution to the Government

Proposed by Cr Boys, seconded by Or Phillips—" That this Council again urges upon Government the necessity for immediate action being taken to place the Council in a position to manage the Manawatu Ferry, between Masterton and Woodville."—Carried.

The Clerk was instructed in sending this to refer to all previous correspondence on the matter, and point out what the delay has been in the matter.

The Clerk was directed to acknowledge the receipt of tho letter from the Patea Ceanty Council. Cr .Phillips said a Bill was to be brought before the House dealing with waste lands of the' Crown in the South Island. This Bill had little chance of being brought into law, but he did not see why County Councils could not perform the duties of Waste Lands Boards. He had given a good deal of attention to this matter,'and in his opinion Councils could deal much better with Wnste Lands than the present Lands Board.

The Chairman said the Waste Lands Board wag aim a means of giving affect to the Commissioner's edicts,

Or McGregor was of opinion lands would be better dealt with by Council. Cr Phillips gave notice that matter should be dealt with at a future meeting. The consideration of the resolution of the Patea County Council was allowed to stand over until next meeting, when the question will be discussed.

In reference to Waiohine Bridge at Matarawa, it was stated in Public Works Office letter that timber for bridge had been purchased, but no governing body had taken steps to procure land! on each side (or bridge purposes. The Clerk was . instructed to acquaint the deputation re encroachments of Waipoui at Opaki with the contents' of Public Works Office letter. 1

Or McGregor proposed, seconded by Or Moore—That this - Council endorses fchi action of County East as to granting leave of absence for six weeks to Mr King, the County Engineer,' if required,, on the grounds of iMealth,—Carried,

• ACCOUNTS PASSED FOR PATMBNT. McGregor Bros., timber, repairs, L 76 14s 9d; Coffey & Dixon, boat Manawatu Ferry, L2O 9s; Brigga & Co., goods, L2O lis; W. O'ullen, first progress payment, building office .at.Eketahuria, L 5; Featherston Highway Boord, amount of Waihenga,Hotel license, L3O.

An account from.R. Wakelin,.advertising,' 'LB 14s 3d, was referred back .'to .enable; copy, of advertiaQhaorifs 'to i be attached to vouchers,

: ; • '• EKQISBER'H REPORT. i: ThoEngineer's report, was,then read, ■and mllappeir in our next issue; ••£ • • .r. ft wm. proposed and seconded—That this Council having considered I he pro l ■ contained] in the Statement for dealing, with-local' wants is of .opinion!'that*. tKejr:;'Will;' eritiraly 'fail! .to, 'meet'the as Opuito lunmtu ii comrnid. Xhey

wolildilherefore urge, upon the Gorernment'ihe necessity for re-consideration of their (proposals, as, if -insisted upon, the 't road,'must inevitably become impassable. Thejfepuncil wishes it to be distinctly understood that the grounds on which they, make this representation is that the road is one of a col6nial, not of a local character,, and that passing, ut it does, lands, it is quite impossible that iti maintenance 'can.>b>-prori3edfofr rates. .. Oj^JJlcGregorJully__afrescLwith the matters should be gone into thoroughly as, regards'the state of County -as'.a whole before sending, it to Government. He thought Tatleru and RangituraaiTdistricts should be was the time Wj makef proposals to the Government. He fully agreed with the resolution, but would like to see it extended. rf > ; The Chairman said he intended to keep the resolution in abeyance until exact figures'were ascertained. He thought it would be better to keep the two questions .distinct,,, , ; 1 ''Or matter siould be gone, the FortyMile Bush road would be supported by ' colonists. In England each parish maintained its roads. The roads were made , by ; the people, ,but, were not. The Councij Wouid upon the general revenue for bridges,' He'believed : the Co,uncil would have to keep the Taueru and reads of that description themselves.

; ;. ;The resolution was then put and carried, the clerk beitij» directed to send the figures to the Chairman^£hd'he would forward them to th^OjV^rnme^t.

DEPUTATION. Mr A. Falloon attended, and wished to know why; his tendeuwas not accepted, it being the lowest. He produced statement! whioh shewed that on several occasions he had tendered, and, although the lowest, had been refused] < He referred to Crs McGregor and Moore as having a prejudice against him, and asked the Council now what reason they had for refusing. The Chairman said no doubt the Works Committee report would throw some light on it, and it was therefore i'read.'r—[Will be published in.our next]. , Cr Moore stated that they were not bound to accept the lowest tonder. They had accepted the tender of the person they thonght would execute the work in the best manner. They,had always decided with impartiality. /; i/' If;

Cr McGregor supplemented the remarks of Cr Moore, stating that persons ian away with the idea that the lowest tender must be acoeptid. He might add that Mr Falloon was wrong in stating that he (Cr McGregor) had acted in a partial manner on acsount of the successful tenderer purchasing timber from hit mill. The successful tenderer stood towards him exactly in the same light as Mr Falloon.

Cr Moore also stated that according to the report; it would-be/;seen >;that a tender for Stony Creek bridge had been taken at a higher rate than the lowest tender received. The Committee knew that the; two bridges required to be pushed un immediately, and they thought if they Ist th«' two contraoti to one contractor it would cause some delay. Cr • Phillips was of opinion that Mr Falloou's complaint was noi so muoh that his tender.had not been accepted as refusing the lowest,tender.; In Cr Phillips' opinion the lowest .tender * should be accepted. •

Cr Boys, could fully endorse the remarks that had fallen' from Cr MoGregor, and cited some of his own experiences, notably, in Dixon'scontract on the Te Ore Ore, < - V

The Chairman agreed with Crs Moore and McGregor that it was not advisable in all cases to accept the lowest tender. It was, however, a mistake that contractors sometimes fell 'into, that 'because work was advertised for, tho lowest tender would be accepted. There was no doubt the committee had deviated on good grounds.

It was resolved—That the Council inform Mr Falloon that the Sub-Clommittee of tho Public the tenders in consequent ;of,;tmie being an object, and MrFailooii riot boing known, to them as a bridge contractor. ■ Mr Falloon was therefore called in and the Chairman stated to him what had already fallen from Councillor and read the resolution to him. ■ '

Mr Falloon then uiade'a long statement stating that he was a bridge contractor and that he had put up over L 2,000 worth of bridges in the Whareama.'. 1 Cr Phillips was of opinion they'should add to the resolution, " that' this Council has undoubted confidence in tho integrity of the Works Committee,'. 1 but the .Chairman said that had-already,been stated by the whole of the Council arid therefore it did riot signify adding it to the resolution. -

Mr M. Nielsen's request, contained in Public Works Mportj was granted, subject to decision of Engineer as to when tho work is to be proceeded with; Remainder of report in next ime.)