WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 775, 23 May 1881, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

A meeting of Wairarapa West County Council was held on Saturday,last at the new offices, Carterton, j Present—Ors Pharazyn (chairman), F, H.-Jackson, J.-Donald, Coleman-Phillips, Moore, McGregor and Hawkins. f , ■ The minutes of the previous meeting' were read and,confirmed., , r - r . ...... SPECIAL MEETING.

; A special meeting had been Convened to receivo the (balance .ahoet ,for ; the past year. " | -It was reported-that-the--accounts had not been received back -frocq the auditor, and the chairman ruled" that tliey could not; 1 without the-signaturoiof .that .officer,-; be dealt' 1 It was resolved'jhat"i copy.of the following.minute.,be ffopy.arded to the, Coioftifii: j'l.S'ecfetary, Vviz.'special ; meieting : ,of itho' Council; haying;|een ;i duly| , . ; CQriv^nedjifcxwasrfoundjthat,--tiiejib^lanc© : auditor as' required the 'Act, clause'

133. It was therefore dcicided ; that the accounts could not be considered Council." iv '■ 'The Secretary was instructed to-'call the attention of the Colonial Seoretwy to the inconvenience cauadd' \Jy the auditor failing to carry out tlie iotl ?'ij ijp i MllliOW XIREs! ' \ The Masterton Highway .Board wrote asking the County to appoint Mr King to. act in the matter of vehicles with narrow titer passing through the Forty-Mile

The Chairman explained that it was necessary for the Highway Board to appoint Mr ffing.-v ( Cr Donald said that the Council were perfectly agreeable that Mr King should be appointed- by tho Board-. The Chairman ofjhe Masterton Highway -Board;- who stated that the-Board-Ws-vlry "willing to appoint Mr [.King., . • , .... _ /...CIIAKITABLE AID. ! " it. lettor' 1 was. received from John Jenkins ir prisoner 'serviygfa jgaol, asking tho Council', to insist .Jits wife, who".was in destitute .circumstances in 'MaSfortolV.';" -.'■J .!■/ j ' Or. Boys referred to a similar case which undar his notice ft I 'Carterton, ~' J •• jltrWjftß- decided ; to refer■> the pjrolijfttiro ■ to L tfie |enevolerit b'ociety/ / vAJA'jU

- , ~: . ; M AtfAWATU FERRY.. A letter was recoived from E, S, Maunsell, reporting the result of his visit to the'-Mamiwatii (Ferry,and stating that he had placed Mr Carver_ in charge. He ifecpinmended''thati. £ls:be jpfiiJ ja r s:¥oifi- - pensjition to; the natives for inpitplljhqujsei erected by them, and called attention to •the-objectionable-'practice -of collecting .lolls, „from ■ passengers,,.iii; coachos ; ., l ,:He of ; saiiiry,, ancl /suggested •af compromise .withjmn.i.;;'...,..-;! '■>:!•<[ rf'/'/ik ..Cr.-Moore stated' that'somejotlternatives . who .were non-residents hud come-down and given Mr clea'r 'oiit. He questioned whether Mr MaunSell IJ h'ad" a'u'cceettediia yet,iii settliily ; the'-'diificulty. They were not 'in a- position- as' collect ferry fees, and he quSstioii'M whether"tlie~y~icould' at present legally establish a.toll there.' jA-Higlnvay Board could establish ; aJ:dll, bijt it was doubtful whether a Oounty Council could.

Cr McGregor moved .that Mr Carver's appointment as-ferryman be confirmed, and that the sub-committoe.be..authorised to draw'up a scal : o of'feeSjSind bublislrtho iusual'aibtification of the same, so as to enable the ferryman to legally collect' fees, Ho thought the sub-committee could settle tho matter in a few days, and if they could not legally collect tolls they could collect ferry fees, which amounted to the same, thing. It might be prudent to compromise wilh tho witWes,jMyJ_hem a sumVf£2s,and "have done with them. The chairman pbinted out that another claimant had eome forward..

Or Boys said it was the duty of the Uovqnmiont ffi put theiifin "legal possesaion, and anyhnohey paid ought 1 to come from the Government. Or Phillips wished to know under what clauso ;Of McGregor proposed Jus; tion. ; "• f-.Xi. Or McGregor replied under tho 80th clauso,' ;: 1 ■: ' • ' ''' '<■ • Cr' Jackson-secmided :v Ci' McGregor's motion.- 7 J ' j Cr Phillips asked, that! legal advice should be obtained before sucli'i resold- , tion wdro put, ''' The Chairman snid.thcy were tho only persons .who could establish a ferry. at tho river!) If tliey could'not ao'it'uoioue else could. . . .. , ... - j The resolution was carried.' "

On tho point of paying Huru arrears of Balary, the ,Chairman .advocated, tho Oou ut ty, should MrMaunsell t,o : negotiate with; him 1 .,a5.: tho Government had informed,them;officially that tho difficulty was-settled. ;'lt. was better , ; for; Mr Mapnaell- to, pppprt direct to the Goyernnient. on.any further: difficulty which might arise!... ; ; •„ • Or McGregor stated, that; tiie claim,in question arose,out, of an arrangement between the Co'uneiband the natives, and should, as a matter of policy; and justicel, be satisfied out of the Giiunty funds. • w 1 The Chairman 1 objected to any negotik; • tion with the'natives mr the part" of- tlie Council. . ' ' ''

Or Hawkins said that he would bo willing to consider Buru'» claim 'on' its.' merits, after all Opposition public port of .the natives had beon withdrawn, but not till then. ■■■ - .-■■:'.■ ■ '..:;

; The Chairman proposed:—" Tht .the' Council having, been' informed by tho •Under-Secretary of the Native: Department 011 the Ist of April last that'the long-oxistiiig (liftienky (with rega'vd to the Manawatu Ferry) with llio -njitivc'9 has been removed, this Council is'not prepared, to instruct'Mr Maunsell to open any ft|'r-' titer negotiations .wiih litem on'its behalf, and having, confirmed Mr Carver's Appointment as ferryman will inst'ruc't liira,-fo retain possession.. That,as. the,, Council proposes to provide for tlie ckctimr of a now house and gate, it declines .tp piircliaso the existing ones.from tho natives.' Willi regard to Huru's claim of £25) the Council must decline to entei'taiii tlio .(piestion until -the ferryman litis been'placed in peacoablo poss'ossion. After this is " settled," the' Council "will" TioTispose'd' to favorably consider tho justice of the claim." ;£?Ufir Cr Mc Gregpr. proposed . as.in-, amenity .Till' "Mauiiscil bo informed the Council will be prepared 1 to pay Hunt the sum of 125 for past services, as a final payment; and- £ls-for-the-house. That Huru be given clearly to understand, that the Council wilVn'ot. i f'uHher consider any request by the Natives, The amendment was ldstibyjthe casliiig. vote of I 'tlio' Chairman' 1 ,! atidUh'e rdsolutioii carried, KETUItNISG oi'EiCER.

The Chairman thought that it would be as well to formally appoint Mr Oakley re-

turning officor. 1 : r ■' ■ •'■ i '; ' / Cr McGregor wished,, to know if Mr Golo had resigned his appointment to that OffiCO, ' ' . ; :

Mr Oakley was appointed on the motion of Or Phiilips, it being .iinderatood that no difficulty would.ariso in connection with the resignation of Mr Gold'.''

Ai'HiICATION TO GOVEIWSIENX."" .The. outward correspondence was read, and the. liulk Pf'it wa3 ! morely/of a rqufine] character. '. A .letter, from the Chairman to tho Minister Of Public Works was of spdcia'l interest/It forwarded tho.County; Engineer|s eali- r mate of expenditure, on toads' between" Opaki'ahd-Manawatu' ; for'-curreAl?iyeSrj' expressinga hope that tho amounb)rpuld be. placed on the estimates in full, as'nofh'intf less would keep.tho t roads.ppen for trafli.9; also the' Enaiiieer r s" (istitnatS 1 ' foi r 'abridge over tho Manawatu river, pointing out the risk of.losa.of life whichjyould...exist till-;- thisi rwotfkj was accomplished^;r,aUp. drawing attention'to tlie roadmaking .requiredju-tjis a view to briiig traMc Jo-railway'station. IfcTOs..i®.P<¥jible out of ordinary .funds; [audi.tj'vas'suggcsted that a subsidy equivalent to rateable valiJeiof;Nativeand.Or6wntiands;BhDt}ld': be given, and "expendituVs 'of-pmo confined.to the construction of new roads.

thatassistaiice would'b'e givonjjy tho.Gcroad, but"''tliat i^thWe J Chance of also|ro|ja^'t|at^^^

Parliament,-.would become law during the coming, session, >

( VIENGINEERS' ItEPOIiT, ; •it • -Thofollqwing roport was then read;— ! j V-Masterton, May 21,1881, j I ilTbefCjhairman Wiurafyjfojveif Oounty Council. • the honor to submit the MoWiiig report on the public. Works ois~ tho Wairarapa West Countyf.. '

Opaki to Manawatu road—Mr Donald "MSKenae'S^H^fOTtniS^iH^etaP. ling 8d whole of formation is coAiplet'e'di nnd 'ab.but 60 chains... . metalled! ;The-\vorks:so far ciited, i Miylj. contact—three 1 ' biidgb3.r4-T.li9 )vh|lb of,: thoj aliry'Snktcrmlsfor 1 thescr bridges nre li'vered at the respective sites; the piles for two; of the bridges are 'driven .j and the fl'anii p^ l7 of :! th"?; Sufp'e fa truot'uifeS r i6 p^«* asl9a> S 9(i} "M- . ! With the exception of the remainiiif 1 " old bridgiSn Ai?, ml k in faj'rly -good condition:-' 'f he-pLMiinji of tlieid bridges, wjhich is all rotten, is constantly breaking; the stringers also are verjrmuoh decayed. Ai great nj((ny}|fl)es]) propped up'in a .temporary manlier, ouUJP' ai they are rotten }:<juj ,;caßea, right through, they are still very insecure, jand unless by '-drivers of vehicles pasainglbvorithe bridge sirious accidents may occurtsi"u L l Ti'l

! Mauricevillo Roads. —Mr ' JamW'Harvey's contract is nj)W complete,.. The not fii'st : 'cla J S3V'tli'6' 'tfet l£J|i|th|ctor could obtain within a reasonable distance ,oi tlie ; ,\v,or : ky/. J iiicurred"by' to find niores suitable grauel. The same remarks apply to Mr R McKenzie's contract, (metalling 153 chains on this road, -'which is also completed), Thejworks ; 'tlirausihout are well and carefully exe'cu'fY il'nl i; vi>r r i (f Tiro rbad rnnning'through j the part of the Mauricoville settlement', which ,w'as liietallediab'uut'tw.oiyearS agO/lia'jlidw almost impassable A few pounds judiciously spent would save this important ,pjoce ofp'Mic fiPopertj) Erbitf Mhpdmpjetely riiine,d| and .at would ehable J *tlio"' seulers cttrts, traps/^.j)jdjnjpgj -winter months.

jMangaone Road.—Sir F. Chapman's contract''(drect'i6ri''bf fd'u? 'alniost completed. ,The works are well executed,

' Tlid'ftlled'.tiiiib'dr/oriithia-roa'djliiiG lias been burned, and;tl|e,.isidps sown with grass seed. iPahmtua Road'.— culverts, and formation 011 this road are now completed; the felled timber burned off, and the sidep .soiyi jvitn grasji .seqd< . j PropoM. J}WlPPl>»lKwi — A® e pd§d is an estimate of the cost of building a bridge * -i a i ibrau o.h- of :o tljo«Waipo'ui' rfver Mas'teftM l , arttlofcHot'-wbrkß'iinioon-njsction thfcreivith'. n I ptop'o|e>bHdgilis the stream by orib i)oft;Bpan:' ! ' !i ', *'■*' I I havfi'tlif iidjibr^'ffic.''/' 0 - ' ,^'"jfßHS K Kise, C.E.

I - I '-SrA.tJRICEVH>LE. >• Jis# «j I Cr of £2O out of tlie sla|ince,vijle special vote ,bb expended in rcparing the road leading into that settlement

: ! The Chairman considered tho rates of the Highway Board should maintain the iMauj'iceville: of ptiiioiplo.tho Qoun,ty | nioney except to construct new works. " | Or McGregor's resolution was earrie^.,

TAKING OVER COUNTY ROADS. ; \ •ji) >1 Tho adjourned" discission oty Cr Pliillipa' motion was resumed..., jCr Phillips said his .motion,'wap',that' the Forty Mile bush' important brijkei in .|he';Cquiijy'should be 'dUlarcd-<C»u|i^''|'y.ujs.' From the feeling of tlie district lie had concluded with ''thepermission'".of tho Council to divide hia motion, and fake first the question of

'the Forty Rii 1 ojßuall' tond(fr'orntho.Gamp ! t(> tlio western boundary of the OountyJ. He would move that''this bo -declared a Cjounty roiid. j driMofft'enflr seconded i the re&oltitiohM 7l}ho question bad been, debated, fully, .lie thought it'slioiilcl bo Bnallyr sottled, and the fairness' of the position must bo admitted. Tboy -bad-boon practically,pro:.. •[motors of the road all along, and it was ' .time they becifmojthg'legal frMrfelbh of lij, They would' relieve tho Mastorton Uiiiihway.Board at the samp timo,.frqm a 'responsibility ivliich d,iiglit" \iot : to^bo^- 1 placed upon it, '' '■ '''" > Tho ..Qhajrman saw no reason to alter ,llis origiiial'ii)iniiß. , ' ! Ho\aw no' r pD(slble 'gain on tho ono hand, and on the:ptW' there was a possible losS; . ; Tho,Masterton 'Highway Board had no real.liability with inspect; to iiie' .rllrfd] oi/ly ;o'ne, K .For, the.sake of .theoretical,uujfoc'.mi'ty, 1 th'tfy m t ust''riot , 'ac^pW'psitfoii 'Which would not work well in practice. •■Tlio Highway Board could force.them.to. tivke up. thq 'road if tho Board severed tjie Forly-Mile'tiilslf froiii ite fy|uuda{ ; ies, ;b'ut be doubted wbefl/er tho 'Government vjould cojnply. with a. p.elllioil, ; foV.cli : -A •division"' 'Tho "(jovornnicat.M»o!'.beeii maintaining, the - tit 0 Oouncil took"' legal' possession 'of "it, they would cease to t'ornmont could legiyjy;/byri'*!?li^p compel the maintenance by thqtQp.upty of .liiijal County roads,singly advocated (leaving? mattersiiafethey were. A resolution like the preaent'onoistultifiod the letter which flown t|o the Government afew days ago. i Cr Hawkins understood tho;Councilhad, t(efacto,''taken chargo of tho road. "Tho Government had provided th'efunds hitherto), and tho County expen.ded.-.themi ;tho.; Highway Board merely having the legal responsibility-■■ The] ooui}cil' (tfcejefore occupied an untenable' p'os'tion—it was, andyo,t,it was.uqf.in ,ch fir^e ( o£ lr t,ho_ The County lie thought" could' "put'as touch pressure the .011 ~ the Government to provide Mt'4he road, In his opii^jon ( tl|o n legal possqsaion of (ho road vvoiilct' weaken.their }ocm §tan<M with the, Gpvernjnoiit' The real gfoliiicl' oii ""wHicli went to tho Government .was tM 1 road wasja; colonial pup-JHo ; would therev fori, supporttb^resolutiflnjy[• | \ Cr Donald had been very "niucli:ftgainsc |ak ing J 1i.6 r ppnßib il i ty/op ,t thp, jQouncil. The thicat of llio Maafe'rtou Highwfiy Koard to throw oflj Bpsh . . would be ail hdyantage, irf.hiß?Dpinion,'by * '• calling tho attention of the Government . to the state of the district, _ The inent coi^ld ( malte uspof subsidies to maintam'kuch Y ~. might get niiglvt' bb'expended irf'iliat'dtf- ' '•' "trict. He sympathised with the Highway Board trying to get rid'of-it.. Let thorn 'do ißand LeUhe Government do what it Itliouglit 'lieslPm'llio matter, 11 ' Ed vfiMld< ivoto against the resolution,"': j Or Boys considered., that taking over {the road was a step in tho right direction; ilt would also removo heart-burnings with ithe Masterton Highway Board. ' He I would coidjaHy/yppprtithp .resolution. , } Cr Phillips, nr ( reply! said thatlCounjcillors had overlooked ono argument. He jdid not granted lon their rates ,wpjM be.ra jlteient for the jroad ii> ijuoafion/fajta | would have to add a special grant, The. jGovornmbnt could not, however, treat ' the Wairarapa West-Council •in any exceptional manner. in.,ordqr to .provide for ja particular road, but wduld have to . ■ i rood. If tlie Governmeni; Itiio County 'to they -

would simply refuse to obey, and ho himself would rather aoo the road closed than that they should bo forced to maintain it. on the voices, CrEhiilipsi.thWi/mived—IThat' 1 That' oil, imv' portant'bridge's iU the Couiity be declared County roads. It appoared that the general body of ratepayers- ; wero not disposed to trust tliam to dq moro'than,was (ibso-v-lutely ndCeSSary, 1 ' ! At /tho' prfes etit timo they would, not trust 1 them' with the full jiower they ought to havo,' Ho bowed to' popular opinion,,as he would be favorable to tho County gradually obtaining tho cotifidonco of tho public, and lie would ask leave to amend his motion .so'that, it;appliod only to tho -Waipoua and Waiohino bridges. He argued that bridges' and their approaches coijld be legally declaredCounty -.roads, lft;: tho-two .bridges -in question they would iiicludo so many chains of road on either side'of them. A certain amount,of joelingiiad arisen from the 'tTRUBfor-'-of the''VVaioiiiiie - 'toll-giite. Had * t hiS" br beah tftkeii "ov6i ; by the Couifty : fio f feitiiiif of tliis character would havo arisen;--'liwy ought toctcclare these two bridge? Couiity.,rp,idsjpo. that (they-

might.be,iu a.--position to,fix the centribu*l^?-. i i: wouidhave' to towlnrda them; : Or Boys seconded ■ tlie .motion, which was amon46d't6;teSi;that:jtho"'Waiohine Bridge and 10 ,chains of-road on each side •of it-and that'portidn of the road north of the 'Borough of Masterton as-far as tho Watyouaj and 10 chains beyond it be declared 'a Goiinty • Cr JJc.6rt)j(qr';fliquglit ijiisl proposal | piece of patchwork which" would lead to confusion. They could re-build both bridges without declaring them County roads.—-Unless they-were prepared to levy a Oourity.-iMo. they should not, take tho step recommended by Cr Phillips..Sweeping alterations would.be. less profitable than a waiting policy. Cr Boys siiid tliat they had been warned over and over'again-'that'tho Waiohiuo bridge was unsjifo,:rlf .it gavo way the Highway, Board .would have to replace, it, and'as tlio Board had nq funds to do the' work, jno.mpro than tiio Masterton High-wayi-JBijardMiad ty do. the Waipoua, he would support Or {Phillips' motiou. Cr -Donald thought' it would be. better to take -up all the-largo bridges in the County. He would Support amotion to that/'ettecty-but he would not vote for the two bridges specified without the others. Or 'Jackson : said' tho Waiohine Bridiio. was already provided for,by tho tolls He thoiigiit'tiie blidge should be re-built at once, the fulls ,Eeiug sufficient to guarantee tiiViiitorest. ; Tho Chairman asked, wlio was to say where the Waiohine river would -bo next year? It might not bo . within the limit of the proposed fen chains.' The inevitable result would lead up to the County superstuirig the Rtiad .Boards and absorbing tho main link of road piece by piece, Or'Phillips ■ thought Cr Donald had taken'.; up a very. proper position, Ho himself 1 Had 'only abandoned it to' meet tho popular opinion." . The motion'waS'lost'on tho' voices. 1 ' ' (Buknce of report will qipear in next issue.)