WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 817, 12 July 1881, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

esgineek's report. Iliave the honor to submit tho following brief report-on the public works of the; Wairarapa West County. Mauriceviile south - roa with your instructions, ! have had this road repaired and ma e passable lor this winter, at a cost of £ls 3a, Opaki Manawatu road.—Mr Capman's contract (erection of three bridges on this road), is now completed, 1 except' the painters work, which the contractor has Rgreed to defer for two or three months. This arrangement has. -been- made* on account of the season being unsuitable for the work, especially iii tho bush, The timber also will be in much better condiI'tion for painting three months hence, than it is at present.- -Thebalance of the contract price, and deposits, ex'cept ils, to be held until painters work is completed, may notf be paid. Masterton O'paki road.-Mr. Donald McKenzie's contract, (forming and metalling eightytfonr chains of this road), was completed on the loth of last month. Tho works throughout are carefully and well executed. Wuiohine Bridge.—Owing to ill-health 1 am unable to submit for your considertiim at this meeting, the plans for the proposed new bridge over the Waiohine river, near Greytown. However; the plans are so far advanced that .I will be able to advertise for tenders for the erection of the bridge during the ensuing week. The iiew bridge will have three openings of 95 feet each in the clear.' The clear width between the trusses will be 14 feet. And from outtn out of wheel guards 12 feet. This width isnmple for a single track, a double track would increase the ; cost nearly one third. In order to get the piers of the new bridge parallel with the stream, it will cross the old bridge, necessitating a slight alteration in tho road at both ends, and the exchange of a small piece of land. • I have, &c.,. John King, ' BLACK BRIDGE. Cr McGregor explained that the present bridge not being at right, angles with the river, a new site would have to he taken for the new one about to be erected, which would make it necessary to exchange a small piece of land, I.EAVE OF ABSENUB. Tho Council unanimously agreed on motion of Cr McGregor, to give a fortnights leave of absence to Mr King, with a view to enable him to recruit his health, which has been indifferent latterly, WAIPOUA BRIDGE. Ihe Chairman referring to letter from under secretary, pointed out that this officer had. misapprehended the question to which he referred. It was agreed that the Chairman should answer the letter. I'UE MAYOR OF MASTERTON. Cr Boys said he had been requested by the Mayor of Masterton to state that a Conference had formerly been arranged between the County and Borough Council but that the representatives of the former body had not kept their appointment. [Cr Moore; I deny that]. The Borough Council would sooner, according to what the Mayor stated, extend their boundaries, and take in tho whole of the stream and provide for the bridge rather than have a toll gate there. Cr Moore said the statement of the Mayor was entirely incorrect, He had suggested to the Borough Council a convenient date for a Conference, but the Council fixed upon another day at an earlier date, and he personally had no intimation of the day tho Borough Council had fixed till the murning following it, Cr McGregur said he received no formal intimation <>f the day fixed by the Borough Council. He had been informally made aware of it, but in the absence nf Mr Moore, the Chairman of the Works Committee he did not think it right to attend. Or Hawkins thought it was a pity to fall out over a trifle, and moved that the County meet the Borough Council. Cr McGregor asked whethor the overture came frgm the Mayor or Borough Council. . ° Cr Boys could not say whether the Mayor had been authorised by the Borough Council to communicate with the County. The Chairman said that if the Borough Council desired' to communicate with them they would probably have written. Cr Phillips supported a conference, as it was desirable that the Question should be settled in the most amicable manner possible. The Chairman : Are we to postpone the .acceptance of a tender till We have consulted with the Borough Council ? Or Hawkins; No! We can l discuss ■with the Borough the question of ways and means, but let us go on with the bridge. It was agreed on the suggestion of Cr Phillips—That the City Council would meet the Borough Council at Masterton on the 23rd inst. PROVINCIAL AUDITOR. The report of the above officer was not of a very complimentary character, but as some confusion in' the books had necessarily arisen, through the illness of the late Secretary, the Council!'did not require any explanation- with respect to it. The report stated that the balances were correct, but that.the accounts were in many instances, not posted up in a sufficient manner. WAIPOUA URIDOE. Or McGregor inquired what position they were placed''in supposing the proposals of the Government became law. The Chairman understood that' 'works like those of the Waipoua and Black bridgexaine under the clause "district roads," and that they could borrow money for their qompletion. Or McGregor pointed out that in some instances the Government proposed to give £3 for every £1 raiseij locally. ' Ha j did not wish tlie Council to be excluded I from this benefit. ' Would it not be prudent to wait before deciding upon building! The Chairman expressed an opinion that they \voul'd have to \yait at least six ipcnths to come under any of tlje new schemes yhich" might bp passed by the House this session.' < ' '' ' v Cr McGregor wa§ favorable to accepting a tender for tl)e' Waipgua bridge but for delay with the Black Bridge, which was a tpuch fnore costly . • The Chairman feared the Government proposals yoiji'd nqt coifle to tfiijch. Cr.Phillips moved, that, the'consideration of the Waipoua tenders he postponed for a month, so that they might be dealt with in conjunction with those for the Black bridge. Cr Hawkins protested,against the' Ooum cil stultifying itself by going back from the decisions it had come to at previous meetings, Let them, instead of waiting on

providence, do the work , they had to perform.-. { ■The Chairman advocated accepting # , tender,; and intimating to.the Govern* ment that they did sp .pn the faith of the Government proposals, and of their being permitted to take advantage of them. The tenders were then opened. Mr Chapman's, at. £599, was accepted j: Mr Oashhian'fl, at £637 .68, and Messrs Tinaley and Inman's, at',£6so, were declined; rabbits; ,t The Chairman read. a telegram from Mr / Beethani, who wished the-opinion of the / Council as to whether the County, was the the best body to administer the Act and levy the rate. .V There was obviously a difference of opinion on the subjeot, and it was decided that it would not be fair to take up suoh Vfc a point at'a moments notice add. decide it,-' - ! ' Cr Jackson did not believe in having a rate at all, • Cr Boys asked whether the. Rabbit Trustees were to be abolished.... Or Phillips suggested taking the ques- - tion up at the conference ou the 23rd 'inst. ; V\ j-- ' Or Boys denounced' the proposal as fatal to all local self-government. It wa3 a leaf out of Napoleon's book " done at the Palace of St Cloud" . i r ' ; - Cr McGregor did not wish toßee.the Council tamed into a Babbit Board.. - Or Hawkins had no respect .'for the Rabbit Board he lived under. "It , was hopelessly inefficient, and he/vuuld be glad to see a change. Or Boys said that if the- Rabbit Trustees had a magistrate who would boldly and fairly carry out the law, they could put down the rabbits. ' ■ The Chairman said that in face of the opposition-manifested, ho must rule the whole discussion to be irregular! THE RANQITDMAU. It was unanimously resolved on the motion of Cr Moore—That in .apportioning any grants of money for the' opening of waste lands, the attantion ofi.the Government should be called to the Rangitumau block, in which there was a large extent of good land, and which was in the immediate neighborhood of Masterton, the principal town- in the Wairarapa, . , MASAVTATU PUNT, The Works Committee were authorised to report upon the cost of re-establishing-the punt at the Manawatu Ferry, and obtaining a . new wire rope to span., the river. The Council then adjourned.