WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 October 1881, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

(Concluded,) engineer's report. I have the houor to submit thn follow inn briof report on the publio works o the Wairarapi West County. Opaki-Manawatu road.—Except th bridges the whole langth of this road i in fairly good ordar. During the lai three months I have had a great deal o the scrub, which was growing close ut; to the road surface cut down, this ha already proved very beneficial. Whei the proper time arrives I propose burn ing the scrub and sowing grass seed. Oi a section of the road near Mauriceville large number of pigs and cattle ar allowed to stray. These destroy thi embankments, and fill in the drains ti such an extent that th« man located ui that section has been employed abou half his time repairing the damage dune I propose during' the ensuing week ti advertise for tenders for tho erection o two 30 feet span bridses, and a largi culvert, and embankment. These work will be on the section of road betweei Mauriceville North and Eketahuna. Main road from Opaki to Camp.—Th part of thi*B road which was formed am metalled about four or five months ago has received little or no attention Bine the completion of tho work, and conse quontj the road is very much out o repair. In order to securo a good han even surface, th# large stones should bi broken and the ruts filled in as soon a possible. Eketahuna to Alfredton.—l had occa sion to pass over this road about a twee! ago, I found it in much better conditioi than I expected to find it. On the firs eight miles the slim are very few am light, and if the drains were cleaned on little more would be required to make i fit for the summer traffic. On the thre miles at the Alfredton end the slips ar much larger and more numerous, th drains and culverts are choked up witl enrth and rubbish, and the drains ii plates are quite full of water, which ex tends in some cases a considerable dis tanee on the road bed. Manawatu ferry.—The works in con nection with the punt at the Manawat Ferry are now completed. The punt ha been thoroughly repaired, and put ii good Trorkinc order. All works in con nection therewith havtt been executed 11 a workmanlike and substantial manner. Waipoua Bridge.—The piles for on pier of the Waipoua Bridge are driven and material placed on the ground. Waiohine Bridge.—Part of the materia for this bridge is delivered near the site and the contracter is preparing to com menee pile driving. CATTLE STRAYING. . It was resolved that notice be given tha cattle straying on the Mauriceville roai trill be impounded. I BRIDGES I | The Engineer tinted that a conaiderabl number of bridges still required to b> replaced on the Bush road. The Chairman said they had £3.000 ti expend, and the sooner this work wa pushed on the better, taking the mos urgent cases first. Cr Hawkins sdvised that a notice hi placed on each bridge limiting the weigh which the Counoil considered tncli strnr ture fit to carry. This, in case of acci dent, would limit the responsibility of thCouncil. Cr McGregor: Some oMhe bridge would not carry tven a coach horse. The Engineer stated that nriginnll; there were over a hundred bad bridges planking which he had taken up wouh not bear its own weight, and the joist. would not hold nails/ From 50 to fil bridges were still in a rotten state. O the £3OOO available, £I2OO would bi required for maintenance. Cr McGrewr thought they shnuli spend ae much money as possible on nev works, postponing the maintenance for i time. • _ Cr Hawkins protested that neglectini maintenance would he a suicidal policy, mTAHONA-AIFREDTON ROAD. It was resolvid that the EnEineer' report on this road be referred to thi Mastertou Highway Board. WAIPOUA OVERFLOW. The Engineer said he had notnoticei any further damage lately to the road, bu if the overflow were allowed to continui damage would he done. Cr Hawkins held that if the Count; gave money they must have their Engi neer's certificate te the work which the; proposed to carry out. The Chairman said that their experienci at Hurunuiorai.gi should teaoh them i lesson not to undertake any work except ing in accordance with their Engineer'! advice. It was resolved-That the Council couli not consent tn divert the sum voted, fo: road repairs to stopping the nveiflow. It wai proposed that the County Engi neer be sint to repoiton the overflow. ; Or McGregor said;that;frta-were Btin

fhfl settlers there, should form a rivervrd, ' , I was resolved—That the Council rejrcKed that it had no funds at its disposal "or preventing the overflow of the Waiaoua river. JES3RB BACON AND WRIQLEY'S COMPLAINT. The Engineer thought that the alteraion was in Messrs Bac»n and Wvigley's favor. There would be a bet' er egress "or water now than formerK They lied, built their mill on a site which vi'ould he ilways liable to flood. Or Mcliregor sixggeßtecl either some cul rerts should be put under the road or a water-table formed. He thought also ilmt the County should fill in the road opposite their premises, as by raising the evel of the road they had made the access ;o the premises difficult. The engineer was instructed to carry )ut Or 'McGregor's suggestions'as far as night be practicable. TREASURER'S REI'ORT, The Treasurer's report was then dismissed. It estimated the expenses of management to March 31st, 1882, as follows £ a d Salaries 137 0 0 Election 80 0 0 Travelling expenses 39 0 0 Printing advertising and sundries 50 0 0 If no fresh works were undertaken luring the ensuing half year the County' ivould be in debt 1900. At date there ivas a credit balance of £1254 0s 9d. The following accounts were passed for pnyinent

ABU F. Chapman 114 0 0 J. King 4113 4 Incidental ezpensos ... 4 19 A. MoLeod 12 10 5 D. MeLachlan 10 0 0 E. W. Esannv 6 6. 0 Blumioll Bros 2 19 0 W. Dawson 36 7 6 W. Alexander 2 0 0 H. Flitcher 8 15 0 B. Byrorson 9 2 0 S. Lind 9 2 0 J. G, Palmer 9 2 0 H. Mauns 9 2 0 C. Ernckson 6 IB 0 W, B. Thompson ... 716 0 3. Hefty 6 3 0 J. Carroll 1 13 0 J. Caahman 1513 0 P. Camelly 8 4 3 A. McLeod 7 6 3 J. Holsten 4 19 Collens 2 15 8 National Insurance Co. 0 IB O Eealharaton Highway • Board 09 2 10 H. H. Wolters 20 16 8 RWakelin 110 0 E. H.Chinclien 6 4 6 Taratahi Carterton Highway Board 90 18 8

LAND FUND. Tho Clerk was instructed to .writs ti he Waste Lands Board for a statemjsn if accounts of land sales ou deferred pay nests. IMPREST ACCOUNTS. It was resolved on the suggestion of the Provincial Auditor, as to Engineer's imirest account, that Mr King furnish the Council with a bond, one surety in £IOO. FORAGE. It was also resolved on the passing of iccounts tint Mr McLeod (the County )verseei), be allowed £2 per month for orage and travelling expenses. THE OPIKI BRIDGE. The Cieik was also instructed to write ;o the Minister for Public Works, referring to bis former letter on the subjtct md requesting that the bridge over the Ituamahungn at Opaki be painted. THE MANGATAINOKE. The Chairman having drawn tho attention ul the Council to the advisability of laying off a road from the Mangatainoke to llis Gorge, it was resolved that the Government be requested to carry a direct line of road from som» point near the Mangatainoke township reserve to the, Manawatu Gorge, so as to make the Gorge Bridge accessible in case of floods, and to open up the block of Crown land on the south side of the Manawatu Biver in this County. Engineer reported that the survey of road authorised at the Mangatainoke was being proceeded with. BRIDGING THE MANAWATU. Cr McGregor having mooted the question as to whether if the preceding resolutions were forwarded it might interfere with the bridging (if the Manawatu River, the Chairman expressed an opinion that it would be some years before the Government voted the requisite sum for tho latter purpose, JTIIE WAIOHINE BRIDGE.

The Engineer reported that he had surveyed the land for the bridge over the Wniohine river, and the Chairman reported that tha grant riot havine matured there would he no difficulty in getting it, It waj therefore rosulved that the plan, when prepared, be sent to Mr Marehant with a request that he would take tho road in accordance with it. THK GENERAL ELECTION. After a short discussion ai to the general election for councillors, which takes place next month, and arrangeI moots as to the holding of the first, meeting after the election, the Council dispersed shortly before five o'clock. It is a fact that Messrs Gardener and Son sold last season more sheep shears than the whole of the Wairarapa stovekeepers combined, and this season it is their intention to offer the 100 dozen pairs which they have imported at less than Wellington wholesale prices. We cannot understand how this well-lmown firm sell all their goods 60 wonderfully cheap Their stock is splendidly assorted, and we would call special attention to their magnificent stock of drapery, which surpasses any we lmve yet seen in the Wairarapa. —[Advt.l A trip to the Empire City may not only be made pleasurable hutprofita'ile. To those who can combine business with pleasure, it must he gratifying to inspect the large stocks of seasonable Drapery and Clothing, such a3 can lie seen only in a vast centr° of population like the City of Wellington. Visitws from the Wairarapa will find one of the largest and best selected at Jama Smith'* Te Aro Horn.