WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 934, 25 November 1881, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY.

The first meeting of the newly.eleoted Council was held on Wednesday last at noon, Present-Ors Pharazyn (Chairman), Booth, Macquarrie, Boys, Donald,. McGregor, and Chamberlain!- The Clerk, as Eeturning Officer, reported .the:.result of the late.election, includinu the iiamepf Cr Jackson who had been elected, urir. opposed on the previous day. :; ELECTION'OF CHAIRMAN. •' '■'

Or Booth moved that. Mr Pharazyn" be re-elected. -Cr McGregor seconded the motion. It was a just compliment to pay to Mr Pharazyn. They all appreciated the energy which ho had displayed in the discharge of his duties," and the interest whioh he has shown in the welfare of the district as a whole, Much of the good which the Council had accomplished was due to Mr Pharazyn's services.—Cr Pharazyn beforo putting the resolution oxplained that he expected to leave for England in March next. If it was the wish of the Council that he should retain the chair till that date, he should be most happy to do so. With-two or three new members it might be an .advantage for him to accept the chair till then. He had taken a deep interest in the County work, and'he was glad to find from the expressions of Or McGregor that his services had ken appreciated. The resolution appointing Cr Pharazyn was then carried unanimously-—The Chairman elect then thanked the members of the Council for the honor conferred upon him. fle was glad to retain their confidence, and he trusted that they gave him credit for. haviny studied the interests of the County in any course he might have taken. (Applause), Few public bodies had worked more cordially together than tho Wairarapa West County Council (hour! hear I), It was nonsense to suppose that nine men coming from all parts of the County, were likely to do any injustice to it as a whole. He had every reason to be satisfied with the fairly satisfactory results which tho County had achieved during the past three years, They had met every want that it was practically necessary to supply, and they had been able to do a good deal towards settling the more remote parts of the district. Their view hud been not to theorise, but to do tho work that came to their hands. They might have taken a more popular course by spending money in centres of population, but this wouid not have been for. the ultimate good of the district. He was perfectly satisfied that in time the Wairarapa would carry a largo population, and their policy was to give room for pansion. The Government did not tie iheir hands in the expenditure of money to the extent they formerly did, and this would assist the County. They had gone through their experimental stage, and now were being gradually forced to undertake works which'the Highway Boards were unuble to deal with, .'He thought that they should go with the stream, stepping in to do work which it was necessary for them to do. (Applause.) THE WAIPOUA BRIDGE,

A letter was read from; the Colonial Secretary stating that tho question of the the control of the Bridge had been referred to the Uw Officers of the Crown, but, in view of the objection of/the' Bonujjh to the transfer,''arid"tho absence of substantial reasons for tho change, the application of the county could not be entertained. The Chairman' said tho effect of the action taken by the' Borough Council was to enable them to get a definite answer from the Government. The old bridge would remain vested in the Borough, and the new one would be under the control of the Highway Board. The position was not a satisfactory one, and would have to bo dealt with.—Mr McGregor 'said the only question was whether the new bridge was on the Borough line,

POUND PEES. A letter was read from Mr Jagerhorn inquiring whether surplus puund receipts should be paid into the County treasury. The Clerk was instructed to adviiie Mr Jagerhorn that they should bo paid to the Public Trustee. LICENSE FEES. The Question of allocating cost of lionising adveriisenunt) paid by the County West uu account of other local bodies cropped'up, but it was decided to let the matter rest. HOSPITAL SUBSIDY.. An application was received for a share of the.Government subsidy from tho Mastevlon Hospital Committee.-Cr McGregor considered that they should divide 5 per cent, of it between the two hospitals as formerly. They had accepted the _ responsibility of maintaining such institutions, and, though the County might require the money more than the hospitals, they could not evade their obliRation. —The Chairman said that when the works undertaken were completed the County Council would bo from £I,BOO to £I,OOO in debt, flowover fair the claim might be, it would bo well to postpone its consideration until they faced the question of ways and means.-Cr Booth thought tho matter might stand over.—Or Donald considered that tho license fees should provide for the hospitalr.-Cr McGregor agreed to holding over the application for anothor meeting,

THE NEW BRIDGE, Mr Chapruun applied for an extension of time of one month for completing the Waipoua Biidge,. in consequence of unexpected difficulties in obtaining suitable limbor.-Tlia Chairman said ho would prefer Mr Chapman completing the work and then applying for a remission of the penalties.—Cr McGregor thought Ihe courso taken by Mr Chapman was the best method of facing the difficulty, and moved that his application be granted.— Cr Donald objected to granting extensions of timo without a recommendation from the Engineer.—Or Booth supported Cr McGregor's motion,—The County Engineer said Mr Chapman had done hiß best to secure timber in lime, but the pieces in question were long lengths, and required to bo very perfect. He thought the request made by Mr Chnpin.ni a reasonable one.-Cr Booth said the question of limber supply was one of great importance and he proposed taking it up at some future occasion, with a view to economising the cost of bridge-building. Hiß own firm had always refused to cut timber for County works, as sawmillers could not make a living out of this class of timber.—Tha Chairman said the Engineer proposed, by the substitution of iron cords, to effect a saving in bridge construction.—The extension asked for waß then agreed to. THE ItANOITUMAV, Mr Mawley waited on the Council to ask that tho £SOO voted by the Government and the £l5O voted by the Council be expended at once in openiug up the road through the Wangaehu Valley. The road had been originally laid off as the main .line to Alfredton and a hush line had been cleared the greater part of the distance—The Chairman said the Governmeut before sponding the £SOO desired a. guarantee that the road would-'be con' Btructetl sufficiently far to serve the purpose of opening up Crown lauds. Unless the settlors contributed towards the work, he feared tho grant could not be obtained. He suggested the settlers should raise £350 which would make a thousand pouuds available.—Cr McGregor said the Government were bound to spend the £SOO in opening up the land; their surveyors were uow on the blook .preparing it for the market. I« thought that the

settlers should who had been heavil;bttf* tbened in the past, not be called upn to raise more than £l5O, with this ad he ' thought they would hare a good cse to lay before the Government.—Mr Mivley thought the owners of land in thebaok would be able to raise £l5O towarc the road,— The,; Chairman agreed wit Or MeGregoHhatthelfengitumausettlei had been shamefully -treated in the past fle • accepted the •proportion suggested »the settlers. to contribute. It was resaved that 'Committee confer yith the Engibeer m$ the settlers ideated to examine theHbest way of spending £Boo,in makingasummerdij^roidup the Wangaehu yalley, and prepare plans and. specification/for the s// je, and that before any tender'be aceeArithe'severs be asked to. pay in the sunTof £lso' towards the cost of the work 1 ,good;hewb, The Chairman stated that the SurveyorGeneral an'd -the Chief Surveyor would shortly visit the district to' arrange with the County re'the expenditure of the Government vote; ; They proposed to open up the land which was most suitable for settlement, and they had found that there was a great deal of good land within easy reach of Masterton, the opening up'iof which had beau sadly neglected in the past. He thought that Messrs MoKerrpff and Marchant would work cordially with the Council. •• j ;.- ' : ro£is. Cr Booth 'suggested thatau important reform was praotiQable in compiling Hi Away and County l rolls, [ TREASURER'S KEPOBT. it The Treasnror'reported a credit balanlj of £2156 7s Id. |The subsidy, amountinw to £1409, had been received. ' Jr WAYB AKD MEANS. H The Chairman hoped the Council at ijj next meeting would face the question if ways and meahs.-Or McGregor thought theyweire getting along beautifully, their credit, was good, and as long as they liap no difficulty.; in obtaining money therS was no occasion to resort to rates o'r tollsr' '■■■■■'■■ ... .WAIPOUA BRIDGE. Cr Donald, recommended that if a toll was placed at the Waipoua bridge it should be put there when it was openefl ■not' after ..it; Had been opened.—Cr McGregor ridiculed the idea of a Waipouft toll-house as an,utter absurdity, and thle .subject dropped. * I '..PERMANENT INCOME, j Cr Booth asked what the permanent .income of the county amounted to.—Thfl Chairman' said that from fees it derived SOO, its possible income from rates was £2,BW. ''.;•;;.■ v; | .' ENQINBER'S HKPORT, Masterton,'23rd November, 1881. : Sir,—l have the honor to submit the following.roport on the Wairarapa Weßt County Road Works, &o. Opaki to Manawatn Road.—Since the last meeting of the Council the following works have been executed on the Opaki to"Manawatußoad:--BetweenEketahuna andHawera five bridge,* have been removed, and culverts substituted, three of 20 feet span, one of 24, and one of 26, South of Eketahnua three bridges have been removed, and culverts substituted, one 25ft,. one 26, and one 80 feet span. These works have been executed by the maintenance men, assisted by a few extra hands. The earth work and metalling in connection therewith is abotri 2000 cubio Contracts for the erection of tsdfl feet span bridges, and for the conslnHH of a large culvet and five ohamsforH tiou and metalling have been let, I anr engaged on plans, &c. for culverts, earthwork and bridges to replace the most ( dangerous of. the present structures still! left an the road, and hope to have the works under contract shortly, The painters work, &c. in conueotion with Mr Chapman's contract (erection of three bridges) is now completed. Pahiatua Roads.—The roads through the township reserve at Mangatainoka are now surveyed for formation; these roads are laid off agreeably with a scheme forwarded to the Council by the survey department; the total length is 168.64 chains. Waipoua Bridge.-The works at the . Waipoua bridge are progressing slowly, owing principally to the difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable materials. The piers and wing walls are built, about half the earthwork dono, and the trusses are being framed and erected; tho works so far aie well executed.'

Waiolnno Bridge.-A considerable quantity of material is delivered on the ground for this bridgo aud the piles for two piers are driven; tho depths below the surface to which these piles are driven vary from 16 feet 9 inches to 22 feet 9 inches. ...:■.. I have the honor to be sir, your obedient servant, Join King, County Engineer. The Works Committee were empowered to call for tenders to the extent of the balance of the Pahiatua vote for the construction of roads.. The action of the Works Committee in letting two bridges was confirmed. THE MANAWATU FERHV. Metier was receirod from Mr Carver complaining that he could not collect from the mail coaches, and asking what courso he should lake, and whether the the Council would compensate him. The Council, in reply, forwarded him a copy of the Act,, and recommended him to take egal advice on the legal point.—lt was resolved-Tliat Mr Maunsoll be informed that the Council is prepared to pay £25 to the Ferry Natives in settlement of all claims. BOG HEQISTRATION. The Chairman reported that the Committee appointed were hardly agreed as to the course they would recommend. He suggested that the ordinary fee should be five shillings, and that dogs in the second schedule should pay halfa-crown. It was necessary to conmlt other local bodies, as a dog registered in any one distriot was registered for the colony.-Cr Donald: Is there a new Mayor in Maaterton I If so, we may be able to work with him.— The Chairman recommended that thtajpV duced feo of 2* 6d be only applicable!) ■. dogs registered in the months of January and July, and that the Registrar be paid a commission of ten per cent, on all the money they received, McGregor opposed dog registration on the ground that it was no good unless it provided for the. I destruction of useless animals. They wonted a dog Rawer rather that a Regis-. trar.-Cr Boys pointed out that dogs hunting about scrub could not wear., colUrs,-Cr McGregor proposed that the Clerk should obtain information from othor districts before thoy proceeded:. further iu the matter.-The Chairman said that Hawke's Bay was the only part of the colony where the Dog Act had -worked suecessfully.-The Chairman, and • Crs Phillips and. Boys were appointed a committee to"<communicate with local, bodies re scale of 'fees', and to bring up a further report. ■ WOBW QOMMITTEB. Crs McGregor, Ghamborlaiu, Macquar. ■■■■. rie. and 80-rth were 'appointed a Works • ■' Oominittee-lwo to form .vquorum-Cr -' McGregor being elected as ih. Chairman. ;:. . . ' • ITINAJJOB COUMITTEB. • The Chairman,' ;and Crs Boys and - Donald were appoiutod asa Finance Com. '-"■. mittee-two to forth aquoruin. "' KKBrAHUJIA-iLyjipjoj,. Or Macquarrie, »fte* cb'nii<Ut»b!i Q> '

■ DUsaion, succeeded in obtaining a vnto of £2O for the repair of tho ab u u Hm-, the vote to be charged against any special Rrant made> lhat road.-Or McGregor thought' the Highway Board ought "to haip atrained a point to do the work.— -.-• .Gf-ejinmberlftui held, that it had strained ;; could; do no rnoro.jaaidr that"-^iiV'h!&■ district a Tyj'Bpp'cial ralewasjayied when necessary.— thecircumstances of •f'fvtJia'seUlish'in thiWffd districts were very .',different.:.! ..:.;•' .•THBQREATNOKTHIV-A^.- " gave notice -of nwlion that •'.* at-tlre'Mext; meeting. ; he'would move that ' . the great; north road, from the top of ilie , ;liiiiiutakft:to'tho Qamp.'b'e proclaimed a County Council, after paisiiiif ' a number of accounts for payment adjourned. '■•;•'