WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1547, 29 November 1883, Page 3

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

t 'TiiE annual statutory meeting of., tho • -above Council was held yesterday at the County offices/Masterton, Present: : Crs McGregor" (chairman), -Meredith, MoCardle, Beeihana, Chamberlain, and .. Mackay. . ( ~ The chairman, before' calling upon .the Council to elect a chairman for tho ..ensuing year, desired to say a few words 'as.to the past action of the Council during the time that he had held office. • This period had been a short one, but • tliey had been ablo within it to do . some substantial .works. The settlement of tho large district under their 1 control had been pushed on steadily. ■The money available had been derived ... from three sources. The first was for the opening up of Crown Lands, and l ' this work had proceeded satisfactorily. ,'• He held a strong opinion that the method on which wasto lands were . now being settled was a wise orie, The Government had decided to open ' up theso lands by roads prior to selling them, and this would achieve, better than by any other plan, the prevention of land monopoly. When large blocks were sold it was usually found that , small settlers could not competo for . them simply because they wcro inaccessible. Ho believed that it was the desire of settlers to see as many people as possible placed on wasto lands, and tho Council had done a good deal in this, direction. Their second source of . revoke was under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. This Act had supplied very material assistance to their district by improving many fflfln lines which had hitherto been .. m'passable, In the future they would still have the same resources and the same advantages, though possibly to a more limited extent. Ho believed that in tho beginning of tho year the Government intended to open up waste lands in this district by means of roads. The Government had not been able to do much in this direction as yet as money had not been available, but earlynex't year the iloating of the new loan would obviate this difficulty. He : believed that before long good work ■ would bo undertaken. He held that in tho past substantial work had been performed, and that the Council had a future before it and ho hoped to see their efforts to benefit the district sustained. When ho consented to accopt the office of chairman for a few months he did so without giving any pledge to hold it for a longer period than tho ono that was then terminated. He had found that tho duties of the office wore ' IeBS arduous than he anticipated, owing to the efficient assistance he received from their engineer and secretarycapable, experienced, and intelligent officers. For this reason ho was willing to again serve them if they desired it. If, however, it was the wish of the Council to make a change he would be very willing to retire.

Cr W. H. Beetham had much pleasure in proposing the election of Mr McGregor for the ensuing year, Ho was sure the chair could not be occupied by a better man or by one who would take more pains to discharge the duties of the office, MiMcGregor, was so-favorably known to thein that it was superfluous to say moro in support of the motion. The resolution was seconded by Cr Mackay, carried unanimously, and acknowledged in suitable terms by Mr McGregor. The minutes of the preceding meeting were then read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, From the School Commissioners, remitting a portion of rates duo on the Rangitumau Reserve of G952 acres; from District Engineer, asking for a

list, of contracts; fiom a conlraetor, offering to arrange privately for tho. Mangapakeha metalling; from Colonial Secretary, notifying gazetting of by-laws;.from J. Rutherford, requesting something might bo done for the Alfrcdton district at an early date; from tho North Wairarapa Benevolent Society, recommending the case of Mrs Larsen, aged 61, a widow at Mauriceville, wlio'required permanent relief, and asking for a subsidy for general purposes; from Public Works Department, asking for, amended applications for grants;,'from"the Clerk to the. Masterton soad Board, enclosing application- from H. W. Jackson and others for putting in repair a road at Kopuarangi,- and stating that the bridge/at the junction of tho two roads <yjpm danger'from fire. x Cr Meredith said some of tho work referred to was already done.

The chairman said there should be a definite understanding'as to vhothcr' certain roads should bo maintained by the' County or'thb Road Board. This road when completed"becaino a district road, and the'onjis of maintaining it rested on the Rxad Board. Of course if the work referred to was already performed it was not' a matter for present consideration. Cr Meredith pointed out that it was •essential that boforc roads wero taken over by the Road Board that they thould be in a thorough stato of efficiency. . • Cr Chamberlain, objected to a blind road being thrown' on to the Board, It should bo opened right through before it was handed over.

The Chairman said the County had T)een trying to open it through for some years. He had recently called the attention of tho Government to it, •but he felt that the Government would <do nothing towards such a work.

Cr McCardle said the County was possessed of tho revenue which should be expended for tho benefit of .the •district. The rate from his district •would not be spent in tho locality from which it was derived. If tho district Avas to get anything out of the halfpenny rato he did not see how it could be better expended than in keeping such roads in repair. THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. The chairman said that formerly 'they had a revenue available for benevolent purposes, but now subsidies •were discontinued it had ceased, and they were under no legal obligation to ■contribute, Ho believed, however,' in encouraging charitable organisations, • .and would support a motion for a small subsidy. He moved, to'test the feeling of tho meeting, That the sum

of ten pounds be granted to the BenoY 1 ' olent Society. _ ..,.sl ;.M.asay..jecwdedihoresolution. """Or Beetlia'm nioved' as an amend-, ment, That ten pounds bo given! an addition to the hospital. '■ Cr Meredith doubted whether ratepayers would view with satisfaction theappropriation of their rates to such, purposes, and tlioukl vote against the proposal. The motion in favor of the grant to both bodies was carried,

MR RUTHERFORD'S APPLICATION,

The Chairman; Considered 1 Mr-Ruth-erford's case was a hard one. This settler was but little benefitted by the roads which they wero now making., Thoy could not apply the money voted' for opening up Crown Lands to assisting private landholders, and they could not well give any other reply to the applicant.] j>/ '■■['. \ j

WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT,

The report will appear in our next issue.

STRAY CATTLE,

Cr Meredith reported that tho Road Boardsthonglit jo desirable |to extend the area of their'raiiger's duties fornix mile's, but tho To Ore Oro road, which they desired to protect, was. now a County road.

It was.resolved that the jurisdiction of tho ranger be extended'to meet'tho wishes of tho Board.

THE TE ORE OUK TOUj HOUSE,

The Clerk reported an offer for the purchase of the toll house for .£ls, and .£2 10s for tho toll gate. Cr Meredith moved that the gate bo sold and the house retained, as it would bo useful for occupation by roadmen. : ' '•;';" \ :':'•?' Cr Bcethom seconded tho motion, The Chairman thought tho public would like to see all trace of tho toll disappear, They wero not bound to find contractors with houses, The motion was put and carried. THE VACATION. Tho Chairman thought it would be unnecessary for tho .Council tq meet in December, if the present meeting authorised tho Finance Committee to pay the current month's accounts. On the motion of Cr Chamberlain, this authority was given. Cr McCardle objected that the adjournment of Decomber meeting would delay the constituting of the Pahiatua Road Board. '' '■'''•'• ' : " ■'' ' The Clerk said the new district was not yet gazetted. . SURVEY, Cr McCardle called attention to another matter, viz., the survey ordered to be made of the proposed deviation on the Alfredton to Tenui line, Ho understood that Mr King had no officer available at present for this work, but asked the Council to instruct him to get it completed, Only a Hying survey' was asked for and it was desirable that it should bo undertaken at once.

Tho chairman explained that the deviation was a straight cut over a hill between Eketahuna and Tenui, which some settlers considered a better line than the moro circuitous road already surveyed, He promised that the matter should hot be lost sight of, BAD ROADS. Cr Mackay, by request of MiHawkins, brought under the notice of the Council tho impassable state of tho Upper Taucru road, probably lino weather would. do more than they could effect. Ho called attention also to a portion of the Castlepoint road whero 50 chains of metalling were indespensable. Cr Meredith suggested that the Castlepoint Board should subsidise the County to enable it to nndertako. the work. •: .' . Cr Mackay replied that tho Board might do the work and tho County refund the money. He moved that the Board be authorised to do tho work.

. Cr Meredith, objected to voting money without their grants were fairly apportioned betweon different parts of tho district.

Cr Mackay said tho settlers from the Waimata end who contributed heavy rates wcro beginning to grumble, Cr Beetham thought it would bo better to let tho Board do the work,

Cr Mackay said the Board would not expect to be recouped out of the current year's rates. ■

Cr Meredith complained that the bulk of tlie rate expenditure appeared to be concentrated about Tenui, The Chairman realised that tho road in question was the' most important one in the County, and seconded Cr Maekay's resolution to test tho feeling of the Council.

Cr,Mci'e<}lth objected to-testing the question Before such & thin Council; '

It'was agreed toposponc tho further consideration.of the question till the next mooting. The Council then adjourned,