WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1710, 13 June 1884, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY.

The i ordinary ; monthly meeting ,of the above County Council was held yesterday afternoon at the County 'Offices, Masterton. Present —Ore McGregor (Ohitirmaii), Meredith, Belliss, Chamberlain, W. 11. Beetham, G. Beetham, Maunsell,' Mackay and Chamberlain,

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman, before proceeding further, welcomed back Mr G. Beetham, who had taken the earliest opportunity on his return to visit them. They had not grudged him his holiday, and would.onti and all unite with the speaker in welcoming him back. Or G. Beetham thanked tho Chairman for what lie had said, He joined in theirdeliberations again with much pleasure, and was glad to bo amongst his old friends once more—(applause).' Much o£ his holiday had been occupied ,n obtaining information which he trusted would be of use to. the district. The outward correspondence was then read. treasurer's report. The Treasurer reported a credit balance in tliu General Fund of ,£498 17s 6d; in the Special Fund of £703 13s Gd, INWARD (CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read from J, W. Baker, stating thattli'e Ohonga ferry boat was useless; from Charles Clifford, contractor Te Ore- Ore-Bideforcl road, asking the Council not to press him with liis works, as owing to bad weather and the impassable state of the roads it bad beet) impossible for him to accomplish more than he had done; from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the County Suspension Petition had been referred to Mr Wardell; from Woodville Settlors' Association, asking the County to fall the bush on either side of the road between the Manawatu river and Pahiatua; from the Castlepoint road Board, re newly metalled portions of the Masterton-Waiinata road, requesting that ruts be filled in; from same, asking that amount due for maintenance be paid; from poundkeeper, Taueru, .stating that cattle impounded bad to stand knee-deep in mud and water, and asking for assistance to fence another enclosure,; from Mr Carver, making enquiries re letting of ferry; from Public Works Department, stating that Mr Connal would inspect the Masterton-Waimatu road; from the Road Board Office applying for a sum of 10s 3d due to the Board ; from Mr Burgess, asking for completion of contract to stand over till the weather settled. He undertook in the interim to keep the road open, and asking for consideration if the Council decided to determine the contract. METALLING TIIE MtJNGAPAKEHA. The Chairman said it would be impossible to continue the metalling in the present state of the weather, and that Mr Burgess's proposal was the only practicable one

Or W. H. Boetliam moved that he be allowed till .next summer to complete his contract, ; : Or Meredith seconded the motion,

Or Belliss complained that inferior metal had been put on portions of this road, and moved that the contractor be forced to use good metal.

Cr Mackay thought that Burgess should go on with the metalling when called upon to do so by the ll'ngineer. Or W. H. Beetliam. accepted this suggestion. He also confirmed the statement o£ Or Belliss. He did not know whether a supply of good metal was obtainable. Cr Beetham's motion was carried.

Cr Mackay declared that the work had been done in a very unsatisfactory manner from beginning to end. The metal recently put on was little better than clay, Hard metal could be got bub the contractor shirked breaking it, It was resolved that the Engineer's attention be called to the inferior metal.

Or \V, H. Beetliam placed specimens of botli kinds.of metal on the table. Cr Belliss considered that some one should be on the spot to prevent inferior metal being put on the road, mr Clifford's contract. The Chairman stated that the Council had decided to determine the contract if it were not completed by a specified time. Or Beetliam thought that if they determined tho contract the timber could not be taken to tho spot without. 1 destroying the" road. The Council was not in a position to complete the contract, and if the time of the contractor was extended he would have to keep the road open through the winter. It would be a good policy to leave it in his hands, and moved that the contract te not determined, and that if possible the contractor be prevented f.iom using tho road for heavy timber traffic in wot weather. The Clerk-stated that three bullock teams were now working on the rood. Cr Beetliam .moved that if the timber were there lie should be allowed to complete it. Cr Meredith suggested that- they should havo a report from the Engineer

.Or Belliss thought there was a lot of humbug with: contractors, and that the sooner it was put a stop to the better,

The Engineer stated that if the timber was on the 'ground there was nothing to prevent Mr Clifford from completing the contract, The carters had been top busy to take, the timber earlier to the contract. The timber had- been lying half way between M'asterton and the contraot for months,

On the motion of Cr Belliss, six weeks were given for the completion of the contract. APPLICATIONS FOR MONEY. The Chairman stated that they were not in a position that day to pay the money required by the road boards, and hoped the latter would consent to allow their claims to stand over for a month. ■

Cr Mackay said they had a, special claim for the Castlepoint Board, but a small portion of it—say, £IOO, —would satisfy them in the interim.

The Chairman said he thought they could manage this. . Or Beefchani pointed out that the Masterton Board was overdrawn at the bank, hnd the question was whether the boards or the coiinoilshould finance.

Or Bolliss said the Cashpoint Board had never financed, and hoped it would never have to do so.

Cr Maunsell inquired, from what source the Council expected funds 1 The Chairman replied that they wero expecting, them under the .Roads mid Bridges Act. Ho thought 'a small sum could be at once paid to the Castlepoint Board, and the Masterton Board's claim could stand over.

Cr Meredith considered that both boards should receive the same consideration.

Tho Olork stated that the full sum of .£4OO was not yet due to the Masterton Eoad Board.

Cr Mackay said that the Castlepoint Board had been acting as bankers to the Council, and had a claim for a refund of an amount sufficient to carry them on, ' ■ '

Of Chamberlain said the County had received £320 from rates, which were to be allocated to the Masterton Road Board and ought to he paid. On the motion of the Chairman, a sum of £IOO was oulered to be paid to the Castlepoint Board, and a letter sent to the Masterton Board asking for their amount to stand over till, next meeting. • .

Cr Beetham accepted this resolution on the understanding that the claim be then settled in full. Cr Wackav moved that both claims be settled in full at next meeting. 'The Chairman: We do not know what next meeting may bring forth, You can't take blood out of a stone. THE WOODVILLE SETTLERS 1 ASSOCIATION. The Chairman said they would be obliged to inform the Association that they were nob in a position to adopt the recommendation although he for one approved of it. Cr W. 11. Beetham suggested that the Association be informed that the bridges had the first claim on the small sum they had available for this road. THE TAUERU POUND. ' The Chairman suggested that MiManning's appointment might be extended, for a fixed period of a year, but it was clearly understood that the entire cost of maintenance should fall on the poundkeeper, Cr Meredith thought the poor animals should be protected, He related an instance in another part of the district where a poundkeeper relieved the necessities of some thirty head of cattle and complied with the law by taking them one handful of hay, and a pannakin full of water.

It was proposed that the poundkeeper bo appointed for twelve months, but that all improvements in the pound must be at his own expense.

Or Meredith moved that the question be postponed in order to obtain further information about the state of the pound. This amendment was carried, Messrs Beetham and Mackay being appointed to report on same. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £41312s wero presented for payment on account of wages, &c., and £6ll 10s for sums due on account of coutracts, and were passed for payment. STRIKING TIII3 RATE,

Tile Chairman saM the Council had given notice of striking a rato at its last meeting, and special rates for the various Ridings, It would now have to make the rates.

Or Mackay moved that the Council make a general rate of an eighth of a penny in the pound.

Or G, Beetham said he had been an absentee for some time and did not feel justified in voting on the rating question as he had not bad an opportunity of ascertaining the opinion of bis constituents, and the circumstances under which the rate was being struck.

The Chairman said they could quite understand the objection.maclj by Cr G. Beetham to voting.

Cr Belliss seconded the motion which was carried.

Cr W. H. Beetham moved the vote of a farthing a pound for the Alfredfcon riding, The money was required.— Carried.

Cr McGregor moved the vote ot one sixth of a penny in the Masterton riding,—Carried.

Or Mackay moved a rate of a halfpenny in the pound for the Castlepoint riding,—Carried. On a vote of one farthing for the Wainuioru riding boiug moved, ' Cr Meredith proposed that this be reconsidered, The average mainten ance of the road had been ,£IBO a year, The general rate would yield with the separate rate, £4OB a year, an amount which would be excessive,

Or Mackay said tho riding had to beai- its share on interest of loan, 'The road, too, required re-metalling. ''j Or Meredith proposed that the general rate and the separate together should yield a sum of £270. Cr Chamberlain seconded Or Meredith's motion, Ho thought that Mr Meredith had shown that £270 was sufficient,

The Chairman thought that if they went into figures thero would bo no rating at all. Or Chamberlain: The very thing we want!

Cr Belliss said they were saddled with interest on money borrowed, . Cr Meredith said his desire was to make the rates less unfair. He was not speaking from a party spirit, CrW. H. Beetham said he would like to support Cr Meredith, but to do so he would have to forget that some of the ratepayers were interested in tho Mungapakeha, and considering the use they made of that road they were getting off lightly. He thought at the end of the year they would find that they had spent more than they had received.

' Cr Meredith was glad that ho had elicited the fact that there were exceptional interests in the Wainuioru riding. He thought that Cr Beetham should apply for a special.rate to meet the special case. He thought this special case only applied to Messrs Beetham, and not to the other ratepayers of the riding.

The Chairman; Do not the .Messrs Beetham pay rates also for the Castlepoint riding 1

Cr Belllss had heard of timber going through the Mungapakeha road when the Blairlogie road was closed. Cr Mackay thought Cr Meredith bad overlooked the heavy charges for interest in the riding. Cr Maunsell said they ought to make provision for slips on the road, and not cut things too fine. ' | Cr W. H. Beetham said that the rates of the Wainuioru' Ward of the Masterton road, had been taken to build a bridge on tho main line. Ho thought the whole district was improved by the use of the roads, and all derived either direct or indirect benefit, He moved that a farthing rate be struck. Till the ridings were ;?üb-divided it was impossible to strike tne rate more fairly than they were then doing. Cr Belliss seconded Cr Beetham.

Tho Chairman did not approve of the principle laid down by Or Meredith with respect to rates. The application of that principle would leave local bodies penniless. Believing special properties of the payment of rates would destroy all local Government.

Cr Meredith pointed out that though settlers in the Wainuioru paid heavy rates they had no access to good toads,

The Chairman said they had. Cr Meredith said the Chairman had never been in the riding, The Chairman said he had, and knew the condition of it,

The motion . for a farthing rate was then put and carried. THD MANAWATU PERKY. The following tenders for a years lease of tlift Manawatu ferry were then opened :-W. N. Person, £75; J. J. Chapman, £130; and it. W. I. Carver, £52. Cr Chamberlain thought Chapman would prove a good man. He had been a sailor, was strong, steady, and able-bodied, and he would move that his offer be accepted, Or Beetham seconded the proposal which was carried. Ibo engineer was' instructed to attend to repairing the wire rope, and . the Clerk to take the necessary for giving effect to tho altered scale of charges. WHEEL-TYRES. The engineer, overseer, and clerk, were appointed officers to act under tho wheel-tyre by-laws. BLACK HILL TRACK. The question of legalising the Black Hill track was ordered to stand over, the Council assuming that the road was public property till tho contrary was proved, ROADS AND BRIDGES ACT.

It was resolved re the allocation o the expenditure of the grant of £659 under the Roads and Bridges Act, that the amount for bridges be spent between Altredton and Mr Saunders' property, and that the balance be devoted to m&talling in the EketahunaAlfredton district. FRESH APPLICATIONS. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Belliss—That £5600 be applied for on the Masterton-Waimatn road for continuous metalling. LEAVE OP ABSENCE, , Three weeks leave of obsonce was granted to the Engineer on account of ill heallh. jiadsen's contract, It was resolved, on tho motion of Cr Belliss that Madsen's deposit be refunded. MDEFORD BRIDGE APPROACHES. On the motion of Or Mackuy, an offer from Mr Reese to do the work was accepted. TENUI POUND, On the motion of Cr Mackay, Mr Brnding was appointed Poundkeeper at Tinui, and the Inspector of Polios was requested to allow Constable Cullerton to act as Ranger.

METALLING, On the motion of Cr Belliss it was decided that it funds were availablo some metalling should bo done about Flint Cutting, the Castlepoint Board being authorised to do the work, TIIE WANGAEHU FLOOD WATER. In reply to Or beetham it was stated that the Engineer had put m hand the work, necessary to bo done to remove flood water complained of by Mr Cave. • TENUI CEMETERY, On the motion of Cr Mackay the services of the Staff were granted for subdividing the cemetery into suitable sites. The Council then adjourned.