WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 15 July 1884, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Waitarapa Eait County Council ivas held in the County Offices, Mssterton yesterday afternoon, Present,—Crs McGregor (Chairman), W, H, Beetham, Maunsell, McCardle, G. Eesthaml and T, Chamberlain, The mimites of previous meeting were l ead and confirmed. Correspondence, outwards. -To Mr Chap man telling him fhat his tender hart bsen accepted for the lease of the Manawaiu ferry, lo Inspector of Police asking him to allow Constable to act as ranger at Tinui.

. To Agent B.N.Z, to inform him that Mr Williams had reßignod, and Mr Maunsell .was appointed to sign oheques in his stead, To J, J, Chapman re accident to punt, "informing him that a new wire rope would be sent from Wellington. To Clerk of Wairarapa West County Council re contract.

.To Minister of Publio Works enclosihg an application f0r,£5,000 to be expended in metalling the road 'front' Maaterton "to Waimata.

ToC. Tait, of Maurioeville, stating the County will provide £2, if the settlers will provide a similar amount to.clear away .the slips on the Maiiriceville'South Read, <

To Commissioner of Crown Lands applying for permission to : cut timber, for County Bridge'. 1, ■' 1 . ,! To Minister of Publio Works forwarding a certificate of' the" ieault of the poll at Alfredtoi,. and copies of the newspapers \sith advortisemonts.

To C. Clifford in answer to his application for an extension of time, stating that he will be allowed to complete the first bridge and Ist tlie rcmoiuder stand over.

Correspondence inwards—From Mr Hawkins protesting against bridge timber being carted at this season as it injured the roads. From District Engineer Connal re Tiusley'B contract,

From C. B Morison re particulars of the leasing of Manawatu ferry to enable him. to draw up a bond for Jlr Chapman, Telegram from Mr Chapman asking for a new rope and assistance.

From Mr Macquarrie with voters' rolls and forms. Memorandum from Commissioner Crown Lands granting permission to cut timber on Crown land for bridge work, From .Police Inspector re application for constable to be appointed as ranger, and stating it was objectionable, but that it was part of his duty already to impound aay stray cattle that he found on fenced roads From Publi; Works Department re road divisions in the Forty-Mile Bush, and also regretting Council did not instruct Mr Counal to meet tnem before making the deviations, and trusting the grades as altered would meet the approval of the Council, and enclusing the District Engineer's report on the _ suggestions. made by the County Euqinetr.

From Or Bclliss stating his inability to attend Council meeting on 10th inst, Also, telegram stating Ohonga Ferry boat was not safe, aud asking them to see to it at next meeting. The Chairman stated no action had at present been taken with regard to ferries since the roads hud been declared County Roada, but the County was responsible for the ferries, Although no change had been made yet the committee appointed to report hail not yet done so, The Chairman said the ferries were in an unsatisfactory state, The whole question ought to be considered. The committee appointed did not act.

The following: Councillors wore appointed a committee: —Ora G. Beetham, T. llackay, Jlaunsell, and Meredith, to take immediate steps to keep the ferries open aud report at next meeting, The sum of ten pounds, rent of Ferrv Keserve of Natives, due in. April last, was passed for payment, Ke J. J. Chapman's application for house, the Chairman stated the late ferryman had permission to remove his house at expiration of his lease, but had not yet done so. Cr Maunsell moved, and Or Beetham seconded—That ,Mr Carver receive one month's noiicj to remove his hou3e; failing that, the Council will take possession.— Carried

Cr McCardle moved, Cr G. Beetham seconded-That the Clrik and Engineer be authorised to procure a boat for the Manawatu Ferry.-Carried,

Mr Da°g attended to support a petition from eeriam settlers, S, Mawley, J, MoKenzie, and others, for alterations of boundaries, making their properties in the Maßtertou Koad District instead of the Upper Taueru District. The Chairman said tho districts bad already been gazetted, Mr Dagg said there was some error in the gazetting. All the Boards had to be dissolved

The Cbaitman: Yes, it had to be done thai day He quite agreed with the petitioners that this bit of road should not have fallen to the Bideford District, hut he was not sure whether the County could make the alteration applied for. It would h-ivo to be published in accordance with tho Act.

Mr Digg deposited the petition and withdrew

The deviations and Mr Conn.ild report wore dealt with,

The Cuiinty Kngiueer (Mr King) thought the recommendations of tlio G Engiueer would but slightly improve the present Heviit'ous, He considered the road was conaidorahly depreciated and also lengthened. That; if the load had not been altered the ro id m:ght have been left in a much no™ satiafaccory state at very littlu extra cost,

The Chairman said it appeared to him that the Oinoil would have to fall back oc the provisions i>f>the Act and got a competent Engineer appointed by the Government to confer with their Engineer. Cr W. Beetham moved, That the Government be requested to appoint an Engineer to consult with the Council's Engineer with a view to come to an amicable ariamwment. Cr Chamberlain seconded the resolution which was carried.

The Engineer reported the accommodation road made by the contractor was not a reasonably good one, being too narrow and with large ruts in it, Very little expense would make it fit to travel over. The attention of the contractor was ordered to be called to it,

An account from W. Dixon, WoodviUe, for painting and lettering Toll Board at the Miiuawatu Ferry, L 5 5s was passed for payment, An account from H. McKenzie for haulage ot punt £2O, four men and one team of bullocks for one day, Also lewt rope and smith's -vyork £6 ss, Cr Maunsel) moved that the amount be reduced for hauling by £7, and th e rest be paid in full making the total £l3 ss. - Carried.

The Chairman explained this would be allowing (it being done on a Sunday)'one pound a day for four men and three pounds for the bullock team.

The Engineers report wag read re the feluy, tliat it was not in a state of repair. The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer with instructions to take Bteps to' put the rope in repair. The Finance Committeo's Report was' read and, its action confirmed in passing the accounts.

It was resolved: That Mr Charles Macqmrrie be appointed Clerk and Returning Officer to tho Alfredton Road Board, and the 11th August shall be the day of election, and the' first meeting shall be on the 18th of August.

It was resolved : That Mr E, WylHebe appointed Clerk and Returning Officer to the Bideford Road District; the'first election to be held on the lltb August, and the first meeting to be held on the 18th of August. Notice of the intention of the County Council to dissolve the Masterton Highway Board at the next meeting of the Council for the purj ose of re-adjusting boundaries was resolved upon and ordered to be publicly notified, The question of the alterations of Ridings to make them co-terminus with the newly altered'road districts was discussed, and it was resolved to hold over the discussion thereon to the next, meeting, The Clerk handed in the new Valuation Roll with alterations and additions for the approval of the Council, and tho same was passed, Cr AfcCardle said that on the Bth day of May he moved for the adjournment of the debate on the question of the rate to be levied on the Alfredton Di'striot.'but ha was outvoted, He was- suupported by Mr Maumell in getting the amount of the rate reined. Mr Boetliam had said that, at tho next meeting when the questim of confirm tog the rate was before the meeting, he, in consequence of the absence of Cr McCardle, did not vote upon the question. Or Bentham explained that be did not know at the .time that the rate was only up f ,r confirmation, hence the misunderstanding. Or W. Beetham wished to say a few words in explanation. A, meeting or two after Cr G, Be tbam left for England he drew the attention of the Council to the question of his brother's resignation, and the Councillors

were of opinion that it was not necessary (or his resignation to be given in: that the Council would give him leave of absence,

Cr (i. Beetham said no one was more surprised than himself to find that he. was still a member of the Council on his return, and trusted his district would hold him blameless of wilfully keeping them unrepresented, and thanked Cr McCardlefor taking the extra duty on himself.. Cr MoCardle said he had'underatood. from Mr Beetham tbat ha would send in his resignation, and that was his only. reason in asking whether such had been received. The Chairman said a few-words on the question to the effect that tho Council did not doubt Cr W; Beetham'a statement to the effect that he had handed in a letter with Mr 6. Beetham's resignation, although not in proper form; but the Council had no rcoord thereof. He considered, the,.matter bad been rally ventilated, There beinß .no further, business -the meeting closed,

engineer's report, Sir,—l have the honor to report on the public works of WairarapaEast County. Opaki' Manawatu Road ( —Owing to -a Considerable increase of traffic on this road during the .last-few months a-large amount of metalling in paiolies has had to be. done, as well as a continuous length of about seven miles. A large culvert has been erected to replace one of the old bridges, an-I the erection of a new bridge at Hawera is being proceeded with.

Manawatu Ferry. I hive recently inspected the puut and. its appurtenftaoes at this ferry. The wire rope is muoh straiued in several places ; but X think tha strained parti could be cut out and new pieces spliced in. Some of the hemp or mauilla ropes are unsound; fresh ones should be provided. The blocks >aiid other fittings require slight repairs, I would recommend that tho ferry man be provided with a small boat j it would be of great use in .crossing; foot passengers, especially when the river is very high, as the punt cannot then be worked without considerable danger, An extra pile with pulley etc., driven on the right bank of the river would be of great service in facilitating the wiro rope in time of flood. The ferry m:in is not yet in possession of tollhouse and gate, and a stockyard is erected round the bellrope, making the ringing of tho bell by traveller?, more difficult than it need be. These slight inconveniences should be remedied as soon as possible.

Since my return I have not been able to inspect the works in other parts of the County, but I believe they aro being carried out in a fairly satisfactorily manner, I have, &c., . John Kino, County Engineer, Mastcrton. 10th July,lßß4.