WAIRARAPA EAST COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 5 November 1884, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNCIL.

(Oontinuyd.J A letter was put in by the engineer and read in which ho gave facts and figures to show the bridge at the Alnngapakeha was value for the npie'y. Mr King said the contractor ordered the bolis useijl in the bridge from the list <)f sizes supplied to him fro it) the County ofijice. 1 The contractor was i)ot ii) the service pr pay pf the County when the contact W let or in fapd. Cr Meredith asked Mr Reese if he meant to assert that the contractor who received the |BQO odd for building the bridge was at the time of his building it in the pay of the Counoil Mr Eesse said lie did not mean to imply that Mr McKenzie the oontraotor, was receiving a salary at the time. The Chairman said that disposed of that charge then. Crs McCardle and Mackay both agreed that it was open to grave objections to allow overseers to become contractors, The Chairman said he had always considered it the duty of Mr Reese to prove his case, He had not done so, nor had he brought sufficiently skilled, evidence to warrant the Council in aetti* iug aside the statement of their eng' neer, Hecontended it wasthe duty of th }

Council to stand by its servant until lis was proved to be wrong. The statement of Mr Reese was misleading and according to bis own showing was only approximate. These charges were not worth an examination, and it was extraordinary they should have puc them-; selves about over such a starm in a teapot. Mr . King had conserved the interests of his employers and thus brought himself into ill-favor and was accused and abused in this miter, wd all the pyjdpuce'they had gone into shewed that Mr King had served tfoera faithfully. Cr W. H. Beetham thought the fact of these. complaints having been brought by disappointed oontraotors, was about the highest compliment that could be paid their Engineer. The . resolution of the Council to instruct the; Engineer to send a roan up to measure the timber wag tantamount to a censure on him and lie, judging lie had lost the 1 confidence of the Council,* at once tendered his resignation and asked to be Velieved at the earliest opportunity of his duties,' He trusted the apology from the Council would be_full and free and '# would move, "That this Council is ; thoroughly satisfied with the esplana-l. tion of their Engineer and that his;. veracity and skill has not sriffirditf: the slightest by the by<. Messrs- Reese, Girdwood, Damson," Or McGregor seconded, Or Meredith moved jos an amendment, !fT!st Mr Ree|e's statement that there is a between the quantity, of timM' -toecifiqd for the original bridge and |tlj«\t bjjilfc. is substantiated and admftted. : which is accounted fw ty ft p))W> of plans necessitated ; 'by an the sit,e, but }n ll)§ S-bgep.o9 a report from a professional nian in. terms of tfye intentipn of the resolution , of the Council, this Council is unable to arrive at a satisfactory decision as to tlie relative values of the bridge tei}dej;ed £qp ancj fPstetj, and that! , until this investigation lja? taken place j tl)is Ooijnpil decifn.es to aij; qpinlqn t.q fcljo ijierit? qj j either the op Jjr Eepse's Qpinioi), 1 ' Cr Merodith regretted very muoh indeed that tlm question had been, j taken from a personal point of vie\£ 1 A distinct' charge had been made bf Mr Reese and could not be lightly passed over, and he thought the Coun- • oji Wffl ligllf in l!]? course taken and ,l} 4 thoiighf tjie}? engineer 'was the party , that Council and those who' niilde the , charge, but Mr King, instead of doing , that had tendered'hie resignation, He also thought the'phainnaiv'Was to Maine for not carrying out' the 'wishes'of the , CotinciJ.' •' ' ' '' ' ' The amendment wafl after consider- . able discussion put and carried. | Pp }lshy jjjqved, Tjjat the Government bp j'eqijcstijv} fq '.pqfrjt | persojj tq deal lyifch the whole question and Mty seHlVit Qft tlie basis of the value of the two structure?, Cr McOardle seconded the motion i which was put and carried,

ORDINARY.MEETING. Tlio Council sat for ordinary business at ''Sreeent-rAll the members except Or Belliss, '' OORItESPONDENOE. Correspondence whs read from Messrs Levin & Co. re boat for Olionga. From Mr Wingate re Castle Hill route, iissojng fcljijfc tjje road rai> through betted country thin the ijii'iiiinjea jitie', and contradicting the statements nWde by Or W. H/Beetham ai a" former meeting. ' Jtyqm Ejiiryeyqr-General stating tljal fclje of votes'it) list be devoted to repairs in the Block, From Cr Mackay ro Qljanga ferry boat, A petition from AJfredton settlers ro opening the road for dray traffio. A lotter from the Wairarapa West County was read stating that they apiji'oyefj qf plam for Waingawa Bridge. Eroin public Department stating that the application for' £Bsß' for ' extraordinary damages under the Roads and Bridge's Constryctioij 4-c.t lpcj bqeii granted 'in full, t'ettep from Mp i|cl|e'n?i,e notifying that lie woijl't} leave tl>a pf the Council on thq 'ijist of Nqveiflher ijexj;, Iponj re repairs on the Bideford tfroifl J.' Chapman re ferry trafljc,' thanking the Council for assistance sent to him, THE INSPEOTOE's REBIOWIOV, Or W. H, Beethara regretted their losing such a good man,—.The Chairman said the Council was indebted to Mr McKenzie for the energy and ability y/lucji he had discharged his duties, THE WAINGAtt'A BftpGE. The Chairman said the plan for this work was not complete! As it was important that the work'should be put in hand as speedily as possible, he suggested that as Mr King was no lqijgep thejr' servant they should arrange •with l)in; do the work as a private eiigineer.——Ag/eed HCr Chamberlain asked if sfr' I(ing would carry out the work after completing the plan,—The Chairman replied that he would not. PROGRESS PAYMENT. A progress payment of .£BO was voted to Mr Perry for the Bideford road contract subject to the Inspector's certificate. UPPER TAUERU DEPUTATION. Messrs Hawkins and Wingate pited ,911 the Board re extension of Upper Taueru main road.— r Mr Hawkins stated that the Upper Taueru Rqad Board felt strongly that the whole road and not tvyo-tbirds of it should be deemed a main road.-r~Mr Wingate argued that the road would be used as a main line if it were opened up.—:Cr McCardle suggested that the question stand over for the new Council to decide.-^—Cr W. H. Beetliam said the proposed line would be the most direot one to Masteiton from the Puketoi country, but other roads with muoh more tiaffic had a stronger claim on them. If the railway - was stopped and money given for opening up the Puketoi he would support the line. He, however, hoped the railway would be carried on to Eketahuna. If so Eketahnna would tap the district and not the proposed Maokay supported the line as one of the most important to the country between the Forty Mile Bush and coast and to Mas-

terton. It was the natural outlet for a rich coun try and would be the road to. Napier. He moved that the. previous resolution be rescinded—Cr McCafdltf.' seconded the motion. He knew lfca.fr Mr Merchant was preparing a through line right through to the Coast. Hei advocated the continuance of tile) railway to Eketahuna and declared that. the whole traffic would gravitate, towards it, He. regretted, the effort now being made in MasMon to divert/ the Railway money.' would by sticking to their colours' get the line . continued, but by the course'now i;.' proposed they, would get nothing--?—-Cr, W. H. Beetham didcare to record his vote., on the resolution, It would benefit; his 'bwiv property, but •he could : tiot recommend it. (Jr Q. Beotham stated Uhat he believed the line would be eventually nude to Eketah'una- / The depujtfion might do good by pressing,A'tl. Minister of . Lands the necessitj«P{)laoing additional money on the estimates.for oponing up Crown Lands, He stated thatthe feeling of the House was against any direct, vote for road making.- The Auckland ': roads referred to by'Mr .Hawkins were •in a different position.: He had pressed, 'on the Government strongly tho necea.iity of granting money for roaitls, but j ;'the feeling of' the House wag against.i, ; this, ;j Mr Buchanan and himself had been blamed for placing the Te Ura Qre-Qideford road on the schedule, but they gave a preference to it because it . crossed a. dangerous river, which had, to be : bridged.,, They were theiS time ij) rpositioii to state what direction tljg. linp sfyrald take beyond the Maori gardens, Ife - looped settjers • 1 would bring, tlipir claims for ,}:paijs' ' before tbfl ))H. 0^!" 5 !^ c l %f 1-AVQuld he ponsicjeroMft a wj|o||, K'hearlj^l i Cr Meredith though™ tlawkins' i|}i tpfpsts would not suffer by delay ani} > advogateij letting tj)Q stand i over. ——Ol' M aunsell thought fcjje j.'qac| i should either |jb cq'ntinuell or st^gk. i off t|)e jifackay \yitljl: i drey !)}§ resqlqtjon aijd'tlje subjeijj : dropped. s ?f}E CASTLE lint, ROUTS j r Or J). Meredith did not think tho i Tiraumea line was chosen by tho i. Council but by the Government and perhaps Cr G. Beetham would explain the reason the Government had for altering tho ur G. Beetham • thought the thp I best pjsd for the distrjctTfind |e feij. ' that tjiA tiraumea read' would bp6n \i[) Ciwii 1 Laii'dS, 11 Htf did not tliink' thin • the Government' would lie wise iii ; altering the route but considered thi) j settlers oqgHt to 'be" fii'st'cbiisulteU pe- } fare the Ravelling IBfejici"' WWirj- ) gate stater] that thoi'Siiuld be 30,(100 acres that would be oponed up if the • road was taken over Castle Hill. He considered cliac it was tlio duty of the ■ Council to see that the Crown Lands: 3 \ycre qp.enetj up,—Ob Mr,okay oojilil l not su'pport the Clastfo Hilf roiite'iil ! preference to tlie Tiraumea valley road.'. —~or If. §eet)]ani \ tho ipln 'ii'i) Tiraumea valley as it WQ]jAopen'n» a large quantity of useful ffitiy,—^. Or McGregor explainecr'that-the - s settlers had petitioned against the road i being formed over Castle Hill, as the t?)oi)ey borrowed under the lioada and Bridges OonatrtfctWii under the distinct understanding flisil 8 the road should go by the Tiraumea 1 valley, Cr McOardle said lie would i support the Castle Hill route. Cr 1 G. Beetham moved that the Council i phoul'd obtain $ie 1 o| the ) Castie'poinj;,' 1 Alfi^ton, I 'aid uppl l ' Taueru Road Boavilsj and he further explained t||at''any 'that tlie 1 Wipl !i|ig!]t ti\k'pWould lja'v6 : |j(| 2 cpci'qs tljoi^ii)ljne ijy tlie Tiraujueij ■ vallpy ]|ad been declare(| liy VBsqlutjqr) 1 off the House of- ' The resolution was carried,

CoUNfy oFficS, Cr McGregor .reported Jjuna 01} tlio road lino an office, opposite. Kingis house, that if the Council did 'hot required, lie would purchase tlio same for the sura of £ls,—-Allowed to stand oyejv^T IfR BApO2f ! S APPLICATION; s\, 3 Q Mr Bunny, sqlipitot: Bacon,—7C'r T. Chanjh'erlaiq njoyeij jibe motion .standing in l)is name, the Oouncjl should rescind tl)e resqji}? tion, passed at a former, meeting tljafc no compensation should be «iven to Mr Bacon ye damages) doua'% flood."—-Cr MoCordle seconded, and stated that he had every reasoiV to belisve that Mr Bacon Jgd not only a moral,- but a legal claw against the Council—Mr Bunny entered in|o a long explanation re Mr Bacon's claim, McGregor i % Mr tej) US how be l4Sps'jiisc|a»n jpr Mr Baoon repl'iei) tjjat tiji]bi^iiqi|lc} ; iug and belts woio'washed away'iitti also packing caeea ready for -Sydney were utterly, spoilt,——Cr McGregor did not see any evidence to alter his opinion, Tq grant Mr Bacon's applipatiqn'Vss' a bad precedent, and on public grounds lie should ;, q'6u6s*o' tlje resolution.-,-.Cr W. Deeth'am did riot consider that Mr' Bacon had any claim but thought the Government were to blame by tlie embankment they placed across the Valley. Cr Meredith, although eympthasing wjt|j Mr Bacon thought the Council miufc conserve the interests of tho ratepayers, —Cr McOardle asked for the opinion of the Council's solicitor. Cr McGregor said it was not usual to read their solicitor's 1 opinion,—Cr Chanjberjain's motion ' Ms'lost on'a sl)ow of hands, being M the mover, and seconde j§|!|i^fyr(|}q, Mungaeakeiia metalling. Mr Burgess waited on the Counpi). The question of the lpttf was left to the committee. ENGINEER'S The report' was read, Repairs to main road in Oastlepoint district were authorised; also near Ohonga Ferry. The Ferryman's attention was called to bottles in Ohonga ford, ALTERATION OF .PLANS, Mr King explained that the alteration of plans referred to by Mr Reese had not been made, The plans had not been in his possession, and no alterations had been made, ■ ACCOUNTS, The usual monthly accounts we

passed for payment amounting.- to L 641105, • MR CIIAPiUN's CLAIM,. • " Cr McCardle reported; that Mr Chapman's claim'was a fair one, ond it : was.decided to allow him a remission of a quarter's rent leaa iost of rope ordered in error, WAINOA\YA BRIDGE, ~lt )faa proposed by the chairman that ' 'the ovivseer be instructed to carry out •utile Waingawa bridge repairs by day labor, but an amendment by Cr McCardle to let the work by contract was carried. WAIPOUA BRIDGE, On the motion of Cr Meredith the resolution apportioning the amount to be'provided by the Council as its share of the cost of the Waipoua bridge was rescinded, and on the motion of Cr Maunsell it 'was decided to meet the amount out of crown and native rates. CASTLEroiNT MAIN ROAD. Cr Mackay moved that this road be placed under the control of the Road Board and that the Council pay the Board for maintaining it out of the separate rate levied on the riding and a fair proportion of the Wainuioru riding rato, The chairman requested Cr Mackay not- to press his motion till the new' Council was elected, and Cr Mackay, after discussion, withdrew it, OR G. UKETHAM, ; . Cr G. Becthiun intimated uliat he did l not intend to seek re-election as a member of the Council, and paid a compliment to his colleagues and. the officers of the Council with whom he had worked so harmoniously fil the past. The meeting then adjourned,