WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1989, 13 May 1885, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ceunty Council took place yesterday afternoon. Present—Crs Mackay (chairman), W. W. McCardle, T. E. Chamberlain, W. H. Beetham, R. D. Dagg; R. S. Hawkins, and E. Meredith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, CORRESPONDENCE, ! Correspondence was read from Chief Surveyor asking whether the Council will take charge of bush falling contracts. From Clerk of Castlepoint Koad Board enclosing vouchers duly signed. From Commissioner of Crown Lands re permission to use totaraon Crown Lands. The Clerk said two applications had been made to the Government for the use of totara for contracts, but the Government greatly deprecated'.the indiscriminate use being made of the Government timber, From Surveyor-General, re formation of roads through Crown Lands, and stating the Council was in error in supposing contracts for LSOOO had been let. The intention of the Government was to invite local Boards to supervise road works through Government Lands, but the Government intended to keep to "itself the manner of dealing with roads and laying them off. From Public Works Department,' stating that the control of the Waipoua bridge was vested'in tho Mastcrton Borough Council. From Messrs Elder Bros,, statins,' they were willing to give up all their interest in the Black Hill bridle track for the sum of £BO, providing three gates were erected for their use. From Crs Mackay and Mannsell (a committee appointed by the Council), with a copy of their letter to Elder Bros,, offerto purchase their right in the Black Hill bridle track route. From Mr F, Conway, offering to break metal along the main line of road at a given price per yard, From Public Works Department stating Mr Blackett would come up and inspect the Waipoua overflow, From Cr F. Maunsell, resigning his seat on the Council. From Messrs Burgess & Son, applying for a progress payment of £IBO on their metalling contract. From Mr G. Beetham, stating that he had seen Mr Marchant, Commissioner of Crown Lands, regarding the legalising of a portion of the Bideford road, and that a surveyor would immediately be sent up to traverse the road, . ■, Cr Hawkins said that it was simply a waste of money, as all the information required was in the office of tile County. Cr Beetham said that no less than four roads had been laid off, and tliey should therefore npt. be called upon to pay for a new survey, oAlfANf}4 FEERV, Mr Baker, ferryman at Oahunga, complained of an evasion of the ferry through Mrllandyside'sland, From a discussion which followed it appeared that the crossing took place outside tlio boundary of the ferry reserve, and it was thereupon resolved" to inform Mr Baker that the Council could do nothing in the matter, DRAIN PttES. A letter was received from the City Council offering a lot of pipes for sale for culverts. The Chairman stated that the pipes were 24 inch, Moved by Cr Meredith, and seconded by Or Hawkins—That the matter be referred to the Engineer to report as to the suitability of the pipes, and to inquire as to the costs, FORTY Mlf/E BUSH ROAD, Mr Carr wrote asking for an extension of time for the completion of his metalling contract on the Forty Mile Bush Road. Moved by Cr Beetham and seconded by CrDagg-That the matter bo left in the hands of the Engineer. MAURICEVILLE ItOAU DISTRICT. The Engineer presented a plan showing the boundaries he proposed for tho new Mauriccville Road District, together with a report thereon. A deputation consisting of Messrs W, Jackson, W. Jcssen, C. Fosber, and P. Madscn also waited upon the Council in connection with the subject. ' % lessen 'said they found that the boundaries left them very little Crown Lands. They were" prepare!} j» accept t]|e eastern boundary, but thought the Ruaipiianga should be the boundary to its source.

A good deal of feussioii tftyk place, and the deputation ultimately stated that if the Council would not agree to the boundaries proposed, they wished to have their papers returned, as they would probably apply to tho Governor in Council,

Before the deputation withdrew, Cr McCardle explained that ho had nothing whatever to do with the movement, but when it came before the Council he had carried out what he considered to be Ins duty. He had never done anything to get the people to agitate for separation. Cr Hawkins proceeded to speak, but the Chairman suggested that remarks should be deferred till the deputation had withdrawn and there was a resolution before the Council, Cr McCardle moved. that the plan as amended by the Engineer' be handed to the deputation. The settlers could then take what steps they thought best. Cr Hawkms seconded the motion, which was carried. FINANCE. The Treasurer presented his report for the month, and the report of the Finance Committee. Receipts' siiieo last meeting wore tillO 4s fid, The Bank account stood as follows: —General account (debtor) L 1397 12s 7d, special account (credit) LG99 8s 4d, nett debit LG9B 4s 3d. • . : ; Accounts amounting to L 1175 7s lid were passed for payment, The Finance Committee recommended jtha.t as to genera) and separata rates all spis under L2'jie payable jn one sum at the time w])en the instalment bocoms due, and that notice be gjven with the notice of rate that punctual ipayment will be insisted on, and that in default of payment within fourteen days, 'proceedings for recovery shall be taken. That t)je Chairman of the Council and of the Finance Committee wait on the manager of the Bank of New Zealand and explain the position of the County as to

overdraft, and arrange for the necessary accommodation. That tho Engineer be instructed to restrict the staff and works on; the several roads to the provision made on tho revisedjstimato adopted by the Council, and that no excess be allowed without special permission of the Works Committee. ; - overseer's import. The Overseer reported that the progress of repairs on tho main lines had been greatly retarded by the broken weather, which had caused Beveral small slips. The Kaumingi to Tinui road was showing eveiysignof becoming blocked against wheel traffic during the winter. The section from Tinui to Castlepoint was keeping in good order. The road from Tinui to Eketahuna was fast deteriorating, but it appeared hopeless to improve it during the winter except to put in bridges and culverts, and to repair those already in existence. Messrs. Burgess & Son had made good progress with their metalling contract on the Mungapakeha road.

RESOLUTIONS. The following resolutions were carried: That the works at the Ruamahanga recommended by the Engineer, be carried out forthwith. ■'..,'.' That the Engineer make a statement of the extraordinary expenses incurred by the Council in repairing; the OpakiManawatu r/iad, by reason' of the extraordinary traffic thereon, .caused by Messrs Downes and Henderson, and that .the account be forwarded to them, with a request that they will pay the same. That the Engineerbe instructed to procure grass seed for the bush burned on the side of the Te Ore Ore-Bideford road, in accordance with an agreement with the late Mr J. McKenzie. Cr Beetham moved, and Cr Hawkins seconded "That as the replies of the Road Boards were unfavourable to the acceptance by them of the proposals made by the Council on the subject of County road maintenance the Council still retain the control of the roads. On the motion of Cr Meredith seconded byCr McCardle, the further consideration of the question was postponed till the general rate it/is now proposed to levy has been collected, That the Government be requested to take steps to have the land at the head of the Akiteo and Oahonga rivers be opened up fer settlement, and to place a sum of money on the estimates for that purpose. That a Committee,' consisting of Crs Beetham, Hawkins, Meredith, McCardle, and Chamberlaiu be appointed to meet Mr Blackett en the subject of the Waipoua overflow at the Pairau. . That tliis Council impress on the Government the necessity of extending telephonic communication to Woodville. The question of stopping roads in winter was deferred till next meeting, A long discussion took place on the question of defining the width of tires to be..used on drays and waggons, and notice of motion for the next meeting was given, that the by-law on the subject be amended in the direction of increasing the width. TENDERS, The following tenders were receivedFalling 40 acres bii3h on Alfredton-Eke-tahuna road: J. Duffy, scrub 3s, bush one chain wide, L2, do, two chains wide, L2 5s per acre; E. Many, scrub 7s, bush L 3; J. Cavanagh, L 3 5s all round. Mr Duffy's tender was accepted. Ruamahunga bridge repairs: A, McLeod Ll9O 10s (accepted); Dawson, L 259; Girdwood, L 225. The Council then rose.