WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2042, 15 July 1885, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

The rogular montliy meeting of the Council was held in the County Offices, Maaterton, .yesterday. Presont-Crs Maokay (Chairman), Hawkins, Meredith,' Chamberlain, Dagg, Macquarie, Boetham, and Maunsell,

The minutes of the previous meeting 1 were read and' confirmed. Wangaehu valley koad. Settlers in the Wangaehu complained , of the neglect of tho Council in opening! up the road in that district, and showing' the advantages that would arise flkJh.e i County, as well as to the settlers inSfci. I ing up the roadi j| The Chairman said he understood the sum I of £15,000 had been placed on the esti- i mates for opening up the roads of tho Country generally. Cr Hawkins said this was one questions that had been dealt with at the conference-the opening up of the roads -but the thing was m a complete muddle, and he did not see what they could do, as they had no power, Government said, " You represent existing settlers on the land, whilst we represent future settlors, and we cannot allow you a voice in opening up the roads, as you would study those on the lands now, whilst it is future settlement we have to consider." They could do nothing but reiterate their desire, and continue to urge upon tho ■ Government the necessity of giving them power to deal with the opening up of the lands. ' i

Cr Dagg said the settlers had already done all in their power under the Roads and Bridgos Construction Act, and borrowed £I,OOO for road purposes. Cr Meredith said if this road was opened! it would be tho means of getting fena fide settlers, not like Mr A, Dcfl&V Brandon, who had about three milsr ; f road frontage. Cr Macquarie said there was a large area of Crown Lands on the West side, and there was also a great deal oil Mjo' East, already surveyed, and he vi-Md' move, That the Government be urged- to set aside a sum of the estimates to continue the formation of tho Wangaohu Valley Road, and the'Dreyer'3 Rock' road to its connection with the said road to the Forty-Mile Bush.

Seconded by Cr Dagg, and carried. a biookkd road. Messrs Shute and Jones waited on the Council to know if they could have a road to the Upper 'l'auom above the slip to allow of tho passage of four loads of timber. Tlio Engirioer said dray loads going through now would destroy the road. Cr lieotham said he thought it would' be throwing money away, to go and remove a slip that they knew would tako.. place again directly after. If the carfofevfr were bound by confcraet they allowed to do it at their own expensth ' > There were cases where it was imperative ■ to open' the road, and in sueli Blatters the ; emergenoy ihould be met by those intei'ested. He moved that the Council in- ; cur no expense in removing the slip, but that .the carriers be allowed to convey the timber acrcxs 'the road at their own fjflWlN Seconded by Cr MacQuarrie andeai«Bffll ■ Cr Macquari? moved, and Or Beeth&ra i ' seconded, Ttytt bar* be put across tlit

road at this slip, to pievcnt danger to ( pasaeugew.—Carried. THE WAIPOUA OVERFLOW. Herbert and Welch waited on the Council re the Waipoua overflow, and to wk the Council to subsidise them in any sum they might raise to erect protective works. TJio Chairman asked if tho settlers wero all unanimous in having the work done, Mr Herbert said that those settlers whose property had been injured by the present overflow were unanimous, although some 011 the other side would rather see the river where it is. ■ r : 'The Chairman read the opinion pf Messrs Beard and Gray on the legality' of turning-rivers. ~ Tho Chairman said it was evident th.it B a Board of Conservators would be tue proper body to deal with the river. He '• thought the Government were shirking their duty on this question, If a Board of Conservators was formed, tho County could contribute to a fund for conserving the river, being interested to the extent of the country roads. Cr Beetlmm said the Masterton Highway, Board would help those who were interested, and those who were benefited by tho road. Ho told Mr Welch that he considered lie would be perfectly justified in protecting his property where §iver over-flowed on to, his property, f this was done, he thought the river , bo turned back into its old course again, But this cost, it was not to be expected, sliuuld be borne by Mr Welch alone, the County and Koad Board being interested in the preservation of their roads. The engineer's report on the subject was read, showing the estimated cost to be £693. The Chairman, after some further discussion, suggested that the deputation should take steps to form a Board of - Conservators, and define'their district, W'he Council might give them the services • *oi their Engineer. Cr. Ghamberlainsaid lie was afraid that ' they would not find moro than about twenty settlers interested. Cr. Beetham pointed out that the Council would have to contribute, and the General Government certainly should do so to protect the railway line. His own opinion was that the river could be easily turned.

Cr. Hawkins formally moved and Cr. Beetham seconded ■ that the deputation be advised to proceed under the 131 st Clause of the llivers Conservation Act,

A lOCAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS, ™s Chairman laid on the table the resolutions which had been adopted at the • Local Bodies Conference, (already published), and explained the reasons why they had been passed. He said that with regard to charitable aid the conference ■ had come to the conclusion that the local bodies contributing sliouldbe represented on the Board in proportion to their contributions. They also thought that the jjSstricts were too large, and for his own 'part considered that a district like their county and the borough of Masterton were quite capable of managing their own hospital. If the Act was passed it would Lave the effect of shutting off public subscriptions. The estimates of what local bodies would receive had been based on entirely erroneous bases. All that would really receive a benefit would be those that least required assistance, and the very small lload Boards. A County liko their own would only receive a subsidy through their .Road Boards, which the Boards would, of course, expend. The Fcatherston Road District, in which all the roads were lime, would actually receive more than of the County of Wairarapa East, where, it was well known, most of the roads were in a very bad state. Cr Macquarie said they were all indebted to the Chairman for the satisfactory manner in which he had attended to the interests of the County at the Conference. The Chairman said ho felt quite sure 10. some good would result. Members of Parliament had their eyes opened for a good many things of which *hey were not awjire, and which they could see at Bight,

Cr Dagg said he thought the matter should take some more tangible form. He moved a vote of thanks to the representatives.

The motion was carried, Cr Chamberlain thought they should pay tho expenses of thoir delegates. Cr Hawkins said that was the last thing they would think of, They were very much obliged to the Council for its expression of confidence, They had been successful so far that the Local Bodies Bill had been altered till scarcoly a rag . remained of it, He described the measure as outrageously absurd. ABSENT COUNCILLOR. VjjWr McCardle wrote, asking to bo T§jpused from attendance at the meeting on account of ill health. CORRESrOXDENCK. The County Clerk read an abstract of tho correspondence inwards and outjfNj.rds. ' I MAURICEVIILE ROAD BOARD. A copy of the petition from ratepayers In the proposed Mauriceville Road Board to His Excellency the Governor, praying for separation, was received and read by tho Chairman, Cr Hawkins moved to the effect that the report of tho Engineer on the subject, and a,, copy of the counter petition, Jbe forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, together with a statement to the effect that the Council had acted for the best of the district. The motion was agreed to.

IE OltE ORE MDEFORD ROAD. A memorial was received from Messrs C. E, Cockbum Hood, and others, praying, that the extension of the Te Ore OreBideford Road from Bideford to Tiraumea ■ bo declared a District road. jlAfter some discussion itivas resolved.to the matter to stand over till next meeting. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Carver applied for the punt and jjlant at the Manawatu Ferry for use on •'®he road to the Tiraumea special settle,?snent.

It-was resolved on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Hawkins, that the Assistant Engineer be instructed to value the plant. With regard to Mr Doivling's claim of £lO, it was resolved to inform Mr Dowling that the full amount will be paid over to him provided he producoan order from his former partner, McCarthy, to draw his share. Cr Hawkins moved and Cr Dagg seconded, that tho Government be requested to place the sum of £2OIB on tho estimates for the maintenance of the Forty Mile Bush Road for the current year, and that the Chairman and Messrs G. Beefcham and W. C. Smith, M.H.R.'g be requested ta wait on tho ..Minister of tublic Works on the lUbject,—Carried, An application for the services of an Engineoer was received from the Alfredtoll Road Board, and it was resolved that the services of tho;Assistant Engineer be granted. On the motion of Cr/Dagg seconded by Cr Beetham, Mr McKenzie wasappointcd' inspector under the by-law re wheel ' tires. CrDiiggaliio gave noticeof motion to jamoud the by-law bearing on the subject, .rjfaio as to empower the Council to regulate 1 vthe weight carried on vehicles. The Engineer reported that pigs and