WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2216, 10 February 1886, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular monthly mooting of the East County Council was held yesterday, Present— Messrs Maokay (Chairman),' Hawkins, Meredith, Hunt, Dagg f and Maunsull. The minutes of the special and ordiinry meetings were rend and confirmed. An apology was read from CrMacquarie for his unavoidable absence. COBKESrONDBNCK.

From tho Alfredton Road Board complaining that metal was being takon from the Manguone lltud for use on the County Road, The Engineer stated tho metal was being taken from tho Road reserve-and no injury was being douo to the roadway and there was an unlimited supply of metal.

It was resolvod that tho Council express its regret at having trespassed upon the Alfredton Road District without the permission of the said Board, and that permission be asked to take a supply to finish the work in hand., AN OBJECTION. Mr M'Leod wrote objecting to his land being included in the new Mauriceville Road District.

Cr Hunt said there were several other. settlers holding land on the other side and their natural outlet would be on the Opaki. He did not think'they could mend the matter in any way, . The Clerk was instructed to reply that the matter of boundaries had beon closed. LOCAL FINANCE CIRCULAR. The Patea and Featherston Road Boards wrote asking to be supplied with extra copies of the Local Finance sohemo circulated by the Council.

The Cnairnian moved that an extra thousand copies be printed. They had gone so far with the matter that he thought it would be wise to go thoroughly into it,

Mr Meredith seconded the motion, and stated that the exchange of opinions between was very beneficial, The motion was carried. OIiASSINO ROADS Cr Macquario wrote, advising tho Council to have the land where the bush had been burnt on the Eketahuna-Tinui road sown with cocksfoot. It was resolved that the proposal to sow grass seed stand over. GRANT FOR ROAD. Cr Macquario also wrote that tho sum of £ls granted for the road to Mr H. Burling's, was inadequate, and asking tlni Council to increase the grant to £3O. He suggested that a portion of tho refund lrom the Castlepoint Riding for the Manawa bridge might be used for the extension of tho road. It was resolved that; Cr Macquario bo informed that the Council had no funds for the work,

EXTENSION OF IIME, It was resolved that Mr Barker be granted an extention of time for his contractat Aohanga for three weeks. Tho Castlepoint Road Board wrote asking that tho Engineer may be instructed to prepare plans and call for tenders for certain work in that district. Tho request was granted. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT, ' The Treasurer reported a debit balance as per Bank book of £412 8s 2d, and as per cash book £42513s lid. The receipts since last meeting amounted to £626 os 9d. Along discussion on the subject of the maintainance of Roads in the Castlepoint Riding took place The question of the damage done to these roads by stock coming through from Hawkes Bay having been brought up the following resolution was proposed by Cr Meredith and seconded by Cr Mackay, That the large quantities of stock in transit from Hawkes Bay to Wellington cause very great and special damage to the Masterton Waimata Road; that the persons interested in such'stock contribute nothing to the cost of maintainance of that road. The Finance Committee therefore rocommonds for the consideration of the Coumil whether it should not require a toll on stock at the Akitio Ferry, with a view to obtain a reasonable contribution from such persons towards the repair of the damage so done,-Carried. On the subject of the Castlepoint Riding separate rateaccount.-Tlio Committee having inquired into the subject finds the present excess of expenditure by the Council up to and including all maintenance to the end of January is £525 17s Id. The Committee considors that the maintenance'for February or March should be provided for by expenditure of £65, making a total of £591 17s Id. The Committeo recommend that the balance unappropriated of the County share of subsidy for tho riding, viz., £l3O be applied in reducing the above amount. This will leave the riding in debt to the amount of £46017s Id, and that the debt of the Riding be charged to'the Castlepoint Riding separate rate account, and liquidated by that Riding in not more than two years, and that at least one half of this indebtedness be discharged out of the ensuing financial year's rate. The accounts, amounting to £B7O 12s lid, were recommended for payment. With regard to communications for the Council's solicitor, Ist re Steven's action to recover damages for determination of contracts from metal breaking, the Committee recommend that Messrs Beard and Gray be instructed to act for the Council, and that tho conduct of the case be referred back to the Finance Committee. Re draft of agreement of lease of Uriti shipping shed site, the Committee recommends the Council to approve of the same, and to order its execution so far as the Council is' concerned. Mr Meredith's request that this should not be done till his solicitor has had an opportunity of perusing the agreement be acceded to.

The Committee's attention havinp been drawn to the question of the services rendered by roadmen and. others in saving bridges and culverts from destruction by fire, it isrecommend that it bean instruction to the engineer to •ascertain what these services were, and that on his report the Council should recognise them in a fitting manner. The report was dealt witlvseriafcim, and each clause adopted. NEW ROAD BOARDS.' 'V The petition of the settlers" in the Mauriceville settlement, also that of the Whareama District, praying to be constituted separate Epad Boards was gone into and approved, and ordered- to be gazetted. On the motion of Cr Dagg it was resolved, That the dissolution of; the old Boards, and election of niarribers for the new Boards should not take ; place till; the date of the regular election pf me'inbers for Eoad Boards in May, as thus the expense of a double electibn" would be avoided. With regard to the petition for the proposed new Road Board-District for Eketahuna, it was resolved to hold over its consideration, in the absence of Mr Anderson, to the next meeting bf the Council, The report of tho Engineer was read as follows: ; , I have the honor to lay before you my %fks report for the month, -fa ' Ifastejtqii Ridfng;~Te^rosOro ? fo'

Bidetord line-Contracts Nos. 9 and 10, for respectively fprming 78|, and metalling 17 chains of road, have been creditably fulfilled Bince the last sitting of the Council. Thes,e works, covering as they do several of tlfo more impassable sections of the line, will in Mure add materially to the convenience and comfort of the travelling public in this locality. The execution of these works has all but exhausted tho amount of the estimate for the current year. What small balance remains is appropriated to meet the permanent man's wages until the close of the present financial year. Waingawa to Camp road—The repairs at Waingawa have been completed, and I hope may prove effectual in preventing further encroachment of the rivor on the southern approach to the bridge. Owing, however, to an alteration in the course of the channel, the main body of water during flood will be directed against the bank at almost a right angle to its general direction. This will act most disadvautageously to the work which- has recently been performed, as the villows will not havo had time to strike before tho bank will be subjected to the severest tests. The' decking of several of the small platform bridges fronting Mr J. Cameron's property on the Opaki, are shewing symptoms of wearing out, and will havo to be sheeted over at once to prevent their total collapse. 1 have therefore to request that tho Council grant me authority to have this work undertaken immediately. Alfredton Riding, -Ekefcahuna to Tinui road-Contract No 1 for metalling 18 chains of the road was reported as completed about the 24th, and was duly examined about the 28th January. Upon olose inspection it was discovered, that in several respects the contractor had failed to comply with the conditions of his contract, and in consequence his final release from the work has had to be deferred until the defects have been remedied, Contract No 13 is at present making fair progress, and with a continuauce of favorable weather, will be out of hand in the course of three weeks. The attention of the Council is called to the fact that at present no arrangements have been made for_ grassing the portions of this line which have been felled and burnt this summer. It is important that- this necessary operation should be undertaken in the proper season now approaching I would ask therefore that instructions be given to make arrangements to carry out this work. In accordance with instructions from the representative ot the riding I have examined that portion of the main lino which it is proposed to give egress towards to Mr Henry Burling's. The total length ot road which it will bo necessary to form, amounts to 36jr chains. So far as I havo boenable to judge, tho line (which passes through broken country) has been carefully located, and, when formed, will fairly meet the requirements of the district which it is intended to serve. I have endeavored to economise as much as possible in preparing tho attached estimate of what I consider it will cost to open the line for traffic, and await further, instructions from the Council in reference to the proposed undertaking, Castlepoint riding.—Masterton to Waimata road—On the Mungapakeha section of this line contracts 8 and 9 are at present in course of execution. The former, accordinp to the Overseer's report, is not making that progress, which the prospects of the advancing autumn renders desirable, and measures will, therefore, havo to be taken which will ensure an increase in the working staff. On the latter tho works have been pushed forward with commendable promptness since the commencement, and it is anticipated they will be completed by tho 10th iiißt. Further north, Mr Blake is engaged in carrying out his contract, No 18, for the formation of a section of the Oahanga Hill. Through his absence, about tho date of the acceptance of his tender, a considerable delay took place.before the work was started, in consequence of which the contract', is not so far advanced as could be desired. Measure will, however, be taken to have it as early as possible, The ravages of travelling stock will still continue along the metalled sections of the line and much extra labor and expenditure will have to be employed to effect the repairs necessitated by the scattering of the material in the watertables, and over the edge of the embankment. Eketahuna to Tinui road (Manawa section)—Mr T. P, Girdwood has commenced coutract No 12, for gravelling portion of the above line, and is at present employed in opening a pit opposite the work (on Mr Maunsell's side of the Whareama River.) Opaki to Manawatu road.—Contracts No. 22—These are contracts for repairing the surface of the road where the present metalling wbb partially destroyed by the railway contractor's traffic. The first, let to Mr O'Brien, is well advanced, The work is being well and energetically pushed forward. On the second, under Mr McKenzie, a good commencement has beon made. The work is also being satisfactorily and efficiently carried out. Tho whole will be completed and out of hand by the stipulated date. On the north section it has been arranged for the maintenance men to work in shifts of two, ,to facilitate the working of tho drays. Each two men so combining will cart the material on the double section, and leavo itin heaps in the most convenient positions for spreading and maintaining the road in the winter as it may become necessary, .Notwithstanding tho many bush fires this season there has been comparitively little obstruction or damage to the permanent work along the line, and on tho whole the clearance of the bush will, by admitting the sun and wind, prove of benefit to the future preservation and economicalmaintenanceoftheline. On the question of letting the maintenance of the mam roads by tendor, Ihavegiven tho matter careful attention, and after considering all the ; circumstances bearing on the subject, have come to the conclusion that it would not be.economical or likely to work satisfactorily for the Council for some years. The length of road at present under the control of each man, is greater than it should be-at least, tho same staff would have to be maintained by a con-tract-rthere would in addition be the expense of increased supervison, and he would have to allow a considerable margin for contingencies, such as the effects of floor damages, &c.;, these being at present promptly and economically dealt with' as they occur. • It is possible, however, that after some years when contractors would have had time to average the liabilities, tenders might be sent in at such a price as would compare favorably with the cost of the maintenance of the lines by day labor, 1 have, etc., 0. E. Brejiner,

JRJPGES.- ... The Engineer was instructed to attend to the repair of bridges where necessary. "With regard to that part treating upon the protective works at- the Waingawa bridge, the Engineer- said there was no remedy he could suggest except at a great' expense, Thp railway bridge above' had altered tho course,'of the river to thai detriment of the protective works. LICENSED SLAUGHTER HOUSES. The Chairman informed the meeting that he, in conjunction with Or McCardle had waited upon tho Borough Council upon the question, and that they had appointed a sub-oommitte'o to deal with |.>se ftggeKtebV the

Council sliould be appointed to act with them, so as to obtain uniform by-laws. ,On the motion af Cr Hawkins, Crs Meredith and Mackay were appointed to act. ' . 1 ■ the wire CABLE, A discussion took place as to what use could be made of the wire cable that had lately been in use attheMannwatu Ferry, and wap now lying in Lowes and lorns' sale yards. It was resolved that the Engineer report whether it could be used at the Aohanga ferry, WHEEL TIRES. Tho, regulations of the Wanganui County Council upon the narrow cire traffic was read, and notice of motion was Riven that the regulations in force in tho East County be rescinded with a view to adopt the by-laws in force under the Wanganui County Council. BRIDGE PAINTING. The Clerk said a grant of £230 had been made by Government for clearing slips and painting bridges, and thore was a balance left of £69 3s Bd. The Engineer was instructed to report which bridges required painting SALARIES AND EXPENDITURE. In accordance with a resolution passed at the last'meeting of the Council, the Clerk brought up a detailed statement, showing the proportion which salaries had borne to expenditure in the County. It was resolved that the statement be published. HOSPITAL. AND CHARITABLE AID ACT. ■ A circular was read from theWaikato County Council re the unworkableness of this Act, and suggesting certain amendments.

The Chairman said it was a question of great interest to their district, as there was a probability of their being rated, and their proportion would be £356. Ho thought most persons were adverse to a poor rato. After some considerable discussion, Cr Hawkins moved, Cr Dagg seconded, That concurring in of th» amendment proposed by the Waikato County Council, in the opinion of this Council nothing short of a repeal of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act is necessary. That _ the Act is so thoroughly bad in principle that no mere amendment can reach its defects, and in the meantime the only thing to be done by the Benovolent and Hospital authorities is. by appeal to the settlers to put themselves in a position to escape from its operation and neutralize its ill effects. That this Council thank the Waikato Council for the action they have taken, and trust that concerted action on the part of Local Authorities will become more and more an acknowledged necessity in the interests of. the Local Government; the Waikato County Council to be asked[ what measures they propose to adopt to give effect to their views, and that this Council will appoint a delegate to join a deputation to the Colonial Secretary. The resolution was carried unanimously. The Chairman read a resolution which bad just been handed in by the Treasurer of the Masterton Hospital Committee. This resolution had been passed at a meeting of the Hospital Committee held that afternoon, and expressed the opinion that the Hospital could bo maintained in the futura, as in the past, without the aid of a rate.

FINANCE, The Chairman said the time had arrived when it was absolutely necessary that they should take into consideration the financial position of the County. They would have nothing like the money to spend in the comin? year, and it would be necessary to cut down expenses accordingly. It was resolved that at the ■ next regular meeting, the Council should go into Committee, to consider the question of reducing the working oxpenses. TENDERS.

Ore Maunsell and Mackay were authorised to deal with the tenders for work in iu the Cashpoint Riding. The Council then adjourned.