DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2321, 15 June 1886, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL .

FORTY MILE BUSH ROAD MAuP '. TENANCE. . 7 , A deputation, consisting of Messrs \ Beetham and Buchanan, M.H,R,'s; -HaV . •'■" •'' kay, and McCardle waited on tho Hon. ■• the Minister of Public Works' on 'Friday last. .', ' " '■■'■" Mr Mackay explained; that. the.^et r itAof the deputation was to bring under the[>M notice of the Government the necessity' of placing a sum of money on the estimates for the maintenance.of the Forty' Mile Bush road.

The Minister: 1 do not know if the Government can accede to this request, the completion of the Railway to Mauriceville would relieve a portion of the road from traffic, : Mr Mackay: That may be the casejtto a certain extent, but if the railway is extended northward to Woodville great, damage will result from the cartage o'f. : '. railway material, while the sections are' in course of completion, It i 3 quite beyond the power of the county to cope with the damage done by tho railvvay contractors, There were not funds avail- , able for such a purpose, The of the Crown Lands ,vas daily increasinm the traffic on this line, while the land* being of but little rateable value at present, contributed but a small sum to the County revenue. If the Government could not assist them the road must inevi- B tably go to ruin. The road was at ft present more a colonial than a county ( . road, and the ftapier people would be inconvenienced if it was impassable. At ' any late the County could not maintain' ■' it without very considerable assistance. Mr McCardle: A large area of land ia still in,the hands of the Crown and contributes a very small amount to the County funds. If the railway is extended in all probability contracts will be let in ■ several sections, su that the whole, road may get damaged. The bulk of the sleopurs for the line would come from Woodvillo.

Mr Mackay; I have an astimate ot the . '. cost of maintenance amounting to £11733. TJie Minister: • This ia a very heavy ■. amount, Havo not the County some money unexpended from the last grant ? Mr Mackay: Yes; but that will only suffice till next October. The grant we .;,'. now ask for is for twelve months com- ; mencing from that date. „ ~ Mr Beetham: Some of the largest ..'*' items in the estimate are for re-metalling "• the sections cut up so badly by cartage in connection with the Mauriceville Railway extension. W the Minister: Ido not think the GoW /• ernment should be called upon to find A money for that portion of the road. In <» the past large sums had been given, and , : there was a disposition to throw the onus of maintenance on the County. Mr Beetham: Sooner or later the Council would havo to face that, but it should not he done till the railway was completed to Woudville. Mr Buchanan: The road had cost a large Bum in the past, which was mainly due to the inferior timber (matai), the Government had used in the construction of the bridges.

The Minister: The only plea the' Government could grant money on was the damage that might result from the extension of the railway. The subject would receive due consideration.

FIOOD DAMAGES. Mr Mackay:—l desire to bring under, the notice of the Government that since J the repeal of the Roads and Bridges Construetion Act there has been no provision for flood damage to roads and Under that act flood damage was a iirM charge on the money allocated for thST' use of local bodies. The aubjoct f demands serious attention, for it was > - quite beyond the power of these bodies '■'' to rebuild largo bridges out of rates. Was it the intention of the Government'to make any provision this session ? The_ Minister: Wo shall make some .1; provisions. We propose to allow local' * bodies to borrow under certain conditions and flood damage- will be taken into account. Mr Mackay: The Council which I represent are of opinion that an insurance fund might be instituted to rebuild bridges. The Government and tho whole of the local bodies in tho colony contributing jointly. The Minister: Do you mean against fire? Mr Mackay: Tes, and flood damage to. It Is impossible for a poor district to rebuild large and costly bridges, Tho burden of reconstruction should be borne, and thrown upon the whole colony. . . The Minister: The idea is. a new one, I feel there would be some difficulty in working it out. I shall, however, give • it attention, but my opinion is that bodies will havo to provide for theispt' works. • ■ ''

TIIREE CHAIN ROAD RESERVE, FORTYMILE BUSH. Mr MoCardlo: I would ask the Government to proclaim the three chain reserve on the Forty-mile Buah Road a public road. In some instances settlors have fenced in portions of the reaorve, and prevented the County from obtain- , ; ing metal, which is necessary for road' ■',. work. ' ii The Minister: Do you wish it pro- .•■",- claimed the whole length of the line. Mr MoMardle: 1 think not, only those portions whore it is necessary to take metal from. Tho Minister: I will give matter ,v. attention. '-. SUBBIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES. '< ■'■>. . The deputation then interviewed Sir. : Julius Vogel on the question of subsidies. . '' Mr Mackay: The system under which ": Bubsidies were granted did not work ' ' satisfactorily. The Local Bodies Finanae. r Powers Act of last session provided that subsidies should be granted in Counties where Road Boards existed, upon the rates collected by the latter bodiet onhL and then divided between them botjß Now, it happened in many oases, Koad Board necessities not being so im- ' ! /:': portant as the Counties, the latter having ■'.'; the charge and up keep of the main or «'•'. arterial lines, would levy a small rate, ;•''■'' with the result that the Counties were : tf ':■> mulcted of revenue, it seems only . t ';•>-'■■ reasonable that subsidies should be appor- M '■ tionodonsome different:basis. Ther/Jm? was a growing tondency to'split up Boa 4Hf > Boards into very small areas, often with • • \-.: the object of striking very low rates, arid/ ' • t-': the Cpunty would, of course,' suffer, ■'■« What we wish the Government to do jb, allocate the subsidies op the dual rates of. Counties and Road Boords, suph rates not ; to exceed fd In the £. '¥ Sir Julius Vogel: The subject, is mr- ■:■■:■ rounded by preat .difficulties.,' V, under- ' '<•',■. stand you desire ., -i should be based oh the joint rates of Mh 'J : . bodies, '" .■■.■■■"■■■■■ Mr Mackay: Yeß. Not exceeding Id intKe£, . , .* *V Sir Julius. Vbgel: This would increase'' | 4 the amount of subsidies paid by the Qo/ .: 4 eminent, and wo desire to retrench. '* :■'' '■' '■'% Mr Mackay: That would npt necesrifrily' •"■' '!?' ■■ ' follow. Counties and Road Boaphav-' ' ' ''• ing small necessities, would not rftte hi«|jk ' merely to obtain large subsides;" 1 If the? ' Government cannot grant thk°'tb,e only %;! course will be for. the'wholef % Kqrs ''■'''' ' Boards within a County to leavy' £ rat? " and hand, over, a \ or a \ they do not' re' quire for their- district roads to the County, on the understanding that the *' County only levies in return,»rate of \ ■

or Jd over tho Eoa'd''Districts. We. are not wishing to atiouro any undue advantage overMher eounties.by' .wishing the subon the dual rhtß,. but. a subsidy 'up 1 - to 'the |. . It would bo applicable to the; whole; Colony. . .The burden.pf;providing Hospital and Charitable aid;fallspn: the Counties, and .tho Bubsidioa are-griuiteil. to ussißt in. the-, •work, .but' if ttib.-Boards only levy an in-, fniitesimal ':;'■■ rate; there might not be. sufficient revenue to. meet these chaiges. ■ ; ..ftir Julius Vpgol'.:" I shall be glad if yoii Tjll'write me. : fully on tho subject. I : snail then beable tOfiive it more atten- :'"■'- /tion;;' >' ; y ;'; : J. ; " ■ ■ POST OFFICE AT PaMATUA. ■ ■ ' :, : '; Mr McCaTdlo then asked the Minister ~,"... if'the Government intended to erect an i, .Office fit Pahiatua. The settlers had -■;.'-' jyj secured a suitable site upon whichto ofect .■';,.; iia'building, and had gono to a good deal ■'.';■■■■ t .Sir Julius Yogel: I fear we cannot '■'■■ -'. ."grant this request. We are retrenching, \ : and cannot entertain proposals of this ,;■■■. nature. :.'. •. :■ : . :Mr McOardle: tho expense would not : '. be great. The policoman's wife might be "■;.. appbiiited.to look after the office in the absence of ,hor husband. Post Offices hadjjeen worked in this way in other ullfttS; : : Mjp Beefcham contended that the expenses would not be great, for the buiMing could be erected so as to bo of vriito several branches of the Public '\lJots Service. ;Sir Julius Yogel: I cannot hold ont any hope that the request will be : granted. AS'SiSTANUK TO COUNTY IN" OPKSMi'O UP ; ROAPS TOWARDS TIIK PUKE'TOI EAST. , -.The Minister of Laiftls was then inter- : viewed on the above subject, Mr Alackity explained that on behalf of the County he, with the Engineer, had examined the main line of road between Gahonga und Akiteo, with the. object of making a deviation. The Council considered that the deviation as suggested would be of benefit in opening up the Crown' land' in the Puketoi, being a portion of the main road which must eventually be made into that country. The: proposal was to survey the deviation, make it fairly passable for dray traffic, and place a punt suitable for crossing stock and. teams on tho Aohonga river.' The line being of benefit to the Government, he would venture to ask that assistance be'granted the County to open it for traffic. The Minister; Would it • not puss through, settled land ? MtMackay; Yes, but it would bo a mutWbenefit to those already settled, ■ml'Mse who, at no distant date might biaflipected to take up land in the Pukethe construction of a road from '■(. Aiite'oto Aohotlga. and thonce up the -■ Aokpnga Valley would be the first step .;■. to settle, and give access to the Crown Lands. Eventually this country might ?;' b» connoCted with the railway system in the Forty-Mile Bush, but the first and most suitable plan would be to expend money in the manner suggested, The Minister; What amount of Crown Lands would the line give access to. Mr Mackay: It would bo part of a main line that would tap about the centre of 100,000 acres of down lands. The Minister; In that case the subject is worth consideration, if the road will meet the requirements of future settlo- ■ •'• moot. ■;■■"■■ Mr Mackay: Persons are already anxious to sottle at the head of the Aohonga. A meeting was held at Tinui a few days ago for the purpose of forming a Special Settlement. .About 20 put down their ■' rjam|aat the meeting, and there is evory chaft' of 100 being willing to join if the Government would frunt the land. The intending settlers would be glad to know 'J., if the government would favor a Special Settlement in that country. . ■ y The Minister: Yes, the Government ■■''■■ are anxious to advance settlement. I .;. should be glad if you would see Mr ; Molfeffrow and explain your ideas to him. then report fully to me. 1 :'■;.:. ' think the points you have mentioned I ', should receive some attention. L ',■'■'.. The deputation then withdrew to interI:v view Mr McKcrrov. I •;' the ufPouxwN'o act. B .-. The deputation then waited on the I ' Hon. the Premier. j Mr Mackay explained the <position the 5 County was placed in by the Impounding 5 '■' Aot, which required that very expensive a ".. pounds should \w. eivcted. In the County 1' oi Wairarapa East it would cost £2OO or I . £3OO to meet the requirements of the I ■'• law. He thought there should ou some | ; : modification of the Act. Local bodies i :'' were not in a position to incur the ex8. pense. ■ ■:. The Premier: The law is I think the ¥.■■: the old Otago and Wellington I ; Orojftnccs. I : Mr Mackay : There was not such a 1• ; stringent provision in the Wellington 1./.! Provincial Act, we only found out the I: j difficulty when the general Act became I ;: \ law. TJic Wellington Act being examf ''. : ined it was found that it did not contain ■::■!' the same, provisions ro shelter sheds and yards as the present law. The Premier: I do not think the iwuse would listen to a proposal to amend toact.in;,the direction indicated.' Mi Beetham; lam of the same opinion ,%ii the House would not entertain the at&on of amending the Act. Dootobs Gave Him Up.-*-" Is it possible that Mr Godfrey is up and at work, : , arid cured by so simple a remedy ?" " 1 fissure you it is true that he is entirely • ,'..' spied, and with nothing but Am, Co.'s Hop Bitters, and only ten days ago his doctors gave him up and said he must ■•■/"■ : dte." "Well-a-daynfthatissof will •„ ■;. . .eo this minute and get some for my poor "..flfloige, 1 know hops are good." Read.