NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2520, 9 February 1887, Page 2

NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tub ordinary monthly meeting of North Wairarapa County Council was held yesterday afternoon. Presont Crs Mackay (Chairman), Meredith, Hawkins, McCardle, Dagg, and Maunsell. The minutes of the previous mooting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Eketahuna Road Board, offering to do work on tho road if agreeable to the Council. They would remove the slips if the Council would do the necessary metalling. From Mr R. W. Carver, offering £3 for the old Manawatu ferry boat. It was decided that the matter be left in tho hands of Cr McCardle and the Engineer to dispose of. From Under Secretary of Public Work, enclosing plans and information re the Manawatu Gorge Eoad, and stating that he did not think Mr Richardson would be in favor of handing the Manawatu bridge over to North County Council, From Ekotahuna Road Board, asking the County Council for the Engineer's office thero, offering to remove the building and allow the Council to use it when required by them. From Treasury Office notifying that the scale of Councillors' travelling expenses were reasonable, though not according to the Act. From Colonial Secretary's Office, stating that tho office of Licensing Clerk by Road Board Clerks could only bo filled by name and not ex officio. ; From Mr Baker asking for an extension of leaso for tho Oahanga Forry resorve. From Crown Lands office re the conversion of Loans uuder the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, It was decided to lot tho matter of conversion re the Alfrodton Road Board stand over till noxt meeting, From Mr MoColl, contractor for the toll gato erection, claiming damages to tho amount of £l6 8s 6d, EKETAHUNA ROADS. With reference to the application from the Eketahuna Road Board the Chairman said ho did not think tho ridinp had sufficient mouey in hand to do the work, the work on the Alfrodton road having absorbed all available funds. The Engineer was instructed ,to report on the necessary work. THE GORGE ROAD. Or Hawkins would like to know if the Government had the power to keep a bridge after handing a road over to County Councils. The Chairman said thero was evidently a desireon the part of tho Government to keep a jurisdiction over the bridge, and instanced the case of Mr Carver being appointed to tho care of the Ngawapurua Bridge. Mr McOardlo pointed out that that was the railway bridge, and exclusively Government property. It was decided to wire down and get the decision of the Hon. Mr Richardson wtthregatd to the bridge at once. The answer to the telegram wsb that the matter was still under consideration. ENQINEERS OFFIOB. ' ' , With reference-to the application from the Eketahuna Road Board it was found that the Board were under an ment to give up the building at the end of the year, The buildm? had previously been, to Mr MoLachlan w an equivalent for a section of land given by him to the Council, Mr McLachlan was asked by the Coun-

cil if he would carry out his previous agreement with the Council on tho expiration of the Board's tenancy on or about July Ist, current. Mr MoLrchlan said he was fully prepared to do so; and the matter was settled by handing over the building to him, . - t LICENSING CLERKS. Tho Clerk was. instructed to write to Messrs Baylis* and Hutchon, asking if they were' willing to accept the positions as Licensing Clerks to the Eketakn] Bnd ! TifiW'"Lj^nalpg-';Cb^biitflßK'*' ? - r -'' r " . It was also- revived that Mr T. G. Moore /be recommended for the appointment as Clerk to the Licensing Committee of the Masterton Licensing District. TRAVELLING EXPENSES.' A livoly discussion ensued over what were travelling expenses, tho Chairman stating that it would be necessary for every member to send in iteina of his actual espouses, according to tho Act. Cr Hawkinß contended that the Counoil had fixed a scale, and that ought to be sufficient, he thought it very Billy of the department to badgor tho Council in that way. First thoy say thafc tho diaries wero reasonable, aud then complain, that it is not' according to the Act. It was. deAd to receive tho letter from the Treasury office. . OAHAHGA FURRY. The Chairman stated that tho County had four years leaao. from the Natives, and,it was a question whether it could bo renewed, The Oounoil were in negotiation with, Mr liandysido for another site lower down the river, , Cr Hawkins thought it would be desirable to obtain a longer lease from tho Natives. If the Council could not do so, they would, no doubt, have to accept Mr Handyside's Bite, at the expiration of the present lease. Cr Meredith moved that Mr Baker bo informed that the Council will endeavor to get an extension of lease from the natives, and, if successful, his letter will be dealt with. Socouded by Cr Hawkins and carried. NOAWAPVIIUA TOLL GATE. The Chairman explained the action of fluru and other natives'in destroying the toll gate at Ngawapurua, and read a report of Mr W. G. Beard re the examination of them before the WoodvilleJuaticea. The Chairman also stated that he saw the natives, and told them that the county intended to go on with the erection of the toll gates, and asked them to give back the tools to the workmen. He had the pleasure of seeeiup the toll gate in working order, aud a nativo pay toll, He did not think there was much fear of future troublo with thejiativos.' Cr Hawkins said he thought it waa a great pity that sucli high handed work of the Maories should be troated with' such contempt by tho Woodville Justices, ho not think they should proceed any. further in prosecuting the'natives, The Chairman said lie instructed : the Olerk to write to Inspector Shearman on the matter, and lie had instructed the police to make periodical visits to the bridge. Cr Hawkins said the thanks of'the Council were duo to the Chairman for his prompt action in dealing with the matter. It was resolved that tho Counoil take? no further action with regard' to the pulling down of the toll-house. COMPENSATION, "With regard to Mr M'Ooll's. claims of £l6 8s Cd, the quoßfcion arose ; as --to., whether the Council were responsible for the Maori outrage, tho opinion being that they wero not, and that M'Coll waa nofc legally entitled to any compensation from the Council. - •• i Cr McOardle moved That the- account' as taxed by the Engineer to tho amount ) of £1313 a6d bo paid to Mr M'Coll as oompenaation for loss of time and matorial In doing so, ho said that the Council let the contraofc,'and they should protect him. The Chairman secoudod the motion., ■, Cr Hawkins said ho could not seo that the Council were bound to pay MoColl, Or Meredith said thoy were placed iu a difficult position. No doubt the contractor had a moral olaim on the Oauncil/

Cr Maunßel) asked if the Council paid the amount would it deter the contractor from Buing the Maoris for damage's. The Chairman explained that if tho County paid tho billl for Huru, it would debar McColl from Buing the Natives,: and the County had no action against them except for misdemeanor. Cr McCardle's motion was then carried, It was decided, on the motion of Cr Maunsell. seconded by Cr Dagg, that the whole of the costs in connection with tho Ngawapurua outrage be borne by tho toll gate fund, FINANCE, The Finance committee's report was read and adopted, and several accounts passed for payment. THE BABBIT NUISANCE. Mr J. Drummond attended on the Council, and pointed out that the islands on the Waingawa and Rumahunga rivers wero a means of harboring rabbits, and he would impress upon them thenecessity of using means to destroy them. If the County would remove their objections to 1 the islands being lot or sold, they would be dealt with by the Land Board. Cr Hawkins asked what was the object of Mr Drummond's visit, did he, want an owner to go for?.-The'Govern-' ment were at present tho owners', ahcThe considered that Mr Drummond should compel them to destroy the rabbits, , .Mr Drummond pointed out that tho willows planted by the Council were being eaten by cattle straying on the river bf d, and it would be advantageous to the Council to get it leased or Bold Bb, thn ownor would see that there wore no Btraying cattle on the river bed, After considerable disoussion Cr Hawkins gave notice to rescind a motion passed on the 24th Novombor. objeotlng to lands on tho Waingawa being let or leased. Mr Drummond then thanked the Council and withdrew. ; SPECIAL MEETING. The Council then resolved itself into a special meeting to oonfirm the rates previously struck throughout the district. engineer's report. . The Engineer's report (which will appear in to-morrow's issue) was then read and adopted with its Boveral recommendations. general. Cr Hawkins moved, That tenders he called for Btumping on the To Ore OreBideford road. Seconded by tho Chairman and carried. Or Hawkins asked for the services of the County Engineer for the Upper Taueru Road Board on the usual terms. Granted. TENDERS. The following tenders were received: -Te Ore Ore Bideford Eoad, contract No. 15, 51'08 chains motallingr-Gardener & Co £ll2fc 10s (accopted), H. Burgess & Co. £12710 a j Geo. McKay £156 ; Mr McGovem£l74ls; J. Hourigan £IBB lis. .Masterton to -Wajmata, road, contract No 25.47-18 chains formation and .metalling,—GardenerandCo., £544 10s' (declined). Masterton to Waimata road, contract No 20, protective works Tenui river.-J. Dawson £95 (accepted) C. Bell £ll2.18s; J. Anderson £125; J. A. Perry £138195. Masterton to Waimata Eoad, Contract No 27, 38.55 chains metalling—J. Andersen £226 8s 9d (accepted); Gardener and Co., £255 17s.

'.■; MUNICIPAL. The ordinary meeting of the Mis-, terton Borough Council was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr M. Caselberg), Councillors Perry, E. (Charaburlain, Cullen, Carman, Gapper, Papworth, T. Chamberlain, Parsons, Hessey, Elkins, Muir and Mason, ""■■■■■■ • •' The minutes of last ordinary and. subsequent meetings were r-ead-and 'CORRESPONDENCE. Prom Mr J. W. Laing, requesting that his present lease of Borough property be cancelled, and an extended lease of 21 years granted. From Mr J. E. Geprge, Wellington Gas Works, re information required by Town Clerk. Prom H. H. King and Co., London, acknowledging receipt of cheque from Library Committee'.,. . From Treasury, notifying that the sum of £2Bl 5s had been placed to the Borough credit., From Poundkeoper stating that the fees received during the past month wero £2 6b Bd. 'From Mossrs W. Iggulden, W. Adams, J. B. Mitchell, and B. P. Perry, requesting that their names be .added to the Burgess roll. Agreed to! WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee's report was read, recommending certain works in West, South, and North Wards. Cr Gapper, in moving'the adoption of tho report said the Committee had come to the conclusion that it would simplify matters, for the annual balance if the work was done in ' the way suggested, as East Ward had work done in it since the division of the Borough. The committeo had looked round, and found the most necessary work, and recommend accordingly. Cr Cullon suggested that the work be let by contract, as he did not think it'was best 'and cheapest to do it with the Borough workmen. Cr Mason enquired if the amount suggested to be spent on Nursery road would finish the work. If not he would rather see tenders called and the whole work completed, Cr Gapper pointed out that only the amount of work would be -done in the other wards to equalise the work done in East Ward.

Cr Parsons, referring to the water cart portion of the report, said the Council should build a shod, as the present weather -would soon spoil the cart if left exposed. Cr Gapper asked who was. to build it, and where it should bo placed, and to what ward the expense Bhould be charged,

/Cr .Mason moved, That the water cart shed be erected in the Corporation. yards at the Gasworks. '■/•"■■'' : Or Parsons seconded the motion-, which was carried on division by 7 to 6.

Cr Gapper, as- Chairman ■ of the. Works-Committee, said ho must ask "the Gouhbil to appoint some one to draw up plans, &c, and superintend the structure,- .as the. Borough workmen had sufficient work on hand 'to ]ast : forspmetimetooome.

■,\(3r ; |ai'Bons moved, That /the cart shed bVereoted under, tjie supervision oftho Borough Overseen Or Muir, in' seconding the motion; said it was absurd to talk about plans and specifications for a shed of the description required. He did not think the tiino of the workmen was bo My occupied that thoj.. could not do the,; job. "" Cr Gapper said that he wanted fair play for all the wards. East Ward had had its fair sharo of work done, and now they wore proposing more work to be done, there at the expense of the whole Borough, He moved an amendment that the work be under the supervision of the Borough Engineer, Mr J. Russell. - Cr Mason,said that Cr Gapper was exceeding things altogether, and anyone would imagine the job was going to cost about £6O, instead of £5. He .thought Cr Gapper was taking up an obstructive position with regard to the work. Cr Gapper pointed out' that the time was near at hand when tho erection of a stable and cart shed would have to bo undertaken by the Council, and lie thought that it would be better to do the whole work at once than by piecemeal, as it would'be far more economical. ' , • The motion was then, carried. FIRE BRIGADE. The Fire Brigade Committee report was read, which embodied Captain Barker's report on the state of the Borough fire ongine. The Committee recommended that a steam fire engine be purchased on terms offered by Messrs Shand, Mason ■'& Co., if it can legally be done, and made a fixed charge on the district benefited. Cr Perry moved that a grating for fire brigade purposes be put in at the corner of Church and Hall streets. Seconded by Cr Muir. and carried. The report was adopted. TENDERS. The following tenders were received for painting and glazing .the street lamps:—G. A. Ward £8 Bs' 6d (acI copied); J. F. Ward 10s; G. Coker ; £9 10b. I Fifteen applications were received for the Gas stoker's billet, and on the testimonials being read, Cr Cullen moved that W. Brooks be appointed. [ He said he was a stoady. man, and what he knew of him would be in' every way suitable. The Mayor pointed out that thoy should have the best man they could get. Councillors should 'not be guided by private feelings in dealing with the applications before them. 'He said it was not always the best man 1 that got the billet, but the most persistent button-holer, In almost every casein which the Council had had anyone to appoint, it was a foregone conclusion, and he, deprecated this style of carrying oh the Borough affairs.- He "drew the Councillors attention to the declaration they made on taking office. ■ . Cr Mason,' in seconding the motion pro forma, said that he would prefer .to see. the applications dealt with by the Gas Committee, Cr Parsons moved as an amendment That they be left Jo the Gas Committee to deal with, and thought the

remarks about the Council work being foregone conclusions quite uncalled for. ; The amendment was seconded by Cr Carman, and carried. .GAS. On the Gas Committee's reports being read, the Mayor stated that the Engineer had attended the committee meeting and informed •''them that-.Mr Dawson had passed, the tank as being" watertight, and the Engineer' stated', that the tankhad not" been tampered with by liis men, and offered to stop the leakages for £5. - .-.. . The Mayor said he had- to call attention jjto an act of unwarrantable liberty with Borough property.' Messrs Burt and Co. had wired from Dunodin to the Engineer for the use of a lowering screw, and he, without consulting anyone in authority, packed it up and was going' to send it away by train." Owing to anloveraight with tho waybill, the Town Clerk heard of it, and ini[mediately took steps to stop it. Ho considered the Engineer should have first placed the matter before the[Gas Committee, and not- acted as b& did with their property. .. ' Cr Cullen asked why.Mr Dawson was kopt out of his £2O, now that the Engineer had agreed to stop the leak for

The Mayor said ho had not stopped it.

. Tho Engineer, whowaspresent,received permission to make a statement with regard to the screw, and informed the Council that he took the telegram to tho Town Clerk directly he received it, mid he concurred in sending it. Ho said he should nevei' havo thought of sending away the Borough property without first consulting someono in authority. _. The Town Clerk denied concurring in sending the screw away, but told the Engineer ho had better place tho matter before the Committee; He said that as soon a3 ho heard what action the Engineer had taken h stopped him from sending it from Masterton.

The Engineer persisted in his statement that he had consulted tho Clerk, who again denied it, and the, matter dropped.' In referring again to the report the Mayor said he was sorry Cr Gapper had resigned from the Gas Committee, It was a critical time for them, and he would like to have seen him remain on. In dealing with the tank he said tho Engineer was unable to stop tho leakage, and their manager had suggested that it be puddled on the outside, His opinion was that it would be batter to get an outside opinion on tho.subject, and advice as to the best course to adopt. He said it was quite evident that something was wrong, and tho sooner / they faced the dimoulty the better, On examination it has been found that. the, : specifications with . regard to'tbe :putside puddling had not been adhered-to, and as Mr Dawson Was present!/ hie would have an opportunity of explaining| ; hdw;'this was. There had evidentlybeen'.'a: breach by tbe contractor," or the: Engineert. had not done his duty to the Cbunbil.'; ':■■ Cr Gapper did not tliink the' onus. flbould be- Saddled on any councillor and thought they should not attempt to carry out the work without a competent authority, He Md.'resi|Tied because he, did not think the engineer was competent to superintend the con* struotion of the. works. The : Committee were doing now what he had proposed long ago, and he thought members should not recotnmend work thoy know nothing about. '

Cr Parsons was not in favor of employing Mr' George to givo his opinion on the works, as he 'fid not think he would be able to give an, unbiassed opinion after the treatment he had received from the Council. He felt sure the tank would have been secure if the specification had been adhered to.

Cr Mason said that Mr George was good enough forDunedin and Nelson gasworks and thought that he was about the best in the colony.. Cr Cullen said the Council should have got the advice of some competent authority long ago, they wero now shutting the stable door when the horse was gone. They had got the Borough into a mess, and they were now going to spend twice the money to get tilings straight. Cr Muir said so far as he could see the tank was the only difficulty. Ho was not in favor of Mr George being appointed. Ho did not think it required any great engineering skill to make the tank watertignt. Cr Papworth, whilo agreeing that tho tank was about the only difficulty, pointed out tho great danger of tampering with it, when the, prossure of gas and water was agahistit, and dwelt upon the absurd idea of the manager in taking out the ground around the outside, and puddling it in sections, with the weight of the gas and water inside. With regard to the shingly formation, he contended that the Engineer should have taken that into consideration when erecting tho tank. He was not in favor of employing an Engineer to report upon the tank. •

Cr T. Chamberlain would support the Gas Committee's report. .They had spent lots of money, and, unless something definite was done would go on spending more,'and be worse off in the end.

The Mayor criticised the speeches of the several speakers, and thought that it would be best to get the advice of outside authority. He thought the action of the Engineer in making .gas and turning it into the mainß'without authority to do so, was with the rest of his actions as a Borough servant, When asked why he did so, he replied. "Some of the Councillors wanted it to light up. the elections." He (the Mayor) .said it was a question they should face' at once, and if it was necessary for tho prosecution of the work, turn off the gas. He 'said he had written to his brother-in-law, the Chairman of. the Wellington Gas Works, and. he had giveapemiissiontoMr George, their' Engineer, to come up and'report on the Mastejton gas works. The motion to get an Engineer to report on the state of the works "was then carried, there being two dissentients, ..'."•' THE SNOINEER AND CONTRACTOR EXJLAJN. Mr Dawson, the contractor, at the revest of the Council, stated ttot the

work was not carried out according to the specifications, as the, Engineer arranged that the inside of the Tank should-he cemented in lieu of puddling the outside. The Mayor: The Engineer said you gavo the cement. Mr Dawson said he. considered the cement work.ani grouting he did was worth would, toe cost •about ''4B:':iftuo f fi v 'ag| The EngmeeHact lifted'the taniy and had knocked thS'Wk about and.it:had not (JeeKrepaired. Tfte Tank wasinishecl and taken.out of his hands,.and he considered he had no "more to do with it.,; The puddle was'a-foot thick for three' feet from, the bottom, and about si£ inchos thick to the top. / Cr Gapper asked if the sp&Mcations stated the walls were to be built with lime and sand ? . v . [TheMayor,: Yob; thßis what is down k the specifications?" Mr Dawson said he did not consider the tankhad been properly attended to, the shrinkage Bhould have been .lopped to, afterwards. The leakage was caused'tough it being knocked; about.. The was no good for'kiwp)ng,t^e.water out.: The .Maypr; ..fbeu the EngineW knocked the tank about and caused it to leak, and you 'soothe lime was.nci good. ■Didyou in the first place,? - MrDawsbn: Yes, but it was notmy place to iuterfevo with the Engineer's specifications I Mr R.K. Smith, tho Engineer, said there was moro said than was really neoeasavy. Mr' Reid tho Manager could tell the Council that Mr Dawson went down and examined the taufc and pronounced it watertight. T Mr Dawson: I nevorwentlown to oxamine the tank, what had! to do with making an examination. My contract was finished long before the time you state, and I was paid for the work ? ' Mr' Smith: There is aman there (pointing to Reid) whojtont down with you! ™,

Mr Dawson: I must explain that at this time I had nothing to do with tho tank. I Had'-beon paid for it. if I had paid a visit of inspection I should have found about four foot of brickwork • cut away to niakeroom for tho soaffold* Mr Smith explained that ho told the committee ofhis intention of substituting the inside oement for the outside puddling sis he thought it tho best way of making tho tank watertight, and thattheywere agreeable to the arrange* ment. He drew attention to Jbe formation of tho country, about Wasterton, and said that during season the water would rise around the'oiitside of the-tank, and of: course stop fclioleak, mdexpresMhis opinion that tho. leak would siltup b'afor.Q.jnext Bummer.'"He had seen plenty of tanks that leaked attjjO'Stert, but ha'djsson* tuaily been stopped tough''being allowed to remain for-a time,-ana :somo..had oven to .have- a •continual supply of water ninningjin. He, said the Coimoil could get'who they.liked to inspect, the A^brk; he was not asHamod !6f itV jaa\d. was sure; it: would eland, the' tes'fc.^;Ho'. Anded : that there had "been too mflp onesided work carried'otf.duriug. m construe* tion of thei wdrfrj andhe could tell'them thatbe eKoulcl; bive some bhe : on his side to; watch said th« contractor-hadicarried'out-big work weU,-and'.4*3c6rdiQgto his djiectiong, and he could 1 ae'sln'o them that the puddling'would be carried away by Buriace water if put on'the outside of the tank. ■ ■ ';■ .- ; •-.•'■ •; Cr Hessoy asked; if good was h away through the] oftor being puddled.' Mr Smith said there was no good , clay to be got in this district, otherwise J it could be made to stand. ,<™ Cr Gapper said if the Engineercarae before the Gas Committee as he stated it would be on the minutes of the meeting. The Mayor said that as chairman of the Gas Committee he would deny it tn loto that the Engineer ever' stated anything about substituting cement for clay in tho tank. What the engineer had stated was not in accordance with facts. The Town Clerk sa&he did not remember tho Engmeelflnaking the suggestions.at the.committee moetings and could not find anything on the minutes. ','. •Mr Smith: I can assure you that I came to the Gas.Committeee and placed these suggestions beforethem, and they agreed to it. .:,'■' , The Mayor; Youdidnbt|k. Cr Muir said he remembep tho Engineer saying to the Committee that there would be: cement required for the inside. The Mayor- That was an :extra. There was nothing said about substituting clay 'fot cement. •■ <Mr Smith had several •times-stated that the contractor wa§ working beauti*. fully, and was' making a : splendid job of his contraot,. and did not require watching like 6onie' ; men, and this was the outcome of it. .'He led the Council to believe that the contractor was putting the qement inside, out of his own pocket. ";"' Mr Smith eaid the Mayor could not" have been at, tho meeting referred:to. « The' - Mayor and ' Cr' Mason denied that Mr Smith ever mentioned a thing- about substituting pne matemHor-another at any meeting of committee •.'. ; ....... ■ Mr Smith offeredhis services to'the Council to, •assist, in' pi^ita;things straight. The Mayor said-all he' appearwo trouble himself about was to draffs £5 per..week. He got the' Council into difficulties,.'he said Good Bye, and off he went,'and there w%s an end of his trouble, Would hdrefund the expense he had put the Borough to through his bungling?' Mr Smith renewed his offer tb do all he could for theßorough gas works. Cr Gapper said, tliat after hearing these would move that Mr Dawson 'he;exoherafed from all blame in. connection withthe'. Gas tank. It was:cvident'he- acted under the Engineer's " ihstrdctionk, •; and did his work accordingly. '' - ~' ..,' ,Cr Cullen seconded. . .v i Cr Papworth wou%ather theinat* ter be left till r after" the opinion"; of another engineer had been re'eeived, and moved an amendment to. that effect which was secprided by (Mason and carnediandthe CpupcjladJoKd, ' .v' 1 ' <4tt