NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2544, 9 March 1887, Page 2

NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the > abovq Council was held iii tlio Council E Chambers yesterday (Tuesday), Present Councillors Mackuy (Chairman), j Hawkins, Meredith, Mcbardlc, Brown • Hunt, Smith, Dagg Maunsell, and Beetham. : The minutes of last meeting were ' read and confirmed. , COBBESPONDBNCE. i '' The following inward correspondence • was read:-From Mr J. J. Freeth applying for a bonus for past services ) as clerk to the Licensing Committees & and notifying that his appointment as | Clerk of the Licensing Committees had been cancelled. From Mr J. Vile a 3 memorial re tell gate fees. From i Department of Justice rercconstruotion of Licensing Districts. From Depart- ! ment of Justice stating that the Govr ernor would nominate the Masterton t Licensing District Committee. From 1 Akitio Road Board requesting the f Council to proceed at once with the construction of the Akitio Riding. . From same requesting the Council to r repair the main road in the vicinity f of Oahanga station, From Mr J. S, t Handyside stating that he had no 3 objection to collect the sheep toll at 3 Akitio. From Commissioner of Property Tax notifying that he had issued j certificates for £lB3 16s lid as further a payment on account of subsidy, From 3 Department of Justice notifying the 3 appointments of Clerks'to Licensing b Committee's. From the Town Clerk 3 Masterton Borough applying for ser- ' vices of County Engineer. From United District t heritable r Aid Board explaining re amount of ■ contribution demanded from the j County. From Mr J. S. Handyside 3 stating that he did not see notice of (. Castlepoint Licensing election in time a to participate therein. From Colonial 1 Treasury advising the remittance of i £475 15s Id rates on Crown Lands. 1 From same re advances on account of loans under Local Bodies Loan Act, » FromJ.McHutchon aud v 7. Bayliss > nporting the elections of the Castlepoint and Eketahuna Licensing District Committee's, from Public I Works Department stating that the -- Government intends to retain the ;• charge of the Mauawatu Bridge in its • own hands. From Public Works Department stating that the LIBO for '", the Forty Mile Bush road cannot be |J paid till after Ist April. From Mr W, J. ;. Burling, stating that his rates can be ~ paid out ofthoamount coming to him i for bushfalling. From Parknllo 'J Special Settlement Association asking for a portion of the old Manawatu i» ferry rope. From Eketahuna Road « Board stating that • they consider tlio ™ Board is entitled to occupy the' offioo . at Eketahuna till 30th June next, j From Mv G, Beetham re maintenance - of the Forty 'Mile Bnsh road r and the lease, of land from Mr W. W, 1 Johnston for roadman's cottage site. r From Clerk Road Board, Tenui. re ' settlements of accounts between the ? Board and Council. From'Castlepoint i' Road Board, asking for copy of certain instructions given by County Engineer j to Mr' Perry, and applying for use of 1 driving monkey and gear. FromTrear sury, circular re conversions of grants 1 under Roads and Bridges Construction J Act to Loans to Local Bodies Act. 3 From Property Tax Department, , stating that certificates for MU 15s t Id Crown Lands rates, 1886-7, had , been issued, From Deputy Official f Assignee, re claim mado for rates 3 against J. H. Wallace's estate. 1 From Pahiatua Road Board, asking ; for level of certain roads in the Pahiatua district, From Colonial Treasurer . stating the proceedure to obtain loans _ to Local Bodies let must be com- , raenced, de nova, as the Crown is i advised that the consent of the ratei payers had not been obtained in » accordance with law, , LICENSING BONUS. , On Mr Freeth's application being , read, Cr Smith asked whether Mr Freeth had received any remuneration • for bis services, ! Tho Chairman stated that he only ' received travelling expenses. , Cr Dagg said that he ought to be paid for hia services, there was extra work thrown upon him. It was resolved to refer the matter to the Finance Committee, . PAHIATUA LEVELS. CrMcCardle called attention to the fact that the services of the' Engineer was promised, and a3 the other ridings had the Engineer's services, and Pallia- ' tua bad not, ho moved, "That copies of the plans be supplied to the Pahiatua Road Board free of charge. Cr Beetham seconded. Carried. BAD METAL, ■. Copy of a resolution was read of a meeting of settlers of Tenui,who were afraid that the best metal would not be used on the main road. ' The Chairman explained...that the metal had been examined,' and he thought that the interests of the. settlers would be well looked after by the Engineer. ' APHjQ ?ERRY. '■•'■, Mr P.D. Young was appointed ferryman in accordance with a suggestion of Mr J. S. Handyside, as.iie was living near the crossing. . NEW LICENBING DISTRICT. A. communication was read from the i Justice department asking for an < opinion as to whether the Council w,qu)jJ favor a new licensing district •■ atPaJiiatua, ''" \ Cr MoCardle raoy?d ant} Qr Smith j seconded—That the township of Pafaia- t tup be constituted p ney licensing t district,—parried,, ' .' ' r The chairmap mpyed—That it is the t opinion of this Council that $e Mas- t tertou and Wainiiioru, ridings' be one q

licensing .district. Seconded by Gr Beetham and carried. • ' : AKITIO REQUIREMENTS, ' ' In answer to an application for certain necessary road repairs, it was found that the funds of the riding wero overdrawn. It was eventually decided to anticipate next year's rates, and. a sum of LlO was voted for repairs. LOCAL INDtfSTRr. • A letter, read from: Mr A. I Raw,eon:calling .attentionto theinjustico. done to private surveyors through plans, &q., being applied forit the. chief office ' jwh'eh he was able to do 'them in some oases forabouthalfth'e cost." Members' expressed themselves pleased to hear that private enterprise wabble to compete with the Government, and the clerk wa3 instructed to reply to Mr. Rawson" that should the Council require any plans or tracings in future, they would consider his application, LOAN CONVERSIONS A long discussion ensued on this question. ' Cr Smith contended that the rates should be added to the lauds when the Government sold them. Itwas hardly fair that the present landowners should bear the whole burden., • . Cr McOardle'cautioned the members of the: way in'which they wentito' work under the' new Act. It wbb merely taking a burden off the Government and placing it on the ratepayers, because if it was once removed itjcould'not be put on by the Government or anyone else. Cr Hawkins said he would ask the Council to give the different Boards an opportunity of expressing an opinion before they passed a sweeping resolution, The Chairman could not answer whether they-, would be in favor of the conversion in his riding. It was resolved on the motion of Or Smith, seconded by Cr Meredith, "That' circulars be sent to the different Road Boards concerned, requesting that they give their opinions on'the question of Loan Conversions under, the Loan to Local Bodies Act" The tou gate question. The-memorial from Mr J. Vile was read, also the report of the recent case in the JJ.M. Court, The memoralist asked that certain alterations be made in the County Council schedule so that the couches and vehicles and other traffic would have to be paid for at each gate. Mr Vile waited on tho Council and pointed bit'the hardship done to him and drew attention to tho fact that when he tendered he estimated that the coach trafficcould only pass through the gates it paid for, and was not aware that the driver was allowed to drive through what he liked. He considered that through tickets were unnecessary, and said that he had only received two, oxcept for coaches, since he had been in psssession of tho gate, and he liad only issued, one from his gate. He contended, that if the clause was struck out as ho. requested it wouldnot interfere with anyone beyond the coach proprietors. ■ Cr Hawkins said, that the English toll gate system was that it was for one journey through the He considered that it was a great mistako to imagine^that a man ■ could pass through as often as he. liked during tho twenty-four hours. Or McOardle said he- could not imagine On: -what _ grounds-' the R.M. ijave his decision. Cr Hawkins was also at a loss how tho decision was based, and asked Mr Vije if he had appealed. ' Mr.Vilosaid fchatliecoulJ not afford that luxury. • , . Cr Beetham said the Council was not in a position to dictate winch end of the road he should start If things wore reversed no doubt Mr Vile would be content, and the other gatekeeper, Mr Macara, would be discontented, It was-a. hardship to Mr Vile, and he thought the coubcil should consider his position. Or McOardle was of .opinioa that the Council should refund Mr Vile L 75 the amount ot his coach traffic estimate, or make the alteration as in the schedule, The Chairman called attention to the memorial which- stated that the coach travelled' eighty miles & day, whereas a waggon only travelled thirty miles, and each paid five shillings for the and he would like to ask the Engineers opinion which did the most harm to the road, Mr Bremner said that the coach did the most harm. Cr Meredith said it was a most unEnglish like proceeding tosettlea case without hearing both- sides,'and he would likeMrlucara'sside to be heard. He contended that if tho schedule was altered it would be necessary to call for fresh tenders. Cr McOardle said it would be no hardship to Mr Macara as he had the whip hand of the bush traffic, and could charge what he liked. Cr Meredith said there was another aspect of the case which was, that Mr Macara might have tendered for the gate, if he was not sure he could have passedthrough freo. The Chairman said tho gates wero put up with a viow of oatching the through traffic, but they wen not doing, this, they were not getting an equivalent for theamount of wear and tear to the roads. Ho would like to see the names of Messrs Vile and Macara left out of the matfcor and discuss the question on its merits.' , : Cr Smith said that he thought it would be cheapest and save considerable trouble if the Council paid Mr Vile the M On referring to the Act it was found that the one ticket cleared the gate for the day. The Cbairrqan said that he did not think the meeting could deal with 't-qe laestion without a nqtica of rrjotion, was given on the subject. Or McOardlo gave notice that at -he next meeting he would move, 'JM the the Mangatnahoe ind Ngawapurtia tollgates clear each ither, be revoked." > '.""; V. , FINANCE. The finance Commmittee's report i m read. The Chairman explained hattjie Governmentsuddenlyinformed 1 hem-that some illegality had been I liscoveied loan, and i efusedto sendtneamountaVreaqej- i Ed, viz., Li'2o;'s., ,'He oxplafned that i lie consent- of the, Ip had beon \ btained by petition, to which the,'

Government had agreed to, and up to the eleventh hour .had led the Council to suppose that the money would be forthcoming, and contracts had been let for works according. ■A telegram was received during the meeting from the Colonial Treasurer, offering to forward the sum of LlOOfr, if the Council would guarantee the general rate for repayment. :: .Cr Hawkins said it-was one, of the.. hioat "disgraceful-' adta'" He" had efer heafd'of "arid he would' hoVb'e in favor of accepting,- the Colonial. Treasurer's offer: of--. £IOOO, ,to vbe;;chargeo;tpthe general rates of the County. There were special areas defined and let them charge it to them. ■ It was a dirty mean, thing, and the fact was they had ,nofc got. the, money, and wanted to put the Countjr:o&.'"He! was of opinion once, that there was : publio ! faith, but ho did not know where it was now. .Thequestion then dropped,-; ';■■; A communication from' the, United Charitable Aid, Board was received, but owing to the. inconsistent!' manner it Council could only make out that the sum of £986 5s was, required and that the basis of the calculation was/on; repre-' Bentation, -yiz., .as tfere;were.nine ■members that, the amount bV -divided into nino partß. Cr Hawkins called attention to the the manner in which tbo Board had come to its wise decision. Masterton was really entitled to pay a twentysixth part and were askod to pay a, ninth becauso they happen to, .have 'a representative ; on the Board. No doubt they were unable to understand the Act, and were hardly to be blamod, for a more worthless lot of rubbish had never been put on a ; statute book. The only way the Council could do was" to put as many difficulties in the way as possible, so as to get it amended.' Cr Beetham, os a member of the Board stated that they were quite mystified at the last meeting and had no idea how to act, They wanted money, and arranged for an overdraft on the understanding that bye and bye the local bodies would pay up, but it seemed that the bye and bye was a long time coming, The bank was now getting impatient about the overdraft, and he thought the County should find out bow much they owed and pay it, He could not say that the amount applied for was just, but. there .was no doubt that, the Council would have something to pay sooner or later. Cr Hawkins said it was the Board's place to find out what each local body owed, and charge: them according. He moved "That the offer.' of the Colonial Treasurer of £IOOO on security of the general ratos be not accepted." He contendod the Colonial Treasurer had no right to ask the Council to pie Ige themselves to anything that was illegal, and fle believed the object was to shift the payment on to the general ratos of the County. CrMauusell seconded the motion at the same time pointing out that the. ratepayers were fully prepared to act in good faith regarding- the loan. Cr Beetham and the Chairman' con-'j curredin the motion, the latter expressing himself pietty forcibly on' tho Bubject,aud gave it as his opinion that the ministers were away front Wellington and starring about'the: country, and leaving the work to the understrappers. He would be in favor of sending a .deputation to the ministers on the subject and let them know, the opinion of the Council. Ors Meredith and D'agg spoke in : favor of the motion which was carried. . OrDagg moved that Ore Mackay, Hawkins, and Maunsel! be a .deputitionto wait on the Government in the matter.-. Seconded by Cr MoCardle and carried, engineer's report. The Engineer's report, (which will appear in to-morrow's issue) was read and adopted, and the several recommendations contained therein agreed to. RESOLUTIONS. j That the Public Works Department be written to and urged to execute the metalling repairs on tho Forty. Mile Bush Road without delay. That the re-adjustment of the riding of Akitio, arid the representation of tho county take place. That Cr Meredith's notice of motion re allocation of loan interest, be postponed; till next meeting. •- That tho allocation of the currant years subsidy be made on samobasifas last year. ',-' That a toll gate be erectedU'n the Gorge Eoad, on the west aid/of the Gorge bridim. That the scale be the same as at the Ngawapurua and Mangamahoe gate, and that the Clerk and Engineer be instructed, to take the necessary, steps to establish the toll, the Jatter to have power to accept tenders: for the house and gates. Notices to her'inserted in the Pahiatua and Woodville papers. Cr Smith's motion re repairs to road surface and the question of tho rate for 1887.8 Were postponed till next meeting, The Council then adjourned.