The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1888.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2823, 15 February 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1888.

The. thermometer at Mr W, Dougalla read in the shade at noon to day 06 degrees. The barometer showed a fall. Mr J. F. Robinson at present at the Ohristchurcli Gasworks, has been appointed managing foreman to th i" Masterton .Borough 0-i.iivi.rk:.. Tlie -salary is £3 3s a week, ilia LluiWiiy Department advertises extra trains and special lares for the Wairarap i Jockey Club's Races at Greytown on fhursday and Friday. We are requ. sleil to remind our readers of aiessrs Lowes and "lnrua' Stock Sale n. their lienall street yards to-morrow, the list will embiace Eat and Store 'A ethers, Fat Ewes, Breeding Ewes, lo.'gets. Lambs, (shorn, and in the wool) Fat Cattle, Store Bullocks, Cows and nlves, Horses, Pigs, etc.. Messrs T. Bennett, It. Fail-brother, A. ilulieiizie, ,J. Stevens, mid W Viukor-

.Dall'liave been re-elected, without oppoai•"ii. nii'inhen of tlni Oarterton Town and Carterton Licensing Districts respectively There is likely t> be another stoimy scjiie at the next Couucil minting, His Worship tho Mayor luuinggiyen no ice that lie will then move the loliowingres lotion;-" That the sum off iventy pounds (£2O) be fortlmih appropriated for the further extension of the water uioply to the borough."

Tho following havt Iran nominated forseatsoutiioOimiiiiitt.ee of the Pahlatua Licensing Disfrici; -Henry Futeher, riionwr. Hicks, Alexander ljiruie, John Aston, George Bauitni, WiUi.uu Wakenan, Joseph Burrows. Charles Stokes, li'idl'ruy Unfctoinloy, W. W. McOardle, Henry William Briggi Our local contemporary ssvovta that Borne larrikins have, bored holes in Mr Lieuail'a water iluuiiug and that we suggested this idea. I his statement is one of those malicious mis-npresentations for which our local contemporary is so unhappily notorious.

Messrs.Liudop and Catfc of Carterton, who were buint out, lnvu lost iu time in securing premises to oj-umeuee business again. Mr Liudop h s ro-opined m tlio.' mom adjoining Mr Beard's office, and Mr Catt has secured the b'ioii. belonging to Messrs Castlborg & Co., next to Mr Dollar's. . ..-.

Wo regret to hear that despite the" wonderfutstand ma.de by Blirtin O'Brien a the face of the fen-ful injuries he •Vceii-Kl in his recent accident at Dim-

.'r'scontiact, Aiaiig-imahoo, lio yestfir-. iy afternoon showed signs of injure,' od ultimately expired about four o'clock, in inquest will bo held at ',hi Misterton .Jospilal to-day. The funeral will take uiace at half-past three to-morrow, Scott, the Neiv.ZealanJer, a cablegram says, hasdeleated Han-ock, of England, ii a twelve hours walking match, Scott egiftered (il miles iu the tiuu, mii Hai-;-ick did not linisli, retiring after going 10 miles.

The announcement that an operation ■vas to be performed on the Crown Pi nice msec! the greai est sensation iu London, oid perfectly eclipsed all other topic, .'lie interest rapidly subsided when the esuit became known and that his Highess had suffered no pain and lost yeiy •tie blood. Ho is 0"w improving iu alth, and his appetite is returning. Oarteiton cm now boast of a Teniib üb. fp.il) which i hough at presout .nail and weak, -gre.it thugs maybexpected The lawn is rather rough and xposed, but the committee hope to have tin good order for next season. There iff about 25 members' -- ladies and gentlemen -in tho club, niott

"■■wlinui urn niily Mitrs, but if cnor y •.'id iii'rsiirvßi'iiiice w il <!•■ fi.ti.yt ing, them Imuld h sum ■ gm id p'ayi'i's before Juny. htwly :i c.idi'il iiimroviini'iit isnutiueii.'e mi the Turin slinwn ;i fating t iig , tournament has been urratifjecl for com ined (limbics, tho winners tu bo awarded iikets which some nf tho gentle-■ men have kindly presented for prizep,

'AirU. l\ GiwitlvSolicitor, advertises' ihiit lie has stvural buiiis o[ money to liiii!,' A four-ronmed liirase with two acres' of land, is requiring a tenant! See advertise* : ment Oaptaii) Edwin wired at noon to-diiy : —'" Northeast to north and west heavy rale soon. Glass further fall."- -

Mr G, S. W. Dalrymple has been appoint, d Masterton Agent to the Permanent Investment and Loan Association til Grey town. The Droyertowh School Committee have written to the Education Board announcing that they have confirmed tho appointinent <if Mr Mursull as master of the School.

Tho iu« of the Mastotim Park tftal has been granted to the Fire Brigades and Koiitlmll Cluba for their spnrt3 on Easter Monday, nil payment of the usual fee.

v ows has just been received in Masterlon, that.a.sniall stoie and dwollii.g ■ln'use situated at Ekeahuna, near tho h'-'tel, and owned by Mr Spillum-, has b en cli'3<Tiiy«d by fire,

Tho new agent, aici'iariiu, is. likely to be mi sale in Mastertou shortly, as we understand that Mr ,). Graham is arranging fur a supply nf.it for his store. A iiroiuinent merchant has expressed the opinion to us that this

article iiir certain purposes such as preserving &<!,; is likely' to supersede sugar, The new one pound bank note has bnoh received at the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand. As on this iic asinu, the usu d to courtesies the press h ive been entirely ; overlooked, and Our' 'editor his not been presented with n, a'peciiuen of tho novelty, we do not promise eulogising its'p'ifituresqueefigravihg. At-MrF. H. Wood's . Taratalii'' Stock Sale yesterday, 180 head of cattle'wore yaded and- over-2,000 sheep. 'The attenda ee of buyers was good and. the following pri-tes were realise I:—\Vothers, forward, 5s to 5s (id ; l ( !wes, fat, lis 3d ; do. store, 3s to 4s; lambs in the wool lis Od'; do, shorn, 2s 3d to 2s 9d, Builocks, forward, 80s; Steers, 2 years, Ms to 40s; learlin? Steei-s, 275; do. Ui'ifnrs, 20 tri 203. A few horses were sold at low-prices. . •In connection with tho notice of motion that the Mayor has given that the Council shall devote £2O to a Borough water scheme, it is since rumored that he is preparing a plan and specification for a water supply on both sides of Qtieen-st. If this be true, thf.ru is some chance of the Council favorably ent rtaimng his pvoji'Ct, for di.ubth'ss the documents are intended to be brought before it. Mr Thos. Wrigli-y being about to Wve foi California, t.li■■ uwsicil and dramatic auiaiciusoi Mastcilmi have d'cidcd to »ive him a coiii|iliiiiciiii.iry benefit, enterLii'iiiiii'iii- in the Theatre Royal on pro-.ali-ly the Thursdayafter next, us a recognition of the esteem in which ho ; s held, and as a return for the 'willing service and helping hand that, Mr Wrinley lias always given in similar undertakings, The pri>!>ramiiie will iuelule Byron's' three-act drama ''A Hundred Thousand Pounds." Efforts have recently been made on behalf of the sawmilleis in and ab>.utCarterton to get a reliutioii of the rates for ti-nber freight f'-o ut Carta- on. to W ellingtim from 2s Oil to 2s p<-r hundred feet,- It appears that the present charge of 2s Gil is the same as that on the Manawafu line from Loiigburn, and in view of the difference between the distances of the two places from Wellington, the Carterton sawmdlers considered they were entitled to a reduction. \Ve understand, however, tint the Governinput nrc • unlikely to make any such concession. Tho bush lire in tho Matahiwi locality is gradually working do.vu towards Mr i\ Li Imam's, a a I til il I lit; if l 5 i -i rt's, Sawmill, Akura, and there is some likeli; lioud ol it doing considerable dam.igo if the wind increases at all, 'I ho Upper Plain residents are pretty well suffocated with the smoke and they say that there has not been such a large fire in fch" locality before, Ihunnisenf falling trues is like that of cannon o-plosions, and the elfec at, night when myriads of sparks fly ai each treedeseeu Is is very beautiful indeed. The locality nf the burning mass is about a mile and a half jrum the Upper Plain at present, .The next session of Parliament will bo held u'ud r very peculiar-circumstances prognosie ifce.s. a vVel ington paper, Sir Robert Stout will have no seat in it, Sir Julius Vngol will lm absent in England. Sir Gem-go Grey's health is so precarious that it is very doubtful whether he will

be ablo to t- ko an active part in the business, or even atfc -ud the s ission; and Sir Harry Atkinson will in all probability be preparing to go to England to assume the duties of Agoiit-Oeiie-al. Of al- (unpolitical knights. Sir John Hall will alone remain an a possible leader, and no doubt a strong effort will be made to install him in the Premiership when Sir Harry Atkinson vaoeatei the office.

A fire occurred at Mr Perry's boiling down woriis at Akura last night, resulting in their total destruction. The tirst intimation Mr Perry received of tlie occurrence was'from his man who went up for meat this morning and- found that the establishment had "been entirely consumed. There is no club as to the cause, and the bush fires are hardly closoonniiL'li to he associated with it. The building was uninsured, and. Mr Perry' loses from L3OO to I.SnO.by,the lire. This amount will bo slightly lessened if afterwards the vat and boiler are found to be of any further us <■ ■ Among the burnt : conti-iits wore Si-Veufeeii Casks' of tallmv, ■ valued .-it almut LUO.-i bale of wool, and (if coursd the whole", of the boiling do-vn plant. .-. - ' '_''. , 'Ebbvof D -ciors. -The fee of. doctors ! is aii item'that very nuiiy persons are IjltS'ft'Stpd in at p're'sunt. Wo believe the : sehedule;for visit'sls>§3.oo, diioli."Would tax a man'conliiied to his bed for a year, and in need of a d iHy.visit, over 81,000 a year for medical attend nice aloin. \ And' i.ne singfe bottle of Dr Soule's' American Hop Bitters taken in time would save the. SI,OOO and all the year's sickpess, "'Post." .'"■',' A CROSS BABY..

Nothing is no conducive t» a ihaiijs i-einaiiiiiiga bachelor as stopping for one night at the house of a miiiTiecl friend, and being kepf.-;aw!ikb for five Or six hours by the crying' of a enm baby. All orossand crying baoies need only Dr Soulu's American Hop Bitters to maku them well and ainibng, ■ Young man, remember this, '' Traveller."

| Is tho <mni3 of the prophet "Figs." Wo | have just bo.t;lit a Bankrupt stock of Drapery ami clothing late in tho possession of J A. G. Price, Hall of Commerce Wellington, havo bought it cheaply, and will give a'iy | quantity of treinen lous bargains to all j customers t To Aro House Wellington. We have removed this bank.rot stock to our own premises rccauso \ye have more room, rmve light, and more comfort for oustomors at To A.o House Wellington .' We are allogoth r too busy to make out a price list but o istomevs always expect sonio thumpi ig bargains from bankrupt stocks'and they will most assuredly got at this sale moro astonishing ones than they have ever seen, or heard of in their lives, at To Aro Hoaso, Wellington. Country residents should.rush to train early and eagerly. Railway fares are now pimp onoagk, an I all customers will sav». their f res in my tinns by coming to this sale of Price's Bankrupt slook, at To Aro House, Wellington. This bankruptsalocommences on Saturday February llth'at'Te Aro House, Well-

Wairarapa North County Council.

in > ordinary meeting of the Council TO3 held on Tuesday afternoon.'.;Pre-sent,-Mr Thos Maokay (chairman), Moti'B W. H. Beetham, R. Maunsell, P l . Von -Baden, R. D. Dagg, T. : E. Clmnberlain, D. Crewe, E.E. Meredith, and Eev. J. C. Andrew.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. . Correspondence outwards was read, arid also correspondence inwards, tho latter being as follows ;«=» Prom Police Constable Eoche, asking for a refund of horse hire expended in visiting slaughter-houses at Pahiatua. From settlers .in Eketahuna, petitioning re sale of frontages under Wairarapa North County Council Empowering Act. From the Colonial Secretary, saying that the Government cannot advise the making of an order-in-Oouncil as requested regarding the altering of number of Councillors to be elected for any riding, From S. A, Pall, inquiring if the Council will guarantee the renewal of lease of Native land at Aohonga Ferry. From A. McHutchaon, on the same subject. From the Surveyor-General as to the location of the Forty Mile Bush road through Wellington Special Settle-, ment Block, From Eli Smith, re Or Von Eedon's reported remarks with reference to the meeting of ratepayers on the subject of reducing the width of' the-'Opaki-Manawatu -.road. From Property Tax Commissioner, advising that a certificate 1 for £78.2s 9d, Wbaream.a Road Board subsidy, has been forwarded to the Treasury. From J. F. Heckler, offering to purchase ten yards of gravel lying at the Mangamahoe Railway Station. From Bauok and Hughes, applying for a slaughtering.license. From James Lankey, asking if the Council proposes employing him again permanently. From the Colonial Secretary, stating that the official result of the JJpper Taueru £540 loan poll had been gazetted. From Alex. Yule, applying for permission to lay a tramway across the main road at Pabiatua. From the Public Works Department, notifying that the Government is prepared to pay the amount of grant No. 47, under the Roarls and Bridges Aot, upon the Council famishing'certain certificates of expenditure. From J. W. Biker, re Aohonga Ferry boat and subsidy. From W. Wakeman, saying that no damage beyond reasonable wear and tear has occurred to the Ngawapurua gate. From the Treasury, advising that 1200 Is 7d on account of subsidy has been remitted to the Councils credit. From A. Manoy re fence on road reserve fronting his property in Pabiatua Town District. From J. W, Baker re ferry subsidy, and condition of Aolmnjra Ferry boat. From EketaInuia Road Board suggesting that the Council should inform Mr Tomlinson that it is proposed to take land of his under the Public Works Acts, for a gravol pit. From John - Hughes. re removing obstructions on 'three chain road reserve through Pabiatua Town District. From Eketahuna Road Board asking that road men may be instructed to spread metal under contract let by Board. From the Treasury notifying that Government will discontinue payment of general rates on Crown a;il Native lankafter 31st March next. From Treasury intimating that £l3O 12s lOd became due for interest on inscribed loans on Ist Feb ruary instant. From Inspector of Police saving there is no objection to Constable Cullinane being' appointed an Inspector of slaughter houses. From E. S. Richards applying for remuneration for services aspoundkeeper From Pabiatua Town Board forwarding a list of persons whose buildings encroach on three chain reserve Pahiatua Town District. From Alfredton Eoad Board saying they are prepared to expend £2O on improving portion of Eketalmna-Tenui road if Council will contribute £4O. From- W. G,

Beard'giving a legal opinion re altering number of councillors to represent any rid'ng or ridings. From the Tinsury acknowledging receipt of suggestions re time for considering applications under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, From School Commissioners asking for statement of rates and Court.fees due to the foniioil. From W. Corbett advising pale of his section No. 1, Block IY„ Mnknri, to

Ringleton. From Comity Engineer reporting results of stone prospecting Muiigapakeha, Masterton to Wainnta Eoad.. From Wellington Special Settlement Association stating that there is a large area of felled bush on their township of Richmond, and that there is- consequent risk &c. to the road bridges.' From Pahiatna Town Board requesting the Council to hand over control of the ranin road through the town district. From the Lake County Council, Qfteenstown, re a recent special a'idifc of (he Lake C. C. accounts, and asking co-operation of Council in making, certain amend, ments in the Act.. From Thos. Stillhorn, A, Nicholls. and' Best and Bottomby applying for slaughtering licenses,

The applications for slaughtering licenses by Messrs A. Nicholls and Thus. Stillborn were' granted; _ Regarding the Lake County Council's letter, the Chairman remarked that what that body apparently asked was the removal of all the safeguards of the audit, and a resolution was passed that a reply be sent declining action accordingly.

Or Von Eeden said with reference to the Eketahuna-Tiniii road, that improvement was certaiulv necessary, especially in front of Mr Smith's property, and he would recommend the expenditure asked for by the Alfredton Road Board of £4O to the Board's £2O. The County Engineer reported that after the present month's maintenance was paid, £69 10s would be available for use on the whole length. On Cr Von Eeden's motion it was dedided to contribute as indicated and to put the work in hand at an early date. ' Mr E. S. Richards was granted the poundage, fees as a recompense for'his services as poundkeeper, a monthly return to be rendered to the Council.

Constable Cullinane was appointed an inspector of slaughterhouses at Pahiatua. .' " Aohonga Derby Boat.

The clerk said a reply had been sent to Mr J, W, Bator saying thai BJr

Handyside had- been asked' to arrange for the procuration of ia suitable ferry boat. Or Andrew-remarked that'a very good boat could be got in Wellington for about £10; a flat bottomed boat- was most suitable. The clerk was instructed." to write and ask Mr Handyside if lie were procuring a boat

No further action was taken regarding Mr Hughes' fence which encroached on the road at Pahiatua. ho having already been warned to remove it.

Or Crewe remarked that others, similarly situated were' removing lar greater obstructions. The Chairman thought there was no call for special leniency, and on Or Dagg's resolution it was ruled that no exception- would bo made.

Mr Alex. Yule's application for a tramway right was granted provided the liae was laid across the road subject to-the Engineer's conditions. Mr James Lankey's letter and Mr J. P. Heckler's application were left to the Engineer to deal Regarding Mr Eli Smith's letter, Or Von Reden denied having named the number of persons present at the meeting referred to. He simply ailed it a small meeting that was all, and was willing to allow for Mr. Smith's satisfaction that there might have been a large, attendance there, but he would notliketbsoaffirm.it."

With reference: to the Forty Mile Bush road-through the Wellington Special Settlement's township,.'a resolution was earned that the Council were satisfied with the road as laid off in the plan accompanying the Sur-veyor-General's letter.

HOTEL AT AOHONOA FERRY. Mr 8. Pull's letter was discussed, and it was pointed out that the matter, as regarded the license, rested with the Bench, and with reference to the lease of land, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Andrew, that any understanding made with Mr Baker on this subjeot,"should be transferrel to Mr Pull for his benefit.

An application of the Masterton Hospital Trustees for the use of a meeting room was granted. Constable Roche's letter was referred to the Sergeant of Police, Cr von Redfin expressing an opinion that horse-hire incurred in the inspection of slaughter-houses, really should be paid by the Police Department.

NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS FOR RIDINGS.

The Government's reply to the Council's letter on' this subject was Mad, and the Chairnianremarked that it practically meant that no alteration could bo made in the number of Councillors for three years from 16th November last.

ROAD THROUGH PAHIATUA TOWNSHIP. Or Crewe expressed himself in favor of handiug over the mile of main road which the Pahiatua Town Board had requested should be made over to them. He moved that it be doue, and

Cr von Reden seconded the motion.

Cr Crewe thought that handing over the road would greatly relieve the Council. It was dangerous in places, and the Town Board would be aide to do the necessary repairs,- ; The Chairman raised the question ; as to whether giving control' of the road would relieve the residents of that portion from paying the County rates. He also doubted the legality of the transaction. He quoted section 32 of the Town District Act. The original resolution was withdrawn, and Cr Beetham. moved, and it was carried, that the matter should be left over until next meeting to enable the Act to be looked, up,'as clause No. 32 said that such such roads should not be invested in Town Boards.

DEPUTATION. Mr S. Donovan waited upon. the Council, and said that a demand.had been made for eighteen shillings for rates on property near the Camp, adjoining his and owned by an absentee named Phillips, and which he was using. The Clerk explained that eighteen shillings was really due, some of it being back money, but that only ten shillings could be recovered for the two years which the law allowed applications for recovery to date back.

The Chairman said that as the land was not Mr Donovan's, he did not see that the Council could interfere. The mutter should be left to the Public Tr.istee.

Mr Donovau continued, and said he would guarantee payment until the owner turned up, The dork expressed an opinion that if the land were sold only two years' rates (10s) oould be recovered; be, howevur, thought that as Mr Donovan had had long free use of the land, and still retained it, he could afford tc pay the eighteen shillings. C.-Aalra.v tlnnjhtthVi as lotas' the rates were paid the Council was not I'ound to enquire who paid. As far as they were concerned it might be takop without inquiry that the person paying was an agent of the owner.

Tbe Cbairman expressed disapproval in tbe face of the facts elicited of this wav of receiving the money. Cr Von Redeu remarked that if it were done in the name of the absentee the rate 3 could not be refused. He thought no resolution should be passed. If the rates were paid by Mr Donovan, then that would end the matter No further action was taken the matter practically, being left to the Clerk who irrespeo. tive of the ainou.-.t legally recoverable he should look upon 18s as being due to the Counoil.

.The Finance Committee's report of which the following is an abstraot was then read. It shewed a present nett debit balance of £lB9 5s 7d and that receipts since last meeting had been £453 18s 4d, It also recommended that thb leaseholders concerned should have notice that objections to the sale of Eketahuna road frontages before their respective properties must be lodged before 81st March,

'EKETAHUNA TOWNSHIP ROAD FRONTAGES' • The matter of the sale of frontages on the road at Eketahuna. to Bottlers under the Wairarapffc North County Council Empowering Act was then discussed.

Referring to this tho Chan-man said that the Act stated' the lowest price wliiQh could be accepted was that of

tie Property Tax Valuation of-the adjoining land, less improvements, arid that the question was really, as to whether the amount received from the; -ale in this' way would coyer the' expense, of passing the reqsjßd Bill, and preparing plans &c, Wi .: Or Beetham said that some of the. : land had been valued at £25 a quarter .of.nnacre ■(Or-Von Eeden: "Only some of.it," the majority is only worth about 10s an acre.'!) '. Ho moved that .the. last property Tax valuation should be taken, and any extra cost in connection with the Act should be added. The Chairman and.Cr; Von Reden Baid that the frontag&attheNjorner of the Eketakuna-Alfredtonroad would probably be wanted when the railway was opened, to lose it would narrow i down the road tooniuch. He thought the Engineer sbouldgo up to see what frontages should be retained either in this connection or for gravel pit reserves. •

Amotion in accordance with this suggestion was put and carried.

The Finance report was then finally adopted, accounts to the aiMuajjof £616 10s lid being passed for py-: ment- :

DEPUTATION. , • Mr Win. Jessen.iriteryiowed the , Council asking that a pound should be.*; proclaimed and a ted at Mauriceville,: the scalefof' fee's; on, the board being corr'ect. ,: He also . thought that a main road rarigiershbuld ; be appointed, 'arid,-' theV. Mauriceville Road Board's employee! Mr Devonshire, for the position... ;, The Chairman moved that the pound • be proclaimed; and that anappointment / of a poundkeeper in the person of Mr Win. Deadinan as suggested by Mr . Jessen be temporarily made. Mr Beetham moved tlmt Mr Devott* shire be appointed ranger. . Cr Von Reden thought that the; limit of theranger's district should be • extended from the south boundary of the. Mauriceville road district to the Mangamahoe tollgate.. The. resolu- : tion, including Cr ,Von Redeu's sug- ■ gestion, was carried. Messrs Donovau and lessen then thanked the Council and withdrew.

BLAOK SWAMP ROAD. The matter of a road through tjhe / Black Swamp, near Tinui, was M'f next subject of discussion. M ' Cr Maunsell said that theWommittee appointed were of opinion that J. loan for the- purpose could not be raised this year, and recommended that action be postponed until it was seen what course the river would take' during thecoming winter. A resolution to this effect was duly carried.: ; The following special orders were confirmed:—

Dividing the Cashpoint Riding into two, to be known as the Castlepoint and Akiteo Hidings, the former' returning two members, the latter one. Transferring the property of Mr Holmes Warren, Tiraumea, from -the Cashpoint to the Alfredton Biding* Altering the boundaries of the Castlepoint Riding, to conform with the previous special orders.

GRANT TO WHAREAMA ROAD BOARD. Cr Meredith pointed out that while ' the ratepayers of the. Eastern portion ' of the Wainuioru Riding the road very little, those ontiJUyestern side used it to a much greater extent, those on the Eastern, however, payitM the same rate, and he considered tlfis * -;. unjust, and as the Council had ' previously recognised the fairness of handing a sum of money back to the Whareama Road Board, he thought it was only right it should be done on this occasion.

The' Chairman thought, it was rather premature to hand money over to the Whareama Road Board yet, as until the financial year ended,}' it would not be known what funds the Council had at its disposal. Upon understanding that the Whareama Eoad Board had already had two amounts granted to them, one being for the present year which ends op the 31st of March next, Or Meredith witndrew his motion.

CONTROL OF MAIN ROADS. Cr Von Eeden pointed out that most of the Eoad Boards favored the idea of the maintenance of the main roads being left in the hands of one body, and he thought thatWßoad Boards should be asked if tbejTwould take over the maintenance, provided, they received tlw separate rates. In reply to Cr Maunsell he mentioned that he meant that the Eoad Boar<3t should be the rating authority and nof tho Council.

Cr Maunsell thought that before handing over the power to Eoad Boards to rate, the Act should be arranged to enable th,e County Council to compel the roads being, kept in a proper condition, and that they should, under a saving .clause, have power to get necessary aud neglected repairs done, and reoovor the cost from the rates.

Cr Beethain said that there seemed to bo serious objections to 'banding over tbe control of such roads to Road Boards. He thought that the Council as a body had done good work. It might happen that roads would pass through impoverished districts, whoso Boards had no-funds to keepiflbroadfi in good order. Besides, Couucil had the advantage of a capable engineer. Cr Dagg instanced the South; County, and said that handing the roads oyer to the Road; Boards had worked well there. '■' .',',""

The Chairman said t);i casein differed. There the roads werofaishecl' and the Boards were simply repairing machines. Here new roads' required opening up, and besides, there there wpre only two largo Boards and in the North County there were a number of small ones, some of them with very poor ideas of road construction or improvement.

Cr Chamberlain considered that if the Road Boards and ratepayers were unauimous in wishing to take over tho roads it should be allowed. They could secure the present engineer's services, no doubt, as if noWfe the Council's employ he would stilfße in the district. ';

Cr Crewe agreed with the motion of Cr Von Reden, as under the present state of things there were some very inferior roads in the .PahiatuV s&> triot. ' \ ; ' ;

The Chairman expressed the opinion

that the bad roads Cr Crewe referred to were nude by the Government and the blamo of inferiority rested with them and not the late County Engineer, Mr King. & Cr Meredith said that under the new ™ Act the Eoad Boards really had' the power to take over the roads if they desired. He thought that the Council ought to get a direct opinion from the ratepayers rather than takotlie opinion of the several members of the various Road Boards, Crs C-ewo and Von Eeden suggested that public meetings and an after expression of opinion through the vt«ious Road Boards should be obtained. Cr Von Eeden's motion that the Eoad Board's be asked to say whether, in the ovont of the Council handing over a separate rate, they would accept the maintenance of the roads was then put and carried, fivo councillors voting for it, and four against it.

MANAWATU KOAD. 'Cr Crewe's motion that tenders bo called for tho maintenance for twelve months from Ist of April next of that portion of tho Opaki-Mauawatu road within tho Paliiatua Riding was then discussed. Or Von Keden thought that with 'jS& the possibility of the Eoad Boards taking over tho roads, action-should be deferred. The Chairmau did not know where the money was to come from as the road was already in debt. From previous experience when tenders were called, tho expense was considerably higher than the work could otherwise bo done for. Cr Crewe mentioned the toll. The Chairman replied that that would go towards tho debt. Cr Maunsell seconded the resolution as ho believed in the principlo of calling'for tondors where tlioro was a chance of saving. He however thought that the Council was not in a position to do more than koep the road 'in absolutely necospary repair, and that only in places where really required, so t.ut unless it

could be shown th it funds were .ikely to be forthcoui n.;, any proposal to > keep" the road in a thorough stutb of repair throughout was out of question. , The Chairman said that he quite Agreed with tho remarks of the .ast - speaker. All that could bfi clone would k for the Council to keep the road ro-

paired in patches as required. Cr Crewe in further remarks saiu there was not a roadman from one end of the road to the other, tho tolls had been as far as he knew regularly paid and there should be no debit balance at all. After further discussion, the resolution was put and lost, Cr Crewo remarking that he would only bring it up again at the next meeting. MASTEUTO.VWAIMATA ROAD IMPBOVE-

31ENT. The Chairman brought forward bis motion that a sufficient sum of money be borrowed to reduce the bad grades of the Taueru road between the Taueru JJotel and Kaumingi and finish the metalling between the Mangapakeha bridge and lenni, the interest on tho money to be paid from a tollgate to bo jjpted in the vicinity of tho Taueru He thought that the improvements which the loan would enable to Si be carried into effect would reduce the V- rates for freight over tho roads by about 10s a ton. Although opposed to tolls, in the present instance he saw no other way of paying the interest. He thought that this was one of the most important works in the County. The steep grades were absolutely dangerous, The ostimates were £I2OO for removing the grades, and il3oo for the metalling. He also remarked upon the advantages Masterton would gain by the improvement. Cr Andrew seconded the motion, and expressed himself in favor of the works, as those who used the road would pay for it, and he was one if them. Cr Maunsell also gave testimony as to the necessity of the contemplated improvements, the two grades-one near the Taueru and the other in the vicinity of Mr Mace's—requiring loads to be specially reduced to get past them. He considered, too, as feeders ■ «the railway tho roads should be put into a state to induco traffic Cr Meredith said that if the tolls

only fell on wheel traffic he would

; support the motion, otherwise, as tho 4£ settlers on the coast mostly used the '' •• sea for freight and did not use the road to its damage, he would not support a proposal which would entail stock horses, h„ being the subject of a toll.

The Chairman said that he had not contemplated in moving the resolution that stock should bo taxed il'io of interest could easily be raised on wheel traffic.

_ The motion was then put and carried. It was also resolved that the clerk should apply to the Government before tho 18th February, as required under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, for £3OOO in connection with this project.

On the motion of the chairman, it was decided that the Councillors for Ojfljcpoiut and Wainuioru Hidings should bo a committee to define a special rating area in connection with the proposal to borrow £3,000 as above. GENERAL. Or Crowo's motion, proposing that the Mauriceville Boad District should '*T be instituted into a separate riding, as; petitioned for by the ratepayers, was negatived, as tho rateable value did not justify tho Council in depriving the Mastortou Hiding of one of its Councillors to separately represent Mauricovilje. The Engineer's Boport, which will appear in to-morrow's issue, was then read.

It was resolved that Messrs Livingstone and Brodio bo warned thai logal proceedings would bo taken if tboy again interfered with the lovel of the drains at Wangaheu, to further private drajKge schemes, pj Engineer was instructed to prepare an ostimato of the- additional protective works required at the Te Ore Ore Ruamahuuga Bridge, and the "Works Committee were empowered to deal with it at their meeting on Saturday next. IheEngueer'sreGQiMonded repairs

to the road at the east end of Pine Mill Point, Mangapakoha,, wero authorise], and ordered to be done at a co it of not ovor £SO.

Tho plans of grave, reserve on section 48, Maugaone, were approved, and tho Clerk was iiutiucted to take all furthoi action required by the Act. Tho Engineer was authorised to expend LIBO in motalling and works on the Forty Mile Bush Eoad. Ho was also instructed to temporarily repair the Mangatainoko and McLeod's Bridges, and then report further.

Cr Orewo asked that a separate account should be kept of the income and expenditure in the Pahiatua Hiding. The Council seemed to think there was no resolution necessary on the subject, and that if the Act 1 required it, the account should be so kept. The mooting then closed.<