WAIRARAPA NORTH COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3598, 15 August 1890, Page 2

WAIRARAPA NORTH COUNTY.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the abovo ftouncil was held at the Chambers yesterday. Present—Crs Beethani (ouaii'tnan),Mauusell, Dag?, Vou Redin, Murray and Chamberlain, . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OOBRESPONDENCEi Correspondence outwards was read, , . ■ Correspondence inwards : From a number of pottlors in the Newman Village Settlement, pray-; ing that • tbo time at which the Impounding Act shall be put into operation:, be extended.—On the motion of Cr Von Redin the request was granted, the ranger to be instructed not to impound cattle between the • Makakahi bridge and the Deep Creek for a period of three months.

From Mr A Spring, poundkeoper at Eketahuna; resigning his position, It was resolved that the rcßiguation be accepted, and that Mr George Bayer be appointed to fill the office. From J. Bannister, requesting permission to fence in gravel reserve adjoining hie property at Mauriceville. -On the motion of Cr Murray, seconded by Cr Dagg, it was resolved that the Council have no objeotion to the request, "From J. W. Lang, applying for the lease of tbo gravel reserve adjoining bis property at Upper Taueru. —Loft with the engineer to report on at nest meeting.

From Secretary New Zealand Farmer's Association, Waverley, asking that the Council take action to form a similar association in the Wairarapa as a counteraction to the uuioua of nil other classes which have been called into existence.—Or Von Hediu thought the matter was one which should be considered by the Farmers' Club or Pastoral and Agricultural Society.—lt wa< deoided on the motion of Cr Dagg that the letter be forwarded to the. Pastoral Association anil Blacksmith and Wheelwrights' Company. From Messrs Murray, Roberta and Co., re gravel pit at Te Ore Ore, offering 1 \ acres at £2O per acre,— Cr Murray moved that the offer be accepted, and the engineer make necessary arrangements with Mr Guild.—Cr Maunsell secondod. — Carried,

EKETAHUKA TOLL GATE* A letter mb read from Gr James Stuoliey ro Eketakima toll-gate, Btiting that be mi of opinion that the gate Bhould be erected forthwith. A communication was also read from Gr Meredith, stating that bo was willing on certain conditions that the project of a .toll-gate be abandoned.

The notice of motion of the Chairman that the past motion on the subject bo. rescinded and that the maintenance of the road be divided pro rata throughout the various riding, in tho district was read. The Chairman said he was of opinion it was not necessary to ereot a toll for so small a sum as £lO5, and ho was sure if his motion was carried thoy would haye the thanks of tho community.

Or Von Bedin said he thought the road would be maintained next year by contract, Gr Mauusoll was of opinion this was the thin end of the wedge for a general rate. • Tho Chairman thought the present was aa oscoptionul case, aud ho did not wish his motion to establish a precedent.

Cr Maunsell! Ou the ssore of liberality tho idea, is a good-one Other small ridings will doubtless ■ want assistance next year. I will second the motion, The motion was thou put and declared carried, FINANCE. Tho report of the Finance Committee was read, which showed that the receipts for the post month were £360 8s Od. Accounts, including a grant to the Charitable Aid Board of tM 17s 6d, woro passed for payment. BANGHUHAU lIOAD BOARD, The Clerk reported that ho had gone through tho accounts of the Eangitumau Road Board, and submitted a balance-sheet of that body, which ho had made out, A good deal of discussion ensued on the matter of thirds which ard supposed -to be duo by ■ tho Mauricevillo Board, The Clerk was instructed to write to the Lands Office and ask what deferred thirds had boon paid, and b} whom and also inquiro from tho Mauricevillo Koad Board if they had received any thirds, ROAD BOAHD OFFICES, A deputation from thn Masterton Eoad Board waited on the Council and asked for tho use of the County offices for the purpose of holding meetings. Cr Murray.moved-that the use of the offices be grauted, Cr Yon Redin seconded.—Carried. CLERK AND ENGINEER. The appointment of Mr Moore as Clork to the Masterton Eoad Board and Mr Breinner as ongiuoer was agreed to. AIFRBDION HIDING BATES, Cr Von Uedin moved a resolution that a rate of seven-sixteenths of a penny in the & on property within tho Alfredton Biding be rescinded, Cr Murray seconded.—Carried. STRIKING OF RATES. The rates proposed to be struok throughout the district were, on the motion of Or Von Redin, seconded by Or Dagg, approved, Special rates for various loans were confirmed, • KNGINEES'S BEi'OKT. Tho report of the Engineer was read as follows : • Bib—l have the honor to report for the past month on tbe '.works &o, of the County as follows: Masterton Biding—Waingawa to Camp road. The. surface repairs contracts whioh have been proceeding on thiß line were brought to-comple-tion on the 11th ulto. The line glej ally is in good : woildug order. ■ pstefdr'td ■ lyaimata," road—• (MS&terfotfto Taueru 1 Section);' The lhg of)tljeTe/jtjro'''ty» Bectibn'\and wjll bVwinjjWjij tie Wfa of a

fortnight, The improvements to the road on the Wangaehu flat, although but partially performed; will be extended bo soon as the Telegraph Department remove the poles referred to in my last report. The Telegrap.i Superintendont has intimated his intention of personally satisfying himsi'lf of tho ueoessity of- takirg>,tiOJ .in the matter.

The protective works in the Ruamahunga at Te Ore Ore have proved of great advantage at the part hitherto assailed by the river and have deflectedits course further towards the bridge, where it now plays with com eiderable destructive force against till bank, The absence of funds (tho item forprotective works have been eliminated from the current year's expenditure for motives of economy) prevents the encroachment beingdealt with during the present financial year and matters must therefore be allowed to tako their course unless the Council can daviae means to meet tk difficulty, A bonsiderable'breaoh has been' made in the hank which threatens to undermine and dislodge a ire'sli portion of the willow growth unless measures are taken to prevent it..

Castlepoint Biding, Mas'erton to Waimata Hoad.—Contract No 89' (adding handrails to bridgps),'. The contractors for this work reported it completed on the: 2nd nit. Pressure of other works has prevented its inspection taking place up till now S3 that I am not in a position to report as to the character of the work. The damage done to the roads in this riding by the late continuous rains has been comparatively trifling. Beyond small land slips and: the usnal breaking up of the road surface," consequent upon the inferiority of the metal, nothing of an extraordinary natnro has ooourred. ;

Alfredton Riding.—Eketafyma to Tinai road, (Kketahune, to Tiraumea section). In respect to oontracba Nos 21, 28, and 24, nothing further haß been done flinco last report, further operations having been suspended until summer. Inspection has been made of the reportdd discovery of stone ontbo Tawataia section of this line, The stono, proved to be of very limited quantity so far as it was possible to judge, and of a quality quite unsuitable for road purposes. _.- Opaki to Manawatn Road,—This line is in fairly souud condition throughout, with the exception of a short length near the Mangamuhoe railway station, whero the surface is failing under the extraordinary traffic of the local sawmills. This particmlar section cf the line is fronted by properties from whioh the Maunceville and iiketahuna itoad Boards are at present receiving considerable income from deferred payment thirds, and I have little doubt the settlers interested in the maintenance of the main roads would willingly agree-that these bodies should arrange to have this money expended for the improvement of tho- lino, on their frontages, if the question were laid before them and their approval obtained. Contraot No 27. (street formation Ekotahuna township). This contract entered into on the 80th October, 1889, and specified for completion by the Uth February, 1893, was finally fufilled and taken over on the 23rd of last month, The vexations delay whioh ha 3 - characterised its execution is'attributable to the low rate at whioh the work was takon np, together with nine months consummate mismanagement by the contractor- and his agent. As a whole the workmanship has been woll and faithfully performed, end the result constitutes a Btriking contrast to the former appearance of the township. In connection with this work I would direct tho Council's attention to the desirability of framing some by-laws with reaped to the constructing of proper cart crossings over the footpaths leading to the different properties in the township. At present the paths are subject to much damage by horse and wheel trattio travelling along and across them to get to the shops and dwellings whioh stand back on the old boundaries of the three chain reserve. It would be well that all aucb orossinga should be construoied of pitched boulder stones or wooden (totara or matai) blocks set on end, and that all crossings bo constructed to a uniform plan which shall be propared by the Conuoil, and the work executed under its directions. .

Another matter requiring the Counoil's attention, is the consideration of means to prevent a species of larrikinism, which is daily becoming more prevalent in the distriot, but more especially so in tho bush localities. 1 refer to the carving and chopping about of the timber bridges on the main road. .Many of these have been hacked about in a more or less serious manner, going in some cases so far as almost to impair tho efficiency of some of the timbers. Bridges recently painted are already disfigured with axe and bill hook work, and unless some, wholesome oheok is put upon this mischief it is impossiblo to say to what extent it may. not bo carried,. I would suggest the expediency of offering an? ample reward for information which may lead to tho conyiction of tho culprits in tho hope that some may be secured and made examples of. I am etc., • 0. E. BIiEMNER, It was resolved to offer a reward of £lO for suoh information as would load to the conviction of persons destroying bridges within tho County.

Cr Von Redin moved that tlie Clerk be instructed to prepare a by-law with reference to the formation of footpath crossings. Cr Murray seoouded.—Oarried. _ The engineer was instructed to invorview settlers with reference to tho expenditure of thirds opposite their holdings. The report of tho engineer was adopted, and the meeting adjourned. SrEOIAL MEETING, At a special meeting held by the Council, a special order was made, merging the Whareama Road Board into the Couuty.'