NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3811, 15 May 1891, Page 2

NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa North County Council was] held in the Chambers j'esterday, there being present Messrs W. H. Beetham (Chairman), Maunsell, Stuckey, Handyside, Groves, Smith, Guild, Bayliss and Cockburn Hood. The minute? of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence. From Mr M'Hutcheon, calling attention to the urgent need for metalling that section of the Tenui road know as the Big Hill —Referred to the Engineer. From Mr Askew, Hastwell, requesting that the fencing line of the gravel reserve he felled.—Referred to the Engineer. From Messrs Meyer and Co., Mauriceville, stating that they would cancel their account on con« ditions that the Council grant free use of the tramway running through the reserve.—The use of the tramway was granted, subject to the supervision of the Engineer. From W. B. Staioton, applying for a slaughtering license—Application granted. From W. Neill, requesting permission to run his coach with tires of '.he ordinary width, thesameasthe other coach.—The Chairman thought they could not make fish ot one and flesh of another.—Cr Handyside: Permission was granted to one coach because it carried Her Majesty's mails. — l The Chairman : We have made no exception for Her Majesty's mail before.—Cr Smith : if the coaches are exempted from the wheel-tire by-law on one road they should be on another. There are coaches on the Eketaliuna road which are working under the by" law. —Cr Groves moved that the same permission be granted to Mr Neill as to Mr Lett, so long as the conditions are complied with.—Mr Maunsell seconded.—Carried.

From the Hawke's Bay County Council, bringing under the notice of the Council the position of Native Lands under the Rating of Native Lands Act, and enclosing a resolution passed to the effect that the Government be asked to legislate so that local bodies might be empowered to collect rates on Native Lands.—Cr Hood thought this was a step in the right direction, and moved that the co-operation of the Council be extended in the matter.— Cr Smith seconded.—Carried. From tlio Clerk of the Akiteo Koad Board, requesting the service? of the Engineer to prepare estimates for certain work within its proyince. —Application gra-uted on the usual terms.

i?'rom J. Fitzgerald, AuditorGeneral, enclosing his opinion with regard to the Moore-Meredith case, and stating that Mr Meredith's costs could not be legally paid from the rates. —The recommendation was received and a copy ordered to be sent to Mr Meredith. From Mr C. A. Pownall, notifying that he intended to bring an action at the next sitting of the Wairarapa District Court, claiming L2OO damages on account of the death of Mr Albert Spickmau.—On the motion of Cr Handyside, seconded by Cr Bayliss, it was decided to defend the action.

From C. Bengsten, Bunnytliorpe, with reference to his property at Eketahuna, requesting that the old road line be conveyed to him.- On the motion of Cr Stuckey it was decided that Mr Bengsten be asked to produce the original agreement between himself and Mr Kiag. From Mastertoa Borough Council, asking that a portion of the cost of flummg the water channels in Hall Street be contributed by the Council.—The consideration of the was held over for a month. From Mr W. G. Beard, enclosing terms of lea. e of Aohonga Ferry Reserve. —It was decided that the payment on the part of Natives be half yearly instead of yearly. AofiONGA Fekry.

Or Haudysi4e moved that tlje subsidy of £lO granted to the man at the the Reserve. Cr Hood seconded.—Carried. Collector of Tolls.

On the motion ot Cr Handyside, Mr Jepson was appointed collector oi tolls at Aohonga. Deputation,

Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R., waited upon the Council as a representative of the East Coast settlers. and called attention to what he considered to bo the undue amount of rates contributed towards the maintenance of the road between what is known as Lett's wbare and the Taueru. He would ask that a portion of the credit balance be expended on this road. The estimate of the Engineer was in his opinion gomewhat overdrawn. Several settlers had thought that the painting of the Taueru bridge was unnecessary. The Chairman wished it understood that t'. e Taueru bridge was painted pur» ly for economical purposes. Cr Guild thought that the time had not yet arrived when they could do with a small maintenance rate. The rates should rather be increased than reduced. [jpije Chairman assured Mr Buchanan iljat his request would receive the Council's consideration.

Finances. The report of the meeting of the Finance Committee was read and adopted. The balance at the Bank was stated to be £IM 10s 3d. It was also decided that the salary of the County Clerk be restored to £250.

Accounts amounting to £552 3s 9d were passed for payment. [phe Treasurer's report and balance sheet were laifi qn the table.

Special Orders, Special orders regarding two special rates and the division of the Alfredton Riding into two Ridings were passed.

Engineer's Report. The report of the Engineer was read and adopted, Wheel tire By-Law. A petition was received, praying that certain restrictions in the Wheeltire By Law be modified. Onthe motion ofCr Hood, seconded by Cr Smith, it was decided that the Council cannot see its way clear to grant the prayer of the petition. Cr Smith moved that the passenger coaches on the Forty-Mile Bush road be granted the same concessions on same conditions under the wheel tire by law as have been granted to W. Neill.

Cr Stuckey seconded—Carried, It was decided that steps be taken to stop breaches of the wheel tire by law. THE ESTIMATES. The estimates for the year re considered at some length. R^TES. It was dgcidpd that the general rate be three-sixteenths of a penny >n the £, and that there be no separate rate in the Akitio riding. j

Tbe following separate rates were fixed:—Master ton riding, seven'sixteenths of a penny; Wamuioru, three-sixteenths of a penny ; Alfredton, seven-sixteenths of a penny; Castlepoint, seven-sixteenths of a penny; Whareama outlying district, fdSHEKP TOLLS. It was decided that, it be an instruction to the Clerk to give eifecfc to the resolution of the Council with reference to the allocation of the Akitio shoep tolls recpived up to 31st March last.

ORDINARY. The consideration of the adjustment of the debt of the Cotlepoint Riding was held over till next meeting. It was decided that Mr Geo, Moore be permitted to erect his fence at Mungapeu on the road reserve.

Consideration of the stock toll at the Taueru was postponed till next meeting. It was resolved to communicate with the police with a view to putting a stop to persons riding on the footpaths at Eketaliuna. The Engineer wus instructed to call for tenders for forming the road through Burling's at Tiraumea as soon as the fencing is complete. The services of the Engineer to give an estimate of the cost ot irrigating Te Ore Ore from tbe Ruamaliunga river were granted on the usual terms. The meeting then adjourned.