WAIRARAPA NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4643, 9 February 1894, Page 3

WAIRARAPA NORTH COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting.

The regular monthly meeting of the Wairarapa North County Council was held yesterday afternoon at 3 p.m. Present—Crs von Beden (Chairman), Maunsell, Handyaide, Stuckey, Groves, Guild, Eli Smith, and Cock-burn-Hood, MINUTES.Tho minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. DEPUTATION, Messrs A ,W. Cave and R. Cameron waited on the Council, with reference to a drain on the Upper Tauoru Road which required cleaning, as at present the water overflowed on to their property in bad weather, It was resolved to instruct tho contractor for the maintenance of tho road to attend to the mailer, COUNTY COUNCIL ASSOCIATION. The Hutt County Council, Manawatu, Waipawa, Horowhenua, Strata ford, and other County Councils, wrote stating their approval of the proposed County Council Association, and in several cases stating willingness to co-operative. ALFREDTON SWAMI'.

T, H. Groves wrote complaining that a drain had been cut stopping the crossing on tho Alfredton Swamp near his property. Cr Smith moved that no aotion be taken as tho crossing is on private propeity, Or Stuckey thought it rather hard lines if Mr Groves' road was stopped, The Chairman pointed out that over 100 acres of Mr Groves' property in the swamp, was drained through the cutting, Close on a mile of the drain was through Mr Groves' property Tho drain was 12 feet wide and seven feot deep. Cr Stuckey moved that a letter be sent pointing out that Mr Groves had been a gainer by the drain, and tho Counoil thought ha should erect the bridgo. Or Groves said Mr Groves was ono of the principal advocates of this drain, and he thought if he wanted a bridge he should have spoken about it before, He would second Or Stuckey's motion,—Carried, ALFREDTON ROAD.

Messrs K. Neilson, Britt, Claridgc and others, wrote recommending the Council to carry out certain drains on the Alfredton Road,-The matter was held over for Mr Greville's report. JIAURICEVILLE HOAD BOARD, The Mauriceville Koad Board wrote asking what terms the Council would charge for the services of the County Engineer, Tho Chairman moved that the Engineer's services be granted on the usual term?,-Carried. EKETMIUNA-WOODVILLE RAILWAW Thß Public Works Department wrote with reference to the railway crossing on the Road, And stating that the Department did not see that a level crossing would bo any more dangerous than any other level crossing, The Chairman said he had interviewed the Premier on the matter of an overhead crossing, and Mr Seddon had promised to consider the matter, In company with Mr Bremner, he had also Been tho Engiueer in charge of the Railway works at Eketahuna, and that gentleman had suggested certain alterations by lowering the grade, whioh would make the crossing safe. The County Engineer was called in, and explained the position, In bis opinion.tbe proposals of the Engineer-in-Chief were reasonable.

It was resolved to accept these proposals for tho crossing. liiuraua Koad, Mr H, Benton wrote, stating that the meeting of ratepayers called to consider the Ihuraua Road loan of £l5O had lapsed. Mr Eli Smith also wrote advising that a poll of the rate* payers bo takon.

Deposit Cueques.

The Clerk informed the Council that a cheque deposited by a certain contractor have been returned by the bank, dishonored. The Chairman said this was manifestly unfair to other contractors. He would move that in future all deposit cheques bo marked good by a bank for ten days from date of closing of tenders.— Carried, Roadman's Cottage.

Mr 0. F. Vallance wrote with reference to the Bite for a roadman's cottage which the Council propose to take, and suggesting a site half»a-mile forther up the road, as tho site the Council wish to obtain is the only place where Mr Vallance can get water. The Engineer was instructed to see Mr Vallance and report at next meeting.

TENUI BRIDGE. Mr A, McHutchon, Clerk to the Castlepoint Road Board,wrote, calling a'.kntion to the bad state of the approach to the Tenni bridge, from the Tenui side. Ur MauD6sll thought that by carrying the fence to the bridge the difficulty would bo overcome. It was decided to adopt this course, BUCK HILL MEEK. The Castlepoint Road Board wrote with reference to a bridge over the Blaok Hill Creek, and asking that the Engineer supply estimates by next meeting of the Board.—Referred to the Engineer. LOST PLANS, Mr 0, A, Pownull wrote, stating that as Mr Greville was charging his client, Mr Cargill, with a libel, he was desirous of obtaining the plans of certain contracts, and requested the Council to allow Mr McLacblau to prepare duplicates for which bis client was prepared to pay, as the original plans were stated to be lost.

Cr Smith moved that the Counoil allow MrMeLaoblan to prepare the, planß. The Clerk explained that the plans presumably required by Mr Pownall had been prepared at .the County Office lor the Alfredton Road Board.

Cr Handyside said it whb a matter; in which the Council required to be' careful, Who was to guarantee that the plans were the same, if supplied as requested, Mr McLaohlan or the Council?

In reply to Mr Maunsell the Chairman said it was no fault of the Council that the plans were lost. They were prepared in the County office, but banded to the Alfredton Road Board. I ; Cr Stuckey said they could not Varnish duplicates when the; had no Kiginal, .^J\ that Mr Powwhat plane

wants, mid that consideration of the tnattor lio ndjourned until next meet"

FINANCE COMMITTEE. I The Finance (Jommittcß's report w.ia road ami ndopted, BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION FUND, Tho report of the Committee appointed to consider the above was rend, The Chairman said by continually adding to a small fund they would obtain sufficient to renew a bridge if one should be swept away, Cr Maunsell said the most efl'solivo way of dealing with all these mattors was to abolish'the separate rato system, and go for a general rate. The Chairman said the object of the fund was to save the wholo cost of an expeuaive bridge, being thrown on one riding, when the bridge was used by the general public. " It was decided to adopt the report, and request the member for the dis-> trict to take steps to get the Counties Act amended in the direction required. TRAOriON ENGINES. Tho Traction Engine Bye«law as drawn up by the Committee, was adopted by the Council, end the Clerk instructed to take the necessary steps to enforce it. TE ORE ORE—BIDBFORD ROAD, Or Guild moved that the £BO voted for tho Upper-Taueru-Bideford Eoad be placed on the estimate to supplement a fresh loan, it raised before the end of the present finanoial year. Cr Guild said that the motion was to removeany doubt as regards the£Bo placed on the, estimates to supplement a metalling loan, and the question of raising another loan. Or Cookbura-Hood said that sufficient votes lo carry the poll would have bean given, but the voters came too late, He would second the ' motion.

Cr Stuckey said he understood some people were dissatisfied with the rating area and wished the Committee to consider it.

Tho motion was then put and carried,

Cr Guild then moved that if the settlers in the Upper Tau'eru Road District, are desirous of raising a loan of £OOO to complete the metalling on the Upper Taueru-Bideford Road, that the Council take the necessary steps, on a petition guaranteeing the cost of the preliminary steps, being sent in by the ratepayers. This step was first necessary to put the proceedings properly before the Council,

Or Stuckey seconded the motion, He could not help thinking that the loan was a new one.

Cr Cockbnrn-flood fluid he should not have seconded Cr Guild's first mo'ioo, bad he known that the Becond motion would be brought, It was uoderptood I hat on the solicitor's opinion being that the preliminary steps, would have to be gone over again, that to Bave time the proposal be at once advertised, If the present motion was carried the £BO voted would be lost, and the settlers who had guaranteed the preliminary ox. pensea of the loan would also bo at loss. All the settlers were in favoua of the loan proposed and if the present motion was carried nothing could be dune until too late, Tho first'motion of Or Guild'* wan simply a " cntch."

Cr Guild said his motion was nn catcL. The real question at issue was whether the Council was to depart from its standing rule to place tho proposed rating area before a revising Commit lee before sanctioning the loan.

CrStuokeysaid thej had no wish to do Cr Cockburn-Hood out of the £BO allotted, but simply wished the rating area revised in justice to all the settlers.

Cr Cookbum«Hood said that after the explanation of Crs Guild and Stuckoy he most apologise for saying that the motion was a " catch." What he wished to guard against was any unnecessary delay in a work which a very large majority of the settlers were in favor of. After further discussion, Cr, Cockburn-Hood said ha would guarantee the expenses of the loanbimself, providing the boundaries of the rating area were not altered, Cr Smith said the boundaries were not just, and he was not in favor of departing from the rule laid down that before a loan was raised the proposed rating area should come before a rejising Committee. Cr. Cookburn Hood's remarks showed that he was afraid of the area as at present set out being revised,

Cr Coclcbnrn-Hood said that Cr Smith Was in error. All he wished to avoid or was afraid of was unnecessary delay.

Or Guild, in ( reply, said that the settlers had as much right to demand that their rates should be spent on the Eketahuna-Tenui Road as Cr Cookburn-Hood had to define a rating area for the expenditure of the rates on the Te Ore Ore-Bideford road. He was sorry that Cr Cockburn-Hood could not leave the question of the justness ot the rating area in the hands of the committee, Neither Or Stuokey or himself wished to take the £BO from the settlers, but they wished to put a limit on it, as if left open the matter might hang on for two years. However, the real matter at issue was the necessity of revising the rating area in every case where it was proposed to raise a loan, in justice to the settlers interested.

Cr. Guild's motion was then put and carried.

Cra Smith, Stuckey, and Maunsell were appointed a revising committee to invcstigato tho rating area for the proposed loan, if the ratepayers send in a petition for the loan,

engineer's keport,

The Engineer's report was then read and adopted. After hearing Mr MoKenzie's explanation, it was decided that be be allowed to resume his road maintenance contract.

The matter of compensating Mr T. F. Smith, wbose waggon was injured througb .a culvert breaking on the Taueru Road, was left with the Engineer to arrange. , It was resolved that the work of painting the Wiipoua Bridge bo undertaken if funds are available.

Cr Beetham was appointed to see ' Mr Vallance and endeavor to arrange ' with him to accept half the amount ' claimed as compensation, though a : number of Mr Vallanee's calves being < killed by falling into the Council's gravel pit. Cr Maunsell was authorized to interview Mr McHutchon with re< gard to royalty on the gravel from Miller's quarry, and the Engineer was authorized to pay the id per yard claimed from the 160 yards now required. It was resolved to give notice to the contractor for contract No 3, on the Fab Valley and Mangaone Roads that be must proceed with the work more expeditiously. Te Orb Obk Bidefohd Loan,

Cr Stuckey moved, and Cr Guild seconded that notices be sent- to the settlers in the Upper Taueru, asking them to advise the Council of spy

objections to the proposal to raise a £SOO loan to be lodged in time for a meeting to be held on the 21st inst at 8 p.m, and that the.Clerk be directed upon receipt of petition, to proceed at once with the advertising of the proposal. Tenders,' ' Maintenance—TeOreOre-Bideford road—J. Cavanagh, £IBO per annum, and gravel oarting 3s per yard fac-. cepted), Deolined-B, Cullotte, £IBO per annum, and gravel carting 3s 6d per yard, M< til repairs to Eketabuna-Tinui road:—J. Cavanagh £lB3 4s (ao< M. P. Britt, 4a. Wainsawa to Camp road:—J. Cavanagh £IOB per annum and gravel Is lOd per yard (accepted). Declined -D.McGill £lO4 and gravel Is lid per yard ;T. Kerrins £120; B, (Julloty£l3o;M. MoKenzie£l4o. Masterton-Waimata Road (Wainuioru Riding): No tender aooepted, fresh tenders to be called. Opaki-Miinßwatu Road: ,T, JacobSen's £l4o;.gravel 2s 9d per yard (accepted); declined, D, McGill, £ll7 10s, gravel Is lljd per yard, Eketahuna-Tinui Road (contraot No, 43) to be re-advertised, m orevillk's report, Mr Greville's report was read, It was decided to enforce the penalties for noil fulfilmcut of contracts, 1 and 2, on the Mount Baker Road. The report was then adopted. MT. JAXER DRAIN.

It was resolved to ask Mr Greville to inform the Council whether he has authorised the contractors to out the Mt, Baker drain 4ft Oin wide at the bottom, instead of according to full width, and if he has, to advise him that the Council intends it to be out the full width specified. It was decided to obtain the opinion of the Engineer in charge, re drains asked for on the Alfredton road, extending to the Mount Baker Swamp. BOUNDARIES, Special orders altering the boundaries of the road districts were made as read, the Boards to be dissolved on the 20th April, and the oleotion to take place during the first week in May, LOANS. Resolved to take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £8,222 for Saunders' Road. Crs Von Beden, Guild and Stuckey were appointed a revising committee to deal" with the rating area, BRITT'a CONTRACT.

The action of the Engineer in determining Biitk's metal carting contract, on the Eketahona road, waß approved, JIT. BAKER ROAD.

Eesofoed, at the request of Mr Kennedy, that the Council take over the first 38 chains of tho Mt. Baker Road, on a certificate being received from the Engineer. Also that the Council cannot entertain any application for assistance from Mr Kennedy for damage done by timber carting on the road.

A number of special orders were confirmed, after which the Council rose,