TINUI NOTES

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4869, 5 November 1894, Page 2

TINUI NOTES

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

, On Saturday afternoon last, in the hall,Mr R. Maunsell,seni\, addressed the ratepayers ofGastlopoiut Riding. Mr Palzicl was in the chair. Mr Maunsoll, in his opening remarks, said he and Mi' Groves, his colleague in the North County Council, thought it very desirable to call the ratepayers together re state of. roads r.nd Tinui. bridgo, - He pointed out that the total separate rite was£6Gß,three-.sixteontlia going to pay General Rate and Poor Rate, This £668 was supplemented by a subsidy : of SIOO aiid licenses. ' It really required £250 additional annually to keep the roads in an efficient stato for traffic, Where was the money to come from, lie wanted to know.?. It was palpable that the roads were gradually deteriorating and there was no possible.means of repairing them. Ho thought the Road Board must find the money. It was incumbent on the ratepayers .to express the opinion whether the Road Board was to grantihe money, or whether the Road Board was to merge into the County Council. He was uot prepared to advise one way or the other. It would be better fbr a majority of the ratepayers to ask the' County Council to merge if they I desired it. One tiling he. might say, and that wiis chat the by-road settlors

might object to merging, Ho explained how the ratepayers should proceed. The only question in merging was to save expense. Either tho' ratepayers must pat their hands in thcirpookctsto raise tho money, or let the roads .deteriorate. •' It had been suggested, by the engineer that the County Council should economise by reducing the surface men during'the. summer months. He (the speaker) thought tlicyhad little .to do at that season,. and, in winter, all they had to do. was ,to keep the water-tables, clear. He recommeuded keeping'' one good man j and giving him power to employ labour when necessary. In reference to the bridges he considered -there were two which were in a fearfully bad state, viz,, the Tonui and Maugapakeha,the:formdr being, quite useless. 'The County Council had not tho funds ill' hand, and bo thonghtitwould be necessary to raise a loan for tho work if practicable, He was afraid that many of the ratepayers would not fayour it, as they did not all'uso the bridges, and they might say what was it to do-with.them. It bad been suggested to move the Tonui bridge higher'.up the river, The whole matter iii reference to this bridge was very unsatisfactory, and it seemed that it would ;bo one of great expense.: Ho. had changed his opinion relative to tllo mishap to it during last .winter,! and now' conjsidered it was caused by tho river washing away the loose soil. In conielusion ho said ho would answer any question tliat' ratepayers asked on the subject.-' ]

Mrßellis asked what the TenuiWhakataki Road cost a.inilc.. He understood that Mr Brainier said it cost £2' i a mile per annum. If that .wero so, whore (lid tho balance go P The roadman received but 6s a day, and that amounted to £IOO at the most,, .If it was supervision that swallowed it, then the officials should be discharged. Mr'Maimsollsiiid he would enquire at next meeting of the County Council; Ho understood tho engineer tp say tho expense was due to the nature of tho country. He spoke in eulogistic terms of tho staff, . A very desultory conversation between'Mr Maunsell and several of the ratepayers took phco about the Tenui JJridgu. Every one connected with it had a warm time, and it would not have done for any of those concerned in that matter to have been present. Instead of questions being asked there was nothing but incriminations.

Mr Dalziel thought no benelit would be derived by merging into tho County Council, but it was necessary that it should receive some support. Referring to the Tenui bridge he considered it should be repaired as soon ns possible, and if necessary a loan should be raised. The following resolutions were unanimously passed:—" That the Clerk of tho County Council be requested to draw up an analysisshowing cost of and advantages derived from the Castle Point Road Board merging into the County Council.'' " That tho Castle Point Road Board be requested to furnish a return showing receipts and expenditure." "That the attention of tho County Council be drawn to tho unsatisfactory niannor in which the upper section of tho ; Mangapakoha road has been worked." - :

The Government has placed the sum of £250 on the estimates for Tcmii Police Station, It is not be : fore it is wanted, The timber of the house is fairly rotten, and it is a wonder it has not been blown dowii before now, It is hoped that the architect will make provisions for an office, as it is rather hard lines to expect a" bobby" to uso his sittingroom ns such. That correspondent's remarks.to the Press abouttho wifo of a country policeman taking in lodgers does not apply here. Tito only lodgers taken in at Teuui Polico Station are thoseofasiinilarclassloMrGarvey's in the Government Lodging House, Wellington,