WEBER COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 289, 10 June 1909, Page 2

WEBER COUNTY COUNCIL.

a moeting of the above was held on Saturday last, and was attended by tho Chairman, and Crs Booth,. Herrick, Jensen, Small, Speedy, aad Dr Riddell. CORRESPONDENCE. A telegram was read from tho Pay-master-General, advising that the subsidy on rates would be paid in nest week. — Received. Cr Morgans wrote, stating that he would be absent from home, and consequently would not bo at the meeting. — Leave of absence granted. They Minister of Internal Affairs wrote stating that an Order-in-Coun-cil had been made declaring Weber County Council a leasing* authority under tho Local Bodies Leases Act, 1908. — Received. , The same office forwarded Order-in-Council for extension of time for preparation of rolls. — The clerk had attended to it. From Secretary to Treasury, requesting that Minister of Finance be furnished with statement of receipts and expenditure and assets and liabilities of the County by 30th June. — Tho request had been complied with. The Secretary of the United District Charitable Aaid Board, in explanation of tho heavy rate, levied, stated that the bank had called in the overdraft as existing on 31st March, whichj together with the increase of County valuations, was the cause of the high rate. Ho confidently expected a decrease of approximately. 40 per cent, next year. — Received. The Valuation Department advised ihat roils would be forwarded -in a week.— The clerk reported that they had been received. The same department gavo notice of transfer of property from Booth and Herrick to Herrick Brothers. — Received. The Prime Minister, wrote conveying thanks and appreciation of resolution passed by the Council re the Dreadnought. The Bank of New South Wales drew attention to the Council's account being in excess of authorised limit, and asked when a reduction might be expected. — The clerk had furnished the information. The Akitio County Council asked for a copy of bye-laws. — Supplied. Tho Dannevirke County . Council notified that the Council had agreed to undertake the- erection of watertrough. — Received. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, asked permission to open tho road for the purpose of inserting pipes to convey waste water from Post Office residence at Weber to a culvert- about a chain away. On the motion of Cr Booth, it was resolved to-give tho Department leave, in the meantime to carry out drain as shown in plan. "\ The District Road Engineer asked to be shown over works pointed out to the Hon. Minister for Roads when in Weber, as he had received instructions to inspect and report on them. - The Chairman stated that he and Cr Jensen mot the engineer. Inspected Waione Road, and it was tho opinion of tho engineer that it was useless expending money on the slip. He was in favor of a deviation, on this side of Akitio river. Inspected Mill Hill, but engineer recommended that the grade of the top of hill at present 1 in 7 be reduced to 1 in 11. A letter was received from the' Under-Secretary, also, re .suspension, bridge across Blue Slip on. Waione Road. He stated that the District Roa<l Engineer reported the scheme not practicable, as the surface -was moving for a considerable width, but suggested the abandonment of about 35 chains of the road and a new road formed on opposite side of river. The Minister recognised that it was a case for assistance, and was prepared to place an item of the estimates on the basis of £1 for £1 subsidy towards cost. ' Cr RiUde-11 pointed out that- he impressed - upon the Minister that £1 for £1 grants could not bo accepted, owing to the Council's finance — that ihoy must have- the lot or nothing. Cr Booth thought the course of tho river near slip could be diverted and i straightened ; that t)y so doing it would be more permanent arKKjess costly. Cr Jensen did not think that the road would be then traversable in i times of flood. ' * ' ( •On the motion of Cr Riddell, it ; was resolved to forward a letter to." tho Hon. Minister^ informing him that tho Council cannot entertain the proposal to give £1 for £1 subsidy for deviation, and asking for i full amount, as the work is most urgent. It is to bo pointed out that a large number of settlers, inclusive of Akitio ones, are debarred from using tho road in times of flood, which occur with great frequency during winter. Also that the Weber i County is one of the heaviest rated ' counties in the dominion. ] On the motion of Crsr Dr Riddell and Small, the clerk was directed to WTito to District Road Engineer, requesting him to peg off Mill Hill as suggested. j The N.Z. Counties' Association for-

! warded legal opinions. — Received. From Clifton County Council, asking if Council would support an amendment to the Local Bodies' Loans Act, re rating according to the means of access. — Tho proposal is to be supported. From C. A. Herbert, asking for four or five days' work on A' Bear's Road. — It was decided to authorise Mr Herbert to expend an amount not exceeding £2. J. Rice tendered his resignation as pound-ranger, and on O Herrick's motion, D. R. Wooten was appointed in his stead. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer reported as follows: I .have the honor to report for the past month that A. Carmichael has finished his metalling contract on the Leisure Hour, having delivered 787$ cubic yards on the road and' placed 61$ yards on the side of the road. W. McMillin has just about completed his Tahoukaretu Road contract, having formed and widened 36j chains of road, a.nd delivered 896 cubic yards of metal on tho road. !Bhe formation and draining on Mill Stream Road is also completed, but the contractor will not bo able to finish metalling as the formation is too soft at present. As instructed by the Council I have metalled about four chains on Waione Road and have had the sill bridge near roadman's whare repaired. * I have not been able to place groins on Waipatiki stream, as owing to the wet weather in the early part of the -month tho road became too soft to carb metal on. The County team has finished repairing Waipatiki and Limestone Roads, and is now at work on Esdale Road. The surfacemen are at .present engaged clearing tho water-tables along the Main Road. I have sent a man to attend to Taputahi Road to clear slips and open tho water-tables in the worst places. Wm. Roberts has finished the whare on Tahoukaretu Road. I would suggest that patching metal be put* on all weak parts on the :,Main Road. WAIPATIKI GROINS. Tho overseer explained that he delayed the construction of groins as tho carting of stone would break up the road at this period in the year. Cr Herrick : There stands a chance of the road washing away again. Tho overseer was empowered to do work recommended in. his report. RATE. Cr Dr Riddeil moved in accordance of notice of motion and section 117 of the Counties Act, that a general rate of 2Jd on unimproved value of County be levied.-^-Seconded by the Chairman and carried. •1 GENERAL. Cr Dr Riddoll said ho had been in^ formed that Birch Road grant of £250 had not been expended. The clerk was directed, on Cr Riddell's motion, seconded by Cr Booth, to communicate with the District Engineer. On tho motion of the Chairman the clerk was instructed to forward a letter to the H.B. Rabbit Board, informing that body that rabbits are on the increase in this district, the cause of which is attributed to the action of the Board in abandoning the rabbitr proof fence; and asking that tho Board reconsider its decision and have the fence again put in order and maintained. Cr Herrick moved that £3 be voted to Akitio Council for work dono on Opomo Road. — Seconded by Cr Riddell and carried. The same Council is to bo asked if they intend talcing the iron rails. The pay-sheet, as read, amounting to £549 16s 4d, was passed for payj ment, and the mooting then adjourned.