WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3515, 13 October 1882, Page 2

WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, October 12

The Council met at 11 a.m. All the councillors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was dealt with :— , From A. B. Stevens, kaikora, profterin* his services as ranger. Resolved that no present need exists tor the services of a raDger. , , From J "D- Ormond, Wallingford, asking that the road overseer might be instructed to report on the road between Wallingford and Blackhead. Overseer instructed to report. From D. Simmons, Wallingford, calling attention to defects in the road near tbe Wallingford post office. Overeeer instructed to report From the chairman of the Danevirke Road Board, requesting payment of £120 due as subsidy. Tne clerk stated that Ihe money had been sent. _ _ From J. Anderson, Napier, chairman of Board of Governor of Napier High School, requesting tbe Council to appoint a member of the Board. Cr. Dillon was appointed on the motion of Cr Smith, seconded by Cr Bibby.

From Messrs Dolbel and Co , Napier, complaining of 15$ being deducted from their account against the Council for

drain pipes. The overseer explaiDed that the pipes had been ordered to be delivered at Waipukurau, but were delivered at Kaikora. The 15a was the cost of reloading and conveyance to Waipukurau. The clerk was instructed to convey the explanation to Messrs Dolbel.

PETITION. Cr. Ross presented a petition from some residents in the Makaretu district, asking for certain works to be carried out on the road through A'Deane's bush. On the further motion of Cr. Ross, seconded by Cr. Fountaine, the petition was ordered to be received, but the general feeling of the Council seemed to be averse to any further action, on the ground that the district had received its tair share of expenditure.

KOAD OVERSEER. The Council went into committee of the whole to consider the applications (about thirty) from persons desirous of being apponted to the vacant position of road overseer. TTpon ordinary business being resumed, Cr. Fountaine moved, seconded by Cr. Ross, that Mr A. Mackay be re-appointed overseer. The motion was carried.

overseer's rvpoht. Patangata Riding.—The contracts in hand in this riding are well advanced, that through Mr Collins' property excepted, which is not making the progress desirable. I have written to the contractor calling his attention to the matter. Surface improvements have been effected during the month between Patangata and the flats, which have put the road in good order for summer traffic.

Waipawa Riding.—The contractor for tbe river groin is busy getting his driving plant ready, and will commence work the beginning of the next week. The roads in the tiding are all in good order.

Rutaniwha Riding.—l visited the Makaretu district during the month. All the contracts let lsst July for improvements to roads are now complete with one exception. Less or more improvements have been effeceed during the season on every road in use within the settlement. As instructed, I have prepared a drawing for a bridge to span the Waipawa-mate stream. If approved of by tha Council, tenders for the construction of the bridge can be called for at once. This should not be delayed, as the season for bridge building is advancing, and the delivery of material will take some time.

Waipukurau Riding.—A new bridge has been erected on the main road near Arlington. Metalling repairs on the flats between Brooklyn and Arlington should be proceeded with at once, so as to get the summer traffic on to consolidate it. This is a very troublesome portion of the road to maintain during wet weather.

Eparaima Riding. —The surface men are employed renewing culverts and preparing portions of the road for receiving metal. Tenders for carting the same will be laid before you to-day. When the metal, now ready for carting to the Gorge, is laid on, the road will be in fair order as far as Wanstead. A large expenditure will be required to make a tolerably good road from thence to the southern boundary of the riding. Porangahau Riding.—l visited this dis* trict during the month. Tbe roads are in fair order. The surfaca men are employed in levelling the rough places caused by the heavy winter traffic. Tenders will be laid before you to-day for forming 135 chains on the Porangahau-Blackhead road. This work is much required. I have to report that the large drain cut last autumn on the western side of the road, for a distance of 90 chains, has quite effected what was anticipated in keeping storm water off the road. I would respectfully suggest that about 20 chains oj this road south of Hunter's gate be metalled. It i 3 a bad spot in winter, and there are no means of draining it, owing to the flatness of the country. lam given to understand that metal can be procured in a gully on Mr Hunter's run, not far from the road. Tho cost would, be about £70.

Woodville Riding.—The contracts on Pin-fold-road are satisfactorily completed. I would respectfully urge that the formation ' of this road be continued from the end of 1 tho present formation, opposite section No. 4, for a distance of 100 chains, so as to connect the two formations. The work is light, i and would probably cost £130. Norsewood Riding.—The surface work on ' the road between Norsewood and Ormond- ■ ville lately effected has greatly improved the road. Seventy-mile Bush-road. —It would be advisable to proceed at once with metalling i repairs on the road, more especially at the Makrtoku end. 1 am informed that the ' railway contractors have a very largo quantity of material to cart along the road this summer. If the metal is laid on at once, this extra traffic will tend to consolidate and put a fgood crust on the metal before the autumn. I would likewise suggest that negotiations be opened with the natire owners of the land, with a view to 'felling the bush one chain wide on the western side of the road, from the Piri Piri clearing to the Whakaruatapu stream, a distance of 150 chains. The bush at this place is very dense, in portions of it the tops of the trees nearly connecting over the road, thus preventing the sun and wind from any effect in drying the road, which is always damp, both summer and winter. _ I feel certain that if this work was done it would have a beneficial effect on the road. The cost would be saved in maintenance in one season. There is also a portion of the road across the Oringi clearing which to be formed and metalled. This place is very soft and muddy in the winter season. The report was adopted as read. VOUCHERS. The pay-sheet and vouchers for the month were passed for payment. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. At the request of the Council, Cr. Smith, entered into an explanation of the local—government measures passed by the Government last session, more especially the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The Chairman said the duty of the Council was to come to an early decision on the Act, because if the Act were to be takeu advantage of the sooner it was done the better. But as he would have to leave tbe Council, in consequence of an urgent message, he wotild like the question of the Homewnod arbitration bonds settled. The bonds wore now awaiting his (tbe Chairman's) signature, but he thought tbe expense of arbitration might be saved. Cr. Fountaine moved, seconded by Cr. Ross, that the Chairman be authorised to accept the combined offer of Messrs White, Tod, and Howard, in lieu of proceeding to arbitration. The motion was carried. NEW WORKS. Upon the retirement of the chairman, Cr. Smith was voted to the chair, and the question of what works should be constructed under the Boads and Bridges Construction Ac was then discussed at some length. It was finally decided, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Dillon, that the overseer be instructed to prepare plans and specificatiaus for the following works, to be ready January next, so as to take early advantago of tbe Act : — Kaikora-Tamumu ?oad, WaipukurauWallitig'onl road, and bridges over the Porangabau, Wainui, Waipawa - mate, and Manganuko rivers. Ct. Dillon further moved that the overseer be empowered to employ an assistant, if necessary, so as to ensure the plans asked for being ready by January. Seconded by Cr. Hunter and carried. WAIPAWA-MATE BHIDGE. Cr. Rots moved that tenders for the construction of the Waipawa-mate bridge be called at once. Seconded by Cr. Dillon and carried.

NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr. Bibby gave notice to move, at next meeting of the Council, that the part ot the North road between Hampden and tbe Waipawa river be proclaimed a county road. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted : —■Carting metal, Wallingford, contract No. 1, J. McNutt, 2s 3d per yard ; contract No. 2, E. Hartshorn, 2s per yard. Formation a* Porangabau, contracts Nos. 1 and 2, J. Duncan, £1 2s per chain.

The Council then adjourned