WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3790, 7 September 1883, Page 3

WAIPAWA COUNTY COUNCIL.

TnURSDAY, September G

The Council met at 11 a.m. Present: Crs. Dillon (in the chair), McGreevy, Hunter, Nownjan, Bibby, and Ross. OORHESPONDKNOK. From Mr H. A. Ooniford, solicitor, withdrawing, on behalf of a client, opposition to the proposed action of the North Ruatani■wha Koad Board in closing a certain road. From Mr W. Rathbene, Waipawa, offering to supply the Council with hoart of totara timber at 18s per hundred feet.—ln response to questions put by councillors, the engineer stated he was getting the same timber at 16s Gd per hundred.—The clerk was instructed to reply that the Council needed no timber at present. From Mr H. A. Comford, Napier, stating, in reply to a query by the Council, that the latter had power under the Public "Works Act to widen, deepen, or straighten a river, but that he was opinion that the suggested alteration of tho course of the Waipawa was properly within tho province of a River Board.—The Chairman said ho thought there was little use in discussing the letter with some of the members absent, especially as he was certain the matter would bo fully debated at a future

meeting. , . i From a number of residents in the Wainui district, complaining that the engineer had not visited the district for eighteen months, and that roads that were impassable were described as '•' in their usual winter state." Also complaining that a sum voted for works in the district some time since had not been k expended.—The engineer explained that he -would be visiting Wainui shortly to lay off the new bridge there, and then he would report on the whole district.—lt was moved by Cr. Hunter, seconded by Cr. Boss, and carried, that tho visit of the engineer to Wainui should bo made as soon as possible. From Mr V. Harrison, Woodvillc, stating that a newspaper called the Examiner ■would be started shortly at Woodville, and asking tho Council to give a sharo of its advertising. Also promising to take notice of the proceedings of the Council, and to "conserve its interests " as far as possible. —Ordered to be acknowledged. The following letter from Mr J. T. Garr, resident engineer, on tho subject of the Wallintrford road certificate dispute was road •—" Public Works Office, Napier, August 23, 1883. The Chairman Waipawa County Council,—Sir,— Referring to my letter of 29th June explaining reason tor the cancelling of certificate) issued for the Wnipukurau-WaUingford road, I now beg to Btato that whon I wrote that letter I ■wrote it in all good faith in explanation to yourself and tho Council of my reason for having Cciueelled tho certificate. I did not intend to imply that Mr Smith had knowingly made a false statement, or that ho •would have wilfully misled me, and I do not think that my letter convcys_ any such insinuation. I write this by special request L of Mr Smith, communicated to me through Mr "Walter Newman, because in certain quarters a wrong construction has been put pn portionaoi my letter, thereby implying

that Mr Smith had been guilty of dishonest practices in endeavoring to obtain v certificate from me which lie was not entitled to. I regret very much that such a construction should have been put upon my letter. I make this statement the more readily since Mr Newman, acting on behalf of Mr Smith, lias admitted that ii mistake was made in applying for the certificate, and that I was quite justified in cancelling it.—l have the honor' to be, Sir, your obedient servant, J. T. Cum, Resident Engineer." — Cr. Newman said he wished to make a few comments on the letter just read, as he desired that no misunderstanding might exist in reference to two statements made in it. The part he wished more particularly to refer to was that in winch the statement was made that the letter was written "at the special request or Mr Smith, communicated to me through Mr Newman." That was not correct, idr Smith had sent no request for the letter through him (Cr. Newman). Ho had not boon acting by special request ot Mr bmitn at all. He had written to Mr Smith on tho matter, and had been informed by him that he was willing to accept from Mr Can." a letter to the Council as a means of removing the false impressions that had been caused by Mr Carr's first letter. Ho had then communicated with Mr Carr, because ho knew the latter's first letter had been the cause of Mr Smith being unjustly aspersed, and had told him that Mr Smith was willing to accept a correcting letter as reparation. Mr Carr had Avritten the letter now before tho Council in consequence, and ho (Or. Newman) was glad he hud done so, because false inferences from the first letter had been industriously circulated to the undeserved prejudice of Mr Smith. \\ ith reference to the concluding portion of tho letter, lie thought it would have been better had it not boon penned. It related solely to a personal opinion of his (Cr. Newman's) own. He had made no statement justifying tho cancellation of the certificate on Mr Smith's behalf. The real point was this—Mr Carr's letter, which he now said had been misunderstood, had been the cause of persons unjustly aspersing Mr Smith, and the present letter corrected the error inferred from tho first. Ho moved that receipt of the letter be acknowledged. Seconded by Cr. Itoss, and carried. ENGINEER'S KErOTIT. The following report from the County engineer was read : — Tamumu Riding.—The contractor for the Mangamahiki bridge is getting his material on the site, and will make a start in a day or two. Patangata Riding.—Tenders will be laid before you to-day for the formation and metalling of the new road through Messrs Tod and Howard's property, and I will prepare contract for metalling road near Collin's at once. Tho timber is not yet delivered for tho repairs to the Homowood bridge, owing to the natives stopping work, but I have made arrangements elsewhere, and the timber will bo delivered before tho end of this month. Two new pipe drains have been laid across the main road to To Auto. General surface work has been done during the month. Waipawa Riding , .—l have to report that when setting out site of bridge near tho Manganoakc river, I found that tho bridge as contracted for is too short by 12oft. to cross tho stream at its narrowest place. _ I would recommend that tho contractor bo instructed to add five 25ft. spans to the bridge as an extra to his contract, at schedule rates. I would also recommend that I be authorised to make arrangements for the protection of the approaches to the bridge by the planting of willow slips. This ought to be done at once, to take advantage of the present season. I have had fascines laid down to prevent scour under tho sheet-piling of groin, and will proceed with tho improvement to road approach immediately. The main roads in the riding arc in fair order. Waipukurau Riding.—l have let by private tender a small contract for putting road at Maori pa in order, and tho work is now being gone on with. The main roads arc in fair order.

Eparaima Eiding—Tenders will be laid before you to-day for forming Si chains of the Wanstoad-Wallingford-road. I would recommend that I bo authorised to order drain pipes to replace old wooden culverts between Wanstead and Wallingford. They mostly require renewing, and it would be cheaper in the long run to put in pipes than to be continually patching the present culverts. Porangahau Riding—The WallingfordPorangahau road is drying up rapidly, and the coach is expected to run through in a few days. I have sent through a load of planking to repair bridges and culverts in the Porangahau and Wainui roads. lam waiting to hear that the contractor for the Wainui bridge is ready to make a start, to pay a visit to Wainui, as I hear the roads there require attention. Woodvillo Riding—The main roads continue to be cut up by traffic in connection with Government contracts, and I would recommend that I bo authorised to let. metalling contracts for the worst places as soon as the weather becomes settled.

Seventy-mile Bush Road — Tho road through Danevirko is, for the same reason-, becoming very bad, and it will be necessary to metal it immediately to keep it passable. Norsewood Riding—The Makotoku road will also require metalling in places as soon as the weather settles.

Ruataniwha Riding—A contract for the formation of a portion of the Takapau-Ashley-Clinton road has again been advertised, but no tenders have been received. R. A. Brown, County Engineer. MAXOANOAKE BRIDGE.

GY. Bibby moved that the engineer be authorised to proceed with the extra work in connection witli tho Manganoakc bridge, and also to take steps to gnard against scour by planting willows. Seconded by Cr. McGreevy, and carried. PIPE CULVERTS. Cr. Newman moved, seconded by Cr. Hunter, that the recommendation of the engineer in reference to pipe culverts be adopted. Carried. SUBSIDIES. Cr. Ross moved that a sum of _ £20 be voted towards works on the road into the newly surveyed block at Makaretu, at the back of Herrick's. Carried. Cr. Hunter moved, seconded by Cr. McGreevy, that the sum of £100 to bo paid over when the Porangahau riding was in funds, be voted to the Porangahau Road Board.—Carried. ASHLEY-CLINTON HO AD. Cr. Ross said tho reason tenders had not been sent in for works on tho Aehlcy-Clm-ton road was because the specifications laid at tho Council Chamber in Waipawa. Several persons who had read the advertisement calling for tenders, and who wanted the work, had come to the house at Makaretu, seeking information. These people would not go to the expense of a jonrncy to Waipawa on tho off chance of securing a small contract, and he moved that fresh tenders ho called, and that a copy of tho specifications he sent to Mr Loyc's place. _ Cr. Bibby, in seconding the motion, said people in tho outlying districts had sent similar complaints about the specifications to him. The motion was carried. DANEVIRKK HO AD. Cr Newman .said nearly all the traffic on the road referred to by the engineer as being so bad was Government traffic, either in tho shape of mail service or carting materials for railway construction. The local body had no funds, and he thereforo moved that a representation be made to the Government stating the circumstances, and asking for a grant in aid. Seconded by Cr McGreevy, and carried. CATTLE TRESPASS. Cr Newman drew attention to the damage and nuisance caused in all parts of tho county by straying cattle, and suggested some definite action. A long discussion ensued, but tho debate ended without a motion, on the understanding that action should bo taken in the matter at a future meeting. HO AD BOABDS DISSOLVED. Cr. McGreevy moved, in pursuance tvith previous notice—" That in consequence of alterations in the.boundaries of the Tamumu, Oero, Patangata, and Waipawa Road Boards, the said Boards bo dissolved by the Council, as provided by clause 13 of tho Road Boards Act, 1882, and that the Council take tho necessary steps for now elections in respect to each of the abovementioned Boards." EUATANIWHA KOAD BOARD. Cr. Ross stated that, owing to an informality, the present Ruataniwha Road was illegally constituted. After considerable discussion, it was resolved to apply to tho Board for fuller information. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened :— Kaikora-Tamumu Eoad—Formation and metalling contract 11. Hickey, £626;

Duncan and Peebles, £137 ; Kennedy and Berry, £397 Us. In this latter tender the contractors stated they would expect the Council to provide drain pipes, and a calculation of the cost of these, made by the engineer, brought the amount of tho tender to considerably over the next lowest, which was for all material and labor, as specified. Duncan and Peebles' tender was therefore accepted. . Wallingford Road Contract—Nielsen and Russell, £079 17s 6d; A. Cammock (accepted), £421 19s Gd. The Council then adjourned.