HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3821, 15 October 1883, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

This Day.

The Council met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Crs. F. Sutton, M.H.R. (chairman), P. Dolbcl, AY. A. Couper, J. A. Cunningham, and G. Rymev. CORRESPONDENCE. The folloAving inward correspondence was road:— From the secretary Napier Hospital, applying for a moiety of the sum voted by the Council for maintenance of the institution.—Agreed to. . From Mr A. M'Cartncy, resigning his position of poundkeeper at Taradale—Accepted, and Mr Rose appointed in his stead. From the Road Overseer, in reference to the quarry about which complaint Avas made by Messrs Gtebbie and * McDowall, stating that the dangerous state of the cliff Avas caused by Mr Gcbbie and Mr McDowall quarrying underneath it and leaving the top untouched. From settlers in Pohui district (petition) asking that, before proceeding further Avith the lino of road lately surveyed by Mr Kennedy, tho lino surveyed by Mr Hallett be fully reported upon, tbe petitioners considering tho latter road the most suitable in overy respect.—Consideration postponed. From the Inspector of Slaughter Houses, reporting that, owing to tho unfavorable Aveather, Messrs Thompson and Higgins have not yet proceeded Avith the removal of their slaughter house.—Agreed that Messrs Thompson aud Higgins bo informed they must put their yards in order, also that no application far leave to remove their slaughter house had been rcceiA-ed. ROADS AND I3RIDOEH GRANT. A letter Avas received from the Public Works Dojiartment pointing out that under the provision of clause G of tho Roads aud Bridges Construction Act Amendment Act all counties whoso applications for grants exceed £5000 haA-o to bo reduced to that amount, and asking that a fresh application giving detailed particulars of tho manner in Avhich it is proposed to expend the money bo sent in.

In connection Avith this matter the following suggestions as to the disposal of the grant avoto received from the County Engineer: —

Napier - Taupo Road, section Oiriahu-Mangaw-hare— £ s. d. Metalling five miles .. 500 0 0 Continuing formation .. 1000 0 0 Bridge, 1 80ft. span, 240 ft. 1200 0 0 Section Kuripapanga-Rangi-tikci—• AVidcning portions constructed 500 0 0 Formation Taruarau-Ran-gitikei .. .. .. 800 0 0 Napior-Taupo Road, scctiou Petane-Pohui— Foi-mation of bridlo road,. 1000 0 0 £5000 0 0 C. D. Kennedy. ROAP OVERSEER'S REF-ORT. Tho following report Avas received from tho road overseer, and the several recommendations contained therein were approved, tho expenditure on the Ngarnroro embankment protection grounds to be carried out under the supervision of the county engineer: — Ngarnroro River Encroachment.—l have examined tho encroachment of the Ngarnroro river at its mouth on to the county road and Government railway near the Waitangi boiling-down. I beg to recommend tho advisihility of erecting three groins, using four forty-feet piles in each groin, Avell secured when driven on both sides witli fascined Avire and stapled. lam confident, as the bottom is stiff' clay, that thoso groins will prevent in time of floods tho top shingle from being Avashcd away botween the county road and river. Cost £150.

Napier-Te Aute Road.—The metal repairs to this road has been carried on Avhcro authorised during tho month, and it is in very good order for traffic. Havelock-Omahu Road.—l havo lately examined this road, aud find that Mr Lynn has not completed his re-forming road concon tract between Omahu and Hastings. Tho other portions of this road arc in good ordor for traffic.

Hastings-Hampden Road. —I have employed a surfaceman as authorised on a portion of this road botiveon Maraekakaho and Hampden to attend to surface repairs. Tareha's Bridge-HakaAvai Road. —The feuco to protect tho avUloav planting near HakaAvai is completed. This road is in very good order for traffic. HakaAvai-Mangawhare Road. —Tenders having boon called for metal repairs to this road, and as soon as aocopted metalling bad portions and erection of culverts Avill be commenced as authorised.

MongiiAvhare-Taraurau Road—As soon as tho weather settles the contractors for motalling twclvo miles of this road between Barricade Creek and Kuripapanga Avill communco Avork. O'Brien has mado bad progress during the month in getting and quarrying* motal. As instructed I have employed the necessary labour to cut off sharp curves between Kuripapanga and Taraurau Bush, and I beg to say that this road Avill bo in good order for tho wool season's traffic.

Aploy Sheep Yards-Patoko Road—Tenders having been called for repairs to this road, and as soon as accepted metal repairs Avill be commenced Avhoro required as authorised.

Noav Taradale-Omahu Road.—The contract for widening road near railway crossing at Napier is completed. Metal repairs havo been attended to Avhoro required during tho month, and it is in good order for traffic. AVestcru Spit-Kahvaka Road.—This road I havo lately examined, and I find it in good order to its junction Avith river road near Marshall's farm. Tho state of the road from thero to Kaiwaka depends on the state of tho river.

Potano-AVairoa Road.—The authorised metalling' repairs to a portion of this road betAveen Mr Villcr's blacksmith's shop and tho Kiamato store have made good progress during tho month. The road formation contract running through the native pa and fencing same on both sides is completed. McCormack has mado bad progress Avith his drain contract to relieve the county road from surface Avater ; in fact he has employed no labour, and altogether he has dono about ono week's Avork himself.—l havo, &c, John Tkacy, Road Overseer. FINANCE. Tho Chairman said there Avas a balance of £1,058 due of the grant under tho Roads nnd Bridges Construction Act, Avhich would bo required very soon. Ho Avould ask the Council to authorise him to requisition for same. —Agreed to.

Tho half-yearly statement of accounts was read, for tho period from March 31st to Soptombor 30th, showing a credit balance nt the Colonial Bank ou tho latter date of £2472 2s 9d. The chief items of expenditure Avero :—Roads and Avages, £1931 2sid; bridges, £209 lis 8d; formation of roads, £289 16s Gd; road construction, £2090 19s dd ; Patea road works, £942 8s 7d. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr .Cunningham said he had received a letter from Messrs McDonald and Munro which he Avished to ansAver, and would be glad if the Council would give the information he required to enable him to do so. Some time since Messrs McDonald and Munro applied for a grant-in-aid for some necessary repairs to tho road leading to their station, and it Avas then agreed by tho Council that tho application should come from tho Road Board. Tho Road Board, however, on being applied to, stated that tho road Avas not included iv the Petane Road Board district. Messrs McDonald and Munro now wished to bo informed what means should be adopted to have tho road placed on the map. They wero at present paying rates and receiving no benefit.—lt -was agreed that Messrs McDonald and Munro's proper course of action is to get the Chief Surveyor to survey tho road, and then mako application to the Road Board to take it over. Or. Dolbel moved, in accordance Avith notice previously given, that the road from Fatoka to the junction of the Taupo road bo taken over by the county.—Seconded by Cr. Cunningham, and carried.—Tho Chairman remarked that if tho Council Avent on in this fashion taking over eight or ten miles of road at every meeting there Avould ■soon be nothing for the Road Boards to do, and he hardly thought the ratepayers desired that. It would also mean an increase in tho general rate, and it could scarcely be expected that people at Hastings, for instance, Avould care to pay rates for roads that were of no uso whatever. He hoped councillors Avould give this their consideraGV. Rymor drew attention to the fact that nothing had yet been done in tho matter of removing the willows from the river bed at Monaco bridge.—The Chairman promised to see that tho matter received early attention.

Cr. Cunningham drcAV attention to the o-uard wire on the Spit bridge being broken, and it Avas agreed to have it attended to at

once. It was decided tc hold the next meeting of Council on tho 28th November, that bcin»- the date on which the annual statutory meeting must take place. The Council then adjourned.