Pohangma County Council

Feilding Star, Volume XX, Issue 145, 19 December 1898, Page 2

Pohangma County Council

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Pohangitaa County Council was held at Pohangina on Saturday last, Present — Crs H. Dick'n (chairman), W. Cornfoot, W. Vicav.y, D. Currie, G. Watt, H. Fraser, R." W. Brown. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows : — From Treasury, voucher for £'675 advance on subsidy due to Council. From Valuation Department, with reference to Council's request for a reduction in the charge made for the recent valuation, and stating the Minister of Lands would shortly consider the whole question of charges to local authorities, but whatever modification which may be made will not effect the first payment. From Land and Survey Department, forwarding schedules cf "thirds" and " fourths " for the half year ending October 31st last, the amounts available beiug : — Awahou riding, £30 3s lOd ; Coal Creek, £129 18s 8d ; Maugapikopiko, £8 2s Id ; Tamaki, A3B 4s 9d ; Umutoi Delaware S,R D., €100 0s 4d ; Makiekie and Makoura S.R.P., £181 Is 9d ; Pohangiua F.H.S., £103 12a; Tuu po road, £40 19s 8d ; Apiti. Norsewood road, 192 7s 4d ; Umutoi road, £68 6s 4d ; Makoura road, £17 2s 8d ; tolal £810 5s sd. From W. Braualey, asking permission to fell bush on road' Hue runniag into To Ohu Block from sectious 3 and 4, Salisbury— Granted on usual terms. From S. McMillan stating that he had sent a tender to last meeting of Council. Cr Vicary had informed him it had not arrived in time for the meeting. He asked that the tender and envelope be preserved as he intended to enquire into the cause of delay in transmission. From D. Macgregor Inspector of Hos pitals, in reply to communication from council, pointing cut that the amount contributed by the Kiwitea County to the Palmerston Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was more than double that contributed by Pohangina County and the population was almost in the same proportion ; therefore, the former County was entitled to two votes at the election of members to the Pohangina County's one under the provisions of the Act. From P. M. Enright, offering 10s for the right to cut grass seed on High Delaware roads.— Not intended to let grass-seed iv this riding. From the following requesting change of names on rate roll : J. Stantou in I place of T. Curran for section 16, block X, Pohaugina ; W Wickeus iv place of A. Hart for section 33, block XIV, Awahou; A. R. Fuunell in place of T. Thompson for section 29, block XV, Apiti ; K. A. Hart in place of C. Searle, section 3, block VII, Umutoi. -Agreed toFrom Under- Secretary Department Lands and Survey, stating that Mr W. S, Short bad heeu appointed a Commisj siouer to inquire into and report upon the matters connected with the proposed addition to the Apiti bridge. From W. S. Short, stating that he had appointed December 19, at 11 a.m., as the time, and Birmingham as the place, for taking evidence in the matter of the proposed additions to the Apiti bridge From J. P. lunes, solicitor, a legal opinion re slaughter licenses and conditions under which settlers may slaughter sheep and cattle. From J.W. Emmett, J. Rea, S. Boyd, S. Davey. J. Ryan, A. Ihlent, settlers on the Tunipo road, agreeing to be included in the proposed Umutoi special rating district for the purpose of raising a sufficient loan to make their road. The Engiueer reported on the condi tion of roads within the County. Man gaone riding- Roads in fair order ; a little metal was required on Main road near Ruamai ; the metalling on Pollock's road was delayed by wet weather. Pohangina riding— All contracts were well advanced and would have been finished by end of the yea* if the weather bad been favorable ; the road from the end of the Awa road to the Coal Creek riding was now finished ; the bush had been felled on the whole length of the Main Ridge through to Coal Creek ; the recently formed roads were causing a lot of expense on account of slips; it would be necessary to alter mode of payment for clearing slips as, otherwise, it would come too heavy on loan ; it would be as well to metal only the parts most needful this season Coal Creek riding— Roads in fair order ; Main Ridge road was being prepared for metalling. Mangapikopiko ' riding — Roads in good order. Umutoi riding — Tracks were rough ; " thirds " might be spent to advantage on Table Flat road if settlers would approve of expenditure. Tamaki riding — Main Valley road required attention ; Makiekie road formation was finished ; the contracts leading to the Delaware were progressing slowly, the formation being about half done; the piece between the streams north of Digger's Creek conld now be for ied for about 40 chains. Awahou ridii'g — Roads in fair order; the repairs to Wilkinson's bridge were being attended to ; contract 197, Malton Block road, had been abandoned by the contractor, B. Poo'e. The Engineer submitted his report on the proposed extension of the Pobaueina Valley road south from formed road at Mr Retemeyer'a to the railway bridge ; distance about 5£ mile?. The top end for half the distance wa? good and a fairly safe r ad could be made, but the lower half from Mr W. Akers' woolshrd downwards was not at all good country for a road, the formation being rough and of a soft sandy papa. The road could be formed and metalled for about £3 2s per chain, but *he repairs would be h^avy, with the liability of a portion being taken by the river at any tim«. The other part of the scheme was tot practicable. To cross the Manawatu river with a suspension bridge, construct a mile of rosd parallel with the railway, the long land approaches, and widening the "railway bridge with nine cjlndera would cost more than a new bridge at the old site. Tie idea should n t be entertained. The Engineer also reported on and submitted estimate of cost of the proposed road through Mr Capper's and Mr Akers' properties to join the Pohangina main road south, and to connect with the Malton block road, without bridges over the small streams. The estimated cost, without purchase of land, was £110 for metalling road from Ashurst road to the river, £5239 for constructing bridge on cylinders and concrete piers, £40 for making road from river to Retemeyer's corner, and £750 for making road from there to the Malton formation, about 200 chains. Cr Dickin presented a petition from W. Henson, A. McDowall and seventeen other settlers in the Awahou riding, asking that a sharp corner on No. 4 line be widened. — Engineer to have corner cut off as desired. Resolved, the tender of John Carmody for contract 205, metalling 90 chains on Apiti Norsewood road, at £ 178 be accepted. Resolved, That tenders be called for the right to cut grass seed on the various roads within the county (excepting the roads within the Mangaone and Umutoi ridings) ; tenderers to state what road and length of road tendered for ; tenders to be sent to the councillor for the riding in which the roads are situated and enclose the full amount of < tender ; tenders to be iv not later than January 3. Resolved (Crs Dickin— Fraser), That ■ the clerk be instructed to write to the ; Minister of Lands, asking for a subsidy j for the construction of a bridge over the , Pohangina nvejr at an estimated cost of ' L 5239; also, that the clerk write to

Messrs Letbbridge and Pirani, asking them to do all in their power to secure a subsidy for the above purpose. In discussing this motion Cr Carrie thought tbe Umutoi riding should not be expected to contribute to this bridge as it would not benefit his riding and they wanted a bridge thotnsslves, across the Coal Creek, which was estimated to cost about £5000. Crs Brown and Cornfoot also said that their ridings would not benefit and they thought they should not have to con tribute, The Chairman said that so far as he, personally, was concerned he did not think the settlers on the western side of the river should have to contribute, and he was willing to leave the boundaries of special rating districts within the county to be decided by a commission. He expected a commission would have to apportion the cost of this bridge between this county and local bodies which were interested — namely, the Woodvilleand Palmerston boroughs and Manchester road districts. Rcsolvpd, that the clerk be instructed to add 10 per cent to all outstanding rates as from January 10th next. Resolved, that B. Poole be given till Jauuary 14th next to complete his contract on Gorge road, Awahou riding, and in the event of bis neglecting to do so, the council will complete same at his expense. Resolved, that the county office be closed from 22nd iust to Jauuary 4, 1899. Resolved, that the balance of 4-100 standing to credit of Gorge loan account be placed on fixed deposit for one year. Resolved, that tenders be called for metalling about 160 chains Awa road ; tenders to be in by next meeting. Resolved, That tenders be called for metalling 125 chains Main Ridge Road ; tenders to be in by next meeting. Resolved, That W. S. Barber be appointed to collect the dog tax on the same terms as last year. Resolved, That the proposal for a loan of 1.3665 for roading the Salisbury Special Rating District be approved, and that tho said proposals be advertised at once. Accounts amounting to L 465 were passed for payment qnd fche meeting adjourned to January fifth.