Pohangina County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XXII, Issue 164, 14 January 1901, Page 2

Pohangina County Council.

1 The monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held at the County Office, Pohangina, on Saturday last. Present — H. Dickin ! (chairman), W. Vickary,W. Cornfoot, J. Smyth, E, W. Brown, F. G. H. Phillpotts. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows : — From Commissioner of Crown Lands, re Beehive Creek road, and stating that if the Council will pass and forward to him a resolution stating that further expenditure on the before mentioned road would be waste of money, he would inspect the roads generally in the Association Block, and that road in particular, and report to the Surveyor-General, who would then, doubtless, issue a certificate. From Secretary to Treasury, stating £600 loan (Denton's road) was now available. From M. F. Denfeon, complaining that the contractor for road formation in Coal Creek had not made a start with the work. From Messrs Rimmer and Craven asking permission to lay tram across road adjoining Mrs Cockburn's property, Pohangina.— Granted, subject to Engineer's approval. From 11. J. Wylde, surveyor, stating he was prepared to commence the survey of the Makiekie road and asking if the lines were clear. From F. Klink, complaining that his tender had not been accepted for contract on Denton's road.— Mr Klink waited on the Council in support of the letter. — It was pointed out that the. Council is not obliged to accept the lowest tender. There was only £2 between the two tenders. The Engineer reported that most of the county roads were in fair order ; in many places repairing metal was required but the scarcity of horse teams and labour had made it difficult to get any done — men would not work for the Council's rate of wages. If casual labour was to be employed the council would have to pay higher wages. The pi-ogress of the various contracts during the past month (owing to the holidays) had not been great. A little metalling and fencing had been done .> on Patterson's spur road.— Tenders had been called for several metalling contracts - one or two rather large ones — but they had failed to bring any contractors from a distance.- The Council would have to be guided by the first estimates of cost for the metalling in the various rating districts before accepting the tenders which will be high on account of the work being so plentiful and the labour so scarce. He had interviewed Port Bros, re road through then- place at Han Smith's Creek but so far it is not satisfactory. The Council would have to buy the land at £11 or £12 an acre. To form a road and erect fence would cost about £50. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Council further expenditure in metalling the Beehive Creek road would be a waste of money owing to the steep and rough nature 0f the country through which the road has to pass. Also, that the clerk obtain the consent of the settlers interested . to the non-completion of the road, , Resolved that notice be given to A. Brooking that unless his contract, No 42, Denton's road, is commenced in ten days from date the work will be re-let. Resolved, That the engineer be instructed to. interview Mr Wilkinson with a view to improving the river end of the road through his property sufficiently to enable traps to cross. the river at this point. Resolved, That W. S. Barber, be appointed dog tax collector for the ensuing year at the same renwmera* tion as last -year, namely,. Is Gd per dog, and that the tax be 2s, 6d each for bpna fide sheep and cattle dogs, and 10s each for all other dogs. An amendment by Cr Cornfoot that tenders be invited for collecting the dog tax was lost. Resolved, That the clerk be instructed to write to the Survey Department urging them to proceed with the construction of the deviation of the Totara Reserve road with the least possible delay, as the settlors have to travel about two miles of river bed, which is very dangerous in winter when the river is .frequently in flood. . Resolved, That the clerk write to tbo Survey Department reepectfully request* ing that the Minister's report re Pohan* gina Bridge site be furnished befors February 9. Resolved, That tenders be invited fog the expenditure of the balance of grant No 2652 (L 499 18s 9d) on the Maugoira Coal Creek main road nortb f in the Kiwitea County ; tenders to be in by the next meeting of the Council. Mr McLachlan having waited on the Council to ask that gate be re-mstated^on temporary diversion, the engineer we a instructed to get the gate constituted) also to fill in ruts. The following tenders were accepted | -No. 43, metalling Table Flat acd Clark's road, A. J. Pettigrew, £34$ Bs'} contract No. 45, metalling Urnutoi rotd soutb, Geo. Port, at JE2.ll' 18a ; '-: contract No. 48, Horopito stream bridge, Birch and O'Connell, at £185. / ; V "' ; Resolved, That fresh tenders 'bj called, to be in by the 26th inst, fog contracts NO3. 44, 46 and 47 ; Crs JSmytfl and Puiilpotits to open tenders. 7 '