POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 492, 10 February 1908, Page 4

POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL

THE MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held on Saturday. There were present— Messrs R. W. Brown (Chairman), F. L. Jackson, C. H. Handley, H. . W. Oliver, D. Howie, G. F. Smith, and H. Burne. j CORRESPONDENCE. The following is the correspondence: From R. S. Rounthwaite, C.&., sending drawings and specifications ot London's Ford bridge, also drawings for the Pohangina bridge.— Received. From Banks and Co., asking permission to put a tram along the side of Clarke's road.— Agreed to, subject to the Engineer's approval. From H. J. Wylde, surveyor, statinw that he was prepared to do the survey of Finnis' track for £20, and a man to assist in cutting the hue.— Agreed to. ■ From the Treasury Department, stating that a special order for making a special rate for the loan of £600 for constructing traffic bridges over the Oroua river had been gazetted. — Received. From W. Hart, asking to be allowed to erect a portion of a fence along the Piri-Piri road, along section 3, block VII. — Permission granted. From the Department of Lands and Survey, stating that it had been de- | cided to grant the Council a license to occupy the public buildings reserve from year to year", at a rent of £1 per annum, subject to the usual conditions. — Received. From the Cheltenham Co.-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., stating that the road cutting to the Oroua river on the side opposite Bairon's Line was in a very bad state, and asking that it be seen to as soon as possible. — Matter attended to. From the Department of Labour stating that Wednesday was being gazetted as the half holiday for the County, and that the Council's office did not come under the Act. — Received. From F. Haggit, stating that Cameron would not sign the receipt unless the account for extras was included. — Decided that £4 13s 9d be offered in settlement, without prejudice. Fr&m M. Cohen, stating that he had been invited by the representatives of several contributing bodies to allow himself to be nominted as a candidate for the position of member for the Harbour Board, and requesting the support of the Council. — It ] was decided that Cr. Jackson be requested to vote for Mr Cohen. From D. Sinclair, stating that he had completed most of the road devia- J tions and hoped to have the whole completed at an early date. — Received. I ENGINEER'S REPORT. \ Awahou Riding.— The road drains have been cleared out at Awahou South and general maintenance has been carried out satisfactorily during the month. The bridges on the Main road, one near Mr Whitehead's, and one near Mr Palmer's require top planking. Mangaone. — The Council's teams are now at work metalling on Finnis road. The small bridge on the Ferry road requires re-decking at an early date. Mangapikopiko. — Mr R. A. Dicks will complete his contract about the end of next week. Messrs Prince and Warren's tender for metalling Apiti footpaths has been acepted at 3s 3d per cubic yard. Tamaki. — A start will be made early .next week with the metalling of the upper end of the Opawa road. This work is under the supervision of your Council, and Mr F. L. Jackson will pay all expenses in connection with the same. The three bridges on the Main road require top planking, and the work should be taken in hand at once. Umutoj. — Messrs Cheyne and Grammer have made a satisfactory start with their contract. The bridge on the Mount Richard's road is now thoroughly safe for traffic. TREASURER'S REPORT. The treasurer reported as follows: — The balances at the bank were: General Account, dr., £767 15s Id; Loans Account, cr., £785 3s 6d. Ihe balance of tlie Riding Accounts on the Ist inst. were: Awahou, cr., £150 14s 4d; Coal Cfeek, dr., £223 0s 2d; Mangaone, cr., £177 4s 9d; Mangapikopiko, dr., £111 3s 6d; Pohangma, dr., £146 13s 8d; Tamaki, dr., £305 19s 4d; Umutoi, dr., £698 18s lOd. Accounts amounting to £524 12s lOd were submitted for payment. The report was adopted. GENERAL. A special meeting of the Council was held, at which it was decided to strike a special rate of 3-64 d in the £ to pay interest and other charges on a loan of £800 for the reconstruction and re-erection of the Pohangina bridge and the approach thereto. Proposed by Cr. F. L. Jackson, seconded by Cr. Howie, and carried. That the three bridges on the Main Valley road in the Tamaki riding, be re-decked as advised by the Engineer. — Crs. Handley — Oliver. That the Engineer proceed with the necessary decking on the bridges within the riding of Awahou according to his report. — Crs. Jackson — Howie. That the Engineer be instructed to get timber placed on the ground for the erection of a new bridge over the viaduct on the Mount Richard road. — Crs. Howie — Smith. That the roadman's cottage at Umutoi be insured for £40.— Crs. HowieSmith. That the Engineer proceed with the re-decking of the bridge ..on the Ferry road. — Crs. Brown — Jackson. That the clerk apply for an advance of £400 on the Apiti footpaths loan. — 'Crs. Burne — Oliver. That the Council confirms Cr. Burne's and fche Engineer's action in accepting Messrs Warren and Prince's tender of 3s 3d per yard for contract No. 136 and quarrying and delivering 600 yards, more or less, of metal at the Apiti township. — Crs. Brown — Jackson. That the plans submitted for London's Ford bridge are approved by this Councilj and that they be sent to the Kiwitea County Council for their approval, and that the Chairman and the mover attend their next meeting. — Crs. Smith — Burne. That this Council apply to the Minister for Public Works for a pound for two pounds subsidy for the proposed London's Ford bridge, and that the Kiwitea Council be asked to support the application.— Crs. Brown — Smith. That the County office be re-insured for £100, and contents for £50.— Crs. Brdwn — Oliver. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT ON RIVERS. The Chairman reported that he had attended the conference at Palmerston re the formation of a River Board. When he got to the meeting he found that they wished to bring in new arrangements in connection with work to be done to the effect that the cost should be borne by all the ratepayers on the watershed. He understood that there had originally been no suggestion that the people on the hill lands should be asked to contribute towards paying for the damage done by the river near its mouth. This idea was, however, advanced at the meeting and had taken him somewhat by surprise. However, he followed the lead of several other delegates, and took the Btand that it would be unfair to ask them to contribute. They were, however, out-voted on this, and then tried another motion to the effect that if the whole watershed was taken in' they would hare to go through the ■ Mauawatu Gorge. This was also lost. Eventually the meeting ended with the appointment of the Committee of which he was a member. He left shortly after, but did not think much was done except that the various bodies were to be asked to contribute^ £s towards preliminary expenses. The request for this had not yet been formally made to tfie Council. Seeing that the whole, question was one of legislation, he /lid not knojy whether they were going to proceed further with it and wouia like the Council's instructions in the matter. Cr. Jackson said it was practically a new movement that had sprung from the undoubted damage that was being done by the river all along its bank. The principal factor in thia was the destruction of the bush all over the watershed area. The idea had therefore been mooted, that those who ' -had- -helped to .destroy the butih

should contribute towards tho protection of the river banks. The question was whether it was a reasonable line of argument to advance. In his opinion the proposition ought to be considered from a broad standpoint and not merely from a personal one. The river was undoubtedly doiag a great deal of damage, ' and, doubtless, something would have to be done sooner or later to obviate this. Possibly now legislation would bo required in order that the question might be efficiently dealt with. Cr. Howie hoped they would not come up as far as his place, as he did not feel inclined to help them. Tho Chaimran thought that if those who had fallen the bush had left a belt along the banks the present position would not have arisen. There would be trouble until the river adjusted itself to its new condition. If the matter was put to the voto of the ratepayers they would vole against it. Granted there was something in it; ho thought an attempt had been made to get the local bodies up the river to push the matter on. If something could be done to keep the cattle off the river bed in the Pohangina Valley, it would be a big thing for the present Council, as they (tho cattle) were responsible for a great deal of the damage done to the willows that had been planted for protective purposes.