ITS MONTHLY MEETING.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 527, 21 March 1908, Page 3

ITS MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Kiwitea County Council was held to-day. Present — Crs. Carman (chairman), Hockloy, Mclntyre, Morton, Bruce, Guthrie and McNeil. CORRESPONDEN CE. Letters were read aa follows: — From the Clerk, Rangitikei County Council, stating that the work proposed to be undertaken at the Onepulri bridgo consisted of the improving of the sloping spans on the eastern side of the road to the suspension spans, at a cost of £50. From the River Conservation Committee, stating that they had decided to apply to the Government to set up a Royall Commission to determine the consitution of the River Board to govern the Oroua, JVlanawatu and Pohangina rivers. From Mr A. G. Oarty, County Solicitor, forwarding certificate of title re Coulter's line, and also in reference to the payment of ,Mr Webster's account for survey. From Mrs Sarah Gerke, asking permission to fence the edge of the road next section 60, Kimbolton. From the Audit Inspector, pointing out that as the'Gouncil were only trustees for the Rangiwabia cemetery, the funds should be kept in a separate account. He also asked for information with reference to the commissioner of the Engineer in the expenditure < f Government thirds. From Messrs Brown Bros., rakihikura, asking consent to erect a rabbit fence close to the formation or the Kiwitea-Tapuae road. Their fence had recently been destroyed by tire. From Messrs Gibson and Kilgour, Kiwitea, asking for permission to take away twenty chains of metal rejected by the Engineer from Coulter's lino gravel pit. . . From Messrs McLean Bros., Waituna West, stating that they had de- j cided not to support the subsidy to the Government telephone line between their station and Waituna; but they had decided to erect a private line. They asked the permission of the Council to run the line along the road j from Mr Hare's house to ithe Waituna ! Post Office. From Mr Geo. Jobson, asking permission to put a gate across the road j above Mr Jensen's house. Waituna, and promising to keep the road in i good order. . From Mr Alfred Burming, Kawatau, asking the Council to stop Mr Wright, the contractor, from taking the metal adjoining -his property for the Cliff road contract, as it endangered his front entrance ; and there was plenty of first-class metal along the road elsewhere. From Mr E. Carr, Waituna West, asking permission to take'a few loads of metal from the hill past Mr Benson's house. From the District Road Engineer, stating that the widening of tho Apiti Main South road, Mangoira gorge, had been completed, and somo formation is being done on the slope between Tap road and the gorge. When •that is completed, tho whole of the Main South road will be placed under the charge of the Council. From the Secretary of the Treasury, stating that £500, for metalling roads in Sandon Block, would bo placed to the credit of the Council in a few days. , From Mr J. Haines, Marton, making a complaint in .regard to tho collection of irates. From ratepayers interested an the Peka road loan, asking when the 25 yards of metal cut off the last contract would bo gone on with. _ From Mr W. H. Brewster, enclosing the consent of Messrs Robb and Hammond to his altering the fence on the Peka road. From Messrs Prior and Gillespic, stating that Mr P. Nesdale would take action to stop one of the Council's employees from carting metal from the Education Reserve, section 105, block IX., which had been leased by him. Rabbit Poisoning.— Letters were received from the following in reference to the distribution of poison tor rabbits: Chas. Oleeve, Hinau, no application; Joseph Corpe, Cunnangham's, two applications; S. J. Carman, Waituna West, four applications; F. Kensington, Rewa, eight applications; J. G. Johnstone, Rabbit Inspector, nine applications ; E. bhannon, Waituna West, eleven applications; W. F. Stanley, Peep-o'-Day, four applications ; W. J. Eames, Livingstone, thirteen applications. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr Bourne) reported aa follows: — Contract No. 54, metalling 220 chains Kawatau Valley road. — Will be completed in a few days. Contract No. 55, formation and culverts on Umutoi road.— A few loads are required to be removed from the site of the formation to complete the work. „ . Contract No. 56, metalling on Peka road.— Will shortly be completed. When this was let I had to hold sufficient money for breaking, and when tibia work ia done to the satisfaction of the Government Road Inspector, the balance can be expended on metalling. Contract 57, metalling i l JU cliaans on Coulter's line.— Work completed. Contract No. 60, erection of bridge on Lagoon road.— Work in progress. Contract No. 62, formation and culverting 172 chains of Lagoon xoad.— Fair progress has been made. Contract No. 64, forming and metalling 112 chains on Kawatau road.— Two or three fine days will see this work finished. Contract 65, delivery of maintenance metal on Kimbolton-Cheltenham cross road.— Nothing done. Contract No. 67, delivery of metal of Kimbolton road, Kiwitea riding. ~ Work commenced a few days ago. Contract No. 68, delivery of metal on Sinclair's line and Williamson's road east.— Nothing done. Contract No. 69, delivery of maintenance metal on Wilson's, Benson s, Williamson's, and Cheltenham cross roads. — I am informed work was commenced on Benson's line a few days ago. Contract No. 70, maintenance metal on Northern line and Rangitikei Valley road. — Work in progress. Contract No. 71, delivery of metal on Waituna Valley road.— Nothing done ; contractor working on Benson's line. Contract No. 73, maintenance metal on Kimbolton road.— Two or three days will complete the work. Contract No. 74, maintenance metal Oroua Valley road.— 2so yards delivered. . ' Contract No. 75, maintenance^netal on Forest road and Kimbolton footpaths. — Metal delivered on footpaths. Contract No. 77, maintenance metal on Teparapara — Apiti South road. — Nothing done. Contract No. 80, maintentnce metal on Mangahariki road. — Nothing done. I have written to contractors for contracts Nos. 77, 79, and 80, stating that unless they show some energy in pushing on the work, the penalties will be enforced. Contract No. 82, maintenance metal on Kawatau road. Work in progress. The contracts let with your approval since last meeting are: No. 66, 400 yards metal on Haines's, Per-' ry's, and Mcßeth's roads, W. Sinclair, 3s per yard; part of No. 70, 350 yards metal on Northern line, R. C. Powell, 4s 9d yard ; No, 72, 200 yards metal on Mackay r s, KawatauTapuae road, R. P. Jensen 3s 3d. A tender was accepted at last meeting for delivery of 200 yards on the OHngaitjL-Pemberton road. __ The contractor informs me that he misunderstood where the metal had to be delivered, and he declines to go on with, the work. He had not seen the specifications. I have made alternative estimates for the Rangiwahia pound, and would like the instructions of the Council as to which work should be carried out. During the recent fires many of the bridges had marrow escapes of destrucItion, and it was only through the energy of the settlers and tho roadmen that some of them were saved. The bridge on Pakdhikura road was damaged, but mot seriously. TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer reported that the, following amounts had been received since last meeting:— Rates, etc., £364 16s 9d; hypothecated thirds, £61 14s sd; loans, £500., The general account stands at £1463 19s Id. The following accounts were passed for payment:— General account, £853

8s lid; cemeteries, £15 4s; Law Fund No. 2, £3 Is Id; loans, £835 15: 2d. VOTE OF SYMPATHY. A telegram was received from Cr E. Short, apologising for liis absenci from tho meeting. The Chairman explained the detail! of Cr. Short's illness, and that Mi Short, in a letter to him, had express ed a desire ito resign hia seat on tin Council, as he would not be able t( •attend to the work for some months Tho Chairman further explained thai other Councillors would ca/rry on Cr Short's work, and his riding would 1101 bo neglected. Ho did not .think ii was necessary for Or. Short to resign, and/would not like liim to do so. H.< moved: That this Council sincerely sympathises with Cr. Short in his illness, and trusts that he will speedily recover his accustomed health, and be enabled to resume his duties as Councillor of his riding. Cr. Hockloy seconded the motion, and in common with several other Councillors, expressed his regret at the circumstances that necessitated Cr. Short's absonco. The motion was carried unanimously. RESOLUTIONS. The following motions were carried : — That Mr Harris be informed that the Council is in no way responsible for tho position complained of, and that the Council solicitor was only carrying out the Council's instructions. — Guthrie — Hockley. That a pound be erected at Rangiwahia in accordance with the engineer's plane, namely, fencing the section with ordinary eight-wire fencing, and erecting a shed, when funds are available. — Mclntyre — McNeil. That the chairman's report on the conference of local bodies at Marton in connection with the general labourers' dispute be adopted, and that he be thanked for Ins attendance thereat. — Hockley — Guthrie. That Messrs Brown Bros, be informed that they will be allowed to erect a fence close to the KiwitcaTapuae pit, subject to the engineer's approval. — McNeal — Mclntyre. That the following orders be accepted on the usual terms 1 : — John Woodcock, S. Samuelson, W. H. Thomas, W. Smith, L. E. Jackson. — Hockley — Guthrie. That Mr S. Jobson be granted permission to graze the Tapuae road in terms of his letter of 16th March, work to be done to the satisfaction of the engineer, and the arrangement to continue at the Council's pleasure. — Hockley — Carman. That Messrs Gibson and Kilgour bo ; allowed to tako metal from tho top of Coulter's line, 4d per yard royalty to be paid. — Morton — Bruce. That Mr Burming be informed that the pit on the Potaka road is on a public road, and that tlio Government Engineer has instructed tho contractor to fonco tho road. — Guthrie — Hockley. That Mr Carr's request be granted subject to the usual royalty. — Carman — Hockley. That the Department of Roads bo informed that this Council protests .against the Mangoira gorge road being handed over to the Council 111 its present unfinished state.—Mclnityre — McNeal. That Mrs S. Gerko bo given permission to erect. a fence on tho eclgo of road in front of section 60, Kimbolton, subject to tho approval of the Engineer. — Fowler — Bruce. LONDON'S FORD BRIDGE. The Chairman reported on tho couj dition of the proposed bridgo at London's ford. It appeared that tho Pohangina County Council 'had abandoned the idea at first put forward, and suggested that a conference might bo arranged between members of both Councils with a view to coming to an agreement to erect some sort of a structure that would bo deemed sufficient for the purpose. Cr. Guthrie considered that it would bo only courteous to consent to the request for a conference, but ho did not think any good would como out of it. Cr. Morton thought that tho conference should bo held, and pointed out that the first proposa/1 was to erect a structure costing £1700, which 'had now grown to £3700. Cr. Fowler supported having a conference, to ascertain what proposals were to be brought forward. The general opinion seemed to bo that it would be inadvisable to consent to tho erection of any structure that would not be thoroughly suitable for the requirements of tho district. The following motion was carried: That the Chairman and Crs. Guthrie and Fowler be appointed to meet tho members of tho Pohangina County Council to consider tho question of a bridge over the Oroua river at London's ford. The Council then adjorned for lunch.