HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5458, 12 August 1879, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 11. THE Coxmuil met at 10.30 a.m. • Present — Messrs Tanner, Rymer, Bennett, Torr, andfKinross. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Tanner was voted to the chair. PETANE TO TONGOIO ROAD. " A letter was read from Mr Haultain, complaining of the almost impassable state of the road between the crossing of tho Petane river and the boundary of the Hawke'a Bay and Wairoa Counties.

After some discussion on the matetr, it was decided to consider it in committee. COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE. The report of the overseer of roads was read, in which, in respect to the road from Petane to Tongoio, he recommended the repair of the road complained of by Ml' Haul tain. It was agreed that the overseer's retiomniendation be carried out. The other' clauses in the overseer's report were then considered. The Meanee and Taradale road was reported to be in fair order, except a few chains between Messrs 1 Slftderi^ and Bowman's properties, about which there" v;iß much complaint,as it was always covered wilh water. There was a drain that would relieve the road, but it ran through Mr Sladen's property, and that gentleman had filled n one chain of the drain close to the roul. The cleric was directed to write to Mr Siaden on the subject. The overseer feconimended that a portion of the Napier, Taradale, and R«dcljrffe road be metalled. — Ordered to stand over until next meeting. The committee decided to accept the tenders of Messrs Hamlin alnd diaries Mitchell for the purchase of timber advertised by the Gouncil to be sold, and also the tender of Thomas' M'Cormick, for raising -and forming the roaid between Villers' hotel and Torr's store!, Wairoaroad, at £2 23 6 A per chain. The clerk brought under the notice of the committee a letter from Mr Collinge, the rate c'ollflctctf, enquiring, in the case of persons becoming bankrupt sinoo their names were on the roll, to whom" was application to be made for rates due. Mr Fannin stated that he had referred the matter to the county solicitor, who replied as follows : — " I should recommend that application be made both to bankrupt and his trustee, and that care should be taken not to allow the liability of the owner, pursuant to clause 53 of Bating Act, to fall through." The clerk further stated that he had also asked the county solicitor'^ opinion on the question whether it was necessary for the rate collector to affix a penny stamp to a receipt for rates, and had received a reply that it was necessary in cases where the rates amounted to £2 and upwards. Mr Fannin added that no stamp was needed to receipts for borough rates, an exemption in thatrespecb having been provided for in the Municipal Corporations Act, but he supposed it had been overlooked in framing the Counties A number of account? £a»«ig been passed for payment, the Chairman stated that the overdraft at the bank amounted to £2010, and the amount of accounts passed was £569, so that the total of overdraft would be £2579. After some discussion on the best means of reducing the expenditure it was decided that the overseer of roads bo instructed to reduce the number of men employed on daily wages wherever possible. The committee also decided that the overseer of roads bo directed to remove the timber lying about the Meanee bridge. The Council then resumed. THE TAIPO CREEK. A letter was read from Mr William Harpham, stating that the Taipo Creek was surveyed as the boundary line to the sections in that part of the Taradale district, and consequently the centre of the creek was the line of boundary, but the men employed by the Council in clearing the creek had not worked in the centro, and had therefore destroyed the line of boundary, by which means his property had been reduced in area. He therefore prayed the Council to have the matter set right. Mr Bennett could quite understand that at that "place the loss of urea, oven though of small extent, would be deemed a serious injury by property owners. He thought the petition very reasonable. He would suggest that a reply bo sent to Mr Harpham to the effect that when the creek was being dug out for its permanent formation it would be done so as to retain the centre boundary line, provided the settlors could agree as to the boundary line. Mr ilymer did not think the property owners could agree to a boundary line. Mr Bennett : Then why do they complain ] Mr Rymcr : Complain ! They always complain. Ho believed that a survey would be necessary before the drain could be cut for a permanence. The Chairman considered that the Council should not bind themselves to fixing a boundary line for the owners of property. In the summer time, when the creek was dry, the line could be properly surveyed. He did not think tho Council should do anything in the matter without having plans before them upon which to base their decision as to what should be the proper boundary line. He therefore thought the best course would be for the matter to stand over. Mr Bennett agreed that that would be the best course. KOAD IN" FETANE DISTRICT. A letter was read from Mr Troutbeck, suggesting that before removing his fence for the formation of the road a fresh survey should be made, as he thought it would be found that an angle could be avoided. It was decided that the road in question must be proclaimed before spending money upon it. THE PATEA ROAD. Mr Bennett moved, pursuant to notice : — " That the sum of £300 be granted to the Okawa Hoad Board as a grant-in-aid towards the further improvement of the line of road between Woodthorpo and Patea, so as to make the road available for the large increased traffic in said road." Mr Bennett stated that he had ascertained that the County had received £1033 8s 6d in rates from the district in question, and had expended in it £80 17s 9d. Mr Kinross seconded the motion, remarking that the road was the arterial road to the Patea district and was very much used. Seeing tho large amount of rates derived from it, it would be only an act of justice to make the grant proposed. The motion was carried without dissent. P£TITION. Mr Torr presented a petition signed by 50 ratepayers and settlers in Potane, praying the Council to take over as a county road that portion of the northern trunk line running through the Petane district, being the chief arterial line of road in the North Island. The petition was received, and notice given by Mr Torr that he would move at the next meeting of the Council that the prayer of the petitioners be granted. STRAY CATTLE. Mr Bennett moved, " That the overseer of roads bo instructed to cause all stock straying on any county road to bo impounded, and in case of any public works being damaged by any stock so straying such damage to be charged as special damages at the time of impounding." The motion was seconded by Mr Rymer and carried. THE FARNDON I'AJ.IK. Mr Bennet moved that the opinion of the county solicitor be taken as to in whose hands rested the control over the park. He complained of certain remarks that had been niado in a newspaper about the action of the Council in the matter, and added that the park was very much mismanaged and was quite full of weeds. He denied that the park had over been in the hands of tho Council, and averred that if it had been it would have been turned to profitable account. Mr Fauuin said, in reply to a question, that Mr Ornioud had placed tiio park in the hands of a committee of management. The motion to refer the matter to the county solicitor was agreed to.

NOTICE OV MOTION. Mr Turner to move on uexb sitting day, " That the old provincial drain through Mr Sladen's property,' sections Nos. 2i, 28, and 29 at Meanee be proclaims^ a county drain. The' Gouncil then adjoiirned".