HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7067, 20 January 1885, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, January 19. Present— Mr F. Sutton (chairman), Captain Rusaell, M.H.R., Captain Birch, and Meßsra T. Tanner, J. N. Williamß, W. A. Couper, J. Bennett, and G. Rymer. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £333 14s 7d were passed for payment. The Chairman Baid he supposed the members of the Council were aware that since their last meeting the treasurer had taken upon himself to " clear " without saying "good-bye" to anyone. It was, however, almost a certainty that his accounts were perfectly correct. Tho auditor, Mr Macalhter, had nearly finished hia investigation of the bookß, and he stated that there was every reason to believe they would be found correct. The Council'B overdraft stood at £4761 19a lOd, and the accounta just passed for payment would raise the total to over £5595. Mr Bennett asked what amount of rates was outstanding ? The Chairman said there was nearly £900 overdue rates. In addition there were aums which were owing by the Government, and which were expected to be paid very shortly, which would make a total of £3529. Mr Bennett and Mr J. N. Williams suggested that Bteps should be taken to compel immediate payment of overdue rates. The Chairman said he had no doubt all would be paid very shortly; to date £6500 had been collected, and that was very fair. Some of the amounts outstanding were so in consequence of disputes as to who were the responsible parties. For instance, there was a question as to whether the Government or Mr Sheehan had to pay the rates on Pakowhai. The Chairman then moved that Mr Funnin be appointed Treasurer, and receive an addition of £20 to his present salnry of £180 a year ; and that a youth be employed at £50 a year to render clerical assistance, clean out the offices, and so on. Mr Motley received £120 a year as treasurer, so the Council would save by the new appointments. The motion was carried. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read : — Ifrom Mr Cullen, licensing clerk, relative to remuneration for his services. — A sum of £10 waß voted. From Mr Scullion, Papakura, applying for a slaughterhouse license. — Granted. From the Public "Works Department, notifying that £1760 had been allotted to the Council under the Roads and Bridges Act. The sum applied for waß £5000. — The Chairman said £900 was for bridges, and £870 for roads. The £900 was for abridge near Okawa. — Mr Rymer said that If the road bad been laid off in the right place there would have been no necessity for any bridges. — It was decided to construct the bridge. From Major Scully, agreeing to the constables in the different districts being appointed dog-tax collectors. From Mr C. D. Kennedy , stating that by reducing the width of the Mangokopikopiko bridge to 13ffc the coat would be reduced to about £440. — The Chairman said be bad received tenders for the work, the lowest being that of Mr Marshall, £440. He bad also invited alternative tendera for a pile-bridge, which Mr Kennedy estimated to cost £400. The lowest tender was that of Mr Orr, £381. Mr Kennedy did not recommend the pile-bridge, owing to the bottom of the creek being papa rock. — Mr Rymer said he thought the work might stand over until the Council had more funds, as the bridge did not seem to be really required. — Mr Bennett said the difficulties of getting the pileß in was the contractor's affair. He moved that the pile-bridge be authorised. — Mr Tanner moved and Mr Kinross seconded, that the truss-bridge be built.— The motion of Mr Bennett was carried. From Mr Kennedy, relative to a bridge over the Mangaone river, on the road from Hakowhai to Rissington. He said the least expensive site would be eight chains above the present crossing, where he estimated a bridge could be built for £600. Mr Kennedy also reported on the road to the effect that it would not be possible to make the gradients much easier unless a considerable diversion were made, involving two miles of new road and a more expensive bridge. — Mr Bennett warmly advocated the work, and asked leave to move without notice that tenders be invited for the bridge.—Mr Kinross objected to the motion being tabled without notice, as he knew nothing of the requirements of traffic in that district except what had just fallen from Mr Bennett.— The discussion ended by the postponement of the motion. From Mr Kennedy, reporting on the suggested deviation of the Taipo Creek, Taradale, which he estimated to cost £70, exclusive of the cost of any land which might have to be purchased. He said that Mrs Hammond, who owned the chief part of the land through which the deviation would pass, bad offered to give it free if either of two routes she pointed out were selected ; but neither appeared to him the best available course. — The consideration of the question was poßt- 1 poned pending the preparation of plans. From Mr Kennedy, reporting on a road to the Petane cemetery. — The Chairman explained that' at the last meeting the matter was referred to the Petane Road Board, but he subsequently found that the Council was the only body which could take the land, Mb Twigg offer**

to give the road, provided it waß formed and metalled.— Mr J. N. Williama objected to spending any money on the road. If once the Oouucil took it over it would become a county road.— Mr Tanner said the Road Board would take it over and form it. — Mr Bennett expressed doubts as to whether the Petane Road Board would take over anything they could help. — The Chairman concurred with Mr Bennett. — In the end it was decided to take the road on condition that the Road Board agreed to take it over as a Road Board road. From the Treasury, in answer to a letter from the chairman sent in May last, stating that the Attorney-General was of opinion that the decision of the Government with respect to rates on native lands was within the law.— The Chairman said the Council had asked the Government to state a case for the Supreme Court, but he supposed the letter he had -just read meant that the request would not be granted. The Council claimed £1300 for rates on native lands, but only #300 was offered.— Mr Tanner asked whether the Council could not test the question in the Supreme Court ?— The Chairman said it could not be done without the consent of the Government, which, apparently, would not be given. From the inspector of slaughterhouses, reporting favorably on the establishments under his control. From the chairman to the Hospital Committee, asking the Council to nominate two members of the committee. — The Chairman consented to act again, but all the other members of the Council at first deolined, on account of the present anomalous position of tha Hospital Committee. Captain Eussell ultimately consented to act. THE HERETAUNGA DRAIN. In accordance with notice given Mr Tanner moved that the main drain from Heretaunga to Omahu be taken over by the Council. Captain Russell thought the motion was more in the interests of a few private individuals than of the community as a whole. Mr Tanner explained that a stoppage of the drain would seriously damage several public roads. The Council could j hand it over to the Road Board. All that waß required was an occasional cleaning-out, and that would cost very little. The drain was exactly in the Bame position as the numerous drains about Taradale and Meanee which the Council had repeatedly cleared out. Mr J. N. Williams said this waß a public drain to all intents and purposes. It was really a natural watercourse, and the only body which could take it over was the County Council. Mr Tanner's object was merely to get a formal declaration that the drain was a public one, and then it might be handed over to the Road Board, which would keep it in order. Mr Rymer objected to Mr Tanners reference to the Taradale and Meanee drains, and entered into details to show that though there had been a great deal of talk about them very little had been done to them by the Council. The motion wa» then carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Kinross asked leave to postpone his motion that the road by Roy's Hill be taken over by the Council, as he found that a portion of the road had not been surveyed. The Chairman stated that he had invited tenders for the supply of dog-collars from the three saddlers in town, and the tender of Mr Mills, being the lowest, had been accepted. Various notices of motion were given —one by Mr Bennett that the bridge over the creek near Mr Bicknell's property, Puketapu, be authorised ; one by Mr Tanner that a bridge be built over the j old Ngaruroro channel at the Karamu ; and one by Captain Russell that no contracts for metalling be let in future in j lengths over one mile. The Council then adjourned.