HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7823, 16 August 1887, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 15. Present— Mr J. Bennett (chairman), Captain Russell, Captain Birch, and Messrs. J. N. Williams, F. SiHroii, U. Bymer, T. Tanner, ami 11. D. D. M'Lean. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read : — From Mr Fulton, complaining that the rate collector had refused to receive a sum tendered for rates on behalf of Mr Mautell. — The Chairman saidthe property had been subdivided after the rate was struck, but of course the Council could not recognise that until the next rating roll was made up. — Mr Fulton to be informed that he must pay rates on the whole block.

From Mr W. H. Smith, complaining in strong terms of the state of the road in Fetane valley, from MrTuxford's totheold Seafield-road. — The Chairman admitted that the road was in bad condition, but said that more harm than good would he done by draying metal on the road now. The overseer had intended to get the road put in order some time ago, but the wet weather came before anything conld he done. He (the Chairman) wonld instruct the overseer to attend to the matter as soon as possible. From the Meanee Road Board, alleging that- a portion of the Taradale-road acted as a dam to flood and surfacewater, and asking the Council to put several culverts under the road. — Air Kymer presented a petition signed by fourteen settlers, making a similar request. — The overseer presented a report on the subject. He ascribed the flooding to the blocking-np of the mouths of the Tannery and I'urimu creeks. — Mr Kymer said tl{e Road Board had opened the mouth of the Puriimi creek, and that had done some good, hut it was not sufficient. For a distance of two miles the water on tile left-hand side of the road going to Taradale was two feet higher than on the other side— in fact, there was a regular lagoon there. He had studied the matter, and believed that two fitteen-iuch pipes under the road In the right places would allow the water to escape. He moved that two culverts be put in a little above the second bend from the Taradalfi river bridge, the overseer to select the exact place*.— The .Chairman admitted that there was more water on the land than he had ever seen before, but he was inclined to agree -with the overseer. The Road Board had removed silt from the mouth of Purinm creek, it was true, but it had been filled in again with shingle to utake a ford across. The botlsm of the month of the wink was t\yo feet iiigber than it, used to be, and if it were towered two feet the water on the land would get away. He did not think that snui.ll culverts nnder the road would carry the water away, as the whole flat had to he drained.— Mr Kymer urged that it was almost useless to deepen the month of the «reelc, as it would silt up again almost immediately. The shingle referred to by ihe clerk was only two loads, put down to -show the crossing. —The Chairman suggested that the overseer's recommendation should be adopted, and if the water did not then get away culverts could he put tinder the road.— After some further diseus4ion Air Kymer moved that the overseer's report he adopted.— Mr Tanner thought that Mr Kymer and other practical settlers living there ought to know -what was best to be done. — The Chairman said the overseer was supposed to know more of such matters than ordinary people. —Mr Williams said Air liymer •did not dispute the conclusions of the overseer, but said that it would lie exjiensive to keep the mouth of the creek open, and he (Air Kymer) suggested that a. cheaper and simpler plan should be tried. He (Mr Williams) thought the Council should try the cheaper plan. — Mr Sntton saul that two fifteen-inch culverts would cost ftbout £35, and the overseer estisnated that to open the mouth of the creek would cost £20.— Air Williams seconded Mr Sntton's motion. — Captain Russeil moved that instead of two oipe culverts a four-feet stone culvert he put under the road. That would make a tiermanent job of it. — Mr Tanner asked what sf.oue would cost ? — Mr Bynier said it would he very expensive — wood wnul .1 lie much cheaper. — Captain Russell altered his motion, striking out "stone" and inserting " wood," and Air Tanner then seconded it.— The amendment was carried. .From the Treasury, notifying the paymeat of £628 ISs Gil, due an rates on native 1 lands. From the Property Tax Commissioner, covering & voucher for £052 Hs Id, due as subsidy. oversebb's report. The road overseer reported as follows: — Tarchaßridgc-Meance-Pnkttapu-Hakawai. road.— On examining the old wooden culvert oh thiß road opposite the public drain running through the Grassmcru estate, I ilnil it unsafe for public traffic. I beg to recommend an 18-inch tile culvert be put in instead ; cost £9. I beg also to recommend n 15-inch tile culvert be put in across this road opposite the public .dnjn-running through Mr Ryincr's property neavTarndalc. The worst part of this road between Puketami saddle and Hakaww (s undergoing metal repairs. Woodthorpe-Mangawhare-road.— alctailing 30 chains of t liis road near the Peach Grove to j avoid two crossings of the river is completed as authorised. Ow/ng to the steop grades on a portion of this ronil known as the Konini cutting, I found it necessary to have it rejui'red with metal so as to have it in good .Older for the wool Benson traffic. Municipality of Nnpier-CliveHftveloek-Te Aute-rond,— As the newly formed ponton of ohis road between Awatoto mid Waitnngf is now in good order for traffic I beg to recommend thata. gap of 30 chains from end of now .formation to soap works be formed und metalled on the surveyed lino of rond ; cost £100. As inetrneted, I have removed an old 1 •wooden culvert on this roart opposite to Long3atu3s estate, Paki Paki, and put instead an 18-lneh tile culvert. In eonncntjnn with ihis work I found it necessary to faoine n chains of road*U'flin leading thereto. Havelock-Patangnta-rond.— There were two metal enrts employed during the month metalling the worst parts of this road. Rcdcliff-Omahu-OKiiwa-rond. — Mctnl repairs to the worst portions of this road near the Omnhii mill have been attended to, and

also the water-table denned out, and nil slips removed from Redcliff to end of swamp jut Omahu. Willow planting to protect the apw'oach to the nortli end of the OmnhuJVgiulKforo bridge is compj«ted. M|oSßi'S Itorphy and Pilfora having to kno(i:k .oft' retailing owing to the heavy rains of Jlny ' and June logi, have ngum commenced metalline on their.con/.rnct from end of swamp, al CH/mliu. to creek it»fVsk of Okawa station, and are inakiner good progi&ss. Okavtii-Mangawliarc-rqa^. — Tlio surface ■contractor on this line of «pd has nearly completed iljling up ruts, and rou W yinc slips earned by the Jieavy rain of May and July ; lasl, and also his own neplcct in not employI inK surface men du^Jng the nboyo month» in ' keeping the cnlver,ts oppn and cut off nil * UI New V Tnradale-Rißsington.-&}aAi. -- Smnll bridge culverts on No. 1 scclion (rf.,;ja road from Taradale to Churcli-rond, nve ah but completed, and the formation steadily proKreasinK. No. 2 section of this road between Whu-rerangi and Black Gate nftflr Rissmgton will be completed one month from above date. The various «!auses were adopted. THE NUISASCB AT .PUKETAIT.

Thesr« was considerable discussion on a letter from Mr \V. Eiuourne, of I'uketapu, •written ill reply to the demand .of the Council for the abatement of a miinMjca ■causod by drainage from tlie I'nketapu Hotel. Mr Klbourne urged that the natural drainage was tlirou&U a covered drain emptying on a natural water-ppurse, on land owned by MrUeslop but occupied luyMr Rymer across the roa/1, thence into ii large drain, which fell into (he river. .Mr Elbourne stated that lie had borne part <rt (the cost of making these drains, iind Uiatlfr Heslop did not object to him aitihsing bliejcu, but Mr Ryiner did. Mr Sutton .tjhowght that if the covered 'drain were ejtte,n4e.<J no nuisance would arise.

The Chairman agreed, billed that Mr Ryuier thought differently. To jput tlie niattar in order he would move that tije Council authorise a covered drain one .chain long, and that the creek be cleaned .out.

Mr jEyiner said he was an interested -party, £Wid lie left it to the chairman to say whether he .should speak or vote. It •was quite .true thjit the laud was owned .i>y Mr Heslop, but lie (Mr Kymer) could .purchase it -.at any ,time i*y giving one month's notice, and he would exercise

that right at once if necessary. He was going to put a stable on the land, and he objected to the drainage from the hotel going there. The drain was intended to carry off surface water, not kitchen refuse. If the Council gave permission to Mr Klbourne to use the dram, he (Mr Rymer) would make it pay for it. Mr Williams said Mr Elhouriie should do as others did, and dispose of his kitchen refuse in the gardens and paddocks, where it would be rendered perfectly innocuous The Council had no right to authorise him to drain on to (mother man's bind if that man objected. / Mr Tanner agreed, and moved that the Council adhere to its former decision, requiring M r Elbourne to abatethe miUance. Mr Williams seconded. The Chairman moved as an amendment that the overseer's previous recommendation be carried out. If a tiled culvert were laid there would he no nuisance. The amendment was not seconded, and (he original motion was carried. XKW KOAD TO TAUI'O. Mr Bennett hronght forward the motion of which lie had given notice, setting forth the disadvantage of tin* piesent road to Tanpo via the Petane river, ' recounting recent accidents there, and requesting the Government to make a new road via. Glengarrie and Patoka to Te Haroto, the Council to keep the road in order when made. The Chairman referred to the recent serious accident, when a coach and four horses were lost, and a passenger would have been drowned bad it not been for the coachman, who, in saving him, had to abandon his horses. He (Mr Bennett) thought the coach proprietor had a good claim on the colony, in equity, for the loss he had sustained. On another

occasion the coach had to stop all night between two crossings of the river. It was well known that many of those journeying to Tanpo and Kotorua were disabled by rheumatism, and it was dread-

fill to think of what might have happened if the coach which was wrecked in the river had been full of such men, unable to help themselves. He had adopted the Glengarrie route in his motion because, though not the one he was formerly in favor of, it van (he one selected by Mr Carr, as an independent engineer, after he had examined the three alternative

routes. It avoided 50 river crossings, the Titiokmn cutting, and the steep descent

to the Mohaka river ; it opened np more land for settlement, passed through more country already settled, would give easy grades throughout though a little longer in distance, and would be the best route for travelling stock. It should have been made long ago, and be could not help thinking that if the members for the district had been alive to the interests of Hawke's Bay it would have been made. Mr Sntton said the motion opened up a large political question which was now troubling the constituencies — namely, whether the Government should go on making roads or leave that work entirely

to the local bodies. As to the concluding part of the motion which commended the matter to the care of the members for the district in the House— well, he might be one of these members, and he would desire to be quite unhampered in such a matter, and he wonld not say that he would bring pressure upon the Government to form roads in any county. Mr Tanner did not see why politics should have been dragged into the discussion. It was a local question, and one that required the most serious consideration — so serious that the Conncil should not come to a decision without fuller information before it. There was ii good road now as far as Marshall's crossing, and an extension of a. few miles more along the Mangopikopiko valley, which would be very inexpensive, would enable the crossings: of the river to bo avoided. He presumed thatif the Government made tile road advocated by the chairman the Council would have to maintain the old road, and that would be assuming a serious responsibility. Mr Sntton said he had no doubt that if any accident occurred now the Council

would lie responsible. The Government kept, it in Older, but it was a county road. The Chairman said ie was not a county road— io had never been gazetted as such. Mr Williams haul it was undoubtedly a main road, anil all main roads were county roads. Mr M'Leau said it was evident that the mem hers of the Council, except the chairman, had no personal knowledge of the alternative routes, and he suggested that a committee should be appointed to go into the whole question. The Chairman said that Mr Can's report and plan had been before the Council for months past, and members were to blame if they had not mastered the contents. He maintained that all expenditure on new arterial roads conhl not stop. The country must he opened up judiciously, and opening this road to the north was one way to encourage progress. The Government had built a sanatorium at Rotorua. and had subsidised a line of mail coaches from Napier, and it was the duty of the Government to provide a good road to Botorna. Mr Wjlliams said a railway had been made to Rotorua at great cost, and a friend who haJ just returned told him that only two trains a week passed over the line. A central railway was being built, which wonld give communication with the south, and a road was being made. If rheumatic patients wanted to get to Kotorua they could go on board a comfortable steamer at Napier and from Auckland go on by milway. lie would vote against asking the Government for a single sixpence. The Chairman said he was surprised to see such opposition to a work of undoubted benefit to Hawke's Bay. Mr Button said he did not oppose the work. He would vote for a grant of £1000 from the Council's funds fov it if the chairman would propose it. After some further discussion the motion was negatived. 3H.SCELMXEOUK. Only two tenders were received for repairs to the Patoka-road. The Chairman said both were very much above the engineer's estimate. lie suggested that the work should be divided into small contracts, as no plant was required, and consequently no capital. Men said they could get no work, yet here was an opportunity which had not been taken. — The chairman's suggestion was adopted. The inspector of slaughterhouses reported favorably upon the establishments under his control.

Mr Bennett gave notice that, at the next meeting of the Council he would move that certain county roads in the I'uketapu district be banded back to the Koad Board, in pursuance of the arrangement recently made, by which the Conncil took over the new Wharerangi-road in return. Mr Carr, C.K., reported that the contractor for the Tukl Tuki bridge was getting the material on the ground, and that the protective works on the river bank had been commenced. Mr fcuttoi) asked leave to postpone his motion relative to the payment of rates collected within the town district of Taradale to the Town Board, as he understood no further communication had been received from the ISoard. — Leave granted. Mr Uymer moved that the Meanee Road Hoard district be divided, and that the I'apakura-road he declared a separate district. He urged that a petition in

favor of the sub-division hail bean presented, largely signed by Meanee as wrH as Papakma residents. — The motion was carried.

Accounts to the amount of £4SO were

panned for payment. The Chairman re ported the bank credit to be £910 us Ud. The Council then adjourned.