HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7852, 20 September 1887, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

f Monday, September 19. ■j Present — Mr J. Bennett (chairman), 1 Captain ltussell, Captain Birch, and ■ Messrs T. Tanner, 15. D. 1). M'Lean, ' W. A. Conper, F. Sutton, and G. Rymer. t CORRKSI'ONDENCE. The following correspondence was s read :— Kroni the Treasury, forwarding £2000 On ". account of the Tuki Tuki loan. ' From the Colonial Secretary, nsking .j whether the Council desired to alter the ' date of the county elections, which under ' tho Act would fall on the Prince of Wales' ' Birthday this year.— lt was agreed to recommend that November 10th be lixed. , From the Public Works Department, ? asking for particulars of roads consnieted , out of the grants to the Council.— The ; Clerk said particulars were being picI pared. From Mr 11. Piilfoiil, asking for rent l for land occupied by willows used in the , Tnki Tuki bridge protective works. — A [ sum of £5 was granted. From Mr llalletfc, asking that the over--1 seer should report on the work done an ; the Te Aute-Hampden road, so that the \ grant in aid could be claimed. — The Chair- ' man said the overseer would present a I report on the matter.— lt was agreed to pay the money on the cevtilicate of the ' overseer; also half the sum of £225, expended under a similar agreement on the , Maraekakahu-road. ; From the Taradale Town Board, asking the Council to place a culvert under 1 county road near Gnppy and Hawkins" road. — Mr Rymcrsaid a culvert wns very much required there, and moved that the work be authorised.— Mr Sutton seconded, and the motion was carried. From tho Council's solicitors, Messrs Wilson and Cotterill, advising the Council of the result of the action Dick&on V. the Council, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, when judgment was given against the Council for £50 3s for damages sustained to plaintiffs dray and horses in consequence of the state of the road beyond Puketapu. — Mr Tanner moved that the amount bo paid, saying he did not think the Council should use the ratepayer's funds in conducting expensive litigation with individuals. — Captain Birch seconded. — MrStitlon moved, as .an amendment, that the Council appeal against the decision of the Resident Magistrate. While he saw the force of what Mr Tanner had urged, he must, point out that the principle involved was a very large one, and an admission that the Resident Magistrate was correct in his interpretation of the law might involve the payment of large sums as compensation in the future. The question should be settled, once for all, by the highest authority.— Mr Ilyiner seconded the amendment, which was carried by a majority of one. Mr Sutton, Captain Birch, and Captain Russell voting against it. From J. Eyan, a laborer who had worked for oiie Lawton, a contractor under the Council. Lawton had become bankrupt, owing the writer £24, and the latter asked the Council to consider his case. — Mr Sutton said the case was undoubtedly a very hard one, but the Council could not legally assist Ryan. -Th c Clerk said he held £5S due to Lawton under the contract, but he could not pay it away without an order of the Supreme Court. Several other workmen besides Ryan had obtained judgment against Lawton for wages. — Ryan to be informed that he must get an order from the Supreme Court. KOAD OVERSEER'S REPORT. The road overseer presented the following leport: — Napier-New Taradale-voad.— Owing to tho great amount of traffic on thi3 road, I beg to reoommond that a portion bo widened from its present width of 19 feet to 33 foot botwoen tho second bridge from the Napier railway crossing to the end oE Mrs Goddard's fence, 1} miles ; cost, £50. I would suggest, for your consideration tho advisability of removing the abovo bridge altogether, as I consider there is sufficient waterway in time of Hoods over that portion of road close to tho bridgo known as the cement-pitched dip. I have included the cost of removing this bridge in the abovo estimate of widening tho road. Tho erection of a small bridge culvert on this road is completed as authorised. New Taradale- Rissington - Patoka • road. — Road formation contracts No. 1 and 2 sections on this road will bo completed by the next ordinary meeting of your Council. The contractor for improving portions of this road between Kissington and Patoka lias not commenced work up to date. Tarohn's Bridge, Mcancc-road.— Tho work of improving this road is now under progress and will be completed this week. Omahu-Okawa-road.— Metalling road from end of swamp, Omahu, to creek back of Okawa station, is completed. » Mangevwhare-Kuripapaiiga-Patea - road Surface repairs to this road havo been neglected during tho la3t month. I havo notified the contractor in writing that unless he kept the road in proper order of ropair all monthly progress payments would be stopped. Middle-road.— l bog to recommend that £G0 bo expended on this road between Air Cooper's turn off and Tuki Tuki river, in culver, ing samo and keeping it open for wheel trnftlc. Metalling tho worst parts of this road between Haveloek aud Mr Cooper's turn-off is about completed. All metal repairs to permanent metal roads will bo discontinued after this month until the autumn months, except where specially authorised. Paki Paki-Te Autoload.— Metal repairs to a portion of this road between the Te Ante rrilway station and southern boundary are completed. The Chairman said the consent of the Harbor Board would have to bo obtained before the bridge on the Taradale-road could be filled in. Mr Rymer objected to the space under the bridge being filled in, as the chief part of the water of the Tutaekmi now passed under that bridge instead of under the large bridge. He thought, however, that the Council should put up a notice warning people against passing over the bridge with loads over a certain weight. It was not safe for over four tons, but waggons weighing with their loads six tons constantly passed over it. The Chairman said the low causeway would permit the ilood - water of the Tutaeknri to escape. Captain Russell said that argument would apply to big floods, but not to ordinary freshes, when the level of the causeway was not readied and the water all escaped under the bridge. To block the bridge would cause the Hooding of low-lying lands, Mr Sutton agreed that the waterway should not be blocked, but suggested that a large concrete culvert would do instead of the bridge. Mr Rymer said there was no fouudation for concrete. After further discussion it was agreed to widen tho road, but to leave the question of filling-in the bridge for the present. The Chairman said the Council's solicitor was preparing regulations under which notice-boards could be posted on all the bridges stating the maximum load each would safely bear. With this alteration the report was adopted. THE PATKA-RANGITIKEI-ROAD. Captain Birch, pursuant to notice, moved that the Government be urged to complete the road between the Patea river and Turangariri, and construct a bridge over the Rangitikei river. He said he could not speak too strongly as to the necessity for this work. A large amount of money had already been expended on the road, and if the work were stopped now all that money woutd be wasted. The road was the connection between Hawke's , Bay and the North Island trunk railway, and it must be made some day. Mr Sntton said the Council should be very careful in bringing pressure to bear ; on the (!ovenime-ifc for local works. The ' whole question of road and bridge- , making would shortly come before Parliam ent, and as some members of the Council might be in the House it would be unfair to hamper their actions there. Tlii> Chairman said tin: (Snvcrniucnt Oil!.! in>t ;-lo|i inaUing roads necessary to f>|ii'ii up tin; country, and this was one of ; (bii.-c ik, nix. for il w;is nol nsoil or ro- ) quhvd by ratepayers in tho county. If r iurllicr cxpetnlituro was mil uiidci taken ' (ill i!i- mum y now i-pent would bo thrown r a\\MV. . Mi T.ih!i(.-v .-;dtl tlii-- road iiu-^cil almost entirely through native lamis. It was undertaken to allbrd facilities for the conveyance of stoves and materials to > those working on the trunk railway. Mr Ballancc had been doing his best to get a road from Wangiinni to the same point, but after some £17,000 had been expended it was found that a practicable road could not be Hindu. Captain Russell said this road was lf being provided for out of the loan for the ) trunk railway. A curtain proportion of > all railway votes was spent in making roads to give access to tho line, and this t road wns in that position. The motion was carried. d MISCELLANEOUS. The Chairman reported thai only one d tender bad been received for the metalling of the new SVharepouga and Tiuuarna r, bush roads. Mr O'Rorke tendered for both at 2a lljfd per yard, which was rs reasonable. — The tender was accepted. A letter from the Waitaki County id Council, urging the necessity for legislation in the direction of simplifying the I. taking of land for roads, &c, lod to a general discussion on the question.— '„ The Chairman said the Council must soon face the question of getting a map prepared showing the county roads, ihe

cost would be about £150. Perhaps however, it would be beat to leave th matter to the new Council. — Mr Suttoi and Mr Rymer agreed as to the necessit; of a map,' and the former suggested tha milestones should be put in as pegs.It was agreed to send the circular of tin Waitaki Council to the gentlemen ejectec to represent the Hawke's Bay constituen cies in Parliament, and ■ the chairmai gave notice of motion for next meeting that a map showing the county roadi should be prepared. The order previously passed, handing certain roads in Puketapu district to thf Road Board, was confirmed. The order declaring the Papakutu ware of the Meanee riding a separate roac board district was confirmed. Mr Eyan called attention to large hole; left in the shingle bank between the Shamrock Hotel and the railway crossing by the removal of some fence posts. Tht road was not fenced in, and in the darli people might wander on the shingle ami meet with a, serious accident. — The Chair man said the holes, were on private property, and the Council could dc nothing there.— lt was decided to writs to the owner calling his attention to tlu dangerons places. The gazetted order altering the boundaries of the Petane and Puketapu ridings was confirmed. Returning oflicers and polling places for the election of a new Council weit appointed. Mr Ryan called attention to the excessive height of the culvert recently pul under the new Taradale-road, and it was decided to lower it. There was no other business.