PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 103, 9 April 1881, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wedxesdat, 7th April. Present — Messrs. Dale (chairman) Homer, Bridge, Brewer, Partridge, "Winks, Milne, Hunter, and Gane. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read from the Minister for Public Works, stating that the Mountain road, between Hawera and Normanby, was a district road, and that the Government bad never declared it a main line ; the Government would not undertake further expenditure on it. — From Mr. Hamerton, asking if he was to consider himself retained in regard to the storm- | water (Wood's) case. — From the Patea j Council to the Government, stating that they were intending to close the hospital at the end of the month. — From Mr. Jackson, stating that he had sold the lease of the Mokoia reserve. — Letter re expenditure by County Council on the Waimate Plains. — Telegram from Mr. Winks to the Chairman of Council, to the eff ct, " Send the Engineer up to Hawera : contractors cannot understand specifications of road works on the Plains." — Sanction of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to amended specifications of proposed works on the Plains. — On consideration of the correspondence in respect to the road near the hospital, the Chairman explained that he had opposed the road at the public meeting, and would continue to oppose it by any constitutional means. The Chairman also stated that he had retained Mr. Hamerton as solicitor in the drainage case. — A circular was received from the Manawatu County Council, proposing that joint action should be taken to see that certain changes should be made in respect to the subsidies, &c. That a general conference of delegates of all local bodies should be held in Wellington on the first Wednesday in May. The general object being to bring Parliamentary pressure to bear to effect changes in the Act respecting local bodies. The Chairman stated that Mr. "Wray, Conmmissioner of Crown Lands, consulted the Minister for Lands, before sanctioning the expenditure on the Waimate Plains, and in addition to that, the ranger was living on the Plains, and he also was consulted by the commissioner. Be the lease of the Racecourse reserve to Messrs. Hearn and Kennedy, it appeared that the conditions of lease, in respect to trimming ienees, ±c, had not been carried out. A general feeling was expressed that the conditions should he insisted upon, and that a committee, congjgymgnf TfmV^, fianc, and "lßtm>, be appointed, to visit the reserve, and report whether the condicons of lease had been fulfilled. A resolution to this effect was put and carried, and power given to the chairman to acs. Be the lease of the Reerwsktc Ground tit W&verley, Mr. Jackson reported tfa* sale of the lease to Mr. Morton. DOG-TH. A ieiser was received from Mr. Jseoenb, r€ exemption &ona ds^j-isx. He fhoogh£ he hud snnrTsd severe loss through the exenspGoa, as he rosed sessas. resaosvars, poodles, sheep and castle degs, asdaisa voong dogs, were constaasiy bang sail over the boandary^-aod called pag-dogs. There were over ICO dogs in the exempted disorks, and he hoped the eosracsl wooid sliow kka sonte eoaeesscsoMessrs. Homer and Bridge agreed in considenng thai Mr. Jaeosnb had a claim 'against the Government, nocigainstthe counclL Mr. Gass shoagh* she cosmol shooM back «ip Mr. Jacoeab is his reqoss* so the j Government. { Mr. Winfe said Mr. Sscmmb had j been dHaiory m eoOecang the tax, «>Wt had only himself 50 tiwmlr sha^. he had no* i collected the tax earlier. | The rfosarman wss insSTQSed to refer I Mr. Jacomb to the GovemroeEt. WOXKS BEK»ST. The Foreman of Works vsosmed ihs* j contracts Kos- 6i, 63, sad &l h*H besc eoiiipieSed, bas proposed as of lOOyaplsof No&62&£d6a. He suggested a wooden kerMag ai the waierhole. The hand-rail &t the WaiM ezesk had been replaced. He soggsssei «ha: wide tyres should b© insisted upon &r all heavy trame. Mr. Harden explained tlisi 3he eijcasions were asked for the road besweem Waaiijongoro and Waihi, aad feesween Mr. Dowlas's aad Haweia. — On the unman of Mr. Paroidge, thfe pxip=ngaffiT) was graas&i. "" | Oe ihe DKHiou c& Mr. "Winiks, it -srss left to ilie engineer to kerb she K-«Jb«-la respect to she q^aesaon fif hraai j fvres, it, was ecmsiicrcxi impassaMe bo &o- | force any regalsiriioss in respsct to it. j Cooßiallor Wiiiis pnopceai — •• Tial aM | carrieis and earaeis piyasag fear hire b? i taxed s& ths r&se of J&4 per ■n'WTiTnrq feir waggons -onih narrow syres, a»3 d£l *cawide Jyres wirhm 4h« CKynsnty."" 1 He; MK«i§ht ?2ie earners wsne ©ejqxiu i 3» i road, S2>d yet paid zz&tUwzg for i£s Tmiim- j reisanoe o-f it. | Ttie n>c«aoa was ruled out of oirfer, as | the cosmcai had do power to pass soda & i by^-l&w, ! Mr. Gaoe jav^seS litat tiye TTiingflincQ f Civonty C-cvimrai be aiked if uibsy w-«n3d : sell d>e weigiiiai3^B ai St. Johi" 1 * l A-ad to femiiii parlicsilburs oocK>srning~it. — | Oamdtl. ! was read, sbowiag four rtMasaiis laad been SKflLniJtaed dniing- &s loanih, suni TOtil, Mstivfe Slst, sax. Bkftfflivl BssseSit was anii2aJWes cua isl AiwiL 3PES333!iSS 'WAISCJtSS; SSmSSBS. Mr. Gaxte pressured vbs foffiowaog p»j2tkva: — Waiaxsse Hsaos res^ieetSally begr sfcafe £ iviflii niisirict laay be tfe&ntul c«9#t of dae TTaingiHjjgiaro ssii&s sibe hm&Sarp df she ©asmsy saa she TaE^aiiara- 'W© dssire thm, ice evymxa! shsM «aie doe Beee^aury sseps wisboitia aay ddlay, becsoae Baaay of she tds£*xro£ psysn&atlaQd nwm&s fead is i&islksalii, 5© ofcama aee@ssta» thar sedfiaiEs cmsal ewsiaaags have ise@a mawSe tn t&e cisefe, and the feae Idk to iflaeJia to erect dweiiisgs, so as to Mil tifce ooisSmmaffis 01 isaifeEKeiswxysihKWt. Wearedeeai©3ly in Snxvr of fcjaJ adaaiiassßr&itNiia «at all Asad Tre, ycuar. DefciltaoiaeES. s^ull eror psar-. — J. G. Y««ie,"A. Ssraa&aua, I. Bayly, A. HasiKs I>- MeGm^rar, T. Uk»yd, A- B. lan^ey, A. E. lua^ey, J. H. S^t. T. Saaift^ D. MeLeotn, W. Sbtmrer, W. S. Xoiaaa®, A. Yoo23\g, EL Boigm, H. Boyiß,

J. L. Perry, D. Hughes, A. Sutherlan3< E. Exley, W. L. Martyn, B. E. Meßae, W. Borrie, J. S. Oughton, C. Tait, W. Dingle, B. Dingle, J. Mttir, H. Sinclair, D. Leitch, W» Pearce, T. Twigg, J. Mouri, J. Livingston, G. McLean, Or. Inkster,. D. Bainie, W. A. McKay, 3. Murphy, J. D. Mitchell, J. Short, D. McLdowie, P. W. Espiner, D. WilMe, J. and W. Frater, W. H. Beid, G. V. Bate, J. Patterson, A. Nathan, M. D. King, J. Walden, C. E, Hadland, H. Downey, G. Casey, H. B. Cockburn, H. B. Crtrtis, Gi W< Broadbent." Mr. Gane moved that the petition as above be received. WOBHS OH "WADIATB. '^ A report of committee appointed to open tenders for works on Waimate was read, showing that one tender was accepted, and six tenders were held over* | TheTeport was received. . . . Mr. Hunter explained that the hulk of the settlers objected to the formation of roads until the pigs had been destroyed. They had seen the results already on the >r«maia road. The only work accepted was chiefly cuttings and culverts. Mr. Partridge confirmed the remarks of the previous speaker. The. committee were unanimously agreed not to go on with other works. The Chairman asked whether it -was not a fact that the land was so much up* rooted that it was difficult to travel over it. . , - - •= " Mr. Bridge thought that roads on (he Plains -were no worse than other, roads had been in other parts of the cqtinty. Mr. Winks proposed that amended ten* ders be called for. . - ; Mr. Gane asked had any member been over Hie road lines ? Messrs. Hunter, Partddge, and Idne —No. Mr. "Winks was the bury petson jrho knew the coxmfay. He had not been over all the roads, but he had a good general idea of the country. Beport held over. * " Accoecsisi ■ An abstract of accounts was read, ahowmg — Beceipte, £67 106. 8 d.; expenditare. £42 lls. 7d. TEKBEBS. The following tenders were opened imfl oonadered. For valuing Waimate district :— G. V. Bate, £23 (accepted) ;C. F. Barker, *25 ; A. E. Lan^ey, £25 ; 8, Gray. J3O; W. Mnrray Thomson, £30. 600 yards stone at Mknswapou:— Dingle Bros, (accepted), 85. si; P. Murphy, lls.; D. Hognes, lls. 3d. ; 3. Johnston, 115.7 d. Tie committee reported in fevor of the acceptance of Mes3s. Dingle Bros, G. V. Bate's, and P. Murphy's (Bedionl Aeet drain) sendas. Thft Chairman moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Gane moved that the Bedford strtes Umin igtAeris not aceenied. Mr. Bridge thonghi as an aeiion was pending or docetEned, it voold be perhaps wise to let she legal aedonnm its eoorse. TlieqaesSaon was ones mare itrmrrrH a&ls^ih @* has been befisae the council for nearly ax messh^. On drasun, the *tzrvpmhm*=miT egg tSXJSBi bjfSvE to tWD. 3fe. Miise poinxel cot that it might b* well so iave aver the qaesSian ofTdtta-. pjpi of fisr <#» 22ftfe tinwi^ as fee wss wxtrißmg to invoke tfae'new boszd (if axxne&l) in etw»uAj g—ifa-af^ vhkhthe? ra^Jsiaoc approve- ■--- * adraesssii sbe fa"«^-» e£ Sic Waunate read board. He zead. Hoe resoSataoss passed as. the "Wartßin pabEenaseiapgooapaaEi&i osss. sJai iiae niczßalisad saott been asked by ifeose wfeo snissesObsil feeuan-aey jo 'Eadgrsffikc ilae weak; iha<t liae peinitHi uras agned by 61 sealers, and ceaiy aboot iJiree had dec&aed to sgn iL He baliETed iiseß was noodiu mEJaoooe toown in 2sew 7ipnhmd of an ooSijiE* distiicft it- bad beai scssded: c@rtsinly not whohadsisteenbedi&e&iads. Hepainied OJIt irihwiif hlb© flJMmw»Sa»*gßn»^«rf l JMmw»Sa»*gßn»^«r lefened liae £jsj psapassd sdaeiafe^expssdiiaia a. rmnmiher «sf oaHiarsiQts had Iseenpos to useless ttzoiaiale, shs3 sSho^^i i2ffia«aaai of slse cosmcalall espaofiisHe had heeo. delayed aace the fesa ■mee^ir^ o£ sefc^as on arfi Janaaiy lasc 3RGKEA R&CajOOCBSS. Mr. Brewer cooveiiimijiae irase of ithft Mo&iss. raeeesaxse far twaily-oaae years beswMby Mr. F. B. Jadißaai ate bssext Ha«Tc£s. sale. Sseeffinfei by Mr. Gane,asidcfiiriei. Ie was p«3En3fei ccat sfefii share was ao scased jfrai% daae hsui. iasss been abonir 103 d s2aee|» (a^assbniealiDSEoff samaeiefiiyte. he idiiu&X-kDSwsfi&cue. Mr. f^ias^e — Tbs siae^ -wans -intmm*Jhe gusts was es>an to Musi iMasss, or anyfeoij so ifias parsran vho wss in ciajge (of l2ie aaesp too&. i2ae ioaua es? it. I isseir io«&jj!g; <t£ is aut a2ss tmsaei,, azsd ~ws» not ?n3h ttSss sllassfi. Aifeer a ioaag Qascaa^sa <m 4S» tgraiss of iite lease, it wes KsoJroi s»Ms&r iw«a3y-oßie yeiias, se^oi to a.3aainafeerof saka ©aaainaffl-is. It xr&s Tsrofiftasi |»y Mr. Hianater #w»4 » srma <a& jfe^ i« g^pss. tss i&e Hkwess, Basel ivaai beusr©eD Eairaca sod iifce AasssSn imii, sack astosasy to 4e iwnmilM tgvmt tdbsia TwoeissES ase i^nt i&hiie .£9O have hem ex^Q^ei by ttSa© said BomaL ss lbs XB£csm.yess m. aSae dfetaaeft sSaovei » &ST Wo. "Jibe Ossaxasa «f^es©3 &c issataiKiia. TSjs nvßm iwai saaar Efeftea ssd. Wacroaaßy "was csst 73g» by sasmber asad fiiew©iid ftws>£s«« IU S Efcs wmsnmmesf Jt© iJafflfc laSBT HsKreOU Tbe^rfffiim veoA saeeSei xefoir, aaai fifwss & mrnTwrfaUm fc> -rote ©aenmay ifesafe to ißikiimiga. imsds ~mfas& tSas «asamay -was isanS tc^. Me. Bodge <^fi@sed i&e j\^o4aliisD, en 43ae ssnnwxia gnnfflicnnwfe ■■as; s>ff, ». ttunuaar aaTtartfawr^ T3z^ she imad©soa«y <sf its*e jfacais aitH&a disjiosal o!f ttSae OscGmitty. Mr. rtosrais© ia famst tS tifas mavhz&wu T?ss road "sras pjnaeiiacalßy & jEsaaiQ assaid. austd siaece ipa® no patsßtel WOTreso. 42ae caa^ tsltei fey ffibe rissinsaaßu Mr. Haama- sSsawa^ufc ijfest l&ae were c© jtumds fee odn» natsne janpnttsni "woste, saarfa as towering of aihePaaffiaiiballL Tlbetr© "sreie iaaapily b© feaads fer »iraqi ftamrii* T woidks, arad ii aagfea sao^. to be saaatteaiael. Mr. ITminiitisy (iejassi a2aa!i-iifcirasa draJiaoifc jnasai; it was gsaacelty letssgnsfeed as a Bain or ewaaity mjaid. Me. Hosxicr would Mto Swßd, if be had Hnxvalled orer the

road last winter that it was at least as dangerous as the Patea hill. The fact bfting, that the Wad was jmrtly cut up by Hawera town traffic, which contributed largely to County Council funds in liceDßQfl, &c, but gave nothing to the Boad Board funds; and also by through traffic from the whole coast, which, in like manner contributed absolutely nothing towards the maintenance of it. On division, the votes were as follows : •—Ayes: Messrs. Hunter, Gane, Brewer, Partridge and Winks. Noes*. Messrs. Bridge, Homer, Dale, and Milne. The resolution was carried. VOTES TO DISTBICT EOAD3. The Chairman proposed that a vote of £801)6 handed over to the Wairoa Highway Board, and £80 to the Patea West Boad Board, 'for expenditure on the district road in each district upon which there is the largest amount oi traffic. Councillor Brewer thought the chairman had shown very had taste in bringing forward tills motion. The Normanby road was juite an exceptional one, and had only just been handed over by the General Government The chairman had just refused to vote money on the ground of poverty, but now he proposed further votes. Mr. Gsne spoke in similar terms, and denied that there was any parallel in the case. Mr. Bridge could not vote for £60, when he had just refused, for want of funds, to vote £i& for another work. The Chairman explained that he had only placed it on record to show how money was voted to one road district and refused to all the rest. The resolution was lost, only the chairman voting for it SITE OF COUNTY OFFICES. Mr. Gane proposed,—-'* That the chairman take the .necessary steps for leasing the four sections reserved for County Council offices at Patea." The Chairman thought it would be unfair to call upon the fire-brigade to remove the fire-bell and shed, for the erection of which leave was lately given. It was doubtful whether it was legal to lease them. Mr. Bridge proposed an amendment that application should be first made to the Minister of Lands.— Carried. WAIMATE ROAD BOARD. & Mr. Gane moved that the Standing Orders be suspended in order to consider the petition of the Waimate settlers. — Carried. Mr. Gane said that, as far as he could see, the County Council proposed to spend the money of the deferred payment settlers, in direct opposition to their wishes He thought that there was no member of the County Council elected by buyers of land on the Plains. Mr. Winks denied this. Mr. Gane adhered to what he had said, there was no member elected by owners of land on the Plains. He pointed out that there were four out of nine members of the Council, who were present, or exmembers of road boards, and who might be equally open to the charge, so often repeated, of their having entered the road board, simply to serve their own ends. It was an aspersion which they would be able to refute by their own experience. Mr. Gane continued his remarks for some time but failed to introduce any motion. After his speech ordinary, business was resumed. MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL PROPOSALS. Mr. Bridge moved a number of amendments to the regulations proposed by the Manawatu County Council.' He opposed the granting of subsidies, as suggested by tha Manawatu Council. It was resolved to send a delegate to the County Council conference, as proposed; to agree to support triennial valuations, instead of annual, or to accept the Government Property Tax valuation, instead of those by local bodies. Mr. Gane proposed that Mr. Bridge be the delegate. Seconded by Mr. Brewer. Mr. Bridge thought the Chairman ought to represent the County Council. The Chairman was not anxious for the honor, but the Council should decide the point On being put to the vote the chairman was deputed to act by 4 to 8. Several councillors would have preferred not to send a delegate. After a long discussion, it was resolved to rescind the foregoing resolution, and not to send any delegate to the conference. WAIMATE PLAINS WORKS. Mr. Milne moved that the tenders re works on the Waimate Plains, held over for the consideration of the Council, be not accepted, and that tenders be returned at once. Mr. Bridge spoke strongly in favor of the formation of a road board. This resolution he regarded as a further proof of the unfitneßs of the Council to undertake looal works. Mr. Homer was not prepared to admit that blunders had been made. They had not been proved, and he wanted proof. * The Chairman thought a petition had been circulated and signed, but many of those who signed it knew little or nothing about the works required. He was of opinion that the specifications were very full and quite sufficient for tenderers. The very work now said to be unnecessary would shortly be wanted by the settlers thomselves. Mr. Winks — The tenders were not accepted because it was shown that it would be useless to form those roads until the pigs had been destroyed. If the committee had had any desire to accept the tenders against the wishes of the settlers, they could have done so. He blamed the tenderers in many cases for not having gone over the ground before tendering. Mr. Hunter— Some of the most intelligent men about Hawera had complained to him about the indefiniteness of the tenders. He had seen the damage done by the pigs on other formed roads. They had declined tenders on the ground that the works specified were not really required. But they had not gone over the road lines to inspect the proposed work. Mrs Winks thought the Commissioner of Crown Lands was in error in stating that the Manaia road referred to by the engineer had been made by the A.C's. It was a continuation of that road to the beach for which tenders were advertised. Proposed by Mr. Winks— That fresh tenders be called for works on Waimate Plains, for cutting, filling, and clearing roads 12 feet wide, where required. Tenders to close on 11th April Seconded by the Chairman. Mr. Hunter desired to propose as an amendment that the petition of the Waimate settlers, be acceded to in the matter of forming a road board for that district.

Mr. Dale stated that it was distinctly a case of road board against county, and the resolution passed at a former meeting he thought meant that no road board should be formed. Mr. Bridge could not understand that the resolution defeided that the couuty had resolved to continue to carry on works in it as an outlying district. The Chairman declined to accept the amendment, and ruled it out of order. Mr. Milne thought it impossible for the engineer to go over the roads, prepare specifications and receive tenders within four days. He thought that this question should be voted on by the Council according to their feelings in respect to a road board being formed. Mr. Winks then amended his resolution so as to give tenderers up to the 15th. Mr. Gane moved that no farther expenditure be incurred by this Council in the Waimate district. The Chairman declined to receive the amendment, as against the spirit of the resolution previously passed. Mr. Partridge disagreed with the chairman's ruling. The committee had done certain work, and granted certain monies. It was open to the Council to defer any farther expenditure. Mr. Gane amended his resolution so as to stop further expenditure for one month. The resolution wus then accepted by the chairman. Mr. Winks had no desire to stop those settlers on the Plains from having a road board, and when he had farthered the resolution in favor of the Council undertaking the work, he had no intention of ! stopping a road board from being formed. Mr. Bridge moved — " That the debate upon Mr. Winks' motion be adjourneduntil after Mr. Gane's motion, of which notice bad been given, had been disposed of." He thought it advisable to take the naming of the roads into consideration at the same time. — Carri d. WAIMATE ROAD BOARD. Mr. Gane desired to amend his notice of motion, so as to include the names of the settlers appointed at the last meeting. His original notice was that certain settlers named at a meeting held at Hawera on sth January be appointed commissioners of the Waimate road district, in accordance with telegram No. 510 of that date. On the telegram being referred to, it did not define any road district ; the definition of the district being another telegram sent on the same day, and within a few minutes of the one accidentally entered on his notice paper. He had supposed that the two telegrams were one, and hoped *he chairman would allow him to rectify the error. The Chairman ruled the notice out of order, on the ground that the road district was not defined. Mr. Bridge proposed to amend the notice of motion by the unanimous vote of the Council. The only objection to be urged, would be urged by those desirous of putting off the formation of a road board. The Chairman declared that he would oppose the road board right through. He did not believe in road boards, and would not assist in forming one. His action would force the settlers to petition the House of Representatives. Mr. Bridge called for a division. The Chairman declined to grant a division. But on remonstrance the' division was taken, Messrs. Dale and Homer being the only two voting in favor, of rejecting Mr. Gane's motion. The consideration of Mr. Winks' motion to call for amended tenders was then proceeded with. Messrs. Hunter and Gave were not in favor of spending the settlera' money against their wishes. Mr. Bridge supported the petition, and would vote against Mr. Winks' proposal. Mr. Brewer was in favor of doing away with the road boards, as a whole, but not for making a " set " against this one in particular. Mr. Homer objected to local bodies on a small scale. He was not in favor of local bodies on a small scale. A new board could be formed in a month's time. Mr. Partridge did not see why they should force themselves down the throats of the Waimate 6e'ttlers, against their will. The money came out of deferred payment settlers' pockets, and if they did not wish the Council to expend it, he would not trouble to do so. Mr. Winks said he brought on the resolution with a view of forcing on the separation of the County. This would doubtless soon be done. The motion was then put, and lost, and the Council adjourned at 9 p.m.