PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 137, 6 August 1881, Page 3

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wedgesday, August 3.

The Council met at 11.30. PresentMessrs. Dale (chairman), Brewer, Bridge, Partridge, and Homer, (later, Gane).

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

WAITOTARA BRIDGE.

The Wanganui County Council replied to a letter from the Patea County Council that they had no engineer, and consequently were unable to forward any engineer's report on the state of the Waitotara bridge, as requested. Mr. Bridge moved that a letter be written to the Wanganui County Council, asking them to state definitely what they intend doing about the Waitotara bridge ; failing a satisfactory reply, that the matter be referred to the Minister of Public Works. — Carried.

MRS. CHARLES* CASE.

Several letters and telegrams hi connection with this case were read and considered.

Mr. Partridge explained that it had been represented to him that the woman was destitute, and he Had recommended that she should have two rations for herself and- children.

Mr. Bridge thought that it appeared that the woman was not destitute, as her husband was in receipt of an* income. If great care -were not exercised in the admittance of persons of this class, there was a great risk of the hospital being turned into a workhouse.

The Chairman explained that he had only granted admission subject to the doctor's certificate, that the woman needed medical attention. Charles' income would go far to meet hospital expenses.

Mr. Gane objected strongly to its being assumed that women should not be more readily admitted than men ; they were more helpless, and needed more attention.

The Chairman explained that the woman was only admitted on the doctor's certificate, that she was in need of hospital assistance. He believed that the one child of hers now in the hospital had no right to be there ; but he did not really know what to do with it.

Mr. Bridge had only spoken against the admission of women and children to the hospital, because he was very anxious to avoid drying up the springs of private benevolence.

PETITION AGAINST ROAD THROUGH HOSPITAL

RESERVE.

The petition of the County Council against the opening of a public road through the Hospital Reserve, requested by the Town Board, was read.

The Chairman explained that he had taken the petition down to Wellington with him, and had received the assurance of the Colonial Secretary that the counterpetition would be fully considered, before the road was sanctioned by the Minister.

COSTS OF M'LEAN'S CASE.

A letter was read from the Undersecretary of Public Works, stating that the Government, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, was prepared to place the County Council in funds to meet the costs of the case McLean v. County Council, viz., £489 10s. All lawyers bills were first to be taxed.

The Chairman stated that the concession was only granted after a careful examination by the Minister of all the evidence in connection with the case.

MOUNTAIN ROAD.

A letter was read from the Chairman of of the Manganui Boad Board, calling attention to the dangerous state of the Mountain road, near Stratford,

The Chairman had replied by letter that the Council had now nothing to do with the Mountain road.

COSTS OF VALUATION.

A memorandum was received from the Colonial Secretary, asking for a return of the amount paid for valuing property and preparing valuation lists.

The Chairman stated that the Council had never paid any costs of valuation hitherto.

WAIMATE VALUATION LIST.

A letter was read from the Council asking Mr. Bate to amend his valuation list.

Mr. Yorke explained the action of the Waimate Road Board in respect to the valuation, and stated that the only motive which actuated the Board was a desire to have a trustworthy valuation list prepared without any delay.

The Chairman said that he had reason to believe that the time for the preparation of the valuation list would be extended to the County Council, and not to the Waiinate Road Board. That body was not in existence in ; January last, and the time could not, therefore, be extended to it.

Mr. Bridge asked what did the Council propose to do in respect to the valuation list. He would propose that a telegram be sent to Mr. Bate requesting him to send the amended valuation list to the Council before Saturday next ; failing which fresh tenders for forming valuation list be invited.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

TAKING LANDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

A memorandum was read prescribing details of forms required for taking lands for public works under the several Acts affecting such works.

BOULDERS.

A telegram was read from Messrs. Mace and Bassett offering to deliver at Hawera 500 yards of boulders, at 4s. 9d. a yard, for installing the county road. The Couuty Engineer explained that he had a particular that he had a particular use for these boulders for patching the road between Hawera and Waihi. He thought the price high, but would be sorry to miss getting the material.

Mr. Partridge proposed that the matter be left open until next meeting.

engineer's report.

The Engineer reported to the following effect: — That contract No. 68 lies in abeyance until more settled weather sets in. The roads on the whole were in a very broken state. The Waihi bridge handrails were broken. The Whenuakura bridge repairs were in progress. Furze was growing on the main road on the properties of Messrs. Bayly, Manawapou, Young of Manutahi, and Dickey of Waverley, The report was received. Mr. Bridge drew attention to complaints about persons forcing their way across the bridge in spite of the representations of the contractor that the bridge was not safe for traffic. He had been spoken to by one of the workmen on the subject, and as the risk to the bridge was

great he thought some steps should be taken.

Mr. Brewer thought that the bridge was so far in progress that it would not be necessary to interfere with the travelling public ; except perhaps in the ..case of heavy waggons. The engineer reported that there had been complaints at first of one or two persons who had forced their way across, but that latterly there had been no such complaints, except of one man on the previous day. He would have published a notice in the paper, warning people forcing their way, that they would be prosecuted, if there had been any other complaints. Mr. Gane wanted to know what would the- Council have done if a waggon, by crossing when warned not to do so, had broken down the bridge and killed some of the workmen.

The Chairman stated that he would take legal action against the offenders, if any further complaints were lodged. REPORT OF COMMITTEE RE LEASING OF PREMISES OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

The committee recommended that the sections be leased in eight allotments, for 35 years, subject to building conditions, &c. The other proposed conditions of the leases were agreed to. The Chairman proposed that the report of the committee be received, but protested against the leases of the sections toeing offered at auction until the market for land improved.

ACCOUNTS.

The following accounts were submitted : — Receipts — Licenses, ; rates, £53 : Total, £212. Expenditure— J. Winks, M ; D. Donelly, £1 ; Dingle Bros., £90 15s. 7d. ; Jacomb (copying roll), £3 3s. lOd. ; Hamerton, £71 4s. Bd. ; Taplin, £22 14s. lOd. ; Arthur, £4 15s. lOd. ; Dale, £2 os. 4d. ; Patea Mail, £3 6s. 9d. ; McDevitt, 61 Is. 6d. ; Christchurch Hospital, £21 9s. Total, £291 18s. 6d. Passed for payment — Wages, £123 10s. 6d. ; Neilson (timber), £13 18s.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The Chairman reported that, in respect to the opening up of lands, the results of his visit were as follows : — With reference to the University Eeserve, Capt. Wray had been instructed to lease land in blocks of 1000 acres or so some months ago, hut nothing had been done in that direction as yet. Re the contract survey, he could say that he had interviewed the Minister, who had undertaken to first have roads laid off and opened to all blocks of land proposed to be sold. If upon examination, the land was found to be suitable for small farm settlement, it would be cut up into small sections and leased for 21 years, but not otherwise. The Crown lands near Whenuakura would be sold as soon as Sir W. Fox had completed his awards. Part of the Moumahaki block would probably be the first to be brought into the market. The land at the back of Whakamara and Otoia would be surveyed as soon as the spring set in ; winter being quite unsuitable for surveying bush country.

LOADING REGULATIONS.

The question of limiting the weight carried on any cart or waggon was also introduced by the Chairman, and he believed that an Order in Council would be issued, giving power to the Council to limit the load placed upon any cart or waggon used within the County.

RAILWAY PROGRESS.

As Chairman of the County Council, he had also made it his duty to inquire as to what were the intentions of the Government in respect to the completion of the Foxton-New Plymouth railway. He was given to understand that the WaverfeyPatea line would be first proceeded with and completed. Before it could be definitely decided whether the inland route, or that via Patea direct would be gone on with, the reports of the engineer would be considered. It was a professional question which the engineer's report ought to deal with. The railway line to Manutahi would be opened as soon as the rails were laid. It could not be opened right up to Manutahi at present, but would go as near to it as possible. He had had an estimate of produce introduced and exported, also of passengers who had landed at Patea during the past year, before the Minister, and had discussed the question at length. It was still doubtful whether the line might not go nearly direct from Normanby to Patea ; the line from Normanby inland going direct to Manutahi. If this should be decided upon, then Hawera to Normanby would be worked as a branch. In -this case also, the Government were waiting for fuller information as to the merits of the rival lines before deciding what course should be adopted.

COUNTY REPRESENTATION.

Mr. Dale believed that an understanding had been come to between Ministers in respect to county representation, to allow this part of the district to have separate representation. On the map prepared a block was shown from Waitotara to the north end of the county as an electorate. It was in consequence of there being a doubt about the feelings of the Waveiiey people that he had called a public meeting there. Although the meeting had passed a resolution deprecating any change, he still believed that a large majority of the electors were in favor of the Waitotara end of the county being included in this proposed new electorate. He regretted the attempts being made elsewhere to disunite the county.

Mr. Gane asked if he really understood that the line was likely to go to the mouth of the Manawapou.

The Chairman stated that the matter was undecided as yet.

Mr. Bridge reminded the meeting that at one time 15 per cent, of the land fund was reserved to be expended upon a railway to the "Waimate Plains across to Opunake. He thought the chairman might ask what had become of the 15 per cent, taken. The Chairman thought that this proposed 15 per cent, was never actually paid over. He had always understood that it would only came out of money actually paid for land on the Plains.

chairman's expenses.

Mr. Bridge moved that be paid to the chairman to cover his expenses on his visit to Wellington. He pointed out that the chairman, through his advocacy, had succeeded in saving the Council the very heavy charges attached to the loss of the case of McLean v. Patea County Council, and the Council should give some slight recognition of the work do ne

Mr. Gane seconded the resolution. He thought the public ought to recognisethe

services of a man doing work for the public. Mr. Brewer was sure the thanks of the Council were due to the chairman for the energetic action he had taken respecting the several things mentioned. Ten pounds would not really cover the chairman's expenses during his absence from Patea. The Chairman stated that he had taken the whole of the evidence down to Wellington with him, and had spent much time in going into the several matters alluded to above with Ministers. OMISSION. No surgeon's report was presented. There was one death reported during the month, viz., that of a man named Humm, who died of consumption. WAIMATE RIDING. Mr. Bridge moved tbat the County Council should appoint a separate riding on the Waimate Plains. If the petition in favor of a new county were not granted, then the newly settled district should be granted a fair representation. He thought it would be necessary to alter the present distribution of seats. You could not in fairness rate persons without giving them a proportionate representation. The Chairman thought it would be necessary to make other alterations. It might be necessary to amend the boundaries altogether; if the proposed new boroughs were constituted, it seemed to him. likely that Hawera ■would only return one member, the Ngaire one, and Waimate two, perhaps. The Wainaate would always meet with eveiy consideration from him. He thought it would be seen that the action of the County Council had been endorsed by the Waimate Road Board. That body had practically adopted the same schedule of works, and also adopted other recommendations made by the Council or their engineer. He believed that much of the agitation in favor of road districts and separation was only a party move. Mr. Bridge said, it would soon be seen whether it was necessary to consider the question at all or not. Messrs. Brewer and Partridge thought it was useless to take any steps in the matter at present. The Chairman expected that the question would shortly be brought forward in the House, when it would be seen whether the proposed separation would be granted by Parliament or*not. WAVERLEY STATION ROAD. The Chairman brought forward the question of some repairs of the road between the county road and Waverly station. The road belonged to the Waverley Town Board, but was being cut up, not by local but by county traffic. He proposed that the Engineer be instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of the repairs required on the Waverley Station road. Mr. Homer agreed that this work was much required, but he objected to the manner in which it was proposed to be done. He would vote against the proposal. Mr. Brewer was surprised that this piece of road should have been advocated by the chairman, seeing that he had opposed the grant to the Hawera Normanby road. However, he was pleased to see • such a change for the better in the mental attitude of the chairman. The Chairman thought it might be well ultimately to declare^ that piece of the road a county road. The Council divided, . when only Mr. Homer opposed the resolution. An account for advertising Patea Mail, £6 17s. Gd., was passed for payment, subject to being certified to by the clerk. The trustees of tlie Wairarana Rabbit district have directed the attention of members of the Legislative Council to the advisability of " affording protection to the natural enemies of the rabbits." Stoats and weasels are probably referred to by the trustees. Talking of rabbits, the following may be news to many of our readers. An exchange says :—": — " Rabbit skinning is being reduced to a science in Victoria. The other day three men — Osborne, Gamble, and Matthews — had a contest as to who could do the most in an hour. At the end of that time Osborne had. skinned 493 rabbits; Gamble, 434; and Matthews, 374."

For remainder of Beading Matter,

see Fourth Page.