OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8305, 8 June 1907, Page 2

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

* The above Council met yesterday. Present—Crs. Wheeler (chairman), Rowling, Re id, Pearce, Vincent and Wrightson. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was received and dealt with by the meeting : — . From R. Woodman, Colyton, desiring to know how it was that his rates were th& same as his neighbour's, who had 150 ,acres _ more land.

From J. McLennan, Halcombe, again asking for a gully near White's Crossing" to be fenced. He pointed out that the Council had promised this three years ago. The writer also complained of a pool of water being allowed to exist near his woolshed. When there was heavy rain, it flooded his property. From Jas. Purkiss and Son, protesting against the road line near their property being leased to anyone, as they had just erected a new fence on their boundary, and it crossed the creek six times in 22 chains; it would be an expensive fence to keep in repair if the road were leased to persons to graze cows on.

From Robert. Brown, calling attention to the fact that there were a large number of cows permitted to graze on Midland road, to the detriment of the drains in that locality. From J. Jep.son, Bunnythorpe, stating that he had put 80 yards of metal on roads at Taonui, and from the Dried Milk Factory to hotel corner. The rut needed raking in badly. Metal had been put on from Proctor's Hill to Mr Print's, and it Would take a lot more metal to put the road in order. Water tables required to be cleaned out. Notice had been given to all settlers to trim their trees, and they had all promised to do so. A bridge on the Feilding road had also been repaired. The decking, however, was somewhat decayed on all the bridges on this road. A man had been put on to clean out water tables, fill in ruts, etc., on Reid's Line, and the Bunnythorpe road, and he suggested that he be permitted to keep this man on for the present, as there was a lot of work which required attention.

From Cr. Rowling, enclosing copy of letter he had sent to Mr Burgess, contractor, advising the latter as to any damage that might occur through the dangerous condition he had left gravel pit on Watershed road. From Roads Department, stating that a copy of the specifications and drawings in connection with the Gorge'' Bridge had reached the office all right, but no copy of fhe contract, which was esisential. —Clerk instructed to send same.

From Roads Department, re inspection of timber for Gorge Bridge. The Department suggested that the Council might be able to arrange with the Railway or Public Works Department to inspect same, but the cost would have to be met out of the bridge moneys. From M. O'Connor, Gorge Bridge contractor, forwarding lists of timber required for his contract, also stating order for same had been given to J. A. S. Murray, of New South Wales. From G. L. R. Scott, stating that he was unable to give the area of laud taken for road division at Warne's. The area was stated on the tracing sent to Wellington. Mr Scott also forwarded two traces, comprising all the road now taken under the Government warrant through Keu Keu. From Department of Agriculture, stating it would be necessary for the Council to forward the special order to the Department before ragwort, gorse and pennyroyal could be gazetted as noxious weeds. From Clutha County Council, forwarding resolutions passed by them with reference to present system of valuation, in which it was suggested that, as the present system was costly and presses unduly upon the already heavily burdened taxpayers, the members of various Councils could make all valuations.

From Secretary New Zealand County Council Conference, stating that a conference of delegates from various Councils would be held in the Town Hall, Wellington, on 9th July, for the purpose of considering the Local Government Bill, and various other important matters. BUSINESS TRANSACTED. Matter of dangerous state of metal pit on Spur road left in Cr Rowlings' hands. . Complaint re cattle straying on Midland road left to Crs Vincent, Rowling, and Pearce to attend to. Purkins and Sons' complaint re Council giving a lease of road line near their property at Halcombe was held in abeyance. A Colyton resident's complaint re increase of his rates was read, but no action was taken. It was decided that the Council could not endorse the resolution passed by the Clutha County Council re proposed new method of valuation. The opinion was expressed that it was not advisable to have each County making their own valuations as they would not be uniform. It was decided to appoint the Chairman, Mr Wheeler, as the Council's delegate to the Municipal Conference to be held in July.' It was resolved to supply Harrison Bros, with some old culvert timber, with which to provide an exit for their children over the Raukawa backwater during flood time. The following alterations were made on the rate roll:—Thomas Pekin to Florence Day, section 16, block 14, Oroua ; James Metcalf to Joseph Bartlett, part section 53; D. 0. Shute to F. and C. R. Rickard, section 46, block III.; Joseph Darragh to Thomas Shortall; Administrator Donaldson estate to John Hutcheson, section 17; A. A. Macdonald to W. P. Shave, section 33.

Mr Tremewan, roadman at Ashhurst, reported to the Council that someone persistently blocked u" a culvert on Todd's road. Mr Tremewan was instructed to immediately report the matter to the police with a view to bringing the offender to justice. RESOLUTIONS. The following motions were carried : — A special order was passed enabling the Council to borrow its share of cost of Gorge Bridge. That the action of Cr. Rowling in arranging with Mr Burgess for I supply 'ojf metal on BunnythorpeAshhnrst Road, and letting culvert t? Entwisle, on Penelope Rood, be approved. That the Railway Department be requested to advise this Council when they intend to remove the buildings and cut down the flax at tiie Ashhurst Crossing as per Council's letter of May 13th. _ That tenders be called for following metal:—Otangaki Riding, viz., Palmerston Road 100 yards, Ashhurst streets and Creamery Road 200 yards, Bunnythorpe Road 50 yards; Hiwimu Riding, Bunnythorpe Road SO yards, Palmerston Road 150

yards; and that conditions be left with Cr. Vincent; also that Crs. Vincent and Rowling accept tenders and have metalling done at most favourable time. That Mr Caldwell's offer to erect fence be accepted, and that the fence be placed on boundary. The fence will be an -8-wire one, five posts to the chain, cost to be £1 per chain. That ragwort, gorse, and pennyroyal be declared noxious weeds m the County. - TREASURER'S REPORT. • Riding Accounts:—Mangone Riding, dr., £14 16s 3d; Rangitawa, dr., £62'7s lOd; Makino, dr., £224 19s 4d; Taonui, dr., £487 17s. 3d; Hiwinui, dr., £87 2s sd; Otangaki, dr., general account, cr., £325 13s; in> terest account, cr., £17 8s 3d; No. 21 loan account, cr., £4260 19s 6d; geneial account, amount of general rat-e levied, £4813 7s Id; amount collected, • £331 15s 2d; amount outstanding 7th June, £4481 lis lid. MENZIES' FORD BRIDGE. Cr. Pearce presented a petition from 151 settlers of the Oroua and Pohangina Counties and the town ot Feilding, asking, the Council to take steps to erect a bridge at Menzies' Ford, at Colyton. It had been suggested that the bridge should be similar to the one erected by Mr E. Short further up, and it was stated the bridge would not cost more than £ICOO. The chairman said the question was, would a suspension bridge satisfy the petitioners when it was erected, and whether, if the bridge was needed at all, it would not be better to erect a more substantial one. But in any case nothing could be done for more than twelve months. The Council's resources were pledged up to the utmost at the present time. Cr. Vincent took a similar view to that of the chairman. He certainly thought that if they were going to have a bridge at all, it should be of a more substantial nature. The petition set forth that the interests of public safety and the importance of this crossing as a public highway would justify the erection of such a bridge, especially in view of the fact that suspension bridges can be erected at such a reasonable cost. It was finally resolved that in reply to the petitioners for a light traffic bridge at Menzies' Ford, they be informed that this Council cannot deal with the question until the completion of the Gorge bridge, and that the matter be held over for the present and estimate of the cost be obtained. REPORT ON PROPOSED DEVIATION. The chairman reported that having visited the Pemberton Road with Crs. Pearce and Rowling, and having inspected its junction with tho Feilding-Ashhurst Road, and looked at the suggested deviation, they were met by Messrs Francis and Taylor, with whom the question of compensation was discussed. These gentlemen talked of a large sum for severance, and fencing to be done by the Council. The loan moneys were insufficient to pay such compensation, and as it would be a great mistake to make a road witii a grade of 1 in 5, he (the chairman) was of opinion that the Council should make the Pemberton lload so as to provide access for the settlers therecn; which, if that- part tow ards the Feilding-Ashhursc Road were culverted, would allow a thoioughfare for stock, and the settlers at that end would have access by the Feilding-Ashhurst Road. This would provide for present requiiements, and when it became necessary to have a good graded road, perhaps the owneis would be more willing to help on the improvements. —Report adopted GORGE BRIDGE. A special order authorising the be rrowing of £-0660 for the purpose of providing the Council's proportion of the cost of erecting a bridge across the Manawatu river, near Ashhurst, as set fox th in the Government warrant previously gazette!, was carried, interest to be at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable half-yearly, the currency of siu>h lean to be for 41 years, or until such loan is paid off