KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 141, 18 June 1907, Page 2

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. S. J. Carman (chairman)» J. Bruce, W. Morton, 0. Mclntyre, G. H. Guthrie, and H. Fowler. Leave of absence was granted to Or. Hockley. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows:— Prom Samuel Strawbridge, Waituna West, for permission to take three yards of gravel from Valley road pit—Granted. From H. F. Manning, askinr Council to cancel his No. 47; as it would be a great loss to Him to finish it.—Granted.' From Alfred Richmond, asking that caveat against certain roads in Beaconsfield township be removed.— I-eft to Chairman. From Rangitikei County Council, stating it desired to make no charge for the services of the Engineer re bridge inquiry.—The Rangitikei County Council was thanked. From W. and T. Duncan, Otairi Station, asking. price at which Council would sell two wire ropes lying by Pukihikura stream.—Referred to Cr. Hockley with to act. From D. Sinclair, stating that it would be two weeks more before he could resume work.—A further claim to be made for insurance pay. From W. G. Tolley, Rewa, asking Council to assist in cost of metalling approach to his score.—Granted. From A. IN. Galpin, offering £1 a year rent for lease of gravel reserve, Mangawliarariki.—Request to be granted as soon as reserve is vested in Council. From New Zealand Insurance Co., stating that the tariff would be 35s for labourers and 8s for office workers.—The Chairman said this was double the tariff of last year, but apparently all the • companies had come to an agreement. —Premiums of £26 2s to be paid. From W. Phyn, stating he had left his phaeton on the road unattended on stli June, and inviting Council to prosecute him.—The Chairman said the resolution passed at last meeting would be put in force, but the Council would not be dictated to. * ' From James E. Wallace, for permission to erect fence alongside road line.—Granted. From R. Booking, Kimbolton, calling attention to filling a crossoreek in Waugh street, it being trodden do#n by cattle. —Referred to 1 Engineer. From Joseph Carey, drawing attention to state of RaDgiwahia cemetery fence.—Referred to Cemetery Committee to report. From H. Fowler, chairman of Kimbolton Cemetery Committee, requesting that a road be formed into the cemetery.—To be done, oosfc not to exceed £10, and to be charged to Peep-o'-Day, ' Kimbolton and Kiwitea Ridings and Cemetery Committee in equal proportions. From F. Stowck, for payment for felling bush on road line, due since 1904. Passed for payment. From J. Kraiger, stating that meeting of had resolved to ask Council to fence the Kawhatou Valley road at dangerous places.— Engineer to give estimate of cost by next meeting. From John Campbell, giving order in favour of J. Capper for £3 of his wages. —Order accepted. From R. O. French, stating that ford over the Kiwitea onMcKenzie's line was in a dangerous condition, and pointing out the need of a bridge. —Engineer to report with view of improvement being effected. The Treasurer reported that amounts had been received as follows: —Rates, etc., ' £127 10s 2d; cemeteries, £5 12s 6d; Government grants, £5. The General Account at the bank was Dr. ££608 6s Bd, The amounts to be passed for payment were—General, £759 Is 4a; Loans, £216 Is 6d; Land Fund, No. 2 £2 16s 7d Land Fund; £248 10s; total, £1226 8s lOd. The Engineer reported that the bridge on Kawhatau road had been satisfactorily completed, but the approaches were very soft, and probably would have to be fasoined. The contract for the delivery of metal on Sinclair's road was pro-

greasing slowly. The contract for delivery of metal on Kiwitea-Tapuae and Pakihikura roads would have to be deferred, and delivery of metal on Kimbolton road. Raugiwahia, would nor be effected this autumn. It was also doubtful whether anything could bo done in the matt'-i* of erection of bridge over I'ap.rmi stream. The settlers in Umutoi "were now anxious that the formation contract should be let, as there was little probability of the Roads Department doing the work. One of the settlers interested had sent in a tender.* Plans and specifications for Martou"Block bridge had been forwarded to the Minister for Public "Works, and application made for authority to construct the bridge. Owing to the continuous wet weather the heavy traffic was doing a great deal of harm to the roads, the motor "waggon parti jularly. The motor waggon invariably ran in the centre of the road. He suggested that all roads be closed to all heavy traffic until the end of September. A portion of the Forest road was so cut up that it was beyond repair this winter, owing to firewood carting. It Was resolved— That the Council give effect to the recommendation of the Engineer that all roads be closed to heavy traffic, in accordance with the bylaws, until September. That the Engineer be authorised to arrange with Mr Thompson to *t3ep the Manaia road open, also to "have the slip opposite Caird Bros.' 83.3 tion cleared, the cost not to exC33d £3. That the arrangement re telephone sarvice with Sandon be left to Cr. Hockley. That Mr Fankhauser be given permission to take 12 yards of gravel from Rangiwahia pit. That the Oounty Solicitor be instructed to prosecute all persona after this date in accordance with notice published in papers. That applications for the position of poundkeeper at Rangiwaliia be called for, and that Mr Wisdom be appointed pro tem. The Chairman moved that the Engineer be instructed to make a division of the Oounty into three Hidings, taking into consideration, as far as possible, community of interests, mileage, valuation and number of ratepayers, for the comsideration of this Council.

O. Fowler seconded the motion pro forma, and said that though the carrying out of the proposal •would probably bring about-more equal representation, it would lay the County open to another danger. At present, as an instance, the Hautapu Riding only paid £700 and £1000 was spent on the maintenance of xoads in the Riding, consequently it could be said that it neither paid charitable aid or any portion of tlje cost of management. On the other hand, if the County were divided as proposed and the three lower Ridings were put into one it would be possible for the ratepayers of the Kimbolton township to elect the three representatives. Cr. Guthrie said as the administration of- the County was now being oarried on the change proposed was not needed, and it would be better to wait and see what change was effected by the new Counties Act before considering such a proposal. In regard to Cr. Fowler's remarks, he would point out that if the expenditure and receipts for the Hautapu Riding were compared during the past 20 years it would be found that his Riding hadpaid more than it had received. Bfe would admit that the Riding was now being fairly treated. The Chairman said he was pleased to find the Council was satisfied with the principle of rating now in force. As regards his Riding, the effect of the proposal would be very slight, and he could claim to be praotically neutral on the matter. It had been said that certain Ridings were deriving benefits from the rates of others, and no doubt the only fair way in a County where in one Riding there were 90 miles of roads and but 12 in another, was to rate on the principle now in force. Cr. Fowler said because he was opposed to the motion it should not be implied that he was in favour of the present system of rating. Or. BrucK said it was evidently the intention of tl;e framers of the Counties Act that the Ridings should be of such an area that the representative could easily go over it and exercise some control over the work needed. Such would not be the case if large Ridings were formed, as proposed in the motion, as three Councillors would not be so likely to supervise Riding affairs as well as one. Cr. Morton took the same view, and Or. McNeal pointed out that the disproportion in the valuation of Ridings would probably be corrected by the raising of those that were now low. The Chairman said he was glad to have obtained the views of the Council on the question, especially in view of his attendance at the Comities' Conference. The motion was then withdrawn. Mr Jackson waited on the Council on behalf of the Kimbolton Rabbit Committee to inquire what action the Council proposed to take to bring about simultaneous action in poisoning rabbits. It had been suggested that action should be taken in the Poliangina County at the same time. The Chairman replied that the Council looked to the Rabbit Committees to fix the date, and the Council was prepared to advertise the date Tand provide the poisoned grain. He said the settlers at Waituna proposed to take action with the rest of the district.