KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 167, 24 July 1907, Page 2

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present: Ore. Carman (chairman), Guthrie, McNeal, Hockley, Morton, Fowler and Mclntyre. The inward correspondence waa dealt with as follows :— From Frank F. Hockley, stating that he had sold the cable at Pakihikura stream to Mr H. W. Duncan for £s.—lt was reported that Mr Duncan had carted away other material. Engineer to inquire and make a oharge for other material. From Alfred N Galpin, stating he was prepared to pay only 10a an acre for lease of reserves. —The Council has no control of Section 28, and considers offer for Section 24 too low. From J. R. Johnston, asking for particulars of expenditure in the County.—To be supplied. From A. Daziell, for permission to erect fence alongside Mangarere road; also asking that reserve leased to Mr Mnnro be transferred to him.—Prmission given to fence subject to approval of Engineer. From J. G. Ackerman, asking for renewal of lease of reserve.— Granted. From Director of Feilding Technical Sohool, asking for contribution towards bnilding fund.— Or. Guthrie pointed out the advantages to .be derived both for the country and the town by the establishment of a good technical sohool.—£lo voted. ! From F. Kensington, for permission to take metal from metal reserve 62, block 9.—Referred to Or. ! Hockley with power to act. From F. 8.. Mcßoth, asking that road through his property be dosed.—Consideration deferred pending further information. From Hon. John Bryce, consenting to deviation to cross road being made through his property, and undertaking to make no claim in respect to the land required. He was prepared to construct the road at his own cost except that he requested that pipes be supplied by the Council, and desired the use of the road machine without cost. Hβ would expect the Council to pay for the fencing of the land and legal costs of transfer. Ore. Hockley and Guthrie spoke in favour of granting; the requests, pointing one that Mr Bryce wae really giving over three acres of land, valued at more than £60, besides the expense he would incur in the construction of the roan. A ratepayer who was willing'to expend so much on a road should be assisted. The Chairman was of opinion that if Mr Eryce desired the road made he should bear the whole of the cost, for in case the land were sub-divided and sold the road-, would be made ' out of loan at not a penny cost to the County. New work should be done out of loan. On the motion of Or. Morton, seconded by Or. Guthre, it was re?; solved that Mr Bryce's offer be accepted, Mr Bryce to give the land for deviation and form the road according to specifications prepared by the County Engineer, the Oounoil to supply the necessary pipes for culverts, also that he, be allowed the use of the road machine for one . month, Mr Bryce to pay for the man in charge of the machine and any breakage; Mr Bryce to wait for payment until provision has been made by the Council to meet the charge. From L. E. Jackson, suggesting that the cost of rabbit poison should be a charge on the rates, as was the oase in regard to bird poison some years ago. He also, suggested that the Council should move/ in the direction of getting the districts of the rabbit and noxious weeds inspectors made smaller, or the duties separated. Mr Jackson attended and explained his suggestions.—lt was resolved that Oounoil take steps to provide rabbit poison free for, ratepayers; also that representation-be made to the Department pointing out that for effective inspection the present districts are far too large. From W. Jones, offering, to pay 25s a year for lease of graveliftserve on which he is settled.—Accepted. ' From Treasury, stating it would be necessary to make a fresh special order for loan of £60.—N0 loan to be raised, as not now required, From John Campbell, giving an order in favour of Mr Capper.— Order accepted. ■ From Hamish Wilson, stating that river bank road leading to the Misses Wilson's properties was washed away. Referred to Engineer with power to aot. From J. G. Wilson, protesting against the properties of the Misses Wilson having been included in Waituna Hill special rating district and another.—The protest was considered by some members to be justifiable. From H. W. C, Henderson, offering rent of 10s per acre for lease of reserve 110, last occupied by late Mr P. Haggarty.—Accepted. From D. Davies, asking permission to cut firewood on road opposite his property.—Granted.

REPORTS, The Chairman reported at length on the business done at the Comity Conference. Or. Hockley complimented the Chairman on the information eopplied by the report, which, he said. was fuller and clearer than had been supplied through the press also on the Chairman having been appointed a member of the Executive, a clear proof that he had impressed his personality on the Conference. Cr. Guthrie also joined in thanking the Chairman for his work at the Conference. The Treasurer reported receiving £1273 Sβ Id on general account, £4 5s on cemetery, and £10 on land fund. The general account at the bank was a debit balance of £1679 16s 8d.,. The amount to be passed for payment was £2083 6b d. The Engineer reported in respect to Contract No. 40,, delivery of metal on Sinclair's line, that he intended to enforce . the penalty unless the work was finished without further delay. The work of forming and culverting Lagoon road was finished, but the work of erection of bridge had been held over until the spring, as it was impossible to get timber to the site. The work on Umutoi road was in progress. The heavy rain in June had caused a considerable amount of damage to roads in the County. The most serious damage occurred at the big filling on Mackay's line, where the culvert and 80 feet of road were washed away. In his opinion it was caused by the culvert being too small. There had been considerable difficulty in renewing the culvert owing to continued wet weather and other causes. The road was opened for wheel traffic on Thursday. An extensive subsidence was taking places

of the Kimbolton road at Peep-o - Day. He was having it carefmly watohed, so that in the event of a sadden drop no time would be lost in widening the road. A washout occurred on the Terrace road, Oroua "Valley, which was likely to cause trouble, as there was a possibility of the road slipping away altogther. He had been informed that Wilson's load, near Rata, had washed away. He would make an inspection as soon as possible. Fraser Greek bridge, on the Hangawharariki road, had been reported unsafe. He had examined it and given instructions for its repair. He suggested that about seven chains of the Khawatau Cliff road be fenced in the dangerous places, and one point of it widedned, at a cost of £20. He would not recommend the lower part of the road to be fenced, as the outside formation was made ground and fljjAJbe disturbed. A bre»»fcwork had Wm built opposite the waterfall and road widened. Oue or two carriers were still persistently defying Gouncil in regard to heavy traffic. As instructed some years ago, he kid made a rough estimate for j •widening the narrow portion of the Kflwitea bridge. His .estimate then ■wiSi £1800, and he had no reason now to alter his figures. It had been suggested that the narrow portion could be widened for light traffic on the present piers, but this could not be done, and besides it would be a Mistake to make a bridge for light traffic on a through road, as there would be no means of regulating such traffio. The bridge should be strong enough to carry the greatest number of stock that could be placed on any one span, and taking sheep for data a span of 45 feet by 8 feet wide would carry 180, a weight of about 8 tons. There was a danger of the bridge being left high and dry at some future time, as there was nothing to prevent the whole of the flat on the south side bteing washed away. It would be more costly to protect the bridge than the value of the structure itself. GENERAL BUSINESS. The Engineer be instructed to prosecute anyone found breaking the heavy traffic by-law, or leaving vehicles, timber or produce on County roads. * It was resolved that the hours on Which the Council office shall b open to the pubilc shall be from 10 to 12.30 and 1.30 to 3. That Mr Guthrie be allowed to take a few loads of Bpil from State Farm roaid. •At the request of the Rangiwahia Cemetery Committee it was resolved that £7 be granted from Rangiwahia Riding and £3 10s each from the Hautapu and Peep-o-Day Ridings towards oost of picket fence and fOotway.