RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5632, 4 December 1879, Page 3

RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

The mnua' m • t'n > n' t'w j'rove Council was held at t'M olii -o o" t»-e couccil on Wednesday, Xuveur er I'l-ej-nt : Messrs. Palmer, Carrie, Buckton, Cutforth, Shepherd, Brown, and Campbell. The minutes having been read and confirmed, the council proceeded to The Election - of Chairman.—Mr. Brown proposed, 11 That Mr. Palmer be re-elected chairman of the council." Mr. Buckton seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Tenders.—The following tenders were then opened :—Contract Xo. S, Ist section of deviation, Postman's Hill to Puhoi. Win Snook, £155 10s ; A. O. Davi'-.s (accep'ed), £197 103 ; Joseph Paul and Co., £*224 ; . \\ illiatn Mcfclroy, £225 : James Clayden, £330. Contract, No. 9, 2nd section deviation, Postman's Hill to Puhoi : Jos-ph Paul aud Co., £4*2-4; William McElroy, £445; James Clayden, £4G5. Contract No. 10, deviations,Hofcea : Jam?9Clayden(ae:epte>l), £130; William Snook, £14"; William McElroy, £150. Contract No. 11, repairs, \\ arkworth to H >tea : James Clayden (accepted), £75 ; William McElroy, £195. Contract No. 12, repairs, Hotea Bridge and Port Albert: Joseph aud Alfred Becroft, £340, metal 10a per yard. Contract No. 13 : Joel Grant (accepted), £G0 ; John and Alfred Wilson, £G0; J. and A. Becroft, £74. Coutract No. 14, between To liana aud vVhangarei : John and Alfred Wilson, £163 ISa ; J. and A. Becroft, £322 10a. Contract No. 15, between W«rkworth and Russell's Bridge: William Shaw (accepted), £49 ; Jo3eph Wech, £52 15$ ; James Clayden, £55; William Snook, £95 103. It was resolved to call fresh tenders for No 12, and have it divided into two contracts. No. 14 was then amended, and let to Messrs. John and Alfred Wilson for £125. Coutract No. 9 had to stand over, one landowner on the line having sent a written notice to the council refusing permission to commence the works, and for tiie further reason that the amount exceeded the vote available f«»r it. It was fouud that the vote originally divided by the council needed some slight modification, one sectiou having a balance, whilst another had a deficiency.—Mr. Shepherl thought that as the requirements of one section were satisfied, the surplus remaining should go to the oth«;r section He would not interfere with the amoutit allotted to the so'ith ; uuless they did thi* they would be making good both ends uf the road, and leaving the middle undone. He moved, " That contract No. 12 be modified, with a view of bringing the work within the means at the disposal of the council; that the work be divided into two sections, tenders to be I called for each; that the chairman and I Mr. Carrie be authorised to call for and ■ accept them."—'Seconded by Mr. Brown. | —The Chairman quite agreed with Mr. Shepherd. Under the circumstances th*-y should give way, aa it was now* fouud that they had a balance left on the works Bouth of the Hoteo. whilst oil the north Bide they ran short, which they could not forsee when they made the division. Tliey therefore should accommodate both districts, and he would support Mr. Shepherd's motion.— Mr. Cutforth asked if the Government hound them to spend so much on the south side of the l lotea aud so much ou the north side, so j that they could not have altered it? The difficulty arose from tac arrangement of the I couucil only. They now found that one part 1 of the road nt-eded more than another.—The motion was then put, and passed unanimously. Thk £17 Deposit.—An application from Mr. Donald McKay, Central Waipu, for this money was considered. The handwriting did not correspond with the teuder, and it had been posted at Welsford and not at Waipu. It was agreed that the mon«-y be handed to Mr. Shepherd, who would make inquiries at Wellaford, aud, if satisfied, hand it to Mr. McKay. Extension of Time. — Mr. McElroy ap plied for one month's extension of time for contract No. 3, Granted. Road : Wainui to Kaukafakapa.—A letter from the chairman of the Wainui District Board stated that the £10 voted at the last meeting of the conncil was not required for that work, it being already completed.— Mr. Carrie moved "That the £10 referred to be handed to the Waiuui District Board to expend where they pleased.—Mr. Shepherd objected* to deaiiug with the questiou in the absence of Mr. Elias. The letter under consideration was a reUeutiou on him. From his bearing and position here they should give Mr. Elias an opportunity to explain before disposing of it. Dog Collars, —Mr. Carrie asked if Mr. Munro had been communicated with on the resolution passed at last meeting of the couucil.—The Chairman said the clerk had had a conversation with Mr. Munro ou the subject, and he believed, from the arrangements that had been made, they would not much longer have occasion to complain. Mr. Munro would see that the law was enforced. Kaurowiiero Deviation.—An application from the Upper Mahurangi District Board, asking assistance from the Council to carry out this very necessary and important work, was considered. The work was a main road connecting several districts, aud, therefore, was properly a county road. It was approved by the Council 12 months ago, and £50 voted for it, but, still, no commencement was made.—Mr. Carrie said no doubt it was a work of very great importance and desirable, but the letter gave the Council no data. It did not state the distance, the number of properties it passed through, or the nature of the work required. He suggested that the matter be referred back to the board for further information. The Chairman said most of the information asked by Mr. Carrie was already in the , hands of the Council. Mr. Hfnly, when a member of that Council, had inspected the line of the proposed deviation, and given an estimate of cost. He would ask the clerk to read a letter that had been received a few months back from the chairman of the Komokoriki District Board on the same subject. Komokoriki was willing to assist, as well as Upper Mahurangi. He had no objection to Mr. Carrie's suggestion, if it would be more satisfactory. The letter from Komokoriki Board was read accordingly. Mr. Shepherd eaid they wanted to avoid compensation as much as possible. Ho thought the road board could make better terms with landowners tliau the couucil. Mr. Cutforth : I suppose you moan that if the council carry out the work, they will stop the subsidy to those two boards. Tauiioa.—Mr. Cutforth moved "That the sum of £20 be granted for opening a road from the Tauhoa boundary to connect with the new main load, the money to be taken from the county rate." Seconded by Mr. Buckton. Mr. Shepherd would support tho motioo, if the money was taken from the county rate. Mr. Carrie mcved as an amecdment, "That the j-20 asked, bo not granted." Seconded by Mr. Campbell. For the amendment: The Chairman, Messrs. j Carrie and Campbell; against: Messrs. Cutforth, Buckton and Shepherd. The | chairman gave his casting vote for the amendment, which was carried. Tauhoa Library.—Mr. Buckton proposed that £5 be voted to the Tauhoa Library. Tli*y wanted that amount to make up the sum required in order to socure the subsidy. Mr. Carrie strongly objected. If the council did it in one case they would have to assist all the libraries in the county. Mr. Brown : Roads are more important to settlers than books. The motion was lost.

Closing Roads.—Alberfcland North District.—Mr. Shepherl m jve I "That thi council consent to closing Uie roads in Alhertl.nd Xorth District, as requcited by tile district board, the plan of which is now lying on t'ie table." Secoudel by Mr. Cutforth, and pisaed unanimously. Tr.iveu.ixg Expenses. — Mr. Buckton moved "Tnatthe usaal travelling expenses b? allowed for attendiug meeting of council." Seconded by Mr. Shepherd, aud passed un.initno.isly. Mr. Shepherd moved a vot-j of thanks to trio chairman for his valuable services during the past year. Mr. Carrie had much pleasure in seconding the motion, which was passed unanimously. The clnirnian sui'ably acknowledged the compliment, and the meeting separated.— [Own Corresp nd-nt.]