RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6570, 7 December 1882, Page 3

RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

A SPECIAL meeting of the Council was held at the Mahurangi Pablic Hall on Wednesday, November 22, at 10 a.m.; and at 12 o'clock of the same day the annual meeting was held. Present : Messrs. Wilson (chairman), Brown, Farrand, Hudson, Greenwood, Munro, Farratid, and Smith. Election of Chairman.—Mr. Edward Brown proposed, "That the thanks of this Council be given to Mr. Wilson for his services as chairman during the past year, and that he be re-elected for the present year." Seconded by Mr. Munro, and carried unanimously. Mr. Wilson thanked the Council for this kind acknowledgment, and for the honour they had done him in reelecting him as their chairman. He hoped he would have more to do in that capacity in future than during the past year. Compensation.— Mr. Bear, having de clined the offer of the Council, proposed that the matter be left to arbitration. The Chair man proposed, "That our former resolution in Mr. Bear's case be adhered to." Seconded by Mr. Smith, and unanimonsly agreed to. SwiNfi-GATE.s.—Permission was grantee to Mr. Vipond to erect a swing-gate at Whangaripu River on certain conditions.

Upper Mahurangi Highway District. —The petition from the ratepayers asking for the district to be merged into the count; was next considered. The Chairman said iu dealing with this question they would have to take into consideration the Local Government measures just passed, and decide upon a course of conduct. When the Government sent their circular the Council were requested to Bay what they thought of it. They made certain recommendations. The Government had done their part, and the Council were ready to do their's. If the County raised £1000 the Government would give £3000. Did the Council intend to forego this offer? Unless the Council intended to work, it was of no use taking over this Highway District. The signatures for merging were 2 to 1 in its favour, and if the Council could give no Talid objection, they would have no right to say nay, and go in the face of the ratepayers. This was not the first petition that had been got up for merging. During the term of the first Council it was done, and signed by a large majority of Upper Mahurangi ratepayers, but for some reason was not presented to the Council. The Government now offer us what we asked for, and we should now say what we mean to do, and if the ratepayers do not approve, let them hang the Act up. Should they do that, road boards would have to undertake the functions of the Council, and occupy the whole of the county with road boards. If we are to be a Council, we mean to work tho Act. The more he examined road boards the less ho

liked them. They are radically wrong in principle, and large sums are wasted by two-

thirds of the road boards. He had made a calculation as to the cost of employing a competent engineer with two assistants for Rodney. One farthing an acre would cover the cost—say, £500 per annum. This would save another £500 in having the work efficiently done, and the works carried out on a system. They would not need to pay an inspector of work or your chairman anything. The road boards are too small to employ engineering skill ; but if once the county system was fairly in operation the

advantage would be a regular system of work, and but few road boards would remain in a year or two. Again, as regards metalling, the Council could purchase a stonebreaking machine that would break 30 yards a day with two men's labour, 14a a day ; so that reckoning Is for quarrying, Is for breaking, and another Is for spreading, the Council could metal the roads for £240 a mile, a rate much cheaper than is being done now. If ever they meant to have good roads they must go in for metal. Then, as to the ways and means, we may expect £400 a year for four years out of the vote for districts north of Auckland. Then, if we strike a county rate, say £1000, this would bring another £3000 from the Government, and give us a revenue of i'SOO per annum. Then the county could have good roads and bridges. He proposed, " That the Upper Mahurangi Highway District be merged into the county as requested by the ratepayers." Mr. Munro seconded the motion. Mr. Farrand was agreeable to the motion if the date for merging be made at the end of the present financial year. The Chairman said we ought to state plainly that we intend to collect a county rate over the whole county. Mr. Hudson said that was a bold and decided policy, and there would be no misunderstanding it. Districts that held out must pay a double rate. Mr. Smith asked, in case this resolution was passed, how would the liabilities be eflected, and in what way did they propose to work it ? He thought if they took them at all they should do it at once. What was to prevent the Hoard from incurring liabilities to the extent of £1000, and leaving it a legacy for the Council? He wanted efficient local government. He was tired of tho state of things that existed. He might say that for three years the road board in his district bad not been legally elected, there was such apathy, and such a want of local business feeling. He was in favour of the county taking a stand. How would they have a road between Warkworth and Port Albert if the Council was done away with? Read boards could not do it. Guide posts were wanted at many places ; road boards won't put them up, and say it is a county work. The Council had continual appeals from road boards for grants, yet the very same people object to the Council striking a rate. His rates to road board amounted to 17s. If that were doubled by a county rate ho should not object. Plenty in his district were willing to pay the double rate. If by paying 17s rates he saved £1 he was gaining 3s, so a second rate would be a gain of another 3s. There were plenty who would sign a petition to do away with County Councils under the impression they would escape paying rates. They looked no further thau this. If he proposed to destroy road boards they would be equally willing to sign, such an objection have the people to paying rates. The roads would then be left to take care of themselves. He would support the motion. In road districts, wherever there was the power, there the board was elected, often the majority of the board living within a stone's throw of each other, and that was the part of the district where the money was spent. Mr. Brown would oppose the merging of tho board, because it would bring antagonism with other boards. He was under the impression they could strike two rates in a merged district. This would crush road boards out of existence. If the ratepayers were prepared to pay a double rate he would do his utmost to spend it to the best advantage. It was impossible for any country to work more economically than this, according to their means. He would rather tho mergsng were not settled ; let it lapse. Mr. Munro said they were doing the Upper Mahurangi ratepayers an injustice by postponing this question. Their petition, which was 2 to 1, to come in, had now been pending a long time, and it should be settled at this meeting. There had been so much jobbery in the Board at various times that the settlers were sick and tired of it, and wished it abolished. TheCliainr.au: If road boards continued, under the new Act, they would be miniature couHcils, and if the whole county is covered with them, as the law requires, then, instead of 15, we should have 30 road boards. Now, considered financially, can funds be spent most economically by one body or by 30 bodies ? When our road boards were first established, the people said we don't want your road boards. When the counties system was commenced in Victoria, the people said we don't want your counties, but now for IS years road boards there have been done away with. The road boards cannot manage the main roads. He regretted very much that the new Act did not allow the County to rate a lesser area than a riding. Under these circumstances it would not be desirable at present to merge the Upper Mahurangi district into the county, seeing they could only collect a three farthing rate in the district, and that will be required for county roads. The only way would be to make it a separate riding which can only be done at the end of tho present Council. Mr, Smithsaidhe would liketoseenineridings for nine members. It would give fairer representation. The Chairman : Mr. Hudson and Mr. Brown approved of such a change. Mr. Hudson, proposed au amendment as follows : '• This Council is of opinion that as they have no power to rate a less area than a riding, they regret not being able at present to merge the Upper Mahurangi Highway District into the county. Seconded by Mr. Farrand and carried unanimously. The Chairman suggested that each councillor should call a meeting in his district and explain to the ratepayers the true position of affairs, as a great many of them make no enquiries and are altogether ignorant of how tho matter stauds. He moved, "That this Council has determined that immediately after the3lst March, 1883, they will strikeand collect a general rate over the whole county,

and that a meeting be called in each riding by the member or members for the same to lay the position of affairs before the ratepayers in accordance with their views." Seconded by Mr. Hudson, and carried | nnanimously. Road to the Sasdspit.—The Chairman moved, "That Mr. Munro, Mr. Greenwood and the mover be appointed a committee to see the landowners with regard to getting a road from Warkworth to the Sandspit." Seconded by Mr. Hudson, and carried unanimously. Mahcp.angi River.—Mr. Munro moved, "That another beacoD be erected between No. 4 aud 5." Seconded by Mr. Hudson. Objection was made that it would not beright to spend ratepayers' money on the river from which they derived no dues. It was thought the Harbour Board should do it.

Matakan-a-Te Arai Road.—Mr. Farrand moved, "That application be made to the Government for balance of £300 grant for Whangaripu Bridge to be expended on other works on the same line of road." Seconded by Mr. Munro, and agreed to. County Roads. —- Mr. farrand moved, "That pipe culverts be constructed on the county roads in the places most urgently needed as early as possible." Seconded by Mr. Brown. Mr. Hudson moved, "This Council authorizes the Chairman to construct three pipe culverts between Messrs. Hood's house and the Hotea Bridge." Seconded byMr. Greenwood. Mr. Munro moved, "That a small sum be expended in repairing the approach to Lower Matakana Wharf." Seconded by Mr. Greenwood. Mr. Munro pointed out the dangerous state of the road at the foot of Junction Hill, Omaha main line road. He moved, "That the road be repaired by widening, at the foot of Junction Hill, Omaha maid line road." Seconded by Mr. Greenwood. It was thought better to put the various works in one general resolution. Mr. Hudson therefore moved, "That the Chairman be authorized to do any necessary work on any of the roads in charge of the Council. Seconded by Mr. Munro, and carried.

Guide Posts.—Mr. Brown was authorised to have a guide post erected on the main road at Wellsford, Matakana-Te Arai Road.

Wire Fknce.—Application was made by Mr. Vipond, asking the Council to make good the amount of subscriptions towards wire fence, promised by the following parties, which the contractors were not able to collect, viz., R. S. Donison, £i ; C. Fry, £3 ; S. R. Morris, £3 ; Daniel Smith (dead), £1. Total, £11. It was resolved to wait till the fencing was completed before giving a reply. This completed the business, and the Council rose at G. 30 p.m.—[Own Correspondent.]