WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6973, 24 March 1884, Page 6

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting (adjoarned) was held on Friday, Mr. Oliver Mays in the chair. Present: Messrs. Sinclair, Cantwell, Lang, Smyth, Monk, and Hardy.

Helexsville.—A letter was received from the Helensville Town Board asking for a certain modification in Fulton's contract, to which modification Fulton agreed.—lt was resolved : That the Council agree to it oe. condition that an equivalent amount be done in cutting on the road from the Helenavilla Hotel as is provided to be done in the original contract, and that the Town Board pay to Fulton the proposed extra 3d per yard, the new work to be done in a manner satisfactory to the Engineer.

West Coast Mails.—A communication was received from the Postmaster, to the Council, stating that it was the intention of the department to forward mails to the North. The Postmaster, therefore, inquired whether the Council would construct, within a reasonable time, a bridge over the Waitangi, about a mile from the Makarau river. The department could not carry out its intention in respect to forwarding m*il» North, until that bridge should be built. —The Secretary was instructed that there were, at present, no funds ; but, that the first funds which should come into the hands of the Council for appropriation, would be to the object set out in the Postmaster's letter.

Helensville to Pobt Albert. — The Chairman read a communication respecting the road from Helensville to Port Albert.— The Chairman cited the agreement with the Minister for Public Works for an expenditure on tho road from Helensville to Port Albert. It appeared from that agreement that it was at the discretion of the Council where the money should be expended. The Helensville Town Board considered the money was for Stewart's Flat. But nothing whatever was said abont Stewart's Flat. The agreement jast read was for £500, to be expended on the above road. There was, however, an original agreement, onder which the Government was to grant £850: that is, A'soo for the road from Helensville to Port Albert, the remaining £350 was to be for the main East Coast Road.— Mr. Sinclair thought tnat the metalling of Stewart'a Flat was the more important work. It was a bog—no vehicles could pass it.—Mr. Hardy : fcor horses; horses even are up to their girths.—Mr. Monk : You should recollect that it is desirable to preserve communication with the railway as closely as possible. It was important to feed the railway for the benefit of the district. It was possible by leaving one little spot neglected that a large country district would be practically shut up. There ought to be works constructed progressively outward.— The Chairman said the VYaitemata Council had got £350 to spend, Rodney £1200, Hobson Counol £400, Wbangarei £.~>oo, Bay of Islands £1600, Idaogonui £950. That represented an aggregate sum of £5500. As to the £500 to be expended upon the North* road, that was disposed of. There was a re* presentation that Lucas Creek Bridge wanted repairs; the Wade Bridge also wanted repairs, and repairs were also required for Dairy Flat.— Mr. Sinclair believed it would cost £300 at least to metal Stewart's Flat.—lt was resolved that the Engineer prepare the necessary specifications for this work.

Local Stone.—The Chairman said that the Engineer had reported upon the existence of stone in the locality, which might be ased for the purpose. It was to be recollected that the Council was obliged to pay 30a for scoria. The local stone therefore would effect a considerable saving.—It was agreed that the local stone should be used.

Colonial Road —The Chairman read a communication from the Rodney County Council, asking the co-operation of the Waitemata Council in representing to the Government the necessity (1) of a main road to the North; (2) "and for an endowment. He said the argument running through the communication was in effect, that as the Government had constructed various lines of railways in the South Island, they had constructed roads to placts which were not approached by any railway. The grounds upon which these roads were made were that as the colonists in all parts of the colony were taxed to construct and maintain railways, those parts of the colony where there was no railway there was no benefit from the taxes which they had to pay into the consolidated fund. Hence the taxpayers in these unbenefited places had claimed to have in lieu of a railway a good road constructed through their distriot. The Government had recognised this claim in the South Islaod by constructing and maintaining what waa called a " colonial road" solely at their own cost. The County Cooncil of Rodney Were of opinion that as the settlers of the North were taxed, as well as other places, for railand they were in real want of road communication, they had a claim quite as good as the settlers of the South Island to have a road of this character given to them. The road suggested by the communication was the North-road by the East Coast.— Mr. Sinclair thought the East Coast road wis in a better condition than that by the Weat Coast. It would also appear that the V\ est Coast was a more important road in many respects, as opeuing up a large extent of new country.—Mr. Monk thought there was a great deal of force in the remarks of Mr.

Sinclair.—The communication was referral to a committee of the Council to retnrt npon. Lucas' CR*«._Mr. Agnew appeared aa a deputation from the aeitlera in this district, to point oat the dangerous character of a particular piece of road, wbiob he said wm tamed a bole that was actually dangerous tn life.—lt was agreed that Mr. Agnew ahpiiM make the necessary repairs and charge the Council. • Lucas' Cbkkk Bridge.— Mr. Agnew re. ported that the stringers of this bridge were quite gone. It was necessary to have it looked to.—lt wis resolved that the Enci. neer should inspect tbe bridge, snd do what was necessary tor making it safe. Bibkknhead.—A letter was received from Mr. Hawkins, drawing the attention 0 f Council to a certain clause in the Road Boards Act.—The Chairman said that Mx Hawkins was evidently labouring under some misapprehension. It was necessary to state that the Council acted wholly under the pro visions of the Counties Act, and had nothing whate\ er to do with the Road Boards Act. >Vai: ui.—The Chairman of the Ro»<j Board di. ?w attention to the necessity of cer tain work at Pardon's Hill, and some .mall works, also tbe trench.—The Board agreed that the Kng neer ahauld do theamali work* and the ditch. At present there was not sufficient funds .or the larger work. Daisy Flat BiiDQi— The Engineer re. ported that this b-idge was in a very bad state—Ordered that the Engineer prepare plans and specification .or a new bridge. ads, Bkii Git.—The Engineer reported this tndge as in an exceedingly dangerous condition. One of the hung on the bridge, instead of the bridge depending on the pier. The wood was new. The first fresh would take away a part of it and it was only a question of a little time when the whole structure would be taken away altogether. (It was stated that the bridge was erected only three year* ago )— Ihe Chairman ; It is the old story, a rasckllv business ; work badly done; the design imperfect and unscientific; and the piles actually not driven, but inserted loosely into the bank and connected by a capsule.—lt was agreed that the Engineer should make a specification for the repair of the bridge ia terms of his report, at a cost of £230. tu s . AJ!fn Bridges CossTßucrios Act.— L hairman read a communication from the Minister of Public Works re £716 voted -aerthe above Act, and intimating that Mr. Hales was the engineer authorised to certify for the work actually done - intimation was also made that the department shou. i be advised of the time and amount of the fir«t payment. ?°u BT i> HOAD —The Chairman said that the Lake Board had appropriated £350. but the lowest tender was £145. The diftarencs had been duly notified to the

. _ krh kao.—Mr. Deacon called attention to the tvumeu-road, offering to fascinc ~o r a chain. Ordered that tenders be cilled for, unless Mr. Deacon would undertake to do the work for 30« a chain. Waitakkrki Petition.—A petition waa presented for the division of a Road Board district under section ♦ of the Road Boards Act, and the constitution of a new district according to boundaries set out in the peti. tion. The Chairman said that the nece*. sary evidence had been taken, but there waa an important question raised by Mr. Hesketh w better assuming everything was perfectly regular the Council had power to do what was required.—lt was resolved that tha opinion of the Council be taken as to the power of the County Council under the Road Boards Act, ISS2, respecting the Waitakerei East district.

CAkTi.vo Shell (De Grut's Tender).—lt was revolved to allow the tenderer to shell from Orewa Beach in Leu of metal front quarry, provided he adheres to the original offer of 8s lid per yard. IsjoßYto Road.—Mr. Monk drew atten* tion to the damage done to roads by hauling baulk timber over county roadi. The Chairman taid this was a special injury done in a particular manner, and came clearfy within the provisions of the Act.—Mr. Monk moved, " That stepe be taken to protect the ratepayers of the county against injury to roads by hauling baulk timber over theia." He had known a road destroyed by this heavy traffic. The party doing the injury told the person remonstrating that he wnght go to a very "sultry place."—Mr. Lang; There ia a provision as to width of tires.—The Chairman said that referred to the 0 [ a by-law.—Mr. Monk referred to a special injury by special kind cf traffic.—Mr. Sinclair thought extraordinary weight oi any kind would do similar injury.—Mr. Hardy said the weight of the load ought to be regulated by width of tire.—The Chairman suggested the addition of the words, " Excessive weight or extraordinary traffic thereon."—RescJtt* tion carried as amended.

$ lacghter-houses.—Mr. Sinclair said that sub-section C, clinw 5, of the by-livi under the Slaughterhouse Act remains inoperative as regards settlers killing cattle of their own rearing, and gave notice of a motion for next meeting.

Waikomiti.—Mr. Cantwell moved, " That £150, balance of grant to Waikomiti Riding, be expended in cutting a road round Break* neck Mill, at Red Hill, nei.r Sharp's Clearing and putting in culverts or. Karakara Hill, on Waitakerei South Road."—Carried. Tenders Accepted.—Waitakerei. West Coast Road : Thomas Regan, at £6 18s a chain, forming, fasoining, and metalling 10 chains (Engineer's estimate, £156 15s 2d), Waikomiti and Manukau Heads Road: Rowland Hill, £119 10s (Engineer'sestimate, £99 14s). Henderson Station, Wert and >outh, 40 chains; J. Johnson, £110.