OTAMATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9163, 19 September 1888, Page 3

OTAMATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A MEETING of the Council was held on August 29. Present: Messrs. Isbister (chairman), Ariell, Birt, Bond, Fitness, and Jackman. The minutes of last meeting, as amended, were adopted. Mr. Arieli stated that he had been told that Mr. Wilson, of Paparoa, was to be paid the compensation by the Hobson County on the 30th of June. Matakohe Road.—The Chairman stated that, when at the Wairoa, he had called at the Hobson Comity office, and that the plans of the Matakohe Road had not been completed by the engineer. Opening a New Road.—A letter was received from Messrs. Coates and Kendall asking that, as the Messrs. Stewart had refused to fulfil their promise to contribute towards the cost of opening new road, clause •1 in their agreement be struck out. Resolved, "That the clerk draw up a new agreement, omitting the clause to, and forward it to Messrs. Coates and Kendall for signature." Kaiwaka Road.—Letters read from Mr. Mander and statement made by the clerk concerning timber on roads in Kaiwaka. Road to Mangawai Wharf.—Mr. Bond stated that he had had a conversation with Mr. Dingwall in Auckland, and that he was now willing to give the land to make the road to the Mangawai Wharf a chain and ahalf wide on the conditions previously proposed. The clerk was instructed to write to Sir. Dingwall, and get his consent in writing. xNUTSFOKD's Road.—lSo stejis having been taken to fix deviations on Nutsford's Road in Mareretu, the matter was deferred. Tracings of Roads.—Letters were read from Mr. Warner and Messrs. Hammond and Son re cost of making tracings of roads in Whakapirau Riding. Resolved, "That Messrs. Hammonds' offer be accepted." Te Kopuru-Dargaville Road.—A letter was received from the chairman of the Hobson County, endeavouring to show that the £38 of the Pagaroa grant had not been spent on the Te Kopuru-Dargaville Road. Mr. Arieii, from several papers he had received from the Treasury ana from the auditor, showed that it had been expended on the said road, and it was resolved, " That, on condition the sum of £38 is acknowledged by the Hobson County to be owing to this county, a final settlement of accounts, on the terms proposed by Hobson County, be made." Tokatoka Road.—Mr. Fitness stated that, Mr. Palmer being unable to undertake the survey of the roads in Tokatoka, he had engaged Mr. Hoskius to do the work, which was now finished, aud the plans were expected daily. Road Deviation.—Messrs. Birt and Hudspith were requested to sign the printed forms agreeing to give land for road deviation in Mareretu. Repairs to Culvert.— Isbister reported that the culvert on the road in Matakohe Riding was repaired, and that a 11111:1 ber of water channels and culverts had been cleaned out. Road Grants.—The clerk was directed to inquire when the grants for the Great North Road and the Maungaturoto-Tokatoka Road would be available for expenditure. Lands for Public Roads.—The Chairman stated that no official reply had yet been received to the petition urging that the Public Works Act be so amended that greater facilities may be given for the acquirement or exchange of lands for public roads. Paparoa Road Deviation.—The amended plan of the portion of land in Paparoa given by Mr. McMaster for road deviation was received from Mr. Hannah, and the clerk was directed to instruct the county solicitors to have the transfer made out. Paparoa - Waikiekie Road. — Several letters were read from Messrs. Moat and Thompson, M.H.R.'s, relating to the grant for the YVaikiekie Road, and in forming the Council that £.350 would be available for expenditure this year on the Mareretu-Waikiekie portion of it. Mr. Skelton's Compensation.—lt was re solved, " That Mr. Skelton, of Paparoa, be paid £50, being the balance of compensation tor land taken for road to Pahi. Obstructing a Wharf.—Mr. Fitness -stated that the log lying at the Tokatoka Wharf had not been removed. Resolved, "That he take the marks upon it, if any, and forward them to the clerk, who will furnish the owners with a claim for damages. The Onerjri Road.—Mr. Bond reported that, i.ot having sufficient information, no decision had been arrived at in getting the work done on *he road to Onsriri. Resolved, " That the matter be deferred till next meeting." Compensation Claim.— Chairman reported re Mr. Geddes' claim for compensation for road going through his property in Matakohe. Deferred till next meeting. Gorse on Road.—Mr. Ariell stated that he believed the corse on the road adioinino

Mr. Morgan Blandford'a property spread from it. Kaiwaka Road.—Mr. Bond stated that the new bridge on the road in Kaiwaka, called the Back Line, had been completed, and that the work was passed. Non-payment of Rates.—The clerk stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Pook asking for information concerning the judgment against him for non-payment of rates, with the view to a settlement. The large expenditure incurred in summoning for nonpayment of rates was discussed, and, as about 300 of those summoned were absentees, who contributed nothing in the way of rates, it was considered an absolute necessity to bring into operation the clauses of the Rating Act relating to defaulters, especially as the costs incurred would be refunded when the land was sold. The clerk was instructed to write to the Property Tax Commissioner, and get all possible information, so as to get the right portions of .the sections belonging to the owners who are summoned, so that no hitch might occur in conveying the land when sold. Shed on Wharf.—Mr# R. M. Clark's written application to erect a shed at the land end of the Tokatoka Wharf, 30 feet long by 12 feet wide, and to occupy the same for a period of seven years, was considered, and it was resolved, 'That his application be granted," Mr. Clark agreeing to contribute £1 annually to the county fund. Utilising Trees.—Mr. Dodd's application to use certain trees on a road line in Paparoa was granted on conditions, which Mr. Arif ll was authorised to arrange, i Repairs to Road.—Mr. Bond reported f that the repairs to road at Mangawai which | he was authorised to get done were completed and passed. Hospital Treatment.—The Chairman stated that he was not aware of any person from the Matakohe district who had received treatment at the hospital. Application for Wokk.—An application was received from Messrs. Thomson, Bradbury, and others for work on road in Paparoa Homestead. Resolved,'' That Mr. Ariell be requested to prepare specifications and call for tenders for road formation between Messrs. Cross and Sykes'; also, for putting in new headstocks and flooring bridge on the read between the post office and the school in Paparoa, and for metalling that portion of it between the bridge and the chapel, and about a chain on the opposite side of the bridge, tenders to be opened at the next meeting." Mr. Hardy's Road-line.—The Chairman was requested to interview Mr. Hardy re road-line through his property. Mr. Ariell was authorised to open the track on the road between Cooksev's Bridge and Hardy's, the cost not to exceed £2. Tenders.—Mr. Ariell reported having received the following tenders for work on the pathway leading to the cost office at Pahi: — J. Trounson, £4 10s; P. Blackwell, £6, and that he had accepted Mr. J. Trounson's. Also, that the following tenders had been received for work between Skelton's gate and the beach on the Pahi Road : —Meyer, *3 16s 6d ; Trounson, £8 13s 4d ; Blackwell, £9 19s 3d ; Hudspith, £7 10b ; Dodds. £9 los; no name appended, £10 ss; and that Mr. Hudspith's tender, at £7 10s, had been accepted. Mr. Ariel! was authorised to arrange to have the necessary work done on the remaining half-chain of road at Pahi. Wairau Riding.The question of works in the Wairau Riding was considered, and it was resolved, "That tenders be called for metalling eight or ten chains of road at Smith's Corner, the road, when formed, not to be less than 13 feet wide ; alternative tenders to be called, one for metalling witl scoria without fascines, the metal to be not; less than 15 inches deep in the centre and £ inches on the outside; the other for metal ing with limestone and fascines, the metal to be not less than 12 inches deep in the centre, and 6 inches on the outside ; also, that tenders be called for road formation by Howard's Deviation, to be nob less than 10 feet on the solid." Works in Tokatoka.—Resolved, "That tenders be called for road formation to the value of £50 between Mr. Fitness' property and the bridge." Works in M a reretu.—Resolved, " That tenders be called for chopping the bush on the road from Mr. Evans to the open near the Mission Church, a chain wide, and stumping a track 10 feet wide, cost not to exceed £12, and payment not to be made until the separate rate is collected." Work on Great North Road.—Resolved, " That Mr. Howard be instructed to prepare specifications and call for tenders for widening the road two feet near the Government shanty, and for fascining and metalling ' about eight chains; also, for metalling two or three bad places on the Kaiwaka side of the bridge." Work in Matakohe.— " That tenders be called for metalling a portion of the hill at Mr. Ovens', find also for metalling the road from the wharf to the district road," all tenders to be considered at the next meeting of the Council. Mr. J cdd's Application.—An application was made by Mr. Judd, of Kaiwaka, for repairs to road leading past his property. ; Resolved, "That the application be referred | to Mr. Bowmar for information, and deferred j till next meeting." J Culverts.— application was received ! from Mr. A. P. Campbell for repairs to culverts on road at Mangawai Gorge. Deferred to next meeting, and Mr. Bond was requested to inspect the road and report. Objections were made by Mr. Bond to the • work done near the Government shanty on i the Great North Road. The treasurer was | instructed not to pay the account for this i work until Mr. Howard furnished particulars I of the number of days he was engaged upon it. Miscellaneous.Several letters were read from Mr. Palmer concerning the purchase of part of section 28 in Paparoa. An account was received from Mr. Birtle for half cost of erecting fence between his property and the above section; also, an application to have a portion of old fence repaired. Resolved, "That Mr. Ariell be authorised to arrange with Air. Palmer re the purchase of the said land, and also with Mr. Birtle re the fencing. A petition was received from Messrs. Coates and others applying to have the outlying portion of Matakohe Riding created into a road district. The clerk was instructed to refer them to the Road Boards Act. An application was received from Mr. E. Coates, through the chairman, to have the rates collected in the outlying district spent therein. The clerk was instructed to inform him that the general rates must be spent on the main roads, and, when public roads were laid off in his district, the separate rates would be spent on them. A letter wa3 received from Mr. Hoskins, Hobson County engineer, certifying to the extra work done on the Great North Road by Messrs. J. Finlavson and Causer and Biddick. Resolved, " That the outstanding claims be paid." Several letters were received from the Marine Department relating to the wharves within the county. Mr. Burgess, registrar of dogs for the Tokatoka district, wrote informing the Council that Messrs. Finlayson had not registered their dog. The clerk was directed to instruct him to place the matter in the hands of the police. Resolved, " That the treasurer's balance-sheet, as read, be adopted." A number of accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. A letter was received from Mr. Bowmar regretting his inability to be present at the meeting, owing to his continued illness, and it was resolved, " That the sincere sympathy of the Council in his prolonged illness be conveyed to him, and that he be granted six months' j leave of absence." The question of erecting j a county office was discussed, and deferred j till next meeting. Resolved, "That the I next meeting of Council be held on the 10th j of October."— Correspondent.] . - - i " "