RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9450, 22 August 1889, Page 6

RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held at the office, Warkworth, on Monday, 12th August. _ Present : Mr. Edward Browne (in the chair). Messrs. Angove, Eyre, Grant, Greenwood, Gubb, Moor, Scholium, and SnelL

t Finance Committee's .Report.—To the Chairman Rodney County Council: Sir, —We have examined the accounts and find them orrect, but we hold over the account of Messrs. Armstrong for the consideration of the Council.—Tuos. A. Guiro, Chairman. The treasurer's balance-shoot was then read, showing receipts for the past month, £250 Ss 10.? d ; expenditure, £172 13s ; balance in hand, including £109 17s 7id put forward from previous month, £19.'? Kfa (>.fd. Mr. Greenwood moved, " That the balance-sheet, as read be passed." Seconded by Mr. Eyre, and carried. Tenders.—Tenders were opened for the following works :Contract 143, bridge at Cooper's dam on the Warkworth-Tauhoa Road: William Phillips (accepted), £is • David May, £'25 10s; J. W. Boon, £30 • Harold Clements, £38. Contract 144, bridge near Mr. Campbell's, Matakana : J. and ft. Vipond (accepted), £29. Mr. Eyre moved, "'1 hat the tender of Mr. W. Phillips, for bridge at Cooper's dam, be accepted, and that Mr. Angove pass the same when finished." ' Seconded by Mr. Gubb, and carried. Mr. Greenwood moved, "That Air. Vij>ond's tender be accepted for Campbell's Bridge." Seconded by Mr. Snell. and carried. Dkpotati'on.—Messrs. Morrison and Melville asked permission to use six bullocks. They did not ask to be allowed to carry a greater weight or measurement of timber, but simply to use two additional bullocks to draw the quantity permitted by the by-law. The Chairman moved, "That Messrs. Mor- j rison and Melville's request to use one extra pair of bullocks, one day each week, be ac- J ceded to." Seconded by Mr. Angove, and carried. Wri.ixkokd Bui dak. —Mr. Grant moved, "That Mr. Mander's offer to replace the Wellsford Bridge be accepted, this Council to pay £10 towards the same." Seconded by the chairman, and carried. Stopping Roads.The Chairman moved, " That steps be taken to close the road in Block XIV., Otamatea Survey District, parish of Pakiri, as per plan." Seconded by Mr. Eyre, and carried. lXx: Registration.—Mr. Gubb moved, " That Constable lnger be requested to take legal proceedings against all owners of dogs without collars." Seconded by Mr. Grant, and carried.

Traffic By-laws.—Mr. Angove moved, f That the following addition be made to the traffic by-laws : ' That, on and after the Ist November next, any person riding or driving on the footjxatlis in the Warkworth township shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 40s.' " Seconded by Mr. Greenwood, and carried.

Tim her Traffic. — Mr. Eyre moved, That summonses lie issued to compel M essrs. Macklow Bros., Cooper, Clements, and Week to pay for damage done to the county roads by extraordinary traffic." Seconded by Mr. Gubb, and carried. Rating Ait. — The Chairman moved, " That the member for Rodney Ixi written to, and requested to suggest to the Government the advisability of making provision in the Rating Act for bringing the various valuation rolls into harmony with the register; and that it be a duty imperative on the Registrar of Deeds to fill in a suitable form (to be provided), and forward to the local body or bodies interested, advising them of any and each change of ownership of any or part of any property in their respective registers." Seconded by Mr. Grant, and carried. West Coast Road.—A petition with 24 signatures was received from Tauhoa and Komokoriki strongly objecting to the proposed extension of this road to the Te liana River, on the pica that.it would be placing Hie representation of Tauhoa riding in the hands of Albert members, and all expenditure on this road under their control. Mr. Eyre took the opportunity of making an attack on Messrs. Grant and Gubb, charging them with misappropriating the funds in the way they had expended £30 voted for the West Coast Road.

-Mr. C'rubb explained that the vote of C.i<J referred to by Mr. Kyre had been expended strictly in accordance with the vote of the Council, ;is the minutes would prove. Mr. Eyre, its one coininittee of three, had a voice in it, but he failed to attend the meeting, and therefore left it to himself (Mr. (iubb) and Mr. (Jrant. They expended the money to the best of their judgment on works that they considered most necessary, lie was sorry that the Press had been employed to misrepresent and slander them. A letter bad been published, bearing Mr. Eyres name, which did not contain one word of truth. Such tilings were not conducive to the interests of the West Co<u>t Road, or the good name of the Council. Mr. (Jrant explained that lie was more interested in the West Coast Road than Mr. Eyre. Mr. Eyre never came to the meeting of the committee when the question 011 what works the money should be spent was decided. They had acted honestly and in good faith in the interests of the ratepayers, and had spent the money where they considered it would be of the greatest, benefit. The Chairman was sorry to see Mr. Kyre show so much personal feeling, and east such aspersions at the members of the Council. It was clear now who inspired the article in the Kn.ipa.ra Times. The expenditure of the .00 by Messrs. Grant and Gubb had been wisely spent. Good work had been done anil a-s the minutes of the Council would show, was in accordance with the resolution passed. He trusted this would be the bust time Mr. Eyre would trouble the Council with this matter. Mr. Eyre moved, " That the West Coast Road shall terminate at Port Albert." Seconded by Mr. Angove. The Chairman moved an amendment, " That the question of defining the roads be deerred to a future time, and fuller information be obtained." .Seconded by Mr. Greenwood. The amendment was carried, all voting for it except Mr. Eyre. -Mr. Gubb moved, "That tenders be invited for erection of a bridge on the West Coast Road, near Mr. Holer's, to be sent in by the next meeting of the Council."' Seconded by Mr. Grant, and carried.

Annual lanck-siiukt. —-The annual balance-sheet and statements and auditors' report not having yet been received from Wellington, their consideration was again deferred until next meeting.

Tauhoa Road.—Mr. Eyre moved. "That tenders be called for clearing out landslips on the VV ark worth -To I'alii Creek, Tauhoa Road." Seconded by Mr. Scholium, and carried.

MiscKLl .a N lis. —The Chairman moved, "That the next meeting be held on Monday, October 7.'' Seconded by Mr. Gubb, and carried. Other correspondence dealt with was from Ray of islands and Otamatea County Councils, Tauhoa Road Board, Crown Lands Department, Messrs. Dignan and Armstrong, E. G. Clements, A. V. Harrington, etc.[Own Correspondent.]