HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8387, 15 October 1890, Page 6

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The montily meeting of the Hobson County Council wib held in the Council Chambers, Aratapu, Thursday, October 9th. Present: Mr. H. T. Smith (chairman), and Messrs. Bassett, Dargaville, Harding, Matthews, and Quirk. The meeting opened at 11 a.m. Considerable dhcussion took place as to the correctness of one entry in the minutes. The. clerk read bis rough minute, which confirmed the regular minute, but as Mr. Dargaville still maintained that the minute was incorrect, it was altered, and the minutes then passed. Misleading the Council.—Mr. Quirk reported that there was no hush on the road, as represented in T. Watson's letter to the Council last meeting. Nothing but tea-tree scrub on the road, ind that only on the sides of it. The matter was left to the engineer to see to. Correspondence. — From the Survey Office, stating that there was plan of original road through section 22, Whakahara. From Auditor-General, asking how much of the £192 illegally expended loan money was spent in the Dargaville township. Illegally Expended Loan' Money.— From C. O'Hara Smith, staling he was instructed to institute legal proceedings against the councillors for the. recovery of the sum of £02, disallowed by the Auditor-General in the half-year's account en din; September, 1889. From F. W. Bcurt, re amount of Dargaville water rates collected, amounting to £15. The clerk stated he could only make out about £12 paid for this rate. Mr. Dargaville asked what the councillors were going to do in the matter of the Auditor-General's actionwhether they were going t» defend it or cash up. The general opinion teemed to be that each councillor must look out for himself.

Slaughter License.-Charles 'Jreadon applied for a slaughterhouse license br Araponue. Decided that application bt heard next meeting. Molouuhney's Wharf. — From Mr. Molouglmey, asking if Minister of Mirine has returned the plans for the Tilinui Wharf.

Correspondence.—From secretary of the Education Board asking what road the metal from the Greenhill is intended to be put ai. The clerk had replied stating the Heawa Road. From the dog tax collector, "dint copy of Dog Registration Act Amendment Act which provides that drovers and farmers may keep two or three clogs at half the usual fee on signing a declaration to the effect that the dogs are necessary in their business. From Fitzgerald asking for audit fees. From T. H. Smith complaining of his allotment in Whakahara being so much" cut up by roads. Decided that the chairman and clerk lie empowered to ileal with Mr. Smith in the matter up to a certain amount. Masevield's Old Road.—This road was formally elosed and given to Mr. Masefield in exchange for a deviation. Bradley's Road. — .Tames Kidd wrote stating that the first cutting 011 this road was in a dangerous state. The engineer was instructed to temporarily repair it at a cost not exceeding £5. Perpetual Lease Rentals.—A list of rentals was handed in amounting to £I*2 83 4d. The engineer was instructed to prepare a scheme for its expenditure for the benefit of the leaseholders.

Correspondence.—From the Registrar of the Supreme Court, in relation to selling laud for arrears of rates, stating he was going to be careful in future. From Mr. Moloughney, in relation to removal of a horse that had died in a road .'itch, stating that it was now out. From Te Rori. in relation to ballast. From Mr.Cleudon, solicitor, offering to appear for the Council in the case of Brown v. County, for £10 10s. From Netana, stating that the bridge by the native school had been washed away by the flood, and offering his services to repair it: Left to the engineer to see to.

Dangerous State ok Portion ok Main Road.—A petition was received from about SO ratepayers, stating that the road from Harding's gate to Mount Wesley was in a dangerous state, and asking that it be made passable. Mr. Matthews said the extent of road referred to was about 20 chains. The whole road would be stopped if it was not made good. It could be done with fascines and sand. Mr. Dargaville considered there was 110 urgency in the work as the summer was coming on, when the road would be good. Mr. Harding considered that though 110 rate money was available yet the loan money could be used for the work. Mr. \Y. Topp was heard in support of the petition. Decided that the matter be left in the hands of the new Council to deal with. Mr. F. \V. Beart, agent for Mr. Charles Heath's land, wrote in reference to the road through it. Decided that Mr. Dargaville and the engineer see to this matter. Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond wrote in reference to the road through Mr. Bray's land. Decided that the old road be closed and given to Mr. Dargaville in exchange for the new road.

Mr. W. Harding's Road.—Decided that the chairman see Mr. M. Harding and get his consent to receiving the old road under the Land Transfer Act in exchange for the new road.

Lusii's Deviation".—There was no proof of the existence of this road. Mr. T. Slater spoke iu support of the Council carrying out its agreement with him. He had already entered into an agreement with two men to have the work done. Decided that the engineer see Mr. Clarke, the owner, and try to make arrangements to allow the road to go through. Tenders.The following tenners were received for contract '22, from Mount Wesley northwards : — I Tharlsen, £ISS 10s Sd ; McMultier, £136 lis 7d, accepted; J. Kidd, £102 s>): P.Gardner, £150. Engineer's estimate, £160 lf>s. Contract'2l :W. T. Brown, £'21, accepted. Engineer's estimate, £'20.

Dargavilijj's Ferry Punt. —The following oilers were received for the famous punt: A. Morgan, £'2 ss; R. Masetield, £(>, accepted. This is the punt that was built for the Dargaville ferry, out of a Government grant of some £300, obtained by Mr. .J. M. Dargaville when he was a member of the House, during the Stout-VogU Ministry. As the ferry and punt alike have been utterly useless since, the Council has now sold ilie punt. No discussion arose as to their [lower to do this, which may be doubted. No offer was received for the wire rope, and the clerk was instructed to see if it was still in existence, and if it was, call for tenders for its sale.

A Pontoon for Dargaville Perk,*.— Mr. Dargaville announced that when the ferry road was connected with the main road, lie would build a pontoon at his own expense for the ferry. A Complaint.—Mrs. Clark, of Whakahara, complained of the delay in opening her road. If something was not done soon they would have to fence the road in, as other people's cattle were straying on their land. The chairman explained that the delay arose through Mr. Butterworth objecting to the old road being closed. Decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and engineer to report to next meeting. Engineers Report.—The engineer's report was read as appended To the Chairman, Sir,l have the honour to submit to you the following report: As suggested by you, 1 have authorised an extra for tarring the kerbing along Victoria-street, Dargaville (contract 20), at a cost of £4. It now transpires that the Dargaville-Tangitiroria Road traverses the north-eastern- corner of the Maungatialiahi block (owned by Mr. Heath) for a distance of about 11 chains. I have written to Mr. Beart, the agent of the property, re terms, and his reply will be before you to-day. I am in correspondence with the Commissioner of the Education Reserves, re permission for county to take metal from the green hill at Tatarariki. 1 have inspecte 1 the hill, and find that the metal is of very good quality, easily broken, and inexpensive to quarry, and that punts can taken to within twenty yards of the foot of the hill. While taking levels along the Aratapu-Maunganui Bluff Road I noticed, near Duck Creek, that there were several old posts on the road, evidently where the road had been fenced across at one time. Mr. McMultrie was with me at the time, and he offered to clear out a branch creek if the Council would give him these posts as payment, and I would recommend the Council to accept his offer. -The other day Mr. Slater applied for a sketch of the deviation of Lusk's road through section 22, \\ hakahara, being the portion lie was authorised to improve, and as I had no plan in the oilice, and there is no such plan in the survey office, I wrote to town for a tracing from the deed, and have been informed that there is no such road*dedicated. It seems strange that there is no record of this work, as it must have been surveyed, for I have seen some of the pegs in the ground. I would recommend the Council to authorise an extra on Contract XII., for tarring the bridge ; the cost would be about £4, and would help to preserve the timber.—l have, etc., Horace Hammond, County Engineer." The engineer's action in tarring the footpath was approved, and Tikinui Bridge ordered to be tarred. Accounts.— following accounts were passed for payment Hospital and Charitable Aid, C. McCarthy, £2 17s lOd ; James Kidd, progress payment, £45; T. Q'Carrol,

£1 5s 8d: J. W. Stansfield, £2; P. Gardner, £25 • E. Beale, solicitor, law costs in Brown s case £12 Is 6d ; R. Masefield, assessor, £2 2s; M. Harding, assessor, £2 2s; J. b. Clendon, judge, £5 ss; Hesketh and Richmond, law charges, principally m connection with transfers, £39 4s (3d; Brown and Campbell, charges in connection with the Keel Jim Refuge, £4 2s 8d: miscellaneous, £2 4s lid ; engineer's and clerk's salary, £19 13s 4d; Auditor-General, £7 13s 4d; I'd by, £3 lbs 8d; To Rori, £2 10s. Mr. Matthews reported that ho had had Sullivan and Collins moved out to the Redhill Refuge; but, as Burrows objected to go, and was doing well and quietly, he had left him at the flaxniilL. Action approved. Ballast.Mr. Harding said it was important that the ballast brought by vessels should 'be secured by the Council. Ihe engineer was instructed to see if anything could be done in the matter., Brown's Claim. —Reported that the Compensation Court had awarded Brown £103. Brown had claimed £180. The Council had offered him £90. The Council was ordered to pay the costs of the case. All the other owners through whose land the road passed had given it free for a distance of several miles, believing that the road increased the value of their property, and was the only road they had. Brown's case was exactly similar to theirs. Several of the councillors considered it would be impossible in future, ill face of this decision, to make any new roads, as they would be sure to be blocked by exorbitant claims. The effect would be disastrous to the community. Bank Overdraft.This nad been reduced to £546, but it will now be again raised to upwards of £700. Thanks.Mr. Dargavillc proposed -a vote of thanks to the chairman for his services during his brief tenure of office. lie did this in no sarcastic spirit. He considered him ail excellent chairman. Carried unanimously. This is the last meeting of the present Councillors, as their term of office has now expired. The new Council meets in November.—[Own Correspondent.]