OTAMATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9403, 9 January 1894, Page 3

OTAMATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Otamatea County Council i was held on the 28th ' December. 1 Present: Messrs. Isbister (chairman), Ariell. Chadwin, Colbeck, Fiulayaon, Linnell, McCarrol, and Stewart. i

Mileage.—The question of the allocation of mileage charges having been discussed, it was decided that no alteration in the present : method be made. < ; .

Hauling Timber.—A letter was received from Mr. Manders concerning the lodgment of a deposit for hauling timber over the Great Worth Road. - Mr. Chadwin stated that Mr. Maunders had done nothing towards erecting the bridges - on the MaungaturotoMar«.retu Road. On the question of Mr. Norman Finlayson and others, hauling timber over the Great North Road being discussed, it was resolved, " That the contractor, Mr. Taylor, be authorised to close that portion of the Great North Road which is under repair, against wheel traffic, but if he can arrange terms with the owners of the timber to bo hauled over the road so that the new work may be preserved, he can do SO."-' J i! rv; v;: ' r;

c Closed Road Lines.lt was • resolved, That be called for the purpose of a closed road line, intersecting sections 133, 132,155, and section 134, township of Pahi; to be lodged at the county office on or before the 24th of January." A letter was received from Mr. Angus Stewart, requesting that the closed road at Pukekaroro be conveyed 'to Margaret Stewart in lieu of the land taken ! for the tram road, and as promised by the Hobson County Council. Resolved, That the closed road intersecting section' 78 and 87 Parish of Kaiwaks, be. conveyed to Mrs. Margaret Stewart, and that she consents to give the land required■ for the connection between the > old, and new roads ■; near the northern angle of section 78." Mr. Isbister voted against this resolution. Road Work, Mr. Rowland Hames- and Mr. Hutchinson attended the meeting and applied to have some work done on the road leading to the property of the latter at ■Faparoa, so that he might. be able to get timber for building house, etc., to his section. After some discussion on the! subject as to the ways and means of paying for the work, if. authorized to be done, it was resolved, "That, on condition of the cost of the work being advanced by some interested person, and which shall become a first charge on the funds of the riding, tenders be invited for the necessary work, and be dealt with by a committee, consisting of Messrs. Ariell, McCarroll, Chadwin, and the cleric." i Petitions.— Nicholson and Sims I attended the meeting on behalf of Mr. Coates, and lodged three petitions. The first petition complained of the bad state of the tram-road ac Pukekaroro, and requesting to have it repaired. Resolved, " That the Kauri Timber Company be written to, and requested to have the Blabs fastened down ana the road repaired." The second petition asked to have the tram-road ■ between the ■ store and : the main road widened two feet on the outside of the rails, so that it could be used by wheel traffic. Resolved, " That Messrs. Linnell and Stewart be authorised to have the road improved." The third petition asked to have the Homestead Road, Maungaturoto, widened and made passable for the conveyance of kauri timber. Mr. Sims ; stated that £60 was ■ the estimate of the cost of ' the works required to be done, • and that Mr. Coates was willing to contribute one-third towards it, provided the Council paid the remaining two-thirds. Several ratepayers spoke in favour of the work being done. After considerable discussion it was resolved, " That Mr. Coates be requested to have specifications prepaied for the work, and in the event of them being satisfactory and approved of by Mr. Chadwin and the clerk,, that the Council will contribute £20 when the riding is in funds, and on.the work being completed to the satisfaction of the Council, provided that ■ Mr, Coates pledges himself to keep the road in a thorough state of repair until the timber is all out, and on finishing each season's hauling he will put the road into good order and condition." Fence Erections.Mr. Davies applied to have a portion of a fence re-erected on the Homestead Road, Maungaturoto, which had been covered up by a slip from the road. Decided to inform Mr. Davies that the Council is hardly liable for all slips that take place, but that property will be protected as far as possible. Mr. Healey complained that on the road to the Paparoa Homestead Church, the earth from works done on the road some years.ago by Mears and Johnson had been laid up against hi& fence, and he requested to have it straightened up. It was decided to write and ask Mr. Mears if he had liberty to place the earth where he did. ; I Road Repairs.—Mr. Linton attended, and requested to have about £20 expended in making the road passable to the Whakapirau block, and also to have the present line deviated. Resolved, "That Mr. Colbeck be authorised to have some work done on the road." Mr. Snelling attended to explain the position of the roads running through the section of land at Wairau, purchased by Mr. Montague. Resolved, " That Mr. Hannah be requested to put in the angle pegs on the roads, and to run a straight boundary line on the closed road between Mr. Snelling and Dr. Mountaine." Messrs. • Chadwin and FinlftJ'son were requested to interview Dr. Mountaine on the question of these roads. Mr. Snelling also brought up the question of the bridge below the English church, MauSituroto, being partly on his land. Resolved, " That until a new bridge is erected Mr. Snelling be paid Is per year, commencing on the Ist proximo, as an acknowledgment that the bridge stands partly on his land." Mr. Snelling also requested that steps be taken to have a road opened up to give access to his land at the back of Maungaturoto. It was decided to ask Mr. Chadwin to look out for a practicable line of road and report to the next meeting. A plan of the new survey of road through the township section, Tokatoka, with a report thereon, were received from Mr. Hannah, and consideration of them was deferred until further information was received. :

Cost of Surveying Road.—A letter was received from the chief surveyor declining 'Jo refund cost of surveying road at Mareretu. It was decided to request him to allow the amount to be refunded out of the "thirds." A letter was received from Mr. Cliff relative to expenditure' of "thirds" on the road traversing sections 212 and 213, Mareretu. . Metalling.—Mr. Linnell reported that Mr. Campbell had undertaken the contract for metalling the road at Mangawai Flat at £4 10s per chain, and that the work was in progress. He also asked that a progress payment of £35 be made to Mr. Mould on his contract at Kaiwaka, which was granted. , Progress Payment.—An application for a progress payment on account of contract at Tokatoka was received from Mr. W. Clark, accompanied by a certificate from Mr. Sanders. Mr. Finlayson stated that he could not get the specifications for this contract, Resolved, "That Mr. Clark be written to, and informed that Mr. Finlayson was appointed inspector over the work by the Council, and not Mr. Sanders, and that no money can be paid unless on the certificate of Mr. Finlayson; also, that Mr. Fitness be written to about the specifications.

Pahi-Waikiekie Road.—Resolved," That Mr. Dodd's deposit on contract for works on the Waikiekie Road be released, he having agreed to again lodge it when the grant is available." A letter was received from the Surveyor-General agreeing to refund the amount of compensation paid on account of Pahi-Waikiekie Road, Mareretu, and suggesting that the fences be erected within a reasonable time. Decided that the letter be replied to. % • < t . Wharfage Dues.— letter was received from the Northern Union S.S. Company, refusing to pay the wharfage dues for the past year, but no reply was received, from the manager relative to a reduction of account for freight on account of broken pipes. Resolved, " That the matter be at once placed in the hands of the county solicitors, and that the Company be informed that the Council is anxious to pay their accounts so soon as they have the courtesy to reply, to the letter sent to their manager."

Dogs. letter was received from Constable Moir, Mangawai, relative to unregistered dogs. It was . moved by Mr. Colbeck, and seconded by Mr. Ariell, "That the dog tax be levied for the ensuing year, and that it shall be '2s 6d for each sheep and cattle clog, and 5s for every other kind of dog. inere voted for the motion.:. Messrs. Colbeck, Ariell, Chadwin, Finlayson, Linnell, and Stewart; and against it, Messrs. Isbister and McCarroll. The motion was therefore dedared carried. Resolved, .'"That the same registrars in the various districts_ be reappointed, and the same registration offices fixed upon as last year, with the exception of Wairau and Matakohe; and that for Wairau Mr. Hemphill be the registrar, and the county office , the registration office, and that the ehairman fix upon a person and place for the Matakohe district." Collection op Wharfage.—lt' was decided that a three months' trial be given , to the collection of the wharfage charges at Matakohe.— Erection oe Shed.—A letter was received from Mr. Slater* relative to the erection of a shed at Tokatoka wharf, and Mr. Finlayson was requested to ask Mr. Fitness < if he authorised its erection. Compensation.'—The clerk stated that, he had written to Mrs. Sarah concerning the claim for compensation, but no reply had yet been received. ; • - • ■: Road Deviation.— question . .of the deviation of the road through . Mr. Rowaell's property having been disoussed, it .was reBolved, ' That the deviation as examined by the chairman and other councillors be taken and laid off by Mr. ; Hannah, and that the old road be closed; also, that in the event of

Mr. W. Cullen and Mrs. Gloyn wishing for » deviation of the road through their lianas. is the future, that they be 'at the costs of' tha survey." The required Information* not yet having been supplied, the schedule necessary for payment of " thirds" had not been forwarded. ' ' ' .

Draws.—A letter was received from Mr. W. . Qerrand,, offering to keep the drains open on the road at Paparoa for-the sum of £3 per_ annum instead of. £2 .as formerly. s Mr. Ariell stated that Mr. Trounson would do the work for £2 per. annum, and also extend it-through the new deviation. Resolved, That Mr. Trounson be appointed to undertake the work." . - Government Grant.— letter was received from the Surveyor-General suggesting that arrangements be made with the Whangarei County Council so that half of the grant for the Mareretu-Waipu road might bo spent in Mareretu; also, that no grant is available for; the ' Mangawai-Waipa road. It was decided that a copy of the SurveyorGeneral's letter be forwarded to the Whangarei County Council with a request that onehalf of the grant be expended on the road in the Mareretu Riding. The clerk stated that the work of preparing the conveyance of the land required for the deviation of the road i through Messrs. Rogers' property at Tokatoka 1 was in the , hands of the county solicitors, . i'

j ; Tokatoka Road Work.—Mr. Finlayson reported on road at Tokatoka, work on which Mr. . Walton had applied for, and' it was decided that Mr. Finlayson be authorised to have specifications prepared, and to call for tenders to be opened at the next meeting. , Bridges.—The new bridge over the Kikowhiti creek, at Mareretu, having been carried away during the recent flood by Mr. Manders logs, the clerk stated that he had written to him to have it at once re-erected. Several letters were received from Mr. Manders on the subject, and it was decided to again write to him insisting on the immediate erection of the bridge. A memo, from Mr. iAriell to the chairman concerning . the removal of a bridge on the Paparoa-Homestead Road by the late floods was read, and it was resolved, " That Mr. Ariell be authorised to have specifications prepared for a new bridge, call for tenders, and that they be dealt with by the committee previously named." Mr. Isbister voted against the resolution. Great North Road,—A letter of authority for the expenditure of a grant of £250 on the Great North Road was received from the Surveyor-General and signed by the chairman, but as Mr. Jackson Palmer had intimated that £300 was the g ?.m allocated to this Council, it was decided that he be written to on the subject. Resolved, " That Messrs. Chadwin, Linnell, and Stewart be authorised to have works laid off on the Great North Road in Wairau and Kaiwaka, and that tenders for same be lodged for the next meeting." * Obstructed Road.—A letter was received from Mr. Bayman complaining of a log lying on the side of the road near Mr. Dodd's, Mangaturoto, frightening his horse. A letter was received from Mr. Curtis relative to . the state of the Great North Road, and it was decided to in form him that the matter is being attended* to. _ It was decided that the county solicitors be instructed to have the deed of conveyance of deviation of road through Messrs. Smith Brothers property at Omaru prepared. Foreshore.—A letter was received from Mr. Burdett making application to use a part of the foreshore at Tokatoka. Mr. Finlayson was requested to see the place and report thereon at the next meeting. Manga Gorge.— letter was received from Mr. Hannah drawing the attention of the Council to the dangerous state of bridge and road through the Manga Gorge. Resolved, "That _ Messrs. Linnell and Stewart be authorised to call for tenders for necessary works on the road, and to deal with them; and also to have some repairs done to the road at the Hakaru Bridge. Land Settlement.—A' circular was received 'from the Commissioner of Crown Lands requesting that assistance might be given by the county clerk in furthering the settlement of crown laud within the county. Decided that the Commissioner be informed that all assistance that has been asked has been freely given in the past, and will be as freely given in the future, i. Licensing.— circular was received from i the Department of Justice to the effect that the Wnangarei County Counil is to be appointed to have authority throughout the licensing district of Marsden, under " The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893." A circular wa3 received from the Treasury stating that the county clerk had been appointed receiver of gum license fees. : Roading the North.— circular was received from the chairman of the Whangarei County Council requesting this Council to co-operate in forming a general scheme dealing with the roading of the North, and aim) to express its views concerning the utility of holding a conference during, the summer. Decided to reply- conveying the information that this Council will heartily 1 co-operate in furthering any scheme which shall be in the interests of. the North, and that each councillor be requested to take the matter into consideration, and be in a position to lodge suggestions at the next meeting. - The Chairman stated that for a length of time C. Patterson had been endeavouring to purchase a couple of sections of land at Matakohe to settle upon, but the Crown Land Board had always refused to sell. It was decided to write to the Crown Lands Board, advising the disposal of the land. .Old and New Roads.— letter was re. ceived from the county solicitors, giving their opinion that the provisions of the Land Act applied to the closing of old roads, and the taking of land for new roads generally, independent of those specially mentioned in the Act..

Road Clearing .-A letter was received from Mr! Skelton, applying to have the tea-tree, etc., cleared off the Pahi Road, and it was decided to inform him that no funds are avail- ; able., A letter was received from Mr. Rowsell, offering to cut down the briar, etc.. growing on the main roads, Wairau. Resolved, " That Mr. Rowsell's offer be declined, but that all owners of land who permit briars, gorse, etc., to grow on the roads opposite to their properties be prosecuted." "* Road Repairs.—A letter was received from Messrs. Smith Bros., lodging a cheque for £5 as security and to cover the cost of repairing any damage which may be done to the roads at Matakohe by hauling timber over them. A letter was received from Mr. Flowers requesting to have the Maungatu-roto-Mareretu road repaired, and'complaining of the water being allowed to run off the road on to his land. Decided to inform him him that no funds are available to execute the works he requests. Mr. Chadwin received authority to have the road near Mr. Griffen's repaired, as also a bridge on the road leading to Mr. Finlayson's and a bridge near Mr. Mould's lifted by the late floods. Mr. Ariell, on behalf of Mr. Colbeck, who had left the meeting, applied for authority for the chairman to lay off some works on the main Whakapirau road. As the riding was at present in debt it was decided to defet consideration of the application until the next meeting. Access to Road Wanted. — The clerk asked for instructions so that the road leading from the main road to Mr. Cullen's store, Maungaturoto, might be laid off and the work let. Resolved, " Tht t the road to give Mr. Cullen a direct connection with the main road as promised be formed 12 feet wide, with good water channels on both sides, but that no promise was made to metal it." ■ Compensation.—The chairman laid a tele- ! gram on the table which he had received from Mr. N. A. McLeod, solicitor, conveying the information that he had been instructed by Mr. Tibbits, of Paparoa, to sue the Council for the sum of £180, being the amount of compensation demanded by him for land taken for the deviation of the Pahij Waikiekie Road. : ( Arrears of Rates.—As the rates were coming in very slowly it was resolved, " That the clerk be instructed to issue summonses immediately after the Ist of February against all owners of property who had not paid their rates on or before that date. Accounts.—Accounts amounting to £85 14s 6d having been paid since the last meeting it was resolved, " That they be confirmed." Resolved, "That the treasurer's cash statement as examined be adopted." Resolved, "That Mr. Samuel Taylor be allowed a progress payment of £25 on his contract on the Great North Road." ; Mr. Finlayson's Mileage.—The question of Mr. Finlayson's mileage having been discussed, it was resolved, "That as he had come specially from Tokatoka to attend the meeting he ,be paid mileage from that place." , Contract at Tokatoka.—An account was received from Meisrs, Bingham and Mort for extra work done on contract on I road at Tokatoka. : Mr. Finlayson stated that the contract was finished, but that the metal was a foot narrower than what was set forth in the specifications. It > was decided that Mr. Finlayson find out from the late Councillor whether or ; not the extra work was authorised, and ■in '; the meantime that Messrs. Bingham and Mort receive a progress payment of £75. : Accounts Passed.—Accounts amounting to £264 14s 8d were passed and ordered to be paid. ' ;! iyfy;-- 1 ■: ■■■.. It was decided to hold the next meeting on the 25th of January. ■■}'' : t Statement of Ridings Balances on the 28tk December, 1893.—General accounts.— Cr. :> Kaiwaka: £145 8s 104 d; Tokatoka, £26 Bs7fd. Dr. i Wairau, £53 16s 3d Paparoa, £2071252 d; Mareretu, £20 lis llid; Whakapirau, £14 5s 6dMatakohe, £19 0a 4sd: Great 'North Road,, £17 2s ,7d. Separate accounts,—Cn: Wair»u,£3B 4s 4d; Paparoa, £63 6s 91d; Tokatoka, £6414fl 2d. Dr.: Kaiwaka, £39 0s 4Jd; , Maveretu t '£13 4a 3£d.-» [Own Correspondent.] • '