HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9492, 23 April 1894, Page 3

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Hobson County Council was held at Council Chambers, Aratapu, on Wednesday, April 11th. Present i Messrs. Barrett, Spiers, Slade, Cobbald, Dargaville, and Jones. In the absence of A. E. Harding, who is attending the County Conference at Whangarei, T. Bassett was voted to the chair. Tikinui Swamp.—The action of the committee in accepting Mr. Hendrickson's tender of £194 for this ■work was confirmed. Tangihua Roab.— Slade reported the result of his visit to the O'Carroll's. Francis O'Carroll would take a lump sum of £34 and the old road in exchange for the new one. Thomas O'Carroll would take £12 10s. Mr. Slade reported that he had accepted Mr. Zimmerman's tender of £56 6s for the work. Decided unanimously to accept the terms. Cleaning Heawa Drain.—The Kauri Timber Company wrote that they could see no reason why the Company should be treated differently to private people. Mr. Smith, manager, promised to see to the matter. Consideration was deferred. : Kopuru Wharf.—Mr. Broad wired, agreeing to the Council's offer, contained in their letter of December 15 last, in reference to the'Kopuru reclamation. Decided to agree to this. Logs on Road.—Mr. Slade reported some logs on the Kohekohe Road. Mr. Smith reported that -he had ordered these logs to be removed, and would see that it was. done. Section 24, Whakahara—Mr. Jones reported that Mr. S. Webb refused the Council's offer to take this section in exchange for a deviation, but would abide by his former offer of £15 for the section. Decided to accept, this offer, with reservation of metal rights. Andrews' Kink.— J. Seymour wrote that he could see no reason why he should give the public a piece of his land merely to give, Andrews a piece of the public road. Messrs. Green and Boult, trustees for the late William Cobbald, refused to agree to the Council's recommendations. Mr. Slade said the other landowners in the district had not approached the matter in a proper spirit. He considered Mr. Andrews had made a fair offer. The Government had tried to settle the matter, and the other landowners had fallen in with their plan, and put their fences back, and now, after seven years, the man who had nigned his name to an agreement turns round and says he had done so only because he knew he had a back door of escape open. If Mr. Cobbald knew he had no power to sign the agreement, he should have said so at first like a man. It was not fair to put one's name to an agreement knowing it to be worthless. Mr. Spiers moved, "That the trustees of Win. Cobbald's property be notified to put tlioir fences back to the old positions." Mr. Dargaville seconded. The chairman said this was an entirely useless resolution. Mr. Spiers said it would show the public what the Council's opinion in the matter was. For the motion : Messrs. Spiers, Dargaville, Slade, and Jones. Against: Messrs. Cobbald and Bassett.

Road Through Onuwhao Block, Native Land.— Mr. Kensington wrote that a warrant would be sent authorising the road through this block, but a tracing of the road must be sent.

Surface-man.— Decided to pay the second surface-man (Anderson) £2 a week. Buying Metal.—Mr. Bassett gave notice of motion to rescind the resolution re buying metal from ships at 6s per ton. Dreadon's Deviation.—Mr. B. C. New wrote that the settlers proposed to metal a portion of this road near Mr. Powell's fence, and asked if the Council would send a surfaceman to clean out the watertables : Decided to send a surfaceman for a week as soon as he is finished burning off on Kohekohe road.

Ballast. — Mr. J. M. Dargaville wrote that he had interviewed Mr. Ronayne, the Railway Commissioner, re ballast from Opanake. He was willing to carry it for la 3d per ton, and seemed very willing. to meet the Council. Decided to thank Mr. Dargaville for the interest he had taken. Fencing. Mr. C. H. Mansill gave notice that he was going to fence in connection with E. Harding. This would stop the present track used by the public. Decided to ask Mr. Mansill for permission to put a gate for this winter. < Kopuiuj Poundkeepkr. —H. Cottle resigned his position as poundkeeper and ranger. Decided to call for applications for next meeting. Whapo Bridge Road. — Mr. Spiers reported that the rep\irs to road had raised it above the footpath. It would taku £2 to put it right. Mr. Nairn had paid £1 towards this. Decided to have the footpath raised and a few loads of shells put on. Metal for Mititai Road.— James Ruskell, of Arapohue, asked for sixpence per load royalty for the metal required for repairing the road adjoining his place. Decided that Mr. Jones interview Mr. Ruskell upon the subject, as the charge seemed extortionate. Valuing.—Decided that Mr. Hammond be authorised to do the extra valuing required since last valuation, and give the necessary notices. Bank Overdraft. to authorise an overdraft during the current financial year up to £800, and a temporary extra overdraft of £20), to be repaid not later than September 30 next. Valuation. — Decided to value on the Rating Act of 18S2, as at present, on the selling value. County Trucks. —J. Hendrickson was granted the use of the County trucks for his contract. Raw's Drain.— Bassetfc, sen., wrote that he considered the Council should clean this outlet, as he had himself cleaned out two other outlets between that drain and the County office. Decided to have the work done, cost not to exceed £5. Jameq Kidd wrote that he would repair damage done to the drain between himself and Mr. Bassett's by his cattle. Charitable Aid.—lN. McLeod wrote that as he was giving up storekeeping, it would be necessary to get somebody to serve the old men. Left to the clerk to settle. The North Auckland Charitable Aid Board forwarded a list of nine patients from this county. Opanake Road and Bridge.— Kensington approved of the plan of the road works, but suggested another span to the bridge. Gumdiggers License Fees.—The treasurer wrote that the fees would be paid over as soon as they were all accounted for (£25 10s of fees already in). G. W. Rogers was granted a vehicle license for oue month. Dawson's Consideration deferred from February last. Mr. Jones said that about a mile of bush-falling was required. Decided to call for tenders for felling about a mile of bush, one chain wide, and cutting a track six feet wide. Mrs. Ford's Rates.—Reported that A. Dargaville had not yet paid the rates. He had guaranteed to pay, if the case was taken out of Court. Decided to ask him to pay the account next meeting. Alterations of Roll. — Lorrington to Sydney Cooper, J. M. Hogg to P. Conway, R. Donovan to J. M. Dargaville. Tenders.—The following tenders were received for contract 85 (culverts on Lusk's Road), estimate £30 lGs 9d, W. T. Haslett, £37 10s ; Mort and Miller, £2310s (accpted); C. G. McGregor, £48 10s. Mititai Cattle Slip. — Mr. Kitching offered through Mr. Jones to put the slip in repair if he was allowed to make a small charge tor the use of it. Agreed to. Painting Council Chambers.—Decided to call tor alternate tenders for two and three coats of paint.

Destitute Family. — Constable Scott reported a destitute family on the gumfield named Hall. He had ordered 4s worth of food for them. Decided to refund the money to Constable Scott.

Engineers Report.—The Engineers report was then read as follows : —" The chairman : Sir,l have the honour to submit to you the following report:—Contract 77, for improvements to Maropiu-Kai Iwi Road is being pushed ahead by the contractor, Mr. Karlson ; but I am sorry to say that the class of work done is not up to that specified, and will' need to be improved before it can be passed. Contract 78, for cleaning Kidd's outlet drains, Tatarariki, is nearly completed, and is being well done. Contract 81, for bridges and approaches across the Tangowahine Creek, has only just been commenced, although some seven weeks of the contract time have elapsed. Mr. Donaldson, the contractor, says the delay is owing to failure in getting his timber when ordered; still, now that a large quantity of the timber is on the ground, the work should be in hand. Contract S3, for drain and formation, Tatarariki Road, is well in hand, and the work is being faithfully execured by the contractor, Mr. McDerniott. Contract 84, for drains and formation across Scarrott's swamp, on the Tikinui Road, was let to Mr. Hendrickson at £194, he being the lowest tenderer, and the work has been commenced. Contract 22 for road formation on deviation through the Tangihua block was let to Mr. F. Zimmerman at £56 6s, and the specifications sent for his signature, also instructions to proceed with the work at once. I have called for tenders for contract 85 for small bridge and culvert on Lusk's Road, and estimate the work at £30 15s 9d. The following works ordered by the Council have been done Redecking swing span of the Kaihu bridge by S. ! Mead- at a cost of £13 7s 6d; Oruariki bridge, repaired by surface* man. Lusk's Road, repaired by surface man. Platform, Victoria-street, Dargaville, repaired by J. Ninn at a cost of £8 17s 6d. Approach to the Whapu bridge filled in by surface man, with assistance of Mr, Stausfield *ad team,

Surface man Anderson in now employed on the Kohe Kohe Road, logging up and burning, also corduroying and putting in two extra culverts. Surface man Rmgrose will next week proceed with the repairs of the road from l! laxmill to Maropiu. The Kaihu Bridge is showing signs of decay in several places, and should be thoroughly repaired as soon as possible, as the longer the repairs are delayed the greater will be the proportionate cost. Several piles are partly decayed, especially those to the wings which are very far gone, and many braces and walings are gone altogether. The whole of the bridges in the County want thoroughly cleaning and _ repainting and tarring. The work of cleaning bridges is one that should be done twice every year, as the removal of dirt adds a number of years to the durability of timber, and the repaintiug and tarring should be done every three years. I notice that the foreshore of the Mangawhare and Kohekohe Roads is gradually washing away, which in time will become a serious matter, owing to the diminished width left for road purposes. I would therefore suggest that the banks be planted with willows, say one chain apart, and buffalo grass every two or three yards, which will in time spread and hold up the banks. The willows should be kept short, so as to make roots and not get top heavy.—l am, etc., H. Hammond, Engineer. The Kopuru Cutting.—Mr. Cobbald reported a few hard ridges La the Kopuru cutting, and wanted the siu-jfjce.-mag; tor a day, the engineer to see it done.' Accounts.—The following accounts were confirmed :—H. Hammond, £19 3s 4d ;R. Lendrum, £2 10s; F. Filby, £2 6s 8d; R. Ringrose, £8; Captain Bale, £4 10s: total, £36 10s. The following accounts were passed for payment:--S. W. Stahs'field, £9 15s; John Nixon, £8 17s 6d; S. Mead, £13 17s 6d ; B. C. New, £4; Burns and Co., £3 os.6d; M. Carlson, £50; Auckland Hospital, £4 0s lid; Captain Rawsou, £1 7s lOd; Little Sisters of the Poor, £6 103; J. B. Pulham, £4 3s; N. McLeod, £4 15s 7d ; H. Slade, 10s; H. Rowland, £2 10s ;N. Henry, £3 18s ;T. O'Carroll, £6 10s: F. O'Carroll, £17: total, £141 15s lOd. Overdraft, £965 9s lOd. The Council rose at 4 p.m.—{Own Correspondent.]