HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9774, 22 March 1895, Page 6

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

„ ■■:-■- \ ———-— ♦ .','.. —•-^i'"' 1 " , The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hobson ' I County Council was held in the Council ' chambers on Wednesday, March 13. Present; ■ Messrs. A. E. Harding (chairman), Bassett, [ Cobbald, Dargaville, Jones, Slade. Alienated Crown Lands.— clerk re ' ported that he had arranged with Mr. Glenuy, of Auckland, to obtain particulars of land I alienated from the Crown, but out of fort) 3 names Glenny had sent up, only two con ■ cerned Hobson County Council. Rates on Opanaki Block.—Mr. J. Trouu 1 sou wired that his solicitor had advised him i that he was not liable for the rates on the , timber on the Opanaki Block. The clerk re ported that in accordance with arrangement! 1 made with Mr. Trounson to contest the ques 1 tion in a friendly spirit, he had issued instructions to the county solicitor to sum mon Mr. Trounson. ' Drea don's Deviation. — Mr. McCraik I wrote that the settlers were well satisfied 1 with the conditions named by the engineer! ) except as to the place whence the metal had ( to be taken. The settlers were willing tc , metal two chains extra road if allowed tc take the metal from another place. Agreed 'to. ' Aratapu - Dargaville Road Grant 01 1 £200.—The Chief Surveyor wrote that tin ' money had been paid to the Council in May ! 1894, and they had expended it on the Tikinu i Road. The Chairman said on the strength oi i this vote they had ordered a quantity oi ; metal. Mr. Houston, M.H.R., promised tc 1 assist the Council, but Mr. R. Thompsoi ( wired that he had so much trouble with the Marsden votes, that he must refer them tc Mr. Houston. Unpaid Darqaville Rates.—Mr. Mc 1 Kechnie wrote that Mr. Dargaville had pro mised to forward a cheque for the amount The clerk reported that he had since received a cheque from J. M. Dargaville. Omu Bridge.—The engineer reported thai Mr. Donaldson had agreed to supply piles foi the bridge at 2s 9d per toot, instead of 3s 6c , as in his tender. Tender accepted. Tikinui Wharf.—The engineer reported that Mr. Cobbald had accepted Donaldson'i 1 tender for the work. The piles would cosl £23 in addition. Petition.—A petition was presented bj Mr. W. G. Webb asking that Dawson's road Okuhu, might be opened for about 90 chains The petition contained eighteen names, be sides several Maoris. Mr. Webb said thej represented 4000 acres of land. A tendei had been received for the work for £16 10s, The chairman considered the settlers should contribute something. Decided to call foi tenders for the work, returnable to nexl meeting. Wharfage Does. — Since the Counci started to collect wharfage dues about £20( had been received; expenditure about £190 leaving a balance of £10. The repairs tc Tikinui wharf, however, will cost nearly £50 Kai Iwi.— Wilkins wrote re bad places on the road, and offered to make a job of it for £3. Perpetual Lease Thirds.—Tikinui, £8 7i 2d. Decided to expend this between Scarrott'i and Legrice's Bpur. Kai Iwi, £11 163, to bi spent on culverts and road formation Court's road, £8 12s. Mr. Wilkins' lettei deferred to next meeting. Mr. Coleman solicitor, wrote in reference to rates on loti 122 and 124, Okahu. The clerk read a memo in explanation of the same. Decided to for ward a copy of this report to Mr. Coleman, The Council are always wishful to avoid an} harsh measures, and regret when they have to summons. Gate Across Road.—Mr. T. W. Matthews was granted permission to erect a gate across the road in Tatarariki, the same having been advertised. High School Rates. — The Education Board forwarded the £45 18s 5d rates on girls' high school endowment, but declined to pay interest on same. Dangerous Bull.—Mr. J. B. Butterworth reported a dangerous bull on the road near his place. Decided to direct his attention to the Police Offences Act. Iron for Mititai Wharf.—The engineer reported the cost of iron for rails for the wharf tramway would be £3 ss. Mr. T. Kitclnng had offered to repair the tram if iron were given him for the rails. The engineer was instructed to procure the necessary iron. Pees. — The Treasury Department forwarded £1 3s, fees due to county under the Weights and Measures and Dog Registration Acts. Tenders.— Contract 95, lamp-lighting in Dargaville, F. Filby : four street lamps, £5 each ; one wharf lamp, £8: total, £28 for twelve months. Accepted. Contract 76, printing and advertising : The contract of J. Stall worthy was accepted after some discussion. Applicants for the position: A. O. Perkins, 16 years old, passed sixth standard ; good couduct certificate from D. Gerrhig, teacher, Aratapu. R. B. Gerring, 17 years old, passed sixth standard; good conduct certificate from Aratapu teacher. F. Lowrie, 15 years old, passed sixth standard ; good conduct certificate from J. R. Whitaker, Kopuru school. F. Lowrie was appointed to the position. Engineer's Report.—This document was as follows:—Aratapu, March 13, 1895. To the Chairman: Sir,—l have the honour to submit to you the following report:—Metalling Dreadon's deviation : As instructed at last meeting, I have estimated the cost of metalling Dreadou's deviation, which I value at 3s per yard, and offered it to the settlers at that price, to which they agreed, and have now made a start with the work. Tatarariki Creek : I have inspected the Tatarariki Creek, and find that £10 will make a fairly good job of the cleaning, which I will have in hand in a day or two. Tikinui wharf: I prepared plans and specifications for the repairs to the Tikinui wharf, and had tenders in last meeting, which were as follows :—W. Doualdson, £28 18s; Anderson and Jocelin, £34 18s. My estimate was £27 4s ; therefore Mr. Cobbald decided to accept VV. Donaldson's tender. Aratapu drain : The Aratapu road drain has been cleaned out, by the surfaceman, who is now at work in the Okahu Riding. Repairs to culvert: I have had the office culvert and the road culvert opposite Mr. Miigan's repaired, new planks put in Johnny White's bridge, and the deck of the two culverts at Moginte's swamp repaired. Mititai to Tokatoka : I have prepared plans and specifications for metalling the MititaiTokatoka Road, in the mauner decided upon by Mr. Jones and myself, which has been approved by the Chief Surveyor, and tenders can now be called for the work. Tatarariki Road : Mr. Hendricksen has completed the contract for the excavation of drain and formation of troad at the Kuiti, on the AratapuTatarariki Road, and made a very good job of it; and I think that if the road drain is kept clean, there will be no more trouble 1 with flood water at that part of the road. 11 have put in pegs and taken levels for a drain on the Tatarariki Road, between Kind's No. 2 outlet and the spur, and as soon as the plan is finished I will send it to the Chief Surveyor for approval. Lamp-posts : I notice that the lampposts in Dargaville require painting, not only for the sake of appearance, but more particularly on account of the preservation of the timber ; therefore I would recommend that the work be done. Dargaville : There is a culvert in Victoria-street, Dargaville, between the Kaihu Bridge and the Kaihu Hotel, that requires repairing, and I would suggest that it be taken up altogether, and a box culvert put in its place, and the road filled in solid. I would again draw your attention to the necessity of cleaning and painting the bridges in the county, particularly in keeping the earth and rubbish cleared off the deck, so as to save the timbers from decay. Where there are several bridges close together, ,such as at Mangawhare and Dargaville, the work of keeping them clean, if not painting, could be let together annually.—Horace Hammond, County Engineer. Mititai to Tokatoka Road Metalling.— Decided to call for tenders for this work, returnable in a fortnight, to be dealt with by Mr. Jones and the engineer. Painting Lamp-posts.—No funds available. Decided to repair culverts in 'Dargaville, and to call for tenders for cleaning the bridges from Mount Wesley to Kaihu, five bridges, returnable to next meeting. Mr. Bassett reported that the shingle had not been spread on the Heawa footpath. The engineer reported that relations were somewhat strained with F. McCowau over the subject. Surfaceman.—Decided that he clear out the water-tables in the Kopuru cutting and the Kopuru wharf road. Accounts Confirmed.— Brown and Moore, £3 Captain Greenwood, £4 2s 6d; Post Office, £3; H. Hammond, £19 3s 4d • R Letidrum, £2 10s; F. Filby, £2 6s 8d ; J. c! Anderson, £8 : total, £44 2s 6d. Accounts Passed.—L. C. Kitching. £3 12s lOd ; W. S. Stansfield, £1; A. Underwood £1 2s 9d; J. McMulkin, £1 2s 9d; W.' Donaldson, £4 16s; T. H. Clark, £3" 19 3 . WaataTi fluia, £3; J. Hendricksen, £84 18s 6d ; R. Lendrum, £5 (bonus); H. Hammond, £20 (travelling expenses) and £5 bonus : total. £115 lis lOd. Overdraft, March 11, 1895 £660 Is. The Council rose at 3.30 p.m.—[Own Cor- ]__________ -