HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10083, 19 March 1896, Page 6

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of tt, Hobaon County Council was held in the Coi 10 ii Chambers on March 14. Present: Mero ( a. E. Harding (chairman), Bassett, Cobbij, Slade, and Spiers. \ Tangitiboria Road.—Two letters were read from the county solicitor the general effect being that in his o fd ad had been dedicated to the Cout»|. Left to the chairman. \ Slaughter- house at MiTiTAi.-,The clerk reported that S. Dodd would expose the taking of the reserve, but was filing to lease a site for a slaughter-house' fl B. C. New, as was also Mr. Rustwell. Dojded to inform Mr. New that he can get a sit, for a shop from either Dodd or Rustwell ;but if reasonable terms caunot be arrangei, the Council will consider the question of erp.ting a receiving shed on the reserve.

Gum Ranger.—J. Perry was apposed gum license ranger for the county at a remuneration of Is a license.

Daroaville Wells. — Mr. McKechiie wrote that M-s. Dargaville was willing 0 vest the wells in the county if the Councl would pay the transfer fees; also Normanb' and Gordon Streets. Decided that the engi neer survey the wells, and then take the necessary steps to have them dedicated. The Council would accept the dedication of Normanby and Gordon Streets, but cannot pay the costs.

and aikohe Road.—Decided to write to Commissioner of Crown Lands to say that Messrs. W. Aicken and E. Harding, owners of land, have agreed to pay £130, and do the bush-falling, if the road is laid out, and that it is expected further private assistance will be given, and asking him to endeavour to have the line surveyed, and recommend the Government to give a grant, say, of £2 for every £1 subscribed. Decided also to write to Mr. Johnson, of Wellington (owner of Te Karaka block), and ask him what assistance lie will give towards the road. Mount Wesley Wharf.—The chairman reported that Mr. L. Marriner was willing to give £10 if the cemetery trustees would give another £10 towards the cost of the wharf. Decided that the two offers be accepted, and that the engineer prepare plans and call for tenders returnable in a fortnight, to be dealt with by the chairman and Mr. Bassett. Tenders.— 116, Dargaville Wharf steps. Estimate, £22: W. Donaldson, £25 15s. The only tender. Accepted. No. 117, advertising: J. Stallworthy, of the Wairoa Bell, was the only tenderer. The price was the same as last year, except balance-sheets, which were 3d per inch more than last year. No. 119, supply of dog collars: F. Hardy, 7id and Bd, samples produced: plating old collars, 4d. R. F. Flood, 9a ; re-plating old collars, 3d. Accepted. The difference in favour of the other tender was estimated at 12s.

Aratapu Domain.—Messrs. T. Nield and ffoollams waited as a deputation on the Council to see what help the Council would give towards putting the Domain in order as a recreation ground. They could guarantee assistance from the public. Decided that the engineer prepare plans and take levels for the works required for draining the reserve. New Road.— warrant was received authorising the Council to take and lay out a road through the Perit&ka and Murumuru blocks native lands.

"Thirds." — Perpetual lease " third*,' available, £4918s 4d, to be kept till spring. Avoca Road.—P. RlcDermott forwarded recommendations from a public meeting for the expenditure of the Government grant. It should start at Priestley's landing. The bush-falling should be let in small sections. Decided that the Council will take the recommendations into consideration when undertaking the work, Decided that the engineer prepare plans as soon as possible for clearing the bush on the Avoca Road and construction of culverts on the Tangowahini Road. Johnson and Prior asked the Council to cut a track parallel with Johnson's fence near the pound Council regrets; no fences. Oteria Bridge.-J. Paku offered to rebuild the bridge for 153 a foot. Offer accepted. Maps.— clerk asked permission to purchase lithograph maps of the counties north of Auckland. Decided to purchase them.

Awakino Bridge.-E. R. Ellis agreed to put a kahikatea bridge over the Awakino for £10, and the little bridge for £2. The engineer was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for a permanent bridge over the Awakino, and submit the same to next meetiug. Decided to ask the Government for £500 to restore the bridges destroyed by fire. Decided that in future when there is any likelihood of dry weather, the engineer be empowered to have the bridges cleared of dry stuff.

Opanaki -Decided, to ask Mr. Hodges if he will see that the Opanaki [ Bridge is kept clear of rubbish, and authorise him to employ labour to do it. Milks of Road.—D. Wilson asked how many miles of road there are in the county! Reply, 165. Cadet.—Stephen French was the only applicant, 13 years old. Had passed the Sixth Standard. Good testimonials as to character and ability from J. R. Whitaker, head teacher, Kopuru School. Accepted. Balance sheets. — The balance-sheet?, duly audited for the half-year, up to December 31st last, were passed. Government Grants. —The following agreement* were received and signed for expenditureof Government grants:—OpanakiMaunganui Bluff. £50; Opanaki-Maropiu, £200; Avoca, £400. Decided, that the engineer prepare plans, etc., for the expenditure of theOpanaki-Maropiu grant, £200. and submit to the Chief Surveyor for approval. The engineer recommended the work to start at the Opanaki end, and go as far as possible towards Maropiu. Deviation.—A. J. Gelston wrote re proposed deviation through his land. Deciaed, that the matters mentioned would be better left over till next spring. Charitable Aid.—D. McKenzie admitted to hospital; medical fees for treatment of John Topp, £18 12s; W. Montgomery admitted to hospital. Green's Road.— G. Dreadon, sen., objected to the closing of Green's road.

Engineer's Report.-This report was as follows March 10, 1896. To the Chairman : Sir,— have the honour to submit to you the following report: Arapohue Road: Since last meeting I have prepared plans, etc., and tenders were received for contract 115, for metalling the Arapohue Road. Messrs. Smith and Bradley's tender of £184 lis 4d, being the lowest, was accepted, and as they did not tender on behalf of the settlers, their tender was reduced by schedule rates so as to leave £50 worth of work for the settlers (who did not tender at all) to do themselves. The only other tender received was Messrs. Clark and Oates', at £194 lis 3d, and my estimate was £18616s 6d. Kidd's Mo. 2 Outlet: I have also put in pegs, taken levels, and prepared plans for deepening and widening Kidd's No. 2 outlet, and have let the contract to James Kidd, at £30, £6 of which is contributed by Mr. Kidd. The work comprised in the contract will double the size of the drain, and should greatly reduce the flood at this part of the road in future. Mititai-Tokatoka Road: Plans, etc., have been prepared for the expenditure of the £50 grant for the MititaiTokatokn Road, and submitted to the Chief Surveyor for approval. Dargaville \V harf: Plans and specifications have been prepared and tenders called, returnable to-morrow, for the construction of steps at the Dargaville wharf which I estimate at £22. Dreadon's deviation: I have also taken levels and have plans partly prepared for carting and metalling Dreadon's deviation, which is being undertaken by the settlers at half the estimate, and also for formation of Kopuru-Hikunui Road at Scarrott's, out of the Government grant of £100. Arapohue school deviation : The work of metalling the new deviation at the Arapohue school, and for which settlers are carting the metal free of cost, has been started, and is now well in hand. Dargaville- Road: The contract for breaking and carting metal on the Aratapu-Dargaville Road is nearing completion; but I have considerable trouble in getting the metal broken small enough, and unless more attention is paid to this part of the work it will be better not to have the breaking done by contract in future. Burton's Bridge: In company with Mr. Jones I visited the road where Mr. Burton has applied to have a bridge culvert constructed, and find that a 15-foot bridge culvert and two chains of swamp formation will be required, the cost of which i estimate at £12. Awakino Bridge burnt: I am sorry to have to report farther losses by fire, the Awakino Bridge having been totally destroyed. Acting on your suggestion, I have had a temporary bridge constructed of kahikatea, at a cost of £10, which will be sufficient until the new bridge can be constructed. Opanaki: The Opanaki-Maunganui Bluff Road is iu » fairly good condition, and I would recommend that the £50 grant be expended in metalling the Opanaki end of the road in the worst places, with shingle out of the Kaihu Creek. Riding over bridges: I have to draw the Council's attention to the practice that prevails of riding or driving over large bridges at a fast trot or canter, which is not only dangerous, but, especially in respect of the Kaihu bridge (which is anything but new), is causing considerable damage, and necessitates more frequent repairs than should be required. If the practice cannot be stopped in any other way, I would suggest that a bylaw be passed, prohibiting riding or driving over bridges of more than,2o-foot span, at other than a walking pace, and that after the by-law has come into force it be strictly enforced. Mititai Wharf and Road: The Mititai Wharf requires two new fender piles and other small repairs, and the Matitaißoad through die cutting should be dressed up before winter sets io «-Ho?*n |£ J3ammu.no, engineer," ;

Mititai Road Mm7 X1 ,.,, 1 call for tenders, returnable ?n t* 11 for the metalling, to be deal? v^/° rtQi I Chairman and Mr. Basset* "b? th« HI Awaking Bridge. - The • 8 authorised to have two posts Du??I, aeer I bridge chained. p ln » and tL m I Opanaki Road Grant -tv Pjj 1 suggestion »•****<*£&« i adopted. u P»naki WIJ I Fast Riding over Bridges -TWj 1 fix up notices against fast riding ft * I and strictly enforce them. bri( W m . Fender Piles.-Theengineer-,. , I ised to have two fender pifea put at WW 1 Wharf aim have holes repairedin u, lUi I Coast Road. Qln Wyj $ Molodqhnev's Drain.— The en*;* ft instructed to prepare plans, and mi I tenders, returnable to next meeting f °' I Urging Moloughney'a outlet drain re " i? i Daroaville Lamps.—No tender . ■ I for lighting. Left with Mr. Spiers to I with flelby. on the old term,, or I fresh tenders. 111 for |g| | Notice op Striking a RATr.-Thpri. ffl man and Mr. Spiers moved " That n■ r ' Hi given to strike a general rate of a JrT' * H the whole county, and a special ral 7 7" M halfpenny in the ridings of Arataim kOl 5 Si !"} ow »j" Mr. Bassett vigorously 1 and moved an amendment, " That a "i ml \ rate of six farthings be struck over thf Hi county. 'No seconder. Motion "arn«J le Wk Accounts Confirmed.-J. Hend li ®§ £40; post office, £3; H. Ha" n?n °S W 9s 4d; F. Lowrie, £2 Is Bd?F vL £l 3 M Is 8d; J. Hendricksen, £2 • ii ar J' ® [iff ♦ates, £30; H. Wharare, £3-'(" i » ail(i , IS jn, £10 15s : total, £121 6a Bd. OvpH t!' lm lUrch 11, £423 7s 6d. er H M Accounts Passed.-C. R. Ellis fin. p :fe| ' tan Donald, £4 10s: F. McCowan' £4 c', S' Wm 1 Hngroae, £16165; W. Donaldson £9., • \ t§ lweou*, £-2 Oa 2d; Audit Department' £ ' » Efendricksen, £6; P. Moloughnev i n iV- *fl H Hammond, £5 : total, £11.5 19* '* ii; iff The Council rose at six p.m.— Own < ■„ 'la pmdent.] i u 11 lorr «- ||