Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 2, 6 July 1894, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

The monthly meeting of the County Council was held in Mr C. T. Mills' Office on Monday. . Present—Messrs W. Bewley (chairman), McCallum, Horrocks, Peters, McGloin, Connett, Okey, Tate, and Adlam. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting was held prior to the ordinary meeting to confirm the special orders in connection with the loan in the Eltham Road Eating District. A petition was read from, some settlers on the Waiteika Road, praying that they be not included in the special rating district, on the ground that they would receive very little benefit from the loan. Mr Peters pointed out the petition had been received too late. It should.have been sent in when the proposal was before the Council. He moved, That the petition lie on the table. Mr McGloin seconded the resolution, which was carried. The Council then resumed. TAKING GRAVEL. On Mr Adlam's motion, seconded by Mr McGloin, it was decided that anyone taking gravel from any of the Council pits should be prosecuted. MB CHAPMAN'S CLAIM. With regard to Mr Chapman's claim, the Chairman reported that he had made enquiries and found that Mr Chapman had no claim to the land, but was merely there on sufferance. The fact of this claim being jnade had drawn the Public Trustee's attention to the fact that the land was unoccupied. ACTION CONFIRMED. The action of the Parihaka representatives—Messrs McGloin and McCallum—in connection with the repairs to the Mangahume bridge, was confirmed. MEASTJEING GRAVEL. Mr A. O'Brien reported that he had measured Mr Vickery's gravel, and found that there were 584 yards. Mr McGloin explained that this was an old claim. Mr Yickery was under the impression that there were 700 yards, and did not seem satisfied with the measurement made by Mr O'Brien. The matter was allowed to stand over, and that Mr Vickery's account be looked up. OPUA BRIDGE. Mr O'Brien, Opunake, wrote, stating that plans of the Oapua bridge were ready, and apologised for not having "completed them before. Mr Okey complained that sufficient notice was not given in advertising tenders. The tenders were opened, the lowest being in excess of the original estimate. Mr Okey said that the amount estimated by Mr McGloin was £SO. He asked what amount the settlers had contributed ? The Chairman: £25". Mr McGloin explained that the original estimate was as he had stated, but siuce then other alterations had been made, which had raised the amount. Mr Okey said it appeared to him that the Council had been led into a trap. It was understood that the settlers were to pay half the cost. The Chairman thought the matter might be deferred for a time, or that the time for receiving tenders be extended. Mr McGloin said that if the time was extended, he would see the ratepayers and see what could be done. On Mr Peters' motion, seconded by Mr Okey, it was decided that the time be extended until next meeting, PASSES. Mr Horrocks enquired if some arrangement could not be made for obtaining monthly passes through the gates. There were many people who passed througK them two or Jhrpfi time&*very day. and ii'waa a nuisance to pay every time. The Chairman said that it would involve additional printing, and he doubted whether the concession would be workable. The general opinion of the Council was that it weuld be better not to grant monthly passes, and the matter dropped. A discussion arose-as. to whether persons carrying mails were liable to pay toll. Mr McGloin said he was of opinion that if a person carried any article in addition to the mails, he was liable to pay. The matter was left to the chairman, to deal with. WANTED HIS DEPOSIT. Mr N. Christiansen wrote, applying for £5 deposit paid by him in tendering for the Omata tollgate in 1898. The Chairman stated that the tender had not been completed, and fresh tenders had to be called, so that the deposit was forfeited. The account was not acknowledged. PUNIHO TOLLGATE. It was decided that Mr Wallenstein remain in occupation of the Puniho tollgate for the present, in the place of Mr Barr, who had given up the gate. TRAVELLING EXPENSES. A circular was received from the Ashburton County Council asking if local Council allowed travelling expenses. The secretary was instructed to reply. One of the councillors remarked that it should be mentioned that the members had not had any expenses for some time. CONSTRUCTING WATER-TABLES. Mr J. B. Roy, solicitor, gave.an opinion on the liability of the Council to construct waler-tables to give access to private property. In his opinion the council was not liable, but he would recommend that applications should be considered on their merits. Messrs Okey and McGloin considered that the council should not go to the expense of putting water-tables to

give entrance to private property. The work, if wanted, 'should be done by those who would be benefited. Mr Adlani thought tbaj; in the case of Mr Outfield the council should do. the work. It was finally decided, on Mr Okey's motion, seconded by Mr Tate, to inform Mr Cutfield that the Council had no liability in the matter. REDUCING MAINTENANCE ALLOCATION. Mr Horrocks moved ,thatthe sum of £7OO allocated for the maintenance of roads be reduced to £450 and the remaining £250 be placed to the General Working Fund account. He pointed out that the £250 could be divided betweeen the different ridings. Seconded by Mr Peters, and carried. THE WHEEL TAX. The Chairmau stated that a difficulty had arisen at the last meeting in getting the Governor's consent to the wheel tax,, and the secretary had since written a letter. A reply had been received which placed the Council in practically the same position as before. He therefore consulted the solicitor, and the result of the correspondence was that if the Council sent a copy of the bye-law, instead of a special order, as they termed it, it would -receive the Governor's consent. It was certainly a ridiculous position to take up, as the Council considered it, and rightly, he thought, a special order. The matter, however, would be rectified. THE OVEEDKAFT. The Council's overdraft is £8564. The Chairman recommended that the accounts be passed, and that they out of the rates which would commence to come in during the month. The accounts were passed. CEMENT. The Chairman said there was a quantity of cement, purchased by the late Council, which might be disposed of now, as the Council did the work by tender.—Allowed to stand over for a month. STONECRUSHERS. Mr Okey mentioned that the late Council had also purchased a new crasher at a cost of £4OO, and the machine wps not required. The question of disposing of it might be considered. Mr Peters moved, That as soon as the contract on the Junction Road is completed the crusher be sold. Seconded by Mr McGloin and carried. ENGINEER. Mr Peters moved, That Mr Davies be appointed engineer to the Moa and Waitara ridings.—Carried. It was also decided to call for tenders for the position of engineer to the Parihaka and Omata ridings. NOTICES OF MOTION. Pursuant to notices given, Mr Okey moved, That in future elections of the Taranaki County, deputy return-, ing officers be paid 10s per day each for such services, and that polling booths be secured at 10s. The Chairman moved, That a committee, consisting of Messrs Connett, Peter 3, Horrocks, Okey, and the Chairman be appointed to draw up bye-laws for regulatiug the conduct of business; also, that residents of the Clifton County shall be exempt from wheel tax within the boundaries of the township of Raleigh ; that travellers and ratepayers of the Stratford County, south of the Patea River, be exempt from wheel tax; that travellers and ratepayers of the Hawera County, south of Oeo, be exempt from wheel tax. The first resolution was carried. It was decided to take the last three motions as one resolution. Mr Peters seconded the motion pro forma. Some discussion took place, the chairman finally deciding to withdraw the motion. COLLECTING TOLLS. Mr Tate gave notice to.mQve7 J jLhat it is not advisable for the county to let tailgates, but that person he appointed by the Council to collect the tolls. • . TENDERS. The committees appointed reported that the following tenders had been accepted :—G. H. Dickson, £Bl 10s ; totara, £76 10s; gravel on Eltham Road, and carting stone from Waiaua, M. Dillon, 2s 3d per yard ; contract 8., H. Berkett, Is 5d per yard. O'Sullivan and Collins' tenders were equal, and lots were drawn. RATING NATIVE LANDS. On Mr McGloin's motion, it was decided that the secretary write to the Native Department for the area of native lands between Stony River and Tangatea that are already disposed of by lease; also for an approximate value per acre of the land in the Pari-, haka Riding. This concluded the business. —News