Hawra County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 7 August 1894, Page 3

Hawra County Council.

The Council met on Friday last. Present —Councillors Forsyth (chairman), Stevenson, McLean, Mcßae, Stewart, Scott, Hemmingway, and Winks. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Lands Department, declining to pay anything in respect of bushfelling on the Morea-Matamaroki Road. From the Colonial Secretary’s Department, saying that as no application for costs bad been made when the Commission sat, the department could do nothing with respect to allowing the Council the costs of the Ingahape bridge enquiry. From Constable Simpson, stating that he had removed the restriction in respect of the small-pox patient, as she had quite recovered. From the Inspector of Police, stating that the police would be instructed to assist in carrying out the county by-laws. A summons was received from Mr Sharrock, one of the creditors in the estate of Dobbs, for £6O odd shillings. Cr McLean said that if summonses wore to come in they had better part with none of the money they had until matters were definitely settled. It was resolved to instruct the solicitor to defend the action. From A. Honey, claiming compensation for having been stopped in his work. He had agreed with the engineer to do gravelling and was now stopped owing to want of funds. He had done stripping, &c., and expected to be paid about £4 10s. The Council decided to take what gravel Honey had got out when the road was fit to receive it. From A. Proudlock, chairman of the Awatuna Dairy Company, objecting to the Council’s contractor taking gravel from a particular spot indicated, on the ground that it would materially injure the company. The Council resolved that it was a matter for the contractor and the company. BIDING BOUNDARIES. The report of the committee, the eject of which has been already published; on riding boundaries, was read and adopted. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: Southey and Henry, £2 8s 2d; Thomson, £1 11a 6d; Wat■on, 10s; Elliott, £2l 9s; pay sheets, £72 16s and £53 2s ; Honey, £8 2s ; Olson, £1 Is; Mnggeridge, £8 ss; Simpson, £80; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, £SB 2s 7d ; Spence, 17s 6d: Ticdle, £9 Is; Kissick, £1 7: railway freight, £9 2s ; Simpson, £l. 12s; Government interest, £406 2s Id ; councillors’ expenses, £4 15s; Edgar, £5 15a ; Holdaway, £1 6s. RAILWAY FREIGHT. In answer to a question by Cr Scott, the clerk said that some timber had been brought by mistake to Hawera instead of being left at Mokoia, but it would not occur agaiu, and the cost of the extra freight would be deducted from the timber contractor’s account. MANGAWHERO AND PUNEHU BRIDGES. A petition signed by a large majority of the ratepayers within the Eltham Road West £SOOO area asked that bridges over the Mangawhero and Punehu Rivers be constructed out of d.p. and p.I. money Originally set apart to pay interest a»d_ sinking fund, provided that the credit balance (if any) when the district is subdivided into ridings be exclusively applied towards their construction. Cr Stevenson said there was a letter in the paper the other day objecting . to the land revenue being' taken. The Council rather objected to the last clause, but Cr Hemingway explained that the intention was that the ratepayers only wanted to have their share. He went on to say that he understood there was general approval of the application of the land revenue, because it was recognised ; that the bridges were necessary if there was to bo a coach road, and then the dairy factories were to be considered. About 95 out 100 settlers concerned approved of the proposal, and that was the effect of the present petition taken with that presented at last meeting. He moved that the application be agreed to, that the bridges be con- • structed out of deferred payment and perpetual lease money accruing on the main road, and that the share of the credit balance (if any) be applied to the payment of the cost of the bridge. Cr Stewart seconded. He still held that if any grant or money came in from any source it should be applied to the Punehu bridge, because under the circumstances it had a special claim. The Chairman supported the motion, as the ratepayers had so generally agreed to it. It meant that the rate might be required in respect of the interest on the loan. C# Hemmingway pressed the view that two bridges shall be built simultaneously. That was the idea of the settlers. The Chairman took it that the Council would begin when it had funds, and that it would begin with the as the most dangerous. It would not push the other bridge bsick, fer the two bridges could not bo built nntil the money was available. Cr Hemmingway thought that Mr W atson would now come to terms, and that there would be no difference between the two crossings. TJje motion was agreed to. WHEEL TAX. The clerk reported the collection of certain information. Cr McLean brought up a number of suggestions for taxing vehicles, and t&e council went into committee to consider them, but nothing definite was reported, though an hour and a half was devoted to the consideration of: the matter. The council adjourned.—Star.