Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 10 August 1894, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

The monthly meeting of the Tava-naki-County Council was held on Monday last. Present —Messrs W. Bewley Tate, Connett, McCullum, Okey, Peters, Adlam, Horrocks, and McGloin. THE FINANCIAL SCHEME. %Mr Horrocks asked-if the financial "scheme that had been adopted by the Council had been entered in the minutes. <The clerk stated that then's late cn the books when taken over by him was such that he had not been able to get thorn quite straight yet. Mr Horrocks said .it was desirable that there should be a record of it The gist of the scheme was that the accounts of the Council should be regulated in a certain manner, and that the member of each riding should have laid before him the position of his riding and of the county as a whole, so that he should know how he was voting. The clerk stated that the required information w r ould be available at the next meeting. JUNCTION ROAD CONTRACT. The Foreman’s report on Mr Kehely’s contract on the Junction Road was read. The Chairman stated that the Engineer had refused to pass tlm work, as it was not in accordance with the specifications. The explanation given was that the work Vvas done by the contractor on an understanding wdth the foreman, which over-rode the specifications. Mr McDonald, the late foreman, had inspected the work and reported on it. Mr McCullum failed to see why the Council should deviate from the specificatioi.s. The contractor should be kept strictly to the contract. Mr Horrocks said that some consideration should be given to the contractor, as the specifica'ions had been drawn out very laxly by the late overseer.

Messrs Tate, Connett, Peters, Okey, and McGloiu also spoke. Mr Davies, the engineer, was present, and explained the facts of the case. The Chairman said that it would be very hard on the contractor if he were compelled to widen the cuttings, as the fault seemed to be with the late overseer. foreman's report. The reports on the different ridings were read and dealt with. OPUNAKE ROAD. Mr Okey said that some of the gravel in the Opunake Riding was not being properly broken. Mr McGloiu said that he had wasted a great deal of time during the past mouth in riding about looking after the contracts. The work was not being done satisfactorily, aud some of the men had threatened to cut in two any of the councillos that went into the gravel pit. The foreman, he thought, was not quite firm enough. The Chairman said that it showed the necessity of appointing an engineer. SETTLEMENT WANTED. Mr Sefton, Oakura, wrote, asking for a settlement of his account. It was decided to ask the applicant for particulars, A CLAIM. Mr Sampson waited on the Council with respect to his claim on that body for' 'damages to his properly. The claim he explained, was f an old one, and one that had been before the late Council. The Council finally decided to give,-the applicant £lO in full settlemend? of the claim. TAUNGATARA RRIDGE. Mr A. O’Brien, Opunake, reported that he haefevrepaired a hole in the Taungatara Bridge. , The Chairman said that the Council could not do anything in the matter until negotiations regarding the loan were definitely settled. Mr Peters suggested that a list of the Council’s troubles should be handed to Mr Smith, with a request to bring the matter before the Government. No resolution was passed. DETAILS WANTED. It was decided to get particulars of account from Mr Pcpperill, contractor, in the Parihaka riding. A COMPLAINT. Mr Sherin, Opunake, wrote, drawing attention to the state of the Opunake-Eltham Road, and the flow of water on to his section. Mr McGloin said that, in his opinion, the flow was a natural one, aud, could not be averted. HEIMAMA AND OAONUI BRIDGES. Messrs Dickson and Co., contractors for the above bridges, wrote, explaining why they had not commenced the work. The timber to be used was not procurable in the colony, and they had to send away for it. Mr McGloin said that there had been much delay over this work, and it was time the Council inquired into the matter. It was a crying shame the way settlers had been treated, as the contractors had kept the work “ hanging lire ” so long. He moved, That the deposit of Messrs Dickson aud Co. be forfeited, and that fresh tenders be called for the Heimama Bridge. Mr McCullum seconded the proposition. Mr Okey thought it would be a pity to pass the resolution. The contractors had to send away for the timber, and if fresh tenders were called it would only delay the work. Mr Horrocks, moved as an amendment, That the work must be under weigh within ton days, or the deposit will be forfeited. The amendment was seconded by Mr Peters, and carried. RENT OF SECTION. Mr McHardy intimated that he intended to charge 10s per month for that space fenced off for thetollgato on Section Gl, Block 9, Opunake. On the motion of the Chairman, the question was left in the hands of Messrs Me-

Gloin and McCullum to deal with. WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE. Mr W. Bayly offered to pay the Council £1 per month for permission to drive through the Waiwakaiho tollgate. This arrangement, the writer stated, was similar to the ote he made previously. Consideration of the letter was deferred until next meeting. OPUA BRIDGE. . The following tenders were received for the erection of the Opua bridge : Dickson &Co, £46 10s ; E. Hooker, £65-; Gilbertson Bros, £59 10s; H. Kinningstou, £44 15s; H. George, £47 10s ; M. Frei, £55 Is; —. Grey, £44 5s 6d ; M. Dillon, £3B 19s 3d (accepted). APPOINTMENTS. Mr Lawnsborough was appointed keeper of the Waitara gate, and Mr Spearman of the Inglewood gate. Mr O’Brien was appointed engineer for the Omata and Parihaka ridings. The other tenderers were Messrs T. Oldfield, J. Skinner, and J. H. Stewart. DEFERRED. Mr Tate’s notice of motion, re maintaining tollgates by collectors was deferred until next meeting. NOTICE OF MOTION. The Cha : rman gave notice to move —‘ That the Taranaki County Council place and erect on the County R~ad —(1) Between Smart Road and Waiwakaiho saleyards : J unction Road, south of Henui r (3) Mountain Road between Brown’s sawmill and Waiongona river ; (4) Devon Road, 1 mile from Waitara ; (5) Mountain Road, between Dudley and Durham Roads ; a tollhouse and tollgate at each and that the scale of tolls to be collected at each, and that such scale of tolls shall be publicly notified for 14 days, beginning on the 18th August, 1894, and that such tolls be collected at each gate on and aft?r 3rd September 1894.’ A special meeting will be held on 17th August to consider the motion. —News.