Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 11 January 1895, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held in the County offices on Monday. Present—Messrs W. Bewley (chairman), J. B. Connett, H. Okey, G. Adlam, G. Tate, McGloin, P. Peters, J. McCollum, and Horrocks. A TRIBUTE. After the minutes had been confirmed, Mr Peters paid a tribute of praise to the way the secretary (Mr Mills) had recorded the proceedings of the previous meeting. They had been very creditably noted, and he moved. “ That the Council places on record its appreciation of the way the secretary had performed his duties.” Seconded by Mr Horrocks and carried. A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. The report of the foreman of the Moa Biding was read, giving particulars of some repairs to bridges that were needed. The Chairman said that the position of the Council was not by any means a satisfactory one. Bridges in all parts of the County needed repairing, and would require an expenditure that the Council could not afford. The Council must either knock off all road work and attend to the bridges, which were an absolute necessity, or the liabilities could not be met.

Mr Okey : What road work could be knocked off, Mr Chairman ? The Chairman: The formen could be dispensed with. Mr Okey : It would be bad policy, I think, to part with good men.

Mr Connett said he believed the bridges were in a bad state, and he thought they would have to suspend the road work.

Mr Peters stated that they might put the foremen on half time. The Council would soon be receiving revenue from the wheel tax, as the settlers were all waiting to hand the money over to the Council—'they had been waiting, in fact, for the past few months with the coin, but the Council had delayed matters. Several other members took part in the discussion. The Chairman said he would like to have prepared a statement showing their position. Speaking roughly, he might state that the Council had reached the limit of its overdraft, and had liabilies amounting to about one thousand pounds to meet. He thought they might raise the money under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, providing they could get the ratepayers to see the necessity of it.

Mr Adlam was not in favor of raising a loan in the face of the taxation already imposed. Mr Horrocks moved that the engigineer be instructed to prepare a report giving an estimate of the probable cost of putting the bridges in thorough repair, and that such report be placed before the ratepayers with a view of borrowing under the Loans to Local Bodies Act the sum necessary to effect the repairs. Mr Connett seconded the proposition pro forma. He did not think there would be much possibility of getting the ratepayers’ consent to the loan, in addition to the toll and wheel lax.

Mr Peters agreed that the only way of solving the difficulty was in the way proposed. The position was a serious one, and the councillors must do their duty. The Chairman pointed out that if the Council took these steps the members could not be blamed for neglecting their duty. Mr Okey thought that the Chairman had taken a rather gloomy outlook of affairs, as, in his opinion, the Council was not in a worse position than when they first took office. Ho certainly objected to a loan being raised. The roads at the present time were in a much better state of repair than they were 12 months ago, and he thought that if they held out they would come out on the right side. Mr Horrocks, in reply, said that the view taken by Mr Okey was a plucky one, and he (the speaker) wished that he could share it. What the Council wanted was a lump sum of money to repair the bridges, and not a steady revenue.

Mr Tate said that as regards the Waitara Riding, he was certain that it would be useless to call meetings of ratepayers to get their consent to a loan. They would not vote for it, and he did not see why they should. The motion was then put and negatived. REPORTS. The foremen's reports of the different ridings were read and dealt with. AN ESTIMATE. On Mr Okey’s motion, seconded by Mr Adlam, it was decided that the foreman should prepare an estimate of the cost of the gravel required to repair the roads during the coming winter. The mover pointed out that if the statement was obtained it would give the Council an idea of what they had to meet. SLAUGHTERING LICENSE, Mr J. Corbett was granted a slaughtering license. A CLAIM. Mr Dickson wrote regarding his claims for extras in connection with the Heimama bridge. Allowed to lie on the table. HELD OVER. Mr O’Donnell’s claim for rent was allowed to stand over, it being considered exorbitant. EVASION OF TOLL. It was decided to take action against a native for evasion of toll at the Heimama Bridge. TENDERS.^, The following tenders were accepted : Eltham Road Bridget; Warner’s, H. George, £55 ; Vickery’s, H. George, £52 12s Gd ; Mangahume, G. Latham, £lB2 15s; Waiteika, H. George, £55; roadwork, R. Warner, £B4B Os 4dß. Sherin, £IBB 2s Gd ; B. Sherin, £193 10s. RAISING RENTS. Mr Adlam’s motion with referouce

to raising the rents of reserves to the original rental was carried.

WHEEL TAi. Some discussion took place on the chairman’s motion residents of the Clifton CoTftiqr from the wheel tax. s^ ; "' The resolution was allowed to drop. The foremen of ridings were appointed inspectors of vehicles, and Mr 0. T. Mills collector. A PERSONAL MATTER. Mr McGloin moved that the foreman of the Parihaka Riding be suspended for one month, and that a committee, consisting of three members, be appointed to inspect his work and report at next meeting. He stated that lie wished this matter to be dealt with fairly and openly, and only wished justice doue to the foreman and ratepayers. The foreman had sent in a rigamarole .which the Council had backed up. Mr Connett objected to such a statement. The Chairman ruled that the matter must be brought forward as a notice - of motion. Mr McCullum objected to the overseer acting as he had. [The above question was discussed at an earlier stage, when the Council went into committee.] LEASING TOLLGATES. The Chairman pointed out that if the tollgates were to be leased next year, the Council would have to pass a resolution. Mr Peters moved that the tollgates be leased from Ist April, 1895, tenders to be called for the same. Carried. — News.