Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 14 April 1896, Page 3

Taranaki County Council.

The Taranaki County Council met on Wednesday. Present:—Messrs W. Bewley (chairman), Hoi rocks, Peters, Okey, Adlam, McCullum, Connett and Tate. SLAUGHTER LICENSES. Mr Okey asked if the Inspectors of Abbatoirs had to inspect all stock. The Chairman said it was impossible for the Inspectors to do so. They could pay chance visits but they must see that all the slaughterhouses were in a proper state. Mr Okey said the reading of the resolution made it appear as if it were compulsory that the Inspectors should inspect stock.The Chairman did not think so. The Council was not in a position to pay for inspection of stock. MOA. The Foreman of Works for the Moa riding forwarded his monthly report which was read. Mr Adlam thought the reports of foreman should be open for discussion without it being necessary to have a resolution on the subject. A resolution was not needed in every case, but sometimes matters required discussion. The Chairman said there were difficulties certainly and he would be willing to adopt Mr Adlam's system if the Council were willing. He wished to expedite the business. Mr Peters said he must vote against such a motion as Mr Adlam's for the reports should certainly be read before the Council could receive them. After further discussion, the Chairman declined to accept Mr Adlam's motion, and the matter dropped. TUNNEL. The Chairman moved that the foreman, in conjunction with the Clerk, be empowered to draw up specifications for driving a tunnel near the Oakura Brdge. The work was absolutely necessary. Mr Okey seconded the motion. Mr Peters thought an Engiueer should lay out the tunnel and draw the specifications. The Moa district had lost some money through defective culverts. The Chairman accepted Mr Peters' suggestion, which was carried. requisition. The foreman of the Omata riding asked if the Council would have a small hut erected at Oakura for the purpose of storing tools. i - Mr Adlam said the foreman had about enough timber to erect the cottage, and would build it himself. He moved that the foreman be empowered to erect the cottage.—Carried.

PARIHAKA. The report of the Parihaka foreman was read. Mr Okey moved—" Tbat tenders for road work in the Parihaka riding be called, tenders to be in by 22nd April. Mr McCullum seconded the motion. The weather was playing the deuce with the roads. He thought about £l5O would cover the cost. Unless the work was done the r„ad would be blocked. Arrangements could probably be made with the contractors to wait—say, for three months. Messrs Adlam and Peters agreed that the work was necessary. The Chairman thought the cost of the work would be about £2OO. The resolution was carried. Mr McCullum drew attention to the state of bridges in the Parihaka Riding. Some half-dozen wanted screwing up badly. He moved that Mr Kensington be authorised to do the work.—Carried. Mr Okey drew attention to the timber that was being used in the Parihaka riding. Mr McCullum explained that the fag ends Mr Okey alluded to were not charged for. He was well satisfied with the timber. The foreman will be instructed to inspect all timber. Mr J. R. Stewart, Engineer, Manaia, reported on the state of bridges in the Parihaka riding, The Chairman said with regard to the Mangahume bridge, if there was no danger to life, it would be as well to let the bridge be carried away by flood. The Council could not at present do anything beyond patching. Mr T. K. Skinner also reported on two bridges. ENGINEER.. The Chairman stated that the question of appointing an engineer should now be considered. Several applications had been received the lowest salary asked being £l5O. The amount paid in engineering fees during the year was £lB2 19s 6d. For his (the chairman's) part, he would like to see a system similar to the old one, but at a reduced rate of per centage, as the Council could not afford to pay 10 per cent. Mr Peters moved that the matter of the appointment of an engineer for the Parihaka Riding stand over for six months. Mr Connett believed in appointing a man when work was required. Mr Stewart had done the work in the Parihaka Riding satisfactorily, and his charges were reasonable. He seconded the motion. Mr McCullum agreed with Mr Connett. Mr Peters motion was carried. BAD ROAD. Mr McCullum moved that the sixteen chains of road mentioned in Mr Stewart's report be attended to. The Chairman seconded the motion. Mr Peters said they were starting the financial year, and the Parihaka Riding had a nice little debit of £490, and they were now getting in the thin edge of the wedge. Messrs Connett and Tate also opposed the metion, both pointing out that the Waitara Riding was in a similar state to that of Parihaka. Messrs Okey and Adlam supported the motion, which was carried on

division. Ayes (4) : Messrs Okfcy, Adlam, McCnllum and Bewley. Noes (4) : Messrs Horrocks, Peters, Tate and Connett. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the Ayes. The Chairman having to leave en business, Mr Peters took the chair. ORDINARY LABOR. The Omata foreman was instructed to place metal on the road by ordinary labor. authorised. An extra seven chains of gravel authorised by Mr McGloin to be done in the Parihaka Riding was approved. D.P. THIRDS. The Clerk was instructed to interview the Crown Lands Department re deferred payment thirds due on Mr Roberts' section. SLAUGHTER LICENSES. A slaughter licenae was granted to W. Hall. An application from G. Colson for a license was allowed to stand over. — News.