Pahiatua County Council.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 157, 4 June 1894, Page 2

Pahiatua County Council.

Saturday, June 2nd.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the members of the Pahiatua County Council was held as above. Present, —Crs Bolton (Chairman), P. J. Murphy, A. Yule, J. Griffith, J. B. Tait, T. Hodgins, F. Perry, A. Boss, and G. Whitcombe.

CORRESPONDENCE. Alterations on rate roll were applied for as follow :—P. C. Neilson to N. Ibbitson ; W. Morris to C. Holdaway to W. J. Foster; J. C. Boddington to W. Saunders; ( . Hall to E. M. Hall.

From J. McGinlay notifying that he had been compelled to throw up contraot No 335.

J. Adams, asking for refund of deposit ou contract 250 forfeited by him. J. Parker, asking permission to do work on Palmerston North bridle track, to be paid when funds are available, price 32s per chain minus culverts. Helleur Bros offering to fell road line fronting sec 17, Block 9, Manga,hao, at 30s per chain. G. B. Richardson, asking that thirds from sec 1, Block XIII, Makuri, be spent on part of Mt Marchaut road.—Referred to committee. Wyard and Venables, asking that thirds from sec 14, Blocks X and VI, Makuri, be spent on Waewaepa road leading from Woodville-Aohanga road to nearest point of their section. W. G. Crawford, asking that necessary work be done on Woodville-Aohanga road near seos 7 and 8. A. Merrie, asking that Mangaramarama road be opened for traffio as soon as possible. H. B. Eglinton, asking Council to replace a culvert on track leading to his place washed out by Hood water; and offering to provide timber for same. A. D. Eglinton requesting Council to do five chains of formation on road from Makuri Valley road to sec 63, Block VIII, Makuri.

H. Blackwell, asking permission to fall and use bridge and road reserve No 11, Block VI, Mangahao. J. Kench, senr, requesting permission to cart gravel from reserve on M&ngatainoka reserve, on Carisbrook road.—Referred to Engineer. Commissionee Crown Lands, re rates on forfeited sections in Makuri.

Same, stating that no report had yet been received from Mr Reaney re road to Mangaramarama Settlement. T. Nestor, asking Council to have road line fronting his section marked off. Assistant Surveyor General, apply for permission to close portion of road on west bank of Mangaone.

C. McD&vitt, roadman at Ballance, reported that Mr Foster’s cows repeatedly trespassed on the road near Mr S. Avery's property.

Public Works Department seating that the Government would maintain the road deviation at Mangatainoka during the winter.

Clerk Wairarapa North County Council, stating that Council's offer to hand over £2OO in full satisfaction of claim for contribution towards cost of construction of Pa Valley road had been referred to Eketahuna Road Board ; also stating that the proportion of engineering expenses due by Council would be £ll 9s 5d instead of £4O 3s, which latter sum had been set down under a misapprehension. Public Works Department, stating that letter from Council re providing v. *rk for men out of employment had beer .erred to the Lands and Survey Department, to whom were now entrusted all rouj undertakings. Lands and Survey Department stating that proposal mentioned above would be considered by Government as soon as possible. Eketahuna Road Board, enclosing copy of memorial to be sent to Colonial Treasurer asking that the Loans to Local Bodies Act be amended to allow loans polls to be carried by majority of those on roll : and requesting co-operation of Council ; also providing that in case of a section intended only to bear a portion of the burden of a loan the rateable value shall be divided instead of the section itself.

Treasury, notifying loans provisionally granted. R. 11. Reaney, stating that recent flood at Makuri had caused the river to cut into the bank near the bridge, necessitating an extension of protective works. Colonial Secretary, acknowledging receipt of letter forwarding result of pells on proposal to borrow sums of £3OOO and £SOO. and notifying gazetting of same.

C. Woodley, applying for extension of time to complete contract for bridge.

W. Morgan, offering to remove slips on Mount Mai chant bridle track.

Inspector of slaughter houses and nuisances reporting that all slaughter houses were in a satisfactory condition , one owner had neglected to keep an account of what he had killed : also stating that Mr Rait had Allowed 10 pigs to roam on Tiraumeu North road on May 28th. J. Moynahan reporting damage done by pigs on North Tiraumea road. DEPUTATION. Mr Gitohard waited on the Council and stated that on contract 276 iu Tiraumea Valley road had been blocked up by a slip, which had also out the bridle track in two rendering traffio highly dangerous. If he had to clear out this to complete his contract he could not possibly complete it.

The Chairman said no action could be taken by the Council until the engineer had seen the place. The matter would rest with the engineer to decide. Mr Budden interviewed the Council re tho wheel tyre bye-laws which he said pressed very heavily on the carriers who were unable to use a full team of horses just when they were most required. He asked to be allowed to run four horses in the light brake to Makuri and five on the Eketahuna Hoad. The Chairman said the Council could not do anything which the bye-law prohibited. If they repealed the bye-law tho winter would be occupied before it could be done.

On the motion of the Chairman seconded by Cr Griffith applications for alterations to rate roll were acceded to.

The Chairman inoveu. Cr Murphy seconded, and it was carried That Helleur Bros application be granted on tho usual terms.

The Chairman moved Thai a reply be sent to Messrs \\ vard and Venables stating that the request had already beeu given effect te —Seconded by Cr Liodgins and carried.

Cr Murphy moved. Cr Vide seconded, and it was carried That Mr Merrie be replied to stating that the Couueil is awaiting the decision of the Commissioner of Orown Lands ro the obstruction he complains of; a communication hiving been received from the Chief Surveyor that Mr Heaney had been asked to report. The Chairman moved That Mr Black w ell bo informed the Council have no power to give him a legal title. Seconded by Cr Tait and carried.

The Chairman moved That Mr Baker bo informed that a claim was made for ratos due on section 22. Block YU, Makuri, which lias been forfeited by the, Land Board. Either the Land Board is liable or they cun shift tho responsibility on to their future tenant, if they cannot recover the amount from their late tenant.

The Land Board being the owner the responsibility rests with them. Seconded by Cr Hodgins and carried.

Cr Whitcombe moved That the Council sonsent to the closiug of the Mangaone road shown in tracing as a first instalment, aad refer the Assistant Surveyor-General to the resolution of the Council forwarded to him in November, 1891, and hope that he will proceed with the closing of the rest as soon as possible. Seconded by Cr Bolton and carried. Mr Nestor's letter had been marked by the Engineer, “ This work is purely a matter for a private surveyor to be employ ed.” On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Hodgins, it was decided to send Mr Nestor a reply to this effect.

Cr Bolton moved That the Council offer no objection to the closing of the road at Mangatainoka providing that the new cutting is maintained until the railway ia completed.—Seconded by Cr Murphy and carried. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Griffith, Mr Reanev s letter was referred to the Engineer.

An application for a slaughtering license by Mr G. Whitcombe was granted.

It was decided that the Chairman lay information against owners of pigs and cattle found wandering on the roads ; also that Mr Hope be cautioned for breach of the Slaughtering Act. On the motion of Cr Murphy, seconded by Cr Bolton, it was decided to inform Mr Benzie that he would be proceeded against if he persisted in injuring willows on the river bank complained of by Mr Walker. REPORTS. The Works Committee's report recommended that the following tenders be accepted -No. 337, J. Murphy; No. 338, Luoni: No. 339, McDavitt; No. 34U, Fraser, for No. 2 crossing Makairo. That Mr McGinley's deposit (£2 10s) be forfeited. That the Engineer be authorised to call tenders for contract 135 in two contracts for next meeting. That Mr Adams be returned half his deposit re Ng&turi bridge contract. That Mr Balfour’s services as road overseer be dupensed with ; that he have the offer of two months' salary instead of the month's notice. That Mr McMahon be instructed to return the boulders to the Makuri road which he removed, and be warned that unless he does so immediately he will be prosecuted. The Chairman moved That the report be adopted with the exception of that portion returning Mr Adams half his deposit. He thought it wrong that when a contract is started and not completed any portion of the deposit should be returned. Seconded Cr Perry, who, on a question of equity, strongly supported the motion. Cr Murphy moved as an amendment That the half deposit be returned. Cr Hodgins seconded, and deprecated any difference of opinion on such s subject. He thought Mr Adams had not been personally to blame, and for that reason he supported the amendment. Cr Griffith justified his vote on the question. Cr Tait also thought it a hard thing that Mr Adams should Jose £IOO. therefore he would vote with the amendment. T ie Chairman produced the whole of the correspondence between Mr Adams and the Council. The amendment was then put and carried. For—Crs Ross. Hodgins. Tail, Griffith, Yule and Murphy. Against— Crs Whitcombe, Perry, and the Chairman. The report was then adopted ss read. Cr Whitcombe asked who would have to find the £SO as it had been taken into account as the amount available for the cost of the bridge. The Council would be that amount short. The Engineer's report was read as follow ; 1 have the honour to report that fair progress has been made with contracts generally, and until the last week, when heavy rains occurred, and some damage has been donp to mads, but not to auy ■ serious extent. All metalling contracts have been completed excepting the j delivery of balance of maintenance metal I effi the Main road south, which is being | pushed ahead.

| Of the formation works the following I have been completed or will be in the course of a few days Widening bndle track. Makakahi road, a very fair job; I clearing and trimming, road 38a ; forma 1 tion, road 33b; cuttings and embank ments on Dew s road ; road formation. Tiraumea Valley extension. ne*r Whyte's ; road formation. Tiraumea Valley exten sion. iear Checkley's ; formation, road 43 and formation and bridge, road 37 ; formation. Hex ell's road. Ballance ; formation, Mangaramarama road (bridge not yet completed\: formation of road with embankment and culvert, Tiraumea Valley j extension, near Taylor's section. This latter contract has been hanging on for ; some months, and 1 do not consider that the work was pushed on as well as it should have been. During the last heavy rains a considerable part of the gully has slipped away, blocking tiie aieuth of the culvert and breakiug away portion of the bridle track. The contractor informed me to-day that if he la required to shift the material and make good the damage he will have to throw up the contract. As there has been considerable damage done it remains with the Council to deride whether anything extra will be al lowed. The contract was taken at so low a price that no profit could have possibly been made, and it is also probable that a considerable amount extra will have to be expended outside the original work con traded for. 1 may say that this work is on that portion of the road known es Taylor's Gully. The original line wee laid out to go round the gully, but in ac cordance with a petition forwarded to the Counoil by the settlers, the formation has been diverted and a culvert 3 x 3 and a 100 ft long placed in position at very considerable expense aud difficulty owing to bad foundations, and an embankment formed 33ft m height. With regard to the progress made with erection of Bridges. The contracts stand as follows :

Erection of three bridges. Tiraumea \ alley extension : This work cannot be proceeded with until the contract before referred to is completed, and even then the state of the road- beyond will pro bably prevent the cartage of timber until after the winter months.

Erection of bridges. \V oodville-Aohanga road, will be proceeded with as soon as the Makuri bridge is completed.

Erection of Makuri bridge is nearlv complete and the approaches will be tilled in during this mouth. Erection of bridge. North Tiraumea. being pushed on with, but the completion of the road approach will ha\e to be left until the Government have decided upon tho title to the lend. 1 have already reported on this matter to the Chief Com missioner.

Erection of bridge. Ngaturi.—Good progress is being made, the pier being some 22ft above water level, pile# driven ou right bank, and several nulls cutting for the superstructure. Erection of bridge, Mangatainoka Bridge road.- The piles have bee:; driven and chords constructed. The bridge w 11 probably bo across in tho course of a week. The matter of approaches will have to bo arranged for .-te by former instructions. 1 was to make a bridle track approach, but as oonaiderablc risk

woald .turn to thu I would xk lb. Council to allow in* full approach to o, made if funds are available. At Makuri township, owing to the heavy floods, the bank has been encroached upon near the Serve;. Depart meet's where. A portion of the hot hae been washed away, and as the Govern men! are not likely to do anything towards protecting the bank, I presume the Council will hare to take the metier in hand. There is considerable danger at present of the river cutting arrest the bend at bridge street and running at the back of the bridge now being erected. I should be glad of instructions in the matter. Steps have beet taken to eul a I relief channel above the bridge, which { may probably widen oat and become the I main bed. but in say case protective work* should be put along the tank near 1 the Government hut. The horse bridge at Tylee e had a narrow escape owing to a large white pine 40ft in length lodging across the pipes at the lime of nigh flood. Owing to the ext-rtione of Mr Taylor, foreman to Mr Dawson, the structure wan saved, and no damage is reported beyond one pipe being somewhat bent. Considerable slips have occurred, principally on Ngaturi-Aohanga, Makuri. and Te Aupapa roads. I would request that farther hands be employed to assist removal.

Later.—Since writing me report several slips of considerable extent are reported on Dew s and Bailey a roads. Owing to press of work nothing has yet been done to rood towards Crawford's and Nestor's, but I hope to have this work pushed on during the month. The Ghaurman moved That the report be received and that the Engineer be us slructed to protect the road near Makun bridge. KlXAjrcß. Accounts amounting to ATS6I 5s 9d were passed for payment on the motion of the Chairman seconded by Cr Whitcombe. A recommendation of the cou..iuttee that the full rate as advertised be ‘track was lost. Cr Bolton moved the motion standing in his name That n rate of 1 Jd in the £ bo struck on nil the rateable property in the County. Seconded by Cr Whitcombe. Cr Murphy moved as an amendment That the present rate of Ibe struck ae a general rate for 1894 95. Sconded by Cr Yule. The amendment was earned, i Cr Whitcombe moved That this Council do now adjourn to Friday next, at 11 a.m, I and that the Pahiatua Borough Council oe informed that the Council will meet them at 2 p.m to discuss the bridge question. I Seconded by Cr Rom and earned. The Chairman moved Thai a special rate of 4£d in the £ be struck on the rateable property within the special rating ‘res for loan 40 < ka.uw* Ridge and other r oade * as detailed m lean proposals and < trial a special meet.eg of this Council bo j held on July 7lh to adopt this resolution by special order. Seconded by Cr Murphy and carried. Cr Bolton moved That a special rate of I3d in the £ be struck on the rateable ; property wit run the specs’ rating area for I >an 44 (Ohinereaia road) as detailed n loan proposals and that a special meel.ng I of this Council be held on July 7to adopt I this resolution by special order. { Seconded by Cr Murphy and earned. CBARIT ABIE All* COMXITTEB. j Present—Crs Bolton 'Chairman*. Yule ; and Murphy. Relief was continued to | three applicants.