AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2371, 30 May 1906, Page 6

AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above Council was held in the County Chambers, Pongaroa, on Saturday, 2Gth inst. There were present— Councillors AY. A. Burling (chairman), Armstrong, Murray, Gillam, Burch and Carolan. A memo, was received from the Treasury, Wellington, as to accounts and statement of receipts and expenditure of the Akitio County Council for the year ended 31st March last, enclosing forms to be tilled in.—Received. From the Treasury Office, enquiring whether roads named in the £BOOO subsidy request had been metalled before.—The clerk was instructed to reply. From Mr J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines, informing the Council that their letter of 10th May will receive immediate attention. From the Government Land Valuations Department regarding valuations in Waihi, Pongaroa, and Alataikona ridings, notifying that there is no alteration in Akitio riding, consequently no continuation roll is n ecessa ry.—Received. From the Roads Department, enclosing copy of Order-in-Council, dated 18th April. 1906. declaring the Range. Waiputakaka. Akaroa. Makotira. Rakaunui-Makuri, Hnia. and Waikereru-roads in the Akitio County to be county road> in terms of the " Public Works Act, 1905.” From same regarding Alangatitiroad. declared a county road by Order-in-Council dated 15th May, 190-3. In this connection Cr. Gillam remarked that after looking at the overseer's report, here were roads handed over to the County by the Government, in some cases not fit for horse traffic even, not to speak of dray traffic. He suggested that the clerk should write the Department, pointing out the bad conditions of each road so handed over. 1 ror.l the Roach Department regarding the Waitaki-road. from the Akitio landing to the Aohanga Yal-ley-r »ad. which the Council had asked t i la- legalised. The Council were in formed that before the road can be legalised, field notes, traverse sheets, schedules, etc-., of the work to be executed, would have to be sent to t pjse- and approval by him. The agreement written on the plan of Messrs. Handyside and Roberts is in due form and w ill pass the Minister’s approval; but that portion of the road through Mataikona No. 1 block will not pass in the form sent. Over 100 native- are interested in the block, and as the land is taken under section 13 of the {.and Act. their signature- are necessary in the presence of a qualified and authorised interpreter, who would explain the agreement before they sign and be men responsible for said agreement. 'I hi- mode i- scarcely practicable—in fo r t impo-ible—owing to the natives intere-ted being scattered all over the ' ilony. If the County ha- made the road or expended public money on it, the he-t way would be to take it under section 101 of the Public Works Act. clauses I) and C of No. 53. Even in this case an interpreter is m-ce-a ry. Gi Arm-trong moved “ That Mr I irn- be asked to act a- interpreter, irt order to get the agreement properly carried out under the Public Work- Act. This wa- seconded by < r Murray and carried. 1 i >m Mr Mi s>sen, Horoeka, draw* ing attention to the conditions of Contract 89, regarding the removal -lips. It was moved by Cr Burling seconded by Cr Carolan: That Mr Mis-en be informed that be must ■<!<, hi, work according to his tender. From Mr A. Watson, a-king per-ry:--ion to fence the edge of the road -I ng hi- frontage, the pre-ent fence In— being very steep and dangerous. Permission granted, at bis own •usk. and subject to removal of fence when called upon, anil taking risk of fifi.v damage. From the Secretary of the Ponr -I School Committee regarding damage to school grounds, fences u 'l gate . by stray cattle and horv». Clerk to reply to school committee. from Me., i .. .J Arnott and Sons, " her, a king peimi ion for Messrs. Gardner and \ nomari. sawmillers, to hi- timber by waggon ovcr a county r ' id. to complete tin- erection of tbe Weber Hotel. Perm! -ion not granted. l“rom Mr H Parker as to burnt pap. near Whitmore'.-, fr, Carolan and Burcb reported baring een the pap . and considered it not sufficiently burned. Papa condemned Fir,m Mr (i. Fulcher, asking for < 1 ion of time for Inillocl. hauling as be had been delayed by tl |jp H r I'— road and flood and the gr-n----•i d bad coii'dTCion of fbe roads. —No I ar-- given. I orii Me r . Booth ami Macdonald trdii-g road graders, etc. Gr G who had given notice of mo--1 .1 the previous meeting, then veil Tli.it this- Council consider I advi ablene s of purr basing n 1 'd i-ra'ler. Tbis was M-r umbel by 1 f aiohin and carried. Alta-r con'd ' il <l, m ||, perrfing tbe a<l ' 1 to fbe County of a grader, i‘ .-ii faoved by Cr Cilia s bccotidcd

by Cr Carolan and carried, “That the Council purchase a road grader, the order to be sent to Messrs Booth and Macdonald; the clerk to write asking when and where it could be delivered ;” Akitio landing being considered the best place, as the County’s horse teams will be working on the coast roads during the winter, and it could go to any place where a waggon could go. Crs Burling and Carolan reported that they had interviewed Mr Roberts regarding metal pits on his land. They had suggested to him the purchase by the Council of about five acres of land, where metal was available, at £5 per acre, with the right of about seven chains of road to the pits. This seemed a reasonable figure, and it was moved by Cr Carolan, seconded by Cr Murray and carried: That Cr Burch and the overseer. select the five acres and draw up an agreement with Mr Roberts on tiie foregoing lines. The tender of Messrs. Buckley and Dickens, in the sum ot £6B, was accepted for Contract No. 93. Cr Gillam suggested that if possible some fixed data should he given as to how much wood ought to be burned with the papa, the common rule being one cord of firewood to three yards of papa. Cr Armstrong said each contractor had his own ideas, and the same difficulty occurred in Weber County, which ended iu that county burning its own papa. It was agreed that the overseer and one of the councillors inspect the various gravel and metal pits, and report at next meeting. Cr Murray moved: That the Council purchase not more than five acres from Mr Roberts for metal purposes at £5 per aci'e. provided that the Council have proper access to pits.— This was seconded by Cr Burch and

carried. The Chairman -aid that after next week he would make it a point of purchasing a horse for the Council in place ot the one kindly lent at present by Cr Armstrong. Cr Gillam referred to a case of scarlet fever, and a-ked whether the medical attendant had reported the same.— The clerk produced notice sent by Air Kidd, who had also reported the ca-e to the District Health Offi-

Cr Armstrong asked that a portion of the special rate levied be expended on a certain continuation of the East-road, the overseer to inspect and report. It was resolved: That the present County ranger he asked to send iu hi- resignation,. and that applications he called for the position, and that it be advertised “that all pigs straying on the County roads be destroyed after 14 days from date.” Cr Gillam asked that tenders he called for the formation of part of road near Karora bridge—now completed— and balance left expended on road already formed there. Agreed to.

Regarding the wliare at Aohan—a, it was resolved to sell it at the price offered, namely £l2.

The Chairman moved: That Mr Dillon he ordered to go on with the culvert work and complete the formations in his contract, to commence in seven days from date of notice, otherwise the penalty attached would l«> enforced. Seconded by Cr Burch and carried.

The Chairman suggested that where the metal is good, contracts should be let for knapping, so that metal would be available in the spring. Cr Carolpn again brought forward tier dangerous state of the cutting near Bond s, and suggested various methods for improving it, which were concurred in hv the Council.

The overseer reported, among other things; That Contracts Nos 72 and

1 9 were finished: the County roads, excepting the Makuri-I’ongaroa-road. being in fairly good order; tbe Pabiatua ( ounty Council lias been asked for permission to take metal from tbe limestone quarry, and the teams will he ready tor the work in a few days; necessary culverts are being put in fin the Alfredton-Wcher-road to Rakaunui ; one of the teams is on the Waihi-Akitio-road, and the work there will be finished in 11 days; several places on the Manga-titi-road arc almost impassable, especially opposite Mr Wright’s section.

Accounts amounting to £195 Ms 9d were passed for payment,, and the Council adjourned.