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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 406, 8 March 1879, Page 2

Wo regret having to announce the death of Mrs W. J. Furlong, at Havvera, after a long and painful illness. The funeral will leave the residence of Mr Furlong at halfpast 4 o’clock to-morrow afternoon.

Mr William Cowern will hold his usual Kakararnea montly stock sale on Wednesday next. Mr F. R. Jackson’s St. Hill Street sale will take place on Wednesday next.

Mr P. R. Jackson will sell by auction the day after the Wanganui Races, the mare Expectation, and the thorougnbred gelding Rocket.

Mr W. Dale will sell on Tuesday next at his mart, after the Government land sale, the lease of building sites in Carlyle, balance of Stratford Extension Sections, and merchandise and sundries.

A Cricket match will bo played at Waverley to-day, between Carlyle and Wav'erley clubs. The Patea Light Horse Volunteers will parade to-day for half-yearly inspection.

The nominations for the Autumn Handicap, Steeplechase, and Flying Handicap, for the Taranaki Anniversary Races, will close at 8 p.m. to-day, Bth March. About as good a point we can advance in favor of the present peaceful aspect of native affairs on the Waimate Plains, is that a chief of no mean rank living there, having carefully considered the question of the determination of Government to construct a railway across that country, has determined to make a clearing where he thinks it will probably go, and has asked that a station may be placed there. The above information comes from the most reliable source.

The Valuation Lists for the -Patea East and Havvera Road Boards having been thrown out by the.Assessment Court, Mr G. V. Bate and Mr E. Creerivvay have been appointed valuers to draw out fresh lists- — the former for Havvera, and the latter for Patea East.

An important matter was brought on bv Mr Dale at the meeting- of the County Council on Wednesday, viz, the erection of suitable Hospital buildings in Carlyle. We think this is a very necessary step, as it must be admitted that the present' buildings are far from suitable for hospital purposes, in. fact they are disgraceful. The Council evidently deemed the matter worthy of their best consideration, for the motion tabled by Mr Dale, that £250 be voted towards the erection of a building provided Government gave a like sum, was carried unanimously. No_ time is to be lost, as tenders are to be in by next meeting.

On Tuesday next Captain Wray will sell by public auction, in the Court House Carlyle, a number of sections in the Waxroa,Survey District, &c.. -Allinforma-' tiori ’relating to this land may"be obtained on application at Land Office. We refer readers to advertisement in fourth page for acreage, &c.

The very interesting piece of moving mechanism :called “The Little World ’ has been on view in the Carlyle Town Hall since Wednesday evening last. It consists of a collection of moving figures —such as a railway train, ’busses* a steamboat, blacksmiths, sawyers, carpenters, a troupe of minstrels, and a number of other figures, all'pursuing different occupations, the whole’being kept in motion simultaneously by clockwork. “The- Little World'” is the work of a self-taught artist, and certainly is a wonderful piece of mechanism. . The figures' move very naturally, more especially those onthebycicles, the legs moving quite life-like. Punch and Judy show is exhibited every fifteen minutes, and the young folk enjoy this part of the entertainment, immensely. There are over fifty figures—all engaged in some interesting work. This will give those, who have not had the pleasure of seeing 4' The Little World ”an idea of what it is like. To-day will be thelast chance for seeing it, the proprietor intending to show in Waverley on Monday night, and-we strongly advise all who can to pay the Hall a visit. The Prairie Farmer states that Great Britain has one sheep, to each two acres of land ; Germany, France, and Spain, one to each five acres ; aiid-tho United States has one to each fifty-six acres.

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting.,of the above body was held at the Couiicil Chambers; Carlyle, on Wednesday last; . Present; —- Messrs McGuire (chairman), Winchcomb, King, Sherwood, Brewer, Horner, Dale, and Milne. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr H. J. H, Elliott, Wellington, in to enquiry re grant of land to Wanganui Education Board,""and referring the Council to loth section of “The Wanganui High School Act, 1878,” which leaves the selection of land to the estimated value of £IO,OOO to the determination Of the Land Board of the. provincial district in which any lands to be granted shall be situate. Letter from .Wanganui County Council, stating that that body intention of removing St. John’s Hill toll-gate, and that the Patea County Council bad only been acting on supposition. Regretted the action, as it was likely to causo illfeeling between the two public bodies. Letter from Chairman Wanganui County Council, with reference, to a man named Hall, who had gone from Waverley in order to be admitted to Wanganui Hospital. Account was enclosed. Letter from Wanganui'Borough Council, enclosing account for 1 ■ man named McEvoy, who bad beeir adniitted to the hospital. Letter from 0. E. Gibson, Nonnanby, stating that the depth of gravel how being put on the Mountain .Hoad-was not sufficient to bear the,, heavy/,trafficthat.yrAnld be put upon it, and askmg the Council to consider the matter.

Letter from Mr Nathan, asking that he be allowed to give up one of'his contracts, owing to the gravel in r Johnston’s pit having been condemned;' and no other being available. ; • The following telegram .was read : “Minister directs me to say that out of the balance of the Mountain Hoad vote, he is now prepared to authorize you to proceed with work to the amount of £2,400, ; provided you agree to the following requirements, viz. :—To expend it -by public tender ; to certify that tue amount asked for from time to time has been expended out of County funds, or is for payment of work actually done and waiting to bo paid for ; and also that you promise to lender such accounts as audit require. On your wiring your assent, you Will he definitely authorized to expend the-fyoney at once.— John Knowles.”

The Chairman replied to the telegram, aa follows:—“ To John Knowles, Wellington. Conditions contained in your, telegram respecting the £2,400 authorised to be expended on Mountain Hoad, will be observed, or for any further suras the Honorable Mr Macandrevv may be good enough to place at the disposal of this Council. Tenders will be called for this important work . with as . little delay as possible, and the good weather taken advantage of.— F. McGuire.” Mr Sherwood was very much surprised that the Government had sent such a telegram, and was still more surprised that the Chairman had replied as he had. The Council had received large sums of money before, and never were such restrictions put upon them. It appeared as if Government were afraid that the Council would misspend the money. The Chairman having bound the Council down to the conditions of the telegram, they must abide by it. The matter ought to have been brought before the Qriuncil, The Chairman, in reply, said he had taken what he considered to be the most judicious course. He was well aware if he had left the matter over till the Council met, ho would have been blamed —in fact, any course he had taken would have had the same result. The letter did not bind the Council down to anything, and he had acted for, the best. ,

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Winchcomb, and _ carried, “ That a return of all expenses incurred on account of the patient Jordan, be laid upon the table.”

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried, “That applications be invited for the services of an Hospital attendant.” •

A discussion here took place on the application of the Wanganui Borough Council, for payment of McEvoy’s maintenance in Wanganui Hospital. Members thought it a piece of cheek on the part the Borough Council to make such a demand, considering that McEvoy had not even been a resident of Patent It was eventually proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and carried, “That the Wanganui Borough Council be informed that this Council have an Hospital of their own, and therefore decline to pay expenses of persons who may leave this County for the purpose of gaining admittance to the Wanganui Hospital-”' Mr Milne presented' a petition from settlers in the Waverley Riding,.praying the Council to reconsider its determination to erect a toll-gate at Waitotara, as it would be detrimental to the interests of the settlers in that Riding. Petition received. . ; : -

The Foreman of Works reported that Mr Nathan had been gravelling contract No. 19, from Waitotara to the.top of the bill north of that town, and the shell had improved it very much- In two weeks more, the Foreman hoped to have the road gravelled from Waitotara to Cheney’s gate, four miles and a half?- He had made a water table at the of by Mr Brodie, Waverley. with Mr Milne, the Foreman had examined two gravel-pits at Waverl ey—Johnston’a and Allan’s—the latter having a good seam of gravel about 2ft Gin, with about I2£t of stripping, and he was or 'opinion that if this pit was properly opened up, some goqdVgravel might be'gbt out. The sheeting of the Whenuakura Bridge had been broken three times daring last month. Woller had been gravelling contract 27, which was about half done. - Contractor had : commenced to cartout of Mcßae’s pit, the gravel being much the same as Delamore’s, Between.Burk’s Hill and the Monutahi' Hotel, the road was broken up in places, and Delamore’s dray had been employed to patch it up. Johnston and Hughes were gravelling contract *No. 31 out of Bayly’s pit at Tongahoe. This gravel was not what could be desired. Day men had been employed on the road between Kaupokonui and Oeo during the month, filling up holes, mending culverts, and repairing approaches to bridges. These men had been removed, 'and, would be put oh thbi road .between Burk’s Hill and Tongahoe,-; on .the, places where no contracts had been let! 'The road between Whenuakura and Little Taranaki Road was breaking up, and the bad places would be repaired. The Patea and Whenuakura bridges ought to have a new coat >6f sheeting ; the old timber could be used for mending culverts. Tongahoe Bridge yvas in a bad condition. When the- chains came, which had been ..ordered three

months,' thfi..hndge;WOu!d he screwed up. The light track oh the left side of the road between Clover Hoad and the old schoolhouse at Nonnanby, was very bad. A man had beeh put on to level it, and drain the water into the ditch. Burk and Co.’s contract for forming between the old schoolhonse and Nonnanby, was almost completed. Another contract was let last month for forming a light track along this length, at a cost of £79.; Tina would be found a great benefit, and would ease the traffic off the metal. Dingle, Bros, had about 70 chains of their contract gravelled, and were getting on well. Aikman had about three days work to finish his contract. McLean had done about four miles of bis first contract roughly. The‘Foreman had been urging him to finish up as ho went along. About 30 men were at work on this contract.

Mr Sherwood would like the Chairman to explain what the Foreman meant in his report by a contract for light track at Nonnanby having been called for and accepted. He did not know anything about the matter. Tenders ought to have been called through the newspaper, if they were required, and not by posting notices in different parts of the town of Hawern. He for one was averse io this kind of proceeding. Power had been given the Chairman at the last meeting to call for tenders to raise the road through the bush leading to Normanby, but nothing more. ' ,The. Chairman stated that the work was done to save the. road, and he considered it was absolutely necessary. The expenditure was not a large one. Members were divided in opinion as to whether the Chairman were to blame or not, the majority being against his action. The Council adjourned at 1 o'clock, and on re-assembling, went into committee on tenders, &c. The Foreman of Works Was examined at some length on matters connected with his office.

The following tenders were opened No. 28, for gravelling one mi|e, and depositing 100 yards gravel, T. Henley, £392—-accepted ; J. Johnston, £4 19s 6d per chain—declined. Light tracks—Nos. 33 and 34, J. Bowie, at 4s per chain —accepted ; Nos. 3G, 37, and 38, Burke & Co , 3s lid per chain—accepted ; —fresh tenders to be called for contract No. 35.

The Foreman of Works was empowered to employ more surface men, in order to facilitate road works. 1

It was decided to thank Mr Gibson for his letter, and inform him that the Council would attend to the matter-.

On resuming, the report of committee was received arid adopted. The committee appointed to investigate Fisher and Ballam’s claim, reported that as the work had not yet been finished, no claim could be preferred, and suggested that a copy of the Foreman’s report be sent to those gentlemen. The committee will sit again. Abstract of accounts for the month of February, showed —Receipts :■ Government land sales (cash), £413 12s 9d ; licenses, £4 2s ; rates, £3B 19s 3d : total, £456 14s. Expenditure : Miscellaneous, £36 3s 3d ; public works, £916 2s ; salaries, &c., £2O 16s 8d ; printing, &c., £lO 18s 6d ; hospital, £44 3s lOd ; Mountain Road, £376 4s 3d : total, £1404 8s 6d. . Accounts passed for payment—Daymen, £BS 6s ; *J. Davidson, 15s ; Tohs, 10s ; Lyttle, £1 16s 6d ; W. Foreman, 16s 9d ; Mrs O’Connor, 10s 6d ; Patea Mail, £23 0s 6d ; Christchurch Hospital, £24 15s 6d ; Fitzherbert, £7 4s 3d ; Gib-, son, £5 17s lid : Taplin, £8 19s. • The cost of Jordan’s maintenance, &c., was laid upon the table, the amount £4l 18s, including passage to Christchurch and back.

Mr Dale thought the Council were justified in bringing Jordan back again. It would have been very unfair to say to Christchurch—you have cured the man, and now you must keep him. This was an exceptional case, as Jordan was an old settler.

Mr Sherwood thought it was not a good precedent to adopt—sending a man away, got him cured, and then bring him back. This kind of thing would be a sort of inducement to others to get into Patea Hospital. Jordan could just as well have gone to work in Christchurch as here. Pioposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr Sherwood and carried, “ That the Medical Officer be requested to furnish a monthly report of the Hospital.” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Dale, and carried, “ That a committee consisting of M essrs Partridge, Winchcomb, and the mover be appointed a Public Works committee, two to form a quorum.*—The mover considered this a very necessary step, as the committee would be able to bring up its report, and thereby assist the Council greatly. Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried, “ That tenders be called for supplies.of gravel, to be stored ' at places where required along the County road.”

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Winchcomb, and carried,, “ That all tenders for works for the Council shall have attached thereto a schedule of prices.” Proposed by-Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Dale, and carried, “ That the Foreman be requested to prepare an estimate for draining the surface water from the water tables on the portion of the Mountain Road passing through Hawera.”—Members spoke of the very bad state of this part of the road, in fact it was about to bo used for boating purposes.* i ' Proposed by Mr Sher,wood, seconded by Mr Winchcomb, and . carried, “ That for the future no contract be. entered into without the authority of the Council.”

Proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Milne, “ThatMr John McLean be informed that unless he sign bond for contracts Nos. 12, 13, and 14, Mountain Road, .within one week frorn date, his deposit' will ’ be forfeited.” Mr Dale spoke very strongly against the manner in which Mr McLean was treating the Council. Winter was coming on, and he had not even signed the bond. It was time something was done. —Mr King moved as an amendment, seconded by Mr Brewer, “ That Mr McLean be notified that he must sign the remainder of his contracts within two weeks from date.—The, amendment being put, was lost on division. Ayes—King, Brewer. Noes —Wmchcotnb, Sherwood, Horner, Milne, Dale, McGuire. The original motion was therefore carried-. , Proposed by Mr Slierwood, seconded by Mr King, and carried, “ That the Chairman of the WanganulCounty Council be thanked for his letfei* i re,Hall,j and that;.he be informed that' this- Council will paj” .the hospital .expenses ; but that in future, expenses of patients from this County will' not be paid unless the patient has - been I’eeeived by an order from this Council.” Proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried, “ That a sum not exceeding £250 be voted by tins Council towards the erection of a suitable Hospital building on the Hospital Reserve, Carlyle, on condition that an equal amount is

Government, and that the Chairman get suitable plans’ prepared, and tenders sent in by nest meeting.”-—-The mover.considered that as :the Council had decided to takc.tlic ; i matter into their o\vn hands, it was their duty to erect suitable buildings. ■' It would be found less expensive in the end.

Proposed by Mr King, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and carried, .“-That arrangements be made by ( lie Public .Works Committee with th’e present contractors (Messrs Dingle Bros.), for an extra coating of 3 inches of gravel on their contract from McGregor’s swamp to the ol I school-house, Normanby.” Proposed bj r Mr King, seconded by Mr

Milne, and lost, “That tenders be called for gravelling three miles of Mountain

Road from Johnston’s corner.”—Members thought it would not he judicious to use up all the money,at their disposal, and leave nothing to koep.in repair'those works that ha<| already been done. Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Dale, and carried,-“ That the Public Works Committee he authorised to make arrangements for the discovery of gravel pit or pits on or near the Mountain Road.” Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr Winchcomb,-That the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the most urgent work required on the Mountain Road previous to the winter.” Carried. .......

The Council adjourned till 7 p.m. On re-assembly,.. . ' > : It. was proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milne, and carried, “That tenders lie invited for supplying the necessarjr timber for bridge work.” Proposed by Mr Winchcomb, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried, “ That the sum of £3 3s be allowed Mr Greemvay for clerical, work done ‘re Valuation List for County Council.” ’

Mr W. Cowern having made application that a sum of money be voted out Of the proceeds of cash sale land, to make a road leading to the Whakamara Block, Mr Dale proposed, seconded by Mr King, and carried, “ That a sum of £3OO be voted to the Hawera Road Board, for expenditure on roads which will open up the Whakarnara Block in that road district.”—Messrs Dale and bherwood regretted that they could not make the sum larger, but tin’s was im-

possible afpresent. The expenditiire vvould have to. be approved of by Council. Mr Winchcomb withdrew the notice of motion standing in his name re merging Road Boards. He thought Parliament would: legislate on the matter next session. The motion for handing over the main line of road through Waverley to the Town Board, was held over till next meeting. •Mr Milne moved the notice of motion standing his name, which was seconded by Mr Brewer, “ That the resolution that a' toll-gate be establised this side.-of the Waitotara bridge be rescinded.” T . •Mr Milne did not think v that.such a motion should be allowed-to remain as a record of the Council. The Wanganui Council never intended, as far as he could learn, to remove their gaterfrom St. John’s Hill to Waitotara. and, the action of ' this

Council would certainly not prevent them, for if they .a,, toll-gate could : be, erected of , Waitotara, He to rescind the pfevfeu'st the Council. Mr Brcworhvhuld Vhte for the rescinding of the' resolution. - Thd"fatepayers were not at all satisfied that the Council did not intend to act up to the resolution; so long as it.remained on the. minute book of the Council.: .lie did-not at'all like the tone ■*Sf | the. j ettcr sent, by the Chairman to Whn’ganui, and thought it was calculated to ido lhore harm than g00d... ftlr Sherwood felt happy that such a resolution had been passed, if for no other redeem taan that it had been the means of waking up the ratepayers to a sense of the power of the Council. The resolution had been passed on the distinct understanding that the gate was not to be erected unless the Council was driven to it. If those who ought to have known better, had remained quiet, the ratepayers would have been satisfied. Mr Sherwood then dwelt at length on the repeated attempts of this County to come to amicable terms with Wanganui, but to no purpose. IE his memory served him right, the first thing done by the Wanganui County Council was to remove a toll-gate to the very boundary of Ilangitikei County, and he believed they would have removed one to the boundary of this County if they had the chancei -

Mr Horner said that although he'.had voted against the resolution at last meeting, it would be one of the worst things the Council could do now to rescind it. It was not clear to him that Wanganui did not intend to remove their toll-gate, £or the answer received from them, was that they did not intend to do so during the present year. A great deal was meant by those jew words —after the year perhaps they would remove it. _ j Mr Dale would vote against Mr Milne’s motion. As to the report that Wanganui never intended to remove St. John’s Hill gate, he might say that he had seen it in the Wanganui papers, and therefore there must have been some truth in it. He considered the resolution was one of the best the Council had ever passed; \ Mr, King had voted for the resolution at last meeting, hut Wanganui County having given fheir word thatthey had no intention to remove St. John’s Hill gate, he thought the Council would-be acting wiselyif they rescinded it. ' r “

,r Mr Wirichcomb would vote against MrMilne, and thoaght the Council, ha<i done well to pass the resolution. - ' .The Chairman regretted that Messrs Brewer and Milne had not represented; the matter in its true, light to the meetings recently: held at Waitotara and Wayerley, If the Council were to rescind the resolution now, they ...would be the laughing stock of the whole of the ratepayers. Mr Milne—The Council'is already the laughing stock of the ratepayers. ; ’ Mr Brewer explained that Mr Milne and himself had represented the matter fairly to . the ratepayers, bat they were: not satisfied. The Council then adjourned.