COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 54, 26 September 1885, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council took place yesterday. Present-G. L. Sunderland (in the chair), C. Grey, W. K Chambers, Smith, Trimmer, Wallace, Gannon, Dobbie and Ferris. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the outgoing correspondence was approved of. Incoming Correspondence. From Mr Locke stating in reply to the communication forwarded to him from the committee on the Te Arai tramway question, that the Council's Engineer could overcome all the difficulty in calling for tenders. Cr Gannon wished to know who had informed Mr Locke of this. Was the reply given on the authority of the Government. He could not see how the Council could act on such a private communication. Surely Mr Locke might have said who informed him—whether it was the Minister for Public Works, or whoever it might have been. Cr Chambers did not suppose Mr Locke would have sent the reply except upon good authority. Hospital Grant. On reading an application from the Secretary of the Hospital, asking for the usual County Grant of from the Council, the Clerk was asked to refer to the minutes upon the subject. When it was found that the subsidy was an annual optional vote.

Mr Warren said it had been decided to give what the Borongh gave. Cr Chambers moved that /"s; be given—Carried. The Ormond Roads. From Mr Henry Campbell, Mangataikapua “ on account of the necessity of having to repair a certain portion of the road near Mr Devery’s Hotel —the road being impassible—l agreed with Mr Devery to do the work, and I made the best bargain I could with him at the time, as if he would not have done it I should have to have done it myself, so I became responsible to him for the work. Under the circumstances I shall be obliged if you can see your way to pay the accompanying account. If not I must pay him myself as it is a just claim.” The claim was for

Cr Smith thought that by paying this claim it would establish a very bad precedent. Cr Chambers moved and Cr Dobbie seconded “That the matter be held over until the Engineer reported as to whether the work had been done.” — Carried. Mr Harding’s Store.

From Mr Milner, Tuparca—“ We have had a long spell of fine weather here lately, and I think it is quite time that something was done, so that I can get possession of the section at Awanui by removing Mr Harding’s building off the road. I have been put to a great deal of expense lately in not being able to remove my buildings tofthe section, as I have had to remove 500 bushels of maize by Natives carrying it on their backs. There is now no obstacle as to bad weather.” The Chairman thought they should give Mr Harding notice to remove the building at once. Cr Dobbie seconded.—Carried. Taking Native Lands for Roads. From the Public Works Department, stating that native land could not be taken for roads under the Public Works Act, except by an order in Council, when the Native Lands Court would have to fix the compensation. The Chairman thought it a very extraordinary letter, and what was the good of the Act if they could not take laud under it, There would be no *

compensation to pay as the natives had got back more land than had been taken from them. It was finally agreed to conform to the tenor of the letter. Payments. £2OO was passed for payment. Mr Warren pointed out that the Council could not get any more money from the Bank until they received some from the Government. The Chairman suggested that a town committee of Crs Gannon, Ferris, and Trimmer, with the Clerk, attend to the matter next Friday week. The Haig-Common Difficulty. From Sievewright and DeLautour, slating that an injunction had been moved for in the Haig-Common dispute, and asking that no money be paid on the Te Arai bridge. It was finally decided to send for Mr Brassey, who, on arriving, said that Common and Co. had nothing to do with the Te Arai bridge, and they had not advanced one penny on it. Why the letter had been sent he did not know, but he advised the Council not to take any notice of it. Mr Dickson had paid all monies on the contract. He advised the Council to pay the progress money at once if it wished. There was an action now pending between Common and Co. and Mr Dickson for wood for that very bridge. There could be little doubt as to the result of the application for an injunction. Cr Gannon could not see how they could go against their solicitor’s advice. It was finally resolved to make the payment. Smith’s Road. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Chambers, it was decided to metal Smith’s Road (Patutahi), at a cost of about /200. Tologa Telegraph. It was resolved that the Chairman write Sir Julius Vogel re the Tologa Telegraph. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer reported as follows :— _ Arai Bridge.— The work of construction is being pushed on. The piles in the east and west piers are driven, and the first pile of centre pier will be driven today. As lam unable to devote sufficient time to the necessary supervision, I would request that an overseer of works be appointed.—Bridge, Waimata Road : One of the lower sills of the principal bridge on the Waimata road has been undermined by the scour of the water owing to a jam of timber in the creek, and the bank slipping away, causing a portion of the floor of the bridge to sink some three inches. In order to make a permanent work, it will be necessary to build a concrete foundation for the sill to rest on. I would ask authority to get this work done. — Maintenance Men, East Coast: Maintenance men have been employed on the Coast road for the past seven months, and they have done goed work. On my late visit I spoke to many of the ratepayers as to whether the work was better done in this manner or by contract, nnd they were uninimous that they got better value for the money under the present system. The road at present is in good order, and the men are employed at present in making more extensive improvements to the road. I would recommend that they be employed for a few months longer. Owing to the length of road they have only up to the present been keeping the line open and making temporary repairs, but if employed for a few months during the summer, they can make great improvements, and put the road in good order before the wet season.—Waimata Road: I propose calling for tenders for extension of works on this road, and expending the balance of Government grant, tenders to be in by next meeting.—Artesian Well, Makaraka : The contractor for putting down an artesian well has not been successful as yet in obtaining water. The bore is down 216 feet, the last 18 feet being through rock. Some three weeks were lost in consequence of losing one of the tools down the bore.

The Engineer was instructed to try and secure the services of Mr Somervell as Clerk of Works for the Te Arai bridge. It was agreed to do the necessary work in connection with the Waimata bridge; and also to keep on the maintenance men on the East Coast road for some few months longer. Stone Bonus. Letters claiming the bonus of £~,o were read from Messrs Boland and Thompson. After some discussion it was agreed to give Mr Thompson £2O and Mr Boland /'io for the trouble they had been put to in procuring samples of stone. Owbta road. A letter was received from Otene Pitau, stating he would allow stone to be taken from Puketapu block for /"6o. — After a great deal of discussion, it was agreed to give this amount, and the following tenders were opened for making the road : R. Knox, £s, 18s 6d per chain (accepted); Jones and O'Donnell, £6 13s; C Young, £& 14s; E. O’Dwyer, // ns ; O’Neil, £b 16s; D. Malone, £f 8s ; M. Boland, /'6 6s. Patutahi Road. In connection with this road, Mr D. Malone offered to deliver 16,000 yards of metal in carts at 8s lod per cubic yard. Mr O'Ryan offered to form the three miles of the road and metal it; and supply 600 cubic yards of metal in the depot by tram for the £7,000, but if he were allowed valuation for the line if taken over by the Council or contractor, he would deliver another 1000 cubic yards of metal in the depot.—lt was agreed to accept Mr Malone’s tender.