RAGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8834, 10 June 1907, Page 2

RAGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Presenters. R. K. Simpson, chairman; A, Q. Simpson, Fraser, Morrison, Canton, Duncan, McGregor and Lethbridge. Cr. Georgctti was granted leave of absence. Correspondence was read :—From Colonial Secretary, extending time for preparation of electoral rolls. From Commissioner Crown Lands, approving of proposal for expend!tnre of "thirds." From Receiver Land Revenue, advising payment of £389 14s Id "thirds" to Council's credit. From Chief Surveyor, stating that under sections 229 and 230 of Tho Public Works Act, 1905, Council had control of all streams not navigable. From Roads Dopartmout, advising that the following roads hn.vo "been declared connty roads : Huia, Kakariki Stream, Horouta-Pukeokahn, Ngarnkehn, Makohine Valley, Man-gaweka-Te Kapua. From Department of Roads arid Mr A. E. Remington, M.H.R., stating that the application for grants will receive careful attention. From Chief Health Offlcer, sMtiug' matter re employment of health officer would receive attention.' From Counties Association, circular re forthcoming, conference and consideration of proposed Local Government Bill.—Resolved, Crs. Leth-bridge-Morrisou, that the clerk, Mr H. Richardson, represent Council at conference.

From Clutha County Council, asking Council's support to its proposal that local bodies should be em-_ powered to make their own valuations. —Received.

From Hawke's Bay County Council, re Mangaohauo road, and stating that coimnittco could not bo arranged to meet this Council on June Bth!—Chairman aud Crs. Morrison

and McGregor were appointed a committee to confer with representatives of Hawke's Bay Council on matter.

From same, re transferring portion of Hawke's Bay County loan of £13,277 to Raugitikei County Council .—Resolved, Crs. Duncan—Mc- r Grogor, that Council tako over £658 lis 0d of loan. ; From Kiwitea County Council, thanking Council for Mr Mair's services re London's ford bridge, nu<T asking fee for such. —Council decide* to mako no charge From Taihape Borough Council, asking for 150 yards of metal to repair damage to Taihapo streets by Council's metal drays.—Fifty yards to bo supplied at depot. From Marton School Committee, thanking Council for use of its room for meetings. From John Stevens, M.H.R., re legalisation and construction of road through Rakautawa block.—Mr Stoveus to be thanked for his letter, and matter loft in hands of clork. . From W. A. Ellis, reserving to Council the right through his land to Porewa stream. From F. D. Allen, permission to erect fence along the frontage of section 9, Tiriraukawa.—Mr Mair to arrange. = From Torere School Committee, I thanking Council for metalling path to the school and teacher's residence.

From J. Kane, application for the position of County ranger.—Granted. From Colonel Gorton, asking that the road into the Greatford Church be repaired.—Resolved, Crs. McGregor—A. G. Simpson, that Council regrets being unable to accede to request. From J. Graham aud Sons, asking permission to erect a gate on the Mataiapouga road. —Granted during pleasure of Council. From C. McKinnon, asking permission to erect a gate on the Potaka road. —Left to Mr Mair.

From J. Reidy, asking for extra allowance on Mataiapouga road contract, on account of work boing heavier than anticipated.—Left in hands of Cr. Canton and Engineer. From R. C. Andrew, applying for permission to cross Paulin's bridge with his engine.—May do so at his own risk.

' From Wright and Carter, asking -permission to erect stables on County ' road reserve.—Granted, subject to the pleasure of Council and payment of £1 Is per annum. From Harris and Ladley, asking . Council to consent to dedication of a slip of land in Spring Creek estate to widen Golding line.—Left to Chairman. From John Lambert, re extension of telephone to Poukioro and Watershed road.—Terms to be supplied to ' Council. From A. McGregor, asking to bo ' allowed to supply clog collars re- ; quired by Council for 1903.—Ten- ' clers to be called. ' From W. J; Simpson, drawing at- ' tention to bad- state, of Mauhgahoo road. —Matter attended to. From R. McKinnon, re slips on '' road.—Engineer, Mr Mair, to attend. From J. Jonkius, ranger and fore- ; man, asking for increase of pay.— [ That Council cannot see its way to \ accede to request, and that Mr Jenkins resignation be accepted on terms of his letter. ' REPORTS. Mr Thorns* Road Inspector, reported that now that the heavy ' traffic is practically over lie hopes to bs able to maintain the roads With* I out more metal till next soasou and ; suggesting that Mr J. Smith's and ; Mr "Green's contracts be held over ' till next season. Mr Hinks has not. completed his contract on Warren'i " road. His metal drays have cut ttp_ ! Mr Griffin's private road and dock. Tho luspector recommended that the contract be cancelled and ] Mr Griffin's road and fence be re : ' paired at the contractor's expense. The contracts for delivering metal on ' Makirikiri, Pnkepapa and Cliff roads L and 'lie regrading of Ross's cutting l have been completed. Tho contract -' for re;.trading Williamson's cutting ; has not been started and he suggested \ that the work be held over until ' next summer. Owing to bad weather ' the work of regrading the cutting at Greatford is progressing slowly; but if favoured with good weather it would soon be completed. This work was asked for and authorised ; too late in the season, and he sugges- . ted that future works asked for late . in the season be held over as it is -, very unsatisfactory doing such work in bad weather, besides being dis- ; agreeable to travellers on the road. L The timber for Paulin's bridge repairing lias come to hand and the work will be proceeded with at once. Mr Jas. Johnston lias agreed to sell ■ Council half an acre adjoining his metal pit for £lO, this being one of the best pits in the colony he strongly advised that it be procured. He further recommended that two pits be purchased from Mr Jas. Me- , Gregor." Tho estimate of tho cost i and forming and culverting Ngarurti bridle track is estimated at £978, This is 20 per- cent more than it would have cost seven or eight years ago. Mr Mair's County Engineer, report showed that the month of May had been very showery and many slips had occurred all over the upper ridings. Most of the formation and gravelling had been finished so there 1 was very Uttle else than maintenance works in hand. The Torero road ha* suffered much damage by heavy sawmill traffic. He is having, a tally kept of all the traffic on this road with a view of charging millers with damages in proportion, such notice having been given to the millers. He recommended that public notice be given that roads are now closed against heavy traffic. As instructed he had made an estimate for metalling Pulmrua South road, the cost would be £7OO. In company with Mr Thorns he had inspected the Ngaruru road and the proposed deviation. He suggested that a heavy filling be made over the stream to the left on to the old road, thereby saving some 23 chains. Independent of saving distance the deviation offers the advantage of being on the sunny side of tho ridge and straight. As a set off to the advantages thus gained the formation would be much heavier and the 'new line would not offer Hncli suitable frontages as the old road and in view of the probability of the adjoining property being subdivided it is probable that compensation for fencing claimed would be heavy. The estimated cost' of the work was £700.. ■As tho advantage gained by the deviation is in distance only, and the cost is just double tho old road he recommended that the old road bo adheied to. Plans and estimated cost, were submitted for workmen's cottages as requested, with suggestions where they were most urgently needed. He Lad an interview with Mr Remington, M.H.R., who asked Council to write to the Minister for Lands pointing out that the" Council will, upon no consideration, pledge' the settlers to raise a loan to open up a block of Grown land, but if provision is made for borrowing against royalties it might be done.- - . 5 In discussing Mr Thorns' report' v. Council decided that, Messrs- Smith ,__ and Green's' contracts be held over '• ,-j till next season. Mr Hinks'contract v q is to be cancelled. The contraot for £*& - " - .'''="l --\ i ! -,- ' - ' ■-■ '-v-'-v -J'■/•*s

Shading Williamson's Cutting will -fee held over till next summer. It Was also decided that in future Bach work as regrading be started earlier in the season. It was resolved to purchase the metal pits recommended b?' Mr Thorns.

Mr Mair's suggestion re heavy filling on Ngaruru road was adopted The workmen's cottages are to be gone on with next summer. Resolved, Crs. 'McGregor—Duncan, that the Minister of Lands be informed that Council is unwilling to put a spacial rate on any portion of the county to enable tho Crown to dispose of its timber, and suggests that Government either advance necessary funds for the tram or tho security of .timber royalties or that the land be cut up for settlement. That application bo made to Treasuiy for provisional approval of follow iug loans : Pukeokahu road £4200, Rangatira £205, Ngaruru £IOOO, Makohau-Turakina Valley £OOO. That the following separate riding rate be struck: Te Kapua )|d, Otairi l-sd, Wangaehu %&, Rangatira l-10d, Awarua Raugitoto l-10d. That a general rate of %d bo struck over the whole county. That roads in Te Jlapua, Awarua ami EiOwhou ridings be closed for heavy traffic until end of September. That the salary of the assistant clerk be raised to £9O as from April Ist, 1007. All tenders received were informal and were referred to Mr Mair to arrange; In acceptiug tho position of chairEd .ui to the Bangitikei County Council Mr Simpson paid a high tribute to tlioso gentlemen who had preceded 3iim. Tho Council had been particularly fortunate in their choice of 6hairmen in the past, and lie thanked tho present members for the confidence they had shown fu his ability by electing him to the chair that day. He was accepting the position with considerable diffidence, being conscious of tho fact that the Eaugitikei County was one of the largest a,ud most important in tho colony. He was associated with a body of men with whom it would always be a pleasure to work, and whose assistance and cooperation lie could always rely upon. Ho said also that tho ratepayers were fortunate m their officers in every department aud he hor.6d that when Ins term of offico exphed ho would be able to look back with credit on the work of the Council and that tho chair would retain tho lustre that had boenJslKd oil it by his predeccsors. . :