POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8834, 10 June 1907, Page 3

POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

gThe Council met on Saturday. Pre93iit: Crs Ga 3. F. Smith, C. H. Handley, H. Bi rne, H. W. Oliver, F, L. Jackson, and D. Howie, In tho absence of Gr Brown, Cr Howie vai voted to the chair. Leave of absence wa i granted to Cr Brown. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows : From H. S. Fitzherbert, explaining his fjill of costs. —Passed for payment. Prom Southland County Council, expressing approval cjf Model By-laws Bill, submitted by Minister for Public "Works, with exception of sub-section 1 of section 4, which directs that public notices be affixed to bridges, etc.—Leit to chairman on attending Conference. Prom D) Sinclair, asking that drain in 'tVefei-street, Pohangina, in front of his property;. be difSrtcd- ~ Water to be diverted into its old course.

From Fritx Gagern, asking that ;leco'3s be given to his section. —Road cannot be formed to section.

From A. If. Tompkins, offering to sell his interest in gravel reserve, block 23, Apiti, for .£B.—To be offered £5. "From H. J. "VVylde, stating that tho County Engineer had instructed him to grado To A'wa branch road. —The Engineer said this was a mistake; he had not 4o.r»e so.- —It was decided to request Mr Wyldo to attend next meetiug of the Council to enable the balance of his account to be discussed..

Frcm J. M. Murdoch; c'orisenting to widening of culvert on Kuka road, Pohangina, protesting against dram b'eiiig diverted through block 9. and stating he would hold Council responsible for any damage 11 his section.—No action taken. From W. Stevens, asking Council to divert s-ater from his sections of No. C and 7 blocks. —No action taken.

From Secretary Wanganui Harbour Board, stating tht't authority to construct a drain across Harbour Board property from Kuku-sferect to Kaka-street had been given in July, 1903. From Department of Roads, asking if Council is prepared to eroct cage at Piripiri ford on receipt of .£2O subsidy.—Tho Engineer said he thought he could erect a small bridge with local assistance.. From H. S. Fitzherbert, tendering resignation as County Solicitor. —Mr Innos was appointed his successor. From Secretary Counties Association, giving date of Conference. —The Chairman, Cr Brown, was appointed. From Frank W: Arbon, stating that on behalf of ratepayers in Tamaki riding protesting against engineer being allowed a limit of .£SO for addition to groin work in Digger's Creek. No further sums should bo sppnt there.—Cr Handley said he approved of the Engineer's proposal. —No action taken. From J. W. Balmer, applying for slaughtering license—Approved. From R. A. Cheyne, applying for lease of reserve No. 39, Umutoi riding.—lt was resolved that in future the clerk invite applications for all reserves to bo leased. REPORTS. The Engineer reported that a large slip had taken place at Pohangina bridge Bite and .£3O had been spent in removing same. Owing to recent unfavorable Weather he had not been able to repair Apiti-Coal Creek road. Tho worst places cm Ashh'tfrst-PohiMigina road had been repaired with metal. The Council's team was now at work on Zig Zag road. He had been unable to make any progress with the metalling of main cross road. Tenders had been called for stumping main street, Apiti. He recommended that tenders bo invited for quarrying and breaking 500 cubic yards for repairs on Apiti main road. In Pohangina riding the dangerous places on each end of Beehive bridge have been fenced. The river crossing at Mr Wagstaff's had been attended to. A small culvert had been placed across Kuku road. Ho had discharged tho men that were working on Kidge road. In Tamaki riding he had inspected Patterson's Spur Road slip arid before recomiiiendißg repairs he would ask that Cr Handiey, the chairman, and himself make a further inspection. He' recommended that £2 be expended iri planting willows on the bank of Pohangina river opposite Mr Fraser's. Mr Fraser to supply willows and cart same. The road between the saw-mill and Piri--oiri crossing, Umutoi riding, was in need of repairs and should bo placed under the care of a roadman.

Each of the above recommendations was adopted. The treasurer reported as follows 1 : — Balance at Wank, general account -Dr £I2GB 15s Gd. loan account Cr .£107.9 5s 5s lid. Insurance on roadman's cottage amounting to £l5O has been received and placed to credit of omutoi riding. The Treasury has advised that an advance of £2OO of loan applied for re Apiti footpaths has been credited to loans account. The debtor balances of the riding accounts are: Awahou £157 10s 9d, Coal Creek £234 13s 4d, Mangaonc, £I3G 3s 9d, Mangapiko £265 16s Sd, Pohangina £258 18s lOcl, Taniaki £5Ol Os fid, Umutoi £034 Is 4d ; total £2488 5s Id. It is my pleasant duty to report a clean sheet regarding the collection of rates. Out of £l9Ol 6s 5d general rates, only Js 9d is not collectable, on sections in Apiti. owners of which are unknown. Of special rates to meet interest on loans £ISBS 9s 2d has been collected ind I have got in arrears of rates amounting to £458 15s lOd. . .

The chairman complimented the clerk on the manner the rates had been got in and his remarks woro supported by the other members. Mr A"f A. "Wagstaff, chairman of Pohan<rina School Committee, an 3 two lnem■bers, waited on Council with request that Council make a donation towards cost ol technical education .in connection with classes for dressmaking and millinery for girls, and book-keeping and arithmetic for boys, to be commenced in the district. The local classes would bo under supervision cf the manager of Foilding Technical School. Mr J. M. Murdoch, the local sciiool teacher, explained that the country children had not the same opportunities for continuing their education as children in towns, thorefore special assistance was j needed. „ - . , ~ Mr Wagstaff said if the Counci Jweald ] come to a conclusion to give .£SO or .£2O the committee could then decide what to charge the pupils. * Cr. Jackson said it would not be well or a good principle to spoonfeed the pupils altogether; they should pay something towards the cost of .their education. Decision deferred to next meeting. iir Jos. Trinn attended and asked permission to take stones from Council's gravel pit on Sinclair's property.—Consent given. It was resolved that willow-planting be done on upper side of bridge, left bank. That B» A, Cheyne s tender at 5s 3d per cubic yard, for contract 127, be accsepted. m That tenders be invited for fencing Te Awa branch road, tenders to be in by 22nd June, and to be opened and dealt with by Chairman, the Engineer, and the piover.

That tenders be called for 200 yards of I motal for Oroua Valley road, The following were appointed rangers: H. Shadbolt, for Awahou, Tainaki, Mangaone, and Pohangina ridings, at 5s 9d per riding per week and all driving fees j and Andrew Christie, for Coal Creek, Mangapikopiko and Uniutoi, at 30s per ; week and half driving fees. John Mulhare was appointed roadman for Uinutoi riding. j

Cr Oliver called the attention of the Engineer to need of cutting tho willows and planting others at Holly's Hill, and he promised to attend to it. That tenders be called for blocks and timber far Apiti footpaths.