KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8840, 17 June 1907, Page 3

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was hold on Saturday. Present: . Crs. S. .1. Carman (chairman), J. Bruce, W. Morton, C. Mclntyre., G. H. Guthrie, and H. Fowler. Leave of absence ) was granted to Or. Hockley. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows From Samuel Strawbridge, Waituna West, for permission to take three yards of gravel from Valley road pit—Granted. Prom H. F. .Manning, asking Council to cancel his contract, No. 47, as it would bo a great loss to him to finish it.—Granted. From Alfred Richmond, asking that caveat against certain roads in Beacousfield township bo removed.— Left to Chairman. Prom Rangitikoi County Council, stating it desired to make ;n0 charge for the services of the Engineer re bridge inquiry.—The Rangitikei County Oouncil'was thanked. Prom W. and T.' Duncan, Otairi Station, asking price at which - Council would sell two wire ropes lying by Pukihikura stream.—Referred to Cr. Hockley with power to act.

From D. Sinclair, stating that it would bo two weeks more before ho could resume work. —A further claim to be made for insurance pay.,; _ From W. G. Tolley, Ecwa, asking Council to assist in cost of metalling approach to his store. —Granted. From A. N. Galpin, offering £1 a year rent for lease of gravel reserve, Mangawharariki.—Request to bo granted as soon as reserve is vested in Council. From New Zealand Insurance Co., stating that the tariff wfmld he 25s for labourers and 3s for office workers.— The Chairman said this was double the tariff of last year, but apparently ail the companies had come to an agreement.—Premiums of £36 2s to be paid. From W. Phyn, stating ho had left his phaeton on the road unattended on sth June, and inviting Council to prosecute him.—The Chairman said the resolution passed at last meeting would ho put in force, hut the Council would not bo dictated to. From James E. Wallace, for pererect fence alongside road line.—Granted. From R. Booking, Kimboltou, calling attention to filling a crosscreek in Waugh street, it being trodden down by cattle.—Referred to Engineer. From Joseph Carey, drawing attention to state of Rangiwahia cemetery fence. —Referred to Gemo-

tery Committee to report. From H. Fowler, chairman of Eimholton Cemetery Committee, requesting that a road be formed into the cemetery.—To be done, cost not to exceed £lO, and to bo charged to Peep-o’-Day, Eimboltou and Eiwitea Ridings' and Cemetery Committee in equal proportions. From F. Stowck, for payment forfeiting bush on road line, due since 1904. Passed for payment. From J. Kraigor, stating that meeting of settlers had resolved to ask Council to fence tiro Kawhatou Yalley road at dangerous places.— Engineer to give estimate of cost by next meeting. From John Campbell, giving order in favour of J. Capper for £3 of his wages.—Order accepted. From R. O. French, stating that ford over the Eiwitea on McKenzie’s line was in a dangerous condition, and pointing out the need of a bridge.—Engineer to report with view of improvement being effected. The Treasurer reported that amounts had been received ns follows :—Rates, etc., £137 10s 3d ; cemeteries, £5 13s 6d; Government grants, £5. The General Account at the bank was Dr. ££693 [6s 3d. The amounts to bo passed for payment were—General, £759 Is 4d; Loans,' £316 Is ,6d; Laud Fund, No. 2 £3 16s 7d Land Fund; £348 10s; total, £1326' 8s lOd. The Engineer reported that the bridge on Kawbatan road had been satisfactorily completed, but the approaches were very soft, and probably would have to be fasciued. The contract for the delivery of metal on Sinclair’s road was pro-

gressing slowly. The contract for delivery of metal on Kiwitea-Tapuao and Pakihiknra roads would'have to be deferred, and delivery of metal on Kimholton road, Rangiwahia, would not he effected this autumn.

It was also doubtful whether anything could he done iu the matter of erection of bridge over Papanui stream. The settlers in Umutoi were now anxious that the formation contract should he let, as there was little probability of the Roads Department doing the work. One of the settlers interested had-sent in a tender. Plans and specifications for Marton Block bridge had been forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, and application made for authority to construct the bridge. Owiug to the continuous wet rveathor the heavy traffic waa doing a great deal of harm to the roads, the motor waggon parti mlarly. The motor waggon invariably ran in the centre of the road. Ho suggested that all VOads'-be closed to all heavy traffic tmtil the end of September. A portion of the Forest’road was so out up that it was beyond repair this yhi ter, owing to firewood carting, ft -was resolved—r

That the Council give effect to the recommendation of the Engineer that all roads he closed to heavy traffic, in accordance with the by-

laws, until September. That the Engineer bo authorised to arrange with Mr Thompson to keep the Manaia road open, also to have the slip 'opposite Caird Bros. ’ Bcetion cleared, the cost not tojexceed £3.

That the arrangement re telephone ' service with Saudou be left to Cr. Hockley. That Mr Faukhauser be given per- i mission to take 12 yards of gravel from Raugiwahia pit. That the County Solicitor he in- 1 Btracted to prosecute all persons after this date in accordance with notice published in papers. That applications for the position of poundkeeper at Rangiwahia be galled for, and that Mr Wisdom be appointed pro tern. The Chairman moved that the Engineer bo instructed to make a division of the County into three Eidiugs, taking into consideration, as far as possible, community of interests, mileage, valuation and number of ratepayers, for the consideration of this Council. 0. Fowler seconded the motion pro forma, and said that though the carrying out of the proposal would probably bring about more equal representation, it would lay the County open to another danger. At present, as an instance, the Hautapu Riding only paid £7OO and £IOOO Was spent on the maintenance of 'roads in the Riding, consequently it could be said that it neither paid charitable aid or any portion of the cost of management. On the other baud, if gthe County were divided as proposed and the three lower Sidings were_p.ut into one it would la possible ror the ratepayers of the timboltou township to elect the roe representatives. Or. Guthrie said as the administration of the County was now being carried on the change proposed was lot' needed, and it would be better to wait and see what change was effected by the new Counties Act before considering such a proposal. In regard to Gr. Fowler’s remarks, be would point out that if the expenditure and receipts for [the Hautapu Riding were compared during the past 20 years it would ho found that his Riding had paid more than It had received. He would admit that the Riding was now being . fairly treated. The Chairman said lie ',vns pleased to find the Council was satisfied with the principle of- rating now in force. As regards his Riding, the effect of the proposal would be very Slight, and he could claim to be practically neutral on the matter. It aad been said that certain Ridings were deriving benefits"from the rates of others, and no ’ doubt the only sir way in a County where in one Riding there were 90,miles of roads tad but 13 in another, was to rate to the principle now in force. ■ 7'Or. Fowler said because he was opposed to the motion it should not te implied that he was in favour of the present system of rating. , i Or. Brace said it was evidently the intention of the framers of the Counties Act that the Ridings should iss of such an area that the_ representative coul<J easily go overjit and toereiso some control over the work heeded. Such would not be the case "If large Ridings were formed, as Proposed la the motion, as tfyreo Councillors would not be sp likely to 'topervise Riding affairs as woll as toe. ■■ i - * Or. Morion took the same view, tod Gr. McNeal pointed out that the disproportion fin the valuation of -.ridings would probably be corrected >W. the raising of those that were SSf low - Chairman said he was Jglad Hk'avc obtained tho views oS ihe i

Council on the question, especially in view of ids attendance at the Counties’ Conference. The motion was then withdrawn.

Mr Jackson waited on the Council on behalf of the Kimboltou Rabbit Committee to inquire what action the Council proposed to take to bring about simultaneous action in poisoning rabbits. It had been suggested that action should he taken in the Pohaugina County |at the same time.

The Chairman replied 'that the Council looked to tire Rabbit Committees to' fix the date, and the Council was prepared to "advertise the date and provide the poisoned grain. He said the settlers at Waituua proposed to take action with the rest of the district.