Second Edition WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 55, 29 February 1912, Page 6

Second Edition WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting ol the above Council took place in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, when there were present: U. A. Meredith (chairman), Crs McCutchan, Bacon, Clehind, Roberton, Diggms, Comic, and Jury. / . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and conlii mod. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer (Mr. E. C. Robinson) reported as follows : . . MiiTCott Road Bridge.—The raising and supporting of this structure on temporary staging has been completed and the rods to he submitted tor the cables in the eastern anchorage have been ordered. As soon as they are made steps will he taken to put them into position,. . tipper Mangaehu Road.—During the month a tender was received for about a mile of felling and clearing in connection with the formation loan and subsidy. The tender was accepted, and the work is now in hand. Drawings and specifications were returned, approved, from the Department, in time to call tenders for this meeting, for 67) chains of dray road formation. This has- boon done, and tenders are now before you. As soon as the felling and clearing contract alluded to above has progressed sufficiently to allow of it a further length will he laid off for formation, and drawings, etc;., submitted to the Department for its approval. Brewer-Kirai and Miangaeuhu Roads Metalling.—As per instructions from last meeting. 1 immediately forwarded to the Department proposals as decided on for further metalling, to the extent of £1179, being the £I4OO minus the £221, amount of loan already spent. The covering letter fully explaining the position was, as directed, also sent. The proposals were later returned by the Resident Road Engineer, with a letter asking why proposals for the full £I4OO had not been sent in. After consulting with you, and on your advice, proposals for the full £I4OO were then sent in, and have been forwarded on to headquarters by the Resident Road Engineer, Miakahu and Arnold Roads. —I have to report on the state of those roads, which have both been seriously damaged by log carting to the Pohokura Mill. The Makalm Road’is generally damaged along the whole length between the mill site and the Arnold Road, about one mile in length, being quite dangerous in places for light wheel traffic. VVatertahles have been obliterated, and the formation greatly cut up. It would cost about £2O to effect repairs. The Arnold Road is in still more serious disrepair, and positively dangerous for light vehicles. About three-quarters of a mile is affected, and is cut up from end to end. Four culverts have been broken, and the cost of repairs would he from £3O to £4O. Logging is still proceeding in the locality, evidently with the object of further carting. It must bo borne in mind that until sucli traffic came on them, these roads, and practically the Makahu, have been always regarded as the best unmetalled roads in the whole district, and from time to lime considerable sums in accrued rates and thirds have boon spent on them in sanding and general improvement of formation. Section 150 of the Public Works Act. 1908, gives the Council full and adequate power to deal with a case such as this, and I strongly recommend that, failing an equitable arrangement being made with the individuals responsible for the damage, it be put into operation. Rimuputa and Pukeho Roads.—As instructed,- I have had the formation work to the extent of accrued thirds available laid off, drawings and specifications prepared, and tenders closing to-day invited for the work. Surfacemen—Applications have been invited to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Wliangamomona surfaceman. I am of opinion, however, that a better course would be to appoint a foreman for Tahora Riding, even if it became necessary to provide accommodation for a suitable man. This riding, with the recent addition to its area, is quite large enough lo keep a permanent man fully employed, and with a man actually in the district itself, much time would be gained which is now lost in travelling.

iViauku Road.—The formation contract on this road has been completed. A further length has been laid off, drawing and specifications prepared, and I am ready to call tenders for the york. i recommend that this lie done, and that they close in a fortnight, and be dealt with by a committee sec up for that purpose by the Council. Foremen’s Reports.—The foremen have reported to me on the maintenance work carried out during .the month, which is of a routine nature, and there are no special matters requiring the attention of the Council.

Tapuui Read Survey.—This has been completed, and the plan sent on to the Survey Department. A voucher is put in for Ward’s compensation, and the latter could be paid as soon as Ward signs the endorsement consenting to the land being taken, providing all the other matters are in order. I he following business was transacted arising out of the Engineer’s report : Tire actions of the Chairman and Engineer in accepting the tender of Mr A Brown lior si limping land clearing on Upper Mangaehu Road bo confirmed.—Carried.

Willi respect to the Makahu and Arnold Roads, the following resolution was moved hy Cr. Meredith,, seconded by Cr. Roberton: That in view of the extraordinary damage done to the above roads by the sawmill traffic ho put in repair, and that the chairman, engineer, and Cr. Jury, interview the responsible party, and failing to come to some equitable system of contribution by him for the upkeep of the said roads, proceedings he instituted under section 15 of the Public Works_Aot.—Carried.

It was decided, on tlio motion of Cr. McCutchan, seconded by Cr. Clelam!. that tenders be called for the* work required on the Malcahu Road in connection with the “thirds” scheduled for the purpose, same to close in a. fortnight’s time, and to be dealt with by the chairman and engineer. The Engoieer’s report as dealt with was adopted. Tenders. Contract No. 33.—Formation of 67

chains of Upper Mangaehu R'oad, Mr. James Kerrisk’s tender was accepted. Contract No. 37.—Formation of portion of Rimuputa Road, no tenclei received. Contract No. 38.—Formation ol I ukeho Road, Messrs. O’Connor and Curtain’s tender was accepted.

Correspondence. The following correspondence was received and dealt with as under: From W. H. Reader, applying for a lease of the road and river reserve on Wimnga Road for a distance of about six chains. —Application granted, at a rental of £1 per annum. From Messrs. C. Pope, .Gwynne Yates, J. Slattery, and Hugh \V. Glenn, applying tor the position as surfaceman for ttie Central Riding.— Mr. J. Slattery was appointed. From Mr. Victor Klee, surfaceman, making application for compensation for ten days’ lost work through accident to foot whilst employed by the Council.—Mr. Klee be informed of tno Council’s position in the matter. From Public Works ’Department, re Mangaehu (Upper) £1 for £l, on account of £IOOO, informing the Council that the sum of £357 12s 3d is authorised to he expended on Pie abovenamed work, subject to the attached conditions.—Received.

From Mr A. Scholes, chairman Waitome County Council, re improving the present system of expending Government grants and subsidies in connection with the hack-block roads.— Received. From Air. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public -Works, ro grants for roads, etc., works, urging upon the Council tire necessity ol forwarding as early as possible to the Department.’s local engineer all claims '.progress or final) lor works which are in hand or have been carried out by your Council under Government grant, as the financial year closes on 31st March.—-Re-ceived.

From Edward R. Wilson, Kohurata•li'i, as follows: In reply to the Council’s letter asking how I wished the accrued “thirds’' on my section 8, Block 11., Miahoe, to he spent, and in reply, 1 have to state that if possible I would like the “thirds” held over with a view to helping to pay interest on a metalling loan for the Putikituua Road when t-Jie formation is finished. —-Received. From Atkins and Bacon re extension of use of Council offices for bank. The request of tfie bank’s architects be acceded to.

From the Inspector-General of Hospitals re proposed representation of local authorities, also enclosing subtail.)] e, showing how, the apportionment of the five representatives can oe made for Stratford County dividing them among the ridings, and asking if the Council would prefer to see .these members allocated among the ridings or simply apportioned to the County as a whole. No .action taken. Wihangamomona-Wanganui River Road.

The following letter was received from Air. W. Short, Assistant Undersecretary, as follows:—Referring to my letter No. 2951, of 12th ultimo, in regard to the expenditure of the vote for above-described road, I have to state that representations have been made to the Minister by a number of settlors, urging that the whole of this work should lie carried out by the Department. As your Council has not, as yet, made any move in the matter of expending the £llOO entrusted to it, the ’Minister lias agreed to have the whole of the vote expended by the Resident Engineer as requested, and authority for £llOO, the available balance, has been issued accordingly. The offer to entrust the expenditure to your Council is hereby cancollea.--Received.

From tiie Resident Road Engineer, re Putikituna Road, as follows:—In accordance with yours of 30th ultimo, in reference to the Department undertaking the expenditure of the available balance of current vote for this road, I have the honour to state that I have recommended accordingly. —' Received.

Arising out of the above letters, Cr. Meredith moved, and Cr. McCutchan seconded, that the Department also be asked to spend all the grants which have been granted to the Council for expenditure.—Carried.

Notices of Motion. Cr. Coyne, ip accordance with Iris notice, moved: “'J fiat in future tiic Brewer Road be treated as a main road from its junction with the Ohura Road to Panautuhia Block boundary.” He spoke at some length on tiic advisability of treating the brewer React as a main road, and stated that- the Brewer Road contributed live-sixths c'f .tiie revenue for the ridmg, and yet only received about ouetwentieth of the allocation, tne distance being about 8) miles or, as far as tiie present metalling scheme goes Cr. Diggius seconded the motion.

A Jong toy discussion ensued, and eventually Or. Bacon moved as an amendment that the matter of treating the Brewer Road as a main road be deferred until next meeting of tiie Council. 'lnis was seconded by Or Jury.

hue amendment, on being put, was lost on the casting vote of tno chairman, the voting being as under:— Ayes: Crs. Roberton, Ueland, Bacon, and Meredith. Noes: Crs. Jury Coyne, Diggins, and McCutctoau. The motion, on being put, was lost, only Crs. Coyne and Diggins voting for it.

EXPENDITURE OF LOAN MONEY AND SUBSIDIES.

Upper Mansashu Reads.

The following letters were received from settlers on the Kohi Road, as under-Strathmore, 16th February, 19 12.—The Chainjian, Wiiungamomona County Council,—Dear Sir—lf in order I would like to have recorded on your minutes “That out of a loan of £2300, granted nearly eight months ago, and out of a further sum of CIOOO, granted on the estimates over 'three months ago, that a. sum of £6O or thereabouts only Jm.s been expended, on the read, for winch these sums have liooii available during the m-md mentioned.” If this is the Council's method ol procedure as a -us.ness CotinciJ, may one wonder when the road will be finished, at the present rate ct progress, somewhere in the year 1932.” Now, Sir, I regret having to inform you that as a. Council you are either utterly ii.ca.pahle of doing what is necessary for the ratepayers welfare, or else do not consider the settlors are in any hurry for t.ieir roads. It has been pointed out to yon repeatedly that the summer vas slipping away, and your engineer has just completed a. work which yen Knew had to lie done, and could’quite as easily have been done over six months ago. Is there any pertinent reason why tenders should not have >eon called and accepted for forming the clearing and felling, which has men finished some time back? Is there any passible way for a Council to delay matters so that the grant may go back to the Treasury, that seems to he you solo aim and object as a Council P I trust that as a ratepayer I will not again have to write such a letter to my Council, and that some endeavour will be made to spend money when it is either available or well-known to be in sight.— Signed W. P. PRATT.

Strathmore, Kith February, 1912. To the Chairman, Whangamomona County Council (re Upper-Mangaelui Road). —Dear Sir,—lt is now about eight months since settlers here raised'a loan of £2500 for tiie purpose ot forming road twelve feet wide, and about dune or July cif last year this £2500 loan was pro-vis’anlly granted by the Government. Also, about tiie beginning of November last year, a Government grant ol £IOOO was Available for expenditure on this Upper Mangaehu Road, and, so far, next to nothing lias been done. 1 consider it very unfair to settlers here, the manner' ill which the formation of this road is being nut off, when money has been available for months past. Trust ng you will give the matter your immediate attention, and have work laid off, and tenders called with least possible delay. Signed JOHND. OLIPHANT. The Clerk was instructed to inform the settlers of the position with reference to the provisional and final approval of the loan.—Carried.

General. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Robert-on, seconded by Cr. deland, that the Engineer lie instructed to let the work required on Rimuputa Road by contract, as no tenders were received for same. Or. McCutcbr.ii called for a division in order to have his vote recorded against it. The Chairman and Treasurer wore authorised to sign the debentures re the £2500 loan, and have the Council’s seal affixed to same.

A special order authorising abridge loan and rate in the Strathmore Riding was carried. I'he Clerk was instructed to advertise the 10 per cent, penalty on all overdue rates. It was decided on Cr. McCutcha.u’s motion: “That the Engineer be asked to furnish a Report re Ohura Road traffic and financb since the inception of the Council, as' far as the Tahora and Central Ridings are mutually concerned, and that he also take into ooneideration tfie similar facts as far as the Stratford Riding main road was affected by the other ridings. Cr. McCutchan moved that in future the Engineer he instructed to have specifications for contracts deposited, when possible, in a store at AABi-angamomona a week previous to accent;:,nee.—Carried.

It was resolved on Cr. McCutchan’s motion, that the dox tax collector report to the Council at its next meeting the number of defective collars -spi.u ai[i jo AveiA ui ‘uiii[ oq poi.jddus —■•fad ccmpiaintis received from settlers. At last meeting of the Council Cr. McCutchan and Or. Bacon were appo uted a committee to confer with ratepayers at Kohumtahi with respect to its debt. Cr. Bacon reported fully on the meeting of ratepayers, and read the resolutions carried at the meeting, and no further action was taken in the matter.

Accounts amounting to £263 16s Kd was read and passed for payment, ami the adjourned.