WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13487, 5 June 1914, Page 2

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the "Waimea County Council was held yesterday. ■Present: Crs. Everett (chairman), Best, Drummond, • Hewetson, Macmahon, Corder, and Hoult. FINANCE. The bank pass book showed the following balances:— Dr. £ s. d. General account 4708 6 4 Cr. Land fund thirds 190 3 11 Interest Rocks road 143 18 1 Interest Ngatimoti bridge 24 16 6 Interest Baton bridge 28 1 9 Interest Sherry bridge 19 9' 2 Interest Peninsula bridge 57 15 9 Stoke Waterworks loan^ac. 8.01 0 0 Contractors' deposits 14 7 0 Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—Grants, £525 14s 9d; general account £723 8s 4d. Total, £1259 3s Id. THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr. G. S. Whiteside) reported, inter alia, upon the work done in the various ridings during the month. Maitai :• The Hippolite concrete bridge was completed, but the approaches still had to be filled in. Metalling on the Stoke road was being proceeded with. The No. 1 road machine had trimmed up the road between Appleby and the Richmond boundary. Mr. J. C. Mercer, on ha half of the motorists, had contributed £25 towards the proposed bridge at Oldham's creek, and he recommended that the work be proceeded with. — Wai-iti: The expenditure of Government grants in various parts of the riding was progressing satisfactorily. A considerable amount of patching had also been done.—Motupiko : The Clark river bridge was now completed, and the approaches were being filled in. The Hope river bridge at Glenhope had been repaired. Various "repair work around Motupiko had not been attended to, owing to the daymen being busy with their own farm work. Some metal patching had been done at Dovedale and Neudorf. Faulkner's Bluff grant had been started. The cost of a bridge over Best creek at Dovedale would be £95. This structure was very necessary.—Wangapeka: A number of Government grants were in progress. Tenders ha<l been called for the expenditure of the grant over the Wangapeka plains. The culvert at Rakau required to be at least eight feet wide, and would cost about £50. A substantial footbridge opposite Mrs. Duncan's would cost about £40.—Motueka : With the Government grant, Alexander Bluff to Peninsula bridge, 47 chains of metalling had been done. Two bridges at Pangatotara had been repaired. Notwithstanding the - expenditure of between £600 and £800 on the Takaka bill road during the past 8 months, it wiis the worst kept road in the cotinty. The material put on was too soft to stand wear, and the Council should consider the question of using the stone crusher on the - limestone procurable above Henderson's. A shed at Motueka bridge suitable for the Council's requirements would cost about £40.— Moutere: The new bridge on Drummond's road was completed, and the work had been creditably done for £41, which was below the "estimate. Regarding Mr. Funnell's claim for rent for use of land required for approach to suspension bridge, Mr Funnel! had signed an agreement to give the land free of cost in consideration of the erection of the bridge. Metal patching had been done in Upper Moutere, Rosedale, and Lower. Moutere. A start had been,made with taking down the points on the Moutere hills. The gravelling of this road would have been completed but for two slight break-downs to the engine, which necessitated it being taken to the repair shop. The carts had continued carting metal at_an average cost of 6s r>er cubic, yard, which was slightly lower than the traction engine and plant. Satherley's dray had put the gravel on at 5s 10d' ncr yard. He would not recommend the Counicl to continue to use the traction engine to any great extent, owing chiefly tn the injury done to the surface' of the roads, which makes traction engine haulage prohibited on most of the roads m New Zealand, and the fact that in most places in this county horse haulage would be more handy and less costly. Should the Council contemplate any extensive metalling oper- ! ations, there were more up-to-date hauling plants than traction engines. With regard to metalling Redwood's Valley, he thought it could possibly be done cheaper by contract than bv'day labour.

Mr Corder moved that the erection of a bridge over Oldham's creek be proceeded with, the motorists having contributed £25 towards the cost. ' The proposed bridge would not interfere with vehicular traffic, and the structure would project very little further than the present footbridge. The chairman seconded the motion, and said the present creek was a very trying one for cars. The bridge would not interfere with stock and horses watering at the creek.

In reply to Cr. Hewetson, the Engineer said the estimated cost was £60.

Cr. Hojvetson thought a*, the Council had considerable patching to do, the erection of the. bridge should be deferred until the spring.

Crs. Hoult, Best, and Drummond urged that the work bo "proceeded with forthwith: The motion was carried unanimously. In reply to Cr. Corder, the Engineer said the road machine would be sent to the Wakapuaka district in about a month's time. On the motion of Cr. Macmahon, it was resolved' that a bridge be erected over Best's creek, Dovodale, as recommended by the Engineer. In regard to a proposed culvert at Rakaxi, Cr. Drummond said the work was a very .necessary one, and should be done. On his motion, the Engineer was instructed to proceed with the work. Cr. Drummond was asked to report re the matter of a bridge at Mrs Duncan's, Kiwi. The question of the erection of a shod at the Motueka bridge was deferred for a month. Cr. Hewetson, referring to the gravelling of the Moutere Hills, agreed that in carting for snort distances carts xvevh preferable to the engine, but for a distance of four miles and over, he considered the traction engine was better. He moved that tenders be invited for metalling the Redwood's Valley road. Seconded by the chairman, and carried. The report was then adopted.

TENDERS

Gravelling Mnnp;apek:\ plains: A. and G. Thomas, £1 10s per chain, accepted. RANGER'S REPORT. The ranger (Mr Peter Coleman) reported that he had visited various parts of the riding, - and with the ex-

oeption of Riiraka ; and Stoko there was little fault to find. REPORTS. Th© chairman and Cr. Houlb reported that" they! had met the parties interested in the matter of groins in the Pigeon Valley bridge, complained of by Mr Percy Baigent, and had succeeded in making arrangements satisfactory to all concerned, which would relievo, the Council of all responsibility. It was recommended that the two piles put on to widen th© bridge should be removed, as they were mainly responsible for the formation of the island in the centre of th© river bed. As to Church Hill road, Wakefield, it was recommended thatgravelling be done. After discussion, it was resolved, on Cr. liowetson's motion, to endorse the agreement made between the residents of Wakefield indemnifying iJhe Council against any action that might arisefrom the erection of groins on the banks of the Wai-iti river, provided the Council removes two piles from the centre of the bridge. On Cr. Hoult's motion it was resolved that the gravelling of Church Hill be proceeded with. It was resolved on Cr. Hoult's motion to remove the centre piles from the Pigeon Valley bridge. CORRESPONDENCE. The assistant Undor-Secretary of the Lands and Survey Department'informed the Council' that the Stoke Cemetery was not Crown property, and therefore his Excellency the 'Governor could not b-e- asked to appoint trustees. —Left'in the hands of the chairman. Messrs F. J.L Brornell and J. H. Taylor, Baton, requested that the Clark Valley grant bo expended as soon as possible.—Writers to be informed that the Public Works Department has the matter in hand. _ The Prime Minister wrote re a petition from the Tasman Fruit-growers' Association urging that a grant be provided towards the completion of a road from Motueka to the Western Entrance via Tasman, that he was bringing the matter under the notice of the Minister for Public Works for consideration when the Estimates were being prepared. Senior-Sergeant Barrett notified the Council that the police investigations disclosed no facts that would justify a prosecution under the Police Offences Act in connection with a motor car collision on the Moutere hills. There was also no evidence to proceed under the Motor Regulations Act. Mr H. E. Biggs asked permission to transfer his lease of gravel reserve in Tadmor Valiev to Mr F. W. Gibbs— Deferred for a- month, the Engineer to report. Mrs Mary Risley wrote re repairs to Golden Downs road.—Engineer and chairman to visit and report. Messrs G. A. Rose, George Morrison, and Jesse Wells objected to the filling in of Mr C. A. Baigent's creek, Pigeon Valley, alleging that such a. course would flood their land.—Received.^ The hon. secretary of the Wakefield Progressive Association forwarded a resolution re Faulkner's creek, asking that the bank be built up and a culvert put in.—Referred to Engineeer. Mr Chas. Trower and others requested the removal of two piles from the middle of the bridge over Baigent's creek, and asked permission to plant willows on- the Wakefield- side of the creek. —The writers to be informed that the piles had been attended to; that the planting of willow trees be left to the Engineer. Mr J. Leighton, Bolgrove, uskod permission to remove earth alongside his property.—Left to Engineer. The hon. secretary of the Stanley Brook branch of the Farmers' Union asked that the Engineer meet a deputation re a proposed new road over Stanley Brook-Motuoka Valley hill.—Request acceded to. r. The hon. secretary of the Upper Mou-tere-Ncudorf Progressive Association requested the Council to instruct its workmen to use refuse and road parings in filling up'hollows and .sidings instead of throwing same along frontages. —Referred to Engineer. Mr H. 0. Holdaway, Braeburn, asked that a road be made to his property. —Resolved that the Engineer carry out such work as lie deems necessary.

Mr P. H. Bromeli and others asked that work be done on the Tui~Sheri\y River road. —Left to Engineer.

Mr Harry Inwood, sen., Panp;atotara, forwarded an account for £1 for portion of his road being used as a public road. —Resolved that the amount be paid. Mr P. H. Best, Appleby, applied for a traction engineer license.—Granted. Slaughtering licenses applied for by C P. Fry,-Riwaka; C. E. Cross, Hope ; W. Martin and Co.. •Wakefield; and the Nelson Freezing Company were approved. Thirteen settlors, Moutero district, petitioned the Council to have a read opened and Formed along the west side of sections 83, 84, and 85, or as an alternative through the named sections. —Resolved that the1 Engineer interview Mr T. Fisher and report to the Council at its next meeting. , ORDINARY BUSINESS. The_ Clerk was voted £0 for extra work in connection with the acquisition j of land for tbo Stoke waterworks re-! serve. A petition to the Minister for Public Works from settlers of the Koreke district for a grant of £200 to open up a road to the Upper Wairoa forks block was endorsed. On an application from the Clerk it was resolved to increase his salary by £o0 a year. Mr T. McCarthy, Baton, waited ■upon the Council, ;uul requested that Mr E. H. Bromeli should be compelled to remove the gate erected by him across the Clark Valley road at the boundary between their properties. —The matter was referred to the Engineer to report. Mr Benzies (Tasman) waited upon the Council and made an explanation in regard to an error in the erection of a bridge alleged to have been made by him. He claimed that he was not responsible for the extra expenditure incurred. —After consideration, it was resolved, on Cr. Moult'.s motion, to offer Mr Benzies £0 without prejudice. An amendment by Cr. H ewetson- that he be offered £10 was not seconded. On Cr. Best's motion it was resolved to ask the Richmond Borough Council to .attend to"a splash on the Appleby road near the Appleby station. It was resolved to notify the owners of oil tractors that they must register in conformity with the county by-laws. The chairman stated that it had been* arranged in regard to apportioning the cost of the reconstruction of. the Motiieka bridge, for Mr Thomas Pattie to act as arbitrator. On Cr. Hoult's motion it was resolved to petition the Government for a grant of £350 for the construction of a bridge over the Wai-iti river beyond Belgrove. The appointment of a dayman for the Takaka hills was referred to the Enginoer. Crs. Hewctsou and Dnnnmond were appointed to report on White's corner, Pie-eon Valley. The chairman and Cr. Hoult, and the Engineer, ware appointed to inspect and report on the creek in Pigeon Valley. On the motion of Cr. Corder, it wjih resolved to grant' £2 10s for work on the. top end of Sharland's creek road. . The Council rose at 4 p.m.