WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13978, 7 January 1916, Page 2

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

FINANCE,

The monthly meeting of the Waimea County Council was held at the county office yesterday. Present: Crs. H. Everett (chairman), A. Drummond, P. Best, T. Hewctson, G. Macmahon, J. Corder, and 11. Tunnicliffe.

The bank pass book showed the following balances :—

Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—Laud fund thirds, £53 15s 9d; miscellaneous, £67 4s 4d; general (including £200 . Government grants), £822 10s 3d.

THE ENGINEER'S' REPORT

The County Engineer (Mr. G. S. Whitesi(fe) reported, inter alia, as follows:—Maitai riding: A start had been made to work -Haggitt's quarry. Metal had been done on Stoke and Tahuna roads. The metalling of Appleby road was finished.—Wai-iti riding: All the signatures ' had now been obtained*to the deed of dedication of right of way between main road and Wairoa river at Brightwater. T3ie road machine had trimmed up Hoult's Valley road, and-was now at work on Pretty Bridge Valley road. The work in connection with the large culvert on Dovedale hill was nearly completed, land owners had not yet agr-eJ "> the Wakefield footpath extension.—Motupiko riding: Brandy creek Ird ge was nearing completion. It was not possible to convert the footbridge at the junction of Norris's Gully and Gordon Downs road into a motor bridge. A light bridge suitable for motor traffic would cost about £70.—Wangapeka riding: During the month he had been engaged surveying the new road between Glenrae and Hopgood's. It was a chain wide, but a road three-quarters of a chain appeared ample for present requirements. He asked for instruction in regard to varying the Council's rule that all new roads must be a chain wide. The Glenrae footbridge over Tadmor could be made into a light stock bridge at a small cost. The approaches to the new concrete bridge nt Thorpe were complete. MotueSa riding: Op to the present £86 had been expended on the rocky point above Peninsula bridge. Repair work had been done on the Taldaka hill. A bridge on Waiwera road by Bannister's required renewing.—Moutere riding: To erect a motor bi-idsre by Stade's would cost about £35. The metalline; contract on Tasman road was finished. The bank above the Appleby bridge needed protection.

On the motion of Cr. Corder, it was resolved that the Engineer prepare alternative estimates for (1) a motor bridge over Morris's Gully creek; (2) a concrete splash at the same piece. Regarding the width of road between Glenrae and Hopgood's, consideration was deferred, the chairman to report. On tho chairman's motion it was resolved that tlio Engineer prepare en estimate for the ""reinstatement of bridge at Bannister's, Waiworo. It was resolved on Cr. Hewetson's motion to erect a light motor traffic bridge at Blade's, Moutere. On Cr. Hewet.son's'inotion it was resolved that the-Engineer visit Takaka to inspect the protection works there, with a vlow of adopting same at the '•Apnlcby river.

The report was then adopted

CORR ESPONDENCE.

Amongst the letters dealt with were the following:— From the county ranger (Mi-. P. Coleman), forwarding an explanation regarding fine imposed on J. Cusack,i and stating that the latter had been undercharged. On one occasion the ranger had taken Mr. Cusack's cow home, without charge, and on two occasions afterwards had warned him to keep his stork off the road.—Resolved that the matter of the ranger's power be referred to the county solicitor for advice. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. F. A. Thompson) wrote asking what decision the Council had come tt regarding road exchange, Maitai Estate, as Mrs. Richardson was pressing for an answer. —The chairman explained the position in regard to the exchange, and said that it had been found that the Council had no power to convey the land alongside the river near Big hole which it had agreed to do. He moved that in order to carry out the Council's obligation, the Council is willing to pay Mrs. Richardson for the p'ieoa of land in question, about half an acre, the price to be fixed by arbitration. Cr. Best was appointed to act for the Council in the negotiations, with full power. Mr. Macmahon seconded the motion, which was carried. From the Minister of Public Works, to the effect that there did not appear to be any xirgent necessity for" the erection of a cart .bridge over the Waiiti river near Belgrove, and as only definitely urgent works were being authorised, arid this did not apply to tlie Wai-iti bridge, he did not propose to authorise the expenditure at present: From Mr. P. G. Moffatt, secretary to the Motueka Harbour Board, forwarding a return of exports from Motueka wharf. (This return has already been published in our columns.) —Resolved, that the Harbour Board be thanked for its courtesy in sending the return to the Council. From Messrs. Adams and Harley, setting out the procedure for instituting proceedings in cases of overhanging trees and hedges.—lt was resolved to take proceedings against a property (owner at Pokororo. From _ Messrs.; Adams and HasJey, forwarding legal'opinion as to whether the road laid out in 1809 through parts of sections 32, 20, 56 aiid SO, in Beckmann's Gully, Maitai Valley, is a legal public: road. The question was exhaustively gone into by the solicitors, : whose letter concluded ■as ■ follows :— '■ "We are of opinion that as it stands at-present the road line is not completely and undoubtedly vested in the Crown, but that this is a proper case for the exercise by the Minister of his powers under section 101 of the Public 'Works Act."

The chairman moved that Mrs. Richardson be informed that it is the intention of the Council to insist upon what is believed to be its rights, viz., a thoroughfare for the public through 1 sections 32, 56, 20 and 30, Beckmann's Gully, Maitai Valley; seconded by Cr. Drummond and carried.

It was further resolved that the Engineer be given the necessary authority, if required, to give access by the legal line of road to section 32, Beckmann's ,€rully. From 'tho Wniauecarpi County Council, m ..!» p t , ; lf . Y> orks Domrrtniont, op-ji'j-i- i'l- i, u\'u [\ik nuii 11 lim, s^Uji.i ixvA _a>kinn \\ x & Waimea Council to take a similar attitude. —Mcmhers unanimously oiyiiysed the protest, expressing

the opinion that the expenditure of grants was better carried out by local I bodies than -the Government. | From about 30 ratepayers" of Wlai-iti I calling attention to the rapid spread of | foxglove in Wai-iti riding 3 and asking j whether the Council could not compel all owners of infested land to clear all creeks and riverbeds, and a stated , width from boundary lines.—The ohairi man said that some months ago the Council decided not to regard foxglove aa a noxious weed. —Cr. Tuiinicliffo said he would give notice of motion to rescind the previous resolution and to have foxglove declared a noxious weed. | From Mr. C. Smith,.forwarding, the; sum of £10 14s 6d, public subscriptions towards a traffic bridge over Pole Ford, i Maitai, Valley.—Resolved on Cr. Cor- i dcr's motion, that the Engineer furnish an estimate of the cost of the bridge. From Hilda Condell, postmistress, Stoke, regarding w.atertable in front of Post Office.—Left, to Engineer. From Stoke Road Board, granting ■the Council permission to< store gravel on unused road between Airport's and the church.—Resolved, that "the Board be thanked. From Mr. C. Ferguson, Belgrove, regarding claim for damage to motor car.—Resolved, that £8 be paid in settlement of the claim, Mr. Ferguson having agreed, to accept that amount. From Messrs. Pitt and Moore, on behalf of Mr. P. Gamboni, asking the I Council to refund the fee of £3 15s for ! conditional license at Wakefield sports on Boxing Day. The sports, it was explained, were to have been held by the Waimea. Athletic Association, but owing to the poor entries the snorts meetI ing was abandoned, and a patriotic i sports gathering held instead, and there was no licensed victualler's booth upon the grounds.—Resolved that the refund be made if it cbuld be done legally.

From Rev. A. Berryman, Motupiko, applying for vise of unused road.— Left in the hands of Cr. Macmahon.

From Mr. F. W. Gibbs, Tapawera, accepting the Council's terms for lease of gravel reserve; also asking for clearing of track so that a horse could be taken from Rolling river over the Wangapeka Saddle. —Resolved, that, a sum not exceeding £5 be expended on the track.

GENERAL

It was resolved on Cr. Best's motion that the Engineer have the necessary tarring and gravelling done on the Rocks road footpiaith as speedily as possible.

On the chairman's motion it was decided that Wednesday be the weekly half-holiday.

On Cr. Macmahon's motion it was resolved that the Engineer inspect and report as to the necessity for protection works on the banks of, the Motueka. river, near Kohatu. It was resolved on the chairman's motion that the Engineer prenare an estimate of tho respective cost of maintenance of both sides of the Moutere hills road.

Several other matters were dealt with and the Council rose.

Dr. Genera] account £ s. d. 8309 17 3 Or. Contractors' deposits Llocks road interest Ngatimofci bridge do. Baton bridge do. Peninsula bridge do. Sherry bridge do. 3toke waterworks do. Land fund thirds 30 7 0 154 11 S 17 '9 7 15 5 11 52 8 0 10 4 5 41 15 0 159 2 7