TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10479, 3 December 1895, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

(Continued from yesterday.) Mr J. R. Stewart gave the scale on which he would be prepared to do engineering work in the Parihaka Riding. Mr Peters n^tod if it -wns hot cvrriud -.it, last meeting that the appointment of an engineer was to be held over till the end of the financial year.— Tie Chairman said that it was deferred, but it was understood that Mr Stewart was to be written to asking him to supply his scale so that if the Council wanted engineering work done they would know the scale of charges. — Messrs McGloin and McCullum said that it was so understood.— Mr Horrocks said that as long as the Council did not make an appointment it was alright. — A resolution was finally passed that Mr Stewart be employed on the scale &c, named when his services are required Tho Parihaka foreman reported on his Riding. The foreman was instructed to cart timber to bridges as required. —Mr McGloin explained with regard to shelter houses at Taunga.a-a and Maugahume bridges thut the places were only^dens for loafers, and might be burned down at any time ; and it was therefore better to sell them oven if they only realised a few pounds. It was decided to sell the buildings. The foreman reported on works that were required. Mr McGloin favored tenders being culled for mending parts of the road as mentioned by tho foreman, and letrthe liability go against next year's rates. Tho work could be done now more cheaply than in tho next financial year The road was utmost completely gone in some places. — The Chairman said it was a question for the Council to decido on. No doubt it would be the cheaper plan lo to mend the road now" and not let it go so badly as that portion between tho chain bridge and Inglewood, which cost the Council from 80 to 100 per cent, more than if the road had been takea in hand before it completely broke through. — Mr Horrocks said it was a question of overdraft to anticipate revenue. Mr Okey moved, That tenders ba called for the works specified by the Parihaka foreman at a cost of £255. —M> Adlam seconded the resolution, and said that the road was worn out in places. — Mr McCullum favored the motion. — Mr Peters opposed the motion, as it was not policy in anticipating next year's revenue to so large an extent as proposed. Suppose some unforeseen work as the replacing of a bridge was forced on the Council, then they would find 1 out that it was not a good policy to anticipate revenue as proposed. — Mr Tate said that it was n good season to do the work, but he would not like to see the Council go too far in anticipating the next year's revenue. — Mr Connett supported the motion, and said it was better now to do the work before the road got too bad. - The* resolution was carried. — The quantity of stone to patch in the same riding was reduced to 100 yards. The Chairman said that a sum of £84 was in credit to the Parihaka Riding. Mr G. Latham woto with reference to the delay in bi3 contract for building tho Tangahaku bridge, which was owing to his not being able to got totara. Tho expenditure of certain d.p. money in the Parihaka Riding was loft to the foreman. A slaughter license will be issued to Mr "W. Barnard to kill at Moturoa, on payment of the usual fees. Mr R. Stevens reported on the question of Mr Bielby being rated for 7 acres too much. — It was decided to reduce the valuation asrecommendedby the valuator. The clerk of the Opunako Town Board ■wrote stating that they only asked if tho Council was willing to hand over the main road through Ooanake township. They did not want tho road handed ovor until they knew the terms. Mr McGloin snid that it was a misunderstanding, as the Town Board did not want to take the road over until tho conditions wore known. Mr Peters said that the misunderstanding was all on the To wn Board's part. [The clerk read the letter from the Board, the Council's resolution, and the clerk's reply to tho Board.j Mr Peters said nothing could be simpler. The Town Board asked for the control, and the Couucil gave them control as from a date. Mr McCullum eaid according co the correspondence the Town Board was in the wrong. Mr Spearman, tollgate lessee, askod if a man who used, own dray, and worked for a contractor who htid a contract from the Council, was liable to toll. — Mr Peters objected tv» giving legal advine. Mr Spearman should go to the proper quarters for his legal advice.- Mr Okey thought that some assistance should be given to their lessees. — It was decided to inform Mr Spearman that the owner of the dray w's liable. Mr McCullum said he would like to move, That the resolution appointing members to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board be rescinded.— The Chairman Baid he could not take the motion. The representatives had been elected, the Hospital and Charit.ible Aid. Board had been notified, and it was too late to move in the matter now. - The Clerk said that the proper course would be that the members would hare to send their resignations in to tho Hospital and Charit-able-Aid Board. — Tho Chairman said he could not take Mr MoOullum'a resolution under the circumstances. Mr R. H. Davies, engineer for the Moa Riding, reported on the contracts for bridges that were now in hand. — Mr Peters said that the time had expired for tho works, and a fuller report should have been received from tho engineer. It was decided to notify Mr Davies on the matter. Mr Bewley said that there was a great deal of traffic now on tho roads on account of the dairy traffic, and as the wheel tax hud been abolished the time had arrived for the Couuoil to consider the question of introducing width of tiio regulations. He moved, That a committee consisting of Messrs Potora, Okey, McCullum, Connett, and tho mover make enquiries and report at next mooting. —Mr Okey ; It will be worse than tho wheel tax, and will moet with more opposition from the, settlors. — Mr McGloin was s'uro that tiro regulations would be worse than wheel tax. — Mr Connett was of the same opinion. — The Chairman r Well ; something will have to be done as the roads aro being worn out rapidly. — Mr Horrocka seconded the motion jjro forma. — Mr Peters was not in favor of tho proposition. lie maintained that it was the wheel tax in another form, and they would have extreme opposition to it. The regulation of tiros was tho same as *' tho boy who was hanged last month, only he had another suit of clothes." - Mr McCullum said a tire regulation v/ould cost him £25 to start with. — Mr Connett : If it was only you aifocted it would not matter. — Mr Horrocka said it waß only asking the Council to resurrect the deceased - tho wheel tax. — Mr Tate suggested that traffic could be diverted to the side tracks by placing notices at tho dairy factory gates. The question could be allowed to stand over till tho proposed Coufnties Bi 1 was settled.~Mr McCullum was of opinion that the Council would have to ronurrect tho wheel tax, for they could not do without it.— The Chairman said ho was agreeable to let the matter stand over as suggested by Mr Tato.— Mr Adlam was of the same opinion.— Tho matter then dropped. Enqairy will ba made is to a wire rope that was used at tho Mangahumo river, Eltharo Road. On IVIr Adlam's motion, two bottle jacks will bo provided for the Omata and Parihaka Ridings. Mr McCullum said that it had been reported that the Maories wore going to evade toll at tho Ileimaina tollgato on tho 18th. He wanted to know if the Council was going to take any action lo protect tho keeper, Mr Okoy considered fcho keeper should apply to the police. Mr McCullum said it had been reported that the MaorieH were going to ovade tho wheel tux, and driye through the tollgate, and if they ware at'qpped they would take tha gate off, Mr Okey :—Let them do it ; thut'H all. Tha Chairman said the police would uoo to any broach of the law,

Mr C. N. Ilodder, of Stratford, wrote complaining that while driving through to Opunake on a trip he was accosted i'or wheel tax. Mr McGloin said he had informed the foreman that this was a case whero discretion had to be useii. The other members concurred.

An application from Mr H. Olson for land at Meeting ol the Waters was defevrod till next meeting pending further information.

Waitara foreman's report was read and several matters attended to.

The Otnata foreman's report was read. The members of the Riding (Messrs Okey and Adlam) were instructed to iv spect Tapuae bridge in company with the foreman, and report at next meeting on its condition.

The Council on the foreman's report will instruct the engineer Mr Davies to inspect the Waiongona and Mangaraka bridges on the Devon Line. The members of tho Waitara Riding were asked to report upen a scheme to complete a further portion of the Mountain Road near Sentry Hill.

The Council decided to ask the railway department to clear the furze off the land in f rout of the line near Sentry Hill.

Accounts were passed, aud the Counci adjourned.