PATAINGATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume IX, Issue 880, 14 January 1886, Page 2

PATAINGATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council held a special meeting yesterday, when Crs Mackersey (chairman), White, Hunter, Warren, and M*Hardy were present.

The business was to consider matters connected with the Oero Road Board and district, and to allocate the cost of bearing the expenditure of £460, the sum which the Council paid over to the Waipawa County Council at the time of separation.

A letter was read from Cr Beetliam, regretting that his absence was rendered necessary through illness. The writer made some suggestions regarding the work which the Council had determined to undertake at a cost of £l3O, about which a full report was read from the Road Board’s overseer, Mr Mackay, and is subjoined. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Gentlemen, —As instructed, I send you an estimate of the amount I consider necessary to bridge the Ware-mate and Law’s Creek’s. Patangata-Kairakau road. The former creek runs through low swampy bush land, subject to high floods, and to make it tit for ordinary traffic will require 14 chains of bush being felled and cleared a chain wide—3oft being stumped in the centre. In addition to this, 10 chains of draining would be required, and fascines, and a bridge 32ft in length (low level), with approaches. The cost of these I estimate at £PO. Law’s Creek is something similar in its natural features ; not so large and the approaches shorter. The cost of this I estimate at £GO. The portion of road from Romeo’s Pass to Law’s Creek, distance about three and a half miles, has had no work done on it since the survey, and unless some improvements in the shape of small culverts aud side cuttings are made, the bridging of the creeks will not be of great service. This would require an expenditure of £6O. The total cost of these works will be as follows : £ s. d. Wharemati Creek... ... ... 00 o 0 Law’s Creek ... ... ... 60 O O Side cuttings ... ... ... GO 0 0 £2lO 0 0 I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, A. Mackay. Tho Chairman understood from these documents that the sum of £2lO would be required to complete the work, over and above the £l3O which had been voted ; the question before the meeting was whether the extra grant would he made. Cr Hunter wished to know the system which it was intended to work on. lie understood that the Council had decided to work on principles of the strictest economy. Cr White pointed out that it had been decided by resolution to make a grant to the Oero district, because that district was a sufferer by the terms of separation between the two counties. Cr Hunter said he was quite willing that the other ridings should be responsible for their liabilities, but thought it was understood that this would be worked off by the indebted ridings not incurring any expenditure. Ho didn’t think it was understood that the other ridings should overdraw to make up their deficiency. He hoped that the system under which the new council would be worked would be different to that which was employed in the old council. They should be careful about allowing overdrafts, and should come to an understanding as to how far they should be allowed to go. The Chairman made a statement. lie referred to the figures he had laid before the previous meeting, and the remarks he had made at that time. He had then urged economy, and had suggested that no expenditure should bo incurred at all, beyond that required for keeping surface men on the roads. However, the Council had decided otherwise ; it had been pointed out that tho Oero riding was subject to some liabilities, and would be in an awkward position if they were disappointed of some assistance. The sum of £l3O had therefore been granted. Cr White proposed that a further sum of £2lO be granted to the Oero Road Board for expenditure under its direction iu that district. The mover referred to the importance of the work, and pointed out that the load board had done a great deal of work for. themselves and deserved some assistance. The Chairman said it was true that the Road Board had suffered a little in a financial way from the separation of the the Council ; however the district had had nothing to complain of from tho former county. Even if Oero had not had money spent there it was owing to the action of the member representing it in Council, who had certainly obtained all that was due his district, but who had permitted the most of it to bo spent in one particular portion of it. Cr McHardy seconded the motion. Cr Hunter was willing to support it if it was an understood thing that no further applications for money would he made l»y the Oero Riding during the current year. The motion was then put aud carried unanimously. The question of allocating tlie expenditure of the £460, paid the Waipawa County Council, was then brought on. It was resolved, That the whole sum be charged against the general account of the county, The Clerk stated that the Provincial District Auditor had mentioned his reading of the Act, and he considered from it, that the money raised in a riding should be spent in that riding. He had consequently written to tho auditor for an official statement to that effect, but had not received it. The Chairman said the intention of the Act was plain ; the Government placed the whole of the monies of the Council in the hands of the members, first as a fund for general purposes, and afterwards for division amongst the ridings, if any balance remained for such a division. It was resolved that the Chairman’s reading of the Act be adopted ; and the Clerk was instructed to keep, first a common account, then separate accounts, amongst which balances for local expenditure would be divided. The Chairman said he was sure that ii would come to this that the Council would never take advantage of the power given by the Act to vote the whole or greater part of the money to any one riding, but that each riding would practically draw a 8 much money’ as came from it, just as had been done iu the past. It was decided, however, that special or separate accounts should be kept of the transactions of each riding, for the information and guidance of the Council, in addition to the other accounts provided to be kept by the Acts. The meeting then terminated.