WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 8, Issue 791, 30 November 1878, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday, 27th instant, in the Town Hall, Carterton. Present ; Councillors Booth (chairman), Phillips, Pharazyn, Moore, Boys, Murray, Caselberg, aud Donald.

As the appointment of a Chairman was the first business, it was proposed by Cr Phillips that C. Pharazyn be Chairman, the motion was seconded by Cr Moore, who remarked in doing so, that Mr Pharazyn was a very able man, and in the capacity of Chairman would give every satisfaction. Cr Caselberg moved as an amendmet that Mr Booth be re-elected. Mr Booth was Chairman of the last Council, and no reason had been adduced why he should not again be elected, and apart from this, Cr Booth was a resident of this, the present County town, and it was an admitted advantage to have the Clerk and Chairman within a short distance of each other. The motion was seconded by Cr Donald, who had nothing that he could say against the abilities of Cr Pharazyn, but as Cr Booth was the present Chairman, he should be again elected. Mr Pharazyn suggested that the candidates for tue office should withdraw while the matter was under discussion as it was not pleasant to sit and hear ones qualifications discussed, and while speak.ng he might say that if elected he would feel highly honored indeed, and would do his utmost for the general welfare of the council, but should the council be pleased to re-elect Mr Booth he had no doubt that he also would work for the good of the Council and he did not feel quite at borne in opposing one who agreed with him to so great an extent. Mr Booth concurred with Mr Pharazyn in thinking that the candidates would be more at home if they retired while tne matter was being discussed. He did not wish to be reelected to the office as he would be happy to be relieved from the work and responsibility, attached to the office, but did not decline because his constituents had elected him on the understanding that he would stand if proposed and therefore he took it as a matter of duty. Should Cr Pharazyn be elected to the position he had hitherto held he had no doubt he woulu fill the office ably. The candidates then withdrew.

Ou the motion of Cr Boys seconded by Cr Murray, it was resolved that Cr Moore take the chair while the matter was being discussed. A discussion then arose as to whether the Press should be excluded until after this subject bad been discussed, bnt it wasdeci led that it wonld be preferable to have the discussion reported, Cr Caselberg was in favor of Cr Booth continuing in the chair. It was usual to let existing things be until yon can better them. He further drew attention to the fact that Cr Booth was resident in the County town and within a short distance of the Clerk, and would in this way foe an advantage to the Council. There had been a rumor in circulation that it was likely Masterton wonld be made the County town as the County East met there aud this Council wonld have desirable offices to go to, and if he could see that bis constituents would be benefitted by this change he would vote for it, bat at the present time thought that it would be better for it to remain as it is and have the permanent secretary and chairman resident in Carterton.

Cr Boys did not intend to give a silent vote on the question, Cr Caselberg bad laid par tieniar stress on locality but the speaker did not think it of so much consequence where the Chairman resided. As far as keeping Carterton. the County to-vn as at prese .t. he would leave no stone untamed in order that it should remain as at present. Cr Piutkazyq’s

I experience in the late Provincial Council and his thorough knowledge of the working of all the Acts apart from having plenty of spare tune on his hands would make him the most suitable candidate. Cr Pharazyn’s private business could if necessary be conducted by a manager, but he questioned very much whether Cr Booth’s could be carried on without his personal supervision. As there was no further discussion on the matter it was resolved that the temporary chairman should leave the chair; which was again taken by Cr Booth. The amendment on being put elicited two votes—those of the mover and seconder—the remainder of the Councillors (excepting tbe candidates—who did not vote) voting for the original resolution. Cr Pharazyn was therefore declared duly elected and immediately entered upon hu duties, at the same time thanking the Council for giving him what he considered a great honor and mentioned that he had no doubt he would probably at times be called upon to give decisions which might be adverse to the feelings of the members, still he hoped they would yield cheerfully to them and give him the credit of doing it, with tbe best ir»t»nti m . He also expected to have the same privilege* which are afforded to chairmen of corporations, that is to propose and second motions when he had any feeling in the matter. The minutes of last meeting were then read and confirmed, and the Council adjourned to lunch. Upon re assembling several reports on the state of the various sections of main muds and bridges from the summit of the Bubm- * tuka to Msnawatu, in which attention wu drawn to tbe delay which is taking pi—vf in getting several bridges above poshed forward. Mr King stated in reply to the Chairman that the deTayiTailuded to were, not the remit of negligence on the part of the contractors, as 'in several instances they were attributed to other sources; in one cane mentioned the bridge, as planned, was only naif as long as it should be. There was at the present time no clerk of works or overseer snperintendiog thaoq bridges, and thought it necessary one should be appointed. For formation of 210 chains of rood on To Ore Ore the following tenders were received: —G. B. Dixon, £900; Thomas Ptest, .£1149 ss; Walton & Perry, £1435; M. McKenzie, £6 14s per chain ; J. Hull, £4 19s; C. Bristow £4 19s lid; Colway <k Co., £5 8s; Palloon <k Co., £6. It was resolved that Mr Dixon’s tender be , accepted, subject to bis paying a deposit or finding sureties. Correspondence was read from Messrs well, Macara & Co, stating that when tendering for the conveyance of the mail they had anticipated that the works on the Masteiton and Woodville line wonld have been pushed forward earlier, and that as this had not been done it wonld cause serious delays in the transport of tbe mails. From Ur Manners, asking that in future cheques payable near his locality might not be crossed, ae thaw was sometimes a difficulty in getting them cashed. He also drew attention to the Mmpt«hinii« Ferry, and tbe fact that for a considerable time tbe pant which was intended for the conveyance of passengers to and fro waa lying high and dry on the beach. From Ur J. Vinery, lessee of the Featherston toll-gate, asking that the Council wonld relieve him from the payment of his rent, as since the railway had beon opened, about Oct 10th, his takings had only averaged six shillings per day. Or Booth, in referring to the reports before the Council, stated that the other end of the Waiohine bridge, which was reported to be weak, had been attended to, and a few days since he had been called in rather a harried manner to see to the end next Carterton, sod found that, although it was not particularly safe, it was no worse than it had been for some time. Since, however, ha had tbe approach spans on each end supported, with this assistance it should last seme time. The stringer of tbe Waingsws bridge, referred to in Mr White’s report, had been replaced but the part referring to the probability of the river making a course nearer to Masterton, remained to be attended to. Thb platform near Greytown was in a very bail state, and he would recommend that, with tbe exception of the part crossing Kemptou’s Creek proper, it shouij ly-yaßeJdown. Hie ground in the udaiqflittnOeen raised .about five feet, and one part of tbe bridge was now unnecessary, and besides was an obstruction. In tbe first plaee.it was only a miserable substitute for a road, and was altogether too weak The stringers were only 13x6, with a 23 It span; the planking in the first instance had been S inch, hot had of late, when the planks hi! been.broken, been Substituted with 4 inefa,and they were daily patting into this bridge the very best heart of totera timber that waa grown to be merely wasted. He anticipated that this one source of expenditure wonld swallow np £SOO a-year if left in its present position- He suggested that either brick or white pine should be used where the plaaking was exposed to the traffic, as either would be cheaper and last three- times ae long. Mr Hartwell had' spoken to him respecting the works they were asking should be poaned forward, and he thought must ba ve made some mistake in tendering for the mail ecpfraet, aa the vote for gome of the works had not tK»p passed. The matter of the punt at Mangatain oka would require to be seen into. The planking on the Forty-mile Bo*h rand was not good, and hqd suggested to Mr Jsggefborne, the day of the show, that lie should ba safe in . keeping the road open to traffic. Practically tbe bulk of these works would remain for Works Committee to cany out. and that boay would have, to take off their coats and work with a will in order to carrylt Oat Again, referring to the platform he would sngeert ■that Mr Darricb, and what men be could com* mand, should commence the following day te pull down the first two spans of tha platform and lay the remainder with white pine. As far as be was personally concerned tie wonld not eat any more of his totara to be wasted as it had been.

Cr Casselberg dissented from the opinions expressed by Cr Bootb. He did not hold with commencing operations by pulling down whst they had already got np<

Cr Booth moved that Dairieh be authorised to remove two apans of the bridge, and also to repla e damaged parts with white piue planking. Cr Casselberg was sorry to differ from Cr Booth; but thnneht the matter wftoid be better to be referred to the Pobde Works Committee.

The Chairman suggested that it would be better to ask the Feat here ton Highway ri'Wl to take over the work, and then get them to report on the matter, as it wonld not be advisable for the Council to tnro engineers. Cr Booth explained his earnestness in ende <; voring to get the works eomme-ioed even without the delay of consulting an engineer, as the affair wonld not last more than two or three days lot ger.

It was decided that the matter should be referred to the Works Committee, and that they wonld take immediate action. The Chairman’s salary was the next order of business, but Mr Phwasya thought it was premature, a id as far as lie was concerned did not think any salary should be paid to the Chairman.

The appointment cf Clerk caipe next, and Cr Booth proposed that Mr Hole be appointed Clerk, Treasurer, and Paymaster to the County, at a salary of £350 per a nnm Upon the matter being discussed it was thought that the one person woo d i.nt be able to perform the daties of Clerk and Paymaster at the same time, as one required him to be always in the office, and the other to travel, and Mr Cole was therefore appointed Clerk sod Treasurer only at a salary of £350 per annum, the same to date from .the gill September last.

A long discussion took place respeeti»g the valuation and valuer fir the Con ty; after which, Cr Phillips matted that Mr Hole be appointed valuer, and that qarioas valuation roils of ths -several Bomdsof tbs Cwntv fa* adopted, seconded by Cr Moor*. Otniai Proposed by Or Cssslberg that C« Oo t , Beys, and the Chairman ai|i «h*VMi wdu

TwuMiar Beeended by Cl Murray and carited. The eehonl iwrtfr’r hones, Maroa, and Ufagri Bmm uad MitobeH'i etore-room ware MdiM aa plaraa lor deposit of electoral nttsto the Oipytown and Maatcrton Bidijg* WfllflttlT. Prop wan by Cr Booth, aeconded by Cr Manta, that lha Forest*ra Hall be tak?n for a tarn of C mouth*, at a yearly rental of £3O. Carried. Fwpaaai by Cr Phillip*, aeoondad by Cr Murray, that Cr* Pharuyn, Donald, Booth, Ouaslberg, and Boy*, be eonatituted a Public Work* and Finance Committee, three of aaue la tuna a quorum. The bye-law* were deferred to a future meeting. Proposed by Cr Moore, seconded by Cr Booth, that the Clerk be authorised to obtain etatione y, books, he., for the use of the Council. ua the iMtion of Cr Booth, eeeonded byCr Caaatbarg, Cr Murray’s name was added to the PuUie Work* and Finance Committee. It was raaolTed that the fntnre meetings of the Couneil should be held oc the second Mi in a ailay in each month. Mr Tieeroy’s letter ants referred to Cr* Fbaraayn sad Donald to report upon at the next meeting. Cr C’aeeelberg gave notice that he will move at asst meeting that the Featherston Toll ftea ha removed to the Tonherinikan. Tbs Chairman mentioned that he bad seen fee plan d the railway bridge oaer the Waio•JkiaMagjwtiead that the Government were akUOTB eonecde to the petition of the aettlma M that locality aa to making the bridge for gkaaral aa wall aa lor railway traffic, bat it was so situated that no access could bo had to it, aad this weald render it valueless. Tbs Council then adjourned.