Wairarapa West County Council.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1686, 16 March 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa West County Council.

The usual monthly meeting of this Council was held at Carterton on Saturday. Present Cm Booth (chairman), Tully, Martin, Matthews, Phillips and Bunny (2). Correspondence received — From Government re debentures and forwarding schedule of main roads. From Featherston Koad Board re valuation list; also stating that the Board is not prepared to adopt draft of bye-laws re width of tires as at present drawn up, but that Board highly approves of the second clause in the proposal re the vehicles for carting timber, <fcc. A letter from the Council to the Public Works department re the Wamuioru bridge was read, which contained a recommendation to the Government to accept the County Engineer’s plans and estimates for the bridge. The Chairman said he had seen Mr Blair and also the Hon Mr Richardson. Mr Blair said there were no bridges containing a span of 120 feet in the district; he (Mr Blair) considered the span proposed rather wide. Mr Richardson strongly suppoi ted the Council's opinion, andif details were brought forward to his satisfaction, all things being equal, he would endeavour to provide the money for the purpose. Mr King, the engineer, who was present, said the Government Engineer had not treated him fairly in this matter ; he had not given him (Mr King) any details, and he did not see why they should requite the details from him.

Cr H. Bunny proposed and Cr Tully seconded—That Mr King he requested to send down details of his proposal to the Minister for Public Works.

Cr H, Bunny said perhaps it would be the best test to advise the Minister to call for tenders for a suitable bridge, because after all, the details of Mr King might not suit the Minister.

Mr King remarked that details weald cost between £2O and £3O.

Cr Bunny's motion was carried. The report of the Engineer on the new Martinborougb Pahaua road was received, which set forward that the road suggested W him was quite ns suitable as that of the Peacock Spur line, and the route that way would bo only a useless expenditure, as the total ascent was over 400 feet more that way than the other line, and he was of opinion that the maximum grade of the road proposed by himself would be not more than 1 in 14.

Mr King iu answer to Cr Martin said—The Basin range gulley had been suggested to him, but the work now in hand was too much toward completion to admit of that direction being considered. Mr King also submitted details of several works in course of operation in that district. The clerk said Mr Skeot submitted a route in which the grades would be easier. The Chairman said the question was as to whether the council would adopt Mr King’s line.

Cr Phillips moved and Cr K. It. Bunny seconded, That the matter be referred to the Featherston Itoad Board, to allow them to settle the matter between Mr Skeet and Mr King. Cr H. Bunny said if such were done he thought, as a matter of course, the Board would support Mr Sheet’s line. Mr Matthews was inclined to think that the Board would give both proposals due con--1 sideration. Cr H. Bunny said the affair was becoming very complicated. Referring to the Road Board, nine men meeting in that place and nine meeting in Featherston—both bodies considering the same matter—the system seemed rotten. The Chairman said it was no use quarrelling with the system. He thought the Road Board should consider the matter. Cr Phillips could not see why the Council should interfere with the question. Cr Martin moved as an amendment, That the Council should undertake the matter, as the money was at the disposal of the Council. It was suggested that Cr Martin should give notice of this as a substantive resolution to be submitted at the next meeting.

Cr Martin—l give notice of motion. The real question is—Can 400 feet ol ascent be saved ?

Mr King said he entirely agreed with Mr Sheet’s report le the road via Grassy hill, but his was a main road and a more direct line. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Or Tally, it was resolved that Or Tully get the plans from Mr Sheet for Mr King to peruse, and that Mr King return same as soon as practicable. Tenders were received for work on Glad-stone-Wainuioru road, and that of Messrs Gardner and Kelly, for the sum of £220, was accepted. The Clerk announced that the tender was about £2O iu excess of the fund available for the purpose. On the motion of Or H. 11. ‘Bunny, seconded by Cr Tully, it was resolved to ask the Curterton-Taratabi Hoad Board to supply the deficiency until the next grant to the Council. It was also resolved to ask the same Board to supply £lO for the Cartertou-Gladstono road upon the same terms. LOO TBAITIC. Cr Phillips' motion, that the ordinary district loads'; lie constructed so as to bear log traffic, and the owners of sawmills using same pay all damage done to said roads, was, with an addition placed to same by consent of the Council, seconded by the Chairman, pro forma. The Chairman observed that ho should vote against the motion, as be considered the same practically useless, as the Public Works Act provides for any damage done to the roads by owners of timber vehicles, lie said the junkers never trouble tbo unformed roads, and junkers were only used on the public roads, lie did not know to what extent junkers affected roads in otlrer parts of tbo country, but be considered tiro Sydney drays were the kind of vehicle that did the most destruction to the roads iu the immediate neighborhood. Ho said he regretted some remarks which ho believed were made iu Iris absence at the last meeting, especially ns be uot at all interested in the matter. Cr Martin s"’ I ' the natter of junkers and width of tires should be Lauded over to the lioad Boards to deal with. Ho considered the Counorl should pay attention to the subject of regulating loads over tbo county bridges. Cr Phillips said he considered the width of tires bye laws, so arbitrary that he declined to discuss them.

Cr Tally said he had heard that eight tons of timber had been carried over one of the bridges in one loan. Gr Matthews thought the Sydney dray the worst vehicle they had to contend with. He thought the clauses in the proposed bye laws might be modified, so as to suit the lioad Boards. Ct 11. Bunny said it would be better to take the consideration of the proposed bye laws seriatim. Ho could not understand Cr Phillips' motion at all. ■ V Phillips said he regretted that he could not cply Gr li. Bunny with bruins to understand the purport of hie motion, Gr Bunny, we have heard that before. Gr Phillips being the sole supporter of his motion, it was consequently lost. WIDTH OF TIRES. Gr Braithwaite said he was sorry that Gr Phillips had brought forward his motion, as if passed, it would be of no avail He would propose—That the tires on the wheels of 2 or 3 horse vehicles should be of not less than 2 inches in width. Seconded by Gr U. Bunny and agreed to Clause 1 was struck out. Clause 2 was adopted. Gr Booth said it they limited tile number of horses to 5 it practically said that no load shall exceed 4i or 5 tons. Gr Braithwaite would like to add “ except with the consent of the Council." The clerk said in answer to Cr Phillips, that of course the resolutions did not constitute a bye law. It was resolved to refer clauses 3 4 5 6 and 7 back to the committee to be revised.

G BOWTH OF COTIOSWOOX). Cr Phillips’ motion that the kClits le required by the Council to use their ntiin .-t endeavors to check ilm growth ol entn.nwood, was seconded by Cr Martin pin forma, and negatived, Or H. Bunny remarking that the proposal was positively absurd, and Cr Phillips replying th it ho regretted that they had gentlemen in the Council who did rut understand their duties in such matters, lie said it was lamentable to him to think that the chairman did not also better understand his position, TDli BKANPISO ACT. Or Phillips, in speaking to his motion, viz, “ That the Government be asked to amend the Branding Act forthwith,” said that from one end of the County to another the mode in which this affair hud been earned out, bad been to create nothing but differences between the settlers. They (the settlers) had to lake the matter in their own bands, and settle it as best they could, and it was very unsatisfactory, and unless the Council supported such questions as these then that body should be abolished. The motion was lost.

THE KAHAUTARA UOAU. Cr Matthews moved That this Council use further efforts to induce the Government to place the Kahautara road upon the schedule of main roads. Ho considered that the Roads and Bridges Act was framed for cus' g of this kind. He suggested that the cloik should be instructed to write to the Governmeut, showing the necessity for the work to be done and the great importance of the question of making this a main road. Cr H. B. Bunny seconded the motion, as he considered this a much shorter road to the Lower Valley.

Cr J. Martin said it was not at all ac tssarv to make this road a main road, and from a general point of view it would otdy be diverting money from its proper channel. He contended that the Roads and Bridges A Construction Act was not intended for such cases as these. It was not required on public grounds, and would o: y bought a few settlers.

Cr Phillips said the Kahani“ r i (, oad should not bo a main road. mi' to many of the roads now on the ■. •being called main roads, Whatever Mie.ys could be bad should be applied to opening up new country, as new roads would be more immediately reproductive, and they would only betray their duty by throwing money away in that direction. It would take souse I.IiOOO. He had no objection to giving the Kahautara people every facility for erecting their bridge s, if they paid for it. IF, hoped Cr Matthews would withdraw his motion. Cr Matthews could not withdraw his motion. 110 could quite understand the Olaria people opposing Use scheme, as they were not the parties requiring the road, and although tiro traflio over the proposed bridge would in time be equally aa large as tradro oyer the Waiheuga bridge, still it would not deteriorate from the same over the Waibenga btiu (i e, as tiro two districts were totally dissimlar. f dhe motion was carried, Crs Martin aud I’hillips voting against rt. Cr Phillips gave notice of motion—That the Government be requested to arrange the ruuuiug of passenger trams over the Rimutaka for some years to come, as much as possible by daylight. Cr Phillips was about to explain his motive for bringing forward the proposition, when Cr Barmy objected ; he observed that Cr ITiiilips could speak to his motion at the proper time. Several small accounts were passed for meat.

Or Phillips gave notice of motion re gravel pits.

A special meeting of the Council was then held for the purpase of granting a special order to Messrs Hdy ana Gallon to lay a tramway on Moffat's lino, and the Council then adjourned.