Wairarapa West County Council.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1819, 12 April 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa West County Council.

This Council mot at the Chambers, Carterton, ou Saturday last. Present-Councillors, 11. Bunny (in the chair), 11. B. Bunny, Buchanan, Tully, Brailhwaite, Matthews and Phillips.

The minutes of the previous meeting were rea I and confirmed.

The Treasurer's report was read showing a credit balance of £lOl7 11s 10J. Receipts since last meeting—b’cathcrston Road Board, L 35 ; Taratahi-Carterton Road Board, L 52 10s ; Rent of Lake Ferry Reserve (per Croot) to 31st March, 1886, Ll> ; Tavalahi Carterton Road Board (refund of part clerk- -rvices) LJO ; Colonial Treasurer 12 month s in-.iiil-ment of grant for Wainuioru Bridge L7u,i : Deposits on tenders Kawhata Bridge, Liu 15s ; Total L 958 ss. Outward Correspondence,was read from the letter book. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Qreytown Borough Council re proposed bye-laws, and agreeing to County Councils proposals re lighting of vehicles, but having no suggestions to oiler in the matter of slaughter houses. From Featberston Town Board re proposid bye-laws agreeing to Council's bye law;respectiug lamps on vehicles ; but calling Lie Council's attention to sections 23 ami '.’l Slaughter Houses Act 1877 And clause 39 of the Amended Act 1879. Prom Carterton Town Board approving of Council’s proposed bye-laws, From Clerk to Wairarapa East County Council announcing that as the East County -u will not meet this mouth until alter i Cottue.. ■ , o<Min o ij lor County West, I the meeting of the ••-«<.* tJwj 1 no answer could be sent in Uuu - meeting » proposed bye-laws.

From agreeing to advance a sum ol £9OO to Couuc 1 lor Gladstone-Waiuuinru liond, on conduit n that the Featherston Hoard would advance a Bum to the Bams amount for MartiuboroughPuhaua Hoad.

From Featherston Road Board,'announcing that: the question of advancing the £7OO applied for by Council for completion of M irtinborough-Pahaua Road had been deferred by that Board until after the election of members in May. Public Works Committee’s Repobt.

Tte Public Works Committee's report was read, re letting of certain contracts, particulars of which have already been published in the STANDARD.

Cr Phillips rose to ask if there was any fear that the ratepayers money would be devoted to the construction ol roads. He considered all monies for such a purpose must come out of consolidated revenue ; he could not see his way clear to assist iu getting the Featherston Road Board, iu which district he was a rate* payer, into a difficulty ; he said he raised the question so as to assure the new members of that Board when they should be elected, what their position would be. He would like to see the Martinborough-Fahaua Road constructed, at the same time he would like to see the Featherston Road Board have a prospect of regaining their money ; supposing the Government granted future subsidies they would not be applied to past works, and he personally did not foel at all inclined to pledge the County Council’s credit to future Road Boards. .

Cr H. R. Bunny said it was an understood thing that the money used would be recouped to the Road Boards; hut he had not the slightest doubt that if the subsidies could not be obtained the Council had a right to fall back upon the ratepayers. Cr Buchanan said that Or Phillips assumed to have taken up the position of tho Road Boards. The County Councils were not in a position to negociate overdrafts, but each Road Board could get an overdraft. The revenues at present directly accruing to the Council were the license fees and the tolls. The toll would shortly be extinct, and for the time being they must rely upon the Road Boards for assistance. They all knew that Parliament, on both sides of the House, was anxious to have large local bodies like County Connells put in much better financial positions, so the Council had fait grounds to work upon.

Cr Bunny said at any rate the Council could not in any way deal (with the matter until the next meeting when they had the answer of the Ftathcrston Road Board before them. He had no uoubt before another year an entire new system would be introduced ; there would be larger County Councils, and vast powers given such local bodies ; the money now obtained from Road Boards would most undoubtedly be returned. Cr Matthews said the Featherstou Road Board were quite capable of looking after their own interests. A letter was read from the Public Works Department consenting to allow expenditure of h'diS. Granted under Roads and Bridges Act to stand oyer for six months.

THE ENGINEEB’S REPORT. The Engineer's report was read as follows: Martinborouqh to Pahaua Road. Contract No 6.—1 inspected the works done on this contract on the 26th ultimo. Sixty eight (68) chains were then opened out nearly to the full specified width of the road bed. The works so far are exceptionally well done ; the grades aie carried out in strict agreement witli the working sections, and otherwise the works indicate that superior skill has been brought to bear on their execution. The progress made from the commencement up to the date of c.y last inspection must, i think, be considered satisfactory. A contract is prepared and tenders invited for the formation of an additional ninety six (96) chains of this road, being Contract No 7. If the carrying out of this contract is arranged for, it will complete the formation to within fifty eight (58) chains of the bottom of the hill on the Pahaua side. Wainuiobu Bridge.

The main piers for this bridge are both constructed, sunk to the proper depth into the papa rock and bedded in concrete. The construction of the approach piers and the framing of the trusses are being proceeded with. TENDERS. Before opening the tenders, Cr Tully said he wished it to be clearly understood that he had distinctly pledged himself that the L 350 from his ward in the lioad Board as a loan to the Council should be forthcoming. Cr Matthews said that was understood—No 7 contract DC chains, rokd formation and culverts Martinborough-Pahaua—(iardncr and Keariu L3ID ; P. Carr, L3lB ; P. 0. Madsen. L 271 ; Bowden and Early L 250 ; D. Heagerty L 3 5s per chain ; Burgess Bros, L 3 Ss per chaiu ; W. Harrington L2 7s per chain (L 225 12s) ; accepted. Slaughterhouses. Cr Bunny suggested that it might be advisable to leave the inspectorship of slaughter houses in Feutherston district in the hands of the Featherston Town Board, to appoint their own officer. Cr Buchanan said jit might not be advisable to interfere with the efforts of the police in keeping things in a htalthy state. Cr Phillips said he did not anticipate that a number of Inspectors were to be appointed. Crßuchanan said the Act was very specific; they could either adopt these bye laws at once, or appoint a committee to confer with the other local bodies with a view to an agreement. Nothing definite could be done until they received the reply from County East. Cr Phillips moved that the matter be deferred until next meeting. He was quite prepared, if necessary, to take the Featherston Constable as Inspector for the whole district. Cr Tully seconded, and the motion was carried. Cr H. B. Bunny moved that a sum of JCIO. accruing from tho Huiunuiorangi Toll, be handed over to the Taratahi-Cartertou Hoad Board. Agreed to. Bonus to Clerk. Cr Buchanan, in a few eulogistic word*, moved that a bonus of £SO be presented to the clerk for past services, especially in deil« log with the intricacies of the late Hoads and Bridges Construction Act. Seconded by Cr H. It Bunny and carried. Mr Welters returned thanks to the Council for their consideration. Cr Phil! |h moved that iho Engineer inspect and repoit oa the main road on the Greytown side of tho W'aiohiuo Bridge, as il was in some places most dangerous, especially between the Platform Bridge and the new bridge. Cr Buchanan thought it very necessary to have the state of fie road all the way to the bridge inspected. Seconded hy Cr Matthews, and carried. Cr H. Buuny asked Cr Matthews if a meeting of tho now Fentlicrston Hoad Board could possibly he arranged for May 22. Cr Matthews promised to try and airange the matter.