WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 107, 13 March 1879, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Wairarapa West County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Carterton, oil the 12th instant, Present—Cr Pharazyn (in the Chair), Crs Donald, Jackson, Boys, Bennett, Moore, Murray, and Minchin. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. REPORT. The report of the conference between the Public Works and Finance Committees of the Wairarapa East and West County Councils was read and adopted. The outward and inward correspondence referring to the resolutions passed thereat. i CORRESPONDENCE, Tlio following correspondence was then read Outward, Correspondence with the Bank of New Zealand relative to dealings with County Fund, and stating the estimated monthly balance would be about £SOO, Letter to Chairman of Waioliine River Board of Conservators, covering engineer's reports and reeolution of Council thereon passed at last meeting. Letter tn Chairman of Masterton Highway Board, with cheque for works executed by Board for Council. Letter to Chairman of Taratahi-Cartor-ton Highway Board, as to maintenance of Black Bridge by Board. Letter to Chairman Masterton Highway Board, covering resolution as to grant in aid of £2OO for metalling Mauriceville road, Letter to Chairman Featherston Highway Board, covering resolution as to grant in aid of £IOO for survey of roads through lands where grants had not matured., Letters to Chairmen of Wairarapa and Masterton Hospitals for estimates. Letter to Chairman East County Council, covering resolutions passed at the conference.

Inward, From Bank of New Zealand asking for estimate of what; might be required <• by way of overdraft) and what the average deposits might be. / Letter from Chairman Taratahi-Carter-ton Highway Board, stating the' Board could not see any sufficient reason to alter their prior decision as to tho maintenance of Black Bridge. Letter from Masterton Highway Board notifying they had granted £BO in aid of subsidy granted by Council for metalling of Mauriceville road, and let the tender to settlers who were to provide £l2O in labor. Letters from Secretaries of Wairarapa (Greytown), and Masterton Hospitals. Wairarapa Hospital,—Cost per annum, L4OO ; no return on estimated cost per capita of patients; proportion of patients paying their expenses, lin 8. Masterton Hospital.—Cost per annum, LCOO ;no return on estimated cost per, capita of patients; proportion of patients paying their expenses, 1 in 10. In reference to the shove correspondence, the Chairman reported that the Bank would allow per cent, per annum on minimum monthly balance of County account, but could not grant an overdraft except for temporary accommodation. A discussion ensued on the delay of Government in forwarding to the credit of the County Council funds sums certified to by the Chairman of the Council under special votes, and it was suggested by Cr Boys that tho Chairmen of tho two Counties should bring the matter under the notice of the Government.

The question of subsidies to be granted to tho Hospitals was adjourned for communication with the Wairarapa East County Council on the subject.

BT-UWS. Tho Chairman stated that tho By-laws and Standing Orders of tho Council had been drawn by Or Phillips, and had been submitted to himself ami Cr Donald. The i draft had been sent to the printers, and a proof would be laid before next meeting, j LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Cr Phillips on account of ill health. j REronis. Tho following reports were read Mr W. Skeet— Greytown platform; same was completed. Black Bridge—Estimate of timber required for repairs. Mr J. King, County Engineer—Black Bridge ; Dixon'B road, Te Ore Ore, contract ; Mangaono and Mangaho vote. Buck Bridge. Considerable discussion ensued on this subject. The Chairman pointed out two courses to be adopted: either to repair existing bridge or erect a new one. Looking at Mr King's report, the question aroso: could his estimate be reduced? He thought it would, for several reasons, bs preferable to repair existing bridge instead of erecting a now one. Councillor Donald pointed out that Mr King admitted the planking was sound; but, in his report, had taken into his estimate the cost of re-planking. He believed both extremities of tho bridge, on the slope rising to it, should be stronger timber; at the gradient brought, more Btrain might be on those than any other portion of the bridge. In reply to Mr Boys as to small variance of estimate as between repaint and erection of a new bridge, the Chairman stated lie had ascertained from Mr King, that whereas the present bridge was 500 feet, the new one need bo only 300, and not bo high as the existing one, as there had been considerable silting up of the banks since the existing bridge was erected, Cr Boys was of opinion, that on the opening of the railway, the present main road would not become the by-road some supposed; and he doubted if a new bridge could be put up for LIOOO, or LI2OO. He did not believe in patching, and thought it would be better to put up a new bridge at once. Attention was drawn to the financial position of tho Coouncil. Cr Moore considered that if a new bridge were erected it must bo by special vote. Considerable discussion then arose as to the varianco between the estimates given by Messrs King and Skeet.

The Chairman drew the attention of the Council to the following considerations :

1, If a new bridge is put up, will the river bo where it now is in six month's hence ?

2. After m liavo erected a new bridge, it is moro than probable in a few months we shall have to erect a more costly one over the river at Greytown. 3. When the bridge over the liver is erected in connection with the railway, may not the road be directed so as to cross in that direction I 13. We shall soon have to act on our own responsibility without the aid of Government subsidies, which will only last somo three years longer; and it is more than probable that if ratepayers find the cost of a certain line of road is very excessive, they will not desire to support it, but seek a better. What would they say to the Council if they went to the cost of a bridge which might prove next to useless.

Cr Moore—Perhaps ask us to resign in abedy. The structure was reported as rotten and its replacing was not included in the estimate. The repairing of the bridge seemed like placing new wine in old bottles." •

Or Donald suggested the bridge might bo substantially repaired if new piles were put in in the place of the temporary ones now there.

Chairman—" If new stringers be put in to support the bridge they would not be lost money as they could have them for use elsewhere, and, beside a considerable amount of expense must be incurred for the temporary maintenance of the existing bridge, as in any case they could not get the new one up, if they determined to build it, under six months, and ho supposed in nine months the railway would be through to Masterton, The matter was one of great responsibility," Ultimately the following resolutions were passed

" That the Council considers it inadvisable at present with the small funds at its disposal to incur the expense of erecting a new bridge in the place of the Black Bridge. That a sum of L4OO be voted by the Council to be expended under the direction of the County Engineer in the most necessary repairs to the existing bridge. _ That in the meantime Mr Darrick be instructed to execute any works at once required on it, in such a way as will form a portion of the more permanent repairs. The cost of repairs on the bridge to be charged in equal proportions to the Featherston and Taratahi-Carterton Highway Boards, That in consideration of the Feathers ton Highway Board not being in receipt of any revenue from tolls, the Council will pant a special subsidy to that Board equal to the amount charged to it on account of the repairs to the Black Bridge,"

The following petitions were presented and read : Menson's petition, presented by chairman. Palmer's petition praying for the erection of awhare on the Forty-mile Bush Boad. The Chairman stated that he had inspected Menson's books and found that for two years he had only received from the ferry L4B 7s. After some discussion the following resolutions were passed on the petitions " That the necessary steps be taken to exempt the Ferryman at the Wairarapa Lake from payment of license fee in :. "nsideration of hisworking the ferry." m '' Tlwt the chairman make the neclsary enquiries and procure new ferry-bnk if found requisite." 1 The clerk was directed to write* ihe Chairman of the Licensing Board, as to the omission of the ensuing years license. Considerable discussion took place as to the advisability of erecting a residence for workmen on the road, and ultimately the following resolution was passed " That the Council is of opinion that the best course will be to allow Palmer one week out of his time, for which he is to be paid, to erect a whare for himself." The estimate of the County Treasurer as to the probable income and expenditure of the County during the half-year, ending the 30th June, 1879, and his report thereon were laid before the Council and considered. It was moved by Cr Bennett, seconded by Cr Moore, and carried unanimously—that Cr Jackson be a member of the Public Works and Finance Committees. The Chairman was requested to arrange with the County Engineer as to his attendance at Council meetinigs when required unless any special work arose the clerk was directed to adjourn next monthly meeting but to summon committees as required. The Council then adjourned.