WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 541, 13 August 1880, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNTY

COUNCIL. ♦ The ordinary meeting of the above wa 8 held in the County offices, Carterton, yesterday. ] ■ present; C. Pharazyn (in the chair), and Ors J. Donald, D. McGregor, T. Bennett, F. GMoore, T. Minchin, and Coleman Phillips. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and conßrmed, CORRESPONDENCE Outwards—To Wairarapa East County Council, stating that the Hurunuiorangi road not being a County one, their claim for expenses could not. be entertained ; to Masterton Highway Board, enclosing cheque for L 200; to F. G. Moore, enclosing statement of. balance under, special votes to date; to Masterton Hospital,' enclosing cheque of Ll4 3s Bd, subsidy up to 31st March last, and stating that the Council would not in future bo in a position togranl a subsidy to the Hospital; to Huru te Hiar'o, native ferryman ac the Manawatu Ferry, to" the. effect'that Mr Maunsell had been instructed to see him in reference to the ferry matter; to Minister for Public Works,' enclosing resolution passed by Council, re Manawatu Ferry, and urging that immediate steps be taken to vest in the Council the sole control of .ferry; to Masterton Borough Council, enclosing resolution re toll-gate at Waipoua'River;. to Messrs John Harding and others, enclosing copy of reply received from Public Works Department, re overflow of Waipoua.' River at' thePirau; to Provincial District Auditor, enclosing copy of balance-sheet , for year ending 31st March last; to B. S. Maunsell, re Manawatu Ferry; to A. Gallon, Mataiawa, enclosing copy of letter received-from Public Works Department, re railway siding at that place. Inwarda—from fl. Aulin, re metalling of Mauriceville road; from Sergeant, of Police, Masterton, forwarding undertaker's account of funeral of man named Morgan, who died at Rangitumau on the 21stJuly; from Mr.Buoth, stating that Mr Buchanan would attend the meetiug to explain the nature of a difficulty with the natives at Hurunuiorangi, and with which the Taratahi-Carterton Highway Board had no power to deal. The natives refused to allow'a chain road to betaken to the new bridge, unless the Board entered into an agreement to fence the road, whioh would cost about L 80; from R. M. Office, Featherston, enclosing copy and translation-of letter received by the Resident Magistrate from certain natives at the Manawatu and Mangitanoke Ferries. The letter from natives, was to the effect that it was desirable a conference should be held between them and the Council; from Masterton Borough Council, enclosing copy of resolution passed at last meeting re Waipoua River; fromM. Caselberg & Co., drawing attention to serious encroachment of Ruamahunga River to a portion of their property adjoining it, near theteOre Ore Bridge: from Waipawa County Council, enclosing the following resolution:-" That this Council is willing to contribute half the expense towards the Manawatu Ferry, Forty-Mile Bush Road, same not to exceed L 30;" from Public Works Office, re railway- siding at Woodside, stating that the site on Moffat's line was most central, but the fall of the country placed the line, where asked for, at 52 miles on a grade, and a large outlay would consequently be required to make a station ttare, therefore the most convenient alternative appeared to be to place the Btation at 51 miles and a flag-station at. Walerson's, and that this had been decided upon; from same, vesting control of Manawatu Ferry in Council; from same, stating that a sum of .money had been placed on the Estimates for sundry roads in the North Island, and that the Seventy-Mile Bush road was included therein, such.vote, however, would not be available until the close of the session; from E. S. Maunsell, re Manawatu Ferry; from Or Boys, apologising forabsence. ■ Mr E Aulin's account was referred to the'Oounty Engineer, and that Mr Aulin be informed that there were no funds at the disposal ot the Council for, metalling the road, and that he should apply to the Masterton Highway Board. In reference to the letter from Sergt, M'Ardle, :. :.:, ; Or McGregor made a few remarks in explanation. He inform ed the Council he had advised Sergt. M'Ardle to send the account to the Council, although he had ■informed him at the time in his (Or McGregor's) opinion the Council was not the proper body'to be held' liable for the claim. The Council had stopped the payment .of subsidies, arid it could not, therefore, be held liable' fat claims such, as the one now before them v Itwaa high' time'something definite was known as to. who were the responsible parties. Superintendent James' answer to the Sergeant's letter he had expected to throw Bomelight on it, but it had not, as it informed Sergt. M'Ardle that application should be made to this .Council.

;< After discussion, the application; was. referred to Superintendent James, stating that subsidies to charitable societies hadand that application..ought to.be 'madet;o .the Colonial Secretary. . ~..., Mr 1 Al-UzMti wiited J upon the Council in'reference to the station 1 at WoodeideV and painted out the, disadvantages to the Bottlers by haying the ! station erected yhefe the Public WoA'a-Department "in-' 'tendedi'M'liv answer'to'the'Chairinan; he' stated «that,i the ; settlers hadM.de'cidedr to ; erect a siding at their own expense.,.. *i Or Phillips spoke at some length on this matter.">_ Mr Gallon had stated'that the settlers ( , intended".to, erect f,a,siding' 'whether th'e Government' liked it or not, ~ a!:- < Ay*}? ;;i )rt *•■ i) ivk-

and he-cduldtoot see\hy the.Government \could :in witlif the 'views 'of the settlers,! do so without any great expense. \:. ''The Ohairmahsaid the Government-did-not object to'giy'e what was termed a. ." blind"'siding,.-but He had been informed that they could hot erect a proper siding on account of the grade." : " Mr Gallon said he had been informid that the grade in the place was 1 in 132. ' i'The-" ; Ohaifman said he had ; b*eifi' : formed by Messrs Hales & Mason, «ngU neers, that Government objeited'to |ut» Btationjfheretherewas/anygrade. _ .': 'Or PB)lips" moved,' "seconded'"by"Or Donald— in -the -'opinion- of-'thiV Oouiicilj'it is very desirable that the, wants of the settlers, should, if possible, be met by the traffic, from the point at 52 miles, being provided for by such siding or ita-j' tion as can be provided most conveniently. It is admitted' by the that this site, is the most; csntrali' ■ and 'the ■ Oounoil would point but that the construe-; tioh of a'saw.'mill at' ; this point,'with; another,'about, to, be erected,, afford* guarantee of''considerable'.traffic. The Council would '' also' point L out : thSt the private siding which has been ; applied for by the saw mill proprietors,•wo,uld ; 'iuffice for all present purpriaes if used aa a public one, and that in this case the proposedstation at 51 miles, would be quite unnecessary. "—tdartied ; ■; . '; . > ): . > M, Oaselberg & Co's, letter was referred'; to the Works Committee. PUBIIO WORKS COMMITTEE. . The report of the above, which was as follows, waß read and adopted ; Masterton, 11th August, 1880.. Chairman Wairarapa West. County Council..

Sir,-Since the last meeting of thi Council, the Public Works sub-committee have held several meetings, .viz,.,.on the 14th, 21st, and 30th July, and on the 4th instant, principally for the purpose of opening tenders for various works about. to be undertaken in the Forty-Mile Bush.' A full statement of these, will be found attached hereto, and your committee are i glad to report that in most instances these works have been contracted for at a" price ; considerably below the engineer's estimate.

The most important matter which your committee has had under consideration ii the expenditure which will be necessary for repairs and maintenance on the Forty-Mile Bush road and that run-; ning through the newly opened Man--' gaone block. A full report upon this subject has been addressed:by your.con> mitteetothe chairman of the Council, a copy of which will be found attaohed hereto. . ■

On the subject of the Manawatu Ferry, also, a letter has been forwarded to the Chairman representing, the facts of the case, and expressing a hope that the question might be brought specially befor the notice of Government, with a view to the termination of the difficulties which have arisen in the way of the Council having the proper control of-the Ferry. As no satisfactory conclusion' could be arrived at on the subject', your Committee addressed a letter to Mr Carver, informing him that) under: the circumstances, we could not see what object was to be gained by. his remaining alt the Ferry, unless the, Government first placed matters on a proper footing; and advising him, if he should return to Maitor ton, as to the disposal of the. boat. On ■further discussing the question, at a meeting on the 4th inst., your Committee passed a resolution with reference to it, a copy of which is attached hereto. The Committee desires further to express' its conviction that it is clearly tho duty of the Government to make'sudh'arrange-, inents with respect to this service as will, in future, ensure to the public a proper management of the ferry, and that until this takes place the Council ought not to interfere, or take any responsibility whatever in the matter. . We have, &c.', -F. G..MOORE, ■ D..McGregor. .' (Balance of report in nexl irnit).