WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 701, 7 March 1881, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY.

A meeting of the Council of the above County was held at the Council Chambers, Masterton, on Saturday afternoon. ■Present—Crs Beetham (Chairman), Phaimyn,Maunsell, and Bunny, MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were road and confirmed. The Chairman thanked the Council for its _ consideration in re-electing him during his absence. He had always taken a deep interest in the work, and would like to see the end of it. CORRESPONDENCE. Outward—To the Minister- of Public Works, asldng for payment of £808; to Mr W. G. Beard, instructing him to take proceedings against those who had not taken up debentures as agreed. Inwards—From Treasury, re payment of £295 4s sd, balance of subsidy; from same, advising payment of £BOB. MUNGAPAKEHA ROAD. ' It was resolved that the Castlepoint Highway Board be informed that with tho completion of contracts now being earned out in the Mungapakelm tne Council will have no funds for expenditure upon it, and its maintenance must now be left entirely to the Board. HURUNOIORANGI BRIDGE PROTECTIVE;. WORKS. The tender of Mr Chapman, at £223 was accepted, the contract to be completed in May. WHAREAMA FERRY. It was resolved—That the Whareama Perry be informed that the.County had no funds available for the maintenance of the Ferry. HOSPITALS. It was resolved—That the Hospital Committee be informed that the subsidies having ceased, no further payments can be made by the County to them.

RETRENCHMENT. The .future income of the County after deducting payments for interest was estimated atiß6 per annum, and it was decided to notify to the Wairarapa "West County that after three months from date the services of their Engineer would not be required, and that three months notice be given to the Clerk and -Treasurer that their services would not bo required after that date, as owing to the withdrawal of subsidies the Council would be unable to payjthe salaries hitherto given. The Finance Committee was authorised to make such arrangements as might be necessary for the carrying on of the work after the expiration of three months. The travelling allowance to members was also cancelled. The Council then adjourned,

The following reports were read at the meeting:— engineer's report. Masterton, sth February, 1881. Sip,—l have the honor to submit the following brief report on the Public "Works of the Wairarapa Bast County. Mungapakeha ROAD, Hopkins and Dundee's contract.—The works included in this contract are all nearly completed, and will be finally so before the end of next week. So far they are well executed. On Gueriu & Donohue's contract about eighteen chains of the formation are completed, the work being carried out in a satisfactory manner. The workmen who have for several months been employed in repairing'the Mungapakoha road are all, except one, discharged. One man.will not bo able to keep the road in anything like a fair state of repair, and I.would therefore suggest that at least one or two others be employed to keep open drains and culverts, remove slips, and attend to the necessary repairs and improvements of the road surface. • BLAIRLOGIE ROAD. The works on the section ef this road under contract are being executed in a satisfactory and workmanlike manner, and if the 6ame rate of progress be maintained the contract will be finished in five or six weeks' time. To make this road fit for ordinarywheeled traffic, the two miles of bridletrack previously partly formed would have to be increased in width to at least lift, and other parts formed, amounting in the aggregate to nearly a mile. I have, &c., John Kino, County Engineer. PUBLIC WORKS AND FINANCE REPORT. The following report was then adopted: Your Committee would recommend that the sum of £W Is lOd should be distributed as follows : Masterton Highway Board.—£363, less one-sixtli to be retained as subsidy due to No. 6 Ward of the district. Blairlogie Road.—That the sum of £6O 10s be paid to the Blairlogie fund account, on condition-that the amount required to open the road for dray traffic be subscribed in debentures by the settlers interested. Oastlepoint Highway Board.—That in addition to the sum of £17910s already apportioned to this Board, an additional sum of £9Blos be paid to the Board for expenditure between Tenui andKahumingi, Peatherston Highway Board.—That in addition to the sum of £IOO already apportioned to this Board, an additional sum of £44 be paid for expenditure on the line of road leading from Hautotara to the Coast, via Awhea.

That per cent, be paid to Wairarapa and -Masterton Hospitals, on balance of übsidy received from Government.

That the Committee, having in view the financial position of the Council, recommend ' that tlw expense of management should be curtailed with a' view to bringing the expenditure within the estimated income,