Pahiatua County Council.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XVI, Issue 2898, 19 December 1898, Page 2

Pahiatua County Council.

- -*- —■ The monthly meeting of the Pahiatua County Council was held on Saturday. Present—The Chairman (Or Perry), and Crs Wbyte, Smith, Bolton, Marsh, Manson.Whitcombe, Tait and Hodgins. COKRKSPONDENCB. From H. Olsse.n, re. reserve at Gorge bridge, asking the Council if he had a right to stop people fallingtimber.—Eeferred to Engineer. From T. Nestor and others, re No. 1 Loan, asking to be excluded from being rated under what is known as the Toritea Loan, as the lands were Crown lands at tbe time they were taken up, and they were in the same position as those under No. 9 Loan. —Cr Whitcombe moved, " That Mr Nestor be informed that No. 1 Loan is not on the same footing as the No. 9 Loan, and that he will have to pay the special rate ; this Council are satisfied as to their position."—Carried. From Department of Lands and Survey, re Bridge Eoad, stating that nothing further is available for the construction of this road, and asking the Council to take it over.—Received. From same, stating that no funds are available for repairs to the bridge on the Tiraumea Valley Road, near Mr J. B. Whyte's property.—Cr Perry moved, and Cr Whyte seconded, " That the Finance Committee report on Whyte's bridge at next meeting, and the Engineer temporarily repair the bridge."— Carried,, From same, re section 66 and part of 71, block IX., Makuri, stating that the Government has no authority to grant endowments to County Councils for the purpose of raising revenue.— Received. From same, re thirds on Section 30, Block 11., Puketoi, stating that the Board could not entertain the request that Mr Tylee's thirds be diverted for the erection of the Horseshoe Bridge on the Mt. Butters' Road until satisfied that the road is formed to give the setters access to [ their properties.—Received. From same, re vesting reserves, ! stating that all the reserves gazetted in Gazette No. 71 as temporary reserves have now been permanently reserved, and that the Department would urge the vesting in the Council.—Received. From same, re Mangaramarama Road.—Cr Whitcombe moved, and Cr Tait seconded, " That it be pointed out to the Government that the road was formed by them when opening up the original Pahiatua Block; that the same thing happened with the Tiraumea Road, and the Government rectified the arrears on that road, and this Council thinks that if any compensation should be paid, it should be paid by the Government." —Carried. From manager Pahiatua Herald, re pound advertising, stating that he declined to accept payment of the account at scheduled rates, as resolved by the Council, for the reason that the pound advertising is not included in the contract with the Council.— Cr Whyte moved, and Cr Hodgins seconded," Tbattheaccountbe paidin full." The Chairman ruled the motion out of order, as the former resolution dealing with the matter had not been rescinded.—Or Bolton moved, and Cr Whitcombe seconded, " That the resolution dealing with the pound advertising account be rescinded, with a view to discussing the Herald's letter thereon." Carried. Cr Whyte's motion was then put and lost. From Mrs Lowry, asking permission to erect a fence along the river bank near her property for growing willows. Cr Marsh moved, and Cr Manson seconded, " That Mrs Lowry be informed that the Council refuses to grant her request."--Carried. From Matthew Henry, asking that the Council reduce the charge at the Gorge Bridge toll for sheep, as the price asked was altogether too high. —The Chairman moved, and Cr Manson seconded, '< That the toll be reduced to Jd per head, and that the same be duly advertised." —Carried. DEPUTATIONS. Mr E. McDonald waited on the Council with reference to the No. 9 loan, asking the Council >to pay the costs of the appeal in the case of Tylee and the Council. The Chairman said the arrangement between the solicitors on either side was that each side should pay their own costs. Cr Bolton said that Mr Smith had agreed to pay the whole costs of the appeal, Cr Whitcombe said that Cr Bolton all through the affair had worked against the Council, and acted on behalf of a few of the settlers who objected to pay their rates. The Chairman said there had never been any arrangement that the Supremo Court should have decided the case, and the Council were quite rig-lit in appealing. " "Or Whyte said hehati paid his rate under this loan under protest, and had been informed that the Supfettte Court decision should be final. Cr Bolton.moved, and Cr Whyte seconded, " That the Council pay the whole of the costs of the appeal case allowed by the Court regarding the No. 9 Loan."

ab£« ?fv, Baid tlie Council should be w«J 5? arra "8 emec t arrived at between the solicitors. He also 'bought Or Bolton had acted adversely to the Council in this matter Or Bo ton asked if he was to aifc silent while an injustice was bein* done to the settlers. He saw thai • an injustice was being done, and had acted accordingly. He denied that he had any interest in seeing one settler getting out of paying this rate, and be had only done his duty as a Councillor. Or Tait moved as an amendment, ana Cr Perry seconded, « That this Council adnere to any arrangement made between the solicitors in the case v. Tylee as to costs of the appeal. Cr Smith asked whether the Council were net binding themselves to do something which was not authorised on the minutes of the Council. Cr'Manson agreed with the amendment. He said the solicitor had »ecu instructed to make certain arrangements, and he had done so. lne Council would have to abide by that arrangement. On Cr Smith's suggestion the minutes referring to this matter were looked up, and it was found that no instructions had been givtn as to costs of the appeal. The amendment was carried on division. Ayes—Crs Manson, Tait. Marsh, Whiteombe, Whyte, and Bolton. Noes—Cra Smith, Hodgins, and Ferry. The original motion was with, drawn. Mr Macdonald thanked the Council for giving him a favorable heari mg, and withdrew. Mr T. Nestor waited on the Council with reference to the No. 1 Loat?; He said that he and several settlers were situated the same as the settlers under the No. 9 Loan. They were paying rates for a road which came nowhere near their properties. He considered that under the decision of the recent case they could not be rated. The Chairman said he had gone into the matter, and he had found that the settlers had not got a leg to stand on. He referred Mr Nestor to the resolution passed at the Council that day dealing with the matter. Mr Nestor said the settlers would be forced to take the same steps as Mr Tylee. REPOBTS. Accounts amounting to £252 18s 2d were passed for payment. The Works Committee recommended as follows: " ThattheEngineerbeinstructedfco have the work asked for by B. Cooper iu Pukemiku Riding put in hand as soon as the thirds were approved by the Land Board. " That the Engineer be instructed to report re Mr Morell's application at the nest meeting of the Council. " That the Engineer be instructed to have a culvert put in on Hill Road, Mangatainoka Village Settlement. " That the Station Boad contract be referred to the Committee appointed by both Councils to deal with the work. "That the following tenders be accepted:- 545, H. Stevens; 547, Fitzsimmons; 548, Fraser: 549. Wiles." The report was adopted. It was decided not to accept any tender for the maintenance contract. The Engineer reported as follows : Contract 581.—Metal repairs, &c, Tutaekara Eoad. The contractor has delivered the required amount of metal, but has not sufficiently broken the stones. Notice has been given him to at once complete his contract. Contract 542.—Formation of approaches to proposed new bridge, Makuri Eoad. This has been completed, and tenders should be called for erection of bridge as soon as possible. Contract 532.—Formation Road 33b satisfactorily completed. Contract 534.—Formation, &c, Mangamaire Eoad. This work is well advanced, the formation being practically complete, and the bridge almost finished. Tenders have been called for metalling the road. Contract 533.—Formation near Coyle's, Makairo, satisfactorily completed. Contract 536.—Formation Takawa Street, Tutaekara V.S., completed. Contract 535.—Formation of road near Matheson's, Tutaekara Y.S. The con- „. traotor has made a 6tart on this work, but has so far only done a little clearing. Contract 538.—Formation part .of Pukewbai Boad near railway line completed. Contract 539.—Formation Nae Nae Boad. The contractor reports 20 chains of formation nearly done, and 5500 feet of culvert timber delivered. Contract 540.—Metalling near Burridge Eoad, 15 chains. This contract was well advanced on my last visit, and will probably be completed by this meeting. Contract 541.—Forming and metalling road near Pukimiku V.S. Formation complete, and 4 chains metalled, Contract 537.—Metalling near Pillans, Makairo, proceeding satisfactorily ; will probably be completed in a few days. | On the Bridge Eoad immediately ! above the crossing of the Mangatainoka river, portions of the bank on the west side have been torn away by a number of trees having been blown over by the roots. As the river in flood time will probably scour this bank to the danger of the bridge approach, I am getting the place protected with fascines &c, as the cost will be very slight if taken in hand at once. With reference to the drinking trough being "erected on the Kaitawa Eoad. The most suitable spot is near Mr J. McCarthy's, as tbe spring appears to be permanent. There is, very little fall, and to bring the traugh up to a level of say 2 feet above the side drain, a dam will have to be formed about 2 chains higher up the stream, and pipes laid for that distance. It will also be advisable to fenee in the drain and metal the approach to the trough, The total cost would be about The bridge across the Kaitawa stream, Te Aupapa Eoad, reqnires redecking. The cost will be about ±"2B. Tenders to close to-day have been called for metalling contracts (3) in the Mangahao RidiDg and formation &<?. on Pahiatua-Srarborough Eoad. The repost was adopted. It was decided that the Kaitawa, bridge'he re/deoked., GEKERsL. The action of the Chairman in representing tbe Council at the meeting of delegates to the We'ling? ton Charitable Aid Board, was eh? dorstd.

l Cr Whitcombe and Cr Smith reported :—That the special committee appoiuud for the purpose found that the arrears of tLe .No. 9 interest account amouted to £199 8s 2d, and refunds to £167 Is sd. totalling £366 4s 7d. They therefore recommended that ibese airears be, if possitie, spread over 4 years, making their special rate Ud in the £. The report was adbpte 1. Cr Whitcombe moved, and Cr Hodgins seconded, " That the Council take steps to complete the transfer of the deviation through sections 10 and 11, block 11., Puketoi."— Carried. Cr Smith moved, and Cr Tait seconded, " That the Engineer be instructed to form a few chains on Moir's Road (part of Bridge Road) to give access to a small bridge that has lately been erected there." — Carried. Cr Whitcombe moved, and Cr Whyte seconded. " That the County Offices be closed from December 20th to January 2nd, both days inclusive, and that the permanent surfacemen have three days' holiday."—Carried. Cr Whitcombe moved, and Cr Whyte seconded, " That the next meeting of the Council be held on January 14th, the second Saturday in the month.''—Carried. . This concluded the business, and the meeting adjourned.