WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 693, 25 November 1882, Page 2

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met at 11.15 a.m. on We Ine?duy. The members present were Messrs Hirst (Chairman), Maokinnon, Ellis, Johnston, Mackintosh, Basstian, and Captain Stevens.

The minutes were read and confirmed. The inward correspondence was read and dealt with as follows :

From W. Walker, keeper of Otautau pound, withdrawing his resignation as such.—The Chairman explained that Mr Walker had tendered his resignation under an impression that because the pound had been included in the new Town District, the Council had no control over the pound; but this was a mistake.—lt was resolved that Mr Walker be allowed to withdraw his resignation.

From Aparima Rond Board, stating that they had voted a sum of £BO for works in upper d.p. bloek, Oreti, and asking the Council to subsidise that sum to the extent of £ for £. —This matter was dealt with at a later stage.

Messrs Matheson and Co., Otantau, wrote referring lo the object of a petition forwarded to the Council recently by ratepayers in North Otautau, with respect to filling in the hollow in front of sections there caused by the format ion of main road, and stating that as no action further than obtaining Engineer’s report had been taken by the Council, they took it for granted that the Council coos'dered the work as estimated too expensive. As the irregularity in the road was such ns to render it impossible for them to carry on their ordinary business, they desired to know how far the Council woul 1 he willing to assist them in bringing to a proper level that portion immediately in front of their premises.—Held over.

From the manager, Bank of New Zealand, to the Chairman, as follows :—“ Since I wrote you on 19th ult., the county fund* overdraft Ims been largely increased, and it now stands at £8587 ILs sd. Please bo good enough to bring the matter under the notice of the Council, so that prompt measures may be taken to hate the overdraft brought within the legal limit.”—The Chairman reporte .1 that since last meeting ho ha I, in accordance with the resolution of the Council. interviewed the manager of the bank with respect to the overdraft. The only objection the bank had lo the overdraft was that it should be reduced to within the legal limit; the over Iraft at present exceeded that limit by £2500. He explained the position the Council was in, and that a sufficient sum would bo required to carry on the works at present in hand. His (the Chairman’s) opinion was that the Council was in a perfectly solvent state. They had exceeded the limit by only £2500, and the rates tV.r the present year had all to come in, no that by the end of the financial year (31st March, 1883), lie believed the overdraft would bo brought within the legal limit. If the bank declined to give any further accommodation a loan would have to bs raised and all works stopped for the present.—Mr Bas.-,tian thought the Chairman was treating the matter in rather a light manner. A committee should be appointed to enquire into the financial condition of the Council. On the order paper fop the day there were notices of votes for nearly £looo.—The Cho'rraan (referring to several notices he had given for votes in the Orepuki riding) said these would all be covered by deferred payment money aud goldfield revenue. The Orepuki riding was different from all the others, as it was constantly in receipt of goldfield revenue, and his asking for these votes was merely like asking a loan of the money for a short time, as it would shortly be repaid.—Mr Basstian was of opinion that the bank was looking at the matter in rather a serious light, and the Council should face the difficulty. He moved that a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Mackinnon, Mackintosh, and mover be appointed to interview the bank authorities and ascertain exactly the position in which the Counoil stood with respent to the overdraft; to report after lunch.—Seconded by Mr Johnston and carried.

From W. Conyers, as follows ; —“ Dear Sir, —Haring reeenily heard that you? Council intends constructing a tramway to Sound Hill, I write to inform you that I am sole agent for Mr James dominion's light portable railway and piant. (1.) The railway is light and cheap, it is easily laid and taken up again by unskilled laborers. (2.) There are no loose parts to get lost. (3.) The rails are of steel and are made lOlbs, 121bs, 151bs, and ISlbs per yard. The sleepers hare » large bearing and are made of rolled iron, one man crjn carry and lay a section without help. (4.) When tho railway has served it purpose in one direction it can readily be taken up and relaid in another. (5 ) It can be as readily made a permanent road, where required, as a feeder to other railways. It offers a most ready means of making surface lines, that is to say, railways simply laid on the ground. It may be worked by engines, manual, or animal traction. I may mention the waggons hare steel wheels, and cost from £4 10s to £ll each, The passenger carriages (open sides) cost, from £ls to £2O each. The engines weigh from 2 to tons, and cost from £250 to £490 each—the above prices are f.o.b. London. I shall be glad to furnish any further information you may desire.”—Re ceived.

EOADS AND BRIDGES CONSTIIVoriON ACT. The following report by the Engineer was laid upon the tab'e : Sir,—l beg to draw your attention to the following. I have prepared the attached list of works that appear io me to require attention; and for w.iieli assistance may reasocably be expected, as provided in the “ Bonds and Bridges Construction Act ” of last session of Parliament. I should recommend that the amount of £16,000 be applied for (as per list attached) for main roads, one fourth of which sum the Council would have to repay by instalments. With reference to district roads and bridges on main roads requiring reconstruction, subject to the provisions of part 2 of the Act referred to, the attacked list shows the moat necessary works estimated to cost £4870.

Estimate of proposed Works subject to pro* visions of part I, of the “ Roads and Bridges Construction Act.”

Main Roods. £ 1. From Wallacetown Road via Flint’s Bush to north-east corner of section 33, block 7, Jacob’s River Hundred ... ... ... ... 800 2. From Trig E Road to section 36, block 15, Jacob’s River Hundred 600 3. From section 1, Mararoa District, to section 30, block 8, Centre Hill District ... .., ... ... 3000 4 Otautau and Waiau Road, via

Merrivale to'Blackunont ...» ... 6000 5. From section 6> Aparima Hundred, to Wrey’s Bush township ... 1000 6. From Wrey’s Bush ToWnship to north-east corner of section 149, "Wbirio Distnot ~. ... . . 1000

7. Fio n Wrey’s Bush Township to £ south-east corner of section 53, Ore.ti Hundred j.-. ... ... 1000 8. From Jacob's River, via Hamilton Burn, to Round Hill ... ... 2000 9. From Princhester Creek to Junction ofWaiaußoal 800

Bridges—Main Roads. 10. Bridge over. Jacob’s River (Riverton and Otautau Road, via Gurmuie’s Bush) and approaches 880 11. Bridge over Otautau stream, Otautau Township, and /approaches ... ... ... ... 750 12. Bridge over Orawia stream ... 440 The following are subject to part If. of “ The Roads Construction

District Roads.

Fi’om south-west corner of section 45, to road lino oast of settion 47, thence south to section 161, Oreti Hundred ... ... ... ... GOO From Fairfax Enilway Station to Waimatuku stream, Tiig E Road 1000 From Coluo Bay to Orepuki 1200 District Roads 2800 Bridge* 2070 Main

Grand Total £20,870 The Engineer’s general report, as follows, was laid upon the table : “ 1. Report re road between section 205, 206, and 233 to section 33’5, Taringatura District, Wairio Riding. The length of this portion of road is 130 chains, the gravelling of which will cost about 50s per chain or £325 for the whole. The road is already formed and ditched, having been done some time back, and there is plenty of gravel near the work.

2. Proposed new road from the north end of road line alongside section 21, thence to Nightcaps Township through section 17, Wairio District. I saw the Company’s Manager, Mr Handyside, who informed me that the Council could have the land at the price that the Company paid for road line alongside of section 21, viz. : £lO per acre. The proposed r,ad presented no difibulti a, and little or nothing would be required in the shape of road work for some time to come. w

“ 3. I beg to draw your attention to road line from Scott’s Gap Road, alongside of hundreds to section 103. It will require 32 chaias douhlk ditching and forming ; bridge, 20 feet loug; four culverts and about 550 yards earthwork. Estimated cost, £llß. “4. There are some small works required at Thornbury, viz.: the crossings from main road into the streets, which I estimate to cost about £50.” PETITIONS. Mr Johnston presented a petition from twenty-one settlers in Wairio Riding, requesting that the sum of £l5O be expended or. Aparima line of hundreds road, from southwest cornr r of section 61 to south-east corner of section 64, to make the road line fit for dray truffle. —Mr Johnston explained and supported the petition, and gave notice tbat he would move at next meeting that the sum of £l5O bo voted for the work.

Captain St evens presented a petition from twenty-three settlers in Wild Bush district, requesting that some repairs bo effected on the road there, as it was at present dangerous and unfit for traffic.—On the motion of Captain Stevens, it was resolved that the Engineer be instructed to inspect and repoit at next meeting as to the state of the road. By Capt. Stevens, from forty settlers in Aparima riding, requesting the Council to declare as a county road that road in Jacob’s Kiver Hundred between blocks 4 and 9, and continue same in a more or less direct line to Thornbury by purchase of the necessary land from the owner of sections 19 and 25, bloi-k 9. The petitioners averred that the above road was of vital necessity to them, as without it they derived but little benefit from the Upper Ford bridge, railway system, &c.— Mr Mackintosh and the Chairmen observed that there were people who had signed the petition who had very little interest in the 1 matter with which they dealt.—Mr Mackintosh presented a counter petition, signed bv twenty-two settlers, praying that the Council would take no further steps in purchasing a w road lit e >0:11 Mr P. Sutton, as the petitioners considered it was not required, the pr»sent road being very little longer, quite as easy a grade, and part of it was already formed and gravelled.—Capt. Stevens said the opposing petitioners lived above the county road and could use it, whereas those who signed his petition were directly interested in the new road, and would use it. —Mr Mackintosh said a number of settler* were in favor of one road, and others preferred another route. In that case the Council should decide the matter, and with that object he moved that a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Johnston, Hamilton, Capt. Stevens and the mover be appointed to inspect the two routes and report at a future meeting. Ihemption was seconded by Mr Basstian and carried.—Mr Drabble war; present, and received permission to addrest,the Council in support of the petition’ presented by Capt. Stevens, but that gentleman thought it would be better to reserve anything he had to say until next meeting, when he thought he could show conclusively that the read which it was most advisable the Council should expend money upon was the one referred to in the first petition. The Chairman tabled a petition from fifty* two settlers in Orepuki showing “ the awkward position wo are placed in this part of the ridiag, owing to there being no available road for dray traffic to connect us with other centres of population, and are and have been depending on water carriage and pack horses to supply us with the necessaries of life, which has always proved a source of loss and delay, the boats having been frequently two or three months with cargo on board waitiag an opportunity of a fair wind to enable them to discharge cargo. We would therefore urge upon your honorable Council to relieve us from this state of affairs, by provi ling a sufficient sura of money to put the road between Orepuki and Colna Bay in thorough order during the summer season, so that it may be available for traffic during the winter months.”—Received. AWNtr.iL MEHTINa. The annual meeting for election of Chairman was held at noon. Mr Ellis moved, and Mr Mackinncn seconded, That Mr Hirst be elected Chairman.

There being no other nomination, the motion was put and carried. In returning thanks for again being elected Chairman, Mr Hirst said it was against his inclination to take the office another term, but Us it was the wish of the Council he would consent. He would endeavor to fulfil the duties of the office as he had always donej and conduct the business impartially.

The Council then adjourned for lunch, and on reassembling at two o’clock, the ordinary business was proceeded with. The Chairman reported on behalf of the committee appointed to interview the bank manager with respect to the overdraft, that the result was that the manager had requested the Chairman to write to the hank authorities, showing by what means the overdraft was intended to be reduced to the legal limit by 31st March. The manager did not say peremptorily that the overdraft would have to be reduced, and he presumed that the works in hand would not require to be stopped, but any moneys voted that day for new works would have to be subject to the reply from the bank.

The Chairman reported that he had been instructed by the Governmsnt to expend £BOO through surveyed block on road Orepuki to Waiau. That wss a vote he got passed the last session he was in Parliament, and the Government had requested the money to be expended under the supervision of the County Council.

With respect to Messrs Matheson and Co.’s letter, Mr Mackintosh gave notice that he woqtld.jnovo that the sum of £2O be voted to that portion of the road in a proper

state, the residents in the locality to contribute a similar amount. —Cart. Stevens seconded. —The Chairman stated that the Council had not recognised the claim of the Otautau people to fill up the gaps caused by the formation of the road, and if the claim under consideration were recognised the Council would have to admit all the othsrs. He was perfectly aware that the case Was a hard one, but there wnlj a good main road, and there wero plenty other places where the expenditure was much more urgently required. Otautau township was only a portion of the riding, and it had always received a fair snare of expenditure.—Mr Mackintosh said it did not follow that because this application was granted the wholA of the others should be recognised, as this was an exceptionally aggravated case. Ho had been frequently abused pretty strongly for not doing more for the township, and he replied with the same arguments ns the chairman had used. This was really a dangerous place, and in cases where people were willing to pay half the cost of works, the Council should encourage them.—Mr Mackinnon thought if the rote were passed it world form a dangerous precedent. In the present state p£ ilia Cl unc l’s finances they were not justified la expending even the small sum named on such a work. OEDEE PAPEB.

In the absence of Mr' Gardner the motion of which he gave notice that £IOO be voted to form road between d.p. sections 140,47, 123 and 124, thereby opening for heavy traffic short road from Beaumont boundary to either Nightcaps or W airio, lapsed. Mr Hirst moved that the sum of £660 be expended on main road Colac Bay to junction of road on Paihi Flat, in forming fascining, corduroying, and gravell ng same. The mover referred to the deplorable state of the road to O.epuki, and explained the diffculty settlers experienced in getting seeds and stores on to the ground. What was wanted was a road I that drays could travel along in winter. Of 1 course the railway was in progress, but as far ; a* he could judge it would be two year* before it would be completed, and in the mean* time the roads weie being out up in consequence of (he railway works going on. The work might not cost so much as estimated, and he was quite certain there would be sufficient funds in hand to pay for it by the time it was completed. Unless the work was done during the summer, the community would be completely isolated, and they would have to revert to the old state of things and use pack horses and carry their stuff on their shoulders.—Mr Ellis seconded the motion. The Orepuki riding had not had much expended on it, and oven if £6OO were laid out on the road, that sum would not be sufficient to make a good road; while even if the railway were finished, the road would he required to g ve settlers access to it.—Mr Mackintosh had no dpubt what was said in support of the motion was quite correct, but the state of the Council’s finances would not warrant such an expenditure. The Orepuki road had not been declared a main road under the Roads and Bridge* Construction Act, but as a district road they could borrow money at 5 percent, for the work. Why should they not toko advantage of the provisions of th»t Act, when th -y could borrow money so cheaply. He suggested that a committee should bo appointed to enquire wtat they could do under the Act. Unless the Council stopped all works, they would have to borrow. —Messrs Basstian and Johnston strongly opposed the Tote in the present state of the Council’s finances, and advised flip mover to withdraw the motion until a reply had been obtained from the bankers.— Mr Hirst was willing to allow the motion to stand over till next meeting, but be pointed put the danger of allowing tbp work to stand over till too late in the season, when it would cost more and it would not be so well done. He suggested that tenders should in the meantime be called for the work, but not dealt with until next meeting of the Council, and if the reply from the bank was unfavorable, they need not accept a tender.— After further discussion, Mr Hirst agreed to hold over the motion until next meeting. The present tra<-k to Orepuki ana Round H.II having been fenced in, it was resolved on the. motion of Mr Hirst that the sum of £55 be expended in opening a new line of road to connect with the track. Mr Hirst moved that the sum of £l7O bo expended on road through Paihi d. p. block in forming, fascining, and gravelling.—Carried, GENERA li. Mr Ellis moved, that a Fuanoial Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Basstian, Mackinnon, Johnston and Mackintosh, be appointed to report upon the financial position of the Council and as to the advisability of raising a loan.—Seconded by Mr Mackinnon and carried-. Mr Johnston moved the confirmation of motion passed at a former meeting, that a rate of one shilling in the pound be struck for the year ending 81st March next.—Carried. Mr Garden applied for permission to erect a gate on road line at Faihi.—Granted.

The Council then adjourned till 15th Deo. nest.