PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 57, 5 July 1884, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ture onMnnry ni'-Pthlv rncefing- of fl o ilmvp lo'ly was hold at fhn Cnnnil Clinmhers, C innn-'yo. on V\ r ''«'nes'!; y evening, the 25th ult. Present : Crs I. C. Firth, E. Maclean, W. T. Finn, Chepnipll, W. L. C. Williflms, and Brnnskill. Tho chairtnan, Mr C> nipbell, having iesi>ne<l, Mr Firth was voted to the chair for the meeting. The minutes of the last sn- cial meeting were read and confirmed!

Spectal Meeting. Election of Chairman.- Mr J. P, Campbells resignation was road. Cr. Maclean moved, and Cr. Brun'r skill seconded, " That the resignation oil Mr Campbell be accepted, and that the thanks of this council be tendered to Mf Campbell for his very valnalde ahd eminent Services as chairman and member of this council." Before putting the resolution, Cr Firth, on behalf of tiro council, expressed his regret at being deprived "of the services of Mr Campbell. ITe had to express the general and high a^pre'e/uifciort in which the council had always held Mr Campbells Service's. During bis t'enu of office Mr Campbell bad worked indrfatigably in the interests of the council', and be had conducted their business in a highly credita'-le manner. Not only would he eulogise his business habits, but his affable and obliging manner made him the Friend of all. Cr Maclean endorsed the remarks of the chairman. * J On the motiou of Cr. Maclean, it wa3 agreed thab 'Cr. Williams be chairman; Cr. Williams accepted the office, and was duly installed by Cr. Firth, who. in a few complimentary remarks, introduced Cr. Willinms to his seat. Special Hate. — Special rates 6F l-20th of a p«'iiny, l-30th ot a penny, and l-2()tli of a penny in the £ were leved on all the rateable property within the Taoroaroa, Te Arolia, and Waitoa Hiding respectively, payable on the Ist March in each year for ten years, the first payment to be made on Ist March, 1885.

Ordinary Meeting. An Application. — A letter was received from Denis Murphy, applying for permission to erect a building on the left bank of the river at Waiorongomai-, promising to remove the same when required. Consideration deferred. It was further agreed, on the motion of Cr. Chepmell, to wiite to the Assistant Surveyor-General, asking him whether the reserve on either bank of the Waihou river is a county or a district road. Mr Maclean's Offer. — Mr Maclean wrote, stating that, as the council could not make the tramway pay at 4s 6d a truck, he would undertake to make ifr pay at 3s 6 d a truck. Cr. Firth stated that possibly Mr Maclean was unaware that there was £800 interest to pay out of the 4s 6d. Offer not entertained. Formation of Lower Track. — Mr P. Ferguson wrote asking to have the lower road to the mines, Waicrongomai, repaired. A contract had been let for the erection of a battery od Cook's site, the same to be finished in four months. There were thirty licensed holdings situated below the county tramway paying the county £450 annually, besides £142 for water race and machine sites^ for which no benefit was received. The debris from the tramway formation had not been removed, and the lower track was blocked up with roots of trees, &c. The" writer begged the favourable consideration of the council in the matter. Cr. Firth stated that it was to the advantage of the council that such proposals as this should be supported Of course^ any battery such as this erected below the tramway would not increase the 1 revenue of the tramway. Mr Ferguson, who attended a 9 a deputation on behalf of the leaseholders below the tramway j stated that the council had received about £2000 for the I leases and they had got little in return; If the road asked for were constructed it would increase the revenue of the field two-fold. Cr. Firth said it was simply a ques • tion of means. The council fully recognised the imrortance of the work, would I the now battery company meet the council half-way and provide half the cost? Mr Ferguson said it was very unlikely. The council had constructed the tramway to the present battery and why nob construct a road for the benefit of tho other leases ? Cr. Firth informed Mr Ferguson that the leaseholders which he represented were not debarred the advantages of the 1 present tramway. They could erect any number bf batteries near the site of the* present battery. The council were at present in tleht and had not got the money to undertake this work; Mr Ferguson suggested that the 1 best way for tiie council to reduce iis bve"r= draft would be to construct tliis road and the increased revenue from the" ground which it wciuld keep going arid open up wOuln soon reduce their oveis draft. If the wdrk were not carried on«j the grOnnd would b» thrown up. It wa.s hard that these leaseholders should receive no return for their rrioiiey. The men who had taken up the ground had been seriously handicapped ffoni the beginning* Cr. Fnth thought that at the present time they could not afford the money require.!. Tl»e only way out of the ■ lifficulty he could see was for the comrj pany to construct the roa I the council to recompense them out of tho rentals from, the leases. He would propose " That Mr P.. Ferguson and Company be informed v..at the council, ha ing. no ,