PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 74, 1 November 1884, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Piako County Council w:\s held on Wednesday evening, Oct, 22m1. Present —Crs Williams (chairman), J. C. Firth, W. T. Firth, Maclean, Brunskill, Gould and Chopmol!. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Quarteville Track. — A letter was read from Messrs Wells and Soutter regarding their application at last meeting, in reply to the Council's letter, stating that they had but one desire in bringing the matter of cutting a track from the May Queen grade to the tramway hefore the Council, viz., sending all the goods by the County tramway that the exigency of their business would permit. On the motion of Cr J- C. Firth, .seconded by Crdould, the Engineer was instructed to have the work done at a cost not oxi-cttdini; £5. Duration of Voting Powers. — Ke-<*-ardinj> the action of the Council in leleguuiiir its voting powers m the Waitou and Taotaoroa Ridings to the Roard Boards in those? districts, Messrs Whitaker an I Ri-ssell telegraphed as follows : — "D'legtaion may be revoked >y special order. Step* s.iould U taken it once to h« ready f O r next meefin :." It vrna ueci 'ed to take the necessary action to retrieve the powers delegated. M iners' Voting Powers. — In the * \me telegram Messrs Wljitakor an-i Russell jfave tlie following opinion on the above -subject : «* Holders of miners' ri#h;s uay v«)te at election without beinur on, roll, but cannot vote re special loan." Katikati to Te Aroha.— A telegram vas read from the Taurnnga Conntv Council as fol'ows : " Htivw wired to iViessrs Whyte, Fraaer, aud Mori is, M.

il.H.'s to get a sum placed on the Kstimains of £4000 to make the road from Katikati to Te Aroha via Thompson's Lack, instead of the RereatuUia track at present, used. As we und< rstand you approve of this route, will you also wire to these gentlemen to the same effect?" It was decide- 1 to hack up the Tauranga County Council in this matter. j Compensation. — A letter was rend from Mr G. H. Purehas (late engineer to the Council), informing the Council Mint he had boon applied to l»y Mr Lipsey for compensation for damage done to the hitter's property through altering the course of a creek some time ago. The work was absolutely necessary, and Mr Lipsey made no objection on t/jo understanding' that the Council would compensate him in case there was nny damage done through th» work. His property had sustained some damage, for which he (Mr Purchas) would recommend the payment of ten pounds as full compensation. The Engineer (Mr Francis Pavitt) wrote, enclosing the above letter, and stating that Mr Lipsey was quite willing to accept the amount named as compensation The Council said this was the first they had heard of this subject, and decided to postpone consideration of same until all the correspondence relating thereto is looked up. Mr James West, Waiorongomai wrote drawing atteutiou to the agreement made between himself and the Council re the road across his section, No. 8 High School Endowment, from the main road to the river. According to the agreement the Council was to pay him £10 in consideration of his complying with the request to give the said road. He therefore begged respect fully to apply for the said sum. The Council admitted their liability, an I resolved to pay the sum as soon as funds are available Lower Road Waiorongomai. — P. Ferguson, Waiorongoraai, wrote request- | ing the Council to instruct their F«ngineer to inspect the work done on the above road, so that he might certify to the Council that the road is now eight feet wide throughout. He would also request the Council to authorise their Engineer to prohibit the use of sleighs on said road, otherwise it would soon be cut up by a number of these machines daily passing up and down. It was decided to instruct the Engineer to inspect the road, and report as to width, fitness for wheeled traffic, etc., the Council holding the opinion that if it was fit for drays to pass over the use of sleighs should be prohibited. Mangawhero Road and Bridge. — Mr George Walker, junior, wrote making application for the repair of the road from Mangawhero to the Waihou and of the bridge crossing the Mengawhero to McLeans station. The road was unsafe for traffic, and the bridge was in a similar condition, being rotten. Consideration of the matter was postponed until next meeting. The Clerk said there were no funds available to do any work. The Council's overdraft amonnred to £6673, and the Bank of New Zealond positively declined to allow that sum to be increased by a single penny. There were £125 due for wages to the men engaged ou the tramway, and the money could not be paid until some fresh arrangements were made with the Bank. More Repairs Required. — The Engineer reported that the roads in the Te Aroha Riding of the County were in several places almost impassable, and required immediate attention. A culvert or bridge was required on the main road, just above the turn off to Waiorongomai, and drays could not pass along. Nothing was done also in this matter for want of funds. New Road. — A le'ter was read from the Land Board to the effect that they could see no objection to faking a road through section 8, Maungakawa. The matter was referred to the Waitoa Road Board. Mr Moses Neil wrote saying he had been discharged by Mr Adams, the manager of the tramway because he refused to do Sunday work-namely, cleaning harness, th« private property of that gentleman. He wished to be reinstated. The matter was referred to the Chairman of the Tramway Committee, Returning Officer For Patetere. — Mr Geoffrey Maclean wrote declining to accept the position of returning officer for the Patetere Riding at the general election next month. The Clerk was appointed to fill the v»c incy. Carriage of Sleepers. — Mr Francis Dibble, Matamata, wrote stating that Mr P. Quintan, of Te Arolia, ha I the contract for conveying sleepers for the llotorua Railway from Te Aroha to .Vlorrinsville, and wished to make arrangements with the writer to convey the sleepers with the latter's tr. c'ion ou^ine. He vished to know if th»* Council would grant him leave to run the engine duiing the summer on the load between Te Aroha and the Piako >ridge on the Morrinsville road. Ho lid not wish the engine to cross the • ►ridge.* , The letter was referred to the Chairnan of the Waitoa Rord Board. Te Aroha Tramway. —Mr J. C. Firth, is chairman of the Tramway Commit i.cc, submitted the. usual monthly report, -vhich showed that during the past few veeks the ordinary revenue had beeii 784 trucAs at 4s 6d, amounting t<> £17' •Ss ; up carriage, £27 5s 7d ; total t-208 13s 7d. The pay sheet for th •nonfli amounted to £16i) 17s 7 . 'honld the weather keep fine during i<\\t month t)v) Engineer expoc d jo slightly reduce this item.

Sale of fe Ar.flm Tramway. — Tlip following telegruu was read from Hurry Renrick, Warden, Thames : " I have received a requisition r'rorn three members of the County Council an'! petition from over eighty miners ami residents, To Aroha, asking that sale of Te Aroha Tramway ma^ be deferre-l for further consideration, until after November election, right of Council to dispose of this property at al» being questioned in conseijnt'iice of doubt raised as to validity of election of all councillors. I tiiiik it would be wise to #rant this request, and ask Council to defer sale of tramway for further consideration." The Olerk reported that the Chnirman liad replied fo this to the effect that lie did not consider the reason strong enoutfli to warrant him stopping the sole of the lea-Je, but on receiving the following telegram from Mr J. C. Firth, 'he (the Chairman) telegraphed to the auctioneej'S not to proceed with the sale : kt Warden Ken rick expresses strong i opinion in favour of postponement of sale. It may be well to let him have his way. Please wire auctioneers urgent — ' In deference to the expressed opinion of Warden ICenrick the sale of the lease of Te Aroh.-i Tramway is postpone t until further notice.' " After the passing of a number of accounts the meeting terminated. — WaiIkato Gazette,