PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 145, 13 March 1886, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the abnvp was hoH on Thiv^day afternoon last at the Council Chambers, Cambridge. Present : W. L. 0. Williams (clmirnift"), J. 0. Firth, \V. T. Firth, E. Macleui, .1. B. Smith, W. P. Ohcpmell, C. Gould, D. Murphy. JMinutes of the last monthly meeting were first re*id and confirme-l. CoKHESPONDENCE. I Mr W. H. Uifoho^on, Tp Aroha, wrote requesting tho Council to form a Foot path between Bonn ary p tree l ami Rolloston street, a continuation of the footpath already formed iw front of the Court house and Post-office, and offering to contribute £1 towards the cost. Resolved, on the motion of Cr J. C. | Firth, that the I^ngineer be requested to j furnish an estimate of the probable eo«t. Telegram from certain ratepayers an 1 residents at Waiorongomai, asking that the Council would have the formation and metalling of Kilgour street, Waiorongomai, continued a further distance of some 15 chains towards the main I road ; estimated cost £20. Mr T. Wells was in attendance, and nrged tbe necessity of the work being gone on with before wet weather sets in. Cr J. 0. Firth proposed that the work be carried out at a cost not exceeding £20, provided the residents raised half the amount ; the work not to be commenced until that £10 bad been paid. Cr J. B. Smith said the road was a county road, and would soon be a main road from Cambridge. Cr J. C. Firth said Cr Murphy, if he tried, would soon get the £10, and he would himself, on behalf of the Battery Company, give £5 towards it. Cr Maclean seconded Cr J. C. Firth's motion. Cr Murphy urged the impecunious condition of the people, and thought the Council should grant the whole money required for the work, and proposed as an amendment That tbe sum of £20 be expended on the work. Seconded by Cr Smith. The amendment was losfc, and Cr J. C. Firth's motion carried. Mr Robert Maclue, Te Aroha, wrote requesting that certain outlet drains be enlarged ; also requesting that the fencing, etc., obstructing Stafford and Itewi street, Te Aroha, be removed. Letter received ; no action taken. Several councillors remarked if a public roail were fenced across, any one was at perfect liberty to break it down and go through. A petition from Waiorongomai and Te Aroha residents was received, drawing the Council's attention to the desirability of forming a sledge track at Stoney Creek, where one John Sauuders and party had been prospecting during the last eighteen months, and stating that two crushing of a ton each taken therefrom had averaged close on two ounces to the tun ; as at present quartz hail to bo coin eyed on men's backs a distance of more than a mile ; probable cost of such track would not exceed £50. Signed by 11. H. A. lams, and 63 others. Cr J. C. Firth proposed that the MiruVer of Mines be written to requesting that balance of £120 still unappropriated out of the £300 grant for prospecting tracks be made availal '.o for this work and any other tracks thought necessary. Seconded by Or fcmiitu, and carried. Messrs E. Porter and Co. wrote offering to supply g-wire rope, ungalvan- : ised, as follows : 2 best crucible steel ; wire ropes g-inch diameter, 23 chains i each, £73 ; do., do., Bessemer steel, £59, delivered at Waiorongomai. | Messrs T. and S. Morriu and Co. tenders as follows for supplying these i ropes : Crucible steel, L7U ; do., do. selected, £75 ; mining rope. £50, delivered at Waiorongomai. Cr Gould movdd that Messrs Morrin'p tender at £70 be accepted. Seconded by Cr Chepmell, and carried. A telegram from Wellington to tho Clerk of the Council bearing date sth March, as follows, was read : " Premier direct* that unless tlm County Council pay Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards the sums due them at an early date, Government will be obliged to take action under section 29 of Hospitals \ot." A telegram had since been received stating that the Premier would be obliged to withhold any subsidies coming to the Council if the money was not paid. Cr Smith proposed, " That this Council pass a resolution objecting to the Thames Hospital being constituted a separate institution. Seconded by Cr Gould. Cr J. C. Firth said the council were quite prepared to support their own sick and poor, but this demand was a monstrous injustice and simply meant the Council would have to pay two-thirds of the amount required, whilst not sending one-tenth of the total number of patients Cr Murphy suggested that the council should build a hospital at Te Aoha. Cr J C. Firth said it was quite premature to think of doing so. Cr Smith's motion was put and carried. Cr J. C. Firth now further proposed " Thai whilst this council is prepared to pay fot the support of its own poor and all hospital charges for persons injured in the JPiako County, it declines to pay any monies in satisfaction of the demand made by the Thames Boards, on the ground of its illegality and gross injustice ; and that a copy v>f the resolution bs sent to Government and Thames Boards." Seconded by Cr Smith, and carried, Cr Qhepmeli objecting. x '

The usual monthly report from M F. Pnvitt, County Kn^ineer, was rend. The lollowmtf letter from Mr Peter Ferguson, Wniornngomai was next <loftU with :— -To the Chairman, Phvko County Council. Sir. — I have the honour to inform' you that the New FJ™ Tramway will be* completed in two days. Tho' Government promhe-1 to nay one thousand pounds towards the woik, anil \ have* found tho balance one thong uid pounds odd. You will much oblige mo by taking the tramway over at, cost price, l.vjg Government subsidy. — X am, etc. n -r ,* «. Ficiiouson. Cr J. 0. Firth said the Council had nothing whoever to (Jo with it, both the (-roveinment and the GMdfieM* Committee had gone past them in the matter. Cr McLean oljVcted lo taking over (lie tramway, or having anything at all to do with il, nn.l propose! « That the Council « eclij.u Air Fergusons revest." Seconded by Cr Gould and carrfed, Ihe usual monthly report front «he tTTYk * i a ?? Ber was receivetl »»i stated that 254 trucks of quarto ft* ; been delivered at the battery during tC past four weeks. & m Tenders for the foimation and metalling, e*o., Whrtaker and Bridge streets, Te Aroha, weie next opened :-From Oolhnsr and Voysey, £82 ; Thomas btanley £7& 15s ;• Jas. Orr £71 (accepted). ' v The following tenders for horse feed were- considered from Laybrjurn Bros, and Wells and Sotrtter, that of Wells and Soutfer Was accepted, tiz. } chaff. £5 per ton 1 ;• o&ts, Zs 5d per bushei, * The Cferk stated that, on the suggestion of Cf #. G\ Firth, be bad wired the Mayor of Hamilton asking it the Council could haftf the use of the Borough Council Chamfer's- on one' day in each month, Thursdays preferred, and tipon what terms. He 1 had ( received a- reply stating that they eoUld'hatre the 1 rtife' of the Chambers on Thursdays free' of' charge. Cr J. C. Firth, in explanation, sfcia ! he thought under the new* railway timetabla thjt it would snifc the J majority 1 of the Councillors much befc'tbf if the' monthly meeting were held af Hamilton 1 instead of Cambridge, especially tnose 1 Councillors coming from the Aroha 1 side of the district to some of tfhoin' attending the meetings at Cambridge meant a ride of nearly 80 miles. By train they could now reach Hamilton' West at 11.35, and leave again at 1.25, which would allow nearly 3 hours for transacting the business of the Council. He would therefore purpose. " That it is desirable to change the monthly place of meeting of this Council to Hamilton West Council Chambers, and that the first time of Tieeting be fixed for Thursday April Bth at 10.30 am. 2. " That the tb.au.Ls of tho Council be tendered to the Mayor and Councillors of Hamilton for their kindness in placing their chambers at the service of the Piako County Council on every fourth Thursday." Seconded by Cr Smith and carried.' x* number of small accounts were passed for payment.