OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 154, 15 May 1886, Page 7

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly of the above council ■vras held at Paeroa on Saturday last. Present : — Crs Cock (chairman), NichoHs, Strange, Corbett, Humphreys, Butler, Moore, and Walsh. Minutes of the previous monthly and special meetings were read and confirmed. For the convenience of parties waiting, tenders were first dealt with. Tenders. — For the construction of a powder magazine at Paeroa : J. Punch, £69 ; Mills and O'Connor, £53 ; Thos. Ritchie, £49 ; J. Comes (accepted), £48 9s. For forming Bowler's Road, Waitoa Biding: M. O'Donoghue, £180; T. Stanley, £140; O. McCabe, £139; Jas. Shine, £136 19s^ E. Voysey, £132 10s ; Win. Collett, £128 10s. Resolved : That Colletts tender be accepted, subject to a favourable reply being received from Government re subsidising the work ; and that the Clerk Ije instructed to wire i equesting a reply to the council's application for same. Correspondence. — Inward : From Marsh and Wilson, applying for £8 ss, over and above contract price, for extra work done on contract, Mackay TownKarangahake, Road, B. section, through having had a great deal of hard rock to contend with. The council never having in any way given or implied a promise of paying anything extra, it was resolved tbat the claim could be entertained. From Mr C. Franklin, Waifawhefca, asking that the track be repaired ; as it was unsafe. Resolved on the motion, Cr Moore seconded by Cr Walsh, that the foreman of works visit the locality, and arrange for having the undergrowth cut down and other improvements carried out at a cost not exceeding LlO. From T. Stanley, contractor, asking for four weeks extention of time in connection with the road work he is engaged •pon, Waitoa Riding, owing to the hardness of the country. Cr Strange supported the application.

Resolved that the application be granted. From Mr J. M. Itobson, Paeroa, asking permission to erect a verandah 30 feet by 12 feet, in connection with his store. Referred to Board of Works. A circular was read from Mr J. S. Cooper Under Secretary, "Wellington, with respect to the eradication of the Codlin Moth. The chairman said this was a most important matter. He thought an inspector should be appointed, and insectide etc., provided. Referred to Board of Works to suggest and report on. From Piako County Council (a telegram), requesting to know if the council would co-operate with them in the construction of a sledge track from the termination of the Waiorongomai county tramway to the Tui, by making thenportion ; the distance being some two miles, about equally divided between the two counties, estimate \ cost £2 per chain. Cr Strange said : The matter was a very important one. The proposed track would be of great assistance to the Tui district. They ought apply to Government for a subsidy. All the Councillors appeared to fully recognise the importance of the work, and the assistance it would be to the mining industry and induce prospecting. "Resolved : That Government be applied to for a subsidy for the work, and that the Piako County Council be informed that in the event of a favourable reply being received from Government, the Ohineinuri Council would co-operafce in the carrying out of the work, and make the portion within their district. From Mr Adam Porter stating that the money premised for survey purposes re proposed Waitawheta Gorge tunnel, was being collected from various mining companies, and asking what steps the council had taken towards the carrying out of the scheme. The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Porter, and inform him that Government have been applied to for a subsidy to carry out the work. From John Hall, mine manager, requesting the council to have the road in the vicinity of the Sutro, Adeline, and Dubbo claims, put in better condition, as he was anxious to send down 50 to 60 tons of quartz. Cr Humphreys moved that the sum LlO be expended in carrying out the work, and that the matter be }eft in the hands of the Foreman of works. Carried. On the motion of Cr Moore, it was resolved " That LlO be expended in making the road deviation from Mackay Town to Rahu crossing, available for horse traffic. From J. A. Dobson, secretary Tui Creek tracks committee requesting payment of L 2 6s lOd bank interest on monies advanced by them to pay the contractors for the tracks. It was stated the clerk had already informed the committee the council could not entertain the application. Cr Moore : If the committee started work before the money was advanced l»y Government, for their own convenience ; they were well entitled to pay the interest. Cr Corbett : I think the committee did very well in getting the money they asked us for, without asking us to pay interest as well. Application refused. From Hon. Mr Ballance stating that the sale of the Koraata Block, would not take place till 29th inst, and enquiring the nature of the petition referred to respecting this block, and that any petition should be forwarded at once. The chairman with reference to this communication said it had been suggested to him, that an effort should be made to have the Komata Block reserved for a recreation ground. He had spoken to Mr Grace on the matter. It would be a very valuable endowment for the township, specially because it contained a valuable supply of road shingle. He had prepared a petition on the matter for signature, which he now produced. , Cr Corbett approved of the proposal as an endowment but saw now occasion for providing a recreation ground. Resolved that the petition be adopted and taken round for signatures. From Thames County Council, declining to co-operate in the cutting of a boundaiy line. From the Treasury Department Wellington, with reference to the report sent in by Thames County Council, and iin which they lequested that supplies !be stopped from Ohinenmri County pending the adjustment of assets and liabilites ; stating the Government had no power to atop revenue accruing to council. River Conservancy. — The Chairman read draft of a petition to Government, to have the conservancy of the Ohinemuri, Waihou, Waitoa, etc., rivers placed in the hands of the council. The draft was approved of, and it was resolved that signatures be convassed for, and the petition duly forwarded to Government. Accounts amounting to a total of L 172 Id 9d were passed for payment. Nearly LI OO of the araonnt being for day labour, this occasioned considerable discussion ; several councillors expressing themselves as being strongly opposed to so much day work, and considered any work likely to cost over L 5 should be let by public tender. Electoral Rolls. — On the motion of Cr Moore seconded by Cr Corbett it was resolved, " That the rolls be written out, for this year, so as to save the cost of printing, and that the members in each riding be requested to examine same and point out any inaccuracies. Road Metal. — Resolved : "That

tenders bo invited for forming road and spreading metal from the Wesley an Church to Mr Littlejohn's gate. Assets and Liabilities. — Cr Humphreys requested permission to withdraw certain letters he had sent in along with his balance sheet re adjustmont of accounts between the two councils. Permission granted. Cr Corbett : If we receive Cr Humphreys' statement wo acknowledge that we authorised him to go down and prepare a statement. It was never intended Cr Humphreys w r as to prepare a statement, and we never authorised such. It was Mr Dearie was appointed, and if he required assistance Cr Humphreys was authorised to give assistance. I therefore move that his statement be not received, as not having been authorised by the council and as not being in accordance with the instructions given by the council. Seconded by Cr Nicholls, and carried, with no dissentient voice. Cr Humphreys : Mr Chairman, if the council are not prepared to accept my statement, I am quite prepared to withdraw it, though. I must say, however, I think the course now being adopted reflects very great discredit, not only on myself, but on the whole council. I look upon it as insulting. (Cr Humphreys" statement was here handed backto him). Cr Corbett : Cr Humphreys knows perfectly well it was never intended that he should preparo the statement, and it is also quite apart from the minutes. Cr Moore : I quite endorse Cr Corbett's lemarks. although Cr Humphreys' balance-sheet might be as good, or a better one than Mr Dearie's would be. Cr Humphreys expressed his great disgust at the way in which he had been treated. Cr Corbett : It was all straight sailing until Cr Humphreys substituted himself for Mr Dearie. At his own request Cr Humphreys' name was withdrawn from the committee appointed re the matter of an adjustment of accounts. It was ultimately decided to have a statement prepared and the assistance of a Government Auditor asked for. County Clerk — The Clerk's three months' probation having expired, Cr Corbett moved that the appointment bo now confirmed, and in doing so, said groat allowances should be made for a n«\v man in a strange district. Their clerk had had a great deal to do since his appointment, but he felt certain he would give them satisfaction. He believed in Mr Simms they had a good man. Cr Moore said he would like to hear an expression of opinion on the subject. Resolved, on the motion of Cr Nicholls, " That the council go into committee on the matter." It was ultimately lesolved, " That the clerk's appointment be confirmed." Jt was fuither resolved, " That the Chairman be allowed £25 for expenses incurred during the past six months, and a salary from present date of £100 per annum.