OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 179, 20 November 1886, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

—^ The usual monthly meeting of the above council was held on Saturday, 13fch inst., in the Council Chambers, VPaeroa. Present j Crs Cock "(chairman-)^ Nicholls, Corbetfc, Moore, Walsh, Butler, and Humphreys --•*-" -^ Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence. — Inward : Adeline Tailings : From Mr N. Dickey, on behalf of the Adeline Gold Mining Company, requesting permission be granted to lay down rails on the Kavangahake suspension .bridge, "for him to take his trolly across same with half ton loads and one horse, as there were some thirty tons of tailings the property of the Adeline Company to be sent to the Thames. Cr Hui.iphreys remarked he did not understand how Mr Dickey wrote on behalf of the Adeline Company ; he waa not as far as he knew connected with it, and Mr Hall was the manager. Some discussion took place, the Councillors being Unanimous in the opinion that ifc would never do to permit trolly and horse traffic as proposed across so slight a structure as the sufpension bridge, which had never been constructed for any such purpose. The Council, however, "we're anxious to assist in any way reasonable. Resolved, ori the" motion of Cr Moore, seconded by Cr Butler, that Mr Dickey i be written to stating that provided he was \vllling td lay down permanent rails for the Use of a trolly made to contain not more than scwfc, and to be propelled by manual labour only, permission to U9e the suspension bridge could be granted. Rangiora Eoad. — Mr W. Moore made application for assistance towards improving the above. Cr Nicholls said that he had seen Mr Moore, who was prepared to find the requisite horse labour to carry out the work, which would not cost the Council more than 28s. Cr Nicholls moved that Mr Moore be authorised to carry out the work at a cost not to exceed the above amount. The motion was seconded by Cr Humphreys, aud carried. Norman by Road. — A petition was read signed by Messis Dickey, Thorp, Robson, and others, asking that this road be repaired Reading to the wharf. The Chairman stated he had aufchori fed the necessary repairs on the road at a cost oi £3, and supplied a horse and dray gratis, to assist in carrying out the woik. The action of the Chairman was ap* proved of. Visit of Inspector of Mines. — A telegram was road from Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines, dated Thames, Friday, stating he would be at Paeroa that day and inspect the gold field on Monday. Tlic Chairman remarked that a great deal do pen 1c i on the success of the new battery at Kiiranga'iake with respect to the i'utuie prosperity of the goldfield, and Sai 1 it was absolutely necessary that this battery be connected with the various mines in its vicinity. Cr Moore said he had seen Mr Gordon who had anived at Paeroa, and he had decided to visit Waihi on Snuday Karangahako Monday,', and Tui and Te Arohti goldfield generally, Tuesday. Cr Nicholls sugested that steps be taken to bring the most urgent wants of the different centres under the notice of Mr Gordon, and ifc was resolved that Crs Moore and Corbett accompany Mr Gordon to Waihi, and that the chairman, Crs Nicholls, Walsh, Humphreys, and Butler, arrange to accompany him over Karanjrahake. Flax Milling.— Mr R. P. Gibbons wrote asking permission to cut flax for manufacturing purposes on all roads and lands under control of the county, and offering to pay a small sum per ton in consideration ef same. Left to the ' chairman with power to act. Owharoa Low Level Tunnel. — Mr W. McConachie and party, prospectors, made application for payment for work extending this tunnel. The work had been passed by Mr McLaren and Cr Walsh. The chairman said the delay in obtaining the Government subsidy occurred in consequence of a dispute as to whether the subsidy was on the'L2 for Ll, or Ll for Ll principle. Resolved the matter be brought under the notice of Mr Gordon. Contractors. — From Mr Edw. Bern road maintenance contractor, in reply to a notification from Council, not to carry out any more extras on his contract, stating that he had been to considerable expense on the strength of insfcuctions, he r had received previously in writing and requesting to be paid for extras done. Letter received. Assistance to Prospectors. — From Messrs John Reiley and, Patrick Mulligan asking for the sum of LB, due for prospecting in the Waitekauri district. On the motion of Cr Corbett seconded by Cr Moore, it was agreed the amount; be recommended for payment. Loans to Local Bodies, — A com munication from Government, forward ing a copy of precis Government Loans to Local Bodies, Act. ■ • Legal Council. — A telegram waa read' from Mr Cooper, of Cooper and Devore, stating Mr Cooper would not be a!ble to proceed to Thames in the "interest of the Council re the adjustment of assets and liabilities between the two counties on the day mentioned in the .Chairman's telegram requesting him to come down. Public Library. — The Secretary of Paeroa Public Library -wrote requesting the Council to assist by .subsidising the library funds; l Letter received. No funds available.

/Adjustment, of Accounts 'between tlhknie^ *-and Ohineuimi.— The Ohalrhian stated generally what transpired at. iha—lhames -when they went down to represent their county and meet Mr Fitzgerald. Tlioy did nil they could to obtain tliu legal advice, but failed, howty*§£,. # 'jt ! would, not .have" affected the award if they ,liad been Represented by a Jgvi^r- ..They ha,d to taUe the balance* sheet; as it stood at the lime when separation was granted as the basis to go upon, and tlirto was no getting away fiom that. Seeing, this be tried all lie could OhlucmmTs share should !>c only two ninths., bnt in this he ovtnuled, as from area nnd population, they rctye^Jt appeared liable to one third of Use debt existing at time of fcGpa^ti'offj.' hn.il 'Mr Fitsg<*rald had tpadministor (he law on T'ipsg matter's as he found it. By the Thames Council balance sheet they were brought L 2200 in debt. The Chairman represented to Mr FitzGoralJ that about £6000 of debt had been incurred on ' account of the.big pump, etc., and made oilier objeciwns to different sums, but was met. ■with ihe argument that Ohinsihuri.'had been repress vl by two members on the •old Thames Council, and although they might be sometimes in a minority, if at ai\v time they saw any injustice being done, .it was their duty anl piivilege to hare convened a. meeting of the ratepayers they represented and to have *potitioricd Government, when the matters *Coihl)lained of would be inquired into. If they did not do this what ground had they for complaint as to expenditure of monies. Cr Humphreys stitc-d (hat lie should bave b?en present at the,eaouiry held,, but did not receive the Chairman's tele gram uiiti! after the boat had left for Thames that day': he left by next boat but arrived too late. Cr Corbett said he had also promised to attend, but through the great delay in the delivery of letters to his place, he really was unaware of what was going on until too late for him to reach Thames in time to be present at the enquiry. The Chairman stated*- Jxe far an adjournment of tbe" enquiry Which' request was refused, as Mr FitJiGorald J Cr. Corbv-tt : Seeing the basis decided *on afc the outset Avas r the balhnce-shcefc tit the time of separation an adjournment vq»U jhave- doi^e no.goo.eU, Tlip'Chalrrnffn : 'The 'basis fixeU on. completely altered our positionT " ' Walhi Bridge. — The county being tmabN t'.nough lack of funds to avail of the Govern menCSubsidy for this work, it was decided that Crs Coibett, Moore, and Walsu should lay the matter before Mr Gordon, with a request that Government w^uu! give a grant for the work, Instead of a subsidy under the circumstances. It was further decided to interview Mr Gordon re Whangamata track. Half-yearly Balance-sheet. — The Oh^Crmatr stated that the Piovincial Dislnct Auditor had passed the balance sheet as -correct, with the exception" of itefus;- for £3 11s 4d, £25, aud £14 14.3 respectively, and respecting these sums gave the following explanation : £3 Us 4d rates collected, but not | accounted for on balance sheet^through the **noney having been lodged in. the bank ! the balance-sheet had been made jp ; £25 was the amount for a publicaan's license, not yet paid by Mr Carroll Nash, which had been issued to l^ash by the late clerk. £14 14s being -even amounts of £2 2s each travelling expenses to Cr Walsh for-attending the meetings' of the Hospital and Charitable A ; d Board at Thames, as representative •>f theircounty. A small amount' paid *i6"Mr*~Dearle for^ allocating goldfields f Revenue- was held over -for .future" consideration. . With these exceptions, all i:ie items had been pnssed as correct. Auckland Chamber of Commerce. — The Chairman pointed out the desiraI'hty of sending a representative to at--tehoP alLfature meetings of the above. The. cost to them of membership would 14 one guinea, and in the event of metn'/i>tr3>not being arble to attend regularly he thought it would be advisable to ap_poiit Mr C. Alexander, who was on the ." -Sjiot,, and greatly interested in the dis:,tikt, being one of the largest shareholders in Bailey's new quartz reduction pfar.t. Alter considerable 'discussion it was resolved to adopt the chairman's suprpjstion, and. the - appointment of a % iepiesentative wa» deferred tilL next - m ceding. ■ , " * Notices of Motion. — Notices motion c lnce previous meeting* were next dealt - with, as follows. The chairman moved , that the requisite steps be at once taken , to levy and collect* special rate of three farthings in the pound for the payment of debentures due under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act, and in doing so remarked this should and would have been done long ago, but for the delay in , the adjustment of assets and liabilities •Tibtween the two counties. In May next another special rate would have to be levied in order to meet further debentures. ' ' ' ', s"he motion was carried, , , I X)r Butler moved thafc payment of Jfavr^Hing expenses to Cra be disallowed until such time as the county were in funds. Cr Corbett said he thought there 'sWjH'lbe no need for this motion; as far as himself or Cr Moora were" concerned they had never drawn a penny for travelling expenses since the formation of the county. After some discussion the ; motion was withdrawn. The chairman moved that the '* Loan io Local Bodies Act, 1886," be adopted generally throughout the county ol Ohinciiiuri, and that a special meeting

«?"• ■>« j» on s** T v of tl\o Comtcil be. held after the ordinary meeting. 1 »*-' i kV && r * This wa^sceoiviedFbjK Or jNicholhs • and earned.-* /[ain/lU Election;^-, Olffinn^.-j.lfjj w^jjoJ solved •ttrAfili^^Mfoi»ltt% fdMUfte WtMi purpose-'be'lieki 5 du-eWaJnesday f t}h^%^h v 4nst.- 'The'CbirtieiHh'eii'^nt'i'nl^fcom-i , inuttee lo disQUSslsonte'.atlicr matted. t '