OHINBMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 192, 19 February 1887, Page 2

OHINBMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was hold iv the County Chambers, Paeroa, oa Saturday last. Present, Crs Cock, (chairman), Butler, Walsh, Strange, Nicholls, Moore, Humphreys, and Corbett. Minutes of the previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. To the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington, with reference to the insertion of notice of Council's intention to raise a loan under the Act made and provided for such purpose. To Mr Adam Porter informing him that pi oceedings would be taken to recover balance of amount due on survey of the Waitawheta Gorge Tramway. To Messrs Devore and Cooper asking for their advice on the same subject. To Mr C. Alexander informing him that a contract had been let for cutting the bush and dealing the line for the proposed tramway to Railey's plant. Correspondence. — Inward : Waitawheta Gorge Tramway : Mr A. Porter forwarded a communication to the effect that he would not hold himself responsible for the balance of the amount due on the survey of the above tramway. Messrs Devore and Cooper wrote, staling that they considered Mr Porter was liable, inasmuch as he was the only person with whom the Council had any communication. Referred to Finance Committee. County Liability to Thames.— -From the clerk and treasurer of the Thames Couiity Council, submitting tha following terms re payment of t!ie £2000 awarded Thames County,, viz. : That £1000 be paid in March next ; £833 6s 8d on or before Oct. Ist, 1887 ; £333 6s 8d by May Ist, 1888 ; £333 6s 8d on or before Dec. Ist, 1888, with current rates of bank interest added until the whole amount be liquidated. That the safe and other effects in the office at Ohinemuri be presented to the Council } and that the punt at Rangiora ferry be presented to the Settlers for public use. Oil the motion of Or Humphreys, seconded by Or Nicliolls, it was resolved to accept the terms offered as above. Proposed Loan, etc. — From the Treasury Department, Wellington, stating that the necessary documents, etc,, had been forwarded to 1 enable fHie council to comply with the conditions for raising the proposed loan, and that the amount of the debentures due to Government by j tho Council under the " Roads and Bridges Construction Act" was £134=8 9s. The Chairifiari stated it had been resolved at a previous meeting to inscribe the dedentures in the proposed loan, in order to obviate the necessity for levying periodical special rates. They would then have a term of 26 years to liquidate the amount due, instead of only six years if they proceeded as at present. Or Corbett was of opinion they could not inscribe the debentures without increasing the amount they proposed to borrow very considerably. On the mofcton of Cr Humphreys it was resolved thait the present loan of £(5000 be increased to £7348 9s lOd, so as to inscribe the amount of the debentures due to the Government under the " Roaids and Bridges Coristniction Act." Assistance to Prospectors. — . From James Topping^ making application ; for assistance to prospect for gold and other minerals at Karangahake.

The Chairman stated that there wer e no funds available for such purpose $ but ho thought the mat.ter should be re- % f erred to the, Minister of Mined, and on tha motion of Or Humphreys, it was resolved to- adopt this course. Paeroa-Owharoa Road. —. tfrom the Public Works Department, stating tha l ( a ium of £500 was available for expenditure on the above road, and that the requisite papers had been duly forwarded. •Roads in Waitoa Hiding. — From Mr Allen Bowler calling council's attention to the fact that a portion of the above road had been destroyed by fire, and asking the Council to carry out needful repairs, or else proceed with the construction of the road known as " Bowler's." On the motion of Cr Strange it vas resolved to proceed with Bowler's Road, and the engineer was instructed to start Colletts contract as soon as possible. Gold Duty From Ore Smelted at Thames. — From the Treasury Department, stating that the department knew nothing as td the manner in which the gold duty accruing from the treatment of Ohinemuri quarts at the smelting works, Thames, had been disposed of, and advising the Council to apply to the customs department, Thames, for further information. The Chairman said ho was confident the money had been paid to Uie Borough of Thames. On the motion of Cr Corbett it was resolved that Cr Humphreys be instructed to take proceedings td recover the, gold duty referred to. Tramway to New Quarts Reduction Works. — From Mr R. McDonal 1 Scott, stating that the claims interested in the above tramway had already subscribed Mie sum of £60 as part payment of their promised contribution, aiU that the balance would be collected as soon as possible* Mr C. Alexander also wrote stating that the Council might rest assurred that the proportion amounting to £150 due by the mines would be forthcoming at the right moment. , A good deal of discussion took place on this matter, some of the members contending that the work should be gone on with at once,. whilst others were of opinion the Council should first make sure of obtaining the Governm 'lit subsidy. On the motion of Cr Corbett seconded by Cr Strange it was resolved that the matter stand over pending a reply being received from Government. Cr Humphreys moved an amendment to the effect that the engineer be authorised to proceed with the formation of the line at once Crs Moore, Humphreys, aivd Walsli voted for the amendment and the -Chairman, Crs Strange, Butler; Corbett and Nicholls against it. The resolution was therefore declared carried. Drainage. — A communication was read from the District Survey Department informing the Council that the sum of £150 as a subsidy of £2 for £1 was now available for expenditure for road drainage purposes in the Waitoa distiicfc. On the motion of Cr Strange, it was resolved that the department be requested to furnish the Council with a tracing of the locality where it was proposed to carry out the works referred to. General Business. — Special Rate : Cr Corbelt asked the Chairman to explain the reason why the intention to levy a special rate had not been exercised in accordance with the resolution carried at the last meeting of the Council. The Chairman replied that he had delayed the advertisement in consequence of one of the members giving notice of his intention io move that Cr Corbett' s motion for the levying of a special rate be rescinded. Cr Corbett considered the reason given as insufficient ; if that sort of thing were allowed the business of the County might be greatly interfered with. Cr Humphreys moved that no further rates be levied till the opinion of the ratepayers be obtained with regard to the borrowing proposals. For : Crs Oock, Strange, Nicholls, and Humphreys. Against : Crs Corbott, Moore, Butler, and Walsh. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the motion, which he declared carried. Loan to Local Bodies Act.— Cr Humphreys moved that the necessary steps be taken to ascertain the views of the ratepayers with regard to the proposal to borrow money under the provisions of the above Act. Seconded by Cr Corbett and carried. Clerk and Treasurer. — The Chairman requested the Council to relieve him of the above-mentioned duties as quickly as possible. On the motion of Cr Humphreys, it was resolved to advertise for applications for the position of clerk, treasurer, and collector of rates for the next meeting of the Council, to be held on Saturday, sth March. Tenders for Contracts.— A considerable amount of discussion took place with respect to J the notice which had been advertised by the Chairman stating that tenders for various road works advertised for, by the county engineer, would not be opened until the 19th inst. instead of ori the 12th, as appeared in the original advertisement. Several of the councillors were of opinion that the tenders should have been opened as was origmally advertised, on that day, when there was a full meeting of the Councillors, several of whom would not attend again on the following Saturday. ' *-' .- Resolved, that Crs Cock, Nicholls [\nd Butler be authorised to open tenders, and deal with them.

The Chairman fiafd Mr Marsh n&& llow completing a contract let to hini last .year for supplying sliii%le.'rtt 4s CJ pdtyard. . .