PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 207, 18 June 1887, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tlie ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Borough Chambers, Hamilton, on 11th inst. Present : Crs W. L. C. Williams ( Chairman), J. B, Smith, J. C. Firth, E. Maclean, D. Murphy, W. P. Chep mell, C. Gould, and — ■ Brunskill. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the resolution then passed levying a special rate of l-30th of a penny in the £ on To Aroha Ridiner for 20 years to pay off the extra £150 borrowed in connection with the £1500 loan, was confirmed. Correspondence. — £1500 Loan Puteteio Riding. — A. letter was read from the Tieasury Department stating the application for the above loan might be sent in at once if Council so wished, but could not be considered at present. The Clerk slated on receipt of this letter he had sent the application for the money. Thames Harbour Board. — A icply from Mr J. B. Whyte, Wellington, was read respecting the above, promising to carry out the wish of Council, re opposing any attempt by the Thames Harbour Board to obtain control of the rivers within the Piako County. The Cleik staled 380 signatures would be required to the petition, objecting to Thames Harbour Board obtaining any such powers ; the petition had been prepared, and it was now necessary to arrange with some person to canvass for the signatures. Resolved that Or ChepmoU be nuthoiised to arrange with some one to obtain signatures, at a cost not to exceed £10, expenditure to be subject to the requisite number of signatures being obtained. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. — Mr MacGregor Hay, wrote stating he had served notice on the other side in the case of the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board against Piako County to produce their books etc., not having been ablo to obtain a satisfactory return oE the number of pationts treated at Thames Hospital, hailing from Piako County. Thompson's Track. — A letter was read from Mr Jonathan Brown, Chairman Tauranga County Council, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by that Council requesting him to write asking the co-operation of Piako County Council in trying to have a vote of £7000 placed on the estimates this session for getting Thompson's track mado into a coach road, and to obtain permission from Government to commence the formation at once. In his letter MiBrown remarKed that under Captain Turners supervision the work could be let out in small contracts, and tenders called both at Tauranga and Te Aroha. Once made, the road would be very much used both for passenger traffic and for stock being driven to market, or for Auckland. Afc last meeting it was resolved that Mr Whyte be communicatad with at Wellington, requesting him to support the effort to obtain a grant from Government for making this road, and this reply was laid before Council, Mr Why to promising, in conjunction with Mr L. M. Grace, the member for Tauranga, to do so, and in hid letter Mr Whyte referred to the work as a most important one. Cr J. C. Firth now took exception to the Council supporting the effort to obtain a grant for this track, and said it was time a decided stand was taken in these matters by Council. Tho idea appeared to prevail only too generally that if plundering was going on, wo must have our share, and this line of reasoning was demoralising the constituencies and the representatives of the colony were becoming mere delegates to get all they could, how they could. The financial policy of the colony rerjuired re-adjusting. Happily for them, they

oould not borrow any more, and would ' have to rely on their own resources. Even if a thing were reasonable, and necessary, yet if they could not afford it they should wait for it. Several Crs conibatted this lino of argument as not applicable in the case before them, and spoke of the work as being a most important one. Or J. 0. Firth proposed that a reply be sent Tauranga County Council that the estimated cost now mentioned (£7000) was so much greater than what was at first anticipated, this Council cannot take any further action in the matter. The motion was seconded by Cr Mac lean. Cr Murphy referred to the great benefit the construction of this coach road would be, opening up a 9 it would direct traffic between Tauranga and Wai k a to, via To Aroha, and moved as an amendment that in the opinion of this Council the cost of constructing this road, would be amply repaid by the benefits that would accure. Seconded by Cr J. B. Smith, who spoke strongly in support of the road being made. The amendment was negatived, and the original motion carried by a bare majority of votes. Prospecting Track, Te Aroha. — The Clerk read a copy of a letter sent to the Minister of Mines, by order of the Council at its last meeting, drawing his attention to the fact that the regulation enforcing a grade of not loss than one in ten for all prospecting tracks, had not been made known until after the prospecting tracks at Tui and Stoney Creek had been completed, and further, that such a regulation if strictly enforced, would in many instances be absolutely probibitiYe, and requesting that the balance due by Government on the tracks referred to, viz. £72 odd be paid. To this a reply had been received froii the Mines Department dated May 27th. stating that the tracks referred to had not been graded sufficiently for practical use, and no further payment will be made by Government until the grade had been reduced to at least one in ten. Several Councillors in strong terms referred to the injustice of Government thus acting with [respect to the formation of tracks they had sanctioned being made, and seeing thej had not given the slightest intimation prior to the work being commenced that a grade of at least one in ten would be enforced. On the motion of Cr Chepmcll, seconded by Cr Murphy, it was resolved to iv for the matter to Mr J. B. Why'e, "M.11.R., requesting him to confer with Government, pointing out the injustice being done the Council, and to endeavour to have the balance due paid. Roches Gorge Bridge and other Contracts' — Mr E. F. Roche, on behalf of himself and other latopayers in Shaftesbnry district, wiofe piotebtng against the very seriom ami unwarrantable inconvenience the settlers had boon put to for sevcr.il weeks, owing to the contractor for the extension of llorhc's Gorge bridge pulling down the ends of the bridge a considerable time before ho was ready to proceed with the woik, and not completing the con) mot for seveia! weeks after the time allowed, thereby stopping the main road, and that without any public notice haviMg been given by the conti actor before so doin^. ThcEni,'inecr,heiug presont,w.i:> referred to with respect t) this nvitteiyind stated the bridge had now boon finished some weeks, the contractor had been delayed through not beinsi able to get his timber up the river by Mr Roches boat. Mr Pavitt admitted the Shaftesbury people i had cause for complaining, and had been considerably inconvenienced, but sub- j mitted under the circumstances it could not have been helped. Crs J. C. Firth and J. B. Smith both stated they had been interviewed with t respect to this matter, and the amount of inconvenience the public had been put to, and were of opinion some decided steps should he taken to put a stop to the dilatory manner in which contractors too often finished their work. Consideiable discussion ensued, and the Council expressed their firm determination to enforce the full penalties in future in every instance, unless contractors made application f~r extension of time (giving satisfactory reasons for so doing), and received it. This was made an instruction on the motion of Cr J. C. Firth, seconded by Cr Murphy. It was resolved to inflict a small fine in the case of O'Connor, contractor for Roches bridge extension. Exemption from Rates. — Mrs H. Maclean wrote, expressing regret that she had been unable to pay her rates, and stating that her husband had left for Kimbertejr over a year ago, she had received no support from him since he left, and had only the milk of four cows wherewith to support a family of seven children, six of whom were stated to bo under 12 years of age. On the motion of Cr Murphy, it was resolved to exempt Mrs Maclean fiotn payment of the amount now due by her for rates, on the ground of poverty. Slaughter-house Licenses. — 4. letter was read from F. Dibble giving notice of his intention to apply to the Council For a transfer of his slaughter-house license to B. Skelly, Whaaroa. Resolved, That the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman and Clerk to see what powers the Council had in such matters, transfer to bo granted if it could bo legally done. Cambridge Bridge.— -A letter from Mr Holt, To Aroha, to Mr J, C. Firth, enclosing copy of a report of a meeting of Waipa County Council, whereby it . appeared they contemplated endeavour-

ing to make Piako County contribute towards tho cost of maintaining the above bridge, was read, having been forwarded on to the Chairman by Cr Firth. The Clerk said the County of Piako could not be made to contribute towards the cost of* maintaining this bridge. Ccunly Tramway. — The Tramway Manager, in his report for the past month, stated the receipts had been £141 12s ; expenditure, £103 4s 4d ) leaving a credit balance of £88 7s 8d ; the number of trucks sent over the line being 611. Owing to this large quantity of qnaitz for transmission he had found it necessary to employ two extra hands. The Clerk stated the Warden's consent had been obtained and the lease of the tramway for ten years at £100 per annum been sold to the Battery Com* pany. Resignation of Cr J. C. Firth. — Cr J. C. Firth said the Councillors present would no doubt remember that during the time of Mr Price- Williams's visit tho matter of leasing the tramway wa9 at his (Price-Williams) suggestion fir9t broached. In consequence, however, of the proposed London company not being in a sufficiently advanced siage to net for themselves at the time the lease of the tramway was offered, it became necessary that the Battery Company should meantime become the purchasers of the lease ; which they had done. At the time, it did not strike him that their so doing would in any way affect his position as a member of the council (being one of the proprietors of the Battery Company) but it did afterwards, and he obtained a legal opinion on the matter, which was to the effect that he could not now legally retain his seat as a councillor, seeing that the lease of the tramway comprised more than land. The deed hud not yet been signed by him, but it appeared there was no other course left him but to tender his resignation as a member of the Piako County Council. In so doing, Cr Firth expressed the regret he felt at having to take this step, having been long associated with the members of the Council, whom he spoke of in terms of high praise. Cr Chepmell said : Cr J. C. Firth and himself were the only two existing members of Piako County Council who were also members wheu the Counties Act came into force. Cr Firth had proved a valuable member of the council, and he Inped, by the successful floating of the English compnny, or in some other way, that the difficulty that had aiisen would be removed and Ci* Firth be again eligible for re-election. Cr Murphy said Cr J. C Firth had been a true friend to the Te Aroha district, which would sustain a great loss by his resignation. He had ever received groat suppoit from Cr Firth, and hoped soon to see him back as a councillor amongst them again. Cr Maclean referred to the most valuable assistance Cr J. C. Firth had rendered a? a member of the council, and, in I'aet there was <i unanimous expression of regret at his having to ivsi^n. Main Road, Te Aroha. — A petition skned by Messrs Btadley, Harris, Wood, Frazer, Dihscll, Rowe, and Ilcthrington, was read icquesting that the road ( Whitakor street) be repaired which was in a very bad state for a distance of jibont two chains near the top of Bridge street. Resolvpd, That a sum, not exceeding £5- be expended by the Engineer in repairing this portion of the road. County Roll. — Cr Chepmell made application to have the name of Mr Cholmondley (Alorrinsville) taken off the roll, and that of Mr W. Shepherd Allen j (who had purchased the property), substituted. Day of Meeting. — On the motion of Cr Maclean, it was resolved, That in future the day of meeting be on the Saturday in each month nearest fall moon. Rate Collector for Matamafca. — Mr Waterhouse was, at the suggestion of Or J. C. Firth, appointed rate collector for Matamata Riding vice Mr I. Hopkins, who had left the district. Tramway. — A list of the County tramway plant, furnished by the manager, was read. Cr Murphy said he thought a plan should" be prepared accompanying the lease, showing not only tho original tramway, but all later additions including portion of trestle work near battery which belonged to the County. He also thought the present value should be attached to each article in the inventory which had been sent in. The trucks cost about £20 each, and if such a course as he proposed were not adopted, trucks now equal to new, might be returned worth very little indeed. After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr J. B. Smith, seconded by Cr Murphy, That the matter of valuation, etc., be left to tho Chairman, Cr Chepmell, and the Battery manager. Road Repairs. — Cr Gould drew attention to the bad state of the road from the boundary of Waitoa near Willis's to the boundary of Matamata Road District near Richmond. On the motion of Cr Chepmell, seconded by Or Gould, it was resolved that a general rate of £d in tho £ be levied on Matamata Riding. Notice of Motion. — Cr Ohepmell gave notice that he desired that in accordance with sections 145 and 14.6 Counties Act the Clerk should prepare a statement, showing the estimated revenue of the Council for the current year, so that it might be apportioned. . This was all the business.