OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 270, 6 June 1888, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the jtbove Council wag held at Paeroa, on Saturday last. Present :— Crs. Nicholls (Chairman), Strange, Dearie, Moore, Robson, Nash ami Quinn. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting wero read and confirmed, and also of a special meeting held on May 18th. Beforo proceeding to read tho correspontlonco it was decided to open and deal with — Tenders:- For Waterfall Creek Bridge, Owharoa: — M. Coleman, using sawn timber, £31 ; using bush timber, £27 10s ; E. Bcin, sawn timber (accepted), £30 ; bash timber, £25. County Chambers : — Three sets of plans and specifications wove prepared for Council Chambers, numbered 1, 2, and 3 respectively ; and the following tenders wero received :—: — No 1 Plan -~F, Cock, £149 ; Albert Moore, £139. No 2 Plan:— P. Cock, £163; A. Moore facetted), £14-S 10«, No 3 Plan :— h\ Cock, £220 ; A. Moore, £170 ss. Tho architect's (Mr Tetley) estimate for No 2 was £130. Correspondence : [\a Thames Harbour Board : — From the Chairman, to the Chairmen of Tl ames County Council, Piako County Council, and Te Aroha Town Board, respectively, suggesting ft meeting of delegates re proposed rescinding of Proclamation (whereby Thames Harbour Board was gnnted control of the up-country rivers), and the constituting of a new River Conservancy Board (copy of this circular letter has already been published in our columns, in connection with Town Board meeting). Requirements of tho District, :— -To A. J. Cadman, Esq., M.H.It., drawing his attention to the pressing wants of the county, and asking that he would use his influence with Government in the direction of having much needed assistance granted, pointing out the heavy debfc tho County laboured under in tho matter of tho Thames County Award of £2000 by the Auditor General, Hospital ami Charitable Aid charges, et«. ; whilst the County rerenue, based on the receipts of last year (£3150), was a very small revenue to work upon, especially seeing the great ex ten 6 of main roads within the county that had to be kept open for traffic. Tho letter drew special attention to the following works and the need that existed that Government should assist tho County with respecfc thereto : Paeroa-Hikufcaia main road, stating Council proposed to open out the old outfall drains if Government would assist by a subsidy of £2 to £1, estimated cost LI 30. Upper Waitoa :— Stating that at present this portion of tho County was practically cufc off through lack of roads, and that Council proposed to lay off a direct road from Paeroa to some point on tho bank of the Waihou, and asking that a subsidy of £2 to £1 up to £500 bo granted for that purpose. ficferenco was made to the Jubilee Claim, Wa : iekauri, recently placed on the London market by Mr Fa Kersey Cooper, and the great advantage that would accrue froru tho opening up of that portion of the goldfield, and requesting that £500 be placed on tho estimates for tho purposo of repairing and forming roads to that, district. With respect to the Kflrarngahake-Tui Prospecting Track, for the purpose of assisting in the formation of which a sum had been more than once placed on the Estimates, but Counoil were '^unable to provide their pioportion, and stating that, if say £200 were placed on tho Estimates i'or this track, Council would mako a special effoifc to take it up and carry out the work. Truck <o 'J ni Creek Mines :— The importance of hating a proper road to

i.lie Tui mines was referred fo, an English Company being now largely interested in that portion of the district. Council would endeavour to carry out the necessary work if Government would grant subsidy sufficient. The Pneroa - Karangahaice Track, Budge at Waihi, and the desirability of purchasing Native Lands within the Comity were also referred to at length. Correspondence — Inward:— Electoral Roll—A number of applications were received respecting alterations required to bo made in the Electoral Roll. From E. W. Iloltis, Clerk and Treasurer of Thames County Cormcti, acknowledging receipt of the Chairman's letter ro proposed withdrawal of Proclamation granting extended area to Thames Harbour Board, and constitution of a River Conservancy Board ; stating Thames County Council were opposed to the creation of another local body as was proposed. Revenue from Tui :~From J. C. Grnvm, by direction of Colonial Treasurer, in reply to letter from Council, da tea March 13th, stating that the revenue that had accrued from the Tui district had been properly allocated. Considerable discussion took place re fchis'matter, the Council evidently being of opinion a mistake had occurred somewhere, and that all the money that had accrued had not been received by them ; and it was resolved on the motion of Cr Dearie, seconded by Cr Moore—That a letter he sent to the Receiver General, asking that Council bo furnished with a detailed statement of the monies received from the Tui portion of Ohinemuri county, and its disposal. Warden's Court at Paeroa : From Mr H. W. Northcroft, Warden, in reply to a letter from Council requesting hi* support in the direction of having a Warden's Court established at Paeroa ; stating that Paeroa was not within the boundaries of tho Hauraki Mining District. From C. J. Haselden, Wellington, acknowledging receipt of Council's letter to Government, urging that a Warden's Court bo establishe { at Paeroa, and stating tho matter would receiv3 attention. Library Site : From Mr Lush, Council's solicitor, stating that no matter how lav lable the object might be, he was of opinion Council had not the power to grant one of their township sites for public library purposes as proposed. From Piako County Council and'Te A roh a Town Board, ackn owl edging receipt of the Chi i man's letter re meeting of delegate.*, to consider proposed constitution of a River Board, etc. By-L«ws : From J. H. M. Lnsh, County solicitor, re proposed By-Laws, etc, and stilting with reference to many of the by-laws it was proposed to pa^. that the Police Offcncos Act was far more comprehensive and satisfactory. Resolved that a special meeting be held on the same date as next ordinary monthly meeting, for the further consideration and adoption of By-Laws. Advertising : The action of those present at the special mcc ing of Council (hold on 18th May), in accepting the lowest tender for the whole of the county advcitising for the ensuing year, that of Mr C. F. Mitchell, of the Hauraki Tribune, was adopted. From Assistant Secret ry of the Marine Department, Wellington, re subject of altering the area of under jm is - diction of Thames Harbour Boan?, and staling that after careful consideration the Minister of Marino had asked his Excellency the Governor to rescind the recent Proclamation, which had been done, stating the new boundaries, etc. (which wore published in the News of May 30th \ the Totalisafcor : From P. J. Hawkins forwarding a petition for signature and presentation to Parliament, asking that the totnlisator be abolished. Resolved that tho petition be left on the table at the Council Chambers for signature ; the representatives of the Press present being requested to notify the fact. Waifcawhefca Bush Road : — From C. Franklyn drawing Council's attention to dangerous condition of the above road, and the need for repairs, etc. Resolved, That the Foreman of Works bo instructed to inspect tho road and carry out tho most urgent repairs at a cost not to exceed £3 to £4. Track to Tui Mines : — From Chairman To Aroha Town Board as follows :-- To tho Chairman Ohinomuri County Council. Sir,— l havo the honour to intimate to you that a meeting of persons interested n tho mines at Tui Creek was held hereon the 21st inst to consider the present state of the track to that district and to take steps towards securing a bettor means of communication. A committee* was appointed to act in the matter, and at the request of tho other member**, I bog 1 now to bring, through you, the subject under tho notice of your Council. In its present stato tho track is in a most wretched condition and it is with the greatest difficulty that horses can now be got to tho top of the hill. Before the winter is over it will bo impossible to get ore down from the mines or supplies up to them. Thero are now several claims at work in the locality and operations will shortly be commenced in a number moro if facilities for doing so can bo secured, and ono of these is a good road to tho district. Tho Champion Lode Co., which has recently been formed in London, in about, to commence woik on a largo scale, and many tons of material aro already lying here awaiting the means of tumsport to the mine,, to which, as the track is now, it cannot be taken. The committee would direct tho attention of your Council to tho revenue received from the iicld. Since mining communcfd thero in JBB5 up to the present time, tJi3 sum allotted to the

Ohinemuri County has Won nhoiifc £420, and that amount will probably bo brought up to £470 before tie clo.so of the current year Only a very small portion of that revenue lias yet been expended in the field, and the committee would respectfully press upon the Council the justice of their request that the unexpended portion bo applied to the construction of the load bj-rein asked for. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. A. DOBSON, Chairman of Committee. Te Aroha, May 31st, 1888. Some discussion ensued re this matter. Or Dearie, whilst admitting something should be done in the matter, said he objected to the manner in which Messrs Dobson and Cornea went to the Warden and got their information re amount of money that had accrued, etc. He believed Mr Comes had never applied to the Council for aid with respect to the road to Tui. Once when speaking to Mr Comes he said he wanted about L 7 refunded f o him, which he had expended on roads at Tui, and he (Cr Dearie) told him to make application to Council for a refund of theamonnt, and ho would support it : but this Mr Comes had never done. Resolved on the motion of Cr Deale seconded by Cr Nash ' That the Foreman of Works be instructed to inspect the present road to the Tui mines and prepare an estimate of cost for making a new road, grade not to exceed 1 in 10.' Road to Marototo : From Henry Alley, stating that his offer to sell land for a road through his land to the Marototo diggings would be open for one month. Received. From Cr Robson requesting permission to remove 150 cubic yards of earth from the cutting in Normanby Road. Granted provided the earth is removed subject to the approval of the Foreman of Works. Outfall drains : From H. C. Wick and A. J. Thorp drawing attention to the necessity of something being done to the outfall drain 3 adjacent to their lands. It was stated that Mr Thorp had already expended a considerable sum of | money on the outfall drain he referred to. Resolved, that £10 be set apart ' for expenditure on opening-up the oufc- | fall drain, Puke-Paeroa-road, and £20 on the oufc-fall drain at Mr Thorp's j the work to be let by contract. Whatfinqer: — From E. Edwards stnting that as he understood the Paero.i wharves would now be vested in the County Council he would ask Council to have the Dart machinery removed from the wharf, which was being damaged by it. Resolved that the owners of the Dart machinery be wiitten to requesting thnt it be removed, Waihi Road : From N. Dickey stating that as the Dart machinery must bo removed to Waihi he hoped Council would put a man on to rep.iir the road and expressing his willingness to put another man on. It was resolved to i accept the offer. Extension of time : N. "Dickey wroto ! requesting extension of time for completion of bis road contract, metalling road at Kotnota. Resolved thnt the contract bo re-entered, and a fine of LI enforced ; | the stone carted by Dickey to be taken over by Council at a valuation. Finance : Accounts to the amo'int of L 139 were passed for payment on the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Progress Payment : W. Colletfc, contractor for the construction of a portion of Bowler's Road, Waitoa, wrote asking Council to make a progress payment of L2O. Tbo chairman said this could not bo done until the Foreman had visited the district and a voucher had been obtained from the Government. It was decided to reply accordingly. Karangahake ßoad: The Council decided to write to Mr. Butler asking him what he would take for the metal now lying alongside Karangahake Road. From Thomas Mackay, chairman of Wairarapa North County Council,osking Council's suppor6 In the direction of resisting the heavy taxation occasioned by the Charitable Aid Boards, and also in the direction of having the country and town districts kept quite separate. Resolved, That Mr A. J. Cad man, M.H.R , be written to requesting him to support any amendment in the direction indicated.

SPECIAL MEETING. At the close of the the general moefcing a special meeting of Council was held, and in accordance with notice of motion, the chairman moved, That a general rate of 5-4 d, be levied for the year endin/? March 31st, 1889, payable in one sum on July Ist ; the motion was seconded by Cr Quinn and carried ; Cr Strange alone dissenting. The Council tben rose.