PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 281, 14 July 1888, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of above Council was hold at Morrinsville yesterday. Present : Crs Chepmell (chairman), Grould, Ploany, Dibble, Brunslull, Browning, Murphy, and Mills. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were read and confirmed . Correspondence. — From District Manager', Railways, in reply to letter from Council requesting that accommodation for loading and unloading traction engines and thrashing machines, ho provided at stations in Waikato, stating that the Department were possessed of travelling cranes, which were suitable for tho work deferred to, and by giving a few days notice could be conveyed to any station, tho charge for its use being Gd per ton for cranage, and 10s extra if the crane had to be fetched.

Councillors expressed the opinion the charge quoted was very reasonable, Mr T. G. Sand ea reported the estimated cost of making- a road from Okorire statiorfto Mr Isaacs hot springs would be about £150, and it would cost from £200t0£250 to bridge the Wailiou river ; the springs being on the opposite side, also compensation for the land taken, some 25 to 2B acres, most of which was already laid down would be costly. Resolved that the clerk furnish Mr Isaacs with these particulars. Inward. — From Mr Geo. Walker,' jun., stating it would be necessary for ' Council to make that portion of the road passing through his paddocks, as he was now laying some of them down i afresh, and should be obliged to fasten the gates. Mr Sandes, Engineer, stated he had j inspected the place referred to, and if I Council expended say £12 in making cutting, etc., through the principal paddock now being Laid down, he thought ifc would meet the requirements of the case, and that Mr Walker would not then I object to traffic through the outside paddocks. Resolved that the sum of £12 be expended in carrying out the work proposed on this portion of the CambridgeTauranga road. ! Mr Sandes stated further that in providing the road referred to it would be advisable to make a deviation from present line of road, Mr Sandes was requested to report as to probable cost. From the Mata Mata Road Board, stating that the Board had resolved to make that portion of the proposed new road from (Te Papa to connect with the Gordon Settlement road), which would pass through the Mata Mata Road District. From Cr Williams, stating he would be unable to attend the meeting on I3fch inst., and stating he was of opinion that some of the upper portion of the proposed new road would not be improved by being formed. Letter received. From Property Tax Commissioner stating that applications weic now being invited From poisons competent to act as assessors, and requesting thnfc Council afford all reasonable Facilities to those proposing to apply For inspecting rate rolls, etc. Punt at Murphy's Landing :—Tenders were received from John Lloyd and Martin Irvine, offering to run a punt at Murphy's landing, on the same terms as it has hitherto been kept open. From IT. W. Barnctt, offering to run the punt for 12s per week, provided Council took over the punt. Cr Murphy : My agreement with Council was that they could take over the pvmt at any time at co^t price. Resolved on the motion of Cr Bniuskill that the tender of Messrs Lloyd and It vine bo accepted ; to date from Ist August, except as ivgards the rate to he churned foot passengers, which shall be 3d and not Id as in the original agreement ; and that in the e\ent of Council terminating the agreement at any time they take over the punt at a Valuation instead of at cost, as stated in agreement with Mr Everett. Slaughter House Licenses : — Resolved that the applications]of OJarlick and Hanks and Geo. Walker for slaughterhouse licenses be granted. Engineers Charges : — Cr Murphy asked was the Engineer's commission on works charged against the separate rate or general county funds. In reply the Clerk stated the Engineer's expenses were always charged along with the other expenses in connection with the various works carried out;. Valuation Roll : — No objections having been made with respect to certain alterations requested to be made in the valuation roll (referred to in report of last Council meeting) it was resolved that the said alterations be made. Upper Hill Contract : — From Jas. Shine, stating he found it impossible to complete the Upper Hill contracta within the specified time, and stating that owing to firewood contractors dragging logs continually over the track, he found it simply impossible to complete his contract. The Engineer stated that a contract had been let to Mr Peter Rice for supplying 500 tons of firewood, and that it was impossible for the road contractor to complete his work whilst this was going on ; because as fast as the metal was laid down it was torn up again. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman that a notice be put up at the top of Fern Spur, warning all persons against dragging logs, firewood, or other material over the track referred to, and that legal action be taken against'those transgressing this regulation ; also that Mr Peter Rico, be sent a copy of this resolution. Transfer of Tramway Lease — The deed of assignment from Messrs Firth and Olarke to the Te Aroha S. and G. M. Co. of the tramway lease was laid on tho table, having been approved of and signed by the Warden. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman that the deed be now signed by Council. Notice of Motion. — Proposed by Cr Murphy in] accordance with his notice of motion, that the Engineer bejinsfcructed to survey the unsurveyed portion of the proposed new road through Patetero,etc, for which a loan of £1500 had been obtained* Proposed New Track. — Or Murphy said several of the residents at To Aroha had asked him to request Council to instruct their Engineer to survey and grade the lower hill track from its termination at Fergusons battery to tho Premier hopper, and report upon probable cost at next meeting. Cr Mtuphy said it was a very desirable work, and

would open up country where a number of roofs were known to exist ; find ho would move that the survey, etc., be made. Seconded by CrMills. In reply to Council Mr Pavitt said the cost of survey would be about £10. The chairman said before putting the question he wished to state that in the present state of the Council's finances they could "not provide funds for this work, and therefore it would be useless expending £10 in survey, etc. Cr Browning said there was scarcely a meeting but what Council voted money for works at Te Aroha, and he thought before they voted any more money they should receive a little for it. On being put to the meeting the motion was lost. Tenders for formation of LidhfieldTe Aroha Road : — No 1 Contract : Jas. Forest an 1 Co., L 487 8s 4d ; B. Coleman, L 347 53 8d; J. Shine and D. Geany, L 315 3a 4d ; John Finnity, L 315 ; F. D. Rich (accepted)^ LBOO. No 2 Contract : Forest and Co., L 382 IBs 4d ; B. Coleman, L 336 I7a 6d ; Chitfy and Hunt, L 324 I9s. Shine and Geany, L 292 5s iOd ; Reilly and Corcoran, L 290 I9s 2d ; Geo. Walker, jnn.,282 7s Gd ; Jas. Hamilton, L2BO I3s lOd , John Finnity (accepted;, L 257. G. W. Ormsbv tendered in the lump sum of £526 12s lO<l for contracts No, 1 and 2, but the tender was not considered, being informal, and also withdeposit. Chain Reserve on bank Waibou River '. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman that the Clerk write to the Assistant Surveyor General, drawing his attention to an advertisement in the Aroha. and Ohinemuui News inviting tenders for the light to cut flax on the chain reserve, western bank Wailiou river, at Te Aroha, stating that this chain reserve was a public road in the opinion oi Council, and as such under control oi Council, and B aaking under what authority the tenders wore being invited. A Contradiction : Cr Gould Said lie wished to take the present opportunity of stating-, with respect to certain remarks attributed to him by Cr Mills, when speaking at a meeting recently held at Waiorongoniai, that he had no recollection whatever of having said anything of the kind. Cr Mills having been reported to havd said at the same meeting that Mr Tuck, the County Clerk, had told him only £It of the last general rate on Te Aroha Riding remained uncollected ; the Clerk said he wished to remark that he had not the least recollection oi having informed Cr Mills that only £11 of the last general rate remained uncollected. He may have said the amount ol' the last geneial rate collectable in the Te Aroha Riding he estimated at £11, which would be quite a different thing, as in all the Hidings he had to strike ofi! a per centagc of the rates which it was not likely the Council would ever recover, and therefore could not be calculated on as collectable, and unfortunately the Te Aroha Riding held a prominent position from this point of view. In reply to Cr Murphy the Chrk stated every farthing that was collected or derived from any Riding was, and its expenditure, credited and debitted to that Riding. Te Aroha Indebtedness : In reply to Cr Murphy the Clerk stated that at the present date the Te Aroha Riding account was in debt £7,280 I4a lOd, and to this the cost of other Works already authorised would have to be added ; with respect to the present To Aroha Riding separate rate account £202 lOs 7d had actually been expended in excess of the amount received. Accounts : Accounts amounting to £199 I3s 2d were passed for payment and the meeting then rose.