OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 314, 7 November 1888, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Ohinemnri County Council was hold in the Council Chambers, Paeroo, on Saturday last. There wero present : Councillors Nicholls (chairman), Strange, Robson, Nash, Quinn, and Moore. The minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. Outward correspondence : Waihi Bridgo : The letter to tho Minister of Public Works, asking for an increase on the subsidy of £200 towards the construction of the Waihi bridge was read, and it was decided unani mously to forwaid same to the Government. Inward correspondence : From John* Earle, junr. , and C. J . Shaw, applying for a slaughterhouse license for a house on the Waihou river above the township, and enclosing fee for same. Upon the motion of Cr Robson, seconded by Cr Nash, the application was granted. Fiom A. Bruce, secretary of the Thames Hospital Board, requeuing Council's portion of subsidy toward the institution ; also their subscription to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, The Cleric stated tho total amount due was £312 7s 3d. Cr Quinn said the County did not derive benefitsufficient to warrant the contribution of the amount, and thought (he decision Bhould rest with the state of the finances. The Chairman stated there was an overdraft at the Bank to the extent of £48 2s lOd. Cr Quinn then suggested that some money bo borrowed, from the Bank in anticipation of incoming rates etc. — say £1000, Money was urgently needed to repair main roads. After some little discussion it was resolved, upon the motion of Cr Moore, that the Chairman and Crs Robson and Quinn interview the Bank Manager with a view of obtaining an overdraft. From the Property Tax Department, Wellington, forwarding copy of Clause 7 of the Native Lands Act, Repeal Act, 1888, stating that the section referred to would have to be complied with before moneys could be paid by the Government. With reference to the allocation of the money to be derived from these lates (£172), Cr Robson moved that £20 be spent on the Rangiora road, and two thirds of the balance of the Native rates on the Kornata swamp, the remaining one third on the Otamaranganui swamp. Seconded by Cr Quinn and carried. From Thos. Quinn, asking Council to decide concerning money owing him for balance of metal supplied about six months ago, 13| yards at ss. Mr L. Jackson (the late engineer), measured the stone and gave it as 58J yards, but for which he only received from Council payment for 45£ yard?, which was according to Mr Tetley's measurement. Considerable discussion ensued on the subject, but as fourteen yards of the stone had been removed, it was resolved on the motion of Cr Moore, seconded by Cr Nash, to settle Mr Quinns claim, which amounts to £3 6s 3d. From the Colonial Treasurer, in reply to letter from Council, stating the only vote which could be placed at Council's disposal was the vote for the Waihi bridge, advice of which was sent on the 27th ult. From the Public Works Department, enclosing a Bill to amend the Public Works Act, and requesting that any objections thereto be sent in at an early date so that they may be entered. From Hon. Minister of Mines, in reply to letter of the 25th September, informing Council that the undermentioned works are now authorised ;—; — Road to connect Waihi Mines with battery, £150 ; Marototo track, £50 ; strengthening bridges on Waihi Road (subsidy £2 to £1), £133 6e Bd. He also stated that the applications for expenditure on further works will be considered as the necessity arises. From the Audit office, returning balance sheet of the Ohinemuri County Council for the half year ended 30th September, 1888. From R. IT. Cartman, stating he worked two daj''s with horse and cart on road work, for which he only received 10s. It was resolved to pay him an extra 10s. Karangahake road : Cr Quinn moved, That £10 be expended on the Karangahake road from the Rosemont mine, extending towards J. B. Smith's mine. Seconded by Cr Nash and carried. Paeroa road : Upon the motion of Cr Robson, seconded by Cr Nash, it was resolved to expend £10 in repairing the Paeroa road. It was also resolved to call for tenders for these works. Drainage : Cr Robson moved that the drain from Kennedy's bridge to Barratts fence be cleared out. Seconded by Cr Strange and carried. With reference to the opening of tenders Cr Quinn proposed that whenever tenders are returnable on Council meeting days they should be onened at three o'clock. He stated some of the tenders returnable on such days were opened in the morning, and this had given some dissatisfaction. Marototo Track : Cr Quinn moved tint tenders be called for the repair of the roadway from Waiteknuri to the Marototo track in accordance with the sum of £50 voted for the work, tenders to be returnable at next meeting. Seconded by Cr Moore and carried. Waitoa Road r Cr Strange asked that the £50 voted at the previous meeting be expended on the construction of the road proposed, viz., from the main road, Waihou, to connect with the Agiicultnral Co.'s road, which led to the Morrinsville road. Cr Quinn strongly opposed tho construction, of this road, contending that the money was required for the main roads. He said he knew the district well, and the oijy means of getting on the proposed road was by going through four ploughed paddocks and four gates. Cr Strange said they had to go through ploughed paddocks now, and Jthat was the reason they wanted a road, The proposed line commenced at the main road and went on to tho Auckland Agricultural Co.'s property. It waB the only expenditure asked for the Waitoa district. The Engineer submitted a favourable report on the road, drawing attention to the importance of its construction, as it was likely to prove one of the most useful roads in the district. i After some further discussion Cr Robson moved, That the work be let in two sections, and' that five months be given to carry out the work. The motion was adopted. '

Ridley's Tramway: Cr Ntu»h drew attention to the fact that a number of sleepers had recently been romoved from the tramway, and to prevent a recurrence of this, he suggested [that a caretaker be appointed. The matter wag discussed, but no definitG steps were decided upon. Old Office : The Chairman stated an offer had been made for the small office now in Cashell's paddock, and he also had a request from Mr Cashell for ground rent. ' It was stated the Council were not indebted for ground rent, and it was resolved, upon the motion of Cr Robson seconded by Cr Quinn, that the office be offered for sale by auction, Office Hours : The previous regulations having been rescinded, Cr Quinn, in accordance with notice of motion, moved : That the times at which the Council office will be open for transaction of business be as follows : — Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. ; Saturdays from 10 a.m. till 1 pan. Seconded by Cr Moore and adopted. Financial : The report of the Finance Committee was submitted. The bank overdraft is £48 2s lOd, and the outstanding liabilities of the .Council now due are £354 18s lid, exclusive of new accounts. Accounts amounting to £129 3s Id were recommended for payment. The report was adopted.