OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 334, 16 January 1889, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of alcove Council (adjourned from January j>th) was held in the Council Chambers, Pnerda, on Saturday last. Present : On W. G. NiehoUs (cjiairraan)^ J.H. IV^oore, E. M. Corbett, F; Strange, J. 1 M. Robson, C. Nash, and' E. Quinn. Minutes of the previous monthly, and also of special meeting Helcf'jon December 1 1st (when the By-Laws w^re adopted) were read and confirmed*. Tenders : JVaitoa Road : — For the conrenience of intending contraoton tenders for No 2 contract for road formation, Waitoa Riling 1 , were then opened as follows : — Peter Rice, £49 4s ; 0. Murphy, £46 10s j W. J. McCormick, L 45 ; Wm. Thomson, £34 6s 6d. A j tender was also received from F. McDevitt (L 54 9s)butwas notconsidered being informal . ( The amount originally voted for this road by Council was L5O. No 1 contract was let at L2B odd leaving the balance of vote available a little over L 21.) Cr Robson said although the lowest tender exceeded the balance of the vote for this road, they were notliicely to get the work done more cheaply amj he would therefore move that the lowest tender be accepted . Misrepiesenting Matters : Cr Quinn moved as an amendment that the tender be not accepted, a8 it exceeded the balance of the amount voted for carrvingoufc the work. In doing »o Cr Quinn said that some time apo the mover of the present resolution, Cr Robson, objected io a contract for the repairing of the road to Karangnhake being lot, because it exceeded the amount voted for the work by L 5, where the amount to be expended was L5O $ and now he was in favour of lotting a contract where the amount available was only L2l, and the tender exceeded that amount by Ll3. Cr Nash , seconded Cr Quinns amendment. ! Cr Strange seconded the resolution, and in doing so said the proposed work "really needed to be carried out, as at piesent a number of settlers in Waitoa Riding practically had no way of getting out except by passing through paddocks uruler crop. Or Strange strongly urged the importance of carrying out t'.ie work. Cr Robson in reply to Cr Quinns remarks, charging him with inconsistency, said, Cr Quinn had misrepresented him m the snme way several times before, and he had oh each occasion shown that what took place with respect to the Karangahake road repairs, was as follows : Tenders for the work werecalled for in two sections, the lowest tender received beinir £G5 for the one section, and £111 for the other, making a total of £17G, or over £100 in excess of the amount voted by Council for the works. Cr Quinn nt the time wished the £65 tender to be accerted ; but it was very unfair of Cr Quinn to so misrepresent him in the manner he had done that day and on several other occasions, in unfairly putting the matter, as though the one contract for £65 covered all the work for which £50 was voted by Council, whereas it did not cover half of it. There was no similarity whatever between the two cases respecting '"which Cr Quinn thus sought to make a comparison. He hoped Cr Quinn would i not repeat his misstatements on this question any more, Cr Corbett : With respect to Cr Quinns remarks upon the Karangahake road contract, and Cr Robson's action with respect thereto, I hope we shall hear no more from him on that subject, as no comparison can be drawn between the two cases. Cr Moore co-incided in Crs Robson I ftii-1 Corbetfcs remarks, and said he thought the work under consideration shou)d nojy be, dojip, they had talked of making this road for a very long time. The Chairman s I think we can very well do this work, and I think it ought to be done. We shall have to look to the Waitoa Riding directly to assist us in providing the amount due to Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. On the resolution being put by the Chairman it was carried, only Cr Quinn voting against it. Correspondence : To J. M. Chambers, stating that certain work had been carried out as. requested by him on the Mackjiytotf fi^Kftf angnhake road, towards the cost of which he had promised to contribute, his proportion amounting to L 7 ]9s 9rl, and asking him to remit that amoiint. To this application no reply had yet been received. To G. Y. Stewart, informing him what had been djwe re the proposed erection of Waihi bridge. To Jol\n Goonan, contractor, grafting him extension of time to Dec. 30th, as asked for by him. To J. H. M. Lush, Council's solicitor, instructing him to take legal proceedings for the recovery of certain rates. Road Diversion, Karangahake: A petition was read signed by 42 minors and others settled at Karangahake, stating that having learned that it is the intention of Council to expend a large sum of money on Butler's road, making it fit for through traffic ; they begged to petition that Council will have the money spent in making the connection between Karangnhake bridge and the Ralin on a lower level than Butlers ; as a pood road could be made on this line at less cost. By doing so the petitioners suggest that the Council would then have only one road to maintain, hnye the main road through the township of Karangahake, where there is a post and telegraph office ; and ilso assist in connecting with some of the mines*. Mr W. Liitlejohn, who leceived pormisiH< n to address Council, more fully explained the desire of the petitioners, nt who«e request he had waited upon Council* with respect to this matter, and 1

sppke f^rongly in support of tkp road being ( made as suggested by the petitioners. < i The Chairman explained that on the ' occasional the recent visit of th« Mmi^ter of Mines he had consented to allow the Ll2OO, granted for a road to Marototo, to be diverted to the improvement of Butler's road. Knowing the desire of the petitioners in this matter he had "already telegraphed the Minister of Mlnfss stating what public opinion was on the matter, and asking him if it could be satisfactorily shown that the road could be made, as proposed by the petitioners, without adding to the cost as previously estimated, would he consent to the alteration. He ha<l received a reply from Wellington that the matter would be considered by the Minister of Mines on his return. He' 4 (the Chairman) did not see what further could be done in the matter pending a reply from the Minister. Public Pound : From Hohepa Kapene, requesting that a public pound be establ lished by Council, Application not entertanied. Inspector of Nuisances : From Edwin Edwards, tendering bis resignation as Inspector of Nuisances, etc. "Resignation accepted, some of the .Councillors remarking now the By-Laws were in force there wo.ujd be some work for the Inspector to do. Assistance in Draining ; From John Scott, H. Qijliland, Win, Tetley, and others, asking Council "to assist them in making a drain for a distance of about 20 chains along thesaeroa-Waihou river road (leading from the old mill road). John Scott received permission jto address Council on the matter' on behalf of the petitioners, and stated the earth thrown out of the drain would mak# a road, and at present he had no road out from his land. He estimated the cost at 25s per chain, and said the petitioners would be prepared to wait for Council's proportion of the money for a time if neces*ary. Cr Strange spoke in support of the work being carried out, as did also Cr Robson, ami on the motion of Cr Robson, seconded by Ci 1 Quinn, it wa.« resolved that Council contribute L 7 10s towards the cost of carrying out the work. Slaughter House Licenses : Applications were r^ad from Jus. Barrett, Earl and Shaw, John Vuglar, and Mark and Tuthill, requesting renewal of tliuir slaughterhouse licenses. Resolved onthe motion of Cr Corhett, seconded by Cr Robson : That all applications for slaughterhouse licenses be granted on payment of the proper fees. To Puke-Pueroa Road : A petition was read, signed by John Thorp, H. C. Wick, John Phillips, John Phillips, iunr., ai\d others," asking that tenders bf> invited for repairing this road. Referred to Board of Work?. Belmont Road : A petition wa« read, signed by s»ven\! ratepnyeis, requesting* that Belmont road be repaired f r ii distance of about ]0 chains towar Is the County offices. Referred to the Board of Works. (Ultimately ifc was air reed to expend a sum not exceeding L 3 in forming a footpath along this road). Paeroft Wharf : From F. Cock, directing attention to the necessity of repairing Paeroa wharf. Cr Quinn said the upper wharf (the one referred to), was a private wharf, and not required. He considered Council ought not to repair it, one wharf was quite sufficient ; and moved : That any monies expended by Council on wharf repairs be expended on the new goods wharf, that the old wharf be declared closed as a public wharf, and public notice given by advertisement to that effect ; seconded by Cr Robson, and carried. Determined Contract : From Wm, Collett, asking Council's permission to be allowed to complete cortaiu work in respect to his contract of Oct. 1887, for the non-sompletion of which J^ 1210s hnd been deducted. Application not entertained. Kangiora Punt : From Frank Charltou, directing attention to the dimgeious condition of this punt, and the' unsatisfaofcoiy way in which it was being looked after by the man having charge, McKee. Considerable discussion look place with respect to Council's position in connection with this punt, and as to whether they were in any way responsible with respect to it or not. The Chairman said the Thames County Council, at the time of separation madu a present of this punt to the ftangiorn settlers. Cr Strange thought something should be done in the matter, as the punt was the only means of communication the settlers at Kangiora bad. Resolved on the motion of Cr Robson, seconded by Cr Corbelt. that a reply be, sent Mr Charlton, stating Council have no responsibility with respect to the Rangiora punt. Waihi Bridge : From Government asking when details would l>e forwarded \y\th respect to the proposed new bridge The Chairman said he bad replied stating the plans, etc., were now being prepared. Cr Corbett said he thought they would be ready by the end of next week. Allocation of Native Rates j From Government, approving of the allocation of rates accruing from native land?, propospd by Council, as follows :—L2O: — L20 to be expended ou Rangiora road ; two thirds of the balance (L 216 8s 6d) on Komata swan^p road, and one third (LlOB 4s 3d) on.Otamaurungenui swamp road* Resolved on the motion of Cr. Robson : Thnt tenders be invited for the draining of the Komata- Hikutnia road, to include plank crossing. Tenders to be let within ]4 dnya. Resolved on the motion of Cr Moore :

ibat tenders bo ,inVsfs forj the^ejirejfe and breaking of SQO fyrda of road ni^j| on Komata swamp road. Tenders^ii 1 turn able .within 1,4 day^. 5 - ,^ I '„/ Nornift'nliy Road "Respired on the motion of Or Quixm : That thg contract let to &oonan and Pennell for the removal ( of 1000 yapfte of earth from. Nor,raanby road cutting', be determin,ecjl and deposit forfeited. (The contractors not having started the ,work within the contract .time), : v « ;, V \ l " A motion by Cr BobaQn.: That this work be again let by contract within a month, .was lost. Turner's IjEill ; Resolyed on the motio.n of Oißobson : That a sum. no,t exceeding h}s be expended in w^djenjng the road at this pjace,' Overdraft : From local agent Bank of New Zealand in re^ly to a request from JDouncil for an overdraft of L5OO, staling th 3 amount woujd b^ granted provided that a minuted resqlution of CounpiJ was forwarded starting the advance w.ould be a first charge on the Coun,ty revenue, and the .Council's account to be in credit at the gllst March. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman jthat the .terms stated be adopted. QoldSelds !Re,venue : IkQiQ Or C. J. Dearie, -Thames, apologising for his absence from Council meQfjng, and stating L 572 10s had accrue.iT from the gpldfjlelds as revenue for the. pagt quarter, of which amount he believed pt least L4OQ was due to Ohineipurj County Council. Hospital and Charitable ]±\d Rate : The Chairman, referring to. the. amount Hue to the Hospital and .Charitable Aid Boa^d (viz., L 315), andsaicj the carrying puji.of all thero^dwprks theyha.d resolved uppri that day would necessitate the ■levying of a rate of £d in the *o meet the Hospital and Charitable iyid account. A rate of £d should yield L 328. Ib would no doubt press heavily on the ratep yers, but he saw no Nyay to avoid it. Cr Strange strongly pro.^ted against the levying of another rate a,s proposed, and saiil doing so meanj; throw ing the whole of the Hospital and £/haritable Aid expenses on the ratepayers, whereas, hi hi? opinion, it should be provided for out of general County revenue. Cr Corbett : I tiling Cr Strange forgets Waitoa Killing should hear its fair proportion of I^ospital and Charitable Aid expenses, and also of office, main road repairs, and other expenses ; ami if those nre taken into account, as they should lie, he was of opinion it would be found that \Vaitoa Riling had received its share of the ratos expended wif lii u it. Cr Strange: If as murii had Ih>cmi c'xpendtMJ in openi ii^upa»ricultni f al lands, jus Ii :* =3 been ia openiusif up the goldfield!*, the {igriculfcur.il lands would now In* round as much a backbone to tl c county as the yoMfields. After sotuc further disi-u^bion it was resolved on the motion of the Chairnisui seconded by Cr Qninn, That jiublio notioe be given of Council's intention to strike a general rate of 5-th of d in £. iluhilee Uoad : Cr Corbett was authorised to expeiul L 5 in having the bail corneis on this roud cut away. Finance Committee's Report: Overdraft at Bank N. Z., L 504 13s Id, which with unpresented chQque of L 3 4s 6d, leaves a debit balance of L 507 17s Id. The bulk of this overdraft was incurred in payiuj? off the lasj; instalment of the Auditor Generals Award to Thames County Council, which amounted to L 417 6s Bd. The outstanding liabilities of the County now due amount to L 317 Is 3d (exclusive of new accounts), viz, Hospital and Charitable Aid, L 312 7s ! 3d ; tnisc llaneous accounts, L 4 14s. The report as read was received and adopted. This was all the business, and the Council rose shortly after G p.m.