PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 335, 19 January 1889, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Cambridge on Saturday last. Present: Crs Chepmell (chairman), Brnnskill, Mills, Murphy, Horrell, Williams, Heaney, and Browning. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were read and confirmed. Murphy's Pant : The Cleric said the agreement with Mr C. Murphy had not been signed, as he wi?he 1 a clause inserted, allowing him to give a week's notice to terminate the agreement, similar to the one inserted ou behalf of the Council. It was resolved to alter the terms to a month's notice on either side. Waihou River Bank Roads : The i Clerk read a copy of the letter forwarded to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, asking for definite information as to which were roads, and which de- j viations along the banks of the Waihou | river, on the plans lately forwarded to the Council, and further pointing out that several portions marked as reservations had been used as roads for a considerable period. In reply an application was made for the plans referred to to be returned, so that the required information could be placed upon them, Bridge at Murphy's Landing ; Letters have been forwarded to fche Minister of Public Work 8 asking for a subsidy towards the cost of erecting the bridge,

and Mr J, B. Whyte, M.H.R;,Veq*aes<r--mg him to support t^he application. In neither case had any, reply been received. Slaughterhouse Licenses : Messrs John Wood and James R. Roe applied for renewels of their slaughtering liceases. Resolved that both applications be granted. Finance Committee: The Chairman and Cr Brunskill who were appointed a Finance Committee at the previous meeting, presented their report, and an^ estimate of receipts and expenditure to March 31st, as follows : — Receipts, Ordinary revenue, £5,**43 4sld. Expenditure. Payment^ of loans, existing March 31st, 1888, and for administration for the year 1888 89, £4,015 16s 9d ; Hospital and Charitable Aid, £774 ; interest and inscribed stock, £56 15s ; roads, etc., £397 12s 4d. Total, £5,243 4s Id. The Chairman said the overdraft would be liquidated, and they would have £117 to their credit to begin the next financial year with j but there was a lien of £388 on the next year's rates'. They estimated a£d rate would realisebetween £600 and £700. The Chairman remarked he and Cr Brunskill had not agreed ©n all matters j for instance, he thought the bridge orer the Waihou was a County work, while Cr Brunskill thought it belonged to the Riding. The Chairman quoted an Act that said all bridges over 30 feet in the span, were County bridges, and should be erected at the cost of the County. Cr Horrell said if it was to be a matter for the Ridings interested, it was ridiculous that other members should be able to vote. If that was the oase, the Council could put Ridings to an expense that the ratepayer! would probably object to. Cr Murphy contended that the bridge would be largely used by Waikato settlers, who would take their produce to the mines. >. _' Cr Brunskill said the cost of working the punt would about pay the interest on the cost of a bridge, and he was in favour of one being erected ; but he objected to the road being made a County road, simply to get the bridge up, while the Main South Road had been handed over to one of the Ridings. He admittod the bridge was wanted, but objected, as a duty to the ratepayers of his Riding, to the cost being defrayed out of the rates of thewhole County until every o'her means had been exhausted. Cr Mills asked if any bridge of over 30ft had been erected by the County under the Act quoted by the Chairman. The Clerk said he thought not. Cr Williams said when a bridge was wanted at Patetere they had to erect it themselves ; but he was nevertheless, in favour of the County erecting the bridge at Te Aroha, for he thonght it was their duty to do the large works. Cr Bronskill said thegoldfield revenue had been put at the lowest possible amount but he thought it very probable the estimate would be exceeded. Crs Mills and Murphy both thought the amount estimated would be exceeded. The Chairman thought it was xmly' I*.,1 *., question of cost. They must, however, be careful not to obstruct the waterway, a3 the Waihou is a navigable river. After considerable further discussion, Cr Brunskill moved "That Mr Pavitt,. Engineer, be instructed to prepare plans and specifications of the proposed bridge (having due regard to the waterway being kept open) to, be laid before the Council at its next sitting." By that time they would probably know if the Government would grant a subsidy. Second byXJr Mills and carried. Upper Hill Track: Waiorongomai, On the motion-of Cr Mills, seconded by Cr Murphy, the Engineer was instructed to have the metal on the above tract " blinded." Tramway Engine : The Engineer wa» instructed to call for tenders for the purchase of the donkey engine, wire rope, and other property of the Council connected with the Waiorongomai tramway (the crane excepted). Tenders to be in by the next meeting of the Council. Travelling Expenses : The Council having altered its place of meeting, it was necessary to re-adjust the travelling expenses, which was accordingly done, as follows. Crs Brunskill and Browning, eac h 13s ; Crs Mills, Murphy ami Heaney, each Ll 14s ; Ors Horrell «mi Hunt, each Ll 5s ; Cr Cnepmell, Ll ; Cr Williams, when at Cambridge, nil ; when at Lichfield, Ll 14s Accounts : The following accounts, w p ro passed for payment : I. Bates, L 5 16s 8s ; Jas. Orr, Ll ; R Michael f Ll 7s ; A. Thackrav, 12s ; Clerk, L 25; J. S. Bond, Ll ; F Pavitt, Ll I9s • G. Walker, junr., L5O ; J. Mills, L 3 8d ;l; l Debentures, L2B 7s 6<l ; Patetere loan. L4l 5s ;Te Aroha loan, L4l 6s. The overdraft now stands atL694. — Waikato Times.

The School Commissioners (Auckland Provincial District) invite tenders for the lease for twenty -one years of Education Reserve. Block 9, Section 5, Te Aroha j containing 131 acres. A plan, with the section to be leased marked thereon, also a copy of general conditions and form o€ tender may be inspected at the <Te Aroha. and Ohinemuri Njbws Office. This land is within a very short distance of Te Aroha town. A recent arrivtl at Te Aroha . has attracted a good deal of, attention, especially from those who hail- from the land of tho Shamrock j .many of whom upon, the arrival of the said visitor crowded round with many manifestations of interest ; the familiar features' apparently very forcibly oarrying back their memories to the 'ould aod.' The long eared visitor referred to is a very good representation of the class, and may be seen at Mr J. Bew'a.