OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 358, 10 April 1889, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

TnE ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers, Paeroa,on Saturday. Present : Crs Nieholls (chairman), Moore, Strange, Robson, Nash, and Qninn. The minutes of the previous meeting were lead and confirmed ; after which tenders were opened, and dealt with* as follows : — Tenders : For supplying 1 , delivering, and spreading 200 yards broken road metal or shingle, on the Paeroa-Tauranga main load, between Or Nash's and the Rahu. The metal to be broken, stacked, and measured before being spread. Formation to be done where so required, and to bo included in contract price for metal : — W. Collett : Blno metal per cubic yard, 9s ; MuLonghry's metal, 6s Gil ; shingle, 7s ; W. Lodder : Blue metal, 8s 6d ; shingle, 5s 6d ; Eclw, Bpin : Blue metal, 8s 3d ; McLouffhry's metal, 6s 9-1 ; shingle, 6s 3d ; 0. Murphy : Blue metil, 6s 1 lid ; Me Loughrys, 6<s 5d ; shingle. 6s 6d ; W. Barrett (accepted), B'ue metal, 63 lid. Correspondence : Karangahake Tramway : From Adam Potter, with respect to the taking over by the Crown G. M. Co., of 1 the County Tram way ; stating that at a meet- : of thediiectorsof the Co. a resolution was passed approving of the terms propos d, viz. : That the tramway be available for the transport of quaitz for the general public at least two days (of 8 hours each) lin each week. Peisons requiring the use I of the tramway to find ore sufficient to keep it working whilst so requiring it. That the Crown 6. M. Co. at all times provide the necessary staff to work the tramway. That the following be the scale of charges for transport of quartz for the general public : TJp to 5 tons, 2s per ton ; 5 tons to 20 tons, Is 6d per ton ; over 20 tons, Is per ton, A Complaint ; From Alex. Unthank, stating that he considered it was not fair that so many were allowed to escape paying any rates at all, whilst he had to pay. Received. Kauri Timber : To Government, requesting permission to sell £1000 worth of kauri timber ; and pointing out this permission was asked owing to the financial difficulties the Council had had to contend with, such as the £2000 awarded theTharr.es County on separation being obtained ; necessitat ing Council bon owing £1000 fiora Government to assist them in paying that award ; the heavy Hospital and Charitable Aid rates, etc , and the very great extent of County road-s to he kept open. To this application no reply had as yet been received. Extension of Time : From Thos. Dougherty, whose tender had bton accepted for spreading 200 yards of metal on the Mackaytown road, asking for an extension of time for completing the contract. In the course of a discussion that followed it was stated th it Qninliv.m, the contraotoi for supplying the metil on this road, although p.irt of the metal had been laid down, had never yet signed his contract, though requested to do so. Resolved that Mr Quinlivanbe written to requesting him to sign the specification 5 ? evt once, el.->e the contract would Ivj treated as null and void. Also informing Mr Quinlivan that the time penalty would be strictly enforced, Extension of Time : From Alf, Bostons, who-se contract was accepted at the previous meeting o£ Council for footpath formation at Poeroa, stating that lie had been unable to carry out the woik as yet, owing to the hardness of the road, and asking for an extension of time, Cr Quinn said he thought that Bossons had got a very goo I price for this work and should have carried it out, and that no extension o£ time should be given. "He theiefore moved : That the contact be determined and fiesh tenders invited for the wo-k, idtmnnble within a fortnight. Th« resolution was seconded and carried. Flax Royalty : From Alf Borons, Te Aiolm, offering Is per ton for nil fl ix on the chain reseive along the banks of the Wiiihou river, within Ohinemuri County, The Council were of opinion that they had no power to lease the right asked for. Letter leceived. W.iihi Bridge* From Jis. GaibmitVi, proprietor Bay of Plenty Times (a telegram) Asking if he should first advertise tenders foi Wailii iuul'jo. Received. Thnmes-Te Aroh.i Railway ; Fiona F. C, Dean, Thames, forwaiding copy of a resolution, p.issed at a meeting of replesontalivos of various local bodies held at Thames on Tuesday last, urging on Government the necessity of completing the line of railway from Thames to Te Aioha. Some discussion ensued with respect to the position the Council should take up on this question. The Chairman remarked Government had borrowed and voted the money for making this railway. Why did they not carry out the work ? It was not for the Council to say. Government now, at this stage of affairs, requiring an assurance that the line would pay, seemed an extraordinary proceeding, after £46,000 had been expended, and looked very much as if Government would like to huva the guarantee of a rate to ensure them against nny loss, if the line was not found to pay. This appeared to be the opinion of several members of the Council. It was ultimately resolved on the motion of Or Nash seconded by Cr Moore to pass the following resolution : " That in the opinion of this Council it is important that the Government proceed to complete the Thames-Io Aroha line of railway without delay." A copy of the foregoing resolution to be sent Mr Dean when acknowledging his letter, and a copy to be handed Hon. Mr Mitchelson on the occasion of his visit. Kaumanaiva Proposed Road : The Foreman of Works read his report on probable cost, and contributions from those who would benefit thereby, with respect to this proposed new road. Resolved that the work he deferred for the present. General Business : Eangiorn Road : Some discussion took place relative to the formation of a road for the benefit of some I of the settlers in Rangiora district, and it was resolved that Government be asked to dedicate a road leading from the Punt to Rungiora Tauranga Main Road : Resolved that JCS be expended in repairing certain very | bad portions of Tauranga road towards Katikati.

The difference between estimated expenditure over revonuo being £1473 6s, leaves the smn of £736 13s, to be equally contributed by the Local Bodies liable to contribute, anil the Governmant.

Paeroa-Te Aroha Road : Crs Strange, Robson, and Moore, spoke of the necessity of improving the Paeroa-Te Aioharoid, especidly tlie steep clay cutting near the Pah, which in winter time gets into a very bad state. Resolved that £20 be expended in improving this road. Waitoaßoid : Cr Strange spoke of the necessity of having a budge constmcted in the Waito.i Riding, across the main drain, to connect the portion- o£ new load recently formed in thin Riding. Resolved on the motion of Cr Strange, that £10 bs expended in carrying out the work . Karangahake Hill Track : Cr Quinn refened to the necessity of h ying *-ome of the sharp bends on this track cut away, so as to enable the cartels to convey th<s long lengths of timber lequired (s >i»e3oft long), to the site of the C.i^sel Gold Kxlracting Company's plant, at the Crown mine. Cr Moore siid Mr Dempster, of the Cassel Comp.uiv, li id spiken to him on the same matter a week ai»o, and he told him to see the Chairman about it at once. The Foreman of Works stated all the worst bends on the load iv furred to had been pegged off to be civ .wav sdhio time ago, and some of the woik was then done ; but with resp.-ct toother bonds now cmipl.iined of, Mr Dicker's (c.utn-) men then said the}' C'>nld get ronnd them all ri_;ht as they were, Ci-Nimi said tiny urgent work Mich as that r foiled to, not involving much outlay, could surely be oairied out l»y the Foreman of Works, without waiting to come befoie the whole Council. It was lesolved to have the matter attended to. Ranker, Inspector of Nuisances, etc : Cr Robson spoke of the necessity of appoiritijng a suitable man to look after the kauri Jtiees within the County, .tlso the appointment of an Inspector of Nuisancos, etc. ; arid' moved that a Committee bo appointpd to consider the mattei, salary, etc. ; the Committee to consist of the Chairman, Cis Moore, Nas'i, an"l the movpr. The resolution was seconded by Cr Monra and carried. Notice of Motion re proposed new road to Karangahake : In accordance wiih notice praviotnly gi^en by liim, Or Quitin moved the following resolution : — "That this Council teoo^ni^ing the importance of completing the Tauranga mainline of road via Karangahake township, at a low level, do ask permission from the Government to call for tenders for the Karangnhake-Rahu section, in two section", a general width of 14 fee% with a grade not nvre than 1 in 20, the Council binding themselves to comolete the roid without any further a^si^tance from Government, than the 4ilooo already granted for thework. Ako requesting payment of Connoil's proportion of revenue before June."', Received. Considerable discussion took place relative to the pioposal to try and get Government to sanction the expenditure of £1000 vote,, diveited from Ma ro to to to allow of a bettcifc road being made between Mackaytown^J and Raliu crossing, to be expended in making a road via Far.mgahake, at a lower level. Mr W. Littlejohn wrote offering to do> the work, 14 feet wide, for £1400. There appeared to be considerable difference of opinion amonsrst the members as to the advisability of adopting thi& course. Cr Moore asked where the balance of: the money was to come from ; and remarked £1000 would leave the proposed new road in much the same position that Butler's road was left in. The Chaiiman said Mr Kenny, their own Engineer, had been over the road and s?onecarefully into the question, and hisestimate to make anything of a good job was considerably over £2000. Cr Quinn urged that application be made to Government for the LlOOO and let it goas far as it would. Cr Nash also advocated having tho L 1000» expended in making the road as far as it woidd go. Cr Robsor : The distance by the present road from Cr Nash's to the Rahu is three and a half miles, whilst by the proposed s new road it Avonld only be one milo : sothat there would be far less road to be kept open and maintained. Cr Moore said he did not think it was at all likely Government would vote the money for such a s'.ip-shod arrangement as that suggested, but vs ould require to be - fullj satisfied as to the gra !es a. hi satisfactory completion of the woik before so

Local Body valuation Assessment Amount rhames Co. £184,228 5-I6th'a of ldinjg. £239 17 7 Dhinemuri do 79,515 do 103 10 8 Doromandel do 123,638 do 161 1 0 Chames Boro, 178,319 do 232 3 9 £565,750 £736 13 0 Estimated Expenditdbe. Co Charitable Aid Out door Relief £800 0 0 „ Maintenance of Thames Orphanage 450 0 0 do do Uef uge 280 0 0 „ Proportion of cosb of erecting Orphanage Bridge 80 0 0 „ Petty Gash 15 0 0 „ Stationary and Advertising . . 10 6 0 „ Travelling Expenses County Members .. .. .. 15 0 0 „ Ladies Benevolent Society . . 88 0 0 „ Salary of Secretary . . . . 100 0 0 „ Etc., Etc 150 0 O £1988 6 0

Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board : From the Secretary of the Thames Hospital' and Charitable Aid Board, forwarding copy of Estimates of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Board for the years 1888-9 asfoJlows :—

Estimated Revenue. To Surplus of Revenue over Expenditure 1888-9 £323 ' „ Beceipts from Inmates of Orphanage 52 „ do do do Eefuge .. 52 „ Voluntary Contributions to Ladies Benevolent Society . . . . 40 „ Subsidy on do do ..48 „ Contributions from Local Bodies. . 736 13 „ General Government Subsidy . . 736 13

Tho total rateable value, as per Property Tax Valuation, of the Thames, Ohinemnri, and Coromandel Counties, and the Thames Boron«h is £565,750. An assessment of 5-1 6th 's of Id in the £ on this sum will produce the amount required, the amount payable by each Local Body named herein on this basis is as follows :—: —