PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 360, 17 April 1889, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tnrc ordinal y monthly meeting of the fibove Council mm ))e)d in the Council Chambers, Cambridge, on Saturday 1-i^t. Present : Cts Ch fl pmell (chairman), WilHnms. II Ban y, HoiroH. Biunslull, Murpliy, and Mills. Minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed. Correspondence : Road in Pa'.etere : To Mr Rich, re proposed road from Tpumangi railway stilion to main Lichfield-Tauranga road ; requesting an estimate of probable cost. From Mr Rich, acknowledging the foregoing letter, nnd stating he had written to Mr Reynolds asking him to meet and assist him in preparing an estimate, as asked for by Council, Road to Gordon Special Settlement : Mr F. Pavjlt, Engineer, in accordance with insi motionsi notions received from Council, repoited on the probable cost of improving this load, as follows: Estimated cost of culling down nine of the steepest pinches, £14. JOs ; of improving that portion of Hie road through Maori settlement, £5 TOs The Engineer abited the work very- much needed (o be curied out. The Chairman asked Cr Murphy if he would move a resolution that the work be i done. Cr Mmphy then moved, That the road rnpi-JvemonLs referred to bo ctuiie.l outat a cost not exceeding £20. The motion was seconded by Cr Wi'haiMß and ennied. Mi Pavitt uKo remarked t h « t theiewas a veiy steep < ut'.ingon the Gordon Settlement joad. nccir Mi Munio'n, and suggested that the lino of mad at this part might bo clutn^f d wiih irrcat advantage. He understood two iu.ua flax niiiis would shortly be eieeted further up tlnn Mi Yon Stunner's, and it would lcquire about LiO'to ni,ike a good load to the proposed sites. It was decided to take no action in the matter at present. Chain Reset ves : — To Crown Lands Cilice, Auckland, hiving reference to prp- \ ious correspondence luspeeting the chain reserves along the Waihou nver banks, and asking foradefinite leply as to whether it was ruled these roads were or were not public roads within the meaning of: the Act. To this letter no reply had yet been received . Sale of Flax on Chain Reserves : To the Ron. Minister of Lands, stating several applications had been received fiom patties desirous of purchasing fho right to cut the flax on the chain reserve on either bank of Waihon river within Piako County, stating the opinion given by Mr Hay, solicitor, on the question, to the effect that the Council had not the power to lease any such right; and finther stating Council Avere willing to giant such light, subject to certain conditions and restrictions, if Go* verninent would sanction their so doing. The following letter was read in reply :—: — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, March 26th, 1889. Tho Clerk Piako County Council :—: — Sir, — 1 am diiected by the Hon. Minister of Lands to acknowledge the receipt of your loUei of the 16th March, applying for pei mission to dispose of the flax growing on tho road lines along either bank of the Wiiihou nvei, and to inform you that there will be no objection on tho pait of the L.imUi Department to tho County selling or deposing oil the ilax as pioposod. I have etc , H. J. 11 . Elliott, Uudei -Secretary. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Ci Mmphy, it was resolved that tenders bo invited for the right to cut flux on the chain reserves on t\\o bank of the Waihou river Cr Murpln said soino of the settlers on the liver bank had itin their fences across the chain reserve light to the bank of the liver ; and some clause should be inserted pi o\ iding that such fences be not interfered with. Tho Chairman : We are not in a position to recogni.se these fences in tUe manner you suggest. Cr Williams : We cann,ot give liberty to persons to fence «(,tubs these roads ; but we all know thero are hundreds of such fences erected, that aro doing n,o injury to any one. The Chairman * If the Council weio to inueitsucha clauso as that suggested it would'hnve noeit'eet, as it would be illegal. It will be necessary to see that clauses ara inserted providing that no damage be done to tho river banks in any way. Ti action Engine Traffic ; Fiona the Waikato County Council, lolative to the proposed By-Laws for legulating traction engine tiaffie on public loads within the Counties of Piako, Waikato r and Waipa. stating the Waikato County Council had decided in the meantime to defer further action in thematter. Letter received, tho Ch.iiiman being authoiised to take any fuithcr steps he might deem advisable Avith reppect to the proposed by-laws. Waihou New Bridge : From J. C. Firth to the Chan man as follows: — "J understand that the Council is about to erect a biidgo at Waiorongomai. As it may have been oveilooKcd that the Waihou is a na"igdblo liver, I wish to remind tho Council thaL it will b'd necessary in build-

ing the bridge to provide for the passage of steamers and barges, so as not to impede the navigation of the river." The Chairman : We were informed Mr Firth had no objection to the building of this bridge, . -is proposed, Cr Willinma said Mr W. T. Firth had informed him there would be no objection whatever ; but he may not havo told hie father what had been done in the matter. In any case the bridge would bo as high above the river as the railway and traffic bridge erected atTe Arohn. Cr Bmnskill : If Mr J. 0. Firth was | aware of wha,t had passed with respect to this matter, he would probably not have | written on the subject at all ; no doubt he wrote so that the matter of river traffic might notba ovei looked. Outfal! Diain : From P. T. Jansen, Waiorongomai, complaining that the out fall road drain adjoining his land was so filled up with rubbish that he was unable to drain into it as he wished to do. Also offering to clean in out an. i widen it for 3s per chain, the woik to be done to the satisfaclion ot.the Engineer, After a little discussion it was resolved to leave the mutter in the hands of the Engineer, who is to inspect the place referred to, and if he finds any real damage is being done, owing to defective road drainage, that he get the necessary work done. Lower Hill Track, Waiorongomai: Fiom P. Ferguson to the Chairman as follows : u I beg to request that you will biing before the notice of your honourable Council the urgent necessity of having the I>\ver Road up Waiorongom.ii Creek made fit for Irallic. The first shipment of mining and giinding material for the Ferguson Syndicate Company, Limited, has ai rived in Auckland and will be landed here this week, but, owing to a tew slips on said road, and the decking of Diamond Gully bridge being rotten, no caiting can be done. The benefits your Council will receive — the result of said expenditure — I submit fully justifies your Council in repairing and maintaining said road, etc." Jn reply to the Chairman, Cr Murphy said he know nothing about the road, or the application, but no doubt it was very desirable to have the road kept open. The Engineer said he estimated the cost of canning out the work at £20. The Chairman Raid he thought it was work that ought to be done, an 1 asked Cr Muiphy it' he would move a motion to that effect, Cr Murphy then moved, That the- Lower Hill Track be repaired, at a cost not exceeding £20. The motion was seconded by Cr Mills and carried. Injuring the Lower Hill Track : Mr Pavilt, .Engineer, lead a letter he had received from Mr J. H. Emett, of Waiorongomai ("who had be^n keeping this track open for some time past, having been voted £4 by Council towards cost of so doing), complaining of the injury done the track through logs being di.iwn along it, thereby tearing it up. The practice had been put a stop to on the Upper Hill Track, by Council. Resolved that the Engineet be instiuctcd to have notices posted up notifying that the practice must be dis^ continued. Roads at Shaftesbury : To the Chairman from E. Y. Cox as follows : — I and the adjoining owneis havo at our own expense cleaned out the lai^e chain on one side of the diagonal road at Shaftesbury and put in n new diain on the other sido. I now be^ to apply to the Council to have the stuff spread on the road befoie the w'nter sets in. or I will undeitake to have it done for £5 if you will grant that sum for the purpose. Ak the new road from Tnurunga, now being made, comes in at the top end of this load it is desirable that it should be put in order. Last winter it was quite impassable part of the time. I have explained what is required to be done to Mr Pavitt. It is also desirable that something should be done ut the Shafte&bury corner of the main road which was very bad last winter. £2 would clear out the drains and put some stuff in the low parts." Cr Muiphy said that no one made use of the diagonal road refeired to by Mr Cox, and he did not consider the pioposed expenditure was necessary. The "other woik lufoirefl to by Mr Cox was necessary, and he would move that £2 be expended iv cairying it out. Seconded by Cr Mills and chi lied. Cambiidge-Tauranga Road :—Conhiderabloditicussiontookplace relative to the road through Mr Geo. Walker's (Maungakawa Cambridge road), respecting which, and the inconvenience and loss he has been put to thiougb. the public going through his paddock* and leaving the yutes open, etc., Mr Walker has frequently written the Council. Mr S.mdes, Engineer, submitted a rough estimate of probable cost, suggesting a deviation from the piesent surveyed line • of road, by adopting which ha stated , fully £125 would bo saved, whilst a better road would be obtained. Mr Geo. Walker, junr., win to offering to cany out the woik at the same scale of prices as paid for No. 3 contract of the Lioh field-To Aroha load. Some discussion took place respecting the cost, etc.. and it was ultimately resolved on the motion of Cr Heany, seconded by Cr Honell, That the Engineer be instructed to take the necessary preliminaiy steps, with respect to making survey, etc., so that the road now used might be stopped and the deviation taken under Public Woiks Act. Thanieh-Te A rob a Railway : — From F. C, Dean, Town Clerk, Thames, forwai ding copy of a resolution passed at a meeiing of representatives of various local bodies, held at 'Jhamea, and requesting that Piako County Council adopt the resolution, or a somewhat similar one, and forward samo to the Hon. Minister of Public Works ; also suggesting that two or more members of the Council be appointed a deputation to wait on the Hon. Minister on the occasion of his promised viait to inspect the line. The resolution forwarded rends as follows :—": — " That in the opinion of this Council it is important that the Government should proceed without delay to complete tho Railway from Thames to Te Aroha, and if it was so completed it would be highly advantageous to the district, as well as remunoiative to tho Government." Tho Chaiiman remaiked the concluding part of the resolution, asserting that the line would prove remunerative to the Government, read too much like a joke. Cr Murpny said if the line was completed the quart;; would bo sent from To Aroha to Thames, where they had tho plants to treat it. After a f«w general remarks it wad resolved (but not unanimously) on the motion of Cr Muiphy, seconded by Cr Mills to pass a lesolutioa similar to that

passed by tiw Thames local bodies, Okoroire Hot Springs* Cr Williams, referring to the matter of a road to Mr Isaac's hot springs, which question was discussed by the Council a short time back, said.^ Mr Hudson the district railway Traffic Manager, had been induced to visit these springs, and had consented to run special trains thereto, as an inducement to people to go there. He understood Mr Isaaea had gone to a lot of expense in order to make these baths second to none? and hp*(Mr Isaacs) no doubt still hoped that Council would make a road thereto. He (the speaker) thought it would be well for some members of the Council to visit and inspect the springs and proposed line of road, so as to be the better able to say "We will, or will not do the work." It was ultimately agreed to hold over any further consideration of the matter for- the present. Native Rates.- The Clerk reported bavins: received the Native rotes fiom the Government. On the motion of the Chninnm it was resolved that Mr Sandes he instructed' to have the work carried out on the Lichfield Te Aroha road, to the amount o£ £59,. ;is already approved. Resolved on the motion o£ Cr Heany that the £10, allocated from Native rates Eorthtt portion of the road at Hanga native settlement, be expended under the supprvNion of Cr Williams. Slaughter House Licenses : From William I-larrav, of Lichfield, requesting transfer of bin slaughtering license to Mi Donald Gordon, who is about to lake over his business. From Geo. Walker, requesting renewal of his slaughter house license. Ile^olvtd that both applications begranted. Tenders : Mr Pavitt remarked that it would be advisable to make some arrangement for the opening of tenders for the carrying out of the works at Gordon Settlement and the Lower Hill Track ; ao» that the woiks might be carried out as soon as possible. The Chairman Raid the same remarked would apply to the expenditure of the Native rates. Resolved that the tenders for road works in connection with native rateexpenditure bo opened by the Chairman, at Cambridge ; those for works at TeAroha by the Engineeer and Cr Mills. Honpitnl and Charitable Aid: Board :- From the Secretary, District of Waikato. Hospital and Charitable Board, forwarding copies of various resolutions recentlypassed Ly the Board, and stating that the amount of expenditure required for the maintenance of institutions, and for the distribution of Chaiitable Aid in the Waikato Hospital District has been ascertained to be £2413 8s 2d ; the proportion to be contributed by the several local authorities being £1206 14 C », distributed a« follows :- Counties of Pi;iko, £431 8s Id ; Waikato, £307 7s 4d; Wniph, £290 4s 5d ; Raglan, £82 7s 11H ,; Boroughs of Hamilton, £50 18-! Gd ; Cambridge, £43 17s lOd On the motion of the Chairman it was resolved that half the amount Ipviivl on, Pialco be paid forthwith, the balnncu later on. The Chairman rommked fonnfrlv the County hail to contribute £[,400 or £1,501> per annum, before separation fiom Thames district was obtained. Credit .Balance . The Clerk stated tho Council account at the Bank of N.Z.. now whower a credit balance of £439 [7 Id ; a statement (.hnt evoked expressions of much satisfaction from the Council . Accounts : Tho following amounts* wore parsed for payment : Ja*. Hally, legral^ expense*, LlO ; Geo. Wottam, dog registration, LI 2s ; A. Brtmmor, dog registration and Returning Officer fees, L 6 ; K. Pascoe, dog registration, LI 6s ; J. Simpson, dog registration, L 2 Is; C. M. Brunskill, travelling expenses, L 3 Iss 6d * A, Heany, travelling expenses, L8 5^ ; J. S. Bond, office expendituie, L 2 5s (5d ; Waikato Times, advertising, etc., L 2 ICs ; D. Murphy, travelling expenses, L 2 I8s; B. Ward, roads, Patetere, LI ; C. Murphy, femes, L 3 10s; Geo. Walker, repairs to Waihou biidge, 10s ; C. Tuck, salary and commission, L27ls 4d ; J. Orr, roads, To Aioha, Ll2 ; J. H. Emett, lower tracks LI ; P. G. Brown, Waiorongomai-To Aroha road, LI 12s 6d : W. Cook, roads. Te Aroha, 18^; J. Lavery, progress pa}'—ment, LIOO ; F. Pavitt, commission, etc , Ll9 2s ; R. Michael, Hill Track, L 7 8a 2d ; J. Mills, travelling expense", L 4 I7s ; T G. Sande9, roads, Cambridge-Tauranga, L 6 IB.s Sd ; Waikato Hospital and Charit-. able Aid Board,L2lG ; Wuitoaßoad Board, proportion of Native rates, L 46 8s 6d, Total, L 489 2s 4d.