Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 383, 10 July 1889, Page 2

Piako County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Pinko County Council wan held at Cambridge on Saturday at 11 a.m. Present: Crs Chepmell (chairman), Brunßkill, Ht?nny, Willibins, Horrell, Hunt, Murphy, and Mills. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Right to cut Flax : An agreement having been prepared aR between the Council and Mr R. T. Gibbons, the lessee for cutting flax on the banks of the Waihou riyer, it was resolved on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by'Cr Brunnkill, That the agreement with Mr Gibbons for the right to cut flax be sealed with the common seal, and forwarded to him for signature, Taumangi-Oxford Road : Mr Sandea wrote that in consequonce of the very wet weather he had been unable t» proceed with the work on the Taumangi-Oxford road. Road to Mr W. Heaney's : Mr Heaney wrote thanking the Council for consenting to grant him a road to his property, and expressing his willingness to pay the cost of the survey. It was resolved to apply to the Chief Surveyor for a warrant to take the land, and to submit Mr Sandea' name for approval, an surveyor to carry out the work. Balance-Sheet : No reply had been received to the Council's application to the Colonial Secretary, for permission to adopt Rome other method than newspaper advertising, for publishing the .balancesheet. Native Lands : Tho Property Tax Commissioner wrote re Native Lands, asking for certain information. It was, resolved that the Clerk be instructed to compare the valuation roll with the map, and if nny errors be discovered, to report the same to the Commissioner with a view to getting the rolls corrected. New County Map X A new map of the .County had buen received from the Survey

office, which professed to show all "native ' renerves ; but it is very incomplete and was generally condemnei by the Coun- 1 cillors as not showing one half of the native lands. j « Formation of Thompßon's Track : Mr Jonathan Brown, Chairman of the Tau- ' ranga County Council, wrote under date , ( June 11th :— "As you are no doubt aware, the bridle ' track, forming between Kutikati and To Aroha : will soon be completed. We are most anxious to get another grant from the Government to i have it made into a coach road, Wa think from £1200 to £1500 would make it 16 feet wide and fit for coach traffic, but we are afraid the Government will not give us another grant towards it, unless we can show them that we are willing to help ourselves. Our County will assist as far as we are able. I have also written to the Te Aroha Town Board and the Tauranga Borough Council asking their assistance. I have now to ask you to lay this before your Council, with the hope that you will see your way to give us a substantial grant towards this most important work, and also that you will ask your member to do what he can in getting a sum put on the Estimates for this road." Cr Murphy said it would be a very useful road; and hoped the Council would give something towards it. Quite half the road was in Pi-iko County, the saddle of the range being the boundary. It Would , openupanenr way to the train for the inhabitants of Tanranga. ' The Chairman could not see hia way to support the application for a grant from the Piako County funds. . After some didcussion is was resolved to support the application to the Government for a further grant for the completion of this work. Cr Brunskill : That won't cost anything. Road Repairs : Mr Jno. Biian of Waiorongornui, wrote re road repairs, bat the Engineer (Mr Pavitt) stated they were in progress and the matter dropped. Te Aroha- Lichfield Road : Mr George Gapes, of the Gordon Settlement, under date 2nd instant wrote aa follows :—: — " I wish to draw the attention of your Council to the Te Aroha-Lichfield road, near the Wairere itifeam. Your Engineer, Mr Pavitt, foimed this road as fat as my land two years' ago. At that time there was no arrangement as regards the continence of it to Lichfield, and it waß formed accordingly. But as the, Matamata Road Board are carrying it through, I wish to point out that where their Engineer (Mr SandesJ is intending to connect with your road, there is no road laid off on the Te Aroha side of the stream,. The-pieoe of road shown through my place is simply, to give access to the top Baction but the main road crosses the Wairere stream, about 40 chains lower down, at a reserve of five acres, marked sohool site on plan, where a junction with the two roads can be made at a twentieth part of the oost to the County of taking it where it ia now pegged off irrespective of having to take the land through the top aeotion. I feel sure Mr Sandes did not know of the donation of the road at the time he laid out hia road or he would have gone there- if your Council will arrange for your Engineer and the Engineer of the Matamata Board to meet at the spot, and see the country the road will have to be taken tli ough if carried on as at present shown, they will see the enormous saving it will be to the County to meet at the lower crossing and do away with seven or eight cuttings. There are also fixe cuttings from Mr 0. Murphy's farm to my plaoe, which require taking down and about six seta of pipes putting in so as to allow traffic through. At present it is itnposßible for me to get to my place except through the property of my neighbours, and this privilege wili be curtailed as they are fencing. I believe the whole thing, aB regards the Te Aroha side ia concerned, can be made a good job of for about £30 ; but if taken through the top section it will cost £150. I trust your Council will gire this matter your earnest consideration, as it affects the settlers very seriously; and I understand Mr ,Gallagher, the coach proprietor, intends running j a line of coaches from Te Aroha to Rotorua, in or about October next, if the road is com* pleted. Trusting you will refer this matter to the Engineers for their opinion and your sanction for the 'performance of the urgently required works, I am, etc." Cr Hunt said the Matamata Engineer had carried out his instructions, and had laid out the road to connect with the Te Aroha road ns shown on the plan. The Chairman said the deviation was doubtless the best, but he did notthink *hey could ask the Matamata Board to bear the expense of a second survey. He suggested they should make a grant to the Road Board and let them do the work, providing the owners of the land did not object. Cr Hunt intimated that they would not. It was then moved by the Chairman, seconded by Cr Williams, and carried, That the Council make a grant to the Road Board to curry out the work. Matumatu-Waiharakeke Road : Mr H. F. Cox, of Shuftesbury, wrote stating that the Matamata Road Board declined to bridge the gully on the Matamata-Wai-harakeke road, as it was it was not in their Riding. As his fences were continually being cut, he aßked the Council to have the bridge built at once. Cr Hunt said a gate had now been erected, so that there was no immediate hurry. The Chairman thought the galley was in the. outlying district. The Engineer said it was impossible to tell that without measuring. The Engineer was authorised to ascertain and report at a future meeting. Katikati Track : Mr Robt. Mackie requested tho Council to have the Katikati track widened for wheel traffic as far as his suction No. 53, Block 12. The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr Mackie that the track was a Government one, and the Council could not therefore interfere with it. • Gr«y Street, Waiorongomai : A petition was read from "Waiorongoraai residents, bearing twenty-seven signatures, with reference to Grey street, Waiorongomai, asking to have the footpaths repaired, and stating that the whole of the water for domestic use had to be fetched from the northern end of the street. Cr Brunskill exclaimed : "Waiorongomai again 1 The Council used to be called the Te Iroha Town Board years ago, but I think the name should now be altered to Waiorongomai, Cr Murphy Kaid the street was in a very bad state ; a perfect creek ran down the oentre of it. It was no use spending £15 or £20 on it. It would be better to vote a lump sum and put pipes in and fill it up, or typhoid fever w.ould he übout when the hot weather came again. The Chniunan said a street should never have been laid out in tmoh a position. The Engineer thought other works now being done would relieve the afreet of most of the water that now passed down it, The inhabitants wanted the footpaths made, so that their children could go to

*l .1 school, and they could fetch water. , It was eventually decided to' repair the footpaths only, at a cost not to exceed £15. Lower Hill Track, Waiorongomai : Mr J. 11. JJmmett wrote offering to repair the Lower Hill Track for £10, »nd to keep it in repair for 3 months' for a further auin of £10. ' Mr W. Roycroft offered to keep it in repair for 5s or 6s per day for a term of 6 months. The, Engineer said the work lately done upon the track had ull been washed away. Mr Kmmett's offer was accepted, the woik to be done to the satisfaction of the Engineer. •„..' .' S ■ ,„../. . Tenders : The Engineer reported with respect to the tenders he had received for works recently let in Te Aroha Biding; (as fully reported in these columns at the time). .Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill: — Considerable discussion was evoked by the proposed new Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, a copy q£ which was on the table, the whole of the Councillors were averse to it ; and it was resolved to request the members for Wuikato, Waipa, and Tauranga counties, to strenuously oppose its passing, especially that part of it that vefcts the whole control in- one local body. Clerk to Te Aroha Licensing Committee : The Te Aroha Licensing Committee-wrote * suggesting that Mr.T. M. Lawlor, their •• clerk, should receive two per cent, on the " amount of revenue received, as salary for , his services ; but the Council decided not to consent to the new proposal, the salary of the Clerk having already been fixed. Application for Slaughterhouse License : Mr A. Comes, Te Arohu, applied for a slaughtering license for his new premises, but as he had not complied with the law by advertising a sufficient number of weeks, the Council were reluctantly compelled to decline to grant one. Valuation Roll : The Auckland Agricultural Company, and the Loan and Mercantile Company applied to have the managers of their various estates placed upon the valuation roll. Mr Jno. Mellon also wrote, requesting the Council to put Mr J. K. McCall'R name on the rollj as he had sold him part of the Ngutamanga block. The Clerk was instructed to take tha necessary steps to have these requests complied with, Farmers' Club .• , It was agreed ta let the VVaikato Farmers' Club have the use of the Council office once in each month, in the evening, the charge to be 2s 6d per meeting. A similar concession was , also ' extended to the Taotoaroa Road Board, who meet <it II a.rn, providing they do not interfere with the business of the Council. Matamata-Oxford Road : Cr Williams' Was authorised to get a small portion of the Matamata-Oxford road formed at a cost not exceeding L 6. This has been rendered necessary by the Auckland Agricultural Company fencing in their paddocks, a portion of the road having been made in the wrong place, many years ago. Overdraft '. The Chairman was deputed to wait upon the bank manager to arrange for an overdraft. It was lately eituv* guished but had risen again. Finance : A committee consisting of the Chairman, and Crs Biun.^kill and Horrell, was appointed to enquire into and report upon the finances of the County. Land Laws : A petition from the Tau— ranga County Conicil, re altering the Land Laws was approved of, and waa signed by the Chairman. Te Aroha- Waiorongomai Main Road : The Engineer reported that this road from' Stoney Creek to Waiorongnmai (the portion under the control of, and maintained by the County), was in a very bad sUte^ and required immediate attention ; there were upwards of 14 tons «f meteria) being caited over tha road daily, and already there were some holes two feet deep in it.. It would cost £40 to put it in repair. The Te Aroha Town Board had just let a £15 contract to put their portion in good order* If the work was not done the road would probably be stopped before another meating. It was resolved on the motion Cr Murphy seconded by Cr Mills, that tenders be invited for repairing the road from Stoney Creek to the Waiorongomai battery. Gravel and Road Metal : The Engineer was instructed to make enquiries as to the best place for securing gravel and stone in the Te Aroha Riding. The New Bridge : The Engineer reported that the bridge over the Waihou river was finished, and the approacheswould be completed in about a fortnight, and would then be open for traffic. Accounts : The following accounts were passed for payment : W, Emerson, £3 3s; J. S. Borul, £3 10s 10d; G. Edgecombe, £1 17s 6d ; G. Walker, £32 5s ; C. Tuck, £12 4s 8d ; D. Murphy. £2 18s ; W. L. C. Williams, £11 ; C. Murphy, £2 16s ; W. P. Cbepmell, £5 I2s ; Waito'aLicens- 1 ing Committee, 13s ; C. M. Brunskill. £1 Is ; J. Greenway, £2 5s ; F. Pavitt, £19 Iss 3d ; J. La very, £187 18a 6d ; W. A. Prime, L 2 6* 4d ; Jaa. Orr, £20; B. Ward, £1 ss. Total, £310 8s Id. Debentures : Pntetere Loan, L4l 5s ; Te Aroha Loan, L4l 5s ; converted debenture^ L2B 7s 6d. Total, LI 10 17s 6d. This concluded the business.