Ohinemuri County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 2

Ohinemuri County Council.

Thk ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Paeroa on 6th inst. ; all members being present. Tenders for Formation Gorge JEoad Deviation ; The first business was the opening of tenders for the formation of the Gorge Boad Deviation (Karangahake to Rahu crossing) as follows -.—Patrick Traynor, L 1695, sureties 3ST. Dickey and J. Ricketts ; Thos. Corbett, L 1578 10s 4d, sureties, Jas, Oorbett and "Wm- Fagan •, Edw. Bein, L 1284, sureties, John Earle and D. Snodgrass ; J. Wiaeman, LllBO, sureties, J, McNJcol and Pat, Bolton ;■ Eobt. Eeid, Lll4B, sureties, Adam Elliott and WmNioholls j J. Kelly and A. Polton, L 1092 19s 4d, sureties, Jas. Barrett and John Ritchie, junr. Cr Robson proposed, and Or Nash seoonded, that the lowest tender, that of Messrs Kelly arH Polton, be accepted. Cr Corbett requested that before the motion was put the specifications be read, which was done. Specifications of work to be done in construction of portion of Thameß-Tauranga road, between Karangahake bridge and Bahu crossins : The work included in this contract is the coustruction of a road 14 feet in width, with all necessary clearing, filling, forming, and other work, for the due and perfect completion of the work specified in accordance with these specifications, plans, sections, and general conditions attached. The total length of the work is about 86 chains The longitudinal sections show the level of the pegs in relation to the formation level of the road, and the gradients of the formation levels are to bo strictly adhered to in the construction of the road. The whole of the road to be cut or filled to a full width of 14 feet. Inside batters of cuttings to have a batter of i to 1, except in good standing rock, when i cuttings may be plumb ; hut in no ease overhanging any portion of the roadway. [ Stopes of all fillings to have a batter of lin 1 Fillings to be of the best available material, free from timber, scrub, or vegetable matter. Curves shall in no oase have a radius of less than 33 feet, and no allowance will be made for any extra width that may be made by so doing. The road when completed to hare a elope of 9 inches inwards on all siding ground, and a rise of 9 inches in the centre in fiat ground, and to be thoroughly cleared of stumps, roots, and stones, to formation level. All trees, stumps, or stones overhanging the road, or projecting from the slopes to be removed by the contractor. The work included in this specification to be o&rried out according to, and the contractor to comply with, the general conditions of contract attached. The whole of the work to be executed to the entire satisfaction of the Government Engi-« neev for the district. Contractor to etate in his tender a lump sum for the wjiole work, accompanied with a schedule showing how thq lump sum is arrived at, The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Cr Corbett said 1 have asl*ed that the specifications be read over hefore any tender was accepted for this work, as I wished the sureties to fully understand that they would be held vesponsiblo ngt 0 4y for the amou.pt

of the deposit if the wort was not satisfactorily completed, but for the full amount necessary for the completion of the contract, I don't want men to lose money by taking a contract . at a price they cannot carry it out for, and I don't want the Council to have any bother \ about this work by»and-bye ; and I therefore wish ifc to be distinctly understood the contract will have to be carried out to the letter. The motion was then put and carried, accepting Kelly and Pollon's tender subject to> the- approval of Government. Minutes : Minutes of thft previous 1 ftfdnthly meeting were then read. Or Strange drew attention that hia vote had* not been recorded as against the resolution carried at last meeting accepting a, an offer for advertising for the current twelve months, but not by public tended It was illegal for the> Council, according to. their standing orders,,to let a contract fo* any work exceeding ' £6', ' unless by public tender; except they., first ... rescinded the existing resolution, and the Council could be forced by Govemmeafc to - refund the money so spent. Cr Strangers protest having be«A recorded the minutes weie confirmed. Correspondence: Cr Dearie stated he had interviewed the Warden with respect to the» very heavy charges in connection -with the; forfeiture of licensed holdings, etc ; and heunderatood the cost of serving- notices, eto.,. -would in future be made a first charge against, the Natives, instead of being deducted from* the monies accruing tp> the County as hereto* fore, To Mr Miller, solicitor, asking if th Council was not entitled to twenty per. cent oa all Crown lands Bold •wibhin. the County. To this Mr Miller had* replied, stating- that, by amendments made to- the Financial Arrangement Act, prior to- the incorporation ofOhinemmi County, the per centage referred' to. ceased to be paid to. County Councils. Appointment of Foreman of Works: Cr Robson said the salary fixed by the Council' for the Foreman of Works was LllO a year ;, he had gone into figures with respect to the. matter, and seeing the Foreman; of "Works: would haye to find and maintain a horse afe, his own expense, it would* mean a wage of only about 5s a day ; whioh was altogether too small, and he thought the- position should! be combined with that of Ranger, etc. Or Moore said it would' not do to .alter, the* Balary now after application* had.been xe«s ceived. If they thought the salary was too^ little they could combine it with $nat of" Ranger, etc. Cr Dearie agreed with Cr Robson'aremarki. Why if they only reckoned 2s a day as thecost of horse feed, etc, it would, reduce theealary to too little. Applications were read from the following, for> the position of Foieman of Works, at a salary ofLllOayear:— (l) T. E.Shaw; (2) Wnu Tetley ; (3) Wm. Littlejohn ; (4) Jas. Sikoc-kv M.- Tetley wrote stating that be found he would be able to carry out the duties of Forest Ranger, Inspector of Nuisances, etc , to which he was appointed at the previous meeting, iv addition to- those of Foreman of Works, acjl therefore had sent in an application to be reappointed to the position of Foreman of Works. On the motion of the Chairman it was decided to adjourn consideration of the appointment of Foreman of Works Until after t!ie wene-Bl business of too Council had been disposed of Repairs to Mill Road ; The following tender^, for this work (fascining, etr), —David Dynetf, 1/2 7s lid per chain ; Wurrafu Mohi,.L2 jser chain ; W. Gibson LI 13s per chain :- Thos. Quinn-, LI 4s 3d per chain, and 19a 6d for 1} chains; I). CaulfHd (accepted), 18s-6d forfencing 1 , and 3s 6d formation, equal to LI 2s per chain, Proposed New Wharf for Paeroa : From J.. Phillips, jnnr , enclosing a list of subscriptions^ promised towards the construction of a new wharf, amouii ting to L5B, and stating a further sum of L 35 might be calcnlated on being" raised within the next fortnight, bringing tbe> amount up to L 93 The cost of constructing' a new wharf as was proposed, with goods stores, etc., on the proposed site, which was close to Sheelian's Bridge, Paeroa, well above flood level, was L2OO, It was believed thafe the wharf once erected would be self supporting, and ifc was asked that the Council would sub-idise the work Lfor Lup to L2OO, Mr J. Phillips, juTjr., being present, addressed the Council on the matter, and epokd-strongly in support of the application being acceded to. Cr Dearie thought the Council should entertain the application and subsidise the proposed work : at the same time he suggested that Mr Cadman, M.H-R , be written to, requesting him to get a short clause passedy empowering^ the Council to levy small tolls, etc., to assist in the cost of maintaining the wharf,, etc. A long discussion ensued re this matter, it. being ultimately resolved on the motion of Cr~ Dearie, seconded by Ci Nash, that the Council agree to subsidise the proposed work £ for £, provided that the plans and specifications (to be at once prepared) are approved of, and that the cost does not exceed L2OO ; Plans and specifications to be submitted at next monthly meeting of Council. On the motion of Cr Dearie, seconded by Cr Robson, it was resolved, that Mr Cadman, M.H.R., be written to, requesting him to ge^a clause inserted in the Counties Act enabling County Councils to levy wharf dues.^ It was also resolved en the motion ofCr Corbett, seconded by Cr Moore, that tenders be invited for re-placing and repairing Ohmemuri Wharf, damaged by late flood (returnable in a fortnight) cost not to exceed £25. On the motion of Cr Moore, seconded byCr Nash, it was further resolved to grant L 5. towards the cost of repairing the old Paero* Wharf (which Cr Moore said was the only place passengers could land). From tbo Mines Department, Wellington,, stating with reference to Government subsidising the construction of the Gorge Road deviation, that " it must be distinctly understood in the event of any tender being approved, that the Government will only pay too rata pay--ments with the County up to LIOOO jn the total amount of the contract," etc, Cr Corbett said it ehould be put before Government that culverts, bridges, .etc., would! have to be provided for after the present contract. Waihi Bridge: From G. Vesey Stewart asking when tenders were likely to be called for the re-building of Waihi Bridge, and itat* ing that now the mail coach had to go a roun^< of some 8 or 9 miles, in order to orosa the. riyer. Letter received. Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill : From* Secretary Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, directing Council's attention to, thelarge amount of extra money they would; be called npon to contribute if the proposed new Bill were passed. Council's Hospital cantri* bution was now LlO3 10» Bd, were the Bill passed it would be double that ; and not only so, but although Council's assessment, would be doubled they would be deprived of having any voice in the expenditure, which would be entirely in the hands of the Thames Borough Council. . Resolved on the motion of the Chairman* seconded by Cr Dearie, that this Council enters its strong protest against the proposed mentWaihi Road t Two letters Mnre read from Mr Russell, of the Waihi Comi au 7» ro & c bad state of the road. Public Pound : Cr Dearie read a letter signed by 22 settlers and ratepayers requesting Council to establish a Pound, and it was resolved on the motion of J , Cr Dearie, seconded by Cr Robson, that the request be acceded to. Finance Committee's Repoit : The report of the, F. iaanc3 Como-ittee was as folla-vs :