PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL. Annual Meeting.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 424, 30 November 1889, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL. Annual Meeting.

Tnis annual meeting of above Council was hold at uoon on Wednesday last in tho Council Chambers, Cambridge. Present : Crs Chepmell, llan.mer x Horrell, Williams, and Heany. Minutes of tho preceding annual meeting were raad and confirmed. Ifih-ction of Chairman : The first business was ihfi election of Chairman for the ensuing year : the Clerk presiding. Resolved on the motion of C? ITeany, sec.und.ed, by Or- Han,mei\ that Cr W. P. Chepmett be le-eleuted Clwinnari (no other Councillor was nominated for the position). Cr Chepmell, before taking the chair, returned thnnjcs to the Council foy the honour conferred by again appointing him Chabman,, and assured them he would, as heretofore, carry out tho duties of the office to the best of bra ability. Representation on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board * The next business to b,o transacted was the appointing of four members to. the Waikato LlospitaJ and 'Charitable Aid Bo.ird. £At this stage Cm Murphy, Brnnskrll, and Mills, entered.} Cr Heany, proposed that tho Chairman be appointed as one air the members. Seconded by Cr Williams and carried. Cr Muiphj proposed that Cr Mills be appointed a member. Seconded by Cr Ileany and cariienV Cr Mills proposed Cr Heany as a member. Seconded by Cr Muiphv an-d cmried. Cr Mutphy pioposed Cr Riunskill as a member. Seconded by Cr UorreJl arul c nied. £ The Ohniimnn and Cr Bmnskitl represented the Council on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board during the pu-*t ye-r.] This concluded tho business of" tho anrUVil meeting, at 12 ..10 p.m. Ordinary Micicting. Present : Crs Chepmell (chairman),. Williams. Hajwuer,, Ilon^ll,. Ho.ivy, Hunt, BinnskiH, Murphy, and Mill-. The minutes of" the pievioim monthly meeting were read and uonfiimed. Correspondence ; Piopo,-ed llcul Deviation: From 11. W. NorthcroftjSiati-ig the 'sketuh pl-m furnished him wiji respect to mad deviation known as '<• Rich's deviation " through portion oC W\* property, w.n not diawn to same scale a,s the plan sent by him* and requesting that a pl.m fdiawn to same scale, and showing the i Gazetted roads, etc., be sent him, when ho would be ahle to. reply to Oounoil on the mattei\ Prom T. G^andes, Engineer to Council,, to tho Cle**, forwarding sketch plan of pavt of Mangapouie No. 2a (P.itetero Riding) the pioperty of Mr Northcroft. The plan \vh»& drawn an. tho scale requested by Mr Northcroft, and hud been duly forwarded to him. The Chairman sa.id any mon.cj expended on the road running through Vv Northcroft'spropeity hid been expended thrGivgh a misapprehension with respect to the line road. Mr Sandes suitl about Lil2 had been expended. Cr Ileany replied that the road had been made by the Thanvs Valley Land Com pany at their own expense, and that the Council had not expended more than 25a on it. Tho Chairman i Anyhow no harm hap been done to Mr No'rthcioft's property, although Council had no right to do good to his property against his wish. He thought it would be beat to, leave the reads alone. After some discussion with respect to the position of of tho roads referred to, and paities who would be principally benefitted by any alteration, it was resolved on the motion of Cr Williams ; Thai a proper plan be made showing the existing road, and that hud off by Mr Rich, to be sent the Anokland Agricultural Co., being the parties prncipally oonoerned * and that the Company be asked if they conspnt to the proposed exchange of roids, All information on the matter to be ready to lay before the Council at the next monthly meeting. Extension of Drainage, Waitoa : To Crown Lands Board, Auckland, stating Council dpsired to carry out certain works between Waihou township and Te Arohn, and as such would almost entirely benefit land oocupied by Crown settlers, and would necessitate the making of a culvert under the railway line, the Council hoped tho Bonrd would assist them in the undertaking by making the necessary culvert, and also, towards the cost of the work generally. To the foregoing communication, a reply from the CommisHione" of Drown Lands was read, Rtating he considered the work a very desirable one, and had forwarded Council's letter to the Minister of Lands, together with a recommendation that the application he granted . Proposed Road to Okoroire Hot Springss: From Jas, Bailey, Manager Auckland Agricultural Company, re proposed road from Oxford to Okoroire Hot Springs, stating that his directors were willing to convey the lana i-pquired for said road, subject to the following conditions ; Thit Mr Isaacs contiibute L2OO towards the :.ost ; the line of road to be approved of by him (Bailey) 5 to be fenced on both sides, or 17s 6d per chain of fence to be allowed the Company who would then fence it ; the land taken--l chain wide- to bo paid for at LI per aero ; all the oreeks and drains to be substantially bridged j tho road to be

pioperly formed and made available for wheel traffic; Council to pay all legal cost*, survey do. ete^, o,f transfer. The Chaiiman said it appeared to him thnt the Auckland Agricultural Com.puny conceded nothing, and \vanted the light to dictate with respect to the line of road. He was of opinion it would be better to take the land required under the Public Works Act, and, for Council to have the right to decide as to the line of road. The question, was \ Is the proposal to borrow money to make the new road to be submitted to the ratepayers again ? (Tl\o proposal to borrow having been lost at the poll of ratepayers recently taken),. Mr Jus. Bailey said Mr Nathan had written to him stating lie would give L2OO, as promised by Mr Isaacs, towards cost of inaking the load. the Chairman paid Mr R ; ch had pro-^ nrised to guarantee ajl expenses incurred by putting the question to a poll of the ratepayers again. (The proposed road is one from Oxfrr d to connect w\th the Lichfi,eld--Te Aroha i road, through Okoroiie). I Resolved on the mo "an of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Brupskill ; That the necessary st«pa be taken, towards borrowing LfiOO for constructing this road : so Boon as the Clerk had obtained from Mr L, D. Nathan a written guarantee to give L2OO towards the cost, and that- Mr Kiel) i has lodged to the credit of the Council a sum .sufficient to cover the expenses that would be incurred by taking a, fresh poll oi the ratepayers. Oxford Matamata Bond : Mr T. €c, Sandea, Engineer x reported on the probable cost of cairying out alterations proposed in connection with thv» road, and stated; the Auckland: Agricultural Company, Messys J^ Xj. Wilson and Hume, the parties affected had agreed to the proposed alteiations. Resolved on the m,otio.n of the Ch.iiunan: That the further necessaiy steps to complete the proposed deviation be taken, upon payment by th,e parties inteies|ed of L2G 5a ; costs of survey, plans, adveiti.sing, etc. From Ciown Lund's Office, Auckland, stating Council's application f<»r five acres in Waitoa Hiding, for gravel pit purposes, hud; been gnmted, (part of Block IQ, Waitoa Smvoy District). Cambridge-Tuuranga Rond : A letter was read from, the Survey Office, in reply to enquiry made by Council, slating that portion of the road mnning through Blocks H and Ig Cambridge Survey Dis^ier, and Block 9i Tauoo Survey Dibtrict, had not been dedicated. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman : That a proper plan of the road be pv -pared and the owner of the land asked to I dedicate it for the purpose requiied j if the ! application, were refugee}, the land to be taken UD.dcr the Public Woiks Act. Feuding on lir^of Uoad:FromMr Buttle, Manager Annandale estate, Pwk.<\ in ieply to lettev bent by institution of Council ot the piecerling monthly meeting, requesting that certain fencing erected on the road line be removed, that as Mr W. S. Allen, tluv ott'iuM* of the property, waf expected out tiom Horn© esmly in December, he won'd like the matter to be allowed to stand over until hi-> anival, as the proposed alteration wo.nl I u&cr^Hafce the removal of a number of youn«; tiees. With ibi'oi en.ee tn this- nut.er the Chairman s-y,id lie was not quite ceitnin t'>c Council were altogether right masking Mi A.Men to remove the fence refeurd ti>. Ii was put up by Mr M'urav and' should hnvr beeu, ivinovt'd by him, and a^ a ni'iitpr-nf-fuc t Mr Muini3' had b«en ivtifiod to icmovc th" said fence some six a«r» by tin Waitoa Itoiid Board,, who then hail contro of the mad affected, but lit* had 1 not com plied with the request. Mr Murray ha( since sold the Aiinaiulahs estate to Mr Allen but because. Mr MuiiNiy had elected a tone* on the public road, it by no m^ans followed that he could sell that fence, r became the property of the County, and tin Council could remove it and recover tin co.st of so do.in°f, the q-iipstion was fron whom they could recover at thi<» date. It would be betst to have a legul opinion 01 the matter. Resolved on the motion of the Chairman, That a logal opinion be Had b> Council as to who should be proceeded against in this matter. It was further resolved that the Clerk write and inform Mr Buttle the matter ai dealing with the question of removing tht fence he wrote about, had been allowed te stand over foy the time being. Gordon Settlement Road : From J. D. H.irgood, Manager Flax Mill at Gordon Settlement ; stating that the portion of the rond recently formed through Mr Roche'f land^ was practically impassable for wheel traffic, the grades being so very steep ; and that us Mr Roche was now fencing ofi the old track, it was necessary the grades should be at once reduced, otherwise traffic with Te Aroha would be almost cut off, which would be a serious matter, seeing Lhe writer alone sent some 15 tons over this road weekly ; and he was at the present time employing a man to impinve the County load free of CovSt to the County. Mr Pavilt, County Engineer f Te Aroha Riding, informed the Coune' 1 the necessary work in order to effect .*) improvement asked for had been carried out. Approaches to Roches Bridge ; From E, l'\ Roohe, of Shaftesbury, stating he was obliged a^ain to bring under tha notice of the Council the state of the approaches to '' Roches Gully Bridge," and stating that a loaded diay had recently been capsized into the out away water-table* similar accidents were liahle to occur and no doubt the Council would be held responsible for any damage done. Mr Pavitt informed the Council the acoident referred to occurred through a boy driving jibbing horses. He also stated that tenders had been invited for effecting the necessary improvement to the bridge approaches, and would be opened at that meeting. Drainage at Waiorohgomai : From Martin Murphy, Waiorongomai, requesting Council to make some repairs to the road opposite his premises, also opposite the Waiorongomai Hbtel, and stating all the refuse from this hotel was lying in the centre of the yoad, the stench being very bad in the hot weather; and he would be willing to subscribe towards the cost of having the necessary repairs feffocted. Cr Hanmer said the nuisance complained of. was caused through -the set of drain pipes leading under the street being broken, consequently the drainage lodged in the road. IJe had made enquiry into theniitter when »t Waioiongomai recently, and thought about 20s or 30s would be subscribed by residents towards the cost of effecting the necessary repairs. Emett, a bush contractor at Waiorongomai, had

offered to construct a good black biroh culvert across the road at the place iudi-r cated for L 5, which certainly would be equivalent to giving labour himself LF. He thought it woiild be best to ticcept Emett's offer. Something must be at once done in the matter to put it right, a8 in its present state there wus a, very objectionable nuisance. Or Mills stated a great nuisance was caused by Mr Smardon, of the Waiorongomai Hotel, keeping a great number of pigs, about 3o to 4o he believed, Cr Murphy said no matter what was done if a great lot of pigs were Kept, always making slush, there would be a nuisance. Cr Hanmer said drainage right down ;from the foot of the hills had its outlet at the place indicated, it was not Sniardon's yard alone. %v Pavitt said pjpes would be much hotter than a wooden culvert, and the County had a spare set of pipes at \V»iorongomai which could be utilised for the purpose. The question arose would the conveying of the drainage into, the drain in Ijhe adjoining street onu^c a nuisance, and it was ultimately resolved:. That the necessmy work be carried out by the Engineer, at a cost to the Council not to exceed L 4, the i Engineer to first nsceitain, i;f the proposed diain extension will occasion a nuisance to any one el«e«. The Chairman said with reference to the grt-at nuisance caused by pig 1 * kept by Mr Smardon, as reported' b.y Or Mills, that die Clerk write at once to Mr Smardon, requesting htm to put a stop to the nuisance complained of, and inform him that he cannot be allowed to let nuisance flow out over the road. Cr Ilanmer : Many people have piers running about the township as well as Mr Smardon. Te Aror- -Waiovongomai Road ; From Clerk Te A roha Town Board, forwauling copy of the ff>l lowing resolution, parsed at the meeting of the Roard held on October 12: Resolved, That the Piako County Council bo requested to relieve the Boaid of the cost o.f maintaining the main road within the Town District. Cr Murphy sard he thought the Council ought to take the road over ;- and asked , could the question, be now discusaed ? The Chairman replied it could not, a special meeting would have to be held for the purpose. Resolved, on the. motion ol Cr Murphy, seconded by Cr Hanmer : That a special meeting of Council be held on the same date a,s the next monthly meeting, for the purpose of rescinding the special older made by Council handing over the control and maiateninee of the portion of road in question to the Te A roha Tmvn liosml. DiKiin Obstruction : Fiom Putiick Dillon, complaining tluif thodrain through his piece of ground atTe Arolia Wes*t.wus 1 hei»£ filled up withsitnd and rubbish fiom the County drain along tl\e Wailoa road, i now being cleared out, i?nd st?itin<jr tons of grass, ti— tree, and other rubbish therefrom, whs forming: dams across hi* drain. Mr P Y'ittsaijd' that no dou-ht pome gra«s and yubbish wou'd hiivo q >t into tlu diain lvfened to owing to the clowning out of the di.iHi alongside the County roa 1 . Whi h the proposed new dia'n was mndc it woiiltl oreptly yeliove the diain passing through. Mr D-illon's lsnd. A man would clear out all obstt-m tiotis that had been caused in a couple of days or less, Resolved that the Kntrin^er be instruct^] to have the drain cleared at a coat not .exceeding 12-s. River Ol.sti notion • Rnb.t,. P-. Gibbons, ielegiapHed a,s foHows: "Kindly request Gallagher's punt, above Te Aroh,i, be '•.niuewhat renjiOA-ed), th.it it nuy not ob-tituct navigation .." Mi;P-.ivitt slated that Mr Gibbons wa« using a large ivnwieldly punt, without any rudder, and" capable of carrvins about forty tons of flax at a- time,, and this was very dangeious on the river and likely te do damage tn tie budges and river banks lie did not think from the position of th« sunken pu,nt lef erred? to, that- it interfered with n-tviiration in any way, Resolved that Mr Gub.bons bo written to, directing him to discontinue usin» such a heavy unwieldly punt as he had al present on the river, as likely to. injure the banks and. bridges, and informing bur Council would hold him liable for any injury occasioned by said pnnfc. It was farther resolved- that the Chairman be authorised to take the necessary steps to put a stop to the u«e of the punl referred to, in the event of Mr Gibbons nol ceasing to run it. Demanding an Apology : From W. Arch. Murray, dated Qetl 16th,. to the Chairman^ Pinko County Couucil, Morr;nsville, as follows : <{ 1 understand that at the meeting of Piiko County Council held at Cambridge on Saturday, 12th inst, you said that T was " a culprit." I trust that if you did not make that statement you will immediately contradict the report ; or t if >ou have made such a gratuitous unwarrantable, and slanderous statement, tl«at you will nt- once make me an ample, arjd satisfactory public retraction and apology," With respect to this letter the Ohair- nn said, being addressed to him in his caprcUv as, Chairman of the Council, he thought it best to lay it before the Council. Certainly he Ind nothing to retract or apoJogisefoi, and hai not the slightest intention of giving Mr William Archibald Murray any such satisfaction a.s he asked for io his letter. If any apology was due to any one it was to Mr W. S. Allen^the owner of the property- where the fence had been erected on the line of ror !, for- the inconvenience ho would be put through the fence not having Ueen shifted to its pioper position long ago. He had no recollection of waking use of the expression referied to at all at the laßt Council meeting, as stated. He believed that the report of: the meeting in the Waiknto Times stated that he (the Chairman) said persons had encroached on the road line. Then came a full stop, and the report went on to state Mr Munay was one of the o-'iilprits. /That was not stating the Chairman said the parties referred to were cu'prits. For his part he considered Mr J'urray's letter a gratuitous piece of impertinence. Taotaoroa Road Board • From the Clerk Taotaoroa Road Board, stating he was, by direction of the Board, requested, to male application to Council for a grant of I^l oo, in consideration of which the Board would undertake to keep the main roads in repair for a year, under the suporvi? ion of the members, thus siving the expense of an Engineer. The Chaiman remarked 'he request was a pretty cool one, seeing the Board asked for more than the whole County rate in the Riding realised, Tho Clerk stated no tenders had been

received for tiie miintaining of this road. Cr BriinBkill Bajd the specifications for its maintenance were, so drawn up and eon-* tamed such classes, as placed it quite out of the power o£ any working man to tender. By request of. Or Brunskill the Clerk read a letter from Qeorge Wattarn, in which he offered to do the woik for L 2 per week, but stated, ho could not tender under the existing specifications. After some discussion it was decided that an arrangement be made with, W attorn to act as surface man, to be puts on when, requiredTenders : Walker's Road Deviation* (Cambridge-Tauranga Road): Two tend em were received for carrying out this \\ ork^ viz., from Edward Rice an,d G-eo- Walker, jun •. , Walker's tender, LlB4 I9s, being . the ! ' west, was accepted. The Engineer'sestiroate was £180 to #185. Repairs to Roo ies Gorge Bridge Approaches : W. Thompson, £7 Us; R. Michael, £6 Iss ; Neiland and Cionin, £6, , I4s ; P. Dillon, L6, 14s ;, (X McCabo (accepted),!^. New Piles and Repairs to Gifl^rd's; Bridge, Morrinsville: Jas. Ljivery, L 25 ; C. A. Tonge,L2s. Resolved on the motion of Cr Hanmer, 'seconded, by Cr E[or.rell, that Mr Lavery's I tender be accepted. ' The Chai.rra.an remarked that Mr Lavery had always carried on his contracts sa,tjjjS-v : factoiily for the Council. Road Repairs : Resolved on the motion of the Chairman, that some new pipe*, be , laid down on the main road near Mo'irins-. vilie, acid the drains, cleaned out, etc... near the railway. Cemetery for Morrinsville : The Chairman reported that Ue and Gr. llorrell, a3 a Committee representing the Council, had goiie with Mr M,. Harrison, Manager of tiie Lockerbie estate, to look for a sita For a, cemetery near Marrinsville. They found a very suitable site abo.ut threequarters of a mile from Moransvilta tov*avJs Piako. Resolved, an the nxolionof tiie Chair* ; man, that the B,ank of New Zealand,, owners, of the property, be written to,. ; asking them to grant % situ of about three acres for cemetery purposes at the place selected,, the band to be conveyed to, the Council.. ! Traction Engine Traffic : The Clerk was authorised %o affix the commpn sealj lof the Council to the B.y-law recently passed by Council for regulating traction. engine traffic on public roads within the. j County. ltoiuJs at Matam/Ua :. Resolved that certain roads, referred to in a resolution, passed at a meeting of th,e ratepayers of Mfttnmata Xi lingj.be closed as requested,, and the resolution of the ratepayers con-. l.^;me<l. Place of Meeting :. In acconlanco with notice given,, Cr Hanmer moved that in future the Council meet at M.orrinsville insten,! oiSit CamJ-ri'lge. Cr Il:inm,(>r said he moved this re»olutun because he console red the meetings, of tin? Council shonl'l be held, nob .only within the County boun-lary, but in. as cen v\\ a j>art of t!ie County as possible. As at present «he im">tm<.'S were not even, hel.l in the, farthermost corner of th« County, but lsuny miles outside fie Counjy bnu,n,'lary. By holding t.^ie meetings at Moi rinp.ville, a saving in travelling expenses alone of about ' L^O a Y<'ar would also be oil ofced . Cr IJOI rcil secjnded the resolution. Cr Murplty: said l).e shouhl move- as nn ain^ndment biiat the meetings qontinjae • lo be held at Cambridge, Tly3 Chairman to Cr Murphy : Tliere is no, occasion for you- to move an amendment, you can vole again,st the motion i< iyou wish to do so. : Cr. Murphy : I shaH vote dead against Moninsville, because I believe it wonll ,be very inconvenient for the m.embevs tq meet}, theue. ! Cr Horrell : Yon. don't belie-ye any- , thing of tKe kind . For the motion, the Chairman, Cra 'Hanmer and Hon;ell ;. a&rainst, Crs Murphy, Mills, Brunskill, H^eany, an I Williams. Motion declared lost. ; Da,te of Meetings : Resolved that Council, meet on the following dates : — December % \ ; Jan. 18 ; Feb. 15:; March 15 th 1 April 13- ;• fu-ture meetings to be 6xed atter the meeting in May- to, adopt balance-sheet. Resident Engineer : Cr Brunskill moved tliAt the Council employ a resident Engineer, instead of* b.'tving work done on, a percentage conunissjon as at precent ; and that tenders be invited for the position. Cr Brunskill saiil the Council would be in %o pocket by so, doing. The Chairman objected to- so. radical n 1 change being ma.de without being first thoroughly considered and discussed, anJ said it would first be necessary to get an estimate from the Cterk of the amount paid to the Engineers duiing the past three or four yqara. Cr^funskillsaidjin thatcasehe shouM now table his proposition as a notice oi motion for next meeting. Te Aroha S. & CX Mmfng Co.: From John Howell, Superintendant, Te Aroha S. and Q.M. Co., VYaiorongomai, notifying Council that he had relinquished Sections 21 and 23 (124 acres and 106 acres rej tively), Thames High School Endowment, : WaiorbngomrJ, and desired to be released from any further taxes oe charges thereon. Alteration on Vulution Roll : From. A»ent Bank New Zealand, CambiiJge, ,\>plying to have the narqe of E. Y. Cox, placed on the Valuation Roll Te Aroha Hiding, in lieu of that of the Bank of New Zealand, as " occupier " and " owner " of property number 13 en said Roll, and being part of Blocks 2 and 3, Wairere ; also to have the name of 11. H t Ad tuns placed on the same Roll as < occupier ' of property auraber 14, and being part of Section 14, Block IX, Te Aroha Survey District. Dog Registration : From John Simpson, Matamata, tendering his resignation as dog tax collector for Matamata Riding; and suggesting the appointment of Mr D. Scelly in his stead. Duty on Bullion : Resolved on the motion of the Chairman that Government be written to re the payment of du.t£