Ordinary Monthly Meeting.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 455, 19 March 1890, Page 2

Ordinary Monthly Meeting.

Present : Crs Chepmell, Hanmer, Horrell, Hunt, Heany, Brunskill, and Mills. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were rea l and confirmed.

• Correspondence : Work on Shaftesbmy road. From E. Y. Cox, stating he was quite at a loss to understand how Council could interpret his offer to do work (Council subsidising L2 for Ll), to include spreading, the stuff on the main read. Cr Hanmer stated lie had seen Mr

Cox the day previous, when he told him he never mean’t that his offer by letter to Council was to include spreading the stuff thrown outof tliedrains, and he would not spread it, unless on same terms as the work already done, viz., Council to bear one third of the cost of so doing. The Clerk produced Mr Cox’s letter asking Council to subsidise the work he desired carried out, etc., in which he stated he wished to open up the road drains on this part of the road “ so as to carry the water off the road and make a permanent job,” ete. It was stated the road was in a far worse position how than before, ns Mr Cox had thrown the stuff out on the road side of the drain ; so that it formed a low wall along, and until this was removed surface water couli hot possibly run off.

The Chairman : In any case Mr Cox will have to remove the stuff he has put alongside the road, no'one can be permitted to throw up a bank on the road side like that. If there were no specifications at all the fact of Mr Cox doing tlie work like that would be enough to throw him out cn a’question of law. No Engineer would pass'such work. Why was tlie stuff thrown out on the road side of the drain at all if he did not mean to spread it. 1 f Mr r ox would not spread the, stuff properly he should not vote for his bejng paid. _ > ■ Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Williams : That Mr E. Y. Cox lie informed that when lie spreads the stuff thrown out of the drains on the County road, Council will pay his account, if done within one mouth |

from this »lale ; and in the event uf this work not being done within that period that Council will cause same to be done at his expense, Gates on Roads : Fioin Murray Bros., asking permission to retain the gates they had erected on roads.

Cr Hunt said the Messrs Murray had four gates on the road'w<thin a mile.

, The Chairman, sai i he should think as a general rule gates on roads at the boundaries of properties ought to be sufficient.

Cr Hanmer: Messrs Murray Bros, -have, hud those gates up for ten years at least. It is not a road much travelled along, and I never have heard any complaints umil this quest on of gates on roads cropped on. I move thet the permission asked for be granted on condition that the gates are erected and maintained in accordance with the Public Works Act. and the regulations of this Council. The motion was seconded l>v Cr Horrell and can led. Isaacs’ Road: Cr Hanmer sail he had recently visited Okoroire, and observed that the road, made by Council ends at a paddock occupied by Mrs Isaacs. He understood the CouncU undertook to make the road through the chain reserve.

Mr T. G. Sainles, County Engineer, explained that until it was quite decided where the road would join the bridge to be erected across the river, he had not thought it advisable to finish the work.

Road to Okeroire Hot Springs : With reference to the proposed road from Okoroire railway flag station to Okoroire hot springs, Mr A. Isaacs being present by permission addressed the Council, He said he was now prepared to make the necessary road formaiion, and build substantial biidges over both the Waihou river and Oraka Creek to the Sanatodum the work to be done to the satisfaction of the Council’s Engineer. He bad arranged with Mr Bailey, manager of the Auckland Agricultural Company, as regards the fencing, etc. The road he wished to construct was the one for which the first vote of the ratepayers of Patetere Riding was taken with respect to borrowing the money required for its formation. Mr Bailey had promised to convey the land required five of cost to the Council. The Chairman : We should have Mr Bailey’s promise in writing in a case like this. 1

Mr Sandes pointed out that the cost of maintaining, etc, the road in the future, after it had been made, would devolve on the Council.

Cr Heany said the ratepayers hail twice very recently decided against the making of this road ; and lie did n<»t. think the Council should interfere in ti e matter at this stage at all. L-t the road be first made and then the Council could take it. over.

Cr Horrell : The ratepayers, ns I take it, simply voted against providing the money.

, Resolved, on the motion of Cr Brunskill, seconded by Cr Hm-rel! : That this Council agree to survey the road in question provided the Auckland Agri-cultural-Company dedicate the road free of cosDto Council, and Mr Isaacs provides approved guarantees to form the road at' his own expense and to the satisfaction of tire Council's Engineer; and that the Chairman be authorised to approve of the guarantees. Cr Heatiy alone voted against the motion.

Deviation near Gordon Special Settlement : From the Chief Surveyor. Auckland, stating in reply to Council’s letter, lie saw no object ion .to the proposed deviation of the road through Section 7a., Biock XI, Wairere S. I). Gordon Settlement Road : From the Chairman Gordon Special Settlement, stating that at a meeting of the Association, held on 27th January, it was resolved to offer your Council the sum of L4O on condition that yonr Council will subsidise it £ for £ to be spent on the County road within the Block. The Association’s money will be available in May next. But before paying over the money the Association must be satisfied •that the specifications must bq more definite than lias hitherto been the case on this part of the road. That is, levelling pegs must beputin.andaproper plan submitted and that plan thoroughly worked up to. The road south of Mr Hanmer’s Block is in a most dilapidated state, and a bridge next the township of the settlement in a most dangerous ' state. A rider cannot now with safety pass over, and it is feared that some unfortunate going along at night will lose his life. There is a fall of ten feet right across to the middle of the road, and a drop of other seven feet into a deep water hole close beside it, etc. Cr Hanmer stated the bridge on the road just past the flax mill was in a most dangerous state. Cr Mills said Mr Pavitt estimated the cost of putting the bridge right at Ll 5. Resolved, on thq» motion of Cr .Hanmer, seconded by the Chairman : That the Chairman of the - Gordon Special Settlement. Association be informed in reply to bis application, thajt on receipt of the money he r (erred to from the Government if the application was renewed Council would then jbe prepared to consider it.

.Resolved, on the motion of Or Mills, seconded by Or Haiitner, That the En gineer.be instructed to replace the bridge and divert tlie outfall channel into the swamp, at a co-t not exceeding Ll 5.

. Thames-Waikato Road :- From H. Buttle, suggesting that about a chain and a ha f long of the main road immediately on (lie western .side of the Piako bridge be raised about a foot, and a side drair cut. The cost of carrying out the work bethought would be about la iQa,

None of the Councillors appearing to l»e aware of a piece of bad road about the place indicated ; at the suggestion of the Chairman Cr Hmmier promised to take notice of the place, and report at next meeting.

Railway Crossings : From the Commissioners of N. Z. Railways, thanking Council for their suggestions re removal of trees obstructing the view of approaching trains adjacent to railway crossings, and stating that as far as possil le trees so obstructing would be cut down.

Valuation Roll : The Clerk reported that no objections had been received with respect to alteration of names on the Roll, the applications for which were read at last monthly meeting.

Resolved that the alterations be made.

Tramway Colt : With regard to the young tramway horse (respecting which the Acting-Manager for Te Aroha S. and G. Mining Company wrote last meeting), Cr Hanmer reported having seen the colt. Mr Hanks, on . whose land it was running, offered to give L 3 for it over and above account for grazing, etc, LI 10s, and he thought Council had better accept the offer.

Resolved that Mr Hanks offer be accepted. Watering Troughs : Cr Brunskill drew attention to the great need that existed for a few watering troughs being erected on some of the main roads. Horses and other animals would thereby be saved much suffering, more especially in the summer time. He would l<ke to see watering troughs erected on all the main roads, and would aupport any Councillor in having same provided, but in the meantime would only ask for one to be erected in hia own district on the Cambridge-Oxford road. Some discussion followed, the Councillors generally expressing approval of tire proposal, if there were funds available.

.The Chairman said he thought it wou'il be b st for Cij Brunskill to defer moving further in the matter just now, Council being very short of funds, and the time of drought nearly over. He would be pleased to co-operate in such a proposal later on. The subject then dropped. Representation of Ridings : The question was then discussed ns to whether itnv alteration ought to he made in regard to the number of representatives for eacli Riding, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4C of the Counties Act, 1886. The Clerk stated the following were the figures for each Riding : No. of Riding Ratable Valiio Ratepayers Te A'olia, L87,14l 165 Wailoa, L •'66,500 113 Patetere, L 213.689 33 Taotaoroa, L 41,934 22 Mataniiita, L 71,518 6 (At lids stage of the proceedings Cr Williams took his seat.) After a co snlerable time had been spent in ‘ figarng,’ it was decided the existing representation was the nearest that could be arrived at, viz. : Te Aroha, 2 members ; Waitoa, 3 ; Patetere, 2 ; Taotaoroa, 1 ; Matamata, J. Waiorongotnai Bridge : The Council went into Committee to consider some correspondence with regard to this bridge. Engineer’s Report: MrT. G. Sandes, Engineer, in bis.monthly report stated that a large number of trees had fallen across the bush track on the Cambiidge-Tauranga road, stopping all horse traffic. He estimated the cost of clearing same at L 7 10s ; and could get the work done for that sum. He considered the Thames Valley Land Company should contribute half the cost of doing the work, stating their bush falling was the cause of a great deal of the obstruction. As several travellers hail been much incoiiTen* ienced through losing their way on the Canilnidge-Tauranga road, he advised that two finger posts be erected at a cost of about L 3 10s. Also that a truck be cut from the Liclifield-Te Aroha road to the bush, say 12ft wide, and waggon crossings made at the Waiomu and Raparapa Creeks and Paraiti Gully, estimated cost, L 7. The cost of reerecting Mangawhara Bridge, recently destroyed by fire, now nearly completed, would be L 22 9s 3d.

Cr Brunskill moved, that the obstruc tion on Cambridge-Tauranga road bo removed at once, and application made io the Thames Valley Land Compuny to refund the cost. An amendment to the effect that the Council be only asked to contribute half the cost, as recommended h 7 the Engineer, was however carried.

On the motion of Cr Williams it was resolved that the Engineer’s recommendation that the road from the junction of Lichfield-Te Aroiia road with Cam-bridge-Tauranga road, to the crossing of Paaiti creek (lionga) be made. .

Resolved on the motion; of the Chairman, that the pioprietors of the Matamata ..estate be applied'to for payment of half the cost of re-building Mangawhara Bridge, recently burnt down Accounts : The fo'lowing accounts were passed for payment :--E. W. Ilanuier (travelling expenses), £4 7s ; W. A. Prime (tools Thames-Waikato road), 5s 6d ; J. H. Emett (repairing lower track), 12s ; W. McCleir (Te Aroha-Liohfield road), £1 4s ; Borcham and Willis ,(do.), £l2 10s Cd ; H. Caudwell (do.), Lil ;- Railway Freight (Cambridge-Tauranga road), £2 ss. ; P. Ham, (CambridgeTaupo road), £G ; P. Bain (Patetere Riding account), £3 6s ; Kawia and party (Native Rate work, Patetere), £lO ; Ngawhaka and party (do.), £10; Cuulthard Bros, (timber, Cauibridge-Tauranga load), £9 4s 3d

•T.Copeland (Maungawharn bridge),£s ; Kauri Timber Company (timber for above), £l4 9s 3d ; G. Walker, junr. (balance dueCambridge-Taurangaroad), £SO 17s 4d j Do. (Deposit a/c.), L 5 ; G. Floyd fPatetere Riding a/c) 18s 9d ; T. G. Sandes (Engineer), £5 8s ; F. Pavitt (Commission, etc.), £2 10s 9d ; A. Heany (travelling expenses), £4 7s ; C. M. Brunskill (do.), £1 Is ; C. Tuck (salary and commission), £IG ; T. Wells (office rent), £3 15s; Waikato Times {Patetere Loan No. 2), 9s ; Te Aroma, and Ohinemuri News (advertising and printing), £8 14s. This was all the business.