Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2088, 24 March 1898, Page 2

Piako County Council.

The monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday, at Morrinsviilc, when there were present : Councillors Chepmell (in the chair), Harrison, Farmer, Gerries, Gavin, and Aitken.

Waihou Drains. Council having written to various interested parties re bearing cost of cleaning. out and deepening these, Mr Biss, District Railway Engineer, wrote that as the trenches referred to were not essential to the maintenance of the, line, he could not see his way to recommend the Department to pay anything in this connection. Mr Geo. Lovegrove also wrote objecting to being asked to pay share of this work, as it was because, of the county drains not having sufficient outlet that his land was so often flooded. No replies were received from the others, and as none of them seemed inclined to help, the Council decided to take no, further action at present.

Gordon Road Contracts.—B. Montague wrote surrendering one of his contracts, No. 78, as he could not finish it within the specified time. Council decided to forfeit his deposit, and give the contract to Jno. Hanks, the next lowest tenderer. Valuation Roll—The Valuer General forwarded copies of new Rolls for inspection. The Council decided to object to these Rolls on the ground of general inaccuracy, and omissions. Goldfield’s Revenue.—The Warden’s Office, Thames, advised that they had lodged to Council’s credit £4B Is 3d, being revenue from this source for period euded Ist July, 1898. Waiorongomai Tramway. The Mines Department wrote that Minister of Mines had approv.en of a subsidy of £125, at the rate of £ for £ towards cost of repairing this tramway, *The Department made severat •alterations in the plan. Or Gavin reported that, as authorised by Council, he dealt with tenders for the repairs, and received the following : T; Peak £2.67, Thos. Anderson, £244. He had accepted Anderson’s tender. The usual arrangements whereby the Aroha Gold Mines have the use of, and are responsible for the tramway for another month, was renewed.

Licensing Administration Expenses. 1 he Clerk Ohinemuri Licensing Dis«. tract forwarded claim for £lO 7s Id, being Council’s, share of costs in this cuunection for 9 moa hs. Council thought the charges somewhat excessive, and decided to point out to the Licensing Committee that they had no right to pay the Clerk a salary without consulting the local bodies, as to the the exact amount. Bridges, Tirau - Rotorua Road.— Council applied fci; .a portion of the £3OO voted by Government for this road, amounting to £175, which they intended to spend in repairing bridges, etc.. The Lands Department wrote stating that the vote had already been nearly all expended, so -that there was no money available for Council. The Minister of Lauds understood that all the bridges were in good repair when the road was recently handed over to Council. The Clerk was instructed to reply that this was not the case, and to refer the Department to Mr Metcalf s (C.E.), report on the bridges which was sent to them at the time, and which showed a considerable outlay to be necessary in order to put the bridges in good order. Foremen’s Reports. —G. Wafctam reported on the progress of the various contracts in his district, and that McLeod’s contract was not being carried out in a satisfactory manner. He suggested that the grades be made easier at a part of,the road beyond Gage-Brown’s corner, where there is a bad dip, and also that 8 or 10 chains formation he done. There was also a dangerous culvert near Nelson’s containing a set of 12 inch pipes, which were far too small to carry off the flood water. At the Socks, near Morrinsville, there is a set of 4 inch pipes, which are being continually blocked by pine needles, thus causing the water t© overflow. He suggested that 9 inch pipes be substituted. With reference to the deepening of the road drain about to be done by Mr Allen, opposite his property, he thought Council should not allow the earth to be thrown out on the road, as there was at present a a bank of earth all along the drain.. Council decided to remove the present bank, and to inform Mr Allen that he must put all earth from the drain on the opposite side of the road. With reference to Orr’s Walker’s, and McLeod’s contracts, it was decided that all these contractors be fined for overtime, the exact amount to be left till next meeting, when the work would be completed.

Wattam was authorished to have the other repairs carried out a& suggested. G. Mahood reported on the roads in his district. The. Tirau-Rotorua road, near Waimakariu, is in a very bad state as slips are constantly coming down. He suggested that Council should let him employ a man for three days each week to remove slips and keep water-tables cleaned up, from the Hatchery to Steel’s mill. As instructed by Council at last meeting he forwarded specifications for : (1) carting and spreading 200 yards gravel on Te Aroha - Lichfield road, between Okoroire road junction and Tepapa school; and (2) carting and’putting gravel on Cambridge Napier road, between Carter s stables and Lichfield Napier road finger-post. Mahood was authorised to engage a man as sug-’

gested • ' the approved by Council and teWif ordered to be called, Cr Harrison btiilg authorised to deal with same.' G. Giles was fined £5 for overtime on his contrac . Gordon-Waharoa Road"—Aid to -theextent of £35 having been promised by various bodies interested in this locality, it was left to Cr Herries to have certain works carried out to that extent.. A~ Piako Bridge.—Foreman iiFVx. structed to prepare for painting this bridge with two coats of good hematite paint. - Bank Overdraft. The- Clerk reported the overdraft at date to be £458 5s 2d. . .. . S Thanks.-Cr Gavin and .the Clerk (Mr Gilchrist) were thanked by the Council for the trouble they had taken in adjusting and settling the various claims against Tonge’s contracts.

Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment: —J. Lavery LI7 11s 4d, Jno. Hanks, L 135 5s lid B. Montague L 27 14s Id, Jas. Orr LSO, G. Wattam Ll 3 5s lOd, G. Read L 7 13s, E. Summers L 7 7s, R; ‘Parr L 27 6s, Jno,. Wattam,, LS ss, G. Giles 1 -- Ll 6 10s 4d, G. Mahood Lll 10s, Di Lockley LI Is, E. de C. Drury L 35 10s, T. Barker L 5 Bs, W- Armstrong LT 4s, W. Loughlin L 7 4s, P.. Gilchrist, L 37 10s, S. Webb Li 7s 4d, A. BremnerL7 19s6d, Qhinemurl G. C. Lift 7's id, C. Crouch, L2ov