Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42780, 19 September 1905, Page 2

Piako County Council.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Piako County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Morrinsville, on Monday last. Present: —Cra Chepmell (chairman), Brady, Bollamy, Keeley, Gavin, McCaw and Lamey. Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Inward correspondence was then dealt with. Waioronoosiai Tramway. A letter from the Secretary of Hardy’s Mines, Ltd., was read, stating that the County Tramway at Waiorongomai had been placed in repair as per terms of agreement made with the Council, and is now ready fo» the engineer’s inspection, which is desired at. an early date. A letter from Mr Pavitt, civil engineer, states that he, in company with Mr Gavin, has inspected the Waiorongomai tramway, and reports everything now in good order, both self-acting and horse grades, and also the brakes. The report also states that the Company has expended the amount of money which they engaged to. Cr Gavin explained the system of working the brakes on the trucks, and said he was perfectly satisfied with the present arrangements.

This report was adopted. Mr Fawcett wrote complaining that he considered the foreman’s measurement of the 593 cubic yards of extra work done on the drain contract (No. 6) was incorrect, and stating that the amount of extra work done by him above the contract, was 757 j cubic yards. Cr Bellamy said he blamed the councillors for not going into the matter beforehand, as there had been considerable blundering over this No. 6 contract, and thought that in future a committee should be appointed to prevent this unnecessary expenditure of additional money over contract prices. Mr Fawcett had already been allowed 2d per yard for work done in excess of contract. Cr Gavin said the Council did not want people to work for nothing, and this was only a matter of measurement, and would soon he settled. —It was resolved that a committee he appointed to enquire into the matter and report at the next meeting. Re Mr F. Cauldwell’s letter of the 19th July, stating that a cow of his had fallen into a clay pit and so injured herself that she had to be killed, and stating that she was a very fair dairy cow, and would have calved about the end of September. Moved and carried that the Council has enquired into the matter and decided that no liability attached to them. A communication was received from the auditor in connection with the two items in the balance-sheet to which exception had been taken. The balancce-sheet at presont shows an unallocated amount of £7B 3s lid, and it is not allowable to transfer more from a separate account to the general account than the amount provided for the one year. —It was resolved that this matter be referred for further consideration.

Letter from R. A. Lamey, secretary of the P.R.R.A., drawing attention to dangerous state of water-hole on side of Thames-Wai-kato road, between Messrs Johnson’s and Goodfellows’s farms. It was stated that the water was obstructed by a willow tree, and it was hoped that the Counoil would have this obstruction removed, or a channel made to allow the water to follow its original course. A letter from Cr Lorney also called attention to the matter. Something had already heen done in this matter. Mr James Dignan wrote stating that he has built and completed a public hall and billiard room at Morrinsville, and enquiring as to the modus operandi of making application for license and registering of same.—lt was decided to reply stating that there were no county bye-laws, and referring the enquirer to the Parliamentary Statutes. Cra Harrison and Ring each communicated to the effect that the alteration of the day of meeting would prevent them from being present. Letter from Messrs Dignan and Co. stating that on September 6th their drayman went to the gravel-pit and found the gate locked. The letter asks on whose authority the gate was fastened. —Foreman Johnson stated that Mr Be’l authorised his man to lock the gate. — The Chairman moved that Mr Bell be asked to contribute half the cost of the pit in.— Carried.

Thames Council wrote expressing thanks for information re Council’s experience in respect to the superiority of rimu timber over kauri for bridge decking. Advice received from Valuer-General, of voucher for £487 12s for subsidy due to Council for 1904-5. Letter from Dr. Geo. F. Seville, reported a case of scarlet fever at Putaruru. Mr Jas. Granger, of Waihou, wrote asking the Council to take steps to prevent the side entrance to his store from being under water at every heavy fall of rain, caused by the water running in from the footpath, and suggesting that a small culvert would remedy matters. Cr. Bellamy said a 6in. culvert would be sufficient here, and it was resolved to provide this. Sand would be given free to the enquirer for use on the road. It was then proposed and carried that all money for sand and gravel be paid beforehand. Foreman Johnson’s report stated that the horses and men had been working for the best part of the month on the Thames-Waikato road, patching, carting timber, pipes, filling washouts, etc. The broken pipes near Mr Hawkins’ house have been replaced by a box culvert. The railway drainage has been satisfactorily completed. New sand on the roads io holding well. Considerable patching has been done on the road between Parr’s and Waihou township, but has since worked into holes again. The report recommends crowning up with the machine, otherwise the patching will be an everlasting job. Work has been started at Poplar Bridge, but delayed on account of excessive rain. Ti-tree has been cut and pipes levelled in, and a protection afforded to prevent traffic falling into the drain over the sides of the bridge. A man has been employed on the diagonal road on the portion that was recently sanded from the Gordon-Te Aroha road to Shaftesbury hill. This part was in a very bad state owing to the increasing traffic to the Butter Factory, and he could do nothing at present but fascining. Something should certainly be done to Shaftesbury Hill, qs it wq« very dangerous. The Foreman suggested fascining. Thjs will be attended to as soon as the weather improves. Foreman Mahood’s report was then read, and the report on the Tirau road received. Treasury Advices.

Gold duty to credit for July, £2O Us, Subsidy under Local Bodies’ Finanoo and Powors' Act, ’BS, and sec. 9 Appropriation Act, ’O4, £487 12s. Warden’s Court, 2« 3d. Goldfield’s Revenue brought to credit to July 22nd, £42 Is 9d. Request was made by Mr Adam Lay bourn, junr.. that the Council have the drain on the road in front of the Te Aroha cemetery cleared out, as the standing water is causing harm to the cemetery grounds. The Foreman said he thought there was no water there to do any damage.—The Foreman was instructed to inspect the drain in question, and carry out necessary clearing operations. A petition was read; from twplvq Shaftesbury ratepayers, cqllißg qt'tenti’fln tp ‘ the disgraceful state of the diagonal road from the cross roqds by Hanks’ gate to Shaftesbury Bp'dgo. Cp Bellamy had a proposal that this portion of road be taken over by the County, the maintenance to be charged to the general account, but on finding that the road was already a county road, -withdrew the motion. Separate Riding Accounts. A letter from Mr Swarbrick stated that the system in which the Council has to keep their accounts and allocate their funds has been laid down by statute, and thp Council lias no power to alter or vary rhq system by qny resolution or otherwise. The letter also stated that certain sections in the Act affectjpg this matter werp badly drawn and incoiir

Bistent , but had been elucidated in the case of Crawford v Hutt County, and final judgment in Court of Appeal in June last. Any balance left over from the general account is to be credited to the riding in which it was collected. Further it is stated that the system proposed in the motion would be contrary to law. It was held that other counties were doing wrong in adopting the Separate Riding Account system, and now this opinion settled Cr McCaw said that before he heard this letter he was somewhat in favour of separate accounts being kept. Motion ruled out of order as being contrary to law. Cr Keeley then moved that the Council agree to the transference to Waipa County of the portion of this county to the south and west of the Waikato river, and that the previous resolution declining this, dated October 21st, 1897, be rescinded. Petition read from ten ratepayers inMaung.t tutari district, asking for the transference of their land to the Waipa County, the same to he rated to that body, and stating that the time has now arrived when their roads need more attention than they have had in the past. Cr McCaw thought the Waikato river would make a good boundary. Motion carried unanimously. Balance sheet Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for year ended 31st

March, 1905. Receipts during year, £9430 17s 3d. Expenditure, L 340 Is 4d. Balance, March 31st, 1905, L 1662 5s 7d. A letter was read from the Ratepayers’ Reform Association asking why a previous, letter of theirs was not received. The Chairman said that the reason the letter was not received was that it was an impertinent one. They had previously re- | ceived letters from the Association, and had dealt courteously with them. Mr Lamey was afraid the Council only looked upon the ratepayers as bondsmen, who must not say or do anything except find money. The Chairman said that the Association was always treated ; courteously. Had they not been allowed to hold their meetings in the Council Cambers through the courtesy of the Council ? It was only when the insinuating letter was received that the Council changed its attitude. Cr McCaw suggested that instead of writing to the Council, the Association should make the man who represents the district answer for the roads.

Cr Lamey said he had proposed many things but how had he been treated P He had been obliged on occasions to claim the protection of the Chair. Cr Bellamy: The reason why the member is not made the mouthpiece, is that there is only one who is fit to do it. Cr Lamey: I like to Bee fair play, and have the courage of my own opinions. The matter was then dropped. County Horses. —Cr Bellamy said he was sorry that he was unable to get a hearing at the last meeting, and the consequent delay had caused him to modify his suggestions. He thought the foreman should make a report on how many miles of road in Matamata, Te Aroha and Waitoa ridings ought to be formed or reformed. This could be laid on the table at the. next meeting and tenders could be called for the whole lot in one job. This would be an inducement for those men who had good horses, to go in for the contract. The Council should either sell the horses or buy better ones, as the members of the Council knew that two of them were done. He thought the best plan would be to sell the horses and retain the road machine, which they-could hire out to contractors, who would be responsible for any damage to the machine. Cr Lamey said that all who had seen the present system were satisfied that it was the most expensive method. Cr McCaw said that-under the proposed system the Council would simply be throwing themselves at the mercy of the contractors, and they should keep the horses a while and get the advantage of the summer, as horses were at present down about LlO. Cr Lamey: The first loss is best. I say sell thorn now. Cr Bellamy said it was three months since he first proposed this matter, and was not his fault that the matter had come so close to the Cambridge horse sale. Cr McCaw: As far as I can see the County horses are the best thing ever tackled. It is mainly a question of getting the work well arranged by a really good man. The Chairman said that the Chairman of the Waipa Council said they arranged with a man who had a team of four horses, and paid him L 9 per week, and guaranteed him work. Cr Bellamy: I sec by reports that roadmaking only costs them about 4s 6d per chain, whereas it costs us about 9s. The question of prices paid to contractors in a neighbouring district (8 s per day for man, horse and dray) was raised, and it was agreed by several members to be a starvation price. The Chairman was of opinion that if the horses at this end of the county could be got to work as well as those at the other end that they would be satisfactory. Cr Lamey said he knew a man who appropriately called the road machines “ road destructors.”

Cr McCaw thought that if they could get two good men to work the machine they would have no further trouble. Cr Brady had asked the foreman if he could work as cheaply as a contractor, and he had admitted that he could not. Cr Lamey said he had had road work done at 8s and he did not think it could be done at loss, but the non-working days were the loss to the County. Cr Gavin: Are we to understand that these horses are to be sold ? I think it would be a great mistake, and as there are only one or two meetings before the elections, why should wo not leave the matter for the new council to decide. It looks as if we were going to elect members and make laws for them. Cr Lamey: Why should we not do now what we think best. We could then leave ' the new council something and not start them in the same old muddling way. , Cr Gavin took exception to this statement, and a cross-fire of words followed with Or Lamey, but on the latter appealing to the chair, it was suppressed. The Chairman was of opinion that if the road muchine could not be made to pay, or if they found any difficulty in getting men, it was no use trying to keep it on, and that if the horses must go, the machine must go, If we can’t work it with our own men and horses, we had better be without it, Contractors who had not a heavy team of horses would have no show, and that meant a monopoly being created for the benefit of two or three contractors.

Cr McCaw: The contractors would put in enough to cover wet weather. Cr Bellamy said Ithey would not necessarily. They would try to make it up. The Chairman did not see how that could be done. A man would have to be employed by the contractor, who would have to, pay overtime. Cr Bellamy explained that a contractor, working his business properly could do more work with six email houses than the Council could with four big ones. Cr Lamey srid that he did not intend com* ing back to the council, but had decided to to put himself to the test, and in case of failure, woql<f probably be a contractor.

Cr Biaiy : I consider that Cr Gavin has made a very wise suggestion. Cr Larney : Yet last autumn you advised keeping the horses until spring as they cou|4 then be sold at better prices. Chaii mon: I don’t see anyone should object to selling tlm machine. One reason why the machfnp lues got been’paying, I now fipd, is that two, of the -horses are not up to the work. I don’t understand why this was not reported long ago. Cr Brady moved that two. of the horses be sold and new ones bought. This was carried-

I Also carried that Mr Mahood be authorised ! to get a suitable home in place of the one at i Pl Cr Bellamy said he now thought it would pay the Council best to keep the horses an--otiTwaso then decided not to do anything j hU SStB passed: J. Rooney, £5 3s 8d; D. I Borne, 7s; ‘ sen, £1 118 6d; T. Gwdha u, £2 9s> J 0“ ! Hanks, £3 18s 9d; Jas. Thomas, life. 0. M. I Smith, £3 18s 3d': Burge Bros., £6 9»10J, rwoll senr.. £2 :T. Donovan, £1 4s , W. R. Johnson,,£l4 14s; Jas- MoNicol, sa; A.‘ J. Johnson, £ll 13s 4d ;W. Bramby, 5s , Assets Board, £2O; Waikato Hospital,JM* Is- Strong and Mann. £7 7s; J. I,los -W F. Pepperill, £9 18s ;F. Gibson, £l4- Tawhiti, £6 18s ; H. England, £IW and J. Clifford, £6 Mj W Snnte,, 7d ; Richard Davie.. £1 11s 6d > P - f aU g £ll 13s lid; Daniel Curtin, £5 10s , » Frith £IOO ; P. Gilchrist, £43 15s ;_o®ce eS™,ss’;J. Finnerty, £U5s; Warioa Road Board, 17s 2d; Waikato Tunes 13s 6d, Te Aroha News, £2 5s ; Johan Olsen 8s 6d Wm. Newsome, 10s; E. G. Beeson, 10s Jas Buchan,.£2 7s 9d; Cleave and Co., £2 17s (id; Jas. Lavery, £8 4s Od;F. Pavitt, £3 10s 6d; E. B. Hill, 3s 6d.