Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42794, 21 October 1905, Page 2

Piako County Council.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Piako County Council was held at Mon-ins vilie on Thursday last. Present: Crs. Chepmell (Chairman' 1 , Larney, McCaw, Ring, Gavin, Keeley, Bellamy, Brady and Harrison. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Outward and inward correspondence was dealt with. Question of narrow tires was raised by a letter from Mr Chas. Suttie, quoting a Gis borne case in which a settler was charges with having driven a dray without springs and with tires of less than Sin in width, and showing that other Councils approved of wide tires. Objection hnd been raised by the Piako Council to some very wide tires used near Waharoa. —It was contended that these were above a reasonable limit, but the Council has no bye-law regulating the width of tires, and that an appeal could only be made asking them to remove the wide tires for the good of the roads. —Decided that Cr McCaw should interview Mr Suttie on the matter.

Cr Larney raised three objections to the new bridge at Coleman’s Creek, Aratiatia, stating that it was not to specifications. (1) Wheelguards on flooring instead of raised above. (2) No galvanised iron over stock heads. (3) Ten centre piles not sunk to the required depth. Cr Gavin suggested that the Clerk write to the Engineer asking for an explanation, and that three riding members and himself be appointed as a committee to deal with the matter. A petition was read from several Hinuera and Tfluranga district settlers asking for the revovid of trees on Cambridge and Tauranga road, at MrlMcGuire’s. It was agreed that there was not much traffic on this part of the road. Cr Ring thought it would be serious to make Mr McGuire cut all the trees down. Mr Ring was deputed to interview Mr McGuire ou this matter with a view to seeing what can be arranged. Messrs Bronmer and McGuire made an amended quotation for land for gravel pits at £lO per acre. It was agreed that this was a high price aud that. Cr Ring should interview Mr Me xuire on this matter. A letter from the Assets Board pointed out the shocking condition of the road from Ballinger’s to Roxburgh, being axle-deep in mud in n:a ly places. It was said that at the lash meeting the foreman had been instructed to attend to this portion of the road. The Goldfields Revenue brought to credit to Aug. 19, 1905, £5 12s 6d, and the Gold Duty brought to credit, for August, £9 10s. Quotations from T,’ 11. Hall and Co. for oats to be delivered at "VVuihou and Tirau were accepted. A letter from the secetary of the Farmers’ T T nion stated that they were in favour of the Separate Riding Account System. Cr La-my t io .g'ht that i.i view of letters such as these, and public opinion generally, that legal opinion should be obtained from MiMartin on the subject. Cr Harrison said that the Sepai’ate Riding Accounts would give the agitators less money than they now got. Cr Larney thought that would not be so.

Animated discussion was enteted into on the subject. A letter was received from the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce asking for the support of the Council for further work being done on the Kaimai Road on the Waikato, and especially to push on the road at the Piako end to meet the road from Tauranga. The letter stated that the Tauranga County Council has now seven miles of road to widen for traffic, and asked for information as to the distance yet to be completed by the Piako Council. This matter was left over to be dealt with by the new Council. EE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES.

Erom the Clerk of the Pahiatua County Council a letter was received as follows : “ My Council having considered the Land Commissioners’ report on the above question, approve of their recommendations, mlinely : That the Subsidy, General and Separate Rates should be (a) graduated; (b) adequate ; and that a Subsidy should be paid on Special Rates. That the present system of Government Grants (except in cases of extraordinary damages by fire or storms) be abolished ; also that the loading for roads and the payment of thirds or fourths from land revenue be discontinued in favour of the more equitable way suggested. My Council suggests, if you approve of these recommendations, that you ask the member for your district to support the same in the House, so that by united action, something might be done before the present session closes, to give ef eit to the Commissioners’ recommendations. The Chairman thought something of the kind would be brought on when the Local Government Bill was brought in.

A letter from Mr J. W. Roffoy stated that he would make dog cellars for the Council for 6d each, and replate old collars for Id each. If the Council supply the plates, 4s 6d per 100 less. As the Council had a number of unused collars in stock, it was decided to get them replated. A petition was received, signed by eight ratepayers, asking the Council to appoint a polling place at Manawaru school, Aratiatia, in connection with the approaching County election. It was moved and seconded that this be put into effect! Cr Bellamy raised the question of central nomination office, suggesting that it should he at Waihou, but it was ultimately fixed at Morrinsville The library, Te Aroha, was fixed as a polling place I for Te Aroha. At other places the school will be used for that pur-

pose, A letter from Mr F. Cauldwell of Manawaru expressed surprise that the Council had come to a decision re the cow for which he claimed comnensation, the councillors apt pointed to call on him not having done so, and suggested that their evidence must have been derived from gossip. Mr Cauldwell stated that he had been informed that it was illegal for the Council to dig pits on the roadside and not fence them in. Cr Bellamy stated that he and Mr Gavin had been up to Mr Cauldwell’s since last meeting, Mr Gavin being sick they were unable to go tip sooner. They interviewed Mr Cauldwell, who said that someone had left his gate open and the cow had strayed on the road. Mr Bellamy did not want to do any injustice to Mr Cauldwell, but the point was : is the Council liable for a person leaving the gate open f Cr Gavin explained that Mr Cauldwell was driving the cow at the time to get het back, when she fell into the pit. Cr Gavin had beon approachod by ratepayers who had said that Mr Cauldwell was in the habit of driving his cows to the pit for water, and that they were not going to pay rates for this kind of thing. Cr Bellamy : Mr Cauldwell admitted that the cow would hare died anyhow if she had not had water from the pit. Cr Bellamy urged that any further pits dug should be fenced. It was decided that the Council adhere to their decision, as the deceased cow had not been produced, and no sum of compensation had been mentioned. The Chairman moved that all disused pits ■ be filled up or battered down and all pits m use be fenced. This was carried. i A letter from Mr Jno. Hanks of Waio- ( rongomai stated that water was blocked in the roads near nis paddock, and asked that it he seen to. . . , . . j Cr Brady said that it was not damaging | the road. ~ , i Foreman Johnson said that this particular drain was particularly flat, but if cleared there would he requests from numerous ' others, t . <

It was decided that it was not necessary ttr |jj.j do anything in this matter. . CAMBRIDGE HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE. A letter was received from the Mayor oi Cambridge giving particulars of amer/.cd plans, etc., for this proposed bridge, ana . stating that the total cost would not exceea ; £II,OOO as was originally proposed. ±iu ? 3 -.\«. of the new steel cantilever bridge were submitted. Cr Larney: This is practically anew question coming up. Cr Keely: This is a better budge all round, yet nothing more is asked to be allocated for it. Chairman: I should like to know more about it before voting for it, but if we do object we must have stated grounds for objection. • ~ y Cr Larney: If the Order in Council com-,.^-, mits us to contribute towards the upkeep o this bridge I certainly shall object: It was stated that in case of not objecting, the Council was committed to contribute

per cent. , Cr Keely: Some other local bodies are not satisfied, they' will wait until the bridge is built and then ask for a Royal Commission to allocate tie thing fairly. Chairman: In face of the fact that avo agreed to buildabridge,andthatthisisabetter one, and practically ou the same site, it would almost be a breach of faith to object. Cr Larney: I think it unfair that we shou.d i * contribute 15 per cent when the Waikato County gets off for ten per cent. Cr Larney thought the Council should not j relinquish their power to object, and if better terms were offered them later, they cou d L ; accept them. ' Cr McCaw : I think we have committed ,y. ourselves and cannot back out. . \ Cr Larney thought objections should be made now the letter from the Mayor of Cambridge was received. The County election will he held on the second Wednesday in November. Returning officers were appointed as follows :

Patatere Riding ... P. W. Elston A . Waitoa „ ... W. Abbey Matamata ~ ... B. Browne Taotaoroa ~ ... G. Dickenson Yyfd To Aroha ~ ... E. Pavitt Tirau Road.—Mr Foster, of Auckland, stated that he had gone through the plans ana. adopted most of the suggestions made by \ Foreman MaKood. There was only one place which they could not agree upon. The Foreman suggested a deviation to Improve tho road. Mr Foster thought the road, would y. be too sharp, and much alteration involved. ■ The Council approved of the plans, but upheld the objectiun of the foreman to th 9 sharp turn in question. Mr J. T. Spargo asked permission to con- , l . struct a culvert near his property, _ and to grade the approach thereto, suggesting that the Council might allow him to take gravel from the County pit for that purpose. Permission was granted. ■ Re Fawcett’s drainage contract, it was resolved that the account be paid and allowance made according to the foreman’s report. Contract No. 28, Cambridge-Napier Road. —Mr Shaw’s tender of Is 7d was accepted. , The reports of Foremen Johnson and Mahood were read and .adopted. _ Particulars were given for the widening of the cutting on Shaftesbury Hill. The question of horses was raised, and some at about LSO were suggested. It was carried that the two horses ‘ ‘ Duke ’ ’ and 1 * Admiral be bought.—Cr Larney objected to this. The following accounts were passed for payment: —Adam Fawcett, £l6 3s 6d; MSheehan, j£4 12s lOd; W. R. Johnson, £ls : A. Johnson, £lO 18s 8d; T. Gwilliam, .£3 .q 6s 3d; James Rooney, £7 19s 3d; Willie i Symons, 30s; S. Bellamy, 255; .T-j-eph Finnerty, 425; Alf. Coad, 495: G. Wat tern, £3 11s; W. Sweenoy, 14s; T. Jamieson, 14s; S. Burge. 15s 4d; Davies Bros., ss; W. Newsliam, 10s; J. Hanks, 17s 6d; A. Forrest, £6; G. P. Goodfcllow, 575; Buchan, Baskett and Co., 445; Te Aroha Timber Co., £l7 10s lid; J. A. Granger, 8s 9d; H. McKenzie, £1 15s 6d; G. Mahood, £l3 10s; H. England, L 0 10s; Tawhiti, £6 18s; W. Sendamore, £5 ss; J. Gordon, £4 4s ; A. Bruce, £3 10s; E. Kelly, £7 7s; W. Robertson, £7 7s; J. Middleton, £9 2s; ,M. Strong, £8 8s; McNicol and Co., £SO ; H. and J. Clifford, £7 13s lOd; MarkHu-rison, £3 16s; W. C. Ring, £7; C. W. Keeley, £l2 15s; J. McCaw, £6; J. Brady, £lO 10s; T. Gavin, £7: T. Bellamy; £4 10s; ' N. A. Larney, £3 10s: W. P. Chepmell, £4 11s; T. H. Hall and Co., £27 17s 4d ; W. Abbey, £2 3s; W. G. Collins,-£4 10s 6d: McVeagh aud Byrne, 5s Gd; G. E. Clark and Sons, £l.