Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43082, 16 April 1907, Page 3

Piako County Council.

MONTHLY MEETING. .The ordinary monthly meeting of the Piako County Council was held at Te Aroha yesterday.‘ Present: Councillors Thos. Gavin (chairman), N. A. Larney, J. W. McCaw, W. Ring, J.. Keeley, J. B. Thomas, T. McGloin.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and correspondence read. Drain on McCabe’s-boad. —Mr W. A. Taylor asked Council to clear out sixty chains of this drain along his boundary from Johnston’s creek bridge to Mikklesen’B-road. He offered to pay half-cost, and also to contribute £2 towards-cleaning Johnston’s creek thmugh Mr Ryan’s - Resol-ved that the Committee view the drain rip at Johnston’s creek drain, and that offer be accepted subject to the Committee’s approval. Road on Hungahunga Swa&tp. —Messrs D. Waghom and Clothier asked for repairs to he done on a road parallel to Alexandra-read. It was said that much could not be done until the Drainage Board works were completed. . Bbidge near Matamata. —A communication from the Department of Roads intimated that the authority in Council’s hands for £3OO towards bridge over Waihou, near Matamata, had been cancelled. Letter received. Harboub Boaed Representation.— A letter from the Marine Department stated that the Governor had appointed Mr R. L. Somers to act as a member of the Thames Harbour Board.

Waitoa. Road Case.—Mr A. Swarbrick, solicitos, intimated that he had receive! word that the Judge made an order that the following issue be tried at the sitting of the Supreme Court on June 3rd : “ Are the strips of land mentioned and referred to in paragraph 7 of the affidavit of Andrew Hanna sworn and filed therein, or are any of them (and if so which of them) public roads ?’ ” Roads at Walton. —Mr C. Q. Hutchinson ■wrote calling attention to the bad state of the road near, th'e station, and also the steep hill approaching Mr Ellery’s. This work has now been carried out. Reclamation Association. —A letter from the secretary, Mr H. B. Crawford, stating , that on Thursday next a meeting would be held at Hamilton to appoint delegates to interview the Minister for Lands when he visits the. district, and if possible accompany •&:m on his launch trip. On the 1 motion of Cr Main, the Chairman was appointed as delegate to the Reclamation Committee. Cr Lamey said it would turn out to be an electioneering dodge altogether. 800 .Registration. —Mr H. Osborne, of Aratiatiar," wrote explaining the circumstances with a demand for 10s tax made U* or a dog belonging to his son. As the dog immediately been drowned, he asked that the fee should no longer be demanded. It was said that the owner was still liable for the tax. Mr M. F. Ryan also wrote stating that a ■ dog for which the tax had been demanded belonged to bis daughter, and was registered at Te Aroba, where she resided. It was resolved that if the dog belonged to the County, it should not be registered in the Borough. Another man, Mr Driver, had said that a dog on his place belonged to a relative at Cambridge. Mr Curtain had a gun dog which he refused to register, It was resolved that he be wnten to and informed that he would have to pay the 10s fee. It was said that the best plan would be to bring any cases of objection in a batch to Court.

Assessob.— Mr Allan Bowler had declined to act as assessor to the County, and on urgent request from the Valuation Department the Chairman had interviewed Mr R. Burke, who had consented to accept the position. This was subject to Council’s approval, which was given on the motion of Cr McCaw. SnAUGHTErHousE at Waihou.— Mr S. McKibben made application for permission to erect a slaughterhouse near Waihou railway station. A letter from the Chairman of the Waihou School raised objections to the license being granted :—(a) That the section adjoins the school grounds, (b) Danger to children owing to presence of wild cattle, (c) License would almost place slaughterhouse in back yard of teacher’s residence, and health of school would be affected, Mr H, Ross and Mr O’Donogbue, of Waihou, attended on behalf of the School Committee, and explained the objections raised to the license. Both gentlemen were emphatic against the granting of the license. Mr O’Donoghue said if it were granted the school would have to be closed down. Mr McKibben was also present, and supported his case, but was reproved by the Chairman for personalities. It was pointed out that if Council consented to the license, it might still be refused by the Health Department. Cr McGloin said he would have no objection in voting for the license except for the School Committee’s opposition. « Cr Thomas was also against. S Cr Larney said that he would like to see • consistency carried out. At the time of the last license being granted, it had been pointed out that slaughterhouses were not objected to ArT towns, and he thought that those who Stated for the last license should vote for this one. The Chairman said that the very man who applied for this license was the one who had opposed the previous license on the ground of health. Cr McCaw objected because the School Committee represented the householders’ ppinion. The Chairman moved that the objection of the School Committee he upheld, and that the license be not recommended. This was (seconded by Cr McCaw and carried. Beibges. —Jt was resolved that tenders he called at once for the following i—Re-erect-ing ' Curtain’s bridge, an extra span on a Waitoa bridge on the Piako, and a culver; at Matamata. Foreman Mahood’s Repoet. Before

winter machine will be put on Tirau-Rotorua road and at Tapapa. Men shifted slips between Ferguson’s Gully and Waikato river junction. Propose after three or four weeks, « if weather favourable, to stop machine and do patching and filling ruts where required. Will report on Totman’s-road, Patetere, at next meeting. Timber ordered for repair of flood damage. Numerous contracts reported „_to be progressing slowly and behind time. This would be. a serious matter in view of the close proximity of winter. Drain Across River. —ln connection with previous letters from Mr Mackie, requesting Council to clear out the drain between his and Mr Baine’s property, Messrs Mackie and Baine attended as a deputation. Mr Baine did not see why he or Mr Mackie should bo asked to contribute, as the water was brought right down from Waihou by Council and put into this drain. There was practically no water off their property. There would not be much use in asking the Waihou people to contribute, as they had all they wanted in connection with this drain. Or McGloin said the mistake seemed to he that the property along the road was drained into the County road. There was consequently a large Sow of water through Messrs Baiiie and Mackie’s property, which was thereby flooded out. He considered that this was a case that warranted assistance. Cr Larney said the County had a per* feet right to turn,the watgr into the drains in question. ' <3r McGloin differed, and he and Or Larney exchanged some excited remarks. The Chairman thought in a case where water from miles along the road was turned into private property, that it was the Council’s duty to keep clear such drains on private property. If we had to spend money on drains, then the roads must either be neglected or the rates raised.to cover all expenditures. Cr McGloin ,£aid he had seen eases of

money being spent on drains on private land which, if the matter were contested, would be found to be illegal. Cr Lamey pointed out that if the Council assisted settlers to drain their land, Council got the benefit of increased valuation. On the Chairman’s motion, seconded by Cr Lamey., it was resolved that if Messrs Mackie and Baine fence in this drain, that the drain be cleaned out and formed where necessary. The total length of the drain is about 25 chains. Mr Baine said it would only be done in dry weather. Cambridge Bridge Loan. —A communication from the Treasury pointed out that a special order authorising the raising of the loan, should first have been made before the special order striking the rate. Both special orders would now have to be made. Cr J. Keeley said that the bridge would now cost £13,000, instead of £l,lOO. He considered that' the other representatives who were at the meeting, had agreed to the increase. He thought the extra cost was really caused by the Cambridge Borough Council’s dilatory dealings, in having beenthree years handling the bridge question. The manufacture of the bridge had cost

contract price, but he believed that the engineer had omitted to insert a time clause, and consequently the bridge had been delivered late. Cr McGloin pointed out that one increase had already been acceded to by the Council. He thought it reflected no credit on the Cambridge Borough Council that the other bodies should he asked twice to raise their contributions. It was said that through an error no eontribution had been levied on the Cambridge Road Board, and now it was too late. On the Chairman’s motion it was resolved to leave the making of a special order until | the final demand is received from the Cambridge Borough Council. Steele’s Road Drain. —Mr S. V. Knight of Manawaru, wrote asking Council to contribute half towards cleaning sixty chains of drain on this road. The Foreman recommended that this be done. Offer accepted on Chairman's motion, seconded by Cr McGloin. Johnston’s Creek Drain. —A deputation composed of Messrs Ryan, Mikklesen and O’Donoghue, waited upon the Council with reference to this drain, which needs cleaning out. A subscription list was presented showing several contributions that had been promised towaids the work.

Mr Ryan said that 25i chains was through his property and eight or nine acres of his land was under water in consequence of the obstruction. The outlet shouffi he cleared before the top was done, although the late Road Board had done the top first when it cleared it. . Eight chains through the resei ve had already been cleaned. Mr Mikklesen said his land was also under water.

Mr O’Donoghue said that Mr Mikklesen had turned water into a private drain instead of into the Government drain.

Mr Mikklesen denied having done this. Mr O’Donoghue said there was a sheet of water 15 chains wide over Mr Lennard’s land. The trouble was that the Road Board had made this drain just where it liked, and had gone through the high ridges, and in consequence the water went across the country instead of along the drain. The foreman’s report on the drain was then read.

Cr McCaw said a drainage board should he formed and then the settlers could have the drains as they liked. Mr O’Donoghue said the settlers had paid their rates for years and he did not see why they should not be taxed with a drainage board. The Manawaru water should be sent into the river where it ought to go, into Cassidy’s drain ; this would relieve Johnston’s creek and the whole district. The settlers bad an agreement that was totally opposite to the present conditions. The drain had been made with their “thirds” and £l5O from the Government. Mr Johnston got £35 as compensation before he would allow his creek to be opened up. Questioned by Cr Larney, Mr O’Donoghue said it would not cost much to put right —say £L a chain for about £25 chaffs. This would ’ e the top part above McCabe’s-road. The Chairman said the fault seemed to be Ihe same as with most of the drains laid off i n the past by this engineer: they were carried over high ground away from the natural course. This one was quite away from the old creek line. On the motion of Cr Larney, seconded by Cr Thomas, it was resolved that a committee consisting of the foreman and riding members meet on Saturday next at Johnston’s bridge, on Stanley-road, to view the ground with Mr O’Donoghue and others interested. Tenders. —Carting 330yds sand: Brokepshire, 2s 3d per yard; McSweeney (accepted), Is lid per yard. Grading hill: Brokenshire, £9 ; McSweeney (accep(ed), £B. Hobahoba Roads. —Messrs Death Bros, wrote stating that since writing to Cr Main re these roads they found that they were already legally dedicated roads. Poole’s Road Drain. —Several settlers requested Council to clean out drain on Poole’sroad. Foreman to report at next meeting. Foreman Johnson’s Report. —ltems to be reported on from last meeting : —Flatt’sroad: Till- Flatt promises to do earthwork if Counci’ supply and put in pipes. Cr Thomas did not consider this work necessaiy. On Che-rman’s motion, seconded by Cr Thomas, it was decided that the work he not done.

Mr T. Bellamy’s Ngutumangu drain, inspected and found in fair order. Lower end getting choked with weeds would not cost much to clean. This being Mr Burke’s main outlet, he should contribute. Length 80 chains. Resolved to ask Mr Burke to eontiibute. Bridge at Walton repaired. Estimate submitted, and it was resolved that Eastwood’s road, Manawaru, be opened up. Unable to come to any arrangement with Messrs Moriarty and Knight. Matter held over. Recommend tenders for Burke’s drain not to be opened. Too much water in drain to make satisfactory job. Rjsolved that another scheme be substituted. Outlet needed at top of Piako hi! 1 , Mouinsvllle. Held over to consider filling depression in road instead.

Mr Watts, Morrinsville, wants 55 feet of 10ft. footpath forming at his new shop and will find kerbing material if Council does the work. Cr McGloin pointed out that £ls had been spent in forming a footpath at the saddler’s shop and now a small concession asked for by another is refused. The Chairman maintained there was no comparison in the two jobs, as at the saddler’s a deep gully was to he filled. If this was acceded to, others would want footpaths. Cr Larney said the saddler had paid JBB towards pipes. Cr Lamey said Cr McGloin was putting the matter in a wrong light. Cr McGloin accused Cr Lara ey of “barking” and interrupting. The Chairman reproved Cr McGloin for irritating the Council by bringing up this matter again. Cr McGloin maintained that he was in order. The Chairman told him that he was one of the men who took up tho Council’s lime. Cr McGloin: Mt Chairman, I always looked upon myself as one of tho silent members. (Laughter) Crs McGloin and Larney continued exchanging compliments, until called to order by the Chairman. It was resolved on the Chairman’s motion, that the request be refused Dignan r.ot yet received 6in pipes at Morrinsville. Nothing decided. S. Bellamy has two good jacks for sale useful for bridge work. Resolved that they he purchased. Culvert psst Stoney Creek Bridge is beginning to go. Resolved that new culvert be put in. Brumby’s-road at Shaftesbury—have made estimate. Resolved to interview Mr Fi llay with a view to discussing the matter. Buchan’s drain Contributing parties want to know if anything further will be done. Nothing decided.