Piaho County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43118, 30 July 1907, Page 2

Piaho County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held yesterday afternoon. Present : Crs. Gavin (chairman), McCaw, Keeley, Thomas, McGloin, Main, Donaldson and

Manuel. An apology for non-attendance was received from Cr Ring. The Chairman weloomed Cr Manuel on behalf of the Council, and hoped they would all work together for the good of the ratepayora. j Cr Manuel thanked Councillors for their j kind welcome and stated he would do his j best for the ratepayers. Mr Ross, Waihou, interviewed the Council in regard to a drain on Mr Magill’s property, , which was running the water on to his. —On i Cr Thomas’ suggestion, it was decided that ' il W.a 1 5 lit. j J

the YYaitoa members inspect the dram and report at next meeting. Mr Mots waited on the Council in regard to an outlet from his property, Mr Allen having refused to let him have right-of-way through his property. He asked the Council to form a road, and stated it was level going till the gully was reachod, when a small bridge would be required. C'r Keeley was in favour of going on with the work if the foreman’s estimate was Inot over £75, but if it was more, the foreman to report at the next meeting, i Mr Moss : I will give £25 if the work is

gone on with at once. Or Manuel said he did not think they were justified in going on with the work until they had the foreman’s report. The Chairman moved that the matter be left with Crs McGloin and Manuel and the Foreman, to meet Mr Moss on the ground and arrange with him.—Carried. Mr Morse said he would do the work himself for £BO. Mr Chapman, Matumahoe, waited on the Council in regard to a road through his property, and he offered to form and dedicate the road if the Council would help him out of his difficulty by forming their portion of the dedicated road. Or Manuel said this road would eventually have to be taken through the Lockerbie Estate, and it was agreed that he and the Foreman inspect the site and report to the next meeting. Cr Manuel said Mr Chapman’s offer was a very liberal one. At this stage the Council went into committee on the question of finance. The Council resumed at 7 p,m. i The returning officer, Mr Abbey, notified • tbo election of Mr Charles Manuel to fill the

extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Cr Lamey. Messrs Sharland and Company acknowledged the Council's order for poisoned wheat and owing to their coinplaint they were making it stronger this year. The Matamata branch of the Farmers’ Union thanked the Council for acceding to their request for poisoned wheat. Mr T. A. Hicks, Maungatautari, notified his willingness to distribute any poisoned wheat the Council would forward, Mr R, B. Morgan, Matamata, wrote asking to be remunerated for cartage, storage, and distribution of wheat. Mr J. Massey informed the Council that he objected to them draining through his land on the Turangamoana-road, unless they erected culverts or put in pipes to give him crossings to his satisfaction. —Deferred for further consideration. The manager of the Assets Board (Waikato Estates) asked the Council to advise if it could not see its way to repair the road through the Richmond Downs Estate referred to in previous letter. The general manager of the Bank of New Zealand also wrote in regard to the same road. He asked the Council to take steps to put the road in such a state that goods could be carted over it.— Received.

The Waihou School Committee thanked the Council for putting in a culvert. They also asked for a permit to take six loads of sand to complete the crossing.—Agreed to. Mr Finlay, Te Aroha, asked for permission to put gates on the chain reserve along his boundary by the Waihou River —Granted on condition that proper swing gates were put on, and advertised in the ordinary way. Mr J. S. Brown, Hinuera, informed the Council that the Commissioner of Crown Lands had agreed to pay £ll towards the cost of the new road, near No. 2 creamery, and he would pay the balance up to half-cost.

The Commissioner also wrote endorsing this. Some discussion took place as to A. L. Foster’s letter in regard to remarks passed on the Council’s foreman, and the action of the Chairman was endorsed by Councillors, who thought their foremen were as capable of laying out a piece of work as Foster himself.

The district engineer notified his permission for the Council’s men to clean out drains near the railway. He also asked for permission to dpain the water from the goods shed at Matamata into the Council’s new drain when cut, —Cr MoCaw to interview the Inspector in regard to the matter. Mr W. Thomson, Waihou, was willing to pay half cost of clearing drain near his property if the other settlers paid their share. Foreman to interview him for further particulars.

The Secretary Morrinsville Improvement Committee notified the Council of their intention to procure the formation of the township of Morrinsville and adjacent land into a town district. The committee think it' right to inform the Council that they intend to prepare and forward to the proper quarter a petition praying for the formation of such a district, and will be glad at any time to furnish the Council with details of the areas proposed lo be included, and will endeavour to meet the wishes of the Council in the matter as far as possible. Cr Manuel, who is a member of the committee, explained their aims and also the requirements of the town, and Councillors generally seemed in favour of the proposal. The Treasury notified that £1 16s gold duty for the month of June had been places to the Council’s credit. Mp W. C. Pickett, Morrinsville, asked the Council to fill in the approach to his section, £8 he was about to build. —Work to be done subject to Cr Manuel’s approval. Cr McCaw reported that they intended to take the water which lies at Abbott’s store,

ajong the watertable near the railway station, but if the railway people are allowed to drain into it a more extensive scheme would be required, and he thought the Department ought to contribute half the cost. Makgil, Middleton and Company forwarded deed of dedication of the strip of road on their property for the Council’s endorsement. —Council to sign the deed when the £4 agreed on by Mr Death is paid. A. Hanna, solicitor, forwarded the deed of dedication of the Tirau-road, executed by the Bank of New Zealand for the Council’s endorsement. The Cambridge Borough Council requested payment of £207, the Council’s share of the cost of the bridge since last payment. Mr Herries, Ity.H.R., notified his willingness to act as the Council’s representative at the Counties’ Conference at Wellington. Mr R. H, V. Scott, Waitoa, asked the

Council to contribute half cost of deepening and widening drain in front pf his property.— Referred to the Drainage to ask them to supply pipes, Mr D. H. Kirton, Morrinsville, asked for a pormit to cart sand at 6d per load from near the Piako bridge.—Left to Cr Manuel to arrange. Mr G. Eyre, Tauwbare, complained of the state of hie road.—To be repaired.) The Cambridge Borough Council wrote re the Karapiro bridge, stating that they had obtained plans and specifications for substantial repairs to the bridge to meet all requirements for many ymrs to come. A contract had been let for Wharf-street formatiou in compliance with the condition named by the Piako Council.—Received. The Chief Engineer (Roads Department) acknowledged the Council’s complaint, re Government forming narrow roads. He stated that when the money voted was insufficient for the work, they had to narrow the guaga to make tho money spin out.—Councillors re- j

garded this state of affairs as very unsatisfactory. Two cases of phthisis were reported from Waitoa. Mr Robertson complained of the state of the Te Aroha road. —Matter being attended to. Messrs Eastwood and Stafford's tender was accepted for carting gravel at Manaws.ru at 2s lid per yard, and T. H. Hall and Co’s, for supplying oats and bran. Re closing roads on the Lansdowne Estate, it was decided to hold a meeting of settlers at Morrinsville at a date to be fixed by the Chairman.

The County Clerk applied for a rise in salary owing to increased work. Cr Keeley moved that the salary he increased to .£250 per annum. •, Councillors generally spoke strongly in I favour of Mr Gilchrist’s services. 1 The Chairman said he thought that in Mr ! Gilchrist they had one of the best county clerks in New Zealand, and he thought the I amount they had saved in legal advice alone 1 would double his salary. The motion was oarried unanimously. Mr Gilchrist briefly returned thanks. The Clerk offered the use of the room occupied by the Council that day for meetings, and his offer was accepted with thanks. Mr Cronin, Aratiatia, asked the Counoil to assist him in making a 2ft. 6in. drain on his side of the road. —The Council could not see their way to grant any assistance. In regard to a complaint from Mr Starkey, the member for the riding and the Foreman are to inspect the same and report to the next meeting. The Foremen stated they were losing the services of some of their best men, as they would not stay unless they received 8s a day, and it was decided to agree to the foremen’s recommendations.

The following rates were struck for the year in the various ridings : —Waitoa lfd, Matamata Te Aroha, Patetere and Taotaoroa l£d. The Foremen submitted their monthly reports of works done, and recommended other works which were approved of. Tefe Chairman and Crs McGloin, Thomas and Manuel were appointed a committee to inspect the proposed new roads at Morrinsville. The Council rose at 11 15 p.m.