Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4401, 22 April 1909, Page 3

Piako County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the •bove Council took place in the Council Whitaker-street, Te Aroha, on Tuesday afternoon last, when there were present: Crs W P. Chepmill (Chairman). J. Brady, W. T. Hughes, T. Bellamy, J. Thomas, and C. iManuel. The Supervisor (W R Johnson) was also in attendance. The minutes were read and confirmed and the inward and outward correspondence dealt with. | —Future Contracts— It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Manuel, seconded byCr. Hughes, that in future ( the Council provide all materials and call tenders for labour only. The Council took this step owing to the frequent inability of contractors to obtain materials, building timber, etc., and consequent applications for extension of time. —Guide Poles — Resolved on the motion of Cr. Thomas that in order to assist vehicular traffic during flood time, guide poles be placed along the low portion of the Cemetery Road, near Baine’s pit. —Morrinsville Requirements— 1 Cr. Manuel had several * ‘ little matters” ! which required attention, viz, two or three deep holes just in front of Harbottles ; j also 6 or 7 chains required attention on the new road. It only meant a few pounds.—Left in the hands of the Super- ' visor.—Seconded by Chairman. ® —Sanding— t Cr. Thomas drew attention to the s necessity for sanding from Taylor’s to Waihou and Mr. McCabe’s Road, and Thomas’ Road from Cooper’s comer to • O’Grady’s.—Decided to got work done. d —“Thirds”- n The Receiver of Land Revenue advised w that the sum of £75 2s had been placed to Council’s credit, being amount of “thirds” due to 25th March, 1909.

—Waiorcngomai Hill Track— A voucher for the sum of £25 was received for repairing the Hill Track, Waiorongomai. —Gold Purchases— The Manager of Bank, Thames, advised that during the month of March gold had been pureh iscd totalling 1020*05oz; as under Thames County, 125*10z ; Thames Borough 880 95 oz; Piako County 14oz. Fine Gold :—Thames County, 75*06; Thames Borough 563 803 ozs; Piako County 878 ozs. —Hospital and Charitable Aid—

The Secretary of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote request ing payment of £495 5s amount of allocation due by the Piako County Council, for the year ending 31st March, 1910: The various local bodies contributing are:— tS ©©e©©© o®o © s © ® oq OC5a 'O hGCO h h ICI IO o rH *“• rH rH CfJ GO c 'M a »c i'- -f ci ci *o zz, S S I- O fl m © n . p <£ c -t I- c i-» si oc «5 a x x c r* £ Ct ‘O rp O i-’ r-< C-l O M 'O f - <3 >2 *« w X » oo xT ®* •o' « ~ l- ® >0 -t 1 to Ol <-> *f CO •O ©X>OCO I- —i Tf 'O Ift Ol •-h . >o i- os eo a>o to ® © o ~ « g ®.oi- go ©so m x» oo X C C*. CO © CC rvj ‘O ** CO r 4 S CO w »-? *-T , ‘-o' ® . * flic S !rrt g • I? I'sll ►, I's'f ."’Sn** SJ? s -p oWo p c £ s o ° co © =3 ° °o ° f 2 E "s'g * * ? e 3 a = I SPJCiS 8 o ©,,3 c 3 5 5*5 s+arW-rffl S 5 .WVrJi —Richmond Towns Roads— From Messrs O’Neill and Lewis, solicitors, Hamilton, enclosing plan of Richmond Towns Roads, of the proposed deviation, and asking the County Council to endorse same. They added that Mr Mitchel is very anxious to have the roads closed and the new ones taken. I —Hungahunga Road Drains

The Clerk of the Hungahunga Drainage Board (Mr F W. Wild) wrote as follows :-•* The members of the Board are of the opinion that your Council misunderstands the position, with regard to the road drains or County Hoads within the Hungahunga Drainage area. With a view to clearing matters up a deputation from the Board, consistinglof Messrs Hanna and Waghorn, will, with your Councils permission, attend your next Council meeting, and discuss the question, with a view to an amicable settlement.

Messrs Hanna, Waghorn and Magill waited on the Council and explained the position of the drains, etc. Mr Cochrane also spoke. Mr Hauna, who appeared thoroughly conversant with the whole trouble, spoke at some length.—The Chairman said the water should be taken in its proper course.—Mr Hanna :We are. It is only a matter of 16 chains, which the Engineer considers would cost about £B. —Cr Hughes : £8 would be no lise whatever ; simply throwing it away. The water should be taken down a blind creek that passes along thp fence. It is purely and simply a drainage not a road drain.—The Chairman : Half the Council’s time is taken up with drainage matters. We have to do with the roads not the drains.—Mr Hanna : The Drainage Board has cut 30 miles of outlets, (braining 30 miles of roads. Tenders are to be called for a 6ft. drain right away.— Both the Chairman and Mr Hanna looked at the “principle” of the thing.—Cr Hughes : The drain should be put in its right place alongside the fence.—lt was eventually decided, provided the Board signed an agreement clearing the Council, that Council contribute up (o 10s per chain.—Mr Hanna Said he thanked the Council for its courtesy but not for its liberality -

—Lamey’s Drain— Jas. Maher, who has recently acquired Messrs Larney Bros’. Waihou property, wrote as followsAt your last meeting you decided to clean the drain running from road to willow tree, some 35 chains. I wish to explain that if this is carried out it will mean that my land will be completely flooded out, a matter which I am sure you do not desire. Why not start at mouth of drain into river, where obstructions exist and do it right through when satisfaction will be given to all parties concerned. Finally, I wish to explain that you kindly consented to the work being half done, which, if carried out will be a source of inconvenience to me and perhaps damages to .you. Hoping that you will see to this work being done, not only to your satisfaction but also to the satisfaction of the other parties concerned. Mr Maher was in attendance and addressed the Council. A discussion ensued. It was eventually decided, on the motion

of Cr Thomas, seconded by Cr Bellamy, that the d -ain be dragged right through. —Mr Maher thanked the Council and withdrew. ? —A Bacl Approach—- * G._ H. Horn, Waitoa, wrote drawing ’ attention to the way the contractors had I ■ left the approach to his gates on both sides of Kastport Road. There is now a bank about 18in high. Pipes are re- | quired on each mile to form watertables. He is willing to do the work if Council supply the pipes. The nutter was left in the hands of the Supervisor to have attended to. —Waitoa Drains— Wm. Gallagher. Waitoa, wrote expres sing his pleasure at seeing the Council intend doing something with the roads and drains oh parts of the Waitoa Estate and asked that the operations be extended to No. 4 Road drain. During the winter 6 or 8 chains of No. 4 roid to the west of No. 7 is under water for several months of the year, making it practically impossible to take anything in or out. He asked that this drain be included with the others and cleaned out. Mr C. Robieson, Waitoa, wrote drawing attention to the fact that Council make no mention of an outlet drain in the proposed contracts. Recently the Council cleared the drain near his south boundary , opposite Mr T. Bellamy’s section This ‘ work will concentrate the water in the ■ outlet drain and flood the lower part of his (Robieson’s) section. He asked that ‘ a further 50 chains be cleared out, to J get the water past the high bank that ( ends a few chains below his boundary, j As the matter is an urgent one he trusted , the Council would give it early con- * sideration. c Letters received. 0

Contractor’s Deposit -

F. Walker (applied for return of his deposit on bis contract, which he had to relinquish, owing to circumstances over which he had no control. Council decliued to return the deposit. —Native Rates

The Ra.dan County Council again wrote relative to collecting native rates and asking the assistance of the Council in having the present deplorable state of affairs remedied. They suggested a special effort be made to get an amend ment ofthe Native Rating Act of 1904, and in their opinien a Conference held in Auckland, arid to which interested members of Parliament should be invited, would provide a discussion and expression of opinion from County representatives that should show clearly that in common fairness some attention must be made to the existing state of affairs. Decided to suggest to the Raglan Council that a petition be drawn up and signed by all the local bodies.

—Accounts

The following accounts were passed for payment: P. Gilchrist, £l3; R. S. Hanna, £l6 13s 4d; iAdvertising and Printing, £25 : C. Cooper, 16s ; H. Jaeksod, 10s 6d ; P.O. Department, £ i 9s 9d; J. Hewitt, £2 ; Ellis and Burnand, 15 ; Bajne and Co., £2 4s 3d ; Palmer, £6 Is. 8d; Elections, 7s 6d; ’J. Hanks, £4O; Wm. Thomson, £lB ; P. A. Swuey, £3O; 8. McKibben, £34 10s ; Smallman Bros., £2O 0s Od ; Bellamy Bros , £3O ; Stanley Bros. £BO 0s 6d ; Stanley, R. A., £4l ; Porter and Co., £7 17s 6d ; J B. Johnson. £4 11s sd; J. S. Hill, £9 9s; T. Griffin, £l2; M. Bemrose. £ 10; A. J. Forrest, £56 12s lid; T. Donovan, £2B os ; J. S. Hill, £2B 2s; W. R. Johnson, £l7 6< Id . G. Ritchie, £6 16s ■ Wm. Hodgson, £4 2s 6d; R. Nelson, 10s ; J. R. Overall, £5 5s ; J. DonovaD, 14s ; M. Hewin, £3 7s ; S. V. Sims, £2 ; G. P. Goodfellow, £1 16s ; Geo. Palmer, 16s; J. B. Johnson, 5s 9d.

Owing to pressure on our space we are compelled to hold over balance of report, including interview with Mr Breakell and Mr Matthew Henry.