Mo County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4451, 19 August 1909, Page 3

Mo County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Piako County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Whitaker-street, Te Aroha, on Tuesday last, when there were present : Mr W. P. Chepmell (chairman), Councillors J. Brady, T. Bellamy, W. T. Hughes, C. Manuel, and J. B. Thomas. Minutes read and confirmed, inward and outward correspondence read. It was agreed that the Clerk write to the Matawata County Council asking that body to pay the liability due the Piako Council as soon as they can possibly do so. —Subsidy on Bates.— Advice was received that the sum of £978 17/9, subsidy on rates collected, had been duly lodged to the Council’s credit at the Bank. The Clerk mentioned a sum of £ls had been deducted by jTae Public Works Department being f subsidy for maintenance of the Te Aroha Traffic bridge.—ln reply to Cr. Thomas it was mentioned that the £ls paid up to next March, by which time the new bridge would doubtless be in full working order, and further subsidies to the railway bridge rendered unnecessary. —Gold Duty.— The sum of £7 7/- was received for gold duty during the past month. —Gordon Creamery.— A lettter was read from Mr Wesley Sjpragg, Managing Director of the New Zealand Dairy Association, asking permission to allow the Gordon creamery verandah to project about a foot or 18 inches on the line of road.—Cr. Brady supported the application. He said it is a question whether the fences are right, perhaps the verandah is not on the roadway at all,- Cr Hughes said permission had been granted in a similiar case at Manawaru; if anything it encroached further on the road.—The Chairman contended all such structures should be quite clear of the road line. , It would be wrong to grant it, as it ' might lead to a block on the road ; it . was an encroachment, and on principle ; he would vote against it.—Cr Thomas i sard that these erections were usually • carried put under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Supervisor.—lt was resolved on the motion of Cr < Manuel seconded by Cr Brady, that the - request be granted, but that the Com- 1 pany be held responsible for any 1 accident that might occur; and that in future such structures be kept well back from the road. J —Be-Valuation.— In reply to a communication forAwarded after last meeting of the asking for a re-valuation of the whole County, advice was received that \ the question of re-valuation is being considered by the Government. 6 —Slaughter-house License.— i E. Pretty, of Morrinsville, applied for J permission to transfer his slaughter- * house license to J. Baker.—Resolved on * the motion of Cr Manuel, seconded by , Cr Thomas that the request be granted, j subject to the approval of the J authorities. ;

—lnsurance.

The local agent (C. E. Lamb), forwarded application for accident insurance.—lt was decided to renew the policy.—Cr Thomas again brought forward the question of inaugurating a Local Bodies Mutual Accident Insurance Fund. At present they were paying £BO annually for insurance, which, he contended, is more than double what it should be. The Farmers’ Union had moved in the matter of insurance, with the result that country risks had been considerably cut down, and had been kept steady ever since. He considered it advisable to feel the pulse of other local bodies on this important matter"—lt was eventually resolved on the motion of Cr Thomas, seconded by Cr Bellamy that the Counties’ Association be communicated with on the matter. Cr Manuel thought it advisable to get an opinion as to whether or not the Council is liable to insure contractors.

—More Threatening Letterß. feh. j*jhe following letter was read from Mr P. lnnes, solicitor, Palmerston North : —“ I am instructed by Messrs E. and J Matheson to write you with reference to the flooding of their property (sections 33 and 34, Tf aitoa Estate), m consequence of the state of the Council’s drains. I understand that the position is that the water is brought down the drains on the road running past my clients’ property, that in consequence of certain small pipes placed in the road <? *ain, the water is unable to find its way quick enough through the drain to t le outlet. The result is that the water is backed up into the private drain through my clients’ property, and that such last-mentioned drain in consequence overflows, and damages the adjoining land. My elients havejsuffered • a considerable amount of damage already, having been flooded three times recently, and had five acres of turnips under water, as well as grass laid. Apparently the only thing necessary to remedy the matter, and prevent flooding is to take out the Omall pipes referred to, and I now write your Council to kindly have this done. Failing a proper remedy of the matter within a reasonable time my clients will be oompelled to institute proceedings against the Council, and in addition for the protection of their property they will be compelled to block up tbe private drain running through their property and connecting with the drain running along the road side. I trust, however; that your Council will see the absolute necessity for removing the small pipes referred to, and thus render the action proposed unnecessary,”-—A good deal of discussion ensued re the pipes complained of, and it was eventually decided to leave the matter in the hands of Crs Bellamy, Thomas and the Supervisor, with power to act. From Mr Matthew Henry, re Nos. 9 and 7 Drains, and drawing Council’s attention to clause 66 of the Land Drainage Act, which makes it incumbent on Counoil to clean out drains where a Drainage Board has no jurisdiction. He stated that No 7 drain is overflowing on his property, causing damage to grass. He further stated that, had not the Council arrogated the functions of a Drainage Board the damage complained of would not have occurred. He trusted the matter would be attended to and so obviate further loss, he would look to the Council to make good. The Chairman : We have not arrogated the functions of a Drainage Board. — Or Hughes : We are wasting far too much time discussing Henry and his law and fancy He moved that the letter be received. -On the motion of the Chairman, it was resolved that tbe Clerk write pointing out Section 66 does not apply to him (Mr Henry). Edmund _ Fifcton, Waitoa, wrote protesting against injury caused by Council allowing road drainage to go through h* -property without making outlets It jC enough. The central drain in Section 36 is spoken of by Supervisor Johnson as being most suitable for the work, bat it will not take both his drainage and the Council’s as it overflows abqut 10 chains from the Ohine Creek and does considerable damage. This is a private drain and he (Mr Fitton) would close up the drain. He also referred to the overflowing of the Ohine iCreek on

the boundary between his property and Mr McKenzies, earning damage to grass, etc.—After a short discussion it was resolved on the motion of Cr Manuel, that these matters be left in the hands of Crs. Bellamy and Thomas with power to act. —Road at Shaftesbury—

Mr John Johnstone requested the Council to open a road to give him access to his property at Shaftesbury, which he recently purchased from Mr Herries. —Resolved that owing to financial position Council cannot see its way clear to make the road at present. —Tramway Matters -

Several letters were read from W. Greening, ufanager for Hardy’s Mines, Ltd., with reference to the action of the tramway foreman (Mr John S. Hill). According to instructions received from the Tramway Committee (Ore Hughes and Brady) the Clerk had replied to the letters during the interim. Mr Hill also forwarded a letter and was present at the meeting.—Cr Hughes said he did not consider any Company privileged to use the tram for nothing, or without the supervision of the Tramway Foreman. —Cr Manuel said that Hardy’s was only one Company out of 6or 7 in the district. He did not consider any Company had a right to use the tram without the Foreman’s supervision. —Resolved on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Thomas, that Mr Greening be informed that Mr Hill was acting under instructions from the Tramway Committee, and doing his duty as regards the removal cf the workman’s shanty, etc. —A Complaint—

Mr Sam. McKibben, of Waihou, waited on the Council as to the unfair way in which work was let out by the Supervisor. He considered tenders should be called for any work over £5, and everyone given a chance. The sanding at Waihou, continued Mr McKibben, had been given to tbe same man twice.—ln reply to a question the Supervisor stated that tenders were not called for the last sanding.—Cr Bellamy :It was left in the hands of the Supervisor to carry out. —After a few further remarks Mr McKibben withdrew. —Land Exempt From Eating— A letter was received from Mr Page, of Morrinsville, re payment of rates on certain scrub and fern land acquired by him.—The Clerk said he had written to the Department and received a reply in the negative.—Cr Manuel: The land faces the Tahuna road, and he considered Page exempt for two years. —Decided to look the matter up. 1 —A Contractor’s Request—

Mr D. Torphy asked that the completion of his drainage contract, No* 11 on No. 7 Road, Waitoa, stand ovor for a time until fine weather sets in.—Agreed to on the motion of Cr Bellamy, seconded by Cr Thomas. —Tramway Ropes— It was decided to make the suggested changes in the ropes as put forward by the Tramway Foreman.

—Kereone Bridge Accounts.— A somewhat lively discussion took place relative to tbe payment of certain accounts in connection with the Kereone Bridge contract, Cr. Manuel spoke very strongly againßt keeping working men out of their money for lengthy periods.— It was eventually decided to hand over all accouuts—as formerly decided on—to the Council’s solicitor (Mr Gilchrist). It was resolved on the motion of Cr Hughes seconded by Cr Bellamy that the Committee appointed (the Chairman and Cr Manuel), meet as soon as the time limit expires—two weeks—with power to pass accounts. —Undedicated Roads.—

In connection with an application from Mr S. McKibben, it was decided that he be permitted to do the work, to the satisfaction of the Supervisor. —It was mentioned that none of the roads within the Waihou township are dedicated. —Road Drain Trouble.—

In connection with a matter complained of by Mr F. G. Reynolds, the Supervisor was instructed to report on it.

—Work Required,— Cr Manuel drew attention to the bad state of the road near the Kereone bridge, and said that in order to take advantage of the new bridge, a little work required doing.—Left in hands of Supervisor to attend to. —Bridge Grants.— It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Manuel, seconded by the Chairman, that the Clerk make application without delay for grants made by Government to meet damage done to County bridges through flood. --The Supervisor stated that the Kereone Bridge is to be inspected by the Government Engineer next week. —Walton Road.—

Messje Watts Bros, wrote stating that it was impossible to get on bridges with wheeled traffic on road throngh Mr Main’s property, Kereone.—The Supervisor said the approaches were being attended, and that the bridges were on the estimates. —Other Matters— The supervisor ireported that the nuisance complained of by Mr D. Farmer had been attended to. In connection with a request from Mr D. Macfarlane, of Morrinsville, it was left in the hands of Cr. Manuel and the Supervisor with power to act. —Account The following accounts were ’passed for paymentC. Cooper 1/14/6, Valuation Department 7/7/o,’ Te Aroha News 6/11/0, Argus 2/9/6, Leighton and Son 2/7/6, Mail 3/15/0, Clerk 16/13/4, Peacock 10/6, I L. G. Roberts 8/18/8, W. R. Johnson 16/2/0, G. W. Phillips 5/9/0, P. A Swney 1/0/0, G. Palmer 9/4/0, Geo. Ritchie 2/8/0. H. Rogers 8/10/6, G. Rogers 4/8/0, G. Irwin 4/7/6. Alex Bell 1/10/7, J. Corlett 1/10/7, J. Reay 2/6/9, P. Farrington 4/0/0, Layne and Co 10/0, G. Ritchie 8/0, H. Bellamy 6/14/6, H. Bellamy 13/0, D. Torphy 7/12/7, East - wood 15/0/0, G. Ritchie 3/1/0, C. A. Grainger 1/14/3, Roderwell 2/8/0, McCarthey 5/9/0, D. Rowe 11/0, W. Hewin 8/0, D. McCarthy 16/0, J. Ryan 16/ Brokenshire 14/16/0, W. Hewin 3/4/0, M. Benrose 121/18/6, J. Orr 12/6, J, R. Overall P/15/6, C. ilanagan 3/4/0, Smallman 12/8/0, J. Robinson 2/4/2, Griffin 4/6/7, W. Hewn 6/6/0, Bemrose 1/4/6, C. J. Starke 2/5, Schaare 5/8/6, Timmins 4/4/2, Johnon 11/6/2, Faulkner and Collins 3/3/6, H. Magill 8/0, Wigg and Co- 2/1/6, Taupo Timber Company 39/18/3, James 1/12/0, Ritchie 2/19/6, Roderwell 3/4/0, McCarthy 2/16, Donovan 8/0, Trethaway 5/16/0, J. S- Hill 12/12/0, Gratton 2/15/0.