THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2543, 1 March 1877, Page 2

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

V JESIEEDAY; The Council resumed at 2 p.m. Kepobts op Committees .

OFFICE COMMITTEE.

Cr Bagnali read the report of the Office Committee, having reference to the occupation of the present premises,, and sta-. ting that satisfactory arrangements had been made. The report was adopted. . . PUMPING ASSOCIATION. : ;

Cr Bagnall also read the report of the Committee appointed to confer with the Pumping Association, : which was also adopted. Cr Brodie was -appointed' to represent the County at ; the meetings of the directors of the Pumping Association. £ iV - FINANCE COMMITTEE. . Cr Bagnall stated that as the Com? mittee had not finished their report, and as the Council would most likely have to meet to-morrow, the Finance Committee would defer it until then. : : REPORT OF THE CHATKMAN. The report of'the Chairman was read. : Cr Mitchell moved that the report ai read be received. : This was seconded by'Cr Spencer and carried. Cr Mitchell moved that the Chairman's report be made an order of the day for j to-morrow. This was also seconded and j earned. - - I -SURVEYOR'S REPORT. : - The Surveyor's report was then read as follows:-—" Gentlemen,—l have the honor to report that during February four men have been employed on the Grahamstown and Tapu road. During the early portion of the month only two men were employed, but floods and heavy rainfall of the 10th, 11th, and 12th, rendered it necessary to increase the number: to four to keep the road open for traffic. !he foot-bridge across the Tapu Creek ! has been constructed during the month, and is of a very substantial character. Three men have been employed on the roads and tracks of the Ohiueniuri district. A new rope has been supplied and fixed at Mackaytown, for the more efficient working of the punt betweeri'Mackay town and Mackaytown South. The construction of swamp crossings near Paeroa has been contracted for at a cost of £15, and a bridge on the main road from jfaeroa to Mackaytown has also been contracted for at" a cost of £42 10s. Both : of. these works are now being proceeded with. A further vote will be necessary for the efficient maintenance of the roads and tracks in the Tapu and Ohinemuri districts. A full report on the roads and tracks of the portions of the district visited by me, in company with the County Chairman, during the month, is being prepared.—l have, <ftc..,. Alex. Aitken."

On the motion of Cr Mitchell seconded by Cr Thorburn, the report was received and made an order of the day for tomorrow. ": A. letter was read froni the County Valuator applying for £150 on account. Referred to Financial Committee on the motion of Cr Mitchell. SLEIGH TRACK AT TAPW. Gr Thorburn moved that the sum of £10 be expended for the purpose of constructing the sleigh track at Tapu.

Cr Mitchell seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Mitchell asked the leave of the Councilto suspend Standing Order No. 7, in order to enable him to propose a a motion. After some discussion the matter dropped, it baing understood that he would make the application further on in the day/ -

Cr Mitchell theii moved that the Surveyor be instructed to obtain a plan of the line of road between Sbortland and Mackaytown.. Carried. KAUAEJRANGA BRIDGE. Cr Mitchell requested that the motion re the Kauaerauga bridge be adjourned till to-mori'ow. The Chairman thought it better to dis- , cuss. the. ma tter ; ,at,once.. ,-..-.r .>■;-■;■■•■-:•,« ■■■■'-'>.:^a!f-'W-Or Mitchell thought it better to postpone the discussion. " The Chairman said there was a great deal of business for to-morrow, and he thought ib better to go otfwith^this;'i #."?

Cr Mitchell consented to the discussion and then commented, on the great necessity of erecting a bridge at Parawai. The question was not only the bridge, but.it.was the throwing open of -the lands adjacent. He knew that there were 87,000 acres belonging to the Government .and they must use every endeavor to get them opened up. This was the key to the shortest way to VVellington and many other places. They must settle the place where the brdge would be.' He didn't care where it was put as long as it was i put across. He then proposed the motion standing in his name. Cr Thorburn seconded the motion. The Chairman said that the Council should hare the best possible information as to where the best site of the bridge was before saying that it should be in any particular place. Cr JBagnall moved as an-amendment that the Chairman, Crs Thorburn, Mitchell, and the roover be a committee to" find out and report on the ..best site for erecting a bridge. ; ' !

" Cr Mitchell said he was quite prepared to ameud his resolution so as to take in the.amendment. This was done, and the amended resolution was carried. ...,;:".,..■ v "\Cr Bagnall moved the motion standing in his name.ye the opening up of auriferous, lands behind Grahamstown- , j: ,^\ ,-: Cr Thorburn suggested that the^word " Grahnmstown " be ;amended 'to " Borough.'' He then seconded the motion.

The motion was amended and carried... Cr Thorp requested that his motion re the voting of a sum of money for: a road at Puke be postponed till to-morrow. Granted. Cr Bagnall moved and Cr Mitchell seconded, that the clerk be instructed to communicate with the Borough Council to see what assistance they would give to them towards the construction of the Kauaeranga bridge. Carried. Cr Thorp's motion re the road from Hikutaia to Puke was postponed till tomorrow on the request of the mover. : Cr. Bagnall moved that Captain Fr.iser be appointed Keturning Officer for the' County of Thames. Cr Coutts seconded the motion. Cr Mitchell said that he did not think they could appoint a Gorernment officer. Cr Bagnall said that he was quite clear on that matter. They could. Cr Mitchell moved as an amendment that the matter be postponed till tomorrow to enable them to make themselves aware if Captain Fraser could act, and if he was willing to do so. Cr Thorp seconded the amendment. He said it would do no harm waiting till to-morrow. . - The amendment was then put to the meeting and two voted for it. The motion was put to the meeting and four voted for it. The motion was therefore declared carried. . ...

-: NOTICES" -4^M. "' - . : Cr. Mitchell gave notice, that at the next; meeting of the Council lie= would move the following resolutions :-rt" That the sum of £250 be voted towards "the maintenance of the Thames Hospital." "That the sum of £100 be voted in aid of. the Thames Mechanics" Institute.''. "That at its next sitting the Gouncil proceed to appoiat the person or persons necessary under clause 43 of the Rating Act to prepare and send to the Clerk a list in the" form of ithe 6fch schedule of all persons in each outlying district in the County entitled to be placed on the valuation roll." SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDEBSJ Cr Mitchell moved that Standing Order No. 7 be suspended; for the remainder of; | the day's sitting. This was seconded and carried. :,-<. '■-. ■■'■"■ | Cr Mitchell theu moved that the-sur-veyor be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £10 on the wharf at Paeroa. ] Cr Spencer seconded the motion. Cr Bagnall said that he objected, to money being expended on private pro- -j perty. The money which had been voted for roads between Waitekauri and Paeroa had been used for the making of a bridge. He thought that they would be throwing away money in repairing the wharf. If they wanted a wharf let them mako-one. The owners of the wharf might close up the approaches, and not let anyone pass. Gr Thorp pointed out that the ap-. proach to the wharf was a public road, and could not be closed up. Cr Spencer sympathised with Cr - Bagnail's remarks.

Gr Mitchell replied, pointing out the necessity of the work, and the motion was put to the meeting and carried. Cr Bagnall moved that the Chairman,Grs Mitchell and Thorburn be a committee to find out the best means, of inducing more active prospecting in the adjoining districts. This was seconded and carried.

Cr Mitchell moved that the Council resolve themselves into a committee of ways and means. This was carried. The Council then went into committee. .On'the resumption of business Cr Bagnall stated that they had resolved to apply to the Council's banker for an over-draft of £5000. Cr Mitchell moved that the motion passed by the Committee of ways and means be approved by the Council. The Council then adjourned till 2 o'clock to-day.