COUNTRY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2804, 8 February 1878, Page 2

COUNTRY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held at the : Couucil Chambers, Shortland, yesterday j afternoon. There were present—Cra A. Brodie (Chairman) L. J. Bagnall, J. Coutts, A. J. Thorp, T. Spencer, and W. L. Thorburn. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, as also were the minutes of the special meeting. The letters sent since last meeting were read over. BEMI6SION OF BATES. A letter was read from Mr G. Thorn* son asking that his rates be remitted, as he was in needy circumstances, and incapacitated from work through loss of sight. Cr Spencer moved that the rates be remitted as Thomson was as he described —in needy circumstances. SUBSIDY. The Chairman said they had received a cheque for £264 12s subsidy on rates collected. The deductions for charitable j institutions, etc., had been £6713* 2d. TAPU AND COBOMANDEL BO AD. A letter from the Colonial Secretary was read. It stated that the Premier had directed that the Chairman should be informed of his baring received a report of the proposed deviation of the telegraph line to Cordmandel, and he (the Premier) was satisfied that the road should not be constructed until further exploration had settled if a line suitable for both road and telegraph could be found. The letter was received. CLAIM FOB COMPENSATION. A letter was read from Mr W. White, asking that compensation be allowed him in consequence of 40 feet of frontage being cut off his property, Earaka Creek, through a road running through it. Referred to Board of Works. . THAMES VALLEY BAILWAT. The Chairman said that it bad been arranged to hold the conference of the Thames, Piako, and Waikato County, and Hamilton and, Thames Borough Councils, at Hamilton, on the 15th inst. APPLICATION FOB DOG COLLABB. An application for dog collars by SubInspector Bullen was referred to the Board of Works. MINING INSPECTOBSHIP. A letter from the Government to Mr Aitken with reference to his resigning the appointment of Mining Inspector (which has already been referred to in these columns) was read. Cr Thorburn moved, that in quence of the wishes of the Government, Mr Aitken be asked to resign his office of Mining Inspector. Carried. SCABLBT FEVEB. A letter was read from Dr Payne reporting a case of scarlet fever having occurred in Tommy's Lane, Thames County. Letter received, and it was resolved that Dr Payne be thanked for the information. • A letter was also read from Mr J. B. Mason, officer to the Local Board of Health, reporting two cases of scarlet fever. Letter received. APPLICATION FOB BBFUND. A letter was read from the shareholders of the Just-in-Time claim, Upper Waiotahi, asking the Council to pay them £25 for making a sleigh road from their claim to the main Waiotahi road. Referred to Board of Works. APPLICATION FOB MINING INSPECTOBSHIP. A letter from Mr J. P. Hall asking to be appointed to the vacant Mining Inspectorship was referred to the Government. A CHOKED CULVERT. j A letter was read from Mrs 8. Taylor I calling attention to the dangerous nature of a culvert choked by recent rains up the Earaka Creek. Referred to Board of Works. HABBOB BOABD. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Harbor Board asking that the Council forward certificates to the Board stating who had been elected on the Board for the Ridings of Eauaerahga and Waiotahi. ; It was resolved that this be done. PETITIONS. A petition signed by a large number of residents in JH ill street, Eaeaeranga Riding, asking that the road near the Una tramway be connected with the cutting, so as to reduce the cost of dray hire for quartz and other things, was read. Referred to Board of Works. A petition signed by over 100 residents of the Earaka district with reference to the unworkable state of the Earaka tramway, which prevented quartz being forwarded' from the Upper Earaka to the flat was read. A letter was read from Mr Un thank lessee, also to the same effect, and asking for £50 to repair the upper portion.. Messrs Eennan and Scott waited on the Council with reference to the connection with the battery belonging to the former, so as to enable persons holding claims at the upper portion of. the tramway to get their stuff crushed. Mr Eennan offered to make the connection on the Council paying half the cost. Cr Bagnatl moved that the Works Committee be empowered to make arrangements with the lessee of the Earaka tramway with a view to effecting such repairs in it as will afford convenience for the traffic, until such time as a road can be constructed. .■■■... This was carried. BOABD OF WOBES BEPOBT. The report of the Board of Works was read. It gave a list of the various contracts let on the Ohinemuri Road (already published), and stated that, when completed, it would form a considerable length of good level road. One man each were employed on the Tararu Creek and Tapu tracks, keeping them in repair, and a contract has been let to Mr R. Hawkes for making a dray track up the latter creek. The Waiotahi road was in a good stats of repair, and was available for drays as far as the Multnm in Parvo claim. The Earaka road was completed, but a deputation had waited on the Board, asking them to further extend the road. The cutting of Rewi's hill was

proceeding satisfactorily. Tho different works on Qhinemuri road were also making good progress, a largo portion of the work beings performed by Natire labor. Tho Orauhu Bridge was completed, and tenders would be called for the Puriri and Matafoko bridges shortly. The committee recommended the metalling of Jiewi's hill. The Chairman and Cr TJiorburn had an interview with the Premier, and from representations made £500 hid been granted for work to be done by Native labor on the Ohinemuri and To Aroha roads. A similar sum had also been granted for plans, etc., for proposed extension of water race. A deputation of the Parawai Board had waited on the Board, and presented a schedule of works required on the by-roads of that riding, and asked for subsidies to carry them out. The Board had communicated with tho County Councils of Piako and Waikato, and the Borough Councils of Thames and Hamilton, for the purpose of holding conference of Councils at Hamilton on the 15th insfc., at which the Thames and Waikato Railway and other matters would be discussed. The surveyor's report on the Ohinemuri road works wns annexed.

The report was received and considered on the motion of Cr Bapnall. The Chairman said that various claimholders had waited on the Board of Works with reference to the bad state of the Karaka tramway. There were several claims doing pretty we.ll, and the claimholders wished to have something done to the tramway. It was for them now lo consider the matter. '

Cr Bagnall moved that the Board of Works make arrangements with tho lessee of the Earaka tramway, with a view to making such repairs an are necessary to afford convenience for the traffic until such time as funds are forthcoming for the construction of a road. He spoke on the necessity of the tram being put in at least a temporary state of repair. Cr Thorburn seconded the motion, and it was then carried.

The Chairman then referred to the lower portion of the Karaka creek road. Most of them had been present when Mr GreenTille and other gentlemen had interviewed the Board of Works. It had then been stated that the present road was not long enough to meet their requirements. The Chairman said the next thing in the report was the consideration of a matter with reference to the Parawai Board. They would understand that if the Parawai Board remained as it was, there was a loss to the County of £1400 per annum through subsidy. If they merged into the County they would hare a gain of £1400, and if they merged into the Borough the gain would also be that amount less the rates they would lose. He read the opinion of the County Solicitor on the matter. It stated that if the Parawai Board merged the subsidy would be increased 100 per cent., and if it were merged into the Borough they would lose that amount of County rates assessed on the property in the Highway District, and gam a sum equal to 100 per cent on the amount of rates paid on property in other parts of the County. Cr Spencer moved that the opinion of the County solicitors be forwarded to the Chairman of the Parawai Highway Board, and that the County Clerk be instructed to state that if the Board merge into the County it will place funds at the disposal of the Board to carry out the necessary works. The report was then adopted on the motion of Cr Bagnall. PUMPING ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT.

The report of this committee showed that in consequence of the receipt of a letter from the directors of the TT.P.A. calling the attention to the dangerous state of the poppet legs over the pumping shaft, the committee had met and deputed Cr Thorburn to interview- the manager and ascertain the condition of the legs. Cr Thorburn, whose report was attached, reported the legs to be rotten near the ground, and had ascertained that the cost of their renewal would be about £200. It had been resolred that this work be done at a cost not to exceed £200. On the 21st ult. Mr Black reported the cutting of a large reef on S.E. cross-cut, accompanied bj an influx of water and gas, so that it had been necessary, to postpone driving in consequence. On the same, date the Committee had passed driving accounts amounting to £4315s Id. The committee congratulated the Council on their having been able to keep the proposed works going for twelve months, which whs half of the Council's engagement with the Government for pumping. To the report were appended reports from Messrs Thorburn and Black.

The report was received and adopted on the motion of Cr Coutta.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S EBPOBT.

The report of this committee shewed that at a meeting held on the 28th ult., the following account had been passed for payment:—Mcßae, U.P.A., driving accounts, £7 5s 4d; Wilson and Co., do., £24 12s 9d—£43 15s Id. On the 7th Feb. the following accounts were passed for payment:—Printing and advertising, £43 9s9d; Macdonald and Miller, £21 10s 8d; Collector's commission, £27 10s; freight per steamer, £4 10s; Officers salaries, £74 Is 8d; rent, £3 15s lOd; stationary £2 12s 6d ; sick and destitute, £3 ; miscellaneous expenses, £40 13s 6d; Stone Bros., £1 5s lOd; County U.P.A. driving account, £98 13s; do. wages, £52 4s 8d ; pumping account wages, £152 19s 8d ; do. balance on December statement, £196 12s Bd—£722 19s 9d. I The report was adopted. APPOINTMENT OF INSPBCTOE OT NUIBAICCES, lIC. The Chairman said he had put notices of motion on the paper relative to the appointment of a Medical Officer and Inspector of Nuisances. As it was a matter of opinion, however, if they were a legally qualified Board of Health, he had telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary, as President of the Central Board of Health asking him to constitute them one under the Public Health Act. An answer had not yet been received. Cr Bagnall moved that pending an answer the Chairman be authorised to take steps under Public Health Act. Carried. WATEB SUPPLY COMMITTBK. The Chairman said that the Thames Water Supply Committee had got into difficulties and wished to pet out of them. A committee had been appointed by the Corporation, and they bad drawn up a report, which they submitted to the County and Borough Councils. (He then read the report of the financial condition of the Corporation, which has already appeared in these columns.) Cr Thorburn said that as representative of the Kauaerauga Hiding ia the

Corporation, he had beon one of the chief means of the spending of money on the extension of the supply. They wanted their overdraft and current expenses guaranteed till June next. Cr Bagnall moved " That Cr* Brodie and Thorburn be authorised to give a guarantee in proportion to the interest the County holds in the said supply, vi«., a quarter of £12C9 15s, on condition that the remainder be guaranteed by other local bodies." Cr Spencer seconded. Carried unanimously. This was all the business.