COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2929, 5 July 1878, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

■ - : : — *~. : ■ , ■ . We continue our report of the proceedings at the meeting of this body yesterday afternoon. . APOIOGY. Cr Spencer apologised for Or Bagnall's unavoidable absence. IETTEBS SENT. ' A precis of the letters sent since last meeting was read. NEVESVILLE TBACK. A letter was read from Messrs Banks and Clotworthy, complaining of the bad state of track from the Tairua landing to Nevesville, which was obstructed by fallen trees, and two bridges required repairing. Referred to the Board of Works. TEBBACE STBEET. A letter was read from Mr E. Stevens, calling attention to the impassable state of Terrace street, Block 27. Referred to Board of Works. ' THE GOLPEN ABBOW BATTEBY. A letter was read from Mr J. D. Wickham,, drawing the attention of the Council to the serious loss to the Tairua district and the County revenue that would accrue by the removal of the Golden Arrow battery. The Chairman said he had forwarded the letter to the Warden, and he believed that he had conferred with the Minister of Lands on the matter. Cr Mitchell moved that the consideration of this matter be deferred till the special meeting to be held in the middle of this month. Carried. THE £2222 GKANT. The letter from the Public Works Office re the deduction of the £300 for the straightening of the Karaka Creek from the £2222 grant to. the County was read. • The Chairman, said he had telegraphed to the Premier, who recommended him to see Mr Macandrew, who said that the deduction should not have been made, and promised to rectify it. GOM> DUTY. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Treasury with reference to £2354 3s 9d gold duty from 22nd Dec, 1877, to June 13th, 1878, but which has not yet been paid, as the authorities were not able to tell in what proportions the. Borough and County should receive it, and could get no information from the exporters or the Customs Department. The writer suggested that the County confer with the Borough re its division, and requested that the matter be settled at once. This matter had been dealt with.

Nolan's lane. A letter was read from Mr T. Jewett, directing the attention of the Council to the filthy state of Nolan's Lane, Karaka Hill, deferred to County Surveyor, with power to act. „ , LANDSLIPS ON TAPU BOAD. A letter was read from H. Carron complaining of damage done to his property by landslips on the Hastings road, and holding the Council responsible, as the mode of constructing jthe road had been the cause of the damage. The writer also asked for compensation for the land taken for the road. Referred to the Board of Works; ■■} TAPU CBEEK BOAD. A letter was read from Mr R. M, Hawkes drawing the attention of the,. Council to the advisability of extending the Tapu road a distance of f a mile, which could be done at a cost? of about £15. The writer offered to find twothirds of the cost, and asked the Council * to find the remainder. Referred to Board of Works. LOBD NELBON HILL.

A letter was read from Geo. Watson and John Birney, miners working in this vicinity, requesting the County Council to repair the wire tramway from the Lord Nelson claim to the Karaka tramway. The writers spoke highly of the auriferous characters of the lodes in the Nelson hill, and expressed a belief that the County would soon be recompensed for any money expended, by the Gold Duty. The Chairman said it wai suggested that no monopoly be made of the tramway, but that tenders be called for the lease of the line. He read a list of conditions drawn up by the County Surveyor, under which the tramway might be taken. The suggestion was agreed to. - PABAWAI BOAD. A letter was read from G. Vidal, cabman, complaining of the bad state of the Parawai road between Barrett's store and the Kauaeranga bridge. Referred to Board of Works. KABAKA CBKEK BOAD. r

A letter was read from Mr W. S. Greenville, stating that the Karaka creek road yet required a bridge to complete it, and offering to make one if the County would find -the material. Beferred to Board of Works with power to act. A. letter was read from several claim owners of the Karaka Creek asking that the road be metalled, when they could get a reduction in the price of carting. Beferred to Board of Works with power to act. CONTBACTOBB' GBIEVANOE. A letter was read from Kyanand party, contractors for the Karaka road. Th« writers-stated that slips were constantly occurring, and as they had taken the contract at a low price they, asked that the Council might allow them such compensation as their Surveyor deemed fit. Beferred to Board of Works with power to act. • - TE PAPA CUTLLY. A requisition from some 4.0 or 60 miners of Te Papa Gully was read, asking the Council to make a road up the Gully. The requisition brought under the notice of the Council that the iron work and wire of the old wire tramway if sold would bring enough to make a good road. Beferred to Board of Works with power to act. FOOTPATH CBOSSING. A letter was-read from Captain H. Goldsmith asking liberty to cross the footpath adjacent to his house with his horse. Permission granted subject to the consent of the County Surveyor. THE ABOHA ROAD GB4.NT. A letter was read from the Under Secretary for Public Works stating that the Minister of that Department had sanctioned £256 on account of the Aroha road, in addition to the £5000 already authorised 1 for the Ohinemuri road. COUNTY CONFEBENCE. A circular letter from the Chairman of the Westland County Council was read, stating that the meeting of the County Conference at Wellington had been post? 1 poned to Tuesday, August 6 th. THE WATER BACK IBON. A letter was received from the Secretary ..to the Premier, stating' that the Chairman's letter enclosing copy of agreement re Water Bace, and asking that the announced sale of the iron be discontinued, had been referred to the Minister for Public Works. Beceived. BBPOBTB. The reports published yesterday were read and adopted. THB BATE. The estimate of probable expenditure and receipts for the ensuing year was read over and approved on the motion of Cr Mitchell. (It appears-in our advertise- . ment columns.) Cr Mitchell moved that the statutory special meeting for the purpose of striking the rate be held on the 23rd inst.•: Carried. SUSPENSION OF STANDING OBDEBB. Standing Orders were then suspended on the motion of Cr Mitchell..

THAMES VALLEY BAIL WAY. I Cr Mitchell then moved " That in the opinion of this Council any bill introduced into Parliament for the construction of a Thames Valley line of railway, should provide that a contribution of ten per cent, should be made by the Government from the proceeds of all Crown lands sold within the districts to be benefited by the line of railway." He said that by making ' the public works they were frequently improving property in which they had no beneficial interest, and improved land from which no return was obtained. In tbif case, however, they were increasing the value of an estate which belonged to the public—the lands of the Crown. If the./ > District Railway Bill was oarried through^ i and-if the Railway was made there could be no doubt that it would greatly enhance the value of land, and he thought that those they represented should have some benefit from' the increased value. He suggested that the 10 per cent, might either be devoted to the payment of the interest, or else to form a sinking fund. In the Bill there was a provision which would enable the Government, or Governor, to purchase the line in 25 years, no that a sinking fund might be formed for that purpose. Cr Spencer seconded, and strongly sup* ported the principle.' The Chairman said ho cordially sup* ported the resolution, and only regretted that Cr Mitchell had not been present at the Conference, when this motion might have been incorporated in the Bill. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Cr Mitchell moved "That the County Chairman be requested to forward the foregoing resolution to the Chairman of the Railway Committee, asking him to urge that course on the Government, and also to communicate with our members on the matter." Carried unanimously. This was all the business.