COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3112, 7 February 1879, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held at the Council Chambers, Shortland, yesterdey afternoon. There were present — Crs Brodie (Chairman), Bagnall, Carpenter, Thorburn, Porter, Coutts, Deeble, Brown, Greenville. ' ■ ;

;: ;■ \J''T / MINUTES.' • . „ ■ - The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. • ■ The outward correspondence was read. EEMIBSION OF BATES, ETC. A letter: was read from Mrs H. Wood, widow, applying for a remission of rates, she being too poor to pay them. It was -decided to remit the writer's rates.

B. Forrester's rates were also remitted, he being an invalid. A letter was read from Mr J. Thompson, asking that the Council allow his rates to stand over for a time. The request was ordered to be complied, With.

I • "WATBB BACE. Letters were read from Messrs Ball and Fisher, offering respectively £3 10s and £2 10s per week for use of water from County Bace in addition, to the water in the Karaka Creek. Mr J. Rj ]Perry offered £3 per week for sufficient water 1 to furnish eight-horse power;" All these applications were referred to the Water Eace Committee. ...,, T ,;....

PBOBPECTING. ; A letter was read from Mr Edwards, a prospector, asking aid for prospecting in Waiotahi Creek. ■ It was decided to refer the applicant to the circular issued by the Minister of Lands. : : ( : v i

( -- -•. . ■ - ■ PUNT. ■ • •■...., p , A letter was read from Mr Thomas Spencer offering the Council a punt for the Aroha ferry for the sum of £10. !: >;

The Chairman said it had been decided to place a punt on the river at Te Aroha. The offer was accepted. ' THE OOVEBNMENT GBANT.

A memorandum was read from the Hon. J. Sheehan authorising the expenditure by the County Council of £4000— £2000 for Ohinemuri bridge, and £2000 for | fencing Obinemuri road, ferry at Te j Aroha, and improvements to Bewi's Hill." LAND ON DEFEEBED PAYMENTS. The following persons applied #to havef their names .placed on the. list, of those j willing to take up land at Te Aroha on the deferred payment system:—James G. Catran; A. J.Catran, James Farmer and Charles Jackson Ellis.

' Cr BagnalL thought it was great nonsense people sending these letters to them. The letters should be forwarded to the Waste Lands Board. He moved they be referred back to the persons sending; requesting' them \o send their letters to the Board.

This .failed to find a seconder, and it was decided to forward the letters to the! Waste Lands Board.

A letter was. received from Mr D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands, etajting that the Waste Lands Board would be happy to receive any suggestions from Council concerning the settlement; &c\, of theTe Aroha block/though thiey wopld ; not commit themselves to the adoption of, any acheme. A memo, was received from the same gentleman 1 stating the] applicants for land would^e informed of the fact when the land was open for sale and selection. . „ , ; I " ' " F.P.A. , A letter was received from the secretary t0,p;,P.4. { atating £lll:i3s Id was te^uJtm if?* ? I?*}ol6** oqV Kofember Statement. " " : ■ .-: ■• r •,: ;,■* 7 j -I ! SLAtrOHTBE-HOUSH lICBNSE. : , A letter was received from the Ohinemuri Inspector of Slaughter • houses asking if a certain person there had applied for a slaughter-house license.* It was decided to send the required informa- : tion.

\ . IRON BAILS. IA. letter was read from Mr J. W. Walker, relative to the disputed ownership of some rails which had been laid at the 640 feet level of the U.F.A. He said they belonged to the Kuranui Hill Company, and Mr Black, the Association manager, asserted they belonged to the County, It was decided that Mr Walker be permitted to remove all rails, belonging to the Kuranui Hill Company. WATER StJPPIT CORPORATION.

A letter was read from the Water Supply Corporation asking on what terms would the County dispose of its interest in the Supply to;the Borough. The ChairmaWaid that this arose from a meeting of the two Councils ■in which the Borough Council' had roted one way 4nd the County members the other.; At the Water Supply Committee the result had been the same. He suggested that the matter be discussed in Committee. On the motion of Cr Thorbum it was decided to discuss the matter at a special meeting on Monday.

BAD TRACK. A letter was read from Mr Robert Gomer, manager of the Moanatairi, asking that the track from Grand Junction*, tb Point Russell (Moanatairi) be widened and repaired, Referred to Board! of i Works. ; - BEMI6SION OF BATES. The application for remission of rates from Richard... Owen was . referred to Finance Committee. ■■■■•''■■ A HABD OABE. A letter was received from Charles Glasson, stating that his house and all his property had been destroyed, and before the fire,he.,had been put of work,,so that with the latter misfortune he and his wife and family were now perfectly destitute Any help from Council would bo thankfully received. The Chairman said he had Riven £2 to relieve the pressing necessities of the family. The man's hoiua had been, chopped down to stop the progress of the flames at the recent tire.

Referred to Finance Committee. niKUTAIA. A letters was received from Messrs Kolly, Jliploy and Binney, of HiknUia, asking tlint tho Connml lay off i road from tho junction of tho Jlikutaitt Oroek with the Thames HiVer'and roniu rowl to Oliirierouri, h distnnce of one mile, i(e« forrod to Board of Works, TK I'AVA KOAP. Cr Gio(Mi«illo reooivoil trom wild uUrO' ducod a dopuutiou of IV I*«|>» Gully

miners who urged on the Council the great necessity of a road up the gully. The deputation offered to make half the road if the Council would do the other half.' This was agreed to by the Council.

ALLEGED EXCESSIVE TAXATION.

A letter was received from Mr Henry Alley, of Hikutaia, forwarding a cheque for £1 2s rates. The writer said he intended to dispute the heavy tax levied on his property, but was willing to let it be decided by arbitration. The Maoris held a considerable po|tipfl,,oJL S! , the land. Beferred to Finance Committee. , : i

APPLICANT FOB OFFICE. A-letter was received from Mr Henry StUwell (accompanied by testimonial!) asking for the appointment of Inspector of Slaughter Yards and Nuisances, and to — perform the functions of Health Officer to-v * the County. f \fj It was decided to reply that when tha v Council intended to appoint such aft officer his application would be cofl& sidered.

. EBPOaT OF EOABD OF WOBKB. The report of the Board of Works jiffs read as follows:—" Your Boardibave* the honour to report that the roads and - tracks hare been maintained in good order, and in many places improved and extended, during the* month/Authority having been granted by the Hon. the Native Minister for the employment^ ~ another, party of Maoris w pn the, Tap* Koad^twd. parties of ten! men faeh irejli' now employed; As the workf «onsiit# f largely of removing rock.iwo'fwliite men have been attached to each party to, carry on the necessary blßstiffg opera- >fV! tipns. Your surveyor lisftM< the Obinemuri district, and has chosen that portioit of the Ohinemuri river bppoiiVfe the large« reserve in the, township of Paeroa as the site of the proposed bricjge.' The choice ' of this kite has given alnitoturiivtoal'^ satisfaction to the residents in th« ilttncl trick Arrangements have been made ■. for marking fifty snags,in the Waihou', river, above the Ohinenaurj junction,, an 4 ( y as toon as they are marked tenders w^U be invited for their removal. Arrangements have also been made for placing a punt capable of carrying men itidheriei^J on the Waihou ri^ heat: 5 Su "GMriiw 'Grey's tree. ' Your Surve'jb^,^"nof >? h> make; any arrangements for,fencing the-,. land of Te Moananui on th^MiokaJtOwn'; Road, as arrangements hajre alr^yjbeen ■•"/ made; with two parties for,i the /w.brlf f r,'.. Instructions were .given for placing ( *l,', man on the Botokuhu Boad, [to.-olear / away the timber lying across thefroad : ,■ since the recent bush fireV i < A bridge; JH destroyed by fire on the Aroha Boad will'A be replaced. The arbitrators in thr-'r 1 matter of the road passing ■through-" Steven's farm on the jbtuaera^ 'hiv^ 1'! not yet given iiithiir'siward.^AiM';* 5' * Beodie,Chairman."/ .' ; ,'! I*°"ff t -: " The Chairman said it Jwtts^^to^ 'they could be in a position |o^!ca(K^ tenders for the bridge in,three or four .^ days, flnd the tenders for the/oad woj^t, would also shortly be out.,(3Jhe,rej»c^ r( li was adopted. •., ','<;» ,r- (); \-f !; ;! ■■:'■ eepobt of. "WAT«i''iM!ci; cip^Krrra',^^ The report of the Water "B«ceConi^,^ mittee was read as -follows:—" Your Committee have the honor to report that the tunneVbetweein the W, aio-Ka^W tid Waiotahi Creeks is now driven in a'distance of 416 feet. The contractor has been considerably delayed by the Uiffi- " sary timber for th© wort. Twelve men are now employe4 if: jfbio^ f is not up to the number specified, but they are qwtd II able to keep up with the supply of timber procurable. The eitehaioni for H^e purpose of bringing into the main race the water of the Mangakirikiri Creek ii being rapidly carried out, and nearly the whole of the work is completed !witn;thia;«W#|)g: v tion of the tunnel, for which tenders were invited and accepted during the put month. Tenders were also invited for lining two or more of the tannels on the . main race, and the lowest accepted. Your Committee have dio bettft^igi&r in taking evidence with a view of obtain* ing information to guide them in its application to the industriei of thitg«l4-7 field, and to utilise for that purpose to its fullest extent. Eaoh battery has been visited, and the relative cost of working by water and steam aseerUined, also io> formation as to the number and weight of stamps in use, the number and six* of berdans, and other information necessarj to form a correct estimate. Inqsirietl have also been made as to the probable quantities required in the future. • i& ta ? most cases full information his been obtained. There areT still a few who have not replied to the queries submitted, but ; ,, have promised to do so at an early date. * Your Committee, therefore, cannot report— '^nally on this important matter at this meeting of tbe Council.—Auxakpbb,, „ BE6DEB/Chairnia:ti."-; - J '•i: ™ '>& # I /'- .1"

The report was adopted on the motion of Cr Porter. ; IBPOBTfOF'WNAKci^COkIcm^I'T^ The report of the Finance CoiwlittWl "' was read as follows:—"We htTe t6{ report the following accounts as having been examined and passed for payment:—• U.P.A.., November statements, £111 19t*x> Id i ditto, wages to Dsoember 31st, £817^ / 4a 8d; sick and destitute, £5 10s; ditto* £7 4s Id; rent, £1 6s Sd; stationery, £1 8s 6d; printing and advertising, £110* j Burninghara, for passages, £1; travelling expenses, £9 9s; collectors' commission, £9 2s; toUl, £368 Sa. And on the #fe February—Half cost of Kopu fUA £256 13s 9d ; ; stone-breaking, £43 l&t road works. £301 lls Sd; water no* ># counts, £573 12s; incidental exMtseiJ I £36 8s; sick and destitute, £9 14» W} printing and advertising, £119s 6d; wiht, £4 6s 8d; stationery £1 16* Sid* eolfe*. tors' commission and expenses, £16 8* lid; Pitkethley, smiths' work. £%$• W; salaries, £74. Is 8d; wages itKA* to 31st Jannaryj £301 Qs fd ; reeeptiott «• penses, £33 12$ <>d; Tupu Toad, Mli?» * wages m 15s; total, £1,73$ 13a The. report was adopted on tta moUon , of Cr O«rpent»r. Cr Carpenter moved ihat Cr P<«rtwr ,' represent the County OcHiwsil *t tk« meeting of the U,P*A, »t A«el(knd Ott Friday (to«d»y). CamwL The Cdttuejil then «^Q\\ra«4v