COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3135, 6 March 1879, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usur\ meeting of the County Council was held to-day at half-past two. The repcrt of the proceedings we are compelled to held over till to-movrow, giving however the condensed reports of the various committees as under, and notices of icoCion :—

BEPOBT OP THE WATEB BACE COMMITTEE.

The report of the Water Eace Committee was read. It stated that the tunnel bet-jvcsn Waio-Karr.ka and Waiotahi had bee:: driven 665 feet, and the trestlework, e^c, would be completed shortly. Mauogaker ikeri tunnel had been driven 98 feet, and was in hard ground. The report referred to the letting of the contract for the supply of pipes, and the fencing of the reservoir. The Engineer's report appended to it stated that no permanent arrangement had yet been made for using the water for motive power. Hitherlo arrangements had only been of a temporary character, and a very large per centa*e of the power of the water was lost by the inefficiency of the machines, by wh'ch the power was developed. The report then referred to the condition oi the different batteries, and the amount of water they would use. When the race extension to the Waiotahi Creek is completed, continued the engineer, a number of sites will be available for the use of the water in that creek, as lam confident that well constructed waterwheels will develops larger amount of power than the turbines now in use can possibly do. I would recommend that, in the future, the charges for the use of water should be based on the quantify and head, which would give an advantage to those making use of we 1!, constructed machines. BEPOET OP BDAED OF WOBKS. The report of the Board of Works stated that on Tapu road a bench suitable for horse traffic had been cut throughout the whole length of the permanent road gradient. 34 Maories and 4 white men, for rock blasting, had been employed during the month, but the Maories had now been knocked off. The road near the Borough boundary and other portions near Puru should be metalled before winter. The road was passable for drays to Puru Creek. Good progress has been made in the draj track from St. Patrick's Eow to Karaka road. It was recommended that auy money voted for Hape Creek be expended in const) acting a dray road up the lower portion, the material of lower tramway could be used to repair the upper portion. A road could be made from Una Txamv-ay to Te Papa for £3<"o, but some of th.3 Te Papa miners were of opinion it would be of no service to them unless made to the batteries. The men employed on Ohinemuri road clearing, and drains, had been discharged. The report gave a list of contracts let during the month. Airanpements had been made for continr-tioQ of a road fiom the proposed bridge at Paeroa towards Te Aroha and. llotokobu. The natives demanded comp9nsation for permission to remove snags iv fie Waihou river, and destroyed the marks on the snags as goon as they were made. EEPOBT OP FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of this committee slates that the co» 'ttee had p.;«red forpajji9 tt o

sum of £33 10s,. County's share of overdraft of cemetery committee. Satisfactory arrangements had been made with Mr Alley re the road through his farm at Hikutaia and instructions had been given to prepare the conveyance deed. The plp.ns for bridge to cemetery had been* prepared by County Surveyor, but the committee was of opinion that the execution of the plans was not the work of the committee, and considered if they undertook the work, the property of the^ Cemetery Committee, known as Wilson' 3 paddock, should be sold or mortgaged to provide the funds. The Committee recommend the institution of proc sdings on Monday next to recover outstanding rates. Accounts amounting to £1868 12s lOd had been passed for payment. The Committee recommended the payment forthwith of the Council's guarantee to Water Supply Committee.