COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3521, 8 April 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of this body was held yesterday afternoon. Present— The County Chairman, Crs Brown, Porter, Greenville, Deeble, Thorburn, Coutts.

CALEDONIAN TAILINGS.

Offers were received from Messrs Harcourt and Jamieson, to lease the right of raising tailings in the Caledonian battery yard. The former offered 15 per cent, and the latter 16 per, cent. Referred to Securities Committee with power to act. .

TAIBTTA-PUBIBI EOAD.

Mr A. Hogg, wrote stating that he expected to receive the same rate of compensation as other land owners for the road going through his property. Received. ■■■'■".■..

HIKTJTAIA.

Mr R. Kelly wrote complaining that Mr Alley had closed the road, for years used by travellers which caused the traffic to go across his land. Mr Alley should be required to keep the old road open till the new one was made. It was resolved that the road be dedicated.

OHINEMUBI MATTERS. . Mr Logan wrote re the bad state of the Paeroa-Komata road. Left in the hands of the Chairman and Cr Porter.—A letter from Mr J. Barrett re the swamp crossing near Cashen's was referred to the Board of Works.—Mr Endres wrote asking for the control of the Omahu ferry, and drawing attention to the dangerous state of the Omahu swamp. Referred to Engineer to report on.—A number of residents of Paeroa petitioned the Council to gravel the principal footpath in the township, the petitioners bearing a portion of the cost. The Engineer was authorised to ascertain the cost, and report at next meeting. c. j.- stone. The Waste Lands Board wrote stating that C. J. Stone has been asked to sur> render his rights over certain blocks in the Kauaeranga Valley, and Mr Stone himself wrote stating he intended running sheep on the land denuded of timber. Received. LOCAL INDUSTBIES COMMISSION.

The Chairman, with Crs Brown and Deeble were appointed a committee to furnish necessary information to the Koyal Commission on local industries regarding Thames industries.

P. K. DONNELLY. P. E. Donnelly's application for a refund of deposit and overtime money in connection with the Karaka-Hape road was referred to the Board of Wolrks. HASTINGS BO AD. Henry Carran renewed his claim for compensation for encroachment, and pitched into Cr Porter, who he stated had showed spleen in the matter. After some discussion it was resolved to inform the writer that, when he clothed his complaint in respectful language the Council would enquire into the matter. HILL STBEET.

Mr W. Adams wrote complaining of being cut off from the road by the cutting made by the Council. Permission was given to the writer to improve the communication between his residence and the road. 40 residents of Hill street petitioned the Council to improve that thoroughfare. Referred to Board of Works.

KABAKA CEEEK. Several claim-holders wrote asking Council to metal the road connecting the claims with the main road. Referred to Board of Works with power to act. ; BE DBISCOLL.

The Board of Works recommended that the sum of £37 2s be returned to Driscoll. The recommendation was confirmed, though strongly opposed by the members for Kauaeranga.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. The report of the Finance Committee was read and adopted.

MB W. BOWE.

The Finance Committee recommended that Mr Eowe be refunded £200 of the £275 paid by him as deposit money on the purchase of the Caledonian. The recommendation was assented to despite some opposition.

CHABITABLE AID.

A letter from the Colonial Secretary's office stated that the £311 deducted from the County's subsidies last year had been paid to the Borough in respect of Charitable Aid distributed in the County, the Council having refused to expend money on that head. Cr Porter expressed a belief that the County had been overcharged, and moved that the Borough be applied to for further particulars of the expenditure of the sum of money deducted. Carried.

BTJSHY PABK,

Mr Elliott, of Busby Park, Puriri, wrote, asking the Council to survey and take over 500 chains of road, to get him a road through the properties of Messrs Cribb and Kelly, at Puriri, and to come up and see him in reference to his wants and requirements, as he had spent a lot of money, and wanted some consideration.

The Council decided that they could not find surveyors, but would take over the lands Mr Elliott chose to dedicate.

THE WATEE-BACE IBON.

Cr Greenville moved the notice of motion standing in his name, " That the Engineer be requested to lay on the table a statement of all iron for water race in his charge on the 30th June, 1878, The number of sheets (curved or flat) and the number of angle iron bars used or disposed of by him up to the time the Thames Produce Company took possession ; likewise the invoice of the same, showing the weights of curved plates, and correct number per ton." The mover spoke briefly to the resolution, and then asked to be permitted to postpone it till Cr Carpenter was present.

EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY.

Cr Greenville moved, " That the Chairman be requested to take the necessary steps to alter the present boundaries of the County by taking in that portion of the Borough of Thames known as the Southward."

The Chairman pointed out that such a method could not legally be adopted. After some further remarks the resolution was withdrawn.

COUNTY BOADS

Cr Porter moved the notice of motion standing in his name, " That steps be at once taken to secure the several roads asked for by the inhabitants of the Totara and Ohinemuri ridings, under the Provisions of the Public Works Act, 1876, and amendments thereof, if satisfactory arrangements cannot otherwise be made." Cr Porter spoke ft some length as to the reasons which had induced him to put the notice of motion in the book. He pointed out that out of over 120 miles in the County only some 20 or 30 had been dedicated by their owners, in many instances portions being only allowed to travel over roads which for many years had been considered public property. He pointed out the urgent necessity for carrying out the Komata Boad. and urged that the following roads be proceeded with, Omatau road, Wanga* mata road, Tairua, and the road applied for by Messrs Barrett and Logan. Cr Brown moved that the Chairman, Cr Porter and the Engineer bring up a report at next meeting. The motions were* carried.

THE HON. MB OIIVEB. A committee was appointed to interview Mr Oliver on his arrival here.

WOBKS* BEPOBT.

The report of the Surveyor to the Board of Works was read as follows :—

I hare the honor to report on the following roads, and tracks, within the County:— Hastings Biding—l hare examined the country up the Tapu Creek as far as selections under the " Homestead Act" hare been taken up, with the view of fixing the position and laying out an extension of the present road from Hastings to Mercury Bay, so that no difficulty may occur when selectors begin |to fence their land. I also waited on the [ Chief Surveyor for Auckland district, while he was on the Thames, who said he would adopt the line of road laid out by the County I and reserve sufficient width for a permanent road through the settlements. On the road Thames to Tapu considerable damage was done by extraordinary high tides and heavy sea. A small contract was let for tie repair of seyeral portions near Tapu, at a cost of £4, and a few extra men were employed to repair other portions. Many parts' of this road require widening and strengthening, and other portions should be metalled before winter.—Waiotahi Biding: The only work done in this riding has been clearing slips and affecting small repairs on this main road leading up to the Waiotahi Creek. The traffic on this road is still considerable, and willin all probability increase, as several new licensed holdings hare been taken up near the head of the creek. To make this road suitable for winter traffic many portions will require metalling.—Kauaeranga Biding: The road from Hape Creek to Una Tramway has been completed by the contractors. On other roads leading from the mines in this riding about seven (7) chains of pitching and metalling have been done, and approaches to the new road have been improved and partially metalled. Necessary repairs have also been effected on the roads leading up Hape and Karaka Creeks.—Parawai Biding: The Kauaeranga Valley Boad has been-made passable through the properties of Messrs Stevens and Ftett, and a considerable amount of work has been done towards improving that portion of the block between Flett's and People's Park. Much still requires to be done to render this road suitable for traffic to Murdoch's, and I would recommend that any work intended to^be done on this road be done at once before winter sets in.—Totara Biding: On the Ohinemur? main road portions have been raised where it passes through swamp, and general repairs have been affected. At Onetaraa considerable length of autfall drain has been cut, and other portions have been enlarged. The branch road from Punn to tho landing has been cleared, but three culverts will have to be put in and portions of the road formed to make it passable for dray traffic. Nothing has been done towards opening up the branch road from Hikutaia to Whangamata and it is only through the courtesy of Mr Alley that the. public are allowed to pass through his. land from the Ohinemuri road to the old Whangamata road. —Ohinemuri Biding.- On the Ohinemuri main road the first swamp beyond the Hiku* taia bridge has been fascined, filled, and a culvert put in. A contract was let for the sum of £10 to fascine, fill, and make passable other bad places between Hikutaia and the Komata. On the Te Aroha road repairs and improvements have been made during the month, and a little has also been done to maintain other roads of the district. A contract has been let for the construction of seven bridges on the Eatikati road and the contractors are now proceeding with the work.—AiES. Aitken, County Surveyor.

, WATEB BACK BEPOBT.

The report of the Engineer on the water race wag read as follows :—

I have the honour to report that the water in the Kauaeranga creek and its branches has never been lower than during the last month, and it would be wise to increase the supply by bringing in the Hihi and any other creek available before next summer. Although the whole of the present available water has been taken advantage of, the Eace on several occasions during the month has been running a little more than half full. I would recommend that the connection with the County main in the Waio-Karaka Creek for the supply of the Queen of Beauty turbine be done at the expense of the County, and • valve put on, over which the County will have control. The connection referred to would be a portion of the County main, and it would not be wise that any portion of the main should belong to the Company.—Aux. Aitkbn, County Surveyor. WATEB SUPPLY.

The Council then proceeded to consider the amended deed submitted by th« Borough Council, and on the motion of Cf Brown went into committee of the whole to consider its provisions. The following alterations were tnade -.—After the words " Borough boundary " the word "only " was inserted, and the words "clear, pure " elimited;. Clause 3 was amended by the addition of the word* " for the swpply of motive power to pumping, crushing, and tailings machinery, for steam boilers in connection with the same for blanket and copper tables, or for any other purposes connected with the extraction of gold or other mineral ores." The following words were added to Clause 6— " That the Borough Council undertake to utilise the waters of the Waikiekie stream to the fullest extent." The following clause was substituted for Clause 8— "That the said Borough shall not at any time charge for water sop* plied by them for motive pqwer at a less rate then that charged for the water for tbl time being supplied bj the Thames County Council."

The deed as amended was then agreed to. The Council then separated. • : '