COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3725, 2 December 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

I The usual monthly meeting, of the ! above Council was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Cr Bagnall occupied the chair, and the following gentlemen were present—Grs Porter, Greenville, Deeble, Thorburn and 1 Carpenter. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The heads of the outward correspondence were read. A letter was read from the Minister of Public Works, stating that the request of the Council for an advance £600 on account of Paeroa, Obinemuri, to Omahu , road grant will be attended to.—fieceived. Mr Walker's letter re the Kauaeranga road survey was referred to the Board of ' Works. ■ - • A petition was read from the inhabi* i tanis of Ohinemuri Junction praying for a road to be formed from the residence of Mr Wick, through Mr James Laverj's land to the Junction of the rivers Ohine* muri and Waihou and from thence along the river bank, down to the settlement, of Hoara Tarpramji and others. This matter was dealt with u.nder thj|, Engineer's report. A letter was read from W. Johnston, Chairman of the Ratikati 'Highway Board, asking if their riding could be transferred into the County, and if the County Council would be willing to re* ceive them. The letter further stated that the Tauranga County Council were pottering away the Government grant o f £2600, and stating that a memorial had

been sent to the Premier, asking for an investigation into the expenditure of the grant. The letter also stated that the Highway Board owed nothing to the Bank, and that the rates amounted -to £200 per annum.

Cr Porter spoke to the disgraceful state of the road complained of. •' Cr Thorburn regarded the letter as a great compliment, and considered it would be as well to do everything to facilitate the object of the Katikati Highway Board. He proposed, "That the Tauranga County Council be informed of the petition of the Katikati Highway. Board, and that the Thames County Council were willing to facilitate its object.''—Carried. A letter was read from the Auckland R.M. Court asking under what section of the Act the Council grounded their application to have the proceeds of the tale of ! spirits found at Whangamata placed to the credit of the County Council.-* i Received.

A letter wa« read from Messrs Bart, Stephenson and other*, drawing the attention of the Council to the necessity of erecting a bridge over the. Waihou river at Te Aroba, and agreeing to contribute £800, provided the local bodies erected the bridge at Dibsell's Hotel. Cr Porter said this was a great question and that it was the decided wish of the settlers to erect such a bridge. It was quite legal for the Thames and Piako County Councils to erect a bridge. The matter was referred to the Board of Works to be reported on next Wednesday. .

A letter statpg that £8 3s 6d, goldfields' revenue, had been placed to the credit of the Thames County.—Received. A letter was read from Messrs Moore, 'Simpson, and Smith of Hotangaro, stating that the Council had epent no money on the roads in their district, and .asking the* Council to remit their rates.— >pr Porter said that he got £50 for them and that it was not spent. He proposed that the rates shonld be given up, and should be spent under the superintendence of the Engineer.—Referred to ,the Board of Works. ' ' • ' ■ t . John Earl, of Owharpa, asked for permission to use his premises as a slaughter* house, and' asking for a license to do so. The license was granted. , ,'\" ." Cr. Greenville said that there was.' payable quarts to be found in the Upper Karaka, and wished to have something., done towards making a road, as the tramway was impassable at present. This matter was also mentioned in the Engineer's report. : ', , ' V bkqikbbb's bipoit. , The above report was read a&d adopted. , . „ * fikincijll snon. , . The above report was read as follows:— „ ■ • v..*, „.\ r . Monthly report* of the Finance Goaauttee. —Your Committee h?.ve the honor'to report as follows .—l. That the application ot the leisea ot the Tmtmu tramway, relegated to them for consideration at the W meeting of the Council, they have autftbtiteft enquiries to be made thereon, upon wbieh' a fiopl report will be presented at ta* next meeting of t>e Council 2. That in *he! *

■abject mattjr of the resolution of the I6tb November, 1879, jour, Committee recommend —(«) That the salary of Chairman b* £100 , per annum, (ft) The salary of Clerk and Treasurer be £225 per annum-, (c) The salary of the Surveyor be £800 per annum. (d) The salary of AssistanfcSurveyor be £104 per annum, (c) The (ravelling expenses, of country mem ben attending feeetingi of Council sh»U not exceed £1 It per diem for those who reside fire miles and over from the Council Chambers ; that such payment shall not extend beyond two days. That the mm of £1 Is per diem sh»U be paid as travelling allowance to members attanding the business of the Council in Auckland or elsewhere in distant parts of the County, when incurred by sanction of the Council or Committees of the Council. That advertising and printing shall become the subject of future and special . arrangement.—Wh. Cabpmtslb, Chairman. THE WAXBB BA.CB. The Surveyor's report was read ai follows:— . To the Water 3Uce Committee, Thames County Council. Gentlemen,—-I have the honor to attach a statement of the of water used from the Thames Water Baee. Boxes have been fixed so that the quantity used the future can be ascertained at any - time. When the quantities stated are being ' used, there are about 2| sluice heads going to waft j in the Karaka and Waiotahi creeks. I would recommend that a meter be procured for measuring the water wed for domestic supply. The regulations for prescribing the manner in which the race water is to be applied for and used, and for the the general conduit of she raoe, should be broaght into. force as early as possible.—Aux. Ann*, County Surveyor. THB BOABD 6* WOIIS Reported as follows :— Your cbmsaittee have the honor to report as follows «pon the matters relegated to them at the Council meeting of tha 3rd November. Your Board make the following recommendations:—L Xhat a sum ef money equivslent to Mr Elliott's rates be expanded ' by the Surveyor upon the road to the-landing at the Hikutaia creek. 2. That the sum ef £10 be paid to the native Rawiri, on condition that the land required for road' purposes through the Hikutaia block be legally conveyed by him to the Council.-—L. Baqnalil, Chairman. Cr Deeble moved that at the special meeting of the Finance Committee to be held prior to the ordinary monthly one, the work people's wages be provided for, so that they will not remain without funds at Christmas.. The Engineer was ordered to obtain the water metre as recommended in the report. This concluded the basinets.