COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3877, 2 June 1881, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

We conclude our report of the proc eedings at the. Council meeting yesterday. OEDEBING ON COBBEBPONDENCE. Be the letter regarding boring, it was decided to inform writers that the Council had no funds available.—The slaughterhouse licenses applied for by Sainsbury and Gillon were granted.—Mr Neal's compensation claim was referred to the Finance Committee.—The application for thelaying off of a road by Mr Laycock, of Tairua, was referred to the Board of Works.—lt was. resolved to lay off a road from Logan's to the Komata road—The Council declined to assist Messrs Page and Mitchell.—The Whangamata petition waa referred to the Board of Works.— The application of the shareholders of the Ward Beecher claim was referred to tHe Engineer and the member for the Riding—The Council declined to alter its decision regarding the Waiotahi water race reserve.—With reference to a letter from Mr Greenrille, to the effect that he was losing £15 per month in draining the Hape Creek mine, the Council referred the matter to a committee.—Several complaints respecting bad roads in Kauranaga I Hiding were relegated to the members for the riding. , 1 ' • NOTICES Or MOTION. Cr Porter's first motion re Parawai lapsed for want of a seconder. v In moving it he said that Ohinemuri was still nearly half the county, and it contained by far the largest amount of rateable property. The Chairman said that this could only be done by special order, fje read the clause of the Act. Cr Porter then moved that a special meeting of the Council be held on?the 15th inst. for the purpose of considering No. 1 resolution. This: was carried*-, Cr Porter then moved his resolution with reference to the Ohinemuri agricultural leases. He said that at the time the land was taken up Dr Pollen made the promise that as soon as the freehold was acquired, it would. be,.given to the agricultural settlers at the upset price then ruling. A subsequent promise was made by Sir George Grey, but since then the land had been raised in price. He hoped the Council would be at one with him in this matter.

Cr Thorburn seconded. He had great pleasure in doing so, at it was his opinion that the agricultural settlers had made the district, indeed, but for their perse* verance and pluck, there would be very few miners there. Cr Carpenter suggested the postponement of the resolution till next meeting to enable him and other Councillors to look up the Act on the matter. Cr Brown supported the motion which was ultimately agreed to. . Cr Porter's 3rd and 4th, and Cr Bagnail's notices were carried. TIMBER LEABEB. Cr Carpenter moved that: " That this Council is of opinion that Parliament should cause a commission of inquiry into the validity of timber leases held on lands within the Thames County, with special reference to the powers claimed hereunder by the holders thereof to close such lands for settlement." Cr Bagnall pointed but that the motion could not be moved without notice. ■ ■■■■' Cr Carpenter then gave notice to introduce it at the special meeting. Mb elliot's letteb. The following discussion took place on Mr Elliot's letter, published yesterday. Cr Porter moved—"That a copy of the letter be .forwarded to the Minister of Works, with a. request that he so fix his estimates of expenditure for the ensuing year that the sum asked for would be granted." Cr Deeble suggested that Mr Elliot should be informed that the plan was utterly impracticable. Cr Carpenter thought Cr Porter mast be joking. Mr Elliot had bought land at 30s per acre, and had sold portions of it for treble that amount. The proposed road would wonderfully enhance the value of j his property. He moved the reception of j the letter, which was seconded by Cr Deeble and carried. WATEB HACE MATTERS. The report of the Engineer is as follows:—" I have the honor to submit the following, report upon matters important in connection with the race. The supply being unusually short, it follows the greatest dissatisfaction exists among the Council's best customers, and the revenue has correspondingly decreased; the greatest care and economy are therefore necessary in administering th« supply, and to that end I submit the following proposals:—l. That it is desirable to settle definitely, and without delay, the quantity to be supplied to the Borough, and also the point on the race •from which the supply is to be drawn. This, in 'pursuance of the schedule of 'The Thames Water Supply Transfer Act, 1881,' the Council ia empowered to determine. 2. That the Borough Council should be notified they must forthwith take their supplementary supply from that point in the water race at Parawai where it crosses the main from their reservoir. 3. That failing to comply, I should be instructed to construct and" fix a guage for measuring and delivering the requisite quantity of water from the point indicated, which, can be done at a very small outlay. 4. The connection being made, no water should be delivered through the.County mains to the Borough, except in case of fire. This would prevent the waste of water, which at present exists to a considerable entent. For the information of the Council, I may state there are six water engines receiving motive power from the Borough supply, entailing a daily consumption of 150,000 gallons of water. The supplementary supply, based upon the late census returns, amounts, in round numbers, to 134,000 per diem. The present consump tion is therefore greatly in excess of that . quantity, the motive power alone exceed* ing it bp 16,000 gallons a day: There is also a reckless waste of water permitted at the Burke street and Shortland wharves, as well as at* other places. I earnestly recommend the Council to settle the Borough supply in accordance with the Act, and thus relieve the race from an additional service, which entails not only a serious loss of revenue to the County, but the utmost dissatisfaction among the majority of our customers.—-Alkxandeb Aitken, County Surveyor." The report was adopted. WATEE BAOE VCOMMITTBE'S BEFOBT.

Gentlemen,—l hare tbe honour to report that two breakages occurred in connection with the race daring the month. One of the tressek near McCowatt'g settled, which caused the race to orerflow and carry away the treseel altogether. The notice that ap-

peared in one of the local newspapers stating.that the water had been allowed to oi#rflow for several days at this place" was not correct, and the person who wrote the notice, or the person who gave the information, was guilty of a malicious falsehood: The other breakage occurred in Grahamstown, where one ot the lengths of wrought iron 20 ioch pipes gave way The first breakage was repaired in about 36 hours, and the second whs temporarily repaired in about six hours. A casting has been ordered for permanently repairing the damage.—AtEX AlTK»»rGounty Surveyor. Business concluded.