COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3906, 6 July 1881, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held this afternoon. Present —Crs Brodie, Bagnall, Carpenter, Porter, Deeble, Greenville, Coutts, and Thorburn.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and a precis of the out-goinß correspondence was given by Mr Holhs.

The following reports were laid before the Council :—

engineer's eepoet

Gentlemen,—l have the honor to make the following reports on roads and works in the County : —

Hastings Hiding.--The contract for the road between Tapu and Waikawau is progressing satisfactorily, and the contractor for the portion of Hastings and Mercury Bay road has started on the work. The road from Thames to Waikawau sustained considerable damage from an exceptionally high tide and heavy storm during the month. A considerable number of slips also occurred on this road. Tbe repair of tho damage done by the sea and the removal of slips to keep the road open for traffic necessitated a considerable expenditure. On the road between the Candlelight and Puni Creek more than two (2) miles of clearing has been completed, and a mile and a-half (1J) of a road has been cut. The contractor for completing the dray road to tbe Candlelight saddle was proceeding fairly with the work when an accident occurred to him that has caused a temporary stoppage.

Waiotahi Hiding.—The roads in this Biding have been repaired and maintained during the month. The continued wet weather caused many of them to become heavy, and a number of slips occurred, which had to be removed to keep the roads open for traffic. The footpaths in the riding have received a considerable amount of attention during the month, many of them having been formed and some gravelled.

Kauaeranga Hiding.—A large uumber of heavy slips occurred in the Earaka Creek and Lucky Hit Gully roads during the month, which completely stopped all traffic on the roads, but all of them have since been cleared off. The Te Papa Gully road is at present unfit for dray traffic, and as I found a very large expenditure would be necesssry to repair it, 1 have refrained from doing any more work on it at present, except the removal of slips and clearing the water tables. Repairs are being made to the lower portion of the Hape Creek road, where there is a very large dray traffic. The contractor for cutting a new road from Hape Creek to Otanui is getting on very well with the wort, and about one-halt has been completed. The various footpaths in this riding are being gravelled and repaired.

Parawai Riding. — The Kauaeranga Valley Itqad having been rendered impassable by the fencing erected by the lessee of the Borough jiecreation Ground, a permanent road has been cut and formed and the road is again open for traffic. This road could be rendered fit for dray traffic to Murdoch's if the two bluffs near the Orphanage were widened and a plank crossing constructed.

Totara Riding.—On the Ohinemuri main road very little work has beeu done during the month. Some portions of this road are very heavy and bad from the largely increased traffic, especially between the bridge and Puriri. The contractor for the out fall drain at Puriri is not proceeding satisfactorily with his work. The outfall drain at Hikutaia has been completed.

Ohinernuri Riding.—During the month a considerable amount of damage has been, done to the roads and bridges by the heavy rains and consequent floods. The new bridge across the Waitekauri creek has beeu considerably damaged, one of piers having been completely carried away, and the bridge twisted out of line. Temporary repairs have been effected. A small bridge on the Wai he plains was carried away, but it has sineo beeu replaced. Portions of the Katikati road have been almost impassable for dray traffic, and a large number of heavy slips had to be cleared away. A few chains of the road near Owharoa has been ruetalled, which is a great improvement. On the Waitete road considerable damage was done, which has since been repaired. The T.t> Aroha road is in pretty good repair, considering the recent weather. The expenditure during the month lor maintaining and keeping the various roads iv the County open for traffic has beeu large, but the whole of it was absolutely ne-ees-sary to avoid complete stoppage. Alex. Aitken, County Engineer. I

WATER BACE EEPORT

Gentlemen, —I have the honour to report that the Thames water race has been free from accidents during the past month although the weather has been of a most unfavourable character. The reservoir in the WaioKaraka and large portions of the race have been cleaned out during the month without necessitating the stoppage of any of the machines supplied with water from the race. A two-inch connection has been made with the wrought iron main near Albert street in accordance with instructions from the Couucil for the supply of water from the race to the Thames Borough Council. This connection will supply more than 150,000 gallons par day which can be verified at any time by actual measurement. —Alex* Aitken, County Surveyor.

A special report of the Finance Committee stated that upon the sum of £18 10s being paid, the Treasurer was authorised to give a receipt in lull to Mr W. S. Greenville.

In the matter of the Hape Creek Goldrnining Company, the Committee had not had sufficient information to bring up a report upon the matter of contributions for drainage purposes. The Board of Works recommended the formation of the Whangamata road when the land required therefore had been dedicated. The Committee were, however, uuablb to make auy lfctommenda-

tion in the matter of Mr Laycock's request for a road through the Tairua I Sawmill Company's property until such time as a reply had been received to the petition of the Council re tho title of the Company to the land in question.