COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4009, 3 November 1881, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Crs Brodie (chair), Carpenter, Brown, Deeble, Thorburn, Coutts, Bagnall, Porter, and Bull.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and a precis of the outgoing correspondence was given by the Clerk. LETTEBS. From the manager of the Alburnia battery on behalf of the company and tribulers asking for a redustion in the charges for the water supplied; he did not require that the allowance be mude at per sluice head, but that he be charged only for the amount of water consumed, as the battery was only working eight hours daily. Mr liadford said the present excessive charge for water alone amounted to between 4s and 5s per load of stuff treated. Cr Coutts proposed that the request be acceded to.and the proportion of water used be charged for. Carried.—From Mr Kobert-McDougall, complaining that his hut had been rendered absolutely untenable- owing to the carelessness of some of tho Council's employees, and claiming the sum o r £10 compensation. Left in the hands of tha Engineer and Chairman.—From Messrs Ferry and Cheal, asking that the County lay a service pipe to convey the water from the main race to O'Xeefe's Road, Parawai, offering to make the connections to their respective residences. It was was moved: " That the application be granted, as the parties had already applied to the Borough, who had not undertaken it." Motion was agreed to. — ' From Mr W. Climo, requesting the Council to lay water for motive power to his machinery on the Beach, Grrahamstown.— From the Town Clerk, requesting the assistance of the County in forming a dray road up the Tararu Creek, and in applying to the Government for a grant for the purpose. The Chairman, Cr Thorburn, and the Engineer were appointed a committee to confer with the Borough Council on the subject, and report at next meeting of the Council. —From Mr W. 8. Greenville, asking the Council to reconsider its decision of the previous meeting in regard to the damage to the road on his ground, as it had been caused by the servants of the Council.—From the Town Clerk, forwarding plans and specifications for widening the bridge over the Hape Creek at Grey street.—From Mr J. M. Robson, offering to convey his right to the wharf at the Junction to the Council, providing it was always to remain available for the use of the public—From Messrs Ensor and Farrell, applying for a return of their deposit of £10, having fulfilled their contract for the supply of metal on the Hape road. Granted,—From Mrs Owens, Mrs Murphy, and Mrs Pitkethley, applying for a remission of their rates owing to inability to pay. Applications granted. From the Board of Works—l. Re W. T. Walker's claim: That when the applicant has done work to the value of £25, removed any and all fences obstructing the road, and signed an agreement to convey the land and complete the fencing he .shall be paid the sum agreed upon 4>y the; Council 2. Wm. McOo wain's claim: The applicant's claim is one the Council should not entertain. 3. R. Webster: The Surveyor be- authorised to report at the next meeting of the Council. 4. Pat Traynbr: The various claims of this applicant be referred to the Surveyor to report at the next meeting of the Council. 5. That Jas. McCormick's case be dealt with in the same manner as other defaulting contractors, viz., T. Dunlop and R. Donnerly. 6. That Jas. Birney's claim should not be classed under the head of Charitable Aid. 7. That, J. Thompson's claim bo referred to the County Clerk to report on to the Council. 8. That A. Hart's claim for payment for a truck be referred to the Surveyor to report to the Board at next Heeling. On the,lst November your Committee resolved to submit tha following recommendations for the consideration of the Coun- , cil:—l. That the Surveyor be instructed to inspect the road laid off by Mr W. Moore on the bank of the Waihou, and if his report be satisfactory, tenders be invited for the work. 2. The Surveyor be authorised to lay a culvert across the County road near Wharehoe, applied for by Messrs M. Browne, Douglas and others. 3. That Edward Lambert be paid the items asked for, excepting the item £4i I2s. 4. That the Treasurer be authorised to refund T. Graham's deposit of £3. 5. In the matter of Scanlan's contract, Xauaeranga Valley road, if the contractor declines to proceed with it, he should be paid the usual 75 per cent, on the work done at his contract price, and his deposit returned, provided he surrenders the contract, and gives a receipt in full of all demands.— Attached to;this report was a certificate from the Engineer that he estimated the damage to P. Trainor's contract on theTapu road at between £50 and £60. engineer's eepoht. The report of the Engineer was as follows:—

I have the honor to make the following report on roads and works in the County:— Hastings Biding : The road between Tapu and Waikawau has been maintained and improved during the month ; slips have been cleared away and soft portions fascined, and the road is vow in fair condition. The contractor for that portion of Mercury Bay road between the township and Golden Point iB proceeding with the work, and the other contract on the same road is completed, but nob yet passed. As goon as the contracts now let are completed there will be a fair dry road from the beach to the further homestead selection, except in two places, w here bluffs require cutting. The cost of cutting these bluffs will not exceed £90, if done during the p'esent season. I would recommend that they be out at an early date, as the road would then avoid all the creek crossings. Some portions of this road should receive a coat of shingle this summer. None of tb.3 contracts recently let on the Thame to Tapu road have been completed, bub Hie work is being proceeded with. Improvements have been made during the month on several portions of the Tapu road. I would recommend that all the monies available for road between Thames and Tapu be expended as soon as possible, as ,by so doisg the work can be done at a cheaper rate. Upper Tararu. —The contractor for clearing and cutting road between Candlelight saddle and the head of the Puru Creek has been instructed not to proceed further with the work, but to complete it as fur as the present oloaricg extends. No portion of this work has been passed as completed. Waiotahi Riding.-^On tli.e Waiotahi road one bridge has been constructed during the month, and the road is now passable for drays tj Taylor's. The road between Taylor's and Candlelight is nearly completed. The contractor lor supplying metal for the lower portion of this road has not yet delivered the whole quantity. The j other roads in this riding have been maintained during the month.. Kauwaeraugi Riding.— During the month a portion of the Te Papa

road bus been metalled, «nd (he upper portion has been extended. The other roads in this riding have been attended to. Several of the footpaths require repairing and gravelling, especially the old Una tramway and Upper Franklyn street, in both of which places a considerable number of ratepayers reside. The portions of Augustus street and 'I'errace street require'to be graded und formed and receive a' coat of good, hard mullock during the present snmmer. This work could be done at a cost of about £20. Paruwai Riding.—On Kauwaeranga Valley road a email amount of work has been done daring the month, und the cut'ing ut Bewi's hill has been cleared out, Five ken hare '' been employed in executing the most necrs* | sary works To tar a Biding. —A, small amount of work has been done on the Upper KuuHeran»n Valley road, and alter the bluff) have been completed, considerable portions should receive a coat of shingle. On tbe Ohinemuri mum ro.id only a fewmeuha^e been em loyed in repairing the worst portions, and tbe whole money available for this road should be expended in metalling. Ohinemuri Biding.—The Katikati road, between Macks j town at id Owharoa, h»been in a very bad state. There are four drays son this road daily, with three horwi ineacb, which is cutting it up to a considerable extent, and a Bpecial effort had to be made to im> prove the road so as to enable the engine to be taken through to Waihi. Unless this had been done it would probably have been left at Mackajtown for another month. Metal* ling is really necessary for this road, and as it can be easily got the cost would not be so great. He & ley's contract on this road it cons* pleted in a creditable manner. Goleb*o'ok • W getting timber on the ground for the. repair of the ' Waitekauri bridge., Wdih'i ,Tb»-J.-^-T"hU! road is in good condition, except on creek crossing, where ir. is to be bridged.^ Waitf-"

whata road.—There are three men on this road to complete it for dray traffic, and it will be finished in a few day*. Very little baa been done on the Waitekauri roads, and it would be a waste of money to do. anything more before they are laid out better:- le Aroha road. —The contracb on the Rotokohu road has been completed. Portions—of theJunction road ure impassable, and require-.to be fascined. The portion of this road which the owners have agretld Lo dedicate should bo formed at once.—Alex. Aitkbk, County Surveyor. GENEBAL. The report of the Committee Upon ,Mr Hilton's scheme for the extension of the Moanatairi tunnel, already published by us, was next considered. It was resolved ><■ that the proposal be laid beforfl'the Minis* -. ter of Mines with a vieW to obtaining ~ special legislation in the matter,'and that' Mr Hilton be invited to meet Mr JJclles- X . ton on the occasion of his .proposed visit. ": •y ■• The letter from Mr G. Vejsey Stewart, for a road connecting WftiJS?; and Thames was discussed:-1 V-, ' ■ Cr Porter mored that Sir Stewart bethanked for his proposal,-and ip/onpftd that the Council would be williirgff oitfisist7 ' the Tauranga C l ounp)l r in..,ajSy m«ttfi^vifcr > the benefit of the County., „,'. j*"* 'P."- \"' '■ The balance-sheet s.howedl ajui, Qj^exdrafl; - at the Bank of £6112 17s B*6^^'^t/T ; The Chairman moved.;^!^^^:' ~ the. resolution of a preyi^aaV^ftejßUa^'iQ''" reference to contributions tot jftrnpuig , ' operations unlil September be re/Jciodsd-H' " Cr Porter spoke strongly on ther SoijfftiK and several othermenibejr^referi'ed t**^, limited amount of prdTp^etmjjflofy^^- - the "last twelve months. was carried. ' •'»,'«•, ' \J A vote of thanks was 1 carric^to :Mjr J. B. White, the member; for Wat|ato>.fdr. his exertions on behalf jot'^Gduiity interests. , ''A'.* 4 C

Cr Porter moved votes of thank* fa-the Chairman and' officers for the auiMteejLQ, which they had conducted busin«^p^riog their term of office. He paid a compli* ment to the County officials, and believed no better men could be found, for thair-' respective positions.—The" motion" was seconded by Cr Carpenter, and carried. _ —The Chairman returned thanks, after which the meeting dispersed. ' •