COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4216, 6 July 1882, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held yesterday after* noon. Present: Tlie Chairman (Mr A. Brodie), Crs Ba^nall, Porter, Bull, Thorburn, Murdoch, Deeble, and Fraser. The following condensed report con« tains at outline of the principal features of i the meeting:— """'■' i ONETAI CBEEE. \ Mr J. Ton nsend complained that the j Council had rendered his drainage useless j by extending the drain up to the main ' road, and cutting the Onetai creek.—The ! Surveyor was instructed to survey the road with a view to settling the matter. A GRIEVANCE. Mr W. S. Greenville wrote stating that the trestle work of the County race takes up a large portion of his allotment, No. 352, township of Shortland, putting him to inconvenience. He asked by what right the Council occupied the land, and whether they were prepared to remove the race or pay a reasonable rent for the accommodation.—Receipt acknowledged. ■• BEQUESTS. jJ§Lettera from J. H. Hodge and residents on the Collarbone Spur, praying for certain works were referred to the Engineer. COUNTY WATEB IN BOBOUGH. The Town Clerk wrote that Messrs Hesketh and Tyler were both of opiuion i that the Council was liable for carrying of their water through the Borough, and asked that a committee be appointed to confer with the Borough Works Committee, and decide ihe proportionate cost of necessary water-tables to be borne by each Council. Cr Porter moved tiiat the Borough Council be thanked for supplying a cheap legal opinion;, ~it was simply nonsense for the Borough Council to make this claim, no damage beiDg done. They had been asked more than once to open the race and sweep away the scarlet fever from the town. The resolution was afterwards modified to the effect that the Council recognise no liability in the matter, and did not see the necessity for appointing a committee. KABAKA BOAD. The Town Clerk notified the willingness of the Borough Council to employ two men with a dray in spreading metal on the Karaka road, provided the Council would do the same. —It was decided to adopt the suggestion HAURAKI TEBBACE. Mr G. T. Wilkinson again urged the repair of the footpath leading up Hauraki Terrace.—Mr Aitken was instructed to report onthe probable cost. THAMES-PAEBO A EOAD Mr T. Bradley complained of the bad state of the main road between Onetai road and Alley's farm, and asked that two additional men be put on to do a little fascining. Cr Bagnall moved that the applicant be informed that the Council did not see its way to expend any more money on the road during the present winter. Cr Deeble seconded the resolution. Cr I'orter supported the application. The resolution was carried. OWHAHOA BOAD. Mr T. Canning complained of the state of this road in the neighbourhood of his property. —Received. THE GOLDFIELDS BEVENUE. A draft petition to the House of Eepresentatives was read to the effect that the original agreement was that the native owners should receive £1 for each miner for the time being working upon the goldfield, and also £1 5s for each kauri tree cut in addition to the reserve arising from timber licenses granted upon the said goldfield. That under " The Finan> cial arrangements Act, 1876," all goldfields revenue (other than revenue payable* to the native owners) was directed to be paid to the County in which such revenue accrued. That within theThames goldfield between the Ist day of I January, 1877, and the 14lh day of June, 1882. goldfields revenue amounting to £8802 5s Id, or thereabouts, has accrued from rents on gold mining licenses, water races, machines, business and residence sites, and which is not payable to the native owners under the original agreement. The petition concludes by reSuesting that the £8802 may be paid to lie County. SB WATEB TO BATTERIES. Letters from the managers of the Herald and Alburnia batteries relative to (he charges for water were referred to the Water Race Committee. WATEB CHABGES. Mr W. 8. GreenviUe asked whether in the event of two parties using water the one after the other, as in the Karaka Creek, the charges would be divided between them.—lt was resolved to reply to the communication in the affirmative. OBEY STBEET BRIDGE. The Town Clerk notified that the Grey street bridge had been repaired and raised at a cost of £35 5s lOd, half of which had been charged against the County Council. He asked the Council to cause the eastern approach to be formed as soon as possible. —It was decided to authorise the Engineer to carry out the work. OTANUI BOAD. . The Warden wrote that at the request of miners he was about to forward their petition to the Minister of Mines. He wished to know whether the £100 already Toted was to be considered an instalment of the subsidised vote. The petitioners had intimated that if the Council was not in a position to take full advantage of the subsidy offered they would ask Government to permit the amount to be treated as a special grant, and expended under the control of the local body, on the road in question. He asked whether the awa. in question, about £400, would be sufficient to make a go id sleigh road to the mines at present worked. He had already reported tq Government that the discoveries at Otanui justify some expenditure in the making of a road to open the district. A letter of subsequent date pointed out the advantage that would accrue to tile Council in the gold revenue from the district, the Otanui block being Government property.—The Council replied, requesting that the petition, be forwarded them. The Chairman, said the Warden had had a report from the officers of his department which fully bore out the recommendation of the Council's Engineer to form the main road via Maungakirikiri. Mr Kenrick had desired him to call for tenders, and he had done so in such a way that the Council could adhere to their original resolution if they thought proper. Cr Deebie moved that the specifications be approved, and a sufficient sum of money added to the £100 already voted to construct a six feet track.—Cr Bull seconded the resolution, which was carried --Tenders were opened as follows •—No. 2 section; A. Butler, £95; T. Graham,

£143 10s; P. Trainor, £130. No. 1 section: A. Butler, £89; Trainor, £98; E. McCormick, £103 6s 9d.—The tender of TvTr Butler was accepted in each case, and his sureties approved. HOSPITAL. Messrs Brodie, Deeble, and Fraserwere appointed representatives of the County on the Hospital Committee; WAIKAWAU BLOCK. Cr Thorburn presented a petition from ssttlers on the Waikawau Block, asking the Council to repair that portion of their road leading beyond Punga Flat. He strongly supported the petition, and trusted that the Council would help those who help themselves. Ec, moved that Mr Aitken be instructed to report upon the cost, and proceed with the work, provided it did not exceed £20.—Cr Deeble seconded. .-■:?-, Cr Porter moved, as an amendment, that the Council bad no funds at its disposal for the purpose. They had already expended £2000 on the road, and as they were unable to maintain their main roads efficiently, they should not waste their money in roads like this, which benefited only a few persons who held large areas of ground.—Cr Coutts^ seconded. The amendment was carrigdr DISPUTED ACCOUNT*. Some disputed accounts from Messrs Bradley and H. Alley for repairs to the main road were brought forward, the Engineer having reported that he did not authorise the expenditure.—The matter was relegated to the Board of Works to report to the Council. PAEBOA CEMETEBY. Cr Porter explained that the 10 acres required for this purpose formed a portion of 23 acres, through which two roads passed, and it would therefore be advisable to purchase the whole block.- The Chairman was authorised to acquire the the additional land. GOLDEN FIDDLE CLAIM. The Chairman said the shareholders in the Golden Fiddle claim, Waiotahi Creek were willing to repair the road if the Council would contribute half the cost. — The Council decided to put on three men for a week on condition that the claim* owners provided a similar number. PUNCH AND TBAINOB; I The Committee to whom: Punch and Trainor's accounts had been referred, re* ported in favor of the money claimed being paid, and in the future any contractors found cavilling with the surveyor as to their work be disqualified from entering upon further contracts. OHINEMU3I POUND. It was resolved to let this pound by public auction. j m. caset's claim. Mr M. Casey's account for clearing away a landslip in Upper Tararu, was again brought up, and after consideration it was referred back to the Board of Works. FAIB PLAY TO TENDEBE BS. 1 Cr Deeble's motion, "That no deposit on ordinary road contracts shall exceed 10 per ceut on the Surveyor's estimates ; i the Council to determine what deposit shall be required upon special contracts/ was adopted unanimously.-; WAITEKAUBI BOAD. Cr Porter urged the necessity for the expenditure of the ±-850 voted for the Waitekauri road.—The Engineer was ordered to proceed with the work without delay. The meeting then terminated.