COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4294, 5 October 1882, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

' The monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Crs Brodie (Chairman), Bull, Deeble, Coutts, Thorburn, Mur* doch, Porter, Fraser, and Bagnall.

WAIHI. Mr G. Atkins applied for the sum of £10 for the construction of a road from Waihi township to the claims on Bose» moot Hill, undertaking to form it for that sum.—lt was resolved to place this on the schedule of goldfields roads,.and bring it before Mr Kolleston on his arriral here. WIBE TBAMWAT. Messrs Jennings, Smith, and party wrote to the effect that the wire tramway from To Papa Gully, which had been offered to them, was not suitable for their purposes, and again applying for the one from the Karaka Creek, which they were willing to pay for. Cr Bull did not beliere the Council could deal with the tramway. He thought Mr Birnie had some claim upon it. Aa member for the Biding, be would certainly object to its removal, for it might any day be of use in its present position. He mored a resolution refusing th.9 application, irhick failed to find support. . After some 'conversation, tb^* matter was referred to the Board of Watferf with power to act. '..'/^^' COLUMBIA CLAIM. '" Mr John Bowler applied for assistance in constructing a brunch track from the 1 main Waiotahi road to the Colombia Company's paddocks.—Referred to the Surveyor to do the work with the men employed in the riding. ...

PAEAWAI FOOTPATH. - The Secretary of the Thames Jockey ' Club asked the Council to put .the road and footpath from Kenrick's bridge to the race course in order before their summer meeting.—The Surveyor was instructed to employ the men of the riding in performing the work as far as possible. OTUKUI BATTEBY.

Mr G.Harcourt, manager of the Eureka G.M. Co., applied for assistance in removing and erecting the trial battery purchased by them for Otunui. The Chairman did not think the Council could give any further assistance. The road was in splendid condition, "and he had no doubt by the time the battery was ready for removal it would be carried up to the intended site. Cr Porter said he had beard it stated that some Councillor had promised that the Council would erect this battery. Cr Murdoch had heard a similar rumor.

Cr Bull said the only way he could account for this statement was that people had misunderstood Mr Aitken's report, in which be stated that it would be better for the Council to bring oyer the first trial - crushing thanfgo to the expense of making -j a road.—lt was resolved to reply that the Council had no funds at its disposal for this purpose. .

LAND DESTBOYEB* I

Mr John Read complained of a large landslip, in his paddock caused by the road works having destroyed, his fence, and asked the Council to name a time as early as possible at which they would repair it.—Referred to the Surreyor to inquire into the matter and"report.

CLABENCE STBEET BBIDGE.

Mr F. Chapman asked, as a ratepayer, whether there was any immediate, proba> bility of the Clarence street bridge-being replaced.—Work already in hand.

v WATEB. Mr J. R. Perry applied for water to feed his berdans at the fate df 6d per berdan per week when the, mill, works night and day, and half that sua> when it only- worked in the daytime.—lt was resolved to reply that the applicant, not having applied when requested to do so, the connection between his mill and the race would be. severed, aa-l wate* could only be supplied in accordance with the regulations.

OBSTBUCTED ROAD.

Dr Payne complained that a person named Morris had stretched a wire across the road between Bowen and Augustus streets, and requested the Council's attention to it.—lt was stated that the offending person had since constructed a proper fence. .- - ,« ; ~

NEW BOAD,

Mr James McGuire asked the Council to lay off a road to his agricultural sec* tion, Ohinemuri, offering to form' it him* self.—lt was decided to favorably recommend the application to Mr Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor.

WAIXEKAUBI BOAD,

Mr E. M. Corbett wrote protesting against the Waitekauri road being formed as at present surveyed, and suggesting a road with easier grades, and only about half the length, which CDuld be con* structed for 60 per cent, less than the one now proposed. He forwarded a plan of the road which he advocated, which passed through a number of agricultural sections.—Or Praser moved that the letter be referred to the surveyor to report upon it at the earliest opportunity.—Cr- Porter moved as an amendment that tenders be called for a portion of the road—that going into the battery.—Or Fraser's motion was carried. MUTUAL IMPBOVEMENT. The Secretary of the Thames Mutual Improvement Association applied for per* mission to use the Chambers on Monday evenings of each week.—Granted on condition that the gas used be paid for by. the Association, and that some person be responsible for the safety of the building. . _ - KABANtfAHAKE. " " '■'''^.~" '*" A petition from miners «t Karabgahake praying for the formation of a certain road connecting the claims with the battery, was presented by Cr Praser.— Cr Porter moved the matter be referred to the surveyor to make a thorough exami« Vi nation of the locality and select the best' road &>r the whole district; peg it out and give an estimate of the cost. On behalf of the miners in the" district, he would guarantee one half of the cost, if required —Carried. ' TAPUMEBCUBY BAT BOAD. Cr Thorburn presented a petition from residents of Hastings praying for the. improvement of the Tapu-Mercury Bay Road, which was in a very bad state between Tapu and the Golden Point claim, so much so that miners were unable to get their quartz to the battery. The petitioners proffered assistance r to tbe extent of one-third. He moved that on the petitioners depositing one-third of the cost, tenders be called, forthwith.—Car> ried. ... BOABD OF WOBEB. The Board of Works' report was adopted as follows -.—Your Board offer the following recommendations for appro* val:—(1) That as the works required on the Tairua track are deolared by the County Surveyor to be on the.peraaiitiit road, the Council should favorably entertain Mr J. E. BankV application f&lbelr construction, and also bring the"stifgeo^

Wore the Minister of Pablio Works when interviewed:, upon the County roads, bridge*, Ac. \2) That lome of the wages . men in the Hastings riding be employed in repairing the Waikawan Settlement . • track; (3) That plans and specifications of a ferry punt be prepared, and tenders invited for building and delivering it at the Bangiora Settlement, the cost not to exceed £20. (4) That the bridges on the Waitawheta road be repaired, as required, ; the expenditure not to exceed £20. WATER BACE COMMITTEE. The Water Race Committee, reported as follows:—" Your Committee hare the honor to report as follows : At a meeting held on the 18th September, a letter from Mr Greenville in reference to water from the race, was carefully considered, and it was ascertained, that after provision is . made for supplying* the-machines specified 5. in No. 1 of the Regulations, there is not at present sufficient water available for the . Hape Creek .battery, and of this fact be was made acquainted (by the surveyor) at , the- time he made a verbal application for it. A communication to the above effect was sent to Mr Greenville; and, also, that when there is sufficient water it will be supplied, if an application is made for it in terms of-the Regulations. Notices werJjiflßo issued to persons in arrears for 11 *'-; : .iwifjHp?'by *tbe County Clerk, requesting payment on or before the 28th September, or in default the Surveyor was instructed to cut off supplies. At a meeting held on the 3rd of October, another letter was placed before your Committee from Mr , Greenville",. but its tenor was such as to .. render it undesirable, either to receive it in Committee or. acknowledge it in Council. Your Crtnbittee recommend the Surveyor shpuldi^^iiiW"lo^ to estimate '- : the quantity of 4gdn required for use on the water race for 111' purposes daring the next ten years, and that the balance, if any; be offered for sale by public tender." BKOEIPTS AND EXKBNDITtTBE. The statement of 'receipts and expenditure of the month were as follows : Receipts:. Gold duty and* goldflelds revenue, £'117 3s 5d ; water race, £226 . . 15» lOd; County rates, £152 18s; dog .',' registration £4 10s: slaughter bouse and 1 hawker's license, £3; cash re backed, . £19 14s 9d; by balance. £7081 3ls 6d.— Total, £7905, 16s 6d.—Expenditure: Bank balance, Ist. (September, £7038 10s 3d; August accounts paid in September, . £580 3s 4d : bank interest, £287 2s lid— £790516s 6d; balance brought down £7081 14s 6d; Hasting Biding, £44 6s 3d; Waiotahi Riding, £47 19s 7d; Kauaeranga Riding, £2415s 3d; Parawai Siding, £30 12s 9d ; Tofara Riding, £33 ; Ohinemurißidinp,£s2os4d ; Kauaeranga Valley road, £2 10s: Otunui.road (final payments), £95185; ditto (wages), £2165; Waitekauri road, £19 8s 6d; Paeroa cemetery, £4.14s 6d ; water race, £39 8s 6d ; sundry accounts, £3018s 6d; salaries, £67 3s 4d.—Totßl, £75,77 6s>-r-E. W. . Holms, Treasurer. Adopted. OTUNUI BOAD. The Chairman said be had received a telegram from the. Minister of Mines, stating that he had considered the whole circumstances connected with the Otunui road business, and was of opinion that the Council had acted very wisely. On receipt of. this message the tenders had been accepted, and the works were now in progress. BAIIiWAY TBASBACTIO2JS. The Chairman referred to the action that had been taken by members of the joint Councils at the conference. The 'Meeting had been an impromptu one, and perhaps scarcely legal. Three members of the Council bad been appointed to confer witn'Mr Sheehan, and had undertaken, on the Council's behalf, a portion of the ex* ' pense, and it ,now remained for them to approve of the steps taken or otherwise. Cr Bull was allowed to retire from the committee, and Cr Fraser's name was substituted. A resolution was moved that the action be approved, and was agreed to. GOIiDFIEIiDS WOBKS. Cr Porter moved that a committee be appointed to draw up a schedule of works required on. the goldfielda to be urged upon the attention of the Minister of Mines. He understood that Mr Rolleston intended visiting this, district first, instead of going South 'as usual. He moved that the committee consist of the Chairman, Crs Bull, Thorburn, Bagnall, and; ; tbe mpver, and that the schedule be submitted at a special meeting of the Council. previous to the arrival of the Minister. It was necessary to be able to point'."^jt exactly what they wanted at once; instead of leaving it to subsequent correspondence, as on former occasions. Carried. ' MAIN BOAD9. Cr * Bagnall said he was not aware whether any information bad been received a* to the provisions of the new Roads and Bridges Construction Act. If it was true, as had been,reported,, there was a possibility of their getting £3 by way of subsidy for every £ expended on the main roads, bethought it. would, be as-well to take some action in the direction of obtaining assistance for the main roads to Te Aroha on the one hand, and -Katikati on the other., He moved that it be an instruction to the Board of Works to obtain a copy of the bill, and report as to the best means of taking advantage of it.—Carried.