COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4348, 7 December 1882, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held at the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Preßent: Crs Brodie (Chairman), Bagnall, Bull, Deeble, Coutts, Fraser, Murdoch, Porter, and Thorburn. TOO FEW OFFICERS. Mr J. H. Nicholls complained of the difficulty of obtaining information from the Mining Department by reason of the constant absence of the officials, their duties calling them to other parts of the goldfield. v He was aware that these drawbacks were not occasioned by any laxity on the part of the officials, but by their inability to cope with the onerous du^|. imposed upon them. He thought it tal§£4aty of the Council to draw the attentioiif of Government to the matter, in order to induce them to supplement the prjaent deficient staff.—On the motion it was resolved that the letter be forwarded to the Minister of Mines.,. The morer said there was no doubt that there was not the requisite number, of officials at present. The Mining Inspector's office was sometimes locked up for weeks together, and there was not even an underviewer, the gentleman who had filled that office having been removed.

BOADS. Mr Robert Trotter wrote in reference to the main road up the Waiomo Creek, upon which such works were placed by the County servants that he was unable to use it.—The letter was referred to the Engineer to report upon the best way of repairing the road.

A number of Hikutaia settlers asked the assistance of the Council in opening up the road from the main road to the river, laid off by the .Engineer and Mr Elliott two years ago, requesting that the rates collected in the locality and a similar sum be expended upon this road, as there is at present no outlet owing to the road and land being fenced off by Mr Alley.— Resolved to forward the petition to Mr. Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor. Capt. Morris, M.HJR., forwarded a voucher received by him from the Public Works Department for £1000, to be expended on the road between Paeroa and Owharoa, pending the raising of the loan, when he had no doubt the balance of the £4000 would be forthcoming.—lt was I resolved to invite tenders for the formation of that portion of the road between the old Tauranga crossing and Earle's. Cr Thorburn presented a petition from residents of the Hastings Biding and the Coromandel County, urging that the formation of about three miles of road from the head of the Upper Waiotahi road i towards the Tairua Mill, would afford direct communication between Tairua, Mercury Bay, and the Thames, besides a large extent of agricultural and mining land being opened.—On the motion of Cr Porter it was resolved that this road be placed upon the schedule to be put before the Minister of Works, and that the Borough, Council be requested to contribute to its cost, inasmuch.as it would more directly benefit the Borough than the County. WAITEKAUBI BOAD. Cr Porter said they must decide at once whether they were to take advantage of

ihe Government vote for the Waitekauri road or not. He moved that tenders be called for the improvement of the old road in the direction recommended by the Engineer.—Seconded by Cr Fraser and carried. MOBE WATEB. The recommendation of the Water Race Coamittee to the following effect was adopted:—" That, in view of the steadily / -increasing demand for water as motivepower, and the inability of the Council to meet the same, the Government be moved to bring in the water of the Puru creek by a race to Grahamstown, and the Council to proceed accordingly." FINANCE. . . The statement of accounts shoved the bank* overdraft on December Ist was £6922. WATER FOB SANDRS STBEET. Residents in Sandes street asked for the laying down of water pipes, and, on the motion of Cr Bull, it was resolved that on the residents depositing a sum of £5 the workibe carried out, provided its cost did not exceed £15.

GOtDtfIELDS ROADS. It was resolved "that application be made to Government for subsidies upon the undermentioned goldfields roads: — Karaka Creek: Dray road to the Lucky--Hit claim. iVTaungakirikiri: Dray road^ to Otunui, and extension of track up the main creek. Waiotahi: Metalling the road to the highest up claims. Katangahake : Road to open up „the district. Waitekauri: Pack horsfr track by short • route, and a dray road to the battery. the BOVNDxniito. \_. .* - The Chairman of the Pinko County Council desired to alter the boundary of the Thames and Piako Counties, so as to throw the whole of the Waitda Highway. District into the Piako Coumy.-~ft was resolved that if the Piako Council would give up all the land within their boundary on the proper right bank of the Waihou,.. the Council would give up all on the left bank. «».;.--'