COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4446, 5 April 1883, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting was held yesterday in the Council Chambers. Present-— Messrs Brodie (Chairman^, Porter, Bull, Murdoch, Thorburn, and Coutts. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Crs Bagnall and Deeble. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. . In reference to a letter from Messrs Price, offering to purchase old iron from the Council the Secretary was instructed to reply that the Council had at present no more iron for sale.—A pqtittfih. was received from Owharoa residents 'praying for the re- erection of the bridge over the Ohinemuri River.—The Government forward a first instalment of £255 towards the cost of repairing the Thames-Taiiranga road, between Paeroa »nd Owharoa.—The selection of a valuer and collector was deferred.—A complaint was received from Mr John Law, contractor, that he had lost £120 by his contract with the Council, aud asking that body to consider the circumstances of his case. The letter was referred to the Water Supply Committee. —A supply of two sluice heads was ordered to be granted to Mr B. Wolff for the Herald battery ; for 12months. —An application by Mr Wick, Waitekauri, asking the Council to remit the fee of £10 charged in connecti n with battery at Waitekauri, stating that the battery was not worked owing to the falling off in gold, and that it would be to the interest of the district to allow it to remain where it was. The Council could not see its way to remit the sum. In response to a letter from Mr Salmon, secretary of the Ohinemuri library, it was resolved to grant £5 towards the institution. Mr Hawkes having written asking the Council to make an allowance out of his rates in consequence of hisj having reerected a bridge on the Hastings Mercury Bay road at a cost of £9.-—The Engineer reported that he bad not authorised the work, therefore the Council resolved that they should recognise no liability in the matter. W. H. Taipavi's application for £1910s, expenses incurred as licensing assessor during 15 years, was referred to the Native Minister. £363 4s lOd was received as native revenue for miners'rights. Upon considering an application from the Uuion Sash and Door Co., asking that £70 be remitted from the Company's rates to be spent in making a track from the Kauaeranga to the 4th branch and Tairua i River, the Company to provide £30 forwards' the work ; it was resolved that the Council would grant £50 provided the Company did the same, the work to be carried out to the satisfaction of the Engineer. •

The contractor for !the road from,, the Thames to Tauranga said that unless an allowance of £200 were made to him on account of the damage done by the late floods, he would be unable to proceed with his work. The matter was referred (without prejudice) to the Engineer to report upon. Mr Crisp recommended the Council, when making their track from the Waikawau Homestead settlement to the forks of the Waiwauwau stream to take the route along Che dividing spur at the forks to tbo road to the settlement, and suggested that Messrs Fisher, of Tararu, should be entrusted with the work of blazing it, owing to their knowledge Of the bush. The writer was thanked, and consideration of the matter deferred. The amount of £3 17s, expenses incurred by Const. Joyce as deputy returning officer for election of Native Assessor, was passed for payment. The Tauranga Coumy Council wrote pointing out the necessity of reconstructing the Waihi Bridge. It was suggested that the Council should take advantage of the 31st section of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, as the Government would favorably entertain an application made under it. It was decided to reply that the Council was using every exertion towards re-establish-ing communication on the road. A vote of thanks was passed to Captain Morris for his exertions in this and other matters * Mr B. Kelly, contractor, applied for extention of time in connection with his j contract for the Karangahake Road, and asked for a progress payment of £20. His contract time having expired, it was resolved to call upon his sureties to complete the work.' j. The ratepayers in the Ohinemuri Biding prayed for repairs to the Owharoa Bridge. The secretary was instructed to inform the petitioners that the Council was taking steps in this direction. The financial statement was adopted as follows:-Receipts: On account of :Government vote of £4000, £255; goldfield's revenue, £363 4s lOd ; water race receipts, £529 10s sd; rates, £18 Is; publicans' licenses and other fees, £6 Os 6d • dog registration, £21 16s--£1193 12s 9d—To balance, £6734 12* 4d—£7928 5s Id.—Expenditure: Bank overdraft Ist March, £6837 2s 9dj February accounts, £782 ss; bank interest, £308 17s 4d— £1091 2s 4d—£7928 5s Id.—Balance brought down, ,£6734 12s, 4d; March accounts—For roads, &c , including con* tracts, £376 13s 4d; water race contractor, £37; printing and advertising, £23 2s; commission, £22 13s 8d ; travelling expenses, £3 18s; aid to Drainage, £20; salaries, £54 3s 4d—£537 10s 4d-r£7272 2s Bd. . ....... Specifications for various works to be done out of the grants obtained from Government were laid upon the table,and it was resolved to invite tenders for

making the road between the Golden Crown aud Hauraki Claims, Karangahake* It was resolved that tenders be called for the maintenance of the water-race, to be returnable at the next meeting. The Council received no tenders for leasing the Moanatariari and Tararu tramways,and it was decided to take an inventory of the property connected with them, and endeavor to make arrangements i with present lessees to carry them on. Messrs Hawkes aod Mannell, a depnv tation from the Hastings riding complaining of the state of the Hastings-Mer-cury Bay road, and stating .that the residents were willing to tax themselves under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The amount required would be £800. The Council suggested; that Jthe .ratepayers deposit one-fourth of the'sum required as a guarantee, and the Govern* ment would provide proportion. The Engineer's report. which we published in yesterday's issue was laid upon the table.