COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4706, 6 February 1884, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above body was held this afternoon in the Council Chambef s, Mary street. Present: Crs Brodie (in the Chair), Porter, Bagnail, Coutts, Murdoch, Bull, and Deeble.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and a prdcis of the outward correspondence read over. Vouchers for £826 15s 4d goldfields and native revenue, £213 15s progress payment under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and £180 7s—subsidies to roads and tracks in the Waiotahi, Waitekauri, and Xaraka Creek districts, were received. LETTERS WEBE BEAD — From Mr Miller, on behalf of R. A. Wight, stating that he had been instructed to proceed against P. Trainor for removing metal from the Komata Creek. —The Council had previously given Trainor permission to exercise any rights possessed by the Council.—Resolved that Mr Miller be informed the matter is purely one between Mr Wight and the contractor, and the Council will not require his services. From the Rev. P. O'Reilly, asking the Council to pay one-third of the cost of erecting a new fence in front of the Catholic Church, Paeroa, the old one having been destroyed by the cutting made on the County road.—Referred to the Engineer to report on. ,

From J. Punch, asking permission to remove stone from the Council's property at Ohinemuri, to use on his Paeroa to Mackaytown road contract, and to giro something to show that they had the right to the metal.—Resolved that the information be supplied, and permission granted to remove stone subject to the Engineer's supervision.

From the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, requiring the Council to reduce its overdraft (at present £3050) by March, as had been promised.—ln reference to; this the Chairman laid on the table a statement showing that no less than £3530 would be due to the Council by March next.—Resolved that the County Clerk take steps to get the outstanding accounts paid as soon as possible. [Left sitting.]

The following reports were presented to the meeting :— subvjetob's kepobt. To the Board of Works.—Gentlemen, —I have the honor to report that all the roads in the County are at present in good condition for traffic. The weather during the past portion of the summer has necessitated the employment of a larger number of men than usual to effect repairs. The contractor for the road from the mines to the battery at Otunui is progressing rapidly with his work. A large portion of the road has been widened, and men are now employed in getting and breaking metal. The contract on the Kauaeranga Valley road, near the booms, has been pushed on rapidly since the work was started,. and should be completed next week. I would recommend that the balance of the money up to the estimated cost be expended in metalling the worst parts of the road between the above contract and the Orphan* age ; The portion of the Tairua road near I McKeozies has been examined, and ten* | ders will at once be called for the work, i as authorised by the Council. The road from the mines to the battery at Karangabake has been completed. The survey of the extension of the Karangahake road towards Te Aroha by the valley of Waitekauri is being proceeded with as rapidly; as possible. About 3J miles are now cut, pegged, and levelled. Steps are being taken to connect this road with the main Te Aroha road beyond Eotokuhu Now that there is no regular steamer running from Thames to Paeroa, goods and passengers are landed at the Junction, and the road between the Junction and Paeroa should be made passable. An expenditure of about £10 would effect this object.—Alexandeb Aitken, County Surveyor.—February 6th, 1884. BEPOET OF THE BOAED OF T^OBSS,

Tour Board at npQn on xthe 25th January opened tenders for works under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, when the following were accepted :— Section E. Thames to Ohinemuri, Joseph Punch, £766 ss; section F. Ohinemnri to Katikati, P. Trainor, ; section G, Ohinemuri to Te Aroha, P. Trainor, £682 6s. Pat Sheehy's tender of 10s per chain was also accepted for the coal track. At a meeting held on the sth February it was resolved to make the following re-. commendatioiiß:—l. That the Surveyor 1 estimate the cost of making passable for horse and foot traffic the roaid to Binney's fartn,,petit|ongd for by the settlers, and repor.t thereon. 2. Th.c Sarreyop to estimate cost of forming and grading a junotion road to the sawmills at Ohinemuri, also petitioned for, and to report thereon. 3. That Mr Casey having complied with the Council's instructions, his tender in the sum of £50 for repairing the Tararu tramway, be accepted. 4. The Council should not take over any unformed roada on private estates. ,