COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4731, 6 March 1884, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

We conclude our report of yesterday's meeting:—

LETTEBB WERE BEAD FBOM—

Austin, Fake, complaining that be was excessively rated.—Resolved that Mr Austin be informed the Assessment Court is the authority for him to apply to. Robinson and Gordon, railway contractors, asking the Council's permission to widen a portion of the Karaka Creek road.-—Agreed, subject to the approval of Engineer.

j. Punch, contractor for metalling main road between Hikutaia and Komata, setting forth his difficulty in procuring metal owing to the land being held by natives, and asking the Council to assist him.—Resolved that the Chairman have authority to retain the services of the County solicitor in this and all similar cases, the expenses to be deducted from any monies due to contractors. The legal manager of the Caledonian Low Level G.M.Co.. requesting the Council to, if possible, borrow from Government one of the rock borers in their possession, for prospecting the companies ground, and to ask whether Government would not contribute a moiety of the expense.—Agreed to.

Mary Wall, asking that a small fence be put up at the mouth of the Karaka Creek water race tunnel, as it was dangerous, one of her children having fallen in. —The Engineer was authorised to attend to the matter.

The Town Clerk of Caversham, asking the co-operation of the Council, through the M.H.R. for Thames, to urge on Government the necessity of making endowments from Crown waste lands to support hospitals and other charitable institutions.—The principle of the letter was endorsed. '

Eighteen Paeroa residents, asking the Council to give them the timber of the old Paeroa wharf, and such monetary assistance as was possible, towards erect* ing a new structure.—Referred to Board of Works.

Quinn and Sheehy, contractors for road at Karangahake, asking the Council to pay the remainder of their contract money (£6), as the bad weather had detained them.—Resolved that the penalty imposed should be enforced. The tributcrs in the upper portion of the Moanatairi Creek, asking the Council to repair the trucks on the two top sec~ tions of the tramway, co as to enable them to get quartz down.—This had been referred to the Tramway Committee, who reported that repairs to the cost of £16 had been made to the tramway.—Resolved that the Engineer prepare specifications and call tenders for the working of the line, a bonus to be given if neces* sary. The County solicitor, giving his opinion that the Council could not, except in the case of lands not previously rateable, make additions to the Valuation Roll.

The Property Tax Commissioner, direct, ing that 91,880 acres of goldfields lands be included in the Ohio.em.uri Valuation Roll,

and 200 acres in the Waitoa district, to the County Roll; £186 of rates* had been passed.—lt was resolved to apply for the money. A number of claims to be placed upon the County Electoral Eoll were read.— One was ordered to be sent to the solicitor for an expression of his opinion. BEPOBTS. The Board of Works and Water Eace Committees' reports (already published) ware adopted; i The monthly statement of finance showed: —Receipts: From Government subsidies and goldfields' revenue, £1405 16s 2d; local revenue, £346 16s 6d; to balance, £2959,13s 4d. Total, £4712 6s. —Expenditure: Bank balance Ist- February, £3053 Is 6d; January accounts, £1659 4s 6d—£4712 6s.—Liabilities :i Balance brought down, £2959 13s 4d; February accounts, £1287 13s 7d. Total, £4247 6s lid. Less Koads and Bridges Construction Act, £603 17s 4d, and for subsidies, £180 ,7s 4d—£7B4 4s Bdbalance, £3473 2s 3d. . The Surveyor reported that there was still £160 available for expenditure on the Waitekauri road, and it was resolved that it be spent on the centre portion of the road. Be the Hikutaia branch road, it was resolved that the work recommended by the Engineer be done, provided the residents find onerthird of the cost. OTHEB MATTEBST. Ke the offer of Government to subsidise various goldfields tracks, as per letter in our last issue, the Engineer was instructed to prepare specifications and invite tenders for the works.

Be the straightening of the main road at Puriri Springs, it was resolved in reply to Mr Mitchelson's letter, that the Chairman communicate with Government to the effect that the Council was willing to deposit one-fourth of the money required, if Government would grant the subsidy in June.

The re-adjustment of [Representation Committee had the time for bringing up their report extended to June. Cr Thorburn moved, and it was carried, " That the laud situated within the watershed of the Hauraki Gulf, between the Borough boundary and the northern boundary, be constituted a special rating district under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act; that the Engineer prepare plans and specifications for the formation of the Thames-Coromandel road, including the necessary culverts and bridges, and make an estimate of the cost of such works; and that after the estimate is prepared a poll of ratepayers be taken to ascertain whether the work be carried, out or not. 1' - \ ' , '

On the motion of Cr Deeble, seconded by Cr Buil, ifc was resolved " That Mr J. C. M. Gibson be appointed to prepare a list of persons entitled to vote in accordance with the Counties Act."

The Council then rose.