COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4807, 5 June 1884, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

We conclude our report of the usua! monthly meeting held yesterday afternoon:—,, .

LETTEES WEBE BEAD FROM —

G. M. Morris, M.H.R., advising the Council not to call tenders for the proposed suspension bridge over the Ohinemuri river till Government had been asked to contribute £100 towards making it passable'for horse traffic, as he felt sure they would do.—ln connection with this matter, Cr Fraser presented a petition signed by 20 miners at Karangahake asking'the Council to place tho proposed bridge close to tho ITauraki battery, as it would greatly facilitate their work, and suit the requirements of the district, while the Council wound be a gainer by the fees for residence sites.—lt was decided to oomply with Mr Morris' request, and the petition was ordered to lie on the table.

A petition was presented from 16 residents at Hikutaia, praying that the formation and metalling of the main road be continued from the Pioneer Hotel to the bridge, as considerable traffic was passing over it, and also asking that the track to Whangamata miqbt be repaired.—On the motion of Cr Bagnall, seconded by Cr Fraser, it was decided to call for tenders for metalling the road as requested, and that a portion of the track be also repaired. Messrs Allen and Hayea complained that the tender of O'Donoghue and party, the lowest for the Kauaeranga road con< tract, was informal.—After consideration, and a deal of discussion, it was decided that the tender be not accepted, and as an error also occurred in the next lowest ten* der, it was decided to call for fresh ten. ders, the work being divided into two sections. PROPOSED NEW WOEKS. The spscifications of the proposed new bridges on the Thames to Coromandel road were laid on the table. They prqvided for the erection of ten bridges!— Across the Waikawau, Mata, Tapu, Die-hard, Whalebone, Otuturu, Pohue, Waiomo, Pqru, aad Otohi streams, the estimated.

cost of which was £1694 '*'busidt-a. .whichi the Coi'omandel Council would pay £210!— The Chairman explainer) that of the Council's portion of the £2500 proposed to be a^ked for under the fioads and Bridges Construction Act for the purpose of making these bridges, the rates on Crown lands would make up ;bv far the greater' proportion.—Ee the remainder of , the £2500 to be asked for, it was decided that after erecting the bridges, it be spent in widoning the road from Waiomo to Hastings. ,

The Chairman then Btated that £2500 could still be applied for by the Council this year, and it could be profitably spent on the main road between Thames and Ohinemuri, but having already rated the Totara and Ohinemuri districts :to the full extent allowed by the Act, the only way they could apply for the money was under the 18th section, and even then it was doubtful if the Council would be allowed to pay the fourth portion of the amount without striking the rate.—lt was decided, on the motion of Cr Bagnall, seconded by Cr Eraser, that application be,, made under that -section for the amount named, and that it be spent in erecting bridges over the Eomata and Takerei creeks, and in metalling the main road. . EEPOBTS

The Finance Committee reported that the Council had.no power to remit Mr P. Austin's fate. The specialone must be paid, though the general one could stand over for further consideration.—Adopted. The Treasurer's monthly statement was as follows : — Iteceipts—From General Government, on account of goldfielda revenue, progress payments and subsidy, £2058 3s 2d ; water "race, £115 8s lOd ; general rate, £50 9s ; special rate, £3010s lOd ; tramway charges, £11 10s 6d; to balance, £310115 Bd. Total, £5367 18s. Expenditure: Bank balance, Ist May, £2253 17s; May accounts paid, £3112 Is. Total, £5367 18s. Liabilities : Hastings Hiding, wages. &c, £89 9s 6d ; Waiotahi do., £39 3s; Kauaeranga do., £40 18s 3d ; Parawaido., £28 18s; Totara do., £95 16s ; Ohinemuri do., £28 Is ; water race, £70 10s 8d ; on poldfields works, £55 14s 6d ; tinder Roads and Bridges Construe* tion Act, £1818 6s ; Moanatairi tramway, £30,10s 2d ; travelling expenses,- £19 17s 6d ; steamer,.£2s ; aid to drainage (Big Pump and Dart), £103 2s 8d; salaries, £58 6sßd; Surveyor* allowance, £9 15s; sundry accounts, £23 2s Id. Total, £5638 9s.

The Board of Works report, published yesterday, was adopted with the exception of the portion relating to O'Donog* hue's tender.

OTHER MATTJBBS. The Readjustment of Representation Committee had the time for their report extended till the Ohinemuri separation petition was dealt with by Government.

A notice of motion by Cr Porter, to the effect that the road from Paeroa wharf to the junction of the Normanby road bo metalled, was moved by Cr Coutts.—The Engineer estimated the coat at £50, and the work was agreed to.

On the motion of Cr Deeble, the Board of Works was empowered to see to the metalling of the Karaka road, opposite Mr Greenville's residence.

The erection of a shed in the Council Chambers yard, for storage and stabling purposes, at a sost of £6 10s, was agreed to, and the Council then rose.