RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 22, 29 August 1896, Page 3

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tiin : meeting of the Raglan County Council was commenced at Mr Josh. Smith's Hotel, Ngaruawahia, on Wednesday afternoon. There weic present: Crs. R C. Mathias (chairman), H. C. Smith, W. M. Baukhart. F. J. Brooks, G. Whiteside. R. V. Smith, .las. McGuirk. C. R. Vining. Hospital Contkinution.—lt was resolved to pay £SO on account to tho Waikato Hospital Hoard. OI'OTURA Fkrry.—lt was_ resolved that one month's notice of termination of contract should b) given to llori Runia, who is at present in charge of the Opotura Ferry, and Mr S, Vcrcoe was appointed as his successor. Deviation. —At the request of the Land Ollicc, the Engineer was instructed to forward a tracin? of the proposed deviation in the road from Mr Upton's section to Mr Donny's, Sunsnn-. Subsidy amounting to £lOl 5s fid was advised by the Commissioner of Taxes, and apportioned as follows : Pirongia, &', 15s lid ;To Akin, £l9 7s 6d ; Karamu, £9 10* 7<l ; Oncwhero, £4 18s 7d; Whangapc, £2B 2s Id; Waingaro, £25 12s Id ; Karioi, £5 18s Bd. Tk Roue Bridge.—Resolved to notify Mr J. Munro, To Rore, to clear away the furze from the approaches of the To Rore Bridge. Grant.—A coniniunicition was received from the Waipa Comity Council, asking for support in the matter of obtaining a grant for improving the Whatawhlta Swamp Road.—The Council decided to reply that as they hail also made application for a grant for expenditure on their portion of the same road, it would ho unwise to sign any more papers than was absolutely necessary. Pollen's Road.—ln reply to Mr J. H Pohlori, of Harapepo, who reported that the road le.-.diug to his property, Lot 169, was closed, tho Cmncil said they had no jurisdiction in the matter so long as the Road Board was in existence. Gate on Road.—Permission was granted Messrs Seaville Bros., Waingaro, to erect a gate upon the road through the Kahuhuru Valley. Alteration.—An application was received from Mr H. Bull, asking to be allowed to mako a deviation in the road running through Messrs Seaville Bros, property.—The request was granted and the Council's surveyor instructed to make the necessary survey. Advertising.—Mr Geo. Edgccumbe, proprietor of The Waikato Argus, wroto, asking for a continuance of the Council's support in the matter of advertising and job printing.—Cr. Whiteside thought the advertising should be tendered tor, but as the. other members of the Council considered the circulation of The Argus was so much greater than that of the other paper in the district, the advertising and job printing was given to Mr Edgecumbc. Drain. —Permission was granted to Mr Dando, of Karioi, to make a drain near his farm at Wainui.

Dangerous Bridge.—The Pirongia Road Board reported the dangerous condition of the bridge known ns Zolfcl's.— The Engineer was instructed to inspect the structure, and in the mcantimo it was agreed to repair the decking, and the matter was left in the hands of Cr. R. C. Smith.,

Punt.—The Chairman of the Mercer Highway Board wrote, asking if the Council was still willing to make a contribution towards obtaining a punt on the river at Mercer. —lt was decided to inform the Board that the Council was prepared to accord their support, provided the Government supplied the necessary funds. PhkekawaMercbr Road.—lt was resolved to allow Mr W. L Orr £5 Lr expenditure on the Pukekawa-MercT Road, and Mr Jas. Murray £5 to be spent in making a culvert over a gully on the same road.

Deviation —In reply to Mr Orr's r. quest for a deviation, the Council stated that they were prepared to favourably entertain the proposed deviation provided that they receive permission to carry it out without compensating owners.

KaUAKARIKI - WIIATAWIIATA ROAD.— Mrs Wm. Leish reported the impassable and dangerous condition of the Karakariki-Whatawhata Road, especially near liiggtnson's Hill.—A petition was also received fotn settlers living in the vicinity, asking that something should be done to improve the road.— The Council ng'ecd to expend £lO on the work.

Finance.- —Tho statement of balances was given as follows : —Credit : Onowhoro, £23 Us 10<1 ; To Allan, £52 15b ll.lj Whangupe, £lO2 10s 4d ; Pirongiu, £23 3s 10il. Debit : Karioi, £IOO 8s 11.1 ; Waingaro, £IOO 8s 11<1 ; Kanumi, £37 Ss sd. Jyiinil fund—Credit : Karioi, £3 los li 1 ; Karamu, £8 3s 8d ; Wai ngaro, £3Bl 2s 5d ; Whangape, £IOB 1-ls Kid. Hospital Uounl account, credit, £ol <)s 3d ; Karioi special account, debit to riding account, £•"> 7s 7d ; Whangaroa Harbour Hoard, debit to general ;iecounr, £332 Gs Gd ; Hank of New Zealand, debit, £022 )2s Gil, less subsidy £lOl os od.

RoiX CHANGES. The following changes were made in the valuation ro || :_G. Richardson to E. McLeish ; J. C. Whcwell to Win. Fuller ; Jno. McQuirtcr to 8. Crawford ; Jno. Reid to Ceo. Sylvester ; R. VV. Waterhouso to E. Spargo. Roads Tuboug it Native Lands.— Mr K. Tenhii, on behalf of the Maori Council, interviewed the Council re allowing tho Maoris to m&kc nnd maintain roads traversing native lands, the natives to find all labour and material, and have control of the roand*. The Council concluded that it would be a good_ idea to get these roads made by the natives, and would be prepared to entertain any proposals Unit the Maoris brought forward, but would not give control of the roads. Taxing Docs.—Te Abu asked that the natives should have the taxing of native owned dogs left in their hands. The Council informed him that they would be prepared to consider the nominations of native c'og-tax collectors, allowing the Maoris half the fees as commissi m for collecting, and advising Tc Abut) bring forward names and guarantees at next Council me-ting. Phoposkd Loan.—Messrs J. K. McDonald, 8 Wilson. J. Allen, E. Fit/.patrick, Dickeson and Saulsbrey waited upon the Council in support of a largely signed petition, piuying tint the Council take steps to rai»e a loan of £!>00, for the purpose of paying the contribution towards the erection of u traffic bridge over the Waipa. at Ngaruawahia. Mr McDonald briefly explained the steps that had been taken, and pointed out the disadvantages the Waingaro settlers laboured under, as regards getting across the river.—Messrs Fit zpi trick, Allen and Wilson also spoke when tho Council intimated tint thay would take immediate steps to raise the necessary loan of £6OO.

Volt,. —Cr. Whiteside proposed, and Cr. Vining seconded, " That the p:tiytT of the petitionee of the Waingaro Riding re taking n poll from the proposed bridge over the Waipi River, t;e given effect to, and that the Council take all the necessary .steps Co cany out the same, foiling booths to bo piovidujl at Waingiio, Ksjaruawahin, Waiinai, Huutly and Auckland, Rk.ycii Roam.—llfSHrs McDoua'd and Wilson drew the Council's attention to the bad state of the Beach Road, Waingaro. — After some diaenssion, Cr. Ran kurt proposed and Cr. McGuirk seconded, that the sum of £lO lie voted for expenditure out of the Kariui Riding funds, on the Reach Road.—Cr. Vinmg proposed an amendment, which was seconded l.y Cr. Whiteside, that £ls be expended. —The motion was carried by five to three. Tdakau Runt.— Mr A. J. Whiteside sent in a largely signed petition requesting the Council to allow him to tiffix a

controlling apparatus to the now punt at Tnakau, whereby it would be unnecessary to appoint a caretaker, his charge would bo £B3. —The Council decided not to entertain the proposal, and instructed the clerk to call tenders for a caretaker. The following scale of fees was fixed for tho Tuakau Punt, viz :—Each foot passenger, 2d ; each horse, 2d ; each horse and rider, or driver, 3d ; oach head grown cattle, 2d ; each head calves, Id ; each head sheep, Ist 50, id; over 50, •jd ; each vehicle, 2d ; each ton of goods not in vehicle, Is ; returning same day half fare, double fees between sunset and sunrise, school children free.—Carried. —lt was resolved that tho engineer be instruetc I to call and accept tenders for building a house, supplying a boat, also completion of stock yards, cost not to exceed £lO over the giv.nt of £250. Bridge at Tuakau.—Cr. Whiteside brought up the matter of a bridgs over the Waikito River at Tuakau, and he proposed, that it is the opinion of this Council that in view of the increasing traffic over the Wuikato River at Tuakau, for which a punt is wholly inadequate, and the large area of country occupied by Crown tenants and Government land to be disposed of, that tho Government be respectfully requested to place a sufficient sum of money on the estimates this session for the construction of this obviously colouid work.—Seconded by Cr. McGuirk and carried,—The ordinary meeting was adjourned until 9 a.m. on the 29th. Raglan Wharf. The Engineer was instructed to procure and lay down metal rails and repair the decking on the Raglan wharf at a cost not to exceed £.lO ; also to call for tenders and deal with the same for £2O worth of work on the Huntly Kahuruhuru Road. Gorse Nuisance.—A long discussion took place on the gorsc nuisance, and the Engineer was instructed to call for tenders for cutting down the plants opposite lands, the owners of which have taken no steps to clear the roadway. Fence ON Road.—The Clerk was instructed to notify Mr John Ross, of Karumu, that he must remove a fenco encroaching on the road. Unclaimed Lands.—The Clerk was asked to look over the roll and send a list of any unclaimed lands to the Public Trustee. SPECIAL MEETING. Whaingaroa Road District. A petition was received, signed by a majority of the ratepayers, praying that the Whaingaroa Road District be merged into the county."—lt was resolved that a special order be made merging the Whaingaroa Road District in the county.