PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 71, 19 December 1896, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

■ • Tiik Tiako County Council held its meeting at the Chambers, Morrinsville, yesterday. There were present Crs. W. P- Chcpmell (Chairman), W. H. Herries, T. Gavin, W. C. Ring, J. McCaw, M. Harrison and A. J. Farmer. Pkookess I'aymi'NTS.—The Council decided to allow progress payments to the contractor's for contracts Nos. "_'4 and 25. Team way. The Under-Secretary wrote stating that the Government were only prepared to contribute £ for ,C towards repairing the Wairongoani tram- ; way.—Cr Gavin, in reply to a question, said lie was willing to take over the tramway for another month, but only on condition that the Te Aroha Gold Mines Company were not liable in ease of fire, but they would accept all other risks.— Cr Gavin's offer was accepted. Goi,i>rn:i,i)'s Revenue.—The deputation appointed to wait on the Minister for Mines regarding the Gohltitld's revenue, and reported that although Mr Cad man considered thcCouncil were justly entitled to the revenue he thought their chances ofobtaining it were rather remote.—The Clerk said it wns exceedingly difficult to obtain any reliable statement of the amounts as the figures on the books at the. Warden's Court and those on the Government vouchers received did not tally.--The Council considered the amounts in question must cither have gone to the Tauranga County Council or to Ohinemuri, and agreed to communicate with the Clerk of the Tauranga County Council with a view to obtaining some information as to where the missing revenue had gone. New Track at Waikongomai—Mr H. R. Burt, a prospector, wrote requesting the Conned to form a track two miles in length beyond their boundary line at Wairongomai.— The Kauri Timber Company had lately acquired a large area of bush which they would soon begin to fall, and this would mean the employment of at least 50 men, as there were, about; 17 million feet of timber to be got ; 13 special jhiims hail been taken up in the district and the miners experienced great dilliculty in obtaining provisions which had to be carried on the back for about 3 miles. The track if made would open up a splendid line of auriferous country. —Cr Gavin said it was most judicious to open up tracks, as the Government, granted T for fJ for the work and the Council got all the revenue. As the cost of the work was estimated at 130, and the Council would only have to pay half, even if there were only two or three claims within their boundary the work would pay hands only.—After a long discussion Cr. Herlies moved that on condition that the work could be completed for ,L'3o and the (iovtrnment would subsidise the Council to the extent of C for £, the track should be undertaken. —This was seconded by Cr. Harrison and carried. Okokoiui: Station Road. —Mr Callaghan, proprietor of the Okoroirc Hotel, waited on the Council to draw attention to the unsatisfactory state of the road from the Okoroirc Station to the hot springs.—C r , Harrison explained the position and stated that through a lot of swamp the road would have to be ballasted. He suggested that the work should be undertaken. -The Council decided to call for tendi rs for putting the road in repair and maintaining it for two yeais. Grass Seed.-- Permission was granted to Mr F. Marshall to cut the grass seed at the Morrinsville cemetery. Balances. —Credit general account, £335 His l()d ; Te Aroha interest account, £53 lis Sd ; debit Te Aroha Bid ing account, £l2O (Is 2d ; Patetere do.. £3O LSs ~d ; I'atetcrc interest account, .£35 His Od. Sj.avoutek-hoisks.— The Inspectors at Cambridge and Te Aroha sent in the usual reports re the slaughter-houses in their districts.—Constable Wild stated that as a new road hail been opened at Te Aroha West within a few yards of Roberts' slaughter-house, the building would therefore have to be removed to the regulation distance before the license could be renewed. Meetincs. —The meetings of thcCouncil during the year 1807 will be held on the third Friday in each month at 12 noon. Maiiood's Rktokt.—Foreman Mahood reported that Messrs McCabe and party lad completed their contract on the T rau-Matan a'a Road satisfactorily. He had had to get 53 chains extra foimed, as it was very low lying. On the Cam-bridge-Napier Road about three miles of formation had been completed. He had not been able to get the work done near Stamford's Bridge on the CambridgeTaurarma Road, but the natives had formed 00 chains. Some very bad cuttings had been attended to at the Okauia Settlement on the Liehfield-To Aroha Road, and he had repaired the mud tills and made up the embankement at the bridge across from Waiomo to Okauia. Several portions of the Cambridge-Napier Road required repairs, and he estimated the cost at about 4s per chain.—The report was received and adopted. Holidays.—The Council decided to allow its employees Christnas Day, Box ing-Day, and New Year's Day as holidays. Bki'.uks.—Cr. Herries reported that the Wairakan - Waiorongcmai Road required metalling in places, and the Council decided to havespecifieatious prepared for the work by next meeting. Wattam's Biu'okt.—Foreman Wattam reported that he had put in timber, water-fables, and fixed up the cuttings on the Te Aroha-Lichfield Road. Mr K. Y. Cox had made very good progress with his repairs on the Diagonal Road. The sanding at Shafterbury had been completed. Several bridges on this roid required re - decking on the Thames-Waikato Road ; he had fixed up the road near Gifford's and cleared round the Pinko Bridge; the embankment near Motumaoho required widening ; the poplar bridge at Annandale ought to be raised higher, as the water flowed over every winter and washed away a lot of material ; swamp fires had endangered two bridges near Morrinsville, and the to'.al destruction of one was only prevented by a traveller putting the tire out ; some of these bridges required redeeUing.—The report was received and adopted. Accounts. The following accounts were authorised :—II. Grant, £'> 2s : C. Crouch, £4 7s; G. Wattam, £lO Is Sd ; N. Raskett, £0 3s ; Shine and MeGuiro, £22 7s 2d: P. Gilchrist, £37 Ills; C. Midirod, £7 10s; P. Corcoran, ,10; Collins and Rarrett, .£'so.