WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 133, 13 May 1897, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

■ *- ■ r l'ni'. usual monthly meeting of the \ r iiipu County Council was held at Ohaupo on Tuesday. There wen; proseni :—Cra \V H. Mandeno (Chairman), Ed. Allen, R. Hell, 0. Totty, 11. Vicke.rs, .1- Bycroft, S. Stc.de, 11. Scott and J. B. Teasdale.

Whatawiiata Drains.—The Chairman's action in offering to subsidise tlit; work of clearing out the main outfall drain on tho Whatawiiata Road to the ex tint of 10j in the C up to i'u'O was endors, d.

Filling in Drains.—As it was reported that Hr Kerr had Idled in .several mitre drains on the Frontier Road the Council decided to inform him that under certain seel ions of the Public Works Act he was liable to a heavy penally, and that f the drains worn not at once reopened the Council would immediately take action in the matter.

Kohoma'ita Bieidok.— In his report upon the work at the Koromatua Bridge, Mr J. L. Mandeno, who was at last meeting appo : ntcd inspector, stated that lie had superintended the pile driving, etc. He had made a slight deviation from the plan, in tint he had, with the content of the chairman, made the bridge three feet higher. At the request of Mes-rs Sutton and Shepherd he had agreed to allow a temporary bridge for horse traffic, co:t not to exceed 10s. to be erected.—A lengthy discussion followed upon the advisableness cf raising the bridge and thereby increasing the cost of the work, but nearly all were in favour of making the proposed alteration.

Tic Roue Laxdino.— The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote enclosing a plan, on which he asked the Council to mark the reserve referred to at last meeting. He stated that no gazetted reserves have been or cm be disposed of by law. All other lands not gazetted are simply ordinary Crown Ltnds under the control of the Land Board, and no petition was received asking that any Ciown sections should not be opened for selection, if it ha'', the matter would have received every consideration.—Cr. Steele said he had spoken to Mr Lang, who infoimed him that he hud written to Mr Muel'er upon the subject before the land was sold, and had received a reply to the effect that in sec'ioua would be sedd without the consent of the settlers. Mr Lang considered that as this section had been disposed of against the expressed wishes of the settlers, it was only fair that the Government should repnichase the land.—The Council decided to have the plan marked as requested, and to inform Mr Mueller that tho land can be obtained for the sum of £IG.

Government Gkant.—Tho Chairman informed the Council that he had received a telrgram from the Under-Secre-tary, stiting that, regarding the Government grant for the Whatawhata Swamp Road, he hud forwarded an agreement, and as soon as this was signed the amount would be available.—This agreement had been signed and the name of Mr C. W. Hursthouse inserted in place of Mr Mueller as certifying oll'icvr.—The Chairman's action was endorsed. Inspector of Slaughterhouses.— Mr K. L. Hope, of Hamilton, wrote, accepting the appointment of inspector of slaughterhouses for several ridings. A? a certain amount of clerical work devolved on him and also an expendituic for stamps, he asked the Council to define the duties required anil the amount of emolument.—This question evoked a considerable amount of discussion.—The Chairman said the provisions of the Act could not be made to apply until the Council passed by-laws bearing on the question. Personally, he did not ses that much advantage could be derived from the appointment of inspectors.— Civ. Teasdale and Steele tojk a similar view of the matter, Eventually the appointment of inspectors in the various ridings was deferred for the present. CIIAMIiEKS. —It was decided to call for tenders for re-roofing the Council Chambers with corrugated iron, the chairman being empowered to accept the best tender.

Ifxi'ENMTUKE. The financial committee reported that the revenue for expenditure during the coming year amounted to £IOOO ; part of thin amount had, however, been spent, awl the sums now available for expenditure in the various ridings had been apportioned as follows :—Rangiaolra Rding, £2IH 3s 3d ; Newcastle Riding, CIG9 16s ; Fakekura Riding, £2ll ; Tuhikaramea Riding, £SO l'Js (id ; Hamilton Riding, .CI 11 ; Mangapiko Riding, :Ct6l 17s 13d. Solicitor. —The Chairman informed the Council that he had engaged Mr Swarbrick to conduct a number of rate cases which *.vill be heard at the Magistrate's Court, To Avvaimitn, next Court day.—The Chairman's action was endorsed. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment : —C. Drabble, £5 0s tid; Win, Hall, £1 fh : J. Williamson, £lB lis Sd ; Ceo. Hall, £7 KJs ; T. W. Maunder, £2 2s 8.1 ; J. T. Trine.-, 15s ; Park Bros., 10s ; Tebbs and Radford, £27 17s 6d ; R. MoNanl, £S Os ; McCarthy and Mmphy, (is 3 1 ; R. Unaninghain, £3 l'Js ; freight, £5 5s ; Kusabs Bros., £1 5s fid ; R. Waite, £44 18s 3d ; T. Doyle, £BO ; Champtaloup and Cooper, Is Id ; C. M. Alexander, CS 8s lOd ; C. Bygtave, £4 ; P. O'Toote, £3Ss<Jd ; VV. Beaislcy, CM 12s. Hate of Wages. —An account from a certain workman for so many days' work at Gi a-day, again brought up the question of the rate of wages. —The Chairman said some men were worth (is a-day but others certainly were oot. He though; the Counoil should make it. understood that the ordinary rate of wages was sa, and ho did not think in justic to the settlers it could pay more than that sum.—Or. Scott thought 5s should be the recognised rate in the district.— Cr. Steele moved that the rate of wages Lc 5s a day all round, unless by special arrangement.—Cr. Tcasdalc opposed the motion and said he thought 5s was no' sufficient, more especially in wintertime, when men very often could only put in three or four days a week. To pass such a resolution would be most unjust. He thought the wiser plan would be t> leave it to the Councillors, who were V. e best judges of what a man was worth. He would not ask men to work for 5s when by going to the other end (f the district they could earn 8s aild 10s.—Cr. Mandeno said some time ago thty called for tenders for work in the district and in only one riding did the tender amount to Gs a day. —Cr Scott, seconded the motion. He did not consider it right that one man should receive 5s and another (is. There were plenty of nun who could bo found to do the wo k for ~>s a-day. One Councillor interjected here that some men would agree to work for 2s (id a-day, but as a rule they required a man at 0s a-day to look after them. —Cr. Teasilale proposed as an ameiidiiH nt that the wages paid should be left to the discretion of the Councillors.—The Chairman considered the purport of the amendment similar to that of the original motion, but as it was seconded by Cr. Totty, he put it to the meeting, and it was lost, only Crs. Teas, dale., Hell, and Totty supporting P.--On the motion being out it was carried, Cr. Tcasdide be'ng the only dissentient.

Ratk.- -The Council decided to stiilte a general rate of {el and a separate rate of id in the outlying dis'.riets on all rateable property. Ai'i roach. —An application from Mr Win Taylor, of Greenhill, to hive the appreiioh to his property improved, was left in the hands of the riding members.

Scitt'ACKMAN. (Jr. IJyeroft reported that lie had appointed Mr M. O'Connor surfaceman for the Nguuawahia district.

Othkk WeiltK-'..—Several other small jobs wi re authorised.