PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 149, 19 June 1897, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thk Piako County Council met at the chambers Moninsville, yesterday, at 11 a.m. There were present : Cre. W. P. Chopmell (chairman), M. Harrison, N. I. Hunt, VV. C. Ring, A. Aitken, Thos. Gavin, W. 11. Herrita and A. J. Farmer. Rates. —The rates as proposed at the last meeting were struck. Tramway.—The Waiorongomai tramway was hft in the hands of the Aroha Goldmining Company on the same terms as formerly. Unfinished Drain.—Mr R. Parr, contractor for draining work at Waitoa, wrote, stating that h 3 was unable to proci cd witli the work on account of the quantity of water.—Mr S. Burge also wrote upon the same subject, threatening to sue the Council if the work was not cuiried out at once, as the water was flooding the settlers' property. —The foreman was asked to instruct Mr Parr to proceed as soon as the water had subsided sufficiently. Slal-oshtkmsg License. Mr John Wood applied for a bcense to slaughter cattle or. part Lot 348, Waitoa.— Granted.

Puiiliuans' Licenses. The clerk of the Tauranga Licensing Committee forwarded c rtificates for the issue of licenses to Messrs R. M. Hnmil'on (Moninsville), S. Callaghan (Okoroire), J. Sherley (Piitaruru), A. Gabolinsky (Waihou), and F. Rose (Oxford). Government Subsidies. Vouchers were received from the Mines Department for the following grants : Waitawheta track, £2O ; Gordon Waharo R ad, £315 lis Bd. Tenders —The Clerk repot ted thit the following tenders had been accepted since the last meeting ot the Council : Contract No. 57, St oney Creek Bridge: C. Tonge, £4l. No. 58, Nelson's gate : G. P. Goodfellow. (is 9d. No. 09, McKer.zVs hill : Tbcs. Anderson, £22 4s. No. 60, metalling : J. Hanks, lis 3d per chain. No 61, Thackeray's Bridge : J. Pohlen, £l7. No. 62, railway filling: McGnire and Co., £l7B. J. Wattam's Retort. Foreman Wattum reported that he had not pas=ed the work at Munro's hill, as the work had not been carried out according to specification. The bridges which were erected by Mr Orr would require a good deal of extras. One of the bridges in the native swamp, Gordon, was in a dangerous condition; it riquired newpiles and new sheeting, and parts of the swamp also required fascining. The wotk at Hanks' grave'ling contract was cutting up the roads badly. He had arranged with the contractor for cutting the hill at Nelson's Hill to execute some extra work, which was approved of by Cr. Gavin.—The Council decided to order the timber for repairing the bridge at the native swamp, and the Foreman was authorised to obtain the fascines.— The report was adopted. Mahood's Report.—ln his report Foreman Mahood stated that 700 yards of gravel had been placed on the roads in the Cambridge end of the county. Horses for the work were lent gratis by Crs. Hunt and McCaw. The TirauMatamata road required some attention, and the old creek near the 26 mile peg was nearly impassable. The only way to get the water away from the road at this place was to bottom the drain. The railway crossing near Mangawhara was in a dangerous state. A gr.at many slips had recurred on the CambridgeNapier road, and on the stretch between Lichfield and Putaruru tome of the cuttings were sadly in need of repairs. A good deal of heavy traffic, waggons, etc., was necessary since the Lichfield railway line had been closed.—The Council decided to have some gravel placed on the L ; elifield Piitaruru roid, and to write to the Railway Department re the creek c:ossiug on the Ohinerca Pataruru road, and also call attention to the defective railway crossing. Extension of Time.—An extension of time of six wetks was granted to Mr W. Thompson, on recount of contract No. 33, Gordon Waharoa Rod. Rffund. —The Council pa.'sed a sum of £4 to Mr B. Montague, to recoup him for loss of time, etc , on his contiact which was terminated before the completion of the work Piako Bridge. —Mr Metcalfe, engineer, wrote lecommending that the timber for the new bridge thould be' thoroughly inspected before being used. He offered to send a competent msiu to inspect if the Coimcd would pay him Pis a clay.—The matter was lift in the hands of the Chairman to arrange. Kaimai Track.—The Tauranga County Council wrote forwarding a resolution unanimously passed at its meeting, and asking the Piako Council to pass i no of a similar nature. The resolution requested the Go\eminent to purchase the property of the Thames Valley Land Company and all the other 'and abutting oj the Kaimai Track, with a view to it being opened as a coach road, thus establishing communication between Cambridge and Tauranga. The Council passed a resolution desiring the track to be opened as a coach road ; but refused to take any action in the matter of the purchase of the land. Dam.—A request was received from Mr John Brady, of Gordon, that the Council should keep the dam, known as Montague's, in repair as per agreement. This matter was left in the hands of Crs. Hemes and Gavin, to get proper specifications made. * Flax-mill Stream, Gordon. Crs. Gavin and Herries reported on the deviation of this creek, and it was decided to have specifications prepared for diverting the creek back into its natural course. Charitable Aid. The Otamatea County Council wrote forwarding a petition for presentation to the House of Representatives praying that the burden of charitable aid should be thrown upon the consolidated funds of the colony.— A number of the councillors expressed themselves in favour of the proposal, and it was resolved to sign the petition. Gate,—Mr D.McNicol, of Wainuikau, applied for permission to fence across the road leading to Katikati and Mr Walkei 's property, Pe offered to erect gates at either side.—The request was granted. Katikati Track.—Cr. He-lies asked the Council to expend about, £2O in making the Katikati Track passable for ho- - se tiafiic. If this were done it would not be necessary to declare the road open, and the carrying out of this v. ork would confer a great boon upon the settlers on both sides of the range. —The foreman of works was authorised to spend £l9 19s in improving the track. Accounts.--The following accounts were passed for payment:—Kauri Timber Company, £lO 7s ; Jas. Orr, £O7 16s fid ; N. A. Baskctt, £3 lis ; W. P. Chepmell, £1 15s lid ; R. Michael, £1 8s ; S. H. Davey, £4 9s; \V. Newson, £lO ; Geo. Wattam, £ll ; Jas. Read, £4 16s; J. Wattam, £7 4s; Collins and Barrett, £45 ; J. A. Goodfellow, £{s ; Auckland Star, £1 10s : Waikato Argus, £4 Hn 61 ; Te Aroha News, £5 14s; Te Aroha Times, £1 Is; P. Gilchrist, £4l 17s 8d ; D. Lodtley, £3; W. P. Chepmell, £ls; Thos. Gem mill, £1 5s 3d ; W. Souter, £1 10s Id ; Gorton Estate, £3 16s ; E. Ihown, £2 ()s Od ; J. McFarlane, £5 2s ; W. MeLiughton, £6 15s ; W. Stanley, £2l 18s 2d ; J. Pox, £9 ; P. Corooran, £7 4s ; J. Mahood, £9; A. Stanley, £1 10s; B. Montague, £4.