WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 184, 16 September 1897, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

fafc • The BKial monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held a; the Chambers, Ohaupo, on Tuesday last. There were present :—Crs. W. 11. Mandeno (Chairmau), G. Totty, F. J. Vickers, J. J. Bycroft, S. Steele, R. Scott, 11. Bell, Ed. Allen and J. B. Teasdalo. Waipa Bridge.—The Clerk of the Ngaruawahia Town Board wrots forwarding tracings of the proposed bridge over the Waipa at Ngaruawahii. The only estimate the Board had had, he said, was £'2ooo, and the Council's share of the cost would be one-fourth.—This matter was left to the Chairman ami Cr. Scott to deal with. Foreman.— Mr J. P. Kennedy, of Inglewood, wrote offering his services as foremau of works and offering to supply testimonials, etc.—Letter icceived. Wheel Traffic —A copy of the bylaws of the "Wairarapa North County regarding wheel traffic was received.— Consideration of this was deferred. County Boundaries. Mr Hugh Pollen, of the Colonial Secretary's otlicc, Wellington, wrote as follows upon the subject of the alteration of the boundaries of the Counties of Waipa and Piako :—" I am directed by the Acting Colonial Secretary to inform you that a formal agreement should be made between the Councils of the Counties of Waipa and Piako as to the proposed alterations, and foi warded to this office duly signed and sealed. It will probably be convenient that the respective County Councils should first deal with the matter by resolution, and that such resolut : ons should be recited in the argument."—The necessary formal resolution was unanimously passed by the Council. In reply to a leUer from Mr A. Kay, of Parawera, Kihikihi, the Clerk was instructed to wiite and inform him, that if a public meeting of settlers was held, the Chairman would be pleased to attend and explain the matter.—Several communications were also received from Mr A. Swarbrick referring to this subject, in which he stated, that there was no power to do anything uuless expressly authorised by the statute. —The cost of preparing a Bill would be about £5 ss. In order that the boundaries might be definitely fixel the Chairman was requested to arrange an interview with Mr Hursthouse. Te Rore Landinc; —The closing scene in the To Rorc landing business was enacted by Mr Kensington forwarding a plan of the work and stating that compensation amounting to £9 had been recommended. Goodwin's Drain.—Mr Swarbrick wrote, giving it as his opiniou that the drain referred to was a public one, and it was illegal for Goodwin to stop it up. He advised that the Council should have the dam, which is the obstruction, removed, and claim the cost of the work from Goodwin.—The Council decided to adopt this course. Suhsidy.—Subsidy amounting to £248 15s Id was received on rates collected during the vcar 1896 97—Newcastle Road District," £29 3s Sd ; Pukckura Road District, £Ol 7s : Rangiaohia Road District, £39 6s 8d ; Tuhikaramea Road District, £l2 18s 9d ; outlying districts, £lO2 19s. Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Road.—The Chairman said he had obtained an expression of opinion from a number of settlers in the district regarding the raising of the £IOOO loan for expenditure upon the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Road, but the proposal was not looked upon with favour. The Town Board considered it was a county matter, and would have nothing to do with it.—Cr. Teasdale thought they (the settlers) would be in favour of a smaller amount, say £soo.—The Chairman did not think even the £IOOO would be sufficient, for the work. He would like to get the Town Beard to call a meeting and have the matter definitely settled. —Cr. Allen proposed that if the Kihikihi Toun Board refused to call a meeting to coneider the question, the chairman should be empowered to do so. —Seconded by Cr. Teasdale and carried. Chairman's Rei'ort.—ln his report upon the various works he had inspected since last meeting, the chairman suggested that four new .stringers should be put in Havelock's Bridge, which was in a dangerous condition ; also that Hickey's contract at the Whatawhata drains should be deferred until the work of cleaning out the creek was completed.— The suggestions of the chairman were adopted. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for pavment : —Kihikihi Town Board, £2 10s 84 d ; W. Vickers, £1 4s ; J. Hickey, £ls ; W. H. Clarke, £l2 3s 9d ; W. Suuter, £2 la 3d ; C. H. Bycroft, £2 0s : Kusabs Bros., £8 10s 3d, less 14s freight ; R. Waite, £6 13s 7d ; T. W. Maunder, £1 Ss Id ; W. E. McCutcbeoD, £1 15s ; J. A. Hige.inson, £1 15s ; Waikato AKUCS, £1 15s ; W. Bearslcy, 15s ; Hamilton Borough Council, £29 ss. An account of £lO 18s due to Mr J. Riley was referred to Mr Singleton for payment. Petition. —A petition signed by 20 settlers in the Hamilton Riding was received drawing attention to the damage done to the roads and fences by stray cattle and horses, and preying that a langer should be appoiuted for the Hamilton Riding.—The Chairman proposed, and Cr. Scott seconded, that Cr. Steele should be empowered to appoint a ranger for the Hamilton Kiding.— This was carried, Cr. Teasdale dissenting. Whatawhata Road.—The Chairman said his late visits to the Whatawhata Road had led him to the conclusion that tha grant passed for expenditure upon this road would not nearly complete the work, and he proposed that Mr Lang should be requested to use his best eudeavours towards obtaining a further graiiDof £loo.—The motion was carried unanimously. Valuation.— The Council decided to raise the valuation of the allotment on which the new Whatawhata Hotel stands from £l2 to £SOO By-laws.—The question of framing by laws to prohibit Maoris from using sledges on the road and for the purpose of placing a tax upon traction engines ami vehicles plying for hire, was deferred until next meeticg, when it is probable that bicycles will also come in for a fair share of consideration. Ret-airs.—Cr. Bycroft drew attention to the bad state of the road between Ngaruawahia ard Whatawhata, and the Council authorised an expenditurfi of £l7 in repairs. OVBEUraft.— The overdraft at present amounts to £402, from which has to be deducted Government subsidy amounting to £2lB. Tender*. Tenders for Lot 320, Pirongia West, 30 acres (14 years), were received as follows :—Geo. Berry, £1 KM first year, £3 per annum afterwards ; K. J. Stokes, £2 per annum ; C. E. Grace, £0 per annum ; W. H. James, £7 5s per annum, first two years free.— '1 he la.-t tender was accepted ou condition that the total amount (£S7), should be distributed over an average yearly rental. O'Brien's Road.—Cr. Steele reported that the furze ou O'Brien's Road had dow been cut, and the Council decided to have 30 chains of formation done. RaDFoKD's Gully. The Chairman and Cr. Steele were empowered to inspect Radford's gully and call for tenders it. Other Works.—Repairs to Norton Road, to the main road near Bcerescourt, to a hill at the junction of Mrs Carey's road, and to the Hospital Hill were left to Cr. Steele to have done.— The Clerk was instructed to request the Hospital Board and Mr T. Walter to have the trees trimmed on either side of the road near the Hospital. Gravelling.—On the recommendation of Cr. Allen it was resolved to have

gravelling done on the Te AwamutuOhanpo Road at a cost of £2O ; OhaupoUamiltou Road, £23 ; Ohaupo-Cam-bridge Roa<l, £lB, and Rotorangi Road, £3O.

Formation —Tha Chairman proposed that -10 chauis of forma!ion on the Cam-bridLo-Kiliikihi roa-1 should bo done, that £3O should he expended on the Tc AwanuUu-Ohanpo read, al-o that £25 should lie devoted to clearing up the water-tables within the county.—Carried.—Ten chains of formation at Ngaroto Railway Station and 40 chains from the railway bridge to OoodMlow's, and 30 chains on the Tc Awainutu- Alexandra road, asked for by Cr. Bell, were authorised.

Tohikaramea Road. —Cr. Vickers was authorised to expend £ls ou the roads in the Tuhikaramea Riding. Payment ok Chairman. —At this stage Mr Mandeno was requested to leave the chair while the question of the payment of chairman was under discussion.—Mr Ed. Alien, who was asked to preside, briefly explained the subject, which had been deferred for several meetings.—Cr. Scott immediately proposed that the chairman should be asked to supervise the works of the county, and that he should be allowed travelling expenses, not exceeding £7O a year.—Cr. Steele seconded the motion.—Both these members spoke vciy highly of the services rendered to the Council by the chairman. Cr. Teasdale tbought it would be illegal to pay the chairman. Cr. Allen considered it would be very advisable to adopt this course, ns the chairman was eminently fitted for the position and a most conscientious man.— Cr, Teasdale moved as an amendment that tenders should be called tor a competent man to look after the works of the Council at a sahry of £loo.—The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder.—On being put the motion was carried, Cre. Teasdale and Totty alone dissenting.—Or. being recalled and informed of th ' fact, Cr. Mandeno said he felt he was in rather a false position ; he had no desire to undertake the supervision of the Council works, and but for the fact that it was almost the unanimous wish of the Council, would certainly not do so.—A number of the Councillors pressed him to consent to do so, and informed him that they had the utmost confidence in him, and finally he consented to do so. This closed the meeting.