WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 245, 10 February 1898, Page 4

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Waipa County Council met at tic Council Chambers, Ohaupo, on Tuesday last. There were pic tnt:—Crs. W. H. Mandeno (chairman), R. Bell, G Totty, F. J. Vickers, Sam. Steele, W. Scott, Ed. Allen and J. B. Teasdale. ClarkkS BRIDGE.— The Chairman reported the total destruction of Clarke's Bridge at Whatawhata by fire. He had, he said, arranged with Mr Mawhinncy to erect a temporary crossing. He suggested that Cis. S'eele, Vickers and himself should be appo'nted a committee to consider the advisableness of putting in pipes or a culvert instead of rejecting the bridge —Cr. Steele favoured the substitution of a culvert or pipe ; this would make a permanent job, and a bricge was always liable to be destroyed by tire.—Cr. Scott also supported the suggestion —As Cr. Steele was unable to make the tiip of inspection, it was left in the hands ot the Chairman and Cr. Vickers to dtttnnine whether pipes or a culvert should be inserted in place of the bridge, to rc-eiect wh'ih would cost £IOO. Hickey's Contract.—The time for the completion of Mickey's contract at the Whatawhata drains was extended for a week. GRAVELLING.—The Chairman said the roads in the Newcastle Riding were in a much worse condition than those in any other part of the county. The road between Ngaruawahia and Whatawhata certainly required attention. Mr B oth's contract for reforming on this road had been carried out in a most satisfactory manner, but unless gravel was placed on it at once the majority of the work would be practical'y lost. Ho suggested that about 50 chains of gravelling should be done.—On the motion of Cr. Scott, seconded by Cr. Steele, Mr Booth's iffer to place on eight yards of gravel to the ch-iin at lOd per yard was accepted, and the work will be carried out at onc^. Reserves.—Mr Kensington, of the Sumy OtHee, wrote forwarding a plan showing the school and cemetery reserves at Ohaupo. The cemetery reserve, he said, had never been vested in any trustees, and he advised tlie Council to apply to the Colonial Secretary to be appointed.—lt was decided to take steps to have Lot 12, parish of Pukekura, vested in the Council. Report.—ln his usual report upon the works within the county, the Chairman stated that owing to holidays, harvesting, etc., most of the contracts let at last meeting had made but little progress. He had done what he could to push things on, and they were fairly under weigh once nitre. The report was adopted. Inneseallen Road.—Mr H. Gilletc requested the Council to tepttir a few chains of road at McLaren's swamp between Ohaupo and Innesfalhn, in order that he might get a traction engine in to his farm.—The Chairman was instructed to 1 ave the necessary work done, Workmen's Lies Act.- Messrs J. Mullions and J. Riley, workmen undir Mr C. Crouch, served a notice on the Council to withhold payment on account ot work done on the Te AwamutuOhaupo Ro-.d, as the contractor refused to have a fnir settbnient and produce bills, etc. —The account in question was passed subj-ct to the appro*ul of the Chairman. Road Forming.—A petition signed by 10 ratepayers of the County was received praying that the road should be formed fioni Jones' and Scott's Corner on to Goodwin's land, whirc the County road joins the old Whatawhata Road.— The Council agreed to allow th : s matter to stand over. Death.—At this strge of the proceedings a telegram was received by the Chairman stating that Mr J. Bycroft, member for the Newcastle Riding, had succumbed to typhoid fever that morning. The Chairman was reejucsted to forward a telegram to the mother of the deceased expressing the sympathy of the members of the Council in her sad bereavement. —The Council adjourned for a coup'c of hours us a mark of respect.—'l he Chairman was requested to represent the Council at the fuieral. OVERDRAFT. —The overdraft at present amoun's to £l-45, which is much lower than it has been for n.any years. O'Brien's Road.—Mr P. O'Brien, of Fukete, again applied to have a r ad opened up to his property—Cr. Steele reported that this matter had bten attended to. U.NiMrr.ovED Valves. —The Newcastle Road Board applied for pe:mission to adopt the system of ra'ing on unimproved values.—The Chairman explained the position, and said that the Board could only be empowered to do so upon a petition signed by n ceitain number of ratepayers. —On the motion of Cr. Teasdale, seconded by Cr. Bell, the Council decided to empower the Raid to adopt the 83stem, as soon as th<i conditions of the Act were complied with. Ranger.—Mr W. G rdner requested the Council to appoint a ranger end poundkeepcr f or the Tuhikaramca district He was constantly annoyed, he sa : d, by stray cattle and hordes damaging fences ami gates, runl also by lice infected sjiecp rubbing sga ; n«t fences sod gates, inside which clean Hocks are grazing.—After a short discussion the question wa3 left over until Cr. Vickers obtained an expression of opinion from the other settlers in the district. Thirds.—Payment of thirds amount ing to £"2l 12s was notified by the receiver of Land Revenue. Absentee's Land. —Mr H. Roche waited on the Council regarding a section of absentee land containing 80 acres, which he wished to obtain for a client, ami asked the Council to give him a security of tenuic fur a term of 21 years.—The Council informed the applicant that this was beyond Us power, but as no rates had btca paid cu this allotment for some years, and a co: si lerable area of land in the County was lying in a similar state, a list of such land vou'd immediately be made and lorwc«rded to the Public Trustee, with a request that they should be put up for sale as soon as possible. Doe: Registrars The following dog registrars wire appointed for iho various ridings : —Hamilton. Newcastle and Tuhikararr.ea Ridings, Mr T. Tebbs, Sd per collar ; Puktkura, Mr y. Fletcher, )0d per collar ; Mangapiko, C. M. Alexander, 9d per collir; Rangiaohia, Mr S. Bond, Is per collar.—Tt wvs resolved to allow registrars (id extra on every cs collar sold. Dog Collars.—The follow ing tenders were received for the supply <f dog collars : —F. O'Toole, od each ; M. A. Going, 5d ; H. W. Gleye, od (accepted). Hamilton Ranger. A petition, I'gned by a number of ratepayers of the Hamilton Riding, was presented by Mr W. .J. Cribble, praying that the Council should rescind the motion pa-sid several months ago, appointing a ranger for the Hamilton Riding. This matter was allowed to stand over until next meeting, and the liding member, Cr. Steele, was requested to ascertain the fe.ling of the ratepayers upon the su' j' ct. Rates. —In order that the ra'es bow due may be collecttd in time to obtain the subsidy, it w. s decided to impose a penalty of 10 per cent, on all ra'es not paid by March 3Ut. Accounts.—-The following payments were authorised :—R. Wai'.c, £l7 12< ; O. Crouch, £2O Ms ud ; R Caitcr, £7 10s ; A. Aider, 16s lOd : W. W. Higginson, .€1 ; XV. Mawhinncy, .I'll 14s ; V. Papcseh, £4l Is ;R. McCaul and Company, I'll 14s 3d ; Bcarshy and Bygravc, £8 \di 0.1 ; in'erest, £22 12s (id ; J. Russell, £1 ; A. Swarbiick, £.'s 5s lOd ; H. Booth, £2O 7s ; W. J. Thompson, lh ; T. A. A'exauder; £lO ;is ; J. Charleston, £3 lis ; Jcs. Vicar, £1 10s ; S. Fletcher. £5 4s 3d ; f night, £1 0s lid; VV. M. lV.it, as ; F. O'Toole, lis llj,d ; T. W. Maunder; jj W ; McCliu'y, Us.

Bve laws.—The Chairman drew attention to the damage done to the county roads l»y sledges used by the Maoris;and siugc-tcd that a bye-law should be fiamed to prevent the trallio. He thought a tax should le imposed on veh cles p'ying for hire, and that sr.mtthing should be dene to prevent traction engines pissing over the roads at all seaof the year.—Councillors Scott, Steele, Tvasdale, Vickir?, with the Chairman, were Appointed a committee to revise the bye-'aws. Loose Bo.ts.—Cr. Allen reported the. necessity for screwing up the In Its on the Red B.idge, Cambridge, aud he and the Chairman woe authorised to have the matter attended to. The Hank Cua- oe —After some discussion, re the bank charges to be imposed, tba Chairman proposed that the Council should refuse to sign the circular an:ll. rising the Bmk of New Zetland to make a charge of a guinea, a year for keeping accounts. —Cr. St«cle seconded the motion, which was eariied unanimously. GRAVELLING.—The Council agreed to call for lendeis for gravelling the newlyformed portion of tiieCambridjje-Ohaupo l'oad and the Ohaupo-Hamilton Road. Tenders were also iinit d for the supply of '2.'> trucks of Otorohanga gravel.