PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 264, 26 March 1898, Page 4

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday, at Moirinsville, when there were present :—Councillors Chepniell (in the chair), Harrison, Farmer, Herries. Gavin and Aitken. WajhoO Drains. —The Council having written to the various interested parties re bearing share of the cost of cleaning out and deepening these, Mr Biss, Dis trict Railway Engineer, wrote that as the trenches referred to were not essential to the maintenance of tho line, he could not see his wiy to recommend the Department to pay anything in this con ncction.—Mr Geo. Lovegrove also wrote objecting to being asked to pay slwe of this work, as it was because of the county drains not having sufficient outlet for their ov<rflow, that his land was so often flooded.—No replies were received irom the others, and as none of them seemed inclined to he'p, the Council decided to take no farther action at present. Gordon Road Contracts. B Montague wrote BwrenuVriug one of his contracts, No. 7S, as he could not finish it within the specified time— The Councii decided to forfeit his deposit, and give the ccntract to Jno. Hanks, the next lowest tenderer. Valuation Rolis The ValuerGeneral forwarded copies of new rolis for inspection.—The Council deeideds to object to these rolls en the mound of general inaccuracy and omissions Goldfields Revenue.—The Warden's office, Thame?, advised that they had lodged to Council's credit, £4B Is 3d, being revenue from this source for the period ended Ist July, ISOS. Waiorongomat Tramway. The Mines Department wrote that the Minister of Mines had approved of a subsidy of £125 at the rate of £ for £ towards the cost of repaying this tramway. The department made several alterations in the plan.—Cr. Gavin reported, that as authorised by the Council, he dealt with tenders for the repairs, ami received the following : —T. Penk £267, Thos. Anderson £244. He had accepted Anderson's tender. The usual arrangement whereby the Gold Mines have the uje of, and are responsible for the tramway for another month, was renewed. Licensing Administration Expenses. —The cleik ot the Ohinemuri Licensing District forwarded a claim for £lO 7s Id, being the Council's share of costs in this connection for n : ne months.—The Council thought the charges somewhat excessive, and decided to point out to the Licensing Committee that they had no right to pay the clerk a salary without consulting the local bodies as to the exact amount.

Bridges, Tirau Rotorua Road.— The Council applied for a portion of £3OO voted by the Government for this road, amounting to £175, which they intended to spend in repairing bridges, etc.—The Lands Department wrote seating that the vote had already been nearly all expended, so that there was uo money available for the Council.—The Minister of Lands understood that all the bridges were in pood repair when the road was recently handed over to the Council.—The clerk was instructed to reply that this was not the case, and to refer the department ti Mr Metcalfe's (C.h.) report on the bridges, which was sent to them at the time, and which showed a considerable outlay to be necessary in order to put the bridges in good order. Foreman's Reports. G. Wattam reported on the progress of the various contracts in his district, and that McLcod's contract was not being carried out in a satisfactory minDcr. He suggested that the grades be made easier at a part of the road beyond Gage Brown's corner, where there is a bad dip, aud also that eiyht or ten chains of formation be done. There was also a dangerous culvert near Nelson's containing a set of 12-inch pipes, which were far too email to carry off the flood water. At the Rocks near Morriosville there is a set of 4-inch pipep, which arc being continually hloeked by pine needles, thus causing the water to overflow. He suggested that 9 inch pipes be substituted. With reference to tho deepening of the road drain about to bs done by Mr Allen opposite his property, he thought the Council should Dot allow the earth to be thrown oat on the toad, as there was at present a bink of earth all along the drain. The Conned decided to remove the present bank, and to inform Mr Allen that he must put all the earth from the drain on the opposite side of the road. With reference to Walker's, Orr's, and MeLeod's contracts, it was decided that all these contractors be fined for overtime, the exact amount to be left till the next meeting, when the work would be completed. Wattam was authorised to have the other repairs carried out as suggested.—G. Mahood reported on the roads in h s district. The Tirau-Rotorua Road near Waimakariri is in a very bad state, as slips arc constantly coming down. He suggested that the Council should let him employ a man for three days each week to remove the slips and keep the water-tables cleaned up from the hatchery to Steel's mill. As instructed by the Council at the last meeting, he forwarded specifications for (I) carting and spreading 200 yards gravel on the To Aroha-Liehfield Road, between C'koroire Ro.td junction ami the Tapapa school, and (2) carting and putting gravel on the CambridgeNapier Road, between Carter's stables and the Lichfield-Napier Road fiugerpost. Mahood was authorised to engage a man as suggested. The specifications were approved by the Council and tenders ordered to be called, Cr. Harrison being authorised to deal with the same. G. Giles was fined £5 for overtime in his contract. Gordox-Wahahoa Road.—Aid to the extent of £35 having been promised by various bodies inter*sted in this locality, it was left to Cr. Herries to have certain works carried out'to that extent. Piako Bridge.—The Foreman was instructed to prepare specifications for painting this bridge with two coat 3 of good hematite paint. Bank Overdraft.—The Clerk reported the overdraft at date to be £458 5s 2d. Thanks. —Cr. Gavin and the clerk (Mr Gilchrist) were thanked by the Council for the trouble they had taken in adjusting and settling the various claims against Tonge's contracts. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for payuunt: —J. Lavery. £l7 lis 5d J Jno. Hanks, £135 5s lid; B. Montague, £27 14s Id ; Jas. Orr, £SO; G. Wattam, £l3 5s lOd ; G. Read, £7 13s ; E. Summers, ill 7s ; Jno. Wattam, £8 5s;R. Tarr, £27 6d ; G. Mahood, £ll 10s; G. Giles, £l6 10s 4d ; D. Lockley, £1 Is ; E. deC. Drury, £35 10s; T. Huker, £5 8s ; W. Armstrong, £7 4s; W. McLoughlin, £7 4s ; P. Gilchrist, £37 10s; S. Webb, £1 7a 41; A. Brcrnncr, £7 19s 0d ; Ohinemuri County Council, £lO 7=' Id ; C. Crouch, £2O.