PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 278, 23 April 1898, Page 4

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ THE monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Morrinsville on Wednesday, when there were present : Crs. Chepmell (in the chair), McC'aw, Hunt, Aitken, Gavin and King. Painting Fiako Bridge.—Cr. Gavin, who was authoiised to receive tenders, reported that only one had been received, viz., from W. Hogau, which was considered'too high, and as the engineer had advised that the work should be done for £ls, the tender was not accepted.—The mat'er was left with Cr. Gavin and the clerk to arrange for fresh tenders. Balan'OE-shebt.— The balance-sheets for the half-year and yiar ending 31st March, 1898, were submitted to the Council by the clerk. The yearly bal-ance-sheet showed the total revenue for the year to be £2757 6s od, and the expenditure £3531 10s Gd, leaving a debit balance on the general account amounting to £744 4s. After deducting credits of the various riding accounts amounting to £326 10s Gd, the nett overdraft from the bank at the expiry of the financial year was £417 13s Gd.—lt was decided to ask the bank for an overdraft tip to the full Itgal limit. Charitable Aid.—The Clerk TVaikato Dospita 1 and Charitable Aid Foard wrote, requesting payment of £498, being amount alloo.ited to the Council as their contribution for chaiitable aid purposes for the ensuing year.—The Council decided to pay an instalment of £9B. Scrsidiks. Tl.e Treasury notified that £2Bl 5s had been placed to the Council's credit, being an advance on subsidy on rates collectable by the Waitoa Road Board and outlying districts The allocator of goldfields revenue, Thames, also advised that £33 2s 5;1 had been placed to the Council's credit, being revenue from Febtuary. Railway Dkains.— The District Engineer of the Railway Department wrote, repudiating any responsibility for lowering culverts to suit water-courses which had been artificially altered from their original level. Slaughter-house License. -An application was received from Johu Walls for permission to slaughter on a section (formerly Holtby's) at Waitoa. - This application was objectd to by Mr N. A. Larney, of Waitoa, a resident of the locality, en the ground that the site was adjacent to a low-lying river flat, and that the yard would soon become foul and dangerous.—'l he Council decided to adjourn the application till next meeting, in order to permit of further enquiries being made. Slaughter-house Inspector.—Constable Rowles, who was gazetted Inspector for the Te Aroha, Waitoa and Matamata'ridings, having been removed to Auckland.—The Council decided to recommend Constable Forbes to the Government for appointment. Tirac-Rotorua Road —ln reply to the Council's request for grant in aid of bridges maintenance on this road, the Surveyor-General wrote that at present no funds were available, but that the matter would be considered when preparing the Estimates for the coming year. Leave of Aisence.—Geo. Wattam, foreman, was granted a week's leave, his son to be left in charge during that period. Tenders.—Cr. Harrison reported having accepted the following tenders for carting, etc., on the Te Aroha Lichfield Road, No. 83 : W. Stanley, 2s per yard. No. 84 : W. Stanley, 10(1 per yard. Gordon-Waharoa Road.—Cr. Hemes reported that as authorised by the Council, he had let three small contracts on this road to the amount of £37, as follows :-J. Hill £ll ss, J. Orr £9 10s, and A. Thackray £l6 15s. Katikati Track.—Cr. Hemes in a note to the Council, apologising for his absence, through sickness, drew at ten- i Hon to the state of this track. The fern aud undergrowth was very thick, and should be cut before the winter. —Foreman Wattam was instructed to attend t» the matter. Waihou Drain.—Mr Borric asked the Council to contiibute towards the cost of the wotk he had done in clearing the Waiwera Cieek from the county drain to the Piranui. The drain is blocked from where he left off, and he suggested that the Council should see to its being cleared.—The Council decided they could not see their way to pay any money for this work, and to instruct the Foreman to attend to the clearing out of the drain. Waiorongomai Tramway.—T. Anderson, contractor for the repairs to this property, asked for an extension of time, as he had experi. need great delay in getting his timber, »nd also in getting men to work.—The Council decided to defer this request till the completion of the eontract, when they would be guided by circumstances in dealing with this matter. Fines.—The following hues were inflicted on contractors who were over their time : J. Orr, 30s ; C. Crouch, 40s ; F. Walker, 10s. Waiorongomai Tram —Cr. Gavin, on behalf ot the Te Aroha Goldmines Company, declined to renew the usual arrangement whereby that company had charge of and was responsible for the tram, as there were other companies wanting to use it.—The Council decided to employ a man to look after the tram till next meeting, and any company using the tram in - the meantime to be responsible for damage. It was remitted to Crs, Gavin and Hemes to arrange the terms of an ugruement between the Council and the various companies interested. Foremen's Reports.-Geo. Mahoocl, in reporting on the roads in his district, said be would require an extra man to repair roads and clean out water-tables before the winter set in. Some portions of the Cambridge-Napier road between Gorton gravel pit and Cambridge require attention. He suggested that tin Council should let tenders for eight or ten chains of gravelling on the newlyformed part of the CambrLdge-Napier road near Hinucra Station, as he had not time to do it himself.—The Council agteed to have all these works done as suggested —Foreman Wattam's specifications for grading two cuttings, lifting and resetting set of pipes, and five chains of formation near Gage Brown's at Shaftesbury, was parsed, and tenders ordered to be called for the next meeting. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment:—G. Wattam, £ll ; S. Binge, £4 17s Gd ; C. Crouch, £53 10s; R. Farr, £32 ; F. Walker, £lO 10s; J. Orr, £3l 6s; W. Stanley, £3B 15s ; W. Tawhuraugi, £3 15?; Waikato Hospital Board, £9B ; Waikato Argus, £4 Is; W. H. Johnston, £3 10s; W. Pickett, £5 2s ; J no. Wattam, £5 lis ; G. Mahood, £l3 173 lid ; W. Armstrong, £8 8s; W. McLoughlin, £7 lOi ;D. Lockley, £8 Ss ; T. Barker, £lO 5s ; W. Thomson, £3 ss; A Swarbriek, £l3 3s Sd ; sundries, £l3 9s Sd ; D. Stubbing, £1 10s.