WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 302, 16 June 1898, Page 4

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held at the Council Chambers, Ohaupo, on Tuesday last. There were present :—Crs. W. H. Mandeno (chairman), Ed. Allen, Scott, Steele, Viokers, Tcasdale, Totty, Eell and Wm. Fullerton. Chairman's Retort.— The Chairman in his report suggested the substitution of a wooden bridge at Clarke's Gully in place of the double set of pipes previously recommended. He said he had arranged with Mr Fawkcs to do the work at a cost of £27. He suggested that a concrete culvert should be put in the main road at Jolly's, near Frankton, in place of the pipes formerly agreed to. —The report of the Chairman was adopted. Hamilton Bridge.—The Clerk of the Hamilton Borough Council wrote staling that it had been proposed by the Hamilton Borough Council to hold a Conference of the chairmen of the Waikato and "VVaipa County Councils to consider what steps, if any, should be taken to bring pressure upon the Government with the view of obtaining an inspection of the Hamilton Traffic Bridcte by the Government engineer ; aud also getting a grant in aid of necessary repairs, and generally representing the case to the Government. —The Chairman was authorised to represent the Council at the proposed Conference.

Hospital Contribution.—A payment of £95 was passed on account of the hospital contribution. Freight.—A good deal of correspondence was read between the Railway Department and the Council regarding the dispute over the freight upon gravel from Otorohanga to Ohaupo.—After some discussion it was unanimously decided to adopt the suggestion of the District Traffic Manager, viz., to have a halfdozen trucks loaded to a certain measurement, have them weighed at Frankton Junction, and to take the average result as a basis for future charges. Walpa Bridge.—The Land and Survey Department wrote informing the Council that the commission appointed to allocate the cost of the Waipa Bridge had set down the Waipa Council's share at 20 per cent, on half the cost of the construction of the bridge. Mr Mueller asked for a cheque for £2oo—the Council's proportion of the payment so far, as he could then meet the progress payments as they became due to the contractor.—The Chairman was authorised, on the motion of Cr. Allen, seconded by Cr. Scott, to apply to the Colonial Treasurer for a loan of £250 in accordance with Section 113, sub-section 3, of the Publio Works Act, 1894,—the Council's contribution to the Waipa Bridge. Lot 32, Pukete. —Mr P. O'Brien applied to have the land cleared in order to give him access to his land, Lot 32, Pukete.—This matter was left in the hands of Cr. Steele. New Zealand Counties Association. —The Secretary of the New Zealand Counties Association wrote asking the Council to forward as soon as possible any business they wished to bring forward, and also in cases where a fresh delegate has been appointed the name and address of such delegate.— The Council resolved to request the Association to bring forward alterations in the Auctioneers' Act and also the Charitable Aid Act, as suggested by the Council some months ago. Gravel.—Mr W. J. Hunter applied for some gravel to be placed on the hills along the Ohaupo-Te Awamutu Road.— The Council agreed tn do the-work as soon as the season was suitable. Pokete Reserves.—The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote in reply to the Council, stating that Section 23a, Pukete, was Crown granted, aud could not be dealt with. Section 4a was no* vested in any local body, and could not be leased by the Council until that had been done. It might, he said, be vested if the Council made fovmal application. —The Clerk was instructed to write and enquire who is the grantee for Section 23a, Pukete, and also explain that the enquiries in reference to Section 4a came in the first place from the Department.

Railway Drainage at Frankton.— Mr C. H. Biss, District Engineer, wrote, stating thut the Department had agreed at Mr Jolly's request to do certaiu works to give him improved facilities for draining" his private property. The proposed work was not, as the Council implied, for the " drainage of the Frankton Station." It was distinctly understood that the Department had nothing outside their boundaries, and any question as to the amount of water to be passed under the road and provision therefor must be settled between the Council and Mr Jolly direct.—The Council decided to do nothing further in the matter until the spot had been inspected by several members of the Council. Valuation Rolls —The Valuation Department forwarded a circular, asking for a monthly statement containing particulars of any change that was made in the valuation roll.—The Clerk was requested to furnish the necessary information each month. iNKESi'ALLEX Road.—Cr. Allen reintroduced the matter of the Innesfallcn Road. He said a number of new members had been elected to the Pukekura Road Board, and they were anxious that the Council should take over the road, execute the necessary repairs, and charge the cost—not to exceed £2o—to the Board.—The Chairman and Crs. Bell and Vickers were asked to inspect the road and form an estimate of the cost of putting it into repair. Pipes.—The Clerk was instructed to write to the Traffic Manager, asking him if possible to reduce the minimum load of pipes for local bodies from four tons to two, or to allow the Council to consign the present minimum load, four tons, to two stations.

Cambridge Bridge.—The Chairman said the system of iron bracing suggested, in order to strengthen the Cam bridge Bridge, was likely to run in to a considerable amount of money, say, £l5O. Before such a sum was spent, he thought they should consult a-competent engineer, and said he was already in communication with Mr G. Ashley Hunter, of Auckland, on the subject. —Several other members spoke on the subject, and all were in favour of obtaining an expert's opinion on the structure. —lt was resolved that, if a Government engineer was sent to inspect the Hamilton Traffic Bridge, he should be requested to pay a visit to the Cambridge Bridge, and the Chairman was instructed to bring the matter forward at the proposed Conference of Chairmen, to be held in Hamilton, and ask their cooperation in the matter. Accounts.—The following payments were authorised :-Jas. Spragg, £2 ; H. Steele, 5s ; J. Munro, £4 7s 6d ; Thos Karl, £4 4s; P. Cooper, £4; Win, Vickers, £5 12s 2d ; Davys Bros, £1 4s lOd ; Rotorangi Estate, £9 2a Cd ; Bearsly and Bygravc, £7 10s ; JlcNaul and C0.,.£4 6s ; Gordon and Ingham, £6 IJs 8d ; Win. Mawhinney, £lB Gs 4d ; N.Z. Railways, £1 Us 6d ; T. W. Qualtrou«h, £1 7s 6d ; John Ridler, 9s; Walsh Bros., £4 10s Id ; T. W, Maunder, £1 17s 9d ; Kauri Timber Co., £l7 Is Ud -Thos. Wells, 12s; V. Papesch, 4a 6d ; Jas. Bond, £.3 ss; Waikato Argus, £2 10s; A. Swarbrick, £27 13s 7d SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting was held at the conclusion of the ordinary one, the same members being present. The business was the consideration of the County byelaws as revised by the committee appointed for the purpose. The Chairman read the list of the proposed bye-laws, but it is by far too lengthy for us to attempt to publish. The principal alterations are in the byelaws relating to engines, both portable and traction. The new bye-law•sets forth the penalties for breaches of the regulation and imposes the following license fees ;-En g ines: Five tons and

under, £2 2s ; five tons up to nine tonß, £5 5s ; nine tons and over, £lO 10s. A tax is also imposed on hawkers and all vehicles plying for liire within the County. At this stage the special meeting was adjourned for a month.