WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 526, 14 December 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thk usual meeting of the Waipa County Council was held tit Ohaupo on Tuesday last. There were present : Crs. John Fisher (chairman). Geo. Finch, Wm. Scott, S. Steele, Geo. Mackin'ler, F. J. Vickers, P. O'Connor, H. J. Bell and Fullerton. The supervisor of works was also present. Supervisor's Report.—The super : viaor of works read his report as follows :—A3 instructed at the last meeting, tenders have been called for severul works and were clue yesterday. Owing to a misapprehension on my part, work intended to he dono on the Rihikihi road' has not been tendered for, but I propose to get tenders out at once and that the riding members should be appointed a committee to deal with them. With regard to the cost of gravelling at Te Kowhai. the length of road re-formed Inst year was 96| chain*. It would cost from 6s to 8s per chain according to the quantity of gravel put on, or from £3O to £4O for the job. I do nor think in any ca c e it would be advt*ah ; e. to eall tenders for this 'work till later in the season. Specifications for work on the VVhatawhata Swamp Road have been prepared and forwarded to Mr Burd for approval ; tenders might be. got out. Timber has been ordered and arm nee ments made for putting in the culvert at Croniu's as soon as the timber is on the ground. Mr Grant, owner of the land on the upper side of the road, wants the level of the culvert lowered to enable him to drain. The outlet is bad, as there is very little fall, and I propose to put in an inverted V culvert without any wooden bottom, so that in the event of Mr Markay opening the outlet on the lower side the drain through th° culvert might be lowered. Four 2ft. pipes for lengthening the culvert near Rotorangi have been procured from the Hamilton Borough Council, and the work is, I believe, completed. Some of the contractors are making slow progress with their work, but I cannot see how in the present state of things this is to be helped. Contract 328, formation on the main Paterangi road, has been completed. Contract 330, cutting down a hill bear Mr D. Munro's, is also completed. My attention has lately been drawn to the value of the Deering Disc Plough as a road-former. Hearing that its work could be seen in the Tamaherc district, I requested Cr. Steele to go with me and see it. We concluded that in some parts of the county where there is no gravel (and the only thing that can bu done is to keep the roads full in the centre) the plough would do gcod work. This plough is still in the district, and I ihould be glad if the Council would consider the advisability of endeavouring to get a trial of it for this work on some worn-out road. I made a careful inspection of the two bridges at Pukete as instructed. With regard to the smallest of the two, I believe that the Council will not be running any risk in allowing it to stand for another year, and this is especially desirable, as the Council is already committed to the erection of one new bridge, costing over £7O, in the Newcastle Riding. The larger ol the two, a bridge of 38ft. span, must be renewed at once, and this can, I think, best be done by substituting a brick and concrete culvert. The cost of this would be from £65 to £75. The cost of erecting a wooden bridge I have not gone iuto. It could probably be done for somewhat less than the sum mentioned, as a much shorter span would do, but as there does not appear to be any difficulty in the way ot foundation to contend with, I consider that the work ought to be done in a permanent manner as before suggested. The sum I have named would put in a brick culvert set in eoncrete, sft. diameter inside measurement and 36ft. long, with wings and earthwork filling complete.— It was decided to call for tenders for the work on the Whatawhata Swamp Road, to leave the gravelling on the Te Kowhai R«ad and the work at Cronin's culvert, in the hands of the supervisor. The Counoil decided to request Mr Reynolds to allow the Council to make a trial of he Leering disc plough on the road between'Messrs Pott's and Tierney's properties, and the Chairman was requested to arrange with Mr Reynolds about hiring the plough. The Supervisor's suggestion that a new bridge should not yet be erected at Pukete and the other bridge replaced with a brick and concrete culvert was agreed to. The Supervisor and Crs. Fullerton and Steele were empowered to call and deal with tenders. Millar's Hill —A petition waa received from a number of Paterangi residents asking that before any gravel was placed on Millar's Hill the place should be graded.—Cr. Finch suggested that the work should be done if the funds were available, aR at present tne grade made the pull a very heavy one.—The Supervisor said he could not at present form an estimate of the cost of the work.— The Chairman thought it would be advisable to leave the cutting work until the sprine and then gravel in the autumn. Ue thought it would be too late in the season by the time tenders could be received.—Cr. Bell moved, and Cr. Scott seconded, that the Council recognised the necessity for the work ; but, as it was so late in the season, it should be held over until next yenr. Accounts. —The following acccounts Wre passed for payments :—W. Vickers, As b\l : J. Munro, £4 lis 10s ; W. Jluuro, £l4 5s ; Thos. Cowley, £l7 16s

3d ; Thos. Jamieson, £10; Jas. Papesch, £ll 14s ; McCaul and Co., £ls 16s ; O. A. Kusabs, £l4 12b fid ; F W. Peruins, £5 0s 7d ; J. B. Teasdale. £1 0s 6d ; H. Fitzgerald, £1 2s ; D. Bockett, £1 Is; G. Oifford, £1 Is ; Sonter and Co., £1 14s 7d ; Audit Fee, £2 6s 81 ; R. Crter, £1 4s ; J. S. Bond, 9a ; Trustees Paterangi Hall, 10s ; Mr I). Bockett's account for t ae as returning officer inclu led 7s for horse hire. This was not allowed as the Council pays £1 Is only to it.« re urning officers. Repairs.—Mr E. C. Shepherd drew attention to the necessity (or repaying the ro«d from Williamson's <nte to Dinsdale's Bridge. He also suuse-ted that the titree alongside the roul should be removed.—On the mction of Cr. Steele it was decided to expend portion of the thirds accruing upon this work. A number of settlers in the Te Awanmtu district forwarded a petition asking that the hill lit Gibson's Farm on th« °ld High Road between Paterangi and Te Awamntu should he cut down.—On the motion of Cr. Bell the aup>rvis(T was requested to call for tenders for the woik, which is not io exceed £2O Culvert at Pukete. -Mr R. Dilli- j car, of Hamilton, wrote r> questing the Council to give him acoess to his land at Pukete by putting a culvert over the public drain.—' "n the motion of Or. Steele the Council agreed f> expend the thirds amounting to £2 6s upon the work. Jolly's Drain'.—Mr R. W. Dyer, solici'or, wrote on behalf of Mrs Jolly, of Frankton, aski tg to hive, a set of 18inch pipes inserted in place of the present 12-inch ono<\ The pipes now in were not sufficient to carry the and reQuired lowering, in which case the Council would he allowed to drain *he road into the outfall drain. Mis Jolly, he said, was now deprived of drainage of 50 to 100 acres of swamp land, and he considered she had a just claim for damape-. —The supervisor and Cr. Steele both fully explained the position of affairs, and the Council came to the conclusion that it was not liable in the matter.— The superviso" and Cr. Steele were nppo nted to confer with Mr A. Swarbrick, solicitor, upon the subject as soon as possible. Lot 286, Ngaroto. The Public Trustee wrote advising that Livingstone's Trust (Lot 286, Ngaroto), should be sold by auction to defray the rates due.— This matter was referred to the Council's solicitor. Grayflling and Other Work?.—A large number of works in various parts of the County was authorised, including : £BO for gravelling on the Te Awa mutu-Kihikihi Road, the main street, Kihikihi, and Taylor's Hill. Te Awamntu ; gravelling works on the OhaupoCambridge Road, also from Ohaupo to the Finger Post, Pirongia-Te AwanuitV Road, on the cutting at Hunter's Hill and the Paterangi Cresmery Hill cutting' —As to the latter work, Cr. Finch undertook, if the Council would supply the gravel, to get settlers to cart and spread it.—The Council decided to endeavour to get screened gravel.—Tenders for all these works are »o be in at the next meeting, to be held in February, 1900. Cambridge Bridge. The UnderSecretary wrote re the Cambridge Bridge, stating that there was at pre ent no Government engineer available to inspect the structure. —The Council decided to again request that an engineer should he sent as soon as poss ble. Te Rapa Road.—Mr J. A. Gillett wrote expressing his willingness to sell sufficient land for the formation of the new road at Pukete, and asking for the boundaries of the road, as he intended building near the station at an early date.—The Council decided to inform Mr Gillett that the proposed road would be one chain wide alongside the railway line from the Norton Road to the Te Rapa railway station. Inspector of Aubatoirs. Mr A Swarbrick telegraphed during the meeting that Mr Bettley required an inspector appointed under Section 33 of the Abbatoirs Act, 1894, to enable him to sell meat in other districts.—After some discussion, the Supervisor and Cr. Steele were authorised to interview Mr Swarbrick upon the matter. Unclaimed Lands. The Chairman, the Supervisor and the Mangapiko riding members were appointed n committee to deal with the unclaimed lands in the county. Reserve.—The Council decided to call for tenders for the lease of Lot 323, Pironeia, for a term of 14 years. Patments.—The Supervisor of Works was authorised to pay for all contracts satisfactorily completed before next meeting. Traction Engine Licenses. The matter of the tax on traction engines and vehicles, which was left over for the new Council to deal with, was again introduced.—Cr. Scott proposed that the bylaw relating to traction engines should be rescinded and the licenses discontinued. Formerly he had been in favour of the tax, but was now of opinion that it should be abolished.—This was seconded by Cr. Bell.—The Chairman expressed himself in favour of the motion, which, on being put, was carried unanimously.—lt was resolved to remit a half year's fee to all holders of vehicle licenses. Dog Collars.—lt was decidsd to call for applications for the positions of dog registrar in the various ridings, and for tenders for the supply Of dog collars. -

Furze Notices.—The Clerk wat instructed to i«siiH furze notices to n nnm !)• r ol property owners. 'IENDUES.---The following lender* were accepted :—Forming near the O'.d Mill. Patentngi : K Allport, 4s lOd per chiin, Funning approach to Waipa Btidgf, Piiongia : C. H. Prince, £1 15s.