PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 977, 24 June 1901, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The uau*l monthly meeting of this Council was held at Morrinaville on Friday when there were present Crs. Ghepuiell (chairtrtau) Harrison. Farmer, Jaclrsou, Cox, and McCaw. Dox Tax.—Henry Misson, in the Lichfield district, being reported a defaulter in paying this tax, it was decided to take the necessary step 3 to enforce payment. Ranger.—H. "Bellamy wrote asking Council for a definite announcement as to whether he was to act as Ringer for the County in the Waitoa Riding.— Council decided that Mr Bellamy be appointed ranger, and that all driviug fees be allowed him. Roads Department.—A circular was received advising that the Lauds Department had divided their work, and that in future all matters relating to roads, bridges, tracksj etc., would be controlled by a Roads Department under Mr Hursthouse, engineer.

Stray Cattle. —Crs. Jackson and Farmer raised the question of restricting the ranger's powers to impound the cows of small settlers iu the Te Aroha Wes; district. Some of these had only one or two cows and not much laud, while others were forced to let their cows outside their land in order to water them. They did not think the ranker should pounce upon these animals immediately they got outside the fences.—Council decided that it could not make any distinction in the matter of whose cattle should be impounded, and declined to make any pronouncement on the question. Workers* Compensation Act.—A letter on this matter, covering a copy of the Act was read from the N Z. Accident Insurance Company, drawing Council's attention to their liability in the matter, and offering to insure Council's employees for 1 per cent on the total wages paid.—The County Clerk appended a memo to the effect that he did not think that the provision of the Act applied to the Council, as it did not seem to him that any were employed in 'work' as defined by the Act. In the case of tramway hands, where the work was of a hazardous nature, an insurance had already been effected. As the point raised seemed a ' nice' one, the Council decided to obtain a legal opinion ou the matter.

Thompson's Tback.—With reference to the £l5B available for expenditure on this track, the Chairman reported that in company with Foreman YVartam and two Councillors he had inspected the track, and found it in such a wretched coudicion on the Te Aroha side of the range, that they were of opiuion that ic would only waste money to spend a paltry sum like £ISS in repairs. It would require something like £IOOO to put the track iu as good order as it seemed to be on the Tauranga side, where the country was easier and lay more to the sun. With the £ISS they could certainly repair some particular parts, and to do this they would have to leave other parts untouched. Ihey had directed the Clerk to write the Government suggesting that instead of using co-operative labour, the Council should be allowed to employ a party of workmen under a lettable foreman, all on day wages, to clear the scrub and slips, and make some of the more dangerous places passable, as far the money available (£ISS) would allow. No reply had yet been received from the Government.—The Chairman pointed out that the public seemed lobe under the impression that Thomson's track was a county road. This is not so, as it is entirely a Government track. The Government, instead of putting it in proper repair, doled out small grants to the Council and threw oti them the onus of keepiug the road passable. In making these repairs the Council was simply .-pending the utterly inadequate amounts allowed them from time to time by the Government for'that purpose. Rats—A circular was received from the Health Department asking a are turn of the number of rats destroyed in the recent campaign against them, aud the amount paid for the destruction. As the Council had not ' ratted,' —officially at least-it was decided that the circular be received.

SoLUFiKr.D Revenue.—The Treasury had advised that 7s (id, being revenue to 30-. h March, litidbeeii placed to Council's credit. Slauohtekiiousk Licenses. —ApplioitionH were received from J- Howe, To •\roha ; T. Fanner, Waihou ; D. Scelly, Wuharoa : F. Marshall, Morriusville ; and J as. Gibsou, Miiiviwaru, for licenses. —lt was decided to foiward ali these to the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, which now issues the licenses.—The Department advised that tor the halfyear a fee of 10s would suffice, and that the Council remit all fees to Wellington. These fees would be retained by the Department to cover the cost of inspection, and preparation of licenses —A long eomplaiut was received, signed by R. Brennan and others, asjaiust a license being granted to W. Roberts, Te Aioha. The petitioners alleged that an unbearable nuisance was created, as the slaughterhouse was situated close to their dwelliugs,. and also that considerable

damage was earned by pigs.-—A3 there was no appticauom fiotn Roberts before the Council nothing . was done in the matter.

PERMISSION TO TAKE SaND."—The Morrinsville Committee v?aa granted permission to take sand for the school croui.d from the pit near the l'iuko Bridge, the sand to be taken under the direction of the Council's foreman.

Closing Boad. The Clerk.of the Waitoa Road Roard suhngjfyd for Council's decision the Board'sflProposal to close a certain pitce of road, and give another in exchange. The roads effected run fioin J. Bell's property to A. Bremtier'!-, and are in Block X, Mangakawa burvcy District. The Lands Departnient had approved of the exchange, and forwarded the plans duly certified. All formalities having bein;; observed, the Council decided to agree to the petition.

Hospital Board.—; Mr Gallagher having tendered his resignation as one of the Country representatives on the Board, it was decided to recommend the appo nlment of W. H. Wright (iJayor of Te Aroha) in his stead.

Stanley Road.—Decided that the titree be cut on this road, from Te Aroha to Te Aroha West schoolhouse. Crs. Farmer and Jackson were' appointed to arrange with foreman Wattam for the work.

Overhanging Trees.—lt was reported that Met'srs Cornes and Lovegrove had tak'n no action in the matter of trimming trees overhanging their road frontages. As they had b-ren twice notified on the matter, the council decided to take necessaiy steps to force them to do the work. Waiohongomai Tramway.—A. Edwards submitted his monthly report from which it appeared that 170 trucks of quarz at 3s 6d, had been brought down ior Mr Hardy and 13 trollies of wood the total revenue for haulage being £3l 13s 9d, aga nst which there were wag- b for haulage £25 12*, and for repairs £o 16s total £3O Bs. He asked whether or not he should charge Mr Hardy for GOO feet of planks which had been taked up to the mine. Council decided to make no charge for the lot, but to notify Mr Hardy that he would be charged for this work in future. P. Coin applied for a share of the work ou the tramway, on the ground that he was a married man with a family to support. He stated that the two men generally employed were single men, lie thought; under the circumstances, he ought; to get ji share, as well as they. The Council decided to give him a change when a vacancy offered. Some dissatisfaction having been expressed at. the loose way in which horsefeed and other tramway requirements were ordered, Crs Farmer, Jackson and Cox, were appointed a Tramway Committee, to whom the foreman (Edwards) must submit all requests for horefeed and material for the tramway before ordering. The committee will also examine and ccrtifiy allj accounts and wages sheets prior to these beiug brought before the Council t»t the monthly meeting. Requests from the new ropes for the May Queen grade, and for two horse covers, were refcrredt o the committee to investigate and procure if necessary. Foremen's Reports.—Wattam and Mahood sent in their monthly reports on roads in their districts, but had no requirements. Both practically suggested a cessation of all work on roads till the rainy season wes over.

Road Machine. The Chairman thought the Council ought to be furnished with a report as to how much could be dons with the machine in a given time and the average cost of the work. The Council agreed, and the foreman was instructed accordingly.

Tim is kb Floating Rights.—Cr. Harrison mentioned th;it a company in the Taupo locality was applying for the right to float timber on the Waikato ■' River. This would necessitate dam 3 being constructed at certain pans which . might possibly affect roads in the , vicinity.—lt was look into ,*— th* matter with a view u. lodging an* objection in the event of any damage being likely to lesult Rates —lt was decided that the rates, of which i otice has already bsen given, be struck <tt the next meeting. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment : —H. and J. Clifford, £ls 7s 9J; G. Mahood. £ls 12s 6d ; A. Barker, £6 Is; W. F>tzgerald, £lO 10a ; F. Wulker, 7s 6d ; To Aroha News, £3 4s ; T. Audertou, £lO 3s ;V. Bune, £1 Ss 6d ; Nepe, £54, . E. Mikkelson, £3O 4s ; J. MoSwceuey, £3 His ; T. Young, £6 16s ; E. Beeson; £1 12s; E. Barrett. £4 10s ; J. Dyer, £ll ; T. Baiker £8 2s; A. Bremner, £2 13s Gd : D. M Wallace, £7 2s 6d ; G. Wattani, #ls ; S. H. Davey, £S 15; E. Voysey, £2 15s 6.1 ;A. JL-avbourn, £1 17s 2d; A. Edwards, £l2; E. Healer, £6 16s ; M. Mulcahy, £3 4?.