WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1097, 13 November 1901, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waip * County Council was held at Ohaupo on Tuesday. There were present : Ors. John Fisher (chairman). Wrn. Scott, S. Steele, J. H. McKinder, F. J. Vickers, P. O’Connor, Geo. Finch, H, J. Bell and the Supervisor, Mr W. H. Mandcno. Supervisor's Report -—The Supervisor presented his report as follows Several of the contracts let have been finished during the month, and others are making fair progress. No. 43, Grading Innesfal on roid is getting on allright now, though there was great delay in starting.—No. 404 ; Tuhikaramea road near Rothwell’s is completed, and No. 405, let to the same contractor, is under way. —No. 407, Grading Paterung', opposite Mrs Scott’s, is completed, also No. 408, grading the hill between Sing’s and Bowman’s.—No. 409 : Should have been completed, but the work is not passed. —No. 410, Frontier Road : No arrangement made as yet, but I think I know of a man to do the work.—No. 411, Goodfellow’s Hill: Makng good progress now. —No. 412, Whatiwhatihoe Road : I am told this is nearly finished. —No. 413, Te Rore : This is under offer, and I believe wdll noon be done.- No. 414, Grading near the Ngaroto station: This job is let, and will be commenced this week. There is a lot of formation required on this road, but if it is done a lot of froze grubbing will be necessary, which means an increased cost of about 2s fid per chain.—No. 416, Formation Ohaupo-Tuhikaramea Road, just beyond the railway station : Tenders were ordered to be called at last meetmg.— As the job was a small one, and tenders previously called in the neighbourhood having elicited no offer, I intended to arrange for the work privately, but as I found that Mr Scott thought there would be competition, I got out tenders, and regret they cannot be in in time for this meeting. They are returnable next Saturday.—The formation ordered between Te Rore school ami the gravel pit has been let to D. McKianon, at 6s 91 per chain, the cost being increased owing to clearing and grubbing li-tree —I bave arranged with MoNaut Bros, to do the repairs required cm the Ohaupo-Paterangi road near Mrs Shaw’s.—l have received several complaints about the road between Whatawhata and Clark’s bridge. 1 have not been over it for gome time, but would like to be authorised to do it if I find it advisablm-It is a question for consideration what is to be done with the Whatawhata Swamp road. No grant whatever appears in tile published report of the Estimates for this, or any other work within this county, and if a considerable amount of work in the way of maintenance is not clone before winter, much of the improvements lately made will be lost. — Re cost of truck for haulage of gravel, I regret that I am unable at present to lay any definite statement before the Council, as I have been writing for information, and have not as yet received replies expected.—Since Ist meetingCr McKiuder and myself visited and inspected the deposit of gravel at the Puniu, and there is no doubt that a very large quantity of good stuff could be obtained there.—Disappointment was expressed by the Council that no votes appeared on the Estimates for the Whatawhata Swamp Road and Kihikihi-Waotu Road. As far as the latter was concerned, a grant of £25 was made, but Cr. O’Connor remarked that this would not even fill the holes.— The Supervisor said he had endeavoured to purchase a truck for the carting of gravel (by traction engine) from the Assets Board ; but up to the present he ha I received no reply on the matter. — On the motion of Cr. O'Connor, Cr. McKinder was authorised to arrange with Mr John Hutchinson for a trial of ordinary farm waggons for carting gravel on roads. Accounts,—The following accounts were passed for payment : -Thomas' Cowley. £6 16s fid ; J. J. Bailey, £l7 2s 2fd; Chas. Thompson, 15 s; M Fitzgerald, 18s; W. Mawhiuney, £1 4s; W. Willoughby, £2B 10s 4d ; D. Munro, £5 Is fid ; W. McCutcheon, £2 ; J. B Lawton, £lO 5s 7d ; MeNaul Bros., £3l Is lo|d ; audit fee, £3 6s 8d ; T W. Maunder, £2 15s ; M. A. Goinc, 13s 3 I ; Aubin and Co., I0s; W. Vickers, 9s ; W. Bearsley, £l2 Is lid ; Steele Bros., 17a fid. Robbing It In. —Mr A. B. Wright, Road Surveyor, wrote, asking that monthly reports should be furnished on all road works, etc., upon which Government grants were being spent, otherwise no progress payments could be made.—lt was decided to inform Mr Wright that the Council would only be too pleased to furnish reports, but unfortunately the Government had not pa sed any sums to enable them to do so. Crossing.—Mr Wileook again wrote on the subject of the railway crossing to his properly. He said that when he applied for it he was under the impression that his laud was on both sides of the railway, as shown on all the maps and plans. Mr Biss, however, informed him that the west-end portion of his section had been taken for railway purposes, and he therefore could see no ground for the application.—The Council decided to assist Mr Wileook by every means in its power, m „ , Opening Road.—Mr T. K. Davidson applied to have a road opened in order to give him access to the property recently purchased by him, Queenwood, at Te Awamutu.—The Council did net see its way to clear the road in question, and it was decided to notify the owners of the adjacent properties that the fuiz-, etc,, must be removed. When this is done the Council will undertake the formation of the road Pirongia Road.-It was resolved to notify all properly owners between Te Awamutn and Pironnia that noxious weeds must be removed from the road. Valuation.—Mr E. Atkinson, of Moanavale, complained of the high valuation of his properly as compared with other sections iu the vicinity.—lt was decided to refer him to the Valuation Department, which alone is responsible, YardingHußSES.— OouitableGavanagh, of Ngaruawaliia, forwarded an account for 15s for yarding wild entire horses from the Great North Road.—The Council refused to recognise any liability in the imtter.

Noxious Weed?.— lnspector Ross wrote asking for a list of names of the owners to whom noxious weed notices should be issued, and he would see that the notices were acted upon.—ihe majority of the Councillors did not consider the request a fair one, ns the administration of the Act rested solely with the Department. —Cr. bcott said if the Council wanted the work done it was to their interest to furnish the particulars asked for, Cr. Steele took a similar vj ew .—On the motion of the Chairman, seconded hy Cr. MeKinder, i was decided to inform Mr Ross that the administration lay with the Department, and they expected the Inspector to do his duty. Prince’s Lease.— It was resolved to inform Mr Harper, of Pirongia, that the t ouneil considered that Mr I riuce s fences did not in any way interfere with the watering-place tor cattle, and the Chairman was authorised to sign the lease. Sawm'U. Site. Messrs Coullhard Bros, applied for permission to creel a sawmill near the wharf on the Waipa River at Rearuawahia, put iu a tramway, etc.—The Clerk said he had communicated with the Commissioner of Crown Lands on the matter, as the Council had no jurisdiction.—The Council was averse to allowing a mill to be eroded on the river frontage at the junction ot the two rivers, but deferred the matter for a mouth pending the reply of the Commissioner of Crown Lauds. Road Wokks.—Some repairs were authorised at the cutting ue»,r Allpjrl’a,

on the Mill Road, Pateraugi, and formation on tlie Ohaupo-Cambridge Road. Tenders will be called at once. Pigs on Road—lt was reported that some pigs were damaging the road near Mrs Anderson’s, at Kihikihi, and it was decided to inform the owner that the Council would hold him responsible for any daa age done. Taking Gravel. Complaints were made that many persons were in the habit of taking sand from county pits, and it was stated that the Ringiaohia pir had been left in a very bad condition. —lt was decided to empower the Supervisor to prosecute anyone who interferes with a county pit in future.

SPKCIAL MEETING. At a special meeting, held at noon, Cr. O’Connor, iu accordance with notice of motion, moved that the snir of £1503 be borrowed for the Te AwamtVi-Kihikihi Road. The Chairman sa ; d that under due new Act it was impossible to pay the merest on loans out of ordinary revenue, and the interest on any loan amounting to over £2O would in future have to be paid by special rate, Cr. O’Connor said that under these conditions he did not think it worth while proceeding with the matter, as he felt sure the ratepayers would not consent to a special rate At the suggestion of the Council, Cr. O’Couuor allowed his motion to stand over until next meeting, and in the meantime a meeting of ratepayers will be held to consider the question, at winch Mr John Fisher, chairman, was asked to preside.