WAIKATO COUNTS COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 745, 27 March 1877, Page 2

WAIKATO COUNTS COUNCIL.

The; Waika,to County Couucil held their fourth meeting, m the Council Chamber, at ' Hamilton "East, ' on Friday last, the 23rd inst. Present : ¥ R Claude (Chairman), and Crs Gf E ularke, W |Cumming, J Grail, and R Kirkwood. The minutes of last meeting having been read, confirmed, and sighned by the chairman, Cr Kirk-

wood, moved that , leave of absence from the meeting bo grouted to Cr Leslie, who he was sorry to say was uuable to attetid through ilness — the motion was seconded by Cr Clarke, and agreed^ to. CAMBRIDGE AND FIAKO ROAD. It was proposed by Cr Kirkwood that a sum of one hundred pounds (£100) be appopriated from the county fund to the Cambridge Riding, for the purpose of aiding m the constriction of a road from Cambridge to Piako. Cr Clarke, seconded the proposal. After a long discussion m refrence to the legality of the council making an appropriation of this nature, seeing that the Act clearly laid down the mannner m which subsidy must be disposed of,

Cr Gall moved by way of amend ment that the proposal of Cr Kirkwood bo allowed to stand over until funds are available for distribution to Road Boards. , . Or Cumming seconded the amendment when a division was called for with the following result : . For the amendment, Crs Claude, Cumming, and Gall. Against the amendment : Crs Clarke, and Kirkwood. The amendment was consequently J carried. & THE BRANDING ACT, Agreeably to a resolution passed at a public meeting, at Cambridge, on the 12th inst, by which the council was requested to bring the Branding Act into force m the county. Or Cfcmming moved that the council memoralize the Government on the subject;. He pointed out that the branding of cattle was a matter which could more effectually be dealt with by the Colonial Government, as any means which the county took would not have the effect desired. Cr Gall seconded the motion, which was agreeed to. PULICB LANDj RESERVES. In refrence to an application made to the Governmeut that all reserves within the county not being Waste Lands of the Crown tinder the control of the Waste Lands Board be handed over to the county, and the Government reply asking for a return of the reserves asked for, the Chairman was reqiested to invite the Chairman of Road Boards within the county to furnish a return of reserves m their respective districts as early as convenient. THE KARAPIRO BRIDGE. It was represented by the councillors respecting the Cambridge Riding that the bridge over the Karapiro, at Cambridge, was urgently m need of immediate repairs. After a long discussion as to the liability of the council m the matter, The Chairman was desired to communicate with the Chairman of the Cambridge Town Board on the subject. INTERVIEWING THE MEMBRE FOR WAIKATO. Intimation having been made that the Hon. Fredk. Whitaker was expected to visit the county about $© second week In April, the Chairman was deputed to see him on several important questious m connection with the County Government. Among others the state of the Great South Road from Mercer to Taupiri, the re-con-struction of the bridges upon which the county have asked the Government to undertake before handing over. The Government have hitherto declined for the reason that no money had been legally appropriated forth© purpose. [An unscrupulous councillor remarked that they would try and bear the hardship of taking an "illegal appropriation if the Government woald risk it.] Jt was reported that ' the late Sir J^onild' McLean had made a promise, to,tl*e Cambridge district to assist them m the construction of a road from Cambridge to Piako, and the Chairman was directed to ascertain if the Government would carry out the intentions of the late .Native Minister.

ACCOUNTS. Sundry accounts, amounting to about 420, Vrere pasaecj and qr<fe?e4 fc Q Re paid j and the Chairman >aa authorised to expend a further sum of £5 m repairs urgently required on the road north of Rangiriri. ' LICENSING ACT. Some conversation took place m reference to the Licensing the c,oancil b,eing of opinion that, tfie power of granting licenses m th 6 county should be vested m the council, and not m commissioners ; and that the steamers plying on the river should obtain their licenses from the county, and the fees be paid to the County func}, TO OpPNTY BANK. The subject of rescinding a former resolu ion— that the Bank of New Zealand be the county, bank — was introduced by the Chairman, and discussed ; as also the propriety of calling- for tenders foi? the flkul* business of the oounty alluded to j but it was resolved that the question stand over till the meeting m July next. BEPASTURING LICENSES. On the motion of Or Gall, seconded by Cr Clarke, it was decided that a fee of 2s 6d per head for cattle and hors.es depasturing on waste lands qf the Crown m the Itangimri outlying district be levied; and thai; a public pound be established, and * pound-keeper appointed, IJOG TAX, On the proposal of Or Clarke, seconded by Cr Kirkwood, it waa w

solved that a dog tax of 10s per head be levied ou all dogs over six months old within the county from Ist July next. SLAUGHTERHOUSE LICENSES. Bye-laws to regulate theslaugh-t-ring of cattle, <fee, within the county, having been drawn up by a committee, consisting of Messrs Claude, dimming and Why te, during the past month, were sub mitted to the council, which were passed, and ordered to be printed and brought into operation on Ist May next.— A letter was read from the Cambridge Board of Trustees making formal complaint as a great public nisance, of a slaughter-house erected by Mr Potter of Hamilton, close to the Tamahere bridge and within the Cambridge highway district. The council agreed with the com plainants that the slaughter-house m question had been erected m an improper place, and constituted a publio nuisance , and resolved that a license would not be granted to Mr Potter to continue it as a place for slaughtering cattle after Ist May next. The Council sat five hours, and transacted a great deal of useful * business. They rose at 9 pm.