WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1128, 16 September 1879, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting, of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers at Ohaupo on Tuesday, the 9th inst, for the purpose of considering the question of closing certain roads in the Pukekura Riding, and hearing any objections thereto. Present : Crs. Germann (Chairman), Corboy, Hadfield, Buttle, Reynolds and Steele. The minutes of last meeting having been read and confirmed, and no objection against the closing of said roads having been lodged, Or. Buttle proposed, "That all the conditions of the 'Public Works Act' having been complied with by the Pukekura Diatrict Highway Board, this Council confirm the decision of the ratepayers- that the roads in question be stopped." Seconded by Cr. Reynolds and agreed to. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was then held. Present: Crs. Germann (Chairman), Steele, Reynolds, Buttle, Hadfield, Cunningham and Corboy. The minutes of special meeting having been read and confirmed, tho correspondence written and received since last monthly meeting was considered. WHATAWHATA PERRY. The following tenders were opened for the working of this ferry for twelve months: — Honepikama, £50; Whitaker, £48. The lowest of these was from the Maori who has been working the ferry for some time past under the Newoastle District Board at twelve pounds per annum, and the Council were considerably astonished , to fiud that what had been done {or tho

District Board for twelve pounds they, were asked to pay four times that amount J for. Cr. Corboy said the high rate of tenders was in consequence of the conditions imposed by the Council, viz. that the ferryman should keep ferry and approaches in good working order and be responsible for any accident which might occur his neglect to do so. It was the general opinion of the Council that to accept either tenders was entirely out of the question. They thought it would be far better to close the ferry, and leave the local body to arrange the matter. The Te Rori ferry is worked for £20 per annum, and one of the Councillors instanced a certain settler between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, who had offered, if the authorities would provide a punt, to work a ferry on the Waikatc river, about half-way betweeen these two towns, for nothing. Ultimately it was proposed by Cr. Buttle, "That Cr. Corboy be authorised to make arrangements for the working of the Whatawhata ferry for the year, and that he be limited to the sum of £20 for such contract." The motion was seconded by Cr. Steele, and agreed to, with the understanding, that in the event of Cr. Corboy not being able to arrange ior a year, he should do sb for three months. ALTERATION IN COUNTIES ACT. Cr. Gormann, according to notice given at last meeting, moved, "That this Council prepare a memorial praying that certain alterations be made in the Counties Act, at the next session of the General Assembly." He (Cr. Germann) thought the present manner of deducting the amounts from the subsidies payable to the various local bodies towards the support of the Auckland Hospital was decidedly unjust to country districts, where distance from town prevented residents from getting anything like a fair proportion of the benefits to be derived from the Institution. He considered that the cost per head of all patients admitted should be ascertained, and a register kept of where they came from, and each local body charged according to the number they sent to the Hospital. It was not reasonable that those districts which only sent a j very, small percentage of patients, should have to pay at the same rate as those near, from which a far greater number of inmates nesessarily came. Another thing which he thought required amending, was the provisions in the Act which compelled the Council to expend so much on advertising. In his opinion, much expense might be saved if the Council were allowed to ! use its own discretion in this matter. Sufficient publicity might be given in many cases, by a written notice being posted at one or more public places. Cr. Steele said come alteration was much needed with regard to the mode of rating. It was generally acknowledged that the present rate on value to let was decidedly objectionable, an acreage rate was much, more simple, and decidedly more just. It would also be less costly, as it would do away with the expence now incurred by all the District Boards .having to employ valuers. Cr. Corboy thought it would-be better to abolish the Act; He said he knew he was expressing the opinion held by a great many on the subject. Cr. Germann said he was quite prepared to admit that, as at present constituted, the Act was not workable ; but he thought it would be better to try and get it amended. It was desirable in a young country like this, , that people should learn to govern themselves, and he contended they ought to be able to do it better and cheaper than it could be done from Wellington. It was the opinion of the Council that many alterations in the Act were needed, but as they could not go thoroughly into the matter now, it was j decided to hold a special meeting for the , purpose of doing so on Tuesday, the 23rd instant. NARROWS BRIDGE. Cr. Steele laid a statement on the table showing amount of money paid by the Hamilton District Board towards approaches, &c, to this bridge. The amount so paid was .£312 11s 4d, but a special grant of £50 had been made by this Council, which reduced the sum to £262 11s 4d. Cr. Steele argued that a large sum had been contributed towards the erection of this bridge by public subscription, it was in his opinion a work which! ought to be . a Council charge. He would therefore ask the Council to make another grant. The Chairman ruled that Cr. Steele was out of order in bringing forward the matter without notice. Cr. Steele, r accordingly, gave notice of motion, that the question be considered at next meeting of the Council. DIVISION OP SUBSIDY. The Finance Committee submitted their report, showing the way in which the subsidy had been distributed among the various district boards. — The report was adopted. ROADB TO RAILWAYS. Cr. Steele gave notice of motion, for next meeting, " That a petition be presented to the Minister of Public Works, asking that roads be, made to the various Railway Stations in the County of Waipa, to enable those settlers totnake use of the railway, who are, at present, prohibited from participating in its usefulness." ALTERATION OF BOUNDARIES Cr. Buttle gave notice of motion, for next meeting, "That the Clerk be authorised to make arrangements for, and call a meeting, consisting of the Members of this Council and the Chairman, and one Member of each Highway Board in the Counly,- to take into consideration the desirability of altering the boundaries of the various Highway Districts in the County." Several small accounts, authorising £30 15s, were passed, and ordered to be paid. This concluded the business. SCAB IN SHEEP, AND THE GOVERNMENT DIP. The Waipa County Council, deeming the erection of one central dip, at Remuera, inadequate to the prevention of the spread of scab,- have drawn up and forwarded the following petition on the 1 * Bubject : — " To the Honorable the Colonial Seoretary." "The Petition of the Waipa County Council humbly sheweth, — In reference to the measures proposed to be adopted by the Government, to prevent the spread of scab in sheep, through the Province of Auckland, "That sheep are brought into the Auckland Market, by sea, from ports and places on both East and West Coasts of the whole Island, and from -many infected districts'. "That the said sheep are landed at Kohimarama, on the Eastj and at Onehunga, on the West Coast. " That sheep which may appear clean, when landed, may, in the course of their passage, have become tainted with scab. "That, in such cases, there would be great danger of the disease being communicated to other flocks, by driving these sheep to Remuera, before dipping them. " That the only sure means of preventing this, would be, to dip the sheep immediately on their leaving the vessel, and before driving them over the public roads. " That it would, also, be advisable to put a distinguishing brand on sheep coming from an infected district, that purchasers might know what they were buying, an,d not mix them with their clean

flocks, till such time as they were satisfied all danger was past, of the disease being developed. "Your petitioners would, therefore, pray that, in place. of one central dip, at Remuera, two be erected, one at Kohimarama, on the East Coast, and one at Onehunga, on the West Coast. "lour petitioners would respectfully suggest, these dips need not be costly, and would probably be tke means of saving the country many times the amount expended in their erection. "And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray,, &c. "F. C. Germanic, " Chairman Waipa C.C." " Ohaupo, 9th Sept., 1879."