WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1216, 15 April 1880, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinaiy meeting of the Council was held at the County Chambers, Ohaupo, on Tuesday. There were present Messrs H. Buttle (Chairman), Germann, Hadfield, Corboy, A. Reynolds, S. Steele, Aubin," and Cunningham. The minutes of the previous ordinary and one special meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The Chairman, before proceeding with the ordinary business of the meeting, wished to bring under the notice of the Council the important outbreak of pleuro in this district. He had inserted a notice in the Waikato Times, calling a meeting to discuss the proposal to stop sales and close the roads. Since then, however, the Cattle Board had met, and had anticipated the matter by issuing a proclamation stopping the sales and prohibiting any person driving cattle along the public road. He still thought a meeting should be held to discuss the whole question, and he would be glad to receive a resolution directing him to convene such meeting after the sale. Cr. Steele said the closing of the sales and the stoppage of the roads were serious questions. To some people they simply meant rain. How were they to get rid of their fat cattle ? The Auckland market was closed to them, and would now be supplied from Wanganui and Wellington. Cr. Germann said Ci\ Steele was in error in supposing that the Auckland market would be closed to them. They would simply have to get a certificate from the inspector that their cattle were clean and they would be allowed to send them to Auckland, {or they could slaughter them on their own places and remove the carcases. He Avould move That the chairman be requested to call a public meeting: to discuss the subject of plcuropneumonia in all its details. This was seconded by Cr. Corboy and earned unanimously. The manager of the Steam Navigation Company wrote in answer to a letter from the Council, stating that the punt at Hamilton was sunk, and would require an expenditure of about £12 to raise it. Several tenders were received for working and repairing the Whatawhata punt. The Chairman said, asthe Council was aware, steps had been taken in the matter. The Chairman of tha Pukete School Committee wrote regarding the matter of a punt on the Waikato at that place, regretting that the Council possessed so little knowledge of the roads under its control, and pointing out that good roads existed on either side of the river at the spot where it was desired to put the punt. He hoped the Council would reconsider their former resolution. The Clerk to the Waikato County Council wrote in answer to a communication from this Council, to the effect that the Council had taken no action on the Pukete ferry matter, owing to not; possessing sufficient information. He had stance seen Mr S. Sfceele who told him that 9 settler had procured a suitable light punt, and all the counties would be required to do was to provide a light wire. The Chairman thought they ought to have rhe matter settled at once. Mr Steele said the punt was a suitable one, and if fixed would be a very great convenience. Several Councillors expressed their willingness to prrant half the price of a wire rope, and the mutter was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. A letter was lead from Mi 1 F. A,

Whitaker, M.H.K., on the aatne nubjeot, urging the Council to do something in the matter. Mr S. Steole reported that the Hamilton punt was in a disgraceful state of repair, and suggested that the Chairman write to the Under- Secretary for Public Works on the subj act. The Secretary of the Pirongia Highway Board wrote, stating that the Government wished the Board to hand over £1200 to the Government account Hamilton, for the construction of the bridge over the Waipa at Te Rore. The Board therefore hoped the Counoil would supplement their grant by £50, making £100 in all. The Chairman said the Council had given £50 towards this object, and this letter requested an additional £50. He would read another letter from the Mangapiko Road Board. Cr. Aubin wished to know whether the opinion of the Mangapiko district was to bo taken in preference to that of the people who had raised the money. The Chairman said the Pirongia people had not contributed all the money. They had subscribed about £100, which the Government had supplemented by £1000 from the vote of £40,000 for roads in the Auckland district. The Government now asked the Board to return the money, and the Government Engineer would construct the bridge. Cr. Steele thought the Mangapiko Board had an interest in the matter, as they would have to aid in the expense of repairing the structure. Cr. Germann spoke in a similar strain . Cr. Hadfield thought the Council had nothing to do with the matter, they had given nothing beyond £50. After some further discussion the Chairman said they had better let the application stand over until they had had an opportunity of inquiring into the state of their finances. Upon inquiry it was found that the available balance in the bank was about £250, ou 1 ; of which the usual half-yearly subsidies to the road boards would have to be paid. Cr. Hadfield moved — That, under the circumstances, no further grant be made to the Te Rore Bridge at present. Cr Aubin aioved — That no action be taken in the matter of the letter from the Mangapiko Road Board. Cr. Corboy seconded this. Cr. Germann moved, as an- amendment — That the committee on roads or bridges be requested to draw up a memorial showing' the respective cost of the two sites, and the consequent cost of keeping in repa.r, and praying that the matter, if. not already decided, be leferred to a commmittce chosen from the members ot the Pirongia and Mangapiko Highway Boards, and the Chairman of the Waipa County Council. He thought that as the bridtre would have to be maintained at the joint expense of the Raglan and Waipa Counties the j Council had a perfect right to see that the best site was adopted. Cr. Reynolds seconded the amendment on the condition that the matter was I simply put into the hands of the commit- J tee on roads and bridges for inquiry. Cr. Hadfield said the ratepayers of the Pir^ngia District had unanimously resolved on the site. After further < iscussing on the subject, the amendment was carried. i The Secretary to the Mangapiko Board, drawing the attention of the Council to the state of the cutting on the Alexandra side of the Mangapiko Creek. Cr Aubin could fully bear out th<e statement contained in the letter. He believed that there was a sum of money to the credit of the .Alexandra Board' which could be devoted to the object, the new Alexandra Board to be charged with the cost, which would only be about £25. It was resolved — That the Council undertake, through the committee on on roads and bridges, the necessary repairs, and the amount expended to be charged to the Alexandra Board. Cr. Aubin asked what had been done with regard to the *"> aipa Bridge at Alexandra. If the Council was responsible, it was a grave responsibility. He did not know th^ day it would collapse, and serious accidents might ensue. One of the stringers was quite rotten. Cr. Steele proposed that they should affix a notice to the bridge to the effect that the Council would not be responsible for any accidents. Cr. Hadfield said the Council could not shift the responsibility. Cr. Germann thought they should close the bridge. Cr. Aubin thought they could not close the bridge without providing some other means for crossing the river. He moved — That the matter be referred to the committee on roads and bridges, and the Clerk be instructed to send an urgent telegram to the Go\ eminent asking what steps had been taken with regard to the subject. The Secretary to the Mangapiko Road Board wrote on the subject of the bridge over Heather'B Creek, referring to the matter in dispute between the Tuhikaramea and Maugapiko Boards. After some considerable discussion the matter was h^ld over for the present. The Chairman of the Raglan County Council wrote asking the co-operation of the Waipa Council in getting the telegraph to Raglan. It was resolved that the Clerk reply that the Council will be happy to co-operate with the Raglan County Council. Cr. Corboy presented a petition from settlers in the Ngaruawahia district and others, praying for the e&tablibhment of punt communication at Ngaruawahia. The petition had been drawn up in consequence of the sfd Occident to the late Mr Jueki"?, while crossing the Waikatc River. The Newca.stle people were really deserving of a punt. lie would moye — Tli.it in ordoi to yi'.e effect to the request pi«i\ed tor in tin* petition now Lcfore the Council, signed b\ the jurwnen on the inquest on the body ot C. P.'juckes, the settlers on the west b.ink of tie "W.up.i Ri.er and surrounding districts, the Council do now iesol\e to keep in view the nee esfeity of establishing .i punt on the lowei end of the Waipa Ri\ er, .it Ngaruawahia, at the earliest possible oppuitunit} ; and that the time foi es>tabli->hinjf the same shall not be later than when one of the punts now in use atTe Rore and AVhatawhnta will be a\ailable. Cr. Aubin seconded the motion. Cr. S'tcclo said it appenred to him that Mr Juckes had been trying to cross the Waikato River, not the Waipa. Cr. Germann said Mr Juckes did not lose his life until he had crossed the river and had mount) d his horse, so that the accident might have happened to anyone had a punt been there. The motion was put and carried, Cr. Corboy pointing out that a large number of the residents were greatly in need of the punt. Several accounts were passed for payment, and after the transaction of some business of an unimportant nature, the Council adjourned.

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