WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1516, 23 March 1882, Page 2

WAIKA TO CO UNT Y CO UNCIL.

Tiil usual monthly meeting of the council was held yesterday. Present : Cra. Primrose (in the chair), Wells, Ralph, and Graham. "■' ' , ' Cr. Ralph reported that he liad inspected the site of the proposed road to the Whangamarino railway station, and thought the work might be held over for the present. He also reported that Mr Saunders had refused to take the £2 offered as compensation for road proposed to betaken at Wairangi. The settlers there wei-e under the impression that the old road should be retained. The clerk reported that Constable Wild and an interpreter wentto Tauwhare to see the natives about the dog tax. They were accompanied by Mr Harris, sub-registrar of dogs, but although ,the act was explained to them nothing was done. He believed that some of the dogs had been destroyed. Mr Matthew Walsh wrote relinquishing the Toles Hill,Matahura contract. A circular was received from the Southland County Council on the subject of the reductions in the subsidies, and asking support in urging on the Government to increase the subsidies, and to grant a fair proportion of land revenue. — Cr. Wells did not believe in the subsidy system, which had resulted in giving advantages to the southern counties. He would prefer some other system, which would meet the necessities ,of counties as they arose.— The chairman said it would not be well to take any steps until they saw what measures the Government intended to bring down next session.' There was bound to be some alteration in the mode of assisting local bodies. — The subject then dropped. The engineer to the council wrote asking for instructions re surveying the road deviation at Wairangi. — The chairman said that as the council had decided to go on with the work, it was not dignified to withdraw. — Cr. Wells said Mr Hosking had made arrangements to go on with the work, but as he received a letter stating that Cr. Ralph had decided to keep theold road,he(Cr Wells) had suggested to the engineer to write to the council. — Cr. Ralph said he had told the settlers, when the matter was referred to him, that he would bring it before the council. He was in favour of the cheapest road. — Some discussion ensued upon the question of the expense of making the deviation, and Cr. Ralph said if the job cost £50 it would be cheaper than to keep the old road in repair. The reason why the settlers were in favour of the old road was solely on account of the cost, which they considered would be very great. — It was then resolved that the engineer should be instructed to go on with the work. Cr. Wells asked the council to authorise the erection of the Karapiro bridge. When Mr Hall was in Cambridge he promised about £400 for the work, but Mr Hall had since informed Mr Whyte that the sum of £250 would be placed to the credit of the council for this work. The work, he need not say, was very necessary. Ihe Government had offered to place their engineer's plans at the disposal of the council. He would suggest that the cost should be brought under £550, on account of the smallness of the Government grant, and also because the local finances were tight— The chairman was under the impression that the county engineer should do the work. — Cr. Wells said he had for sufficient reasons asked that the Town Board should be allowed to do the work, but if the council insisted upon undertaking it, he would raise no further objections.—lt was resolved that the clerk procure the Government plans and forward same to the county engineer to modify them. if necessary, so as to bring the cost within or near the sum named above. Cr. Graham said he was under the impression that there was standing to the credit of the Cambridge riding, about £300, he would therefore ask the council to appropriate about £100 for certain very necessary works undertaken by the Cant, bridge Highway Board on the Narrows and the main road -Cr. Wells said £450 had been voted for the Karapiro bridge, and the council were not yet in a position to meet that— The chairman said he was afraid the council could give no assistance in the direction indicated by Cr. Graham.— Cr. Graham said the work was very necessary, The country board had applied in vain to the Government. —Cr. Wells said the town had many necessary works on hand which they could not undertake for want of funds. They were actually in debt.— At the suggestion of the chairman, Cr. -'Graham agreed to' withdraw his application for. ihe present. , Mr W. Birrs, made an application to have a road through his land ,at ' Rangi-, riri, Lots 48 and 47 closed,' and' also to exchangethe old wharf ,, reserve which is. useless, for a piece of Jand which; he was^ willing to give, and .which was npw used for the purpose^— The'/applifeatioh was granted, applicant to pay all expenses. The following accounts were passed fori paymenV:^H> Fitzgerald, £3 12s : G. t Quick, Wfar J.. flatea,- J r£lo ;IJ.; l J. Jtj Thompson,;£L2s ; 'Thomson arid'Small,man, balance Karapiro bridge approach, $10' 11b fj^r; Dunn, 10s:.; B. Mum[, £21 ;, JBirrsV£3l6s f .\V V J^rif .rßWell, £7 10s hsUi . THetc^njiil%%%e, Vr-,, '„ W 1-

ated f^wfe^atohool-teacherof at small,, ■*^-tM i i >a4i£ tS^AV m^N?^4 |iX=-if*'/s&'