WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1753, 29 September 1883, Page 2

WA IKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thk ordinary monthly meeting of tho council was held at the chambers, Hamilton East, yesterday. Present : Ors. Primrose (in the chair), Wells, Hewitt, Johnston, Runcimau and Graham. County Legislation. — The Clerk read a | letter from Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., dated Wellington, the 15th August, in \ r,eply to a communication from tho council. The writer stated that he might get the authority to hang up the Counties Act by a simple majority of the ratepayers embodied in the amendment bill then before the House. Mr Whyte was afraid he would not be able to amend the pog Registration Act in the direction required. — The Clerk said the council was aware of the result. The Counties Act amendment made no alteration in the course to be followed in order to " hang up " the Act, and nothing had been done in regard to the dog question. — Cr. Wells suggested that a memorandum be prepared for the member of the district before the beginning of next session, setting forth the views of the council on both these matters. He wished to make an alteration in the proposal for hanging up the act. Instead of putting it in the power of a majority, be would suggest that power be g-iven to three-fifths of tlioso actually taking part in the transaction.— Cr. Wells' suggestion was agreed to. — Mr Whyte also wrote, on the 22nd August, that he had been assured the Cambridge railway would be pushed on without delay. He had been informed that rates on Crown lands could not be paid until the complete rolls had been made.— The Clerk said the rate might easily be paid on the present rolls. Proposed Bridge Over the Waikato at Huntlt.— .— A letter was read from Mr B. Whyte, addressed to Mr L. B. Harris, on the subject. Mr Whyte said tho Government would not build the bridge, and the work would, therefore, have to be done by the local bodies. He advised those interested to apply in the first instance to the Waikato County Council, as being more convenient than the Raglan Council, (although both councils would have to act in concert,) with a view to getting tho bridge erected under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. As the Waikat) Coal and Shipping Company would benefit largely by the bridge, they should assist, and he had been assured that they would do so.— The Chairman said it had b3en estimated that the bridge would cost £5000. If the Coal and Shipping Company would contribute one-fourth of the sum, the structure might be erected under the Roads and Bridges Act at no expense to the county, as the amount to be paid ti Government was only one-fourth of the amount borrowed. — Cr. Johnson said there could be no possible objection to this plan, but he would strongly oppose any scheme involving the levying of a rate for the purpose. So f«ir ni tho people of the Rangiriri outlying district were concerned, a punt was all that was necessary^ Ho moved that, owing to the impecunious state of the county, the council is unable to become liable' for any expenditure, but if the Coal Company will contribute one-fourth of the cost, it will be willing to apply to Government for a loan under the Roads and Bridges Act. This was duly seconded and carried. Rangiriri Bridges. —-Tho following tenders were received for re-building four bridges on the main road between Huntly and Rangiriri :-J. J. OBrien, £773; A. Nicol, £741 ; R. Muir, £310 ; and D. Henderson, £750.— 0n the motion of Cr. Wells, It was resolved to accept the tender of Mr A. Nicol. Wakrencia Bridge. — Cr. Johnson drew attention to tho condition of the bridge at Mill Creek, W.ierenga. Some time ago, it would be remembered, tender.-* were invited for re-building the bridge, but as they wore all too high, none were accepted. Tho settlers then repaired the bridge themselves, but it had again fallen into disrepair, and was positively dangerous. Mr William Rom had offorred to le-buikl the biidge, u^ing only the planking of the old structure, for £21.— 0n tho motion of Cr. Wells, it was agreed to let the work to Mr Ross at the price named, Cr. Johnston to superintend the same. Main Road (Rangirhi) Lo\x, tec— On the motion of Cr. Johnston, it was lOsolved to expend tho balance of tho loan on tho Churchill road, and the road between Rangiriri and Whangamarin >, as piovidud for in the plans and estimates forwarded to Wellington, With reference to an application by Mr Geiraud to h ive a sum expanded near Ranghui, the Engineer (Mr Sandes) said this was proudud for in tin tfeiural scheme. Tho Knginu"r .ilso i eported on an application from Mr L. B. Hair]s, to hive a, culveit renewed at Hivitlv. Mr ftandes said that a. now culveit would be cv-ttly, and though il would duun about an acre of piivato Lmd, would do no good whatever to the road.— The cloik was instuict;d to prepare a memo setting foi th the liabilities of [ the Raughiri Outlying District. Tub Victoria Road,— Ci. Runcimnn called attention to the state of thN ioad. He saul the Tamaheie Board was not in a position to keep it open, and unless the ' Government afforded some assistance it would become impassable. The last rain had washed a great gap in the road, in crossing which, as they all knew, Ci. Wells had eud.uigci od his life. What was wanted | was «i drain through the Crown lauds to remove the water, but he understood that tho i Government contemplated selling the land in its present condition. He was bound to .say that course was unwise. In the hist place the land would only bring a low figure, and in the second place trouble was bound to ensue whon the question of drainage arose. — The chairman said it was useless to ask the Government for money for road making, as they had made ample provision for demands of this kind in the Roadsand Bridges Construction Act. Representations might, however, bo mads to the Government, p lintiug out tho _ bjnefits likely t-> .icciue by making a drain before selling tho land.— Cr. Wells said the road could b i made q vkl foi about £1)0, independently of the drain, by raising it from a foot t.) 1H inches in tho low lying parts —Cr RunciuKin dissented from this opinion, and after some further discussion lelative to the step-, already taken in communicating with the Native Minister, Mr Whyte, and the Assistant Surveyor-General, it was agieed to wiite to Mr Biycs, uiging the de.sh.ibleness of i constructing the diain.— Cr. Wells said he could safely say the Cambridge Town Boaid would adopt a similai course, and Mr James Foi rest, who was present, said the Cambi idge Road Boaid would make similar ispiesentations, at the same time urging on the Government the propriety of disposing of the land on the deferred payment system — Cr. Hewitt thought the council also should recommend the Government to sell the land on defeired payment. If sold for cash in its present state tho land would fall into few hands and confer no benefit on thu district. He moved to that effect. This was beconded by Cr. Graham and carried. The Casi bridge Railway: Cr. Wells said he seen Mr Whyte since that gentleman's return from Wellington and had spoken him on this matter. Mr Whyte said the Minister for public works had assured him before leaving that the work should be gone on with at once. Up to that time the Government had been waiting for the passing of the appropriation bills. Now it was going on for a month sinca Parliament had prorogued, and yet nothing had been done. Mr Whyte was greatly exercised about the matter, and had promised him (the speaker) that he would again urge the subject upon the attention of Ministers. The council also ought to communicate with the Government, when it was considered that two or three months must necessarily elapse between the time of calling for tenders and the commencement of the work, they would at once see that no time must be lost.— lt was unanimously agreed that the clerk should write to the Government pointing out the necessity for at once completing the line. The Cambridge Riding Accounts.— Mr James Forrest waited on the council as a deputation from the Cambridge Road Board to apply for a grant of the amount standing to the credit of the riding. He enteied at length into the vexed question of the riding accounts, contending that out of £38-Tcontributed by the country riding, the board had only received £70. He said, leaving out of sight the £30 which they had been overcharged on account of the Karapiro bridge, there was still the sum of £87 to their credit, and this sum he respectfully a&ked the council to haud over. — Cr. Graham supported the application, which he said was a just one. — Cr. Wells said there could be no objection -if the council was in funds.— The Clerk reported that the ridings of Cambridge Town and Rangiriri were m debt.— Reference having been made to the main road loan of £375 for the Cam- . bridge-Hamilton road, Cr. Wells hoped that as the money had been raised on the security of a rate leviable over the ridmg as constituted before the division, a portion of the money would be spent in the town of Cambridge.— The Chairman said the plan?, &c, sent ,to Wellington did 'not provide for this, bxx% he hoped , some irraiigioniQht"! would be come to.,— ,Cr. (

penny of the upecial rate unleSs'the money was fairly spent. In regard to ' what Mr Forrest liad Baid about the riding accounts, he proceeded to show that, instead of the town riding being in debt, there ought to be a balance of £82 to its credit. —The Chairman s)id the matter had been settled by resolution, and that resolution must be rescinded before; they could enter upon a fresh discussion. — After some further discussion, it was agreed, on the motion of Or. Wells, that a mm of £50 be voted the Cambridge Road Board, on account, for works on the main road. A number of accounts having been passed for payment, the council rose.