PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 31 May 1884, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY CO UNCIL.

A special njeeting of the above body was „hel«l w the Council Clumber?, Cambridge, on Wednesday evening last. Pretent :— Crs, J. P. Campbell, (Chairman,) ,T: C Firth. W. T. Firth, \V. L. C. Williams and Brunskill. The balancesheet for the year, ns published in The Wnlkate Times, was laid on the table and Adopted on the motion of the Chairman. Ordinary Meeting. — The ordinary business of the month was then proceeded with. Trespass on Tramw vy —It having been leported that children and others were in the habit of trespassing on the tramway during working hours to the imminent danger of themselves and the inconvenience of the men. Mr Firth was deputed to make the best arrangements possible in the way of prohibiting the same. Vksting the Tramway in Council. — A long communication was received from the Clerk of Hip Warden's office to the effect that the council would require to submit the scale of charges on the tramway to the Warden for his approval, and also' would have to take out a miner's right for the tiamway before it could be legally vested in the council. Cr. Firth was deputed to make the necessary arrangements in thn matter on his next visit to the gold field. TnE Small Biad Niiisanck.— A communication was received from the Tamahere Farmers' Club enclosing a resolution of that body m the above subject, suggesting that a reward should ha offetcd for the destination of small birds aud hawks by other means than poison. Threopjnce a dozen, it was thought, "would be a suitable remuneration for the beads of these feathered pests —l he said he did not feel fully T wan anted in joining in any scheme whatever for the destruction of small birds. If people found there were too many sparrows about their farms it was much bettor that they should destroy them tin involves by whatever moans they thought most suitable. He considered small birds weie a boon to the country. He remembered in Waitoa some ye.irs ago that several hundred acres of grain had been literally cut down by the caterpillars. An instance of this kind was ne\er heard of now-a-days. He would stiongly oppose the proposed scheme of desti notion. — Cr. Firth entirely concur] ed with the remarks of the chairman. These small birds may have done a little harm to email patches of early wheat, but the good which they had done in the destruction of the caterpillar pest altogether outweighed any damage they had done. In earlier times ifc was altogether impossible to grow wheat, barley or oats for the armies of caterpilhrs that used to invade the country. They now hardly heard of an instance of this kind. Caterpillars were \cry seldom seen in the country now. It would be a great pity indeed to sue these little birds universally destrojed. He was glad to notice that the promoters of these schemes were withdrawing from the agitation. The destruction of our small birds would do infinite harm to the country. If any farmer found them a nuisance let him desti oy them in his own way. If they were too abundant they would diminish by natural means. By destroying the caterpillars the birds deprived themselves of their principal souice of subsistence, and being thus deprived of their subsistence they would gradually and naturally diminish. Indeed, he had heard it said on \ery good authority that the small birds were greatly diminished in number within the past few years. -The Chairman said he had been tnakinginquiiies throughout the country in the matter, and he had been told on all hands that the birds were gradually decreasing in number. — Cr. Williams was also entirely against the proposal of the Tamaheie Ch b. In five years of practical observation tl c s nail birds had never done him a bit ot liann. It was only in cases where people had got an early crop of barley or oats that damage was experienced to any material extent.— lt was unauimously agreed, on the motion of Cr. Filth, that a leply be sent to the Tamahere Fat inns' Club, declining 1o accede to their request, and stating the strong objection which the council hrd to any public measure whatever being t.iken for the destruction of small birds, the council considering that, though the small biids dii a little damage, the good they do very much outweighs it. Working Expenses ©f the Tramway. — Cr. Firth, a§ chairman of the Tramway Commit too, paid the matter of keeping down the working expenses had bscn rcceh ing his earnest attention. It was of the gieattst impoitance that the expenses sho'ild le kept within the limits of the sum a\ai'sble from the revenue. He had taken a great, deal of trouble to ensuie this, and had been ably seconded in his efforts 1 y the manager, Mr Adams. At the same lime he had felt it necessary to point out to Mr Adams in a very forcible manner the extraordinary difficulty which the council experienced in rasing the funds to work the tiamway, He had caused to be w 1 ltten to Mr Adi ms a letter from the secretary of the Tiamway Committee, in which the manager was informed that the expenses of the tramvwy must be kept down to the least possible limit, and stating that the council had determined that w hatever ttie tramway had^cost would be charged on the mining companies using it ; and that if the council had to charge a higher rate for haulage, on account of the piesent high expenditure, the result would be that the field inevitably would be closed, as the companies could not afford to pay more than the present haulage rates. Ho bad received a letter fiom the manager, explaining satisfactorily the reason ol the extra expense complained of during previous teuns. As the water was likely to be plentiful for the next eiyht or nine months, he had every reason to believe that they would have a considerable surplus of 160 or £70 a month over the expense of working the tiamway, which they would sec was a considerable balance indeed. The following letter had been received from Mr Adams, winch they would see, was of a most satisfactory character :— " Office Piako County Tramway, Waiorongomai. To Secretary Tramway Committee. Dear Sir,— l herewith enclose return of quaitz delivered at the battery for the w eek ending May 24th, 1884, making total return for the mouth as under :—: —

The cause of the up freights for the last week being so much higher than the previous ones is accounted for by the fact that during that week four large ropes and a wheel were sent up the line for the wire tramway, which is Leing constructed by the Eureka mine, the freight on which alone came to £6. In regard to the condition of the line I have not much to report upon this month. No damage of any consequence was caused by the late heavy rains, nor does the line require any expenditure for repairs just now. For six days during the month the hands have been taken off trucking, when no quartz has been immediately wanted at the battery, and employed in forming the extension of the line to connect with the Eureka hoppers. This extension is so far competed now that the sleepers may be laid and the ballasting done at any time. ' Two days more with all hands should gee it finished off, and act the [Eureka Company are now ready to send down quartz to the Wattery, this will lequire to be done at once. As the requirements of the^batterj* are likely to hi muclf largeTclunng the current month, I hope to' see ft considerable increase in the revenue for that period.— H. H. Adams, Tramway Manager,"— Q» the'i

motion of the Chairman, the Report ot the Tramway Committee was adopted. SkAUGHTBRING WITHOHT A LICBNSK. — Cr. Williams asked the chairman if it was necessary that farmers who slaughtered cattle for private use or for the use of their neighbours, uofc selling the meat, but merely giving it in exchange for other produce, as a whole bullock being too much for one family to use, should have to take out a slaughtering license? —The Chairman said he would look the matter np and give his reply in a few days. A few accounts having been passed for payment, the council went into committee to consider matters of finance.

No. of Receipts Up Trucks at 4s 6d Freights, st week 152 at 4 0 118 0 !nd week 102 30 0 0 115 0 Ird week 123 27 13 6 211 0 Ith week 179 40 5 6 0 8 0 Totals. £ s. d. 36 2 0 33 4 0 30 5 0 46 13 6 (516 138 12 0 12 12 6 of the pay-ahcct enclosed for the month 151 4 6 140 2 4 Leavine balance in hand 11 2 2