PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1934, 27 November 1884, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of this body was held at the council chambers, Cambridge, yesterday. There were present : Crs. W. L. C. William*, J. 0. Firth, W. T. Firth, Maclean, Gould, Chepmell, Smith, Murphy, and Brunskill. Chairman.— On the motion of Cr. Chepmell, seconded by Cr. Smith, Cr. W. L. C. Williams was unanimously appointed chairman for the ensuing year. Mil Lu>sby*s Claim.— This was a claim preferred against the council for damage done by the council's engineer in diverting the cour-e of a creek. — Cr. Smith said he understood the creek had been diverted by the council from its natural channel, and Air Lipsey's property had baen injured thereby. He had evamined the place, and now recommended that £10 compensation be given. Some discussion took place on the subject of the engineer's authority to contract the liability. It was unanimously agreed that the county was liable, though the engineer had only been instructed to repair the bridge.— lt was agreed that the sum of £10 be given Mr Liusey for full compensation for diverting the course of the creek and loss arising theieby. Mu West's Claim.— Mr West, Waiorongomai, applied for £10 compensation, in terms of his agreement with the council for allowing the council to run a road through his property, section No. 8 of the High School endowment. This was the main road to the river.— Cr. Murphy recommended that the claim be paid.— On the .nation "f Cr. Chepmell, it was agreed that the amount named be paid. Thomas Skellon's Claim.— This was a claim for wages during indisposition from the effects of an accident sustained while engaged working on the tramway.— The matter had been referred to Mr Adams, tramway manager, who recoinended that the claim of Mr Skellon be entertained.— It was unanimously agreed on the motion of Cr Firth that the claim be paid. Mangawhero-Waihou RoAn.~-Respeet-ing Mr George Walker'sapplication to have this road and abridge over the Mangawhero creek repaired it was agreed that the bridge referred to be repaiied at a cost not to exceed £30. Residence: Sites Tk Aroha.— George Wilson, Mining Inspector Te Aroha Goldfields, wrote requesting that the Council make provision for the survey of residence sites on the goldfield; the surveying of each would cost 12s Gd each, and no site would be surveyed until the first year)s rent is paid. It was agreed thai the sun ey be sanctioned as requested. Roads ani> Trvcks, Tk Aroha.— The engineer for the Aroha riding, Mr Pavitt, repotted as. follows:— "I have the honour t ) state that I have had the pack track fium the May Queen spur to Wells and iSoutter's stoic made at a cost of six pounds. The total length of this work it. nearly twelve chains, and I could not get the work done for the bum. stated in the instructions, io would beg the appios.il of the council for the extia cost. I have inspected and examined the lower track widened by Mi P. Feiguson, and found it in fair order, and Bft. wide throughout. The load dining the summer will carry all the carting likely to be put on it, but in winter, like all sidehill cuttings, will be subject to slips, and will require constant attention to keep it open for traffic. With reference to the sleigh traffic, I would repot t theie are seveial residents at Waiorongomai who make their living by CHtting and carting firewood, and selling same in the township. These persons have (since the road has been rep ured) fixed two wheels to their sleighs, and so lessen the chance of injuring the road, and to whom it would be an injustice to prohibit using the track. I would again respectfully ask the council to have somo repairs done to the main road between Te Aroha and Waiorongomai, and especially those portions running through the two townships, as the road in many places is quite unsafe for traffic." — Cr. Murphy spoke in reference to the deplorable state of the road between the townships. He hoped the council would continue to overlook it no longer. It was a great drawback to the progress of the district, as traffic was bi ought to a standstill. The impassable condition of the road made carting extremely costly and difficult, aud the townspeople and the settlers suffered greatly thereby.— Cr. Smith spoke in a similar strain. The streets in the township were also in a deplorable state. — Cr. Maclean thought the townspeople should make some effort — Cr. Murphy said it was tbe traffic of the goldfield that was cutting up the road and not the traffic of the township. It would therefore bo unfair to ask the townspeople alone to keep the road in repair. — The question of how the necessary funds should be raised was then di&cussed at considerable length. Cr. Murphy did not think the people of the lidmg would object to the paying of a rate that would be spent locally.— Or. Gould gave notice that at the nevt ordinary meeting of the council on the 17th prox. he would move that a special rate of $<1 in the £ be struck in the Aroha riding for the purpose referred to.— Cr. Murphy asked that two surfacemen be put on the road to keep it open for traffic until the money from the rate was available.— lt was asjioed, on the motion of Cr. Smith, that the matter of effecting temporary repalis be left in the hands of Mr Pavitt, the engineer for the riding. Moses Neal.— Mr Adams wrote a short and satisfactory explanation respecting the charge of Mr Mo»es Neal.— Cr. Murphy said 'that the man Neal had come and spoke to him on the matter, He was veiy sorry that he (Neal) had taken any action whatevei- in the matter. He admitted ho had been wrongly advised aud urged to do what he had done by personal enemies of Mi Adams, and regretted very much what had taken place, He fuithor admitted that Mr Adams was fully justified in dischaiging him.— The chairman said the council was glad to receive this explanation. It was evident from the handwriting of Mr Neal's letter of complaint that he never wrote it.— No further action was taken in the matter. Prospecting TR.AOKM.-~Cr Murphy suggested that if the council were in funds a number of prospecting tracks might be cut through the Hush on the ranges. The expense would be small when compared with the possible ad vantages that would be derived from the work. The Thames County Council had spent some money in outting these tracks, and they had derived very considerable advantage indeed. This matter was well worthy the immediate attention of the council. Theie was still a large area of good aurifeums country about Te Aroha and Kaiangnhake that had not been prospected, and that promised great things. He had seen Mr J. B. Whyfce at Te Aroha, and he promised that the Government would only be too happy to give a £2 for a £1 subsidy on the expenditure on prospecting tracks.— The question of ways and means, was discussed by the council, Id was generally admitted, th.ati the work was both commendable and necessary. — After considerable discussion, it was unanimously agreed on the motion of Cr. Chepmell, " That an application be made to the Minister for Mines for the sum of £.1000, under the £2 to £1 system, in aid of trades at goldfield, and that the engineer be instructed to prepare an estimate of such works to cost £1500, including work done on the lower and other tracks to the extant of £000, the estimate to be forwarded to the Government) Oxi'Ord-Matamata Road.— A commuication was received from Mr Jas. Bailey, manager Auckland Agricultural Company, complaining of the bridges on the above road, and asking to have them immediately attended to, as they were very dangerous to traffic. — This matter having already been dealt with the letter was reoeived. Slaughter ' House, Waiqr.ongo.mai.— Robt, Maokay wrote to the effect that he was about to erect a slaughter-house on his holding (Thames High School reserve), and wanted to know if tbe council would grant a license to the same when erected. —No action was taken, it being left to tha applicant to take, the, U.su.a.l QQiirse in the m4ter, ________________