PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2012, 30 May 1885, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Tut ordinary monthly meeting of the above council was held at the Council Chambers Cambridge, on Thursday evening » fc li« B «nt :— Mr W. L. C. Williams (ch.vu man), Crs. E. Maclean, J. G. Fnth, C. Gould, W. P. Ghepinell, and D. Murphy. Balavce sheet. — On the motion of Cr. Firth, the balance sheet for the year ending March 31st wan finally settled and adopted. Road at Waiokonoomai. — Some discussion took place on the subject of taking tho road through Wilson's property (Thames High School Endowment) Waiorongomai.— Cr. Murphy spoke at «ome length in support of tho road being taken. It would benefit a large number of people in the district, and would be » gieat local convenience. On the motion of Vi. Gould it was agreed that the road through Wilgon's piopeity be taken under the Public Work's Act. Mus BaukekS Complaint. — A plan was received from the survey office showing the road which had been legally taken thiough Mrs Barkei s property, Shaftesbuiy. A letter was also received from Mrs IWkei to tho effect that through wh.it she considered the illegal action of Mr Cox, tho load through her property was left open. She maintained that the load was not a public road. Cr. Murphy said he did not like to see a woman like Mr Baiker put upon by Mr Cox, or anybody else for that matter. They must study the interest of the \\ idow against a wealthier man than heiself. He would propose that Mis Barkei k atfau be placed in the bands of Mr Sandes, Couuty Engineer, to lepoit upon. It would not cost much. He wm afraid Mi (Jo\ was putting on her. It was subsequently agieed that the cleik be instiucted to wute to the Assistant Surveyor-General asking him for information on the subject. Pi^ciciLrcuk. — A communication was received fiom the secretarj of the Hamilton Domain Board le piscwultuie in Waikato. It was agreed that no action be taken m the matter, the council having no funds at its disposal for the purpose. ¥i.\\ Mill, Tk Akoha.— John Gibbons applied for permission to utilue the flax on the Guff, reseive, Waihou river, on such terms as the council thought reasonable. This indiisUy would give employment to no\eial people, and what was now lying useless would be piohtably utilised. He also asked for the use of a small piece of frontasre ; also for leave to erect .1 stoic. — Cr. Mniphy strenuously suppoited tlh> applicition.— Ci. J. C. Filth was of opinion that such an industry as thi-> should be encouiaged. — Ci. Murphy said Mi Gibbons was a peifectl> geiitleiuanly man, .md could be trusted. It vvasagiccdth.it the applicant be allowed the permission asked tor, he to pay 2s (id a ton on each ton of pieIMiuri fi.i\ foi the privilege. The application inspecting the ficmU^c was al-.o cou ceded. Foorrvnu. Tk Aroha.— A letter was received, complaining of the bad state of the footpath in fiont of the Aroha p >stoffice, and asking for a libeial espjnduure on the same.— Cr. Murphy recommended th At £'10 be -.pent on the work, as it was Jiiuth needed. Gentlemen got water in their boots walking on these footpaths into the Government post-office. — The council fully recognised the deshableness of the work, but had not the m< ney to effect any improvements. Slldck Track to Buck Reek.— Cr. Firth referred to the deputation to Mi Larnach on this matter. Mr Lurnach had promised to give £200 if the counoil would give £100, tho estimated cost being £300. This track was to run through one of the most promising parts of the held. — Cr. Fnth asked the council to promise the £100, and let Mr McLiver do the work.— Some discussion ensued an to whore the county's portion of the money was to come fiom. — After some discussion, the consideration of the matter was deferred till next meeting. Railway Timetable. — The council passed the following resolution: — "That this council thanks the hon. the Minister for Public Works for his consideration in promptly altering the rmlwav time-table to meet the convenience of the public. Tiiwiwvy Charges. — Some discussion took place on the question of a reduction of the ti aniw ay rates. The council generally tvere fnvoui.ible to a reduction. Some bettei scale of charges n lght be conceived. — The Chan man naid they were carrying quaitz on the ti .1111 way cheaper than any other tramway 111 the colony. —lt was agreed, on the motion of Ci. Gould, that the council intimate to mining companies that it is prep.ired to consider application-! for reduction of eh ug"s foi those who only Use, a poition of the line. —It was further fcgrtva, on the sug^e-tum of Cr. Murphy, that tho ti.unway manager bo empowered to brin* down firewood and such like at whatever rate he considered payable. Lkv\eoi' Auskvce — Laave of absence was granted Cr. Smith for nc\t nieotmg. Rmlw \\ Reform Lhu.ue.— The petition of the railway reform le.ucue was laid on tho table. — The Secretary of the league invited the co-operation of the council. — On the motion of the chairimn. it was agreed that no action be taken in the matter. Pnoi'OiKD BOKOn.ll at Te Ahoh \.— The pcttt'uii of rr nideuts asking tho Government to proclaim a certain Hiea in the vicinity of Te Aroha a borough, was laid on the table. — It was agret d, after a consideration, that a committee consisting of the chairman, Crs Firth and Chepmell lie appointed to draw up a petition to the Gorernor, securing the rights of the council in the matter. Sr.\U(iHrERH()LSE License.— A licence was granted to Messrs J. and C. Gould, W.ntoa. The Tuvmwav. — Cr. Firth made .1 few remarks on the present management of the tramway. He believed Mr Cookson was doing hi-> \eiy best to work the tramway with economy to the county and with satisfaction to the mining companies. He thought Mr Cookson should have the huuity support of the council, <t-> he was working the tiainw.iy in the face of veiy gie.it difficulties -Othei couucilloi.s cn-doi-.uil the leln.uk> of Cr Fnth - Cr. Filth, lefmmgto the recent discovery in the New Find mine, said that th.it discovmy h id had a wondeiful effect upon the held in the way of liupailuig n< w vigour into niniing Hides. It h t<l in f. ct put thu entile field ill hliUMl.tlh gild he.ut. Ti Vicoi.v Buu<H(,n. Kcfeiiiii; to this matt<i, Ci Firth lem.irkod tint if tho jirn'iK <>f Tt Aioha, Waioi.i ip; unai and (^tut/ville took ov< 1 the llibihtien as well us the .i--« t- of the rli .ti ict The c ni,ic:l lie felt (Hi 1 w.mM hue lii olij, eti in ti allow them to fni 111 theinielves into a lioi.uiyh to-nioiTov, . Hut th'-y c mid not u\|)ect that the. count ii would heal of the proposal on nn\ otln 1 tci jus. Tub Xi-w Buth.uy. — Referring to this mittei, the chaiiman, Mr W. L. C. Williams, said he felt sure the new battery would be wiped out 111 about two yean time, judging from its situation. In tho couise of two yeai% when the loota and gtumpt would lot, the overhanging ground would come down in an avalanche and bury ever\ thing beneath it. The h'avy slip which took place some two ye.irs ago wan an instance of this. He furthei thought that the making of the branch connection would tend to disturb and loosen the cut!), and the slip would just be li. m.ittei of time. Fin.wcivl. — A long discussion took place on the financial position of the council. Cr. Fnth was sanguine that when the borrowing clauses of the act were modified so as to make it pofsiblo foi the council to becuru u poll in favour of a loan, the money could bf l.used 111 this way. They could thus disentagle themselves from their piesent unfoi Lunate position without inflicting an unnecessary and certainly unjust burden upon the county ratepayer, Cr. Gould reminded Cr. Fiith that he was entirely wrong in thinking that a loan could be raised to clear off a liability which had already been incurred. A loan could only be 1 awed for works in contemplation. According to Cr. Firth's contention, the council could carry out any work they liked, and the 1 atepayers without having a say in thfl matter, would be obliged to pay for it. That would be forcing the bands of the ratepayers with a vengeance. Cr. Chepmell followed in a similar strain. He had taken legal advice on the matter and wo-s assured that the council's liabilities could not be cleared off by a loan. The position of the council was of .1 most serious character, and would have to be fared. Every day it was getting worse. Their creditors had commenced to sue them, and already they had been acting tho role of defendants in tho B.M. Court. Other creditors would to-ke the hint and follow suit, and each case carried cost (. He would move that a rate of 'jd be struck on all the ratoable pro iwrty throughout the county. He did s<> in tlie interest of tho county. This was the only way of saving themselves fuuu nun — Ci Murphy entirely agreed with Cr. Chepmell, and would second the motion. The Lite was the veiy thing. — Ci. Fnth wild Cr. Cliepmell would peisist in pulling down the clouds about then heads, instead of allowing thorn to go quietly by. If they lound it iui|«)Bsibl« after trying to raise tho loan, as he suggested, then ho would \M the very &r»t to -support * f»tc Hirt why

should the stiugghng wool-grow 01 and the fmnei bo taxed unneces^ai lly to pay off liabilities mcuircd on the Aroha goldheld .' — Ci. Chepmoll thought the sooner th« clouds leforred to by Cr. Fnth vveie pulled down tlu i bettei. They weie veiy threatening, dud their coming down was onlj h ni.itter of time. Let thorn pull them down now nnd Minnhme would follow.— Cr. Fnth proposed th.it the rate be not stiuck. -Ci. Maclean neconded.— Ci». Williams Filth and M.icle.m \oted for the amendment, and Cis. Chepmell, (-.mild and Murphy for the motion. — The ch.iuman gave his casting vote in favour of the amendment, which was earned. — It was agrcod to get Messrs Heskcth and Rich mond's opinion as to the power of the council to laiso a special lo.m fru the pm pose of paying olf existing liabilities on the ticuuw.iy. Tmipokvm Ovkhduut. — A tenipoiaiv o\erdiaft was raised for the purpose of meeting .small piessing liabilities. — The Chan man stated that the bank had agreed to advance them the amount of publicans 1 licenses, £210, which fell due in June. — Cr. Chepmell opposed the idea of lneic.isinsr the o\erdiaft, whether tempoiaiily 01 otherwise. He would ino\e that no temporaiy assistanco be accepted fioin the i\uik. — Cr (itmld snppoited the motion, which was nepitived on the eh in man's casting vote. Ci^. Cheprwell, (Jould and Muiphy voted for the motion, aud Crs Kuth, Willimis and M.icle.in agunstit Seveial .k counts vue ]>asse<l for p.i} - incut. This w,\s ill tin 1 business.