WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2167, 29 May 1886, Page 2

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL

The usiul monthly mepting of the council was held at the Chambers, Hiiiiiilton East, yesterday. Present : Messrs Primrose (chairman), Runcinian, B.irugh, Johnson, and Seddon. Railway Reform.— The clerk read a draft of a letter he had written to the member for the district, Mr Whyte, covering full report of Mr V.iile's meeting 1 us appearing in The Waikato Times. The letter stated that the meeting was a large and representative one, and asked Mr Whyte to bring the matter prominently under the notice of the Government, with a view to reform. — The draft was agreed to. — The Chairman congratulated the council on the successful result of the meeting. The work would now of course be carried on by the Railway Reform League. — Cr. Seddon said tney could hone for no practical result unless the other county councils in tho colony took the Mibjcct up. Annual Accounts. — The accounts for the past year were Lud <>n the table. Railway Reform.— The secretary of the Reform League wrote, forwarding copy of the petition to Parliament, and asking for subscriptions from both council and individual members. — Consideration of the matter was deferred, all the members present having subscribed pre\iously. Hospital and CHAiiir-AiiLR Am.— The chairman of the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid limud wrote, forwarding resolutions passed by the board, affirming that separation of the country from the town districts is necessary. — It was agreed to send the writer a copy of the ciicular issued bv the Waikato County Council. — Cr. Seddon did not think the Government would alter the Act unless considerable pressure was brought to bear upon them. Rangiriui Sukfacem\n.— The late surfaceman of the Raugiriri riding wrote to the council in reference to the late report of the engineer, but as the clerk intonated that the communication was of a libellous character, it was decided not to read it, the chairman remarking that the council had not lost confidence in its enginepr. The Rabbit Nuisance.— The Clutha County Council wrote, suggesting certain alterations in the Sheep and Rabbit Nuisance Acts. The writer thought the present piymcnts to rabbit inspectors .should cease, ; and the money be devoted to paying so much for skins. Tne council also gave it as their opinion that sheep inspectors were not required except where scab existed. — Crs. Seddon and Runciman ridiculed the idea of doing away with sheep inspectors, and the letter was ordered to be received. Forest Tree-planting.— The Tatnahere Farmers' Club wrote, asking the council to press for the reinstatement of the Forest Tree-planting Encouragement Act.— Cr. Runciman said he had given notice to move that a sum of money be voted for the purpose of tree planting, &c, but he had since found that the council had no power to make such grants. He therefore moved that in the opinion of the council it was desirable that the Forest Tree Planting Encouragement 4ct be re-enacted. He referred to the advantages derivable from tho Act. He suggested tha. a clause be added offering bonuses to nursery men and others at the rate of £10 per acre, for planting and maintaining for ten years Crown L'ind not required for other purposes. He also thought power should be given to the county councils for granting money for the purpose of promoting tree planting, &c. A clause to this effect should be inserted in the Counties Act, — Cr. Seddon had heard that the Government were about to take up the matter this session.— Cr Barugh said there would be no harm in passing the resolution.— Some discussion ensued, in tho course of which the opinion was expressed that the sum mentioned was too large. — Ultimately it was agreed to relegate the matter to Crs. Runciman, Primrose, and Seddon, to report at next meeting. Agricultural College Site. — The Under-Secretary for Lands wrote stating that the land proposed as a site for an Agricultural College, known as the Peach Grove Reserve, was not suitable. The letter covered a memo, from the Assistant Surveyor-General, stating that the land was quite unfit for agricultural purposes. — Cr. Seddon said it was quite evident that Mr Percy Smith had not visited the land for many years, ns the land at present was eminently well adapted for farming purposes, and would let at any time at a high rental for this purpose. — The Chairman, Cr. Runciman and the Engineer agreed with Cr. Seddon, and the cleric was instructed to m ike a fresh application. Recovery of Rates.— ln consequence of the expense attendant upon selling land for recovery of rates through the Registrar, the clerk was instructed that no more actions of this kind be taken except by bppcial instructions. Engineer's Rei'ort.— The Engineer (Mr in the Rangiriri Riding was very unsatisfacSandes) reported that the excavating work tory. He recommended that considerable reductions in the amount of the contract money be paid. The contractor for the bridge at Meremere had piomised to place the bridge in a state in accordance with the specifications, meantime the money was withheld. Nothing has been done to No. 4 contract, and he recommended that the contractor's deposit be forfeited. He also reported on various works required. — Cr. Johnson, the representative of the Rangiriri riding, objected to the engineer reporting on the distiict except in company with him. He also made a number of charges against tho engineer. He did not recognise the engineer. — The Chairman severely reprimanded Cr. Johnson, and remanded him that if the council chose to appoint an engineer, it did not matcer whether Cr. Johnson recognised him or not— A long discussion ensued, in tho course of which Cr. Seddon said it was evident that the council must support their engineer, and the Rangiriri ratepayers' remedy, if they objected to having an engineer, was to form a road district and manage their own affairs.— The other members (Cr. Johnson excepted) agreed with this, and the matte^ dropped.— lt was agreed to inform petitioners for » road to Whagainarino railway station, that at present there were no funds available for the work. Accounts, &c— A number of accounts were passed for payment, and some other business of a routine character having been transacted, the council adjourned.

Nothing, it is said, makes a baldheaded man madder than to be accused of never removing the hair out of the comb. A bachelor friend of ours has left a boarding-house in which there were a number of old maids, on account of the miserable ♦' fair" set before him at times. A.v American paper gives the following dimensions of a tree pnt into the water at a logging camp:— The tree contained three 24 foot logs, which scaled as follows: Butt, 7312 feet; second, 5732 feet; 5286 feet— a total of 20,070 feet of lumber in a tree. The diameter at the small ends was 78, 71, and 64 inches respectively. j The URual Sunday services are published in another column. Mr A. Scott notifies elsewhere that he has been appointed agent in Hamilton, nnd Cambridge districts for the Manchester Fire Assurance Company The Hamilton bakers announce that on and after June Ist, the price of bred will be raised to 3^d cash, and 4d booked. Road closing notices by the Kirikiriro* Road Board appear in another column. Mi a Townsend advertises new colours in boy's Jerseys and Tarn O'Shanter's. Alcoholic Fatuity —The chronic debauchee feels that he positively cannot exist without his alcoholic stimulation. To quit drinking or to continue the habit brings death all the same. Such a man can fir.d in American Go's Hop Bitters, properly used, a perfect paaacea for the drunkard's cure. Read.