PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2168, 1 June 1886, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the council was held at the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton, on Saturday. Present :— Messrs W. L. C. Williams (chairman), J. C. Firth, W. P. Chepmell, C. Gould, D. Murphy, J. B. Smith. H. Brunikill, E. Maclean and \V. F. Firth. Some preliminary business chiefly of a routine natute was transacted. Goi.dkielij TuvcKh.— It was resolved on the motion of Cr. J. C. Firth, that the Warden of | the Te Arolia District bo asked to recommend to the Government the construction of the pioposed track to the Stonuy Creok claims, the council undertaking to find £23, the balance required, £47, to come out of the unexpended portion of the giant for trucks on the field; also that the Warden recommend the construction of a sledge track from the Premier claim to the county boundary in the direction of the Tui Cieek mines, at a cost of £100, the council's contribution not to exceed £33, on condition that the remaining portion (if the tiack be constructed by the Ohineniuri County Council. Jilt Roches Du.un.— Mr E. F. Roche wrote in reply to a communication from the council asking for compensation for the damage done to the road by his having made a gully across it by draining. He pointed out that he had already suffeied gieat loss through the occurrence. He had put up two bridges at his own cost over the gully, both of which had been swept away. When he took up his land a small ctcek ran ovei the load, and lie, not knowing the uatiue of the soil, enlarged this creek, with the rosnlt known to them. In addition to erecting the btidge he had, at a cost ot £o'o, made the cuttingo which were used a? appioaches to the new biidge. lie estimated the total amount of his contribution, including the cost of the approaches, at quite 670. — In reply to the chairman, Cr. Murphy corroborated the statements contained in the letter, and on the motion of Cr. Chepmell it was resolved that the council consider Mr Roches explanation satisfactory, and withdraw the claim for compensation. — Cr. Murphy said that now this matter had been disposed of, he wished to draw the council's attention to the need of doing something to protect the approaches. In the event of a fiesh he was confident that an immense amount of damage would be done. — It was decided to ask Mr Roche to undertake the necessary repairs at a cost not to exceed £5. Hospitals anm> Ciiakitable Am.— The clerk read a copy of the letter to tho Government and the petition to the House on this question, praying for the separation of the County of Pi?ko from the Thames Hospital District, and pointing out the injustice of making such a sparsely populated county pay two-thirds of the cost of hospital management and charitable aid. — Some discussion ensued. — Cr. Chepmell w.is of opinion that it would bo better for Piako to be joined on to the other country districts than become a separate district of itself.— Cr. Firth said the first thing to do was to separate, until that was done it was not possible to do anything. — "What was mcuinbent upon them was to bring home to the Government and the House the injustice under which they laboured. — It was resolved that as the Thames Hospital had now become a separate institution under the Act, Cr. Smith, the council's representative on the board, be requested not to attend any more meetings. Inspfxtok ok Nuisances.— lnspector Kiely wrote, stating that the Commissioner had decided that the police should not be employed as Inspectors of Nuisances. The councils' request, theiefore, to have the services of Sergt. Emerson in this capacity, could not be acceded to. SntKETft ap Tk Ahoha. — The Chief Postmaster at the Thames, and tho postmaster at To Aroha, wrote, asking the council to improve the street near the post-office, which in winter time was likely to become a quagmire. — The Chairman said the council had no money, and the letter was teceived. Road to Goudon Seitlemkni'.— Mr M. Robertson, Secintary, Gordon Special Settlement Association, wrote. — I am instructed to respectfully direct your attention to tho f.'ct that tiiouch your council, some months back, voted money for the formation of the road to the south ond of Mr Brown's sections, Shaftesbury road, nothing has yet been done in that direction, with the exception of a bridge across the chasm at Roche's. Will your council be pleased to enquire who is responsible for this state of ntftiirs. The survey of the Waiharakiki block is now completed and the settlers are expected to take possession by July, but there is no access to the settlement save by pedestrians. The settlers earnestly hope your council will consider this undesirable state of things.- -A report from the ungineor was read on this mad. — Cr. Firth thought the engineer's estimate was too high, as the work was placed beyond the means of the council. — Cr. Murphy said the road was very badly wanted in order that the settlers might get on to their land. They were a hard-work-ing, useful set of men, and should be supported. — It was agieed to expend tho sum of £."i0 in making the road passable for dray trattic, and the chairman was. authorised, to accept the lowast tender, Thi; Coi>mx Morn.— A letter was received from tho Colonial Secretary similar to that sent to other county councils, and already refeiied to in these columns. — Cr. Firth paid it seemed to him very much like shuting the stablo door after the horse had gone. — Tho chairman thought the Government should pass aii act to catch the moths and singe their wings. The|matter then dropped. Tkk Tramway and thk Tariff.— The tramway manager reported as follows ; — I have |;he honour herewith to qutwit to you a report of th.v works In progress here during the last three weeks and a half. Tramway—The total amount of receipts from tramway amounts to £84 18s, leaving a small balance to credit after payment of wages. During the winter months. I shall be compelled to give some attention to repairs, such as ballasting etc. — Pack track — The total amount expended on this work is £60 fls lOd exclusive of time occupied in carting gravel of main road, and amounts expended in exploring Tui track, The whole of the bridges ((I in number) Avere in a most delapidated condition, and had to be completely renewed, many of the spans being 20 to 30 feet causod a considerable of labour in getting the stringers in position etc. The track is now in mir order, but a good deal more work might be done on it before it could be declared a first class road. I regiet to say the amount expended on the work exceeds the amount Irtipulated by Council, but I worked as economically as possible during the whole time, the weather sometimes being greatly against us. Town Bridge— The whole of the timber required for this work is now on the ground, and I expect to have the bridge nearly completed by the end of this week, when I purpose reducing the staff— (signed) E. Cqqkson, Tramway manager. Letters were read from the managers of the New Find and Colonist asking for a reduction of the tariff, as the mines were not paying.— The Chairman said if the New Find did not pay the cause was not in the tramway, as tho ruino was the best on the

peninsula. — Cr. Murphy said lie liad known the manager of the New Find fur twenty years, and he was it thoroughly competent man.— Cr. Smith did not think the ratep ivers should be a«ked to put their hands mto thoir pocket*, and suggested that the matter be held over until tho now battery had started.— Cr. Firth said hi- did not intond to take part m the discussion beyond pointing out that it was possible to make the charges too high, and so les«p» the profits of the ti.umvay. — Cr. Murphy Wrongly supported .1 leduction, if only f<u .x short period, a-s ho w.is conlidont tho result would justify them. By this means poor claims would h,i\e a show, nvnv especially as theie was now plenty of water power, and two b.ittei les were in operation. He moved that tho chaise be reduced to 'M (id per ti -ick in cases whcie two self acting grades wore Used, and to 2a (id where only one grade was used, trial parcels of twenty tons to be canipd ;it Is per truck, the arrangements to stand for three months. — This was seconded by the Chairman. — Cr. Gould mined that the tn ittrr stand <>\er, not to be (nought up again without duo notice being given to all the members. — Tin's was seconded by Cr. Chepinell, who quoted hgiues to show that the tramway \\as beinsr woiked at a loss. — On being put to the inepting there voted f>r the amendment Cis. Gould, Chepmcll, Smith, Maclean and Biunskill; for the motion : Crs. Murphy, VV. T. Firth, and the chairman. Cr. J. C. Firth did not exercise his wtte. The motion was therefore can iod. On thp motion of the Chairman, it was resolved th it tiial parcels of stone from new reefs, not exceeding ten tons, be cai ried free. MrsuKM.VNi.ois.— At the instance of Cr. Brunskill it was decided to again urge upon the Government to complete the formation of the Cambridge-Tauranga Road in the Taotaoroa District. — The annual accounts were laid on the table, confirmed, and ordered to be printed.— lt was decided to give Mr Clark the sum of £5 as compensation for damage done in connection with his drain at Te Aroha. — A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the council agreed to hold the next meeting on Saturday, the 3id July, at half- past ten a.m. This w.us all the bu»inest>, and the council ro.se.