PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2208, 2 September 1886, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of the council was held at the Hamilton Borough Council Chamber* yesterday. Present : — Mr W. L. C. Williams (chairman), Crs. Gould, Chepmell, Murphy and Brun^kill. Cohukspon-dknck.— The Clerk repoited that ho had forward (id a letter to Mr J. B. Whyte, M. H.R., thanking him for his eftort.s in the matter of separation of the th« Piako from the Thames Hospital District. Ho had also written a letter of con flolenco to tho widow ot the late Warden Kenrick. — The Mines Department wrote, stating that the subsidy to be paid in future on works on goldfiwlds would be at the r.ito of £- for £, not £2 for £t as at prehent.—The Taotnoroa Road Board wrote asking the council to give them some pipes. Tho letter was received. — Mr P. Dillon, contractor for works on the Shaftesbury ro.td, wrote asking the council to take over tho balance of timber unused, (iOO feet kauri, at cost price, £.">. — Cr. ( Jould objected to the council taking over contractors' leavings. — Ko action was taken. TifK SrnsiDY.— A letter was read from the Property Tax Commissioner, stating that the sum of JWlfi, amount of subsidy due, had been forwarded.— The'clerk said the money had not been received. Probably it had been detained on account of Hospital and Charitable Aid charges, as the council's unpaid and overdue contributions amounted to £'477. The Shaki'ksuuky Road.— Mr GageBrown wrote, stating that the road to the Gordon settlement was useless". He thought the road could be repaired for a very small sum of money, and he hoped the council would see to it that something was done. A petition, signed by a number of ratepayers, was received to the same effect. —Mr Herries, one of the settlers, attended, and supported the prayer of the potition. — Cr. Murphy strongly recommended the council to do something, at> tho road was really impassable. — The Chairman said tho council were at a great disadvantage in working tho Aroha riding. He thought the people of that district would be consulting their own interests if they were to form a road district.— Cr. Murphy pointed out that the riding, apart from the township.*, would bo very smnll, and the revenue would be very small, seeing that at present the whole riding was only rated for £200.— Cr. Gould said the advertising would eat up all the revenue of the road board.— Cr Murphy moved that £10 be spent on the road between Waiorongomni and Shaftesbury, leaving the question of further repaus to a full meeting of the council.— Agioed to. The Special Ratk.— The impro\ement committee at Waiorongomai wrote approving of the council's intention to lew a special late, and enclosing a schedule of works suggested to bo done.— Tho (Jleik

said two of tho works had been attended to. Thk Oxfokd Road.— Mr G. JocUlin wrote drawing attention to tl»o bad wtate of the roads and bridges on tho Oxford-Mata-tnata road, near tho former place.— Or Murphy 'naid ho had travelled over the road on tho previous day, and could vouch for it* bad sf ate. — In answer to a question, the clerk laid the district fiaid tho general rate, and had paid a special rate. — After some discussion Cr Murphy said ho thought £3 or t'4 would do all that wan immediately required. —Tho council agreed to do this. Thk Tu.ymway.— Tho clerk read the report of the committee appointed to consider the application* for tho post of tramway manager. As already announced, Mr T. Gavin was appointed. Tho, usual report on the tramway for tho month was received from Mr K. Cookson, the retiring manager. It referred almost wholly to matters of routine. The revenue for tho month was £80 (>s, and the wage 4 paid and due £8(5 8* 8d. — Cr Murphy said he wished to draw attention to several matter* now that the new manager whh appointed. — The Chairman said they had better wait until they had keard the new manager's report. — Cr Murphy said theie was an iinproHtion that the ten-ton trial applied not to new roofs but to new working*. Tn this way the privilege accorded to prospectors had been abused, and the tramway would bo asked to do more than it was capable of performing. — After some dif-cusaiwn, it was agreed to instruct the manager A the tramway that no more than ten truck-loads bo taken free from any ono claim in ono year, unless specially instructed. Cr Murphy said there wat» a crane at the Waiorongomai landing, which was liable at any time to fall into the river unlosH it was ballasted. Ho would suggest that the tramway manager bo instructed to attend to the matter. This waH agreed to. ThkTui Tkack.— Cr Murphy suggested that the tramway manager be asked to report on thi.s track, from the Premier to tho Tui mine* Mr Gavin knew the country well, and could report without making a special visit. From his experience twelve years ago, he (Cr Murphy) knew there was a belt of aunferouß country behind the Premier and the track might result in greatly increasing the tramway revenue. Agreed to. Accounts.— A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the council rote.