WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2214, 16 September 1886, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Th* regular monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held at the Council Chambers, Ohaupo, on Tuesday. Present : Mr Hermann (chairman), Crs. Hunter Smith, Ridler, Teasdalo and Corboy. Accounts.— The following accounts were passed for payment :— G. W. Rusmjll, 11s 3d ; Chapman, repairs to buildings, £1 12 ; P. Munro, £4 -ta f 1). F. Scott, £4 4s ; W. Jones, final certificate, £6 12s ; Dillon and Hickie, £5 ; Beasley and Webber, £1 10s ; J. Hancock, £1 4s ; W. Bearsley, £7 4s ; J . Morris, £2 2s Gd ; C. Morris, £2 14s ; H. T. Sibley, £2 14s: A. Forker, 0s ; W. J. Hunter and Co., 7s (id ; W. Lock, 12 ; 1). McKinnon, £2; T. Cowley, £1 15s; R. Norrish, £11 ; G. F. Millars, 6s. Mangapiko Petitions.— The petitions from the ratepayers of the Mangapiko Riding were considered. The petition asking that the road district of Mangapiko be merged in the county, and signed by 48 ratepayers was taken as read, having been before the council on a previous occasion. The second petition was adverse to the proposal, and was signed by 41 ratepayers, amongst whom were 10 names of those who had signed the first petition under a misapprehension. — The Chairman, in referring to the matter, expressed surprise that none of the signatories were present that day to speak in favour of the prayer of the first petition. Mr Ligertwood, one of those opposing this petition, was present, and might be heard. — Mr Ligertwood, in addressing the council, said he was of opinion, in common with many others, that the merging into the council was premature. — Cr. Smith, as the representative of Mangapiko, said fche double rate appeared to have influenced those who advocated the change, but haying since heard that the abolition of the road board rate would not be likely to effect any saving, the agitation had died out, and there appeared to be a desire to let the matter drop. He moved, " That the council does not entertain the first petition. " — This was seconded by Cr. Ridler and carried. Correspondence.— A letter was read from Mrs McCabe, asking for remission of rates owing to circumstances over which she had no control.— Cr. Teasdale moved that the prayer of the petition be acceded to, and that the present rates, amounting to about £3, be remitted.— A letter was read from Mr C. Hibbs, asking that some necessary work should be done to a dangerous drain passing through his property. — Cr. Ridler explained that he had brought it before the council some five months ago, but no action was taken. He could testify to the great danger that existed in leaving the drain open, which was a depth of Bft. or 10ft. in places, and he knew that Mr Hibbs had suffered many losses by sheep and cattle getting into it. Although this work had been executed by the road board he thought that the county should take steps to get it remedied. — It was resolved that the engineer inspect the drain. If not required ho was instructed to fill it up, but if he should consider it necessary that it remain open, it was agreed that steps be taken either by laying pipes or by fencing it in, to protect Mr Hibbs from further loss of cattle and sheep. — An offer was received from Mr E. J. Moffat to gravel roads near Ngaruawahia. The engineer reported that he had alieady taken the necessary steps in this matter. — Mr' W. M. Hay wrote, on behalf of Mr Dellicar, demanding payment of £2 10s, for work done some time ago on the Tuhikaratnea road. — The engineer stated that he was satisfied, that the measurements were correct, and that the council were not indebted in this amount. — A letter was read from the secretary of the Auckland Hospital B.iard, making: a claim for unpaid contributions. The council decided to leave the matter in the hands of the delegates to act in conjunction with the other representatives, and Cr. Teasdale was appointed to act with Mr Gernianu, the present delegate. — An application was read from the teacher of the Ngaruawahia school, asking the council to put in a culvert at the school. The engineer was authorised to take steps to get the work done if found necessary. — A letter was receivtd from the Cambridge Town Board, enclnsi'ig newspiper extracts relative to proposa's for working the Hospitals Act, &c. — The following reply was read from the Waste Lands Board in reply to a perition of Mr Geruunn, chairman of the Waipa County Council: — "The leserves in the Waipa County not already vested in any local body should be vested in such local b)dy, oi associated, as may be deemed most 3mt.ible, to have control under such reservation. Width op Wheel Tires.— ln reference to the matter of broad tires for vehicles with heavy loads, lately discussed by the council, Mr H. Reynolds, of Woodlands, writes as follows :—: — Taupiri, August G. F. C. Germann, E^q., Paterangi. Di Ait Sin, — I am in receipt of yours of the 31st inst., and have much pleasure in replying theieto, re wide tires for waggon wheels. About two years ago we had some heavy weights to cart over soft roach, so I ordered a set of wide wheels {(Jin. tires), to usf in place of ordinary narrow wheels. This proved a very great success. So much so th it this waggon is now continually used for catting on all roads, the waggoner preferring this waggon to one with narrow tires, as bein? of easier draught, and, instead of cutting up the roads during winter, it really imprmes them. I mean of course where sanded. I have often wondered why people with a lot of carting to do, do n<»t use the*e wide wheels. The cost is somewhat more, but not to be compared to what is saved in not cutting up roads, paddocks, <fee. The waggon used by us is rather heavy, capable of carrying two or two and a-half tons. For taking loads of, say, 30swt., I hhould think -Hin. tires would be sufficient, and would cost very little more than a 3in. tire. Wheels with Gin. tires will cost about 30s each more than an ordinary wheel. I am very glad to see that you are taking this matter in hand, as a great deal of money might be saved that is now spent in repairing roads cut up by contractors' waggons with narrow wheels. If I can supply you with any further information I shall only be too glad. I suppose your bye-law will only apply to contractors or people doing a good deal of carting. — Yours, very truly, H. Reynolds. Loc vl Government.— A letter was read from Mr Ligertwood, addressed to the Hon. R. Stout, re local self government, with a request that it should be forwarded through the council. Tenders. — The following tenders were received for fencing at Walker's Gully :— Cowley, (totara posts), £1 19s Gd, (puriri), £3 ; R. Norrish, (totara posts), £2 2s. Cowley's tender ot 39s Gd was accepted. Only one tender was received for the old timber of the Mangapiku bridge, that of N. T. Maunder, which was accepted. Engineer's Report.— Re WhatawhataHamilton swamp road, about 70 chains required to be fascined and clayed, according to the engineer's estimate, at about 30s per < chain. — Cr. Corboy proposed that the' work should be proceeded with forthwith, as at the present it was absolutely impassable even for horse traffic. — Cr. Ridler seconded.— Cr. Teasdale moved as an amendment that the I matter be deferred until the next meeting of the council, as by that time the fine weather might have set in and the work would not be so costly. — In reply to this Cr. Corboy pointed out that at the best nearly this time would elapse before tenders could be called for and the contractor started the work, and it was of great importance, on this road particularly, that it should be done early in the season.— The amendment was lost. — It was resolved that this and other works of any margin should be held over for next sitting.— Several bad places in the road from Putney corner to Walker's Gulley was ordered to be repaired. Cr. Hunter pointed out the necessity for having something done to the road in front of the council chambers. — The Engineer stated that this was part of the road which Norrish had contracted to keep in repair, and he was ordered to write and call the contractor's attention to this and request hitn to do the work. — It was resolved that Crs. Moncreiff and Teasdale be a committee to obtain a written offer from Mr Crumpston of th 3 terms upon which the council can gejfc gravel from his pit. The Yearls Expenditure— ln discussing the question of the expenditure for the current year it was resolved that th« engineer be instructed to prepare a report for next meeting, detailing the various works most necessary to be undertaken throughout the various ridings during the corning season. Miscellaneous.— In the matter of Walker's Gully Bridge, it was resolved that it be shored up.— ln reference to Dolhcar's claim, the clerk was instructed to write and ask Mr Hay for particulars. County rate.— The Chairman was of opinion that the county would have to strike the fullest rate possible to meet the demands that will be now made upon it, and moved that the clerk take the necessaiy steps for striking a rate at the next meeting of the council on October 12th.