Ordinary Meeting.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2245, 27 November 1886, Page 3

Ordinary Meeting.

An ordinary meeting was held on the same day. The usual preliminaries being disposed of, the engineer made the following report : —

To the Chairman Waipa County Council. Sib,— The heavy rains that have fallen on several occasions since the laht meeting of the council have caused a good deal of injury at several points. The principal dona was the washing away by the storm water of one end of a 24-inch pipe culvert at McNicol's boundary on the HamiltonOhaupo road. Independent of the injury caused by the rain, the pipes had originally been laid on a soft bottom, and from this cause most of them were found to be badly broken. These it was therefore necessary to take out and replace with new pipes, making at the same time a bettei foundation. This work entailed the closing of the road for one day, as it was not possible from the short length of the culvert to effect the repairs by doing one-half at a time. The work has since been properly reinstated. Again, at Ohote creek bridge and the brick culvert near Whatawhato. large holes were washed out of the approaches from 7 to Bft. deep. To fill up these it was found necessary to employ drays. This work has also been made good. Beyond what I have mentioned, no other damage of any consequence has been done The work of fencing the ends of three culverts on the Humilton-Whata-whata road has been completed. This work was authorised by the council several meetings ago. Tho crossing tv the Ngaruawahia school has also been finished. Some necessary repairs have beeu executed to Willoughby's bridge; also to a culvert on the same road. Part of the hand-rail was down, and .several of the decking planks required replacing on the bridge, and the bearers in the culvert were found to be rotten. In company with Councillor Ridler, I inspected the deep ditch cut through Mr Hiobs' properly, and findin,* that it was now comparatively useless foi drainage purposes, agreed that it should Ik filled in, which has since been d->ne. Th> fence authorised to be °reded on the top of the slop ? of the approach to WalkerV Gully bridge h.is been put up. The contractors for the removal of Gilford's bridge and filling in the old bed of the creek have resumed woik, and I expect will complete their contract in the course of a fortnight. Mr Reed, the contractor for grading near Blackett's in the Tuhikaramea district, has started on his contract, and i* making good progress The contractor, Mr Kennedy, for faacintng and claying portions of the Hamilton- YVhatawhata road, has taken up his contract, and is making fair headway with the work, and will, if the wcathei keeps favourable, have it done in contract time. The contractor for repahing the road from Putney corner past Mr Gane's is getting fairly veil on with the work. Thi" contract has hen somewhat delayed, owing to the gravel-pit being flooded. In order not to over-delay the repairs, I agreed to allow the contractor £1 extia to take the gravel from another pit some distance away. Tenders are due to-d iy for grading at McFarlaneV — I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant.

Alex. Armstrong, County Engineer. Kihikibi, 23rd November, 1886. McFarl\nk's Corner.— A complaint was made that the specifications had been removed from the advertised place before the proper tim°.. It was agreed that a reward be offered f<>r tl>3 conviction of the offender, and that the time for receiving tenders be extended for one week.

Pehtion. — A petition was received re constituting Cambridge West a town district. A counter petition was also received. The residents not bein? unanimously in favour of the change, Cr. Gennanu pro posed that the petition be not entertained. Cr. Grice seconded the motion, which was carried.

Kihikifi Grant. — A letter was received from the clerk to the Town Board guaranteeing the council asfainbtany further (Claim. The council not being satisfied without the chairman's guarantee, it was agreed to hold over the cheque until the guarantee was forthcoming.

Officers. — It was agreed to retain the services of the engineer and clerk at the usual terms until it be ascertained if the Government Loans Act can be utilised. Tfi AwAJiuru. — It was resolved to make a giant of £0 to the Town Board to assist in improving the main road to the township.

Swamp Road. — The engineer was authorised to effect the necessary repairs.

HoSI'IFAL AND CHARIIABLK AlD.— The Colonial Secretary wrote declining to grant any enquiry into the levy of the Auckland board. The clerk was directed to advice local bodies interested of the Government's decision. This was all the business.