PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2256, 23 December 1886, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of the council was held at the Hamilton Borough Council Chambers yesterday. Present: Mr W. L. 0. Williams (chairman), Crs. J. C. Firth, W. P. Chepmell, J. B. Smith, and D. Murphy. Cambridge-Tauranga Road.— Mr T. G. Sandes wrote, asking for particulars an to tho bridges requiring repairs on this road.— On the motion of Or. Firth the matter was referred to a committee consisting of the chairman and Cr. Brunskill with power to act. Loan for Tk Aroha. — Tho clerk reported the measures already taken in the matter of raising a loan of "£l5OO for constructing a road from the. railway station, Te Aroha, to the Gordon Settlement. Chamber of Commerce.— The circular sent to all other county councils was re ceived. It was decided that the council had no money to spend in this direction. The Hill Track.— A petition from the residents of Waiorongomai was read, drawing attention to the unsafe state of the Upper Hill track. They stated the probable coat to be -610. — On the motion of Cr. Smith, seconded by Cr. Murphy, it was agreed that the sum named be granted. Sign-board, Te Arofa.— An application by Smith and Dun for permission to erect a sign-board over the footpath ne.ir their hotel at Te Aroha was refused, Cr. Firth strongly opposing it, and r«>m irking that the next thing people would want would be to put an advertising placard on the back of the chairman of the town board. The Tramway. — The manager forwarded his uMial report for the month. The revenue was £92 Bs, and the expenditure £75 13s 2d. The Clerk s,iid he had gone carefully over the accounts, and found that the state of the tramway finances was even better than the maniger represented, as some £5 of the expenditure properly belonged to the previous month. The profit last month had been about £20. Day of Meeting.— On the motion of Cr. Firth it was resolved that the council's meetings be held in future on Saturday, once every four wodks, the n«xt meeting t<> be held on the 22nd Janu uy. The OvjcrdhM'T.— Cr. Chepmcll drew attention to the fact that the ovet draft was larger than allowed by law.— Cr. Firth said the overdraft was got before the passing of the Act referred to, and he did not think the legislation was intended to be retrospective.— Cr. Chepmell said they ought to try and put the finances in order, and suggested a special rate. There were several liabilities overhanging them, and they should endeavour to conform lo the law. — Cr. Firth spoke at some length in opposition to the levying a special rate, and pointed out that the people of the C'Wiitv were really not in a position to pay any more ta\e^. A=? to subsidies, he did not approve tho policy of levying a rate merely for tho purpose of getting a subsidy. He denounced the subsidy Hy>fetn in strong tftrnis, saying that it had taken away their spirit of independence and made them humble suppliants of tho Government.— Cr. Murphy said Te Aroha had almidybeen obliged t:» pay a number of rates, and would not care to be taxed again.— The Chairman favoured Cr. Ch^pmell's pioposal, as by lovying a rate now t'ley might be able to secure the subsidy, and &o recoup some of the money which the Government had so unjustly, as he thought, given away to the Thames Hospital Board. —Cr. Chepmell said had it not been for the subsidy last year they would have collapsed. He moved that at next meeting tho council make and levy a general rate of Jcl in the £ over the whole county — Tins was seconded by Cr. Smith and carried, the chairman voting for it. Accounts. — Several accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting closed.