PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2338, 5 July 1887, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tub usual monthly meeting of the council was held at the Hamilton Borough Chambers on Saturday. Present; Mr W. L. C. Williams (chairman), Crs. Maclean, W. T. Firth, Bruuskill, Chepmell and Gould. The Proposed River District.— Cr. Chepmell reported that lie bad asked Mr Brcmner to undertake the duty of getting signatures to the petition against the action of the Thames Harbour Board’s proposal to include the rivers in their district, and in favour of constituting the county a river district. Mr Bremucr had declined, as he did not think he would bo able to get the required number of signatures. Cr. Cbepmell further said it would not be legal to pay a canvasser.—Cr. Gould remarked that ho was not inclined to put bis baud in bis pocket. The matter then dropped. Thompson’s Track.— The Under-Secre-tary for Public Works wrote, stating that the council's request for a further grant would have to stand over until next session. Reuulation Grade for Tracks.—The Clerk reported that be had written to Mr J. li. Whyte, asking him to use his influence in getting the balance of subsidy for tracks, withheld on account of the regulations as to grades not having been complied with. Mr Whyte had replied that he bad brought tbo matter under the notice of the Government and hoped for a favourable reply. The Gamijuidge-Talto Road.— A letter was received from the Public Works Office, intimating that the Government admitted no liability on account of this road. Road to Gordon Settlement. —The secretary of the settlement wrote, asking tbo council to complete the road to the. settlement.—Cr. Gould remarked that a new secretary had been appointed, the former one having made a rise of out of his section and cleared. These people were very rough on “land sharks, 1 ' but when they got half a chance they became land sharks themselves. His impression was that all tbo settlors took up tbo land only for what they could make out nf it. Tbo portion of road referred to bad not been included in the original contract, and there were now no funds to complete it. The road was not wanted by the settlers except to improve the value of their land, in order that they might sell it. They were making no effort to improve the land. One man had put in five acres of oats and an acre of potatoes, and as he bad got nothing off them he cleared out.—Cr. Chepmell said the settlement was not occupied.—Cr Mclean said the settlers wanted a road made to Waharoa station.—Cr. Gould : Merely for the purpose of improving the soiling value of their lands. The matter was then allowed to drop. Lease of the Tramway.— Some correspondence on this subject was road. It appears that the original draft lease as proposed by the chairman and Cr. Gould no provision was made for “fair wear and taar the auctioneer had inserted the condition provisionally, and the chairman had instructed the solicitor accord'ngly, and the question now before the council was whether the action of the chairman should be endorsed.—The Chairman said he considered the provision a reasonable one, and saw no reason why it should not be inserted.—Cr Gould said if a provision for fair wear and tear were acted upon the whole concern would bo gone in ten years.—Cr Chepmell explained that lie bad made a draft of the conditions of the lease which bad been accepted by the council, but alterations bad afterwards been made, with which he ought to have been made acquainted. There was certainly no provision for wear and tear. When he saw Mr Hay, ho found that the provision had been put in at the request of the chairman. He (Cr. Chepmell) ought to have been informed of this. Ho certainly never would have agreed to it; they might as well give the tramway away. The very essence of the lease was that the tramway should bo banded back to the council in good repair. With the provision they would he handing over to the lessees property of the valueof £IB,OOO at a rental which represented about five-ninths of a £ per cent, ami at tbo end of the term the work would bo useless. It would be remembered that one of the inducements held out to the council to part with the tramway was the fact that no further expenditure would bo required for repairs, which would bo undertaken by tbo lessees. A considerable amount of discussion followed upon matters of detail in connection with the tramway. Mr Hay, the council’s solicitor, who was in attendance, suggested that a conference between the council and the lessees should be held, with a view to settle the matter in dispute, and this was adopted. Road to Watoronoomai.— The following letter was received from a number of residents :—The subscribers, being ratepayers, call your attention to the impassable condition of Kilgour-street, Wainroiigomai, more especially from the corner of the main county road to the corner of the Waiorongomai Hotel. Within two months hence fully 200 tons of dead weight will pass over this road, and the persons who put their hands in their pockets previously to contribute a moiety are not now disposed to assist in making the county roads otherwise than by being compelled to do so by paying rates. Wo urge immediate attention, In the absence of any information regarding the probable cost of tbo work, it was decided to postpone consideration nf the application until next meeting.—Mr Yato wrote, drawing attention to the state of tlie track to Qnartzville, and this matter was also deferred. Accounts.— The following accounts wore passed for payment Tramway, £72 14s ; J. 8. Bond, £llss fid ;P. R. Earle, £1 2s ; J. Hcalhcote, £4 18s; C. Tuck, £l2 10s ; W. Bates, £i) 10s 7d ; T. G. Sandes, £1 Is ; Emerson, £7 10s; Waitoa Licensing Committee, £3 9s. The usual report from the tramway manager was read, some other business of minor importance was transacted, and the council rose.