PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2350, 2 August 1887, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above council was held on Saturday, at the Hamilton Borough Chambers. Present; Councillors Brunskil, Murphy, Williams, (chairman) Chepmell and Gould. The Engineer, Mr Pavitt, was also in attendance. The clerk stated he had informe Sergt. Emerson that the salary for the Licensing Committee Relieving Officer would be three guineas per annum. On the motion of Cr. Murphy, it was resolved to execute certain necesssary repairs on the road between Te Aroha and Waiorongomai in accordance with the estimate of the Engineer, at a cost of about £lO. The chairman pointed out that the rates of the riding interested wore insufficient to keep this road in repair, and that a toll would have to be resorted to in the future. The clerk stated the financial condition of the council as some £2OOO to the bad. The Council’s Finances.— After considerable discussion a committee consisting of Cra. Chepmell, Gould and Brunakill was appointed to enquire into and report on the financial position of county at the next meeting. Prospecting Tracks.— The Minister of Mines wrote stating that the grants for the Stoney Creek and Tui Tracks would be withheld, until the grades were made according to the regulations.

The Shaftesbury Road.— Mr E. Y. Cox wrote on behalf of the Ratepayers’ Association complaining of the manner in which many of the contracts had been carried out, and asking that a committee of the council to meet them with a view of inspecting the road. —Cr. Murphy said he hud not seen the road for some time, but he was of opinion that a committee should be appointed as requested.—Several councillors were nominated on the committee, but for various reasons declined to act.—The matter then dropped. Lipsky’s Bridge.— A number of persons using the Te Aroha-Thames road drew the council’s attention to the dangerous state of this bridge.—The Engineer said the bridge was in a very bad state. It would require to be lengthened. He thought the work could be done for about £ls.—Cr. Murphy moved that the amount named be voted. It would be a serious thing if any accident happened.—Cr. Gould seconded the motion, which was carried. Waiorongomai Prospecting Association. —The secretary of the association wrote, requesting pecuniary issiatance in prospecting the ranges beyond Waiorongomai, from Wairakan to the Wairiri stream. In the event of the council declining, he asked for a grant of 15s per week, which with a similar sum provided by the association, would keep two men going. He need not point out the value of the discovery of a new payable field.—Cr. Murphy moved the amount he granted for, say, three months.—TheChairman remarked that the present was not the proper time for prospecting.—The motion, though vigourously advocated by Cr. Murphy, was not seconded and accordingly lapsed. Tramway Report.— The manager made the usual monthly report, which showed the revenue to be £129 12s, and the expenditure £95 os, leaving a credit balance of £34 7s. The tramway was in good order.—The Chairman said the council had every reason to congratulate themselves on the appointment of Mr Gavin as manager.

Leasing the Tramway.— The clerk read a letter from Warden Stratford, intimating that he would not approve of a lease with the wear and tear clause, nor in fact any differing from the draft submitted to him. —The Secretary of the Battery Company wrote, stating that so soon as the lease [omitting the wear and tear danse] was .submitted to the company it would he signed.—Mr Hay, solicitor to the county, wrote, stating that a-the sale note of the lease had been signed by the secretary of the. company and the auctioneer, Mr Buok--1 md, and therefore constituted a legal contract. —Cr. (Jhepuiell expressed his satisfaction, and it was decided to instruct the solicitor to take the necessary stops to get the matter finally settled. The Gordon Settlembst.— Mr B. Montague wrote, contradicting the statements made by Cr. Gould in regard to this settlement. The late secretary had not sold his land and cleared cut, but on the contrary was now comfortably settled on this section. Mr O’Keefe, who was said to have put in five acres of oats and potatoes without getting the seed back, intended putting in a much larger area this season. The letter concluded by asking for some improvements to the road.—Cr. Murphy said it was quite certain Cr. Gould had been misinformed about the settlement. — Cr; Gould said he had heard the late secretary was trying to sell his land, but probably, like many others, he had been unable to do so.—The letter was received.

Several other matters of minor importance were attended to, and the council adjourned.