WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2426, 28 January 1888, Page 3

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tin: monthly tueetiiiK of the Waifcatn County Council was held in I lie Council Chambers yesterday. Present: Mi- Primrose (chairman), Crs. B.irugh, Steele and Seddon. The minutes oi the last meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read and disposed of as follows : — Takixc, Of Land foil Uv.\\> Pcufonks. — A letter from tlm Public Wurks JXpartinont, with roferruco to making a priiclnmntion of the land required t<<r mid purposes at Tamahcre, and stating that. Mr 0. Lewis, Romuera, had written to the Department protesting iii;:ii:ist the iirnd being taken mid requesting tins Council's further cxplmiatioll. 'Mr Lewi>' letter was also read, tn gether with the Clerk's reply. A further letter from Mr Lewis wms read.—The Chairman said tliat the matter h:\d been amicably arranged with dipt. Runcimnn. The latter gentleman, who was present, said this was correct.- -Or. Scdduii said that the clerk's letter to Mr Lewis was needlessly strong, and calculated to irritate. He thought this style of correspondence quite uncalled for. Mr Lewis, as trustee for Mr Ewe.n's children, took quite a legal position.—dipt. Riineiniiiii .-aid it was a year ago that lie had obtained Mr Lewis' consent to the arrangement, and lie road correspondence that hud passed between them.—Cγ. Baru«h said that Mr Lewis knew he had handed over the money in connection with this land, and he. looked upon his letter as misleading and disgraceful.— Cr. Seddon asked if Mr Lewis knew this at the time.—Cr, Steele said Mr Lewis knew that fniiii Oiipt. Runciiriiin, but he inferred that Mr K 'ii had been to the expense of the alfair. — Ti-n Clerk explained that he knew tin Yuri- of Mr Lewis was misleading, and 1 to.ik the mildest view h« could of it.—After some discussion the clerk was instructed to reply to the Minister of 'Public Works that there is no hardship in the matter, and Unit the Council has taken every step in accordance, with the law. Capt. Runciman then withdrew. County Valuation. —A letter from the Property Tax Commissioner was read, stating that the total valuation for the County was AiUIJ-t.Uilti, exclusive of Crown and Native lands. Mr Speriy explained that n wrong amount had been given to the clerk of tho. Waipa County, namely £7()o,i;i.S which inadveitently included Jt'lo-1,1522 for the Borough of Cambridge.— The Clerk, Waipii County Council, also wrote, handsomely apologising for his late discourteous letter on the subject. Legal Bir.L oi< Costs.—The Clerk said he had written repeatedly to Mr Hay for his accounts for defending tlio action against the Auckland Hospital Board. A long bill had been sent in, and on the motion of the chairman, it was decided to confer with Mr Hav with reference thereto. Bid DC is at MuKiuors.—Cr. Jnhnstone informed the Council that Mr McKillop had agreed to erect a temporary bridge. Liability of Camiuudgk Bohouch. —The Clerk drew attention to the sum of £78 due by the Cambridge Borough, und asked how it was to be obtained.—Cr. Seddou said it was a piece of dishonesty on the p-irt of the. borough to shirk their debts.—Cr. Johnstons asked if tho Minister of Justice could not take action. —The Chairman said tho Council should request Mr J. B. Whyte to represent the matter to the Government, through whose neglect the Council were unable to get the money. AnvKimsiNi;. — The Chairman said ho was prey.ired b> move that the motion passed at the last meeting be rescinded. It had been passed in a manner not creditable to the Council. Only two irißuibers had voted, wheieas according to all Parliamentary us--if»ps every member present should r>'c>rd his vote. lr showed the necessity for a standing order to meet such casts, ile gave notice of motion accordingly. Mklpournk Kxhuiition.—The Auckland Chamber of Conimeice wrote, asking the Council to be represented at a meeting to bo held in Auckland on Ist make arrangements with regard to the Exhibition to be held in Melbourne.—Cr. Barugh said lie did not see what a protectionist country wanted with an exhibition. —Letter received. Chubchill Punt.—The Chairman of the Raglan County Council asked that the punt at Churchill 'bo placed in charge of Mi Alex. Gibbls in the interc.-ti of both connties.—Cr. Johnson said the mvn h :d better be taken over by the. 11-igl..n C-iinly alto gether ; the Ranginri ratepayers did not, care to have anything to do with it, as they had no use for it.—The Chairman siic-ge.-ted that the Clerk reply to the i-fiuct that the Raglan County can take over the punt, ami that in case they decline this Council will band it back to tho Government.—Agreed

to. Matahuha.—Several settlers in the Matahura district asked the Council to da some road work there. This matter was referred to in the Eusrinfier's report.

Sweet Bhiak Tiku'bm;. —This matter was discussed by tho Cnuneil, the Councillors being unanimously of the opinion that they should take steps t>> eniiycnta the pe.-t.— Cr. Johnstone moved that tenders bo called for cutting and grubbing the briar* in thKangiriri district where they are very bad. Road AT HuKTIiY.—-The ratepayers nf Huntly asked that repairs be done to the road ihroiiEfh the township.—Cr. Johnston paid they were not in iv position to spend much monev, especially »« so m.uiy outdistricts without any mads required assistance. It was absolutely necessary to do something with Proctor's road.—The Council agreed to expend about xl'> for works in the Rangiriri district. Mketiso at HusTt.Y.—Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Johnston seconded, that tho action of tha meeting of ratepayers held at Huntly he endorsed.—-Carried. Bkiimju at Mahasiaiiua.— A petition from ratepayers at Wairansi asked the Council to erect a bridge at Marainarua. — "Referred to tho Engineer to report upon. "Punt at Huntly.—Correspondence from Mr Harris, Mr J. B. Whyte, and the Minister of Lands was read with referenc-.' to establishing a 1.-unt at Huntly. With the difficulty attending the Churchill punt, the Council did not feel inclined to create another.—The matter was referred to the Raglan County Council. Swami . Road.—On the recommendation of the Engineer, it was resolveu to put on about sixty yards of gravel on the Swamp road.—Cr. Johnston said the. road should be soiled at the sides. ACCOUNTS.—-The following accounts were passed for payment:—Cr. Johnston, i'l ]0a; W. Briss, to l-'s; J. Used, £S 17.lid ; Herald, JW -V:; I). Sutherland, £10 5s sd; W. aud A. Sell wood, fc'.l 2< ; K. Muir, £2--)14s; T. (J. Maudes, til lls 10d ; Public Account, tIS Is M ; C. Vincent, £5; Treasurer, M Ms Id ; T. Wade, £-1 12s ; W. Stanley, £.">« (is; H. D. Sutherland, £1-4; J. AYrisjht, ,£l2 10-.