WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2512, 16 August 1888, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Ohaupo, at 10.30 am. on Tuesday. Present: Crs. Lang (chairman), Hunter, Finch, Taylor, Farrell, Dawson, Smitli, Gricc and Ridler. Mr A. Armstrong County Engineer was also in attendance. The minutes of the last meeting were read and continued and tho outward correspondence adopted. EsuiNKhß's Report.—The Engineer read his monthly report as under:— Sir,—Owing to tho amount of rain that fell during July the roads in the County have suffered in a greater or leas degree, according to tho traffic on thein. I have tn call yi>nr attention particularly to the Kihikihi-To Awamutu road, the Te Awamutu Station Road, the Kiliikihi Bush Road, and also to the Hamilton Whatawhata SjK.imp Road, the three first-named being Jfciderably cut up, and several places in the latter are also bad. The portions of this road—Hamilton-Whata-whata Road—fascined and clayed are standing fairly well, with the exception of a few place*, owing principally to imperfect drainage. One of the culverts on this road will require some repairs. The sills supporting the stringers have been laid on the ground, and the wall of the ditch has fallen in, leaving the sill almost without support. I have given instructions to have it restored. The cost will not exceed £2. With regard to repairing these roads it will be neeessary to have something done nn the first opportunity when the weather takes up, but in tho meantime it will only make matters worse to attempt any repairs just now. Several of the other leading roads in the County, though not cut up to anything like the extent of those referred to are still in not a very satisfactory condition. Wherever any new works have been done and tho roads sanded or gravelled, the roads are in good order. In compliance with instructions partial repairs are being carried out on the road from Ngaruawahia to Stone's corner. Waikato Bridge, Cambridge : On inspection the floor boains of this bridge were found to be in a better condition than was at first supposed, only some 8 or 10 new beams will be required, and a few new decking planks. Walker's Gully Bridge: No further forward movement in the defective abutment of this bridge has taken place sinco last meeting of the Council. —I am, etc., Ai.kx. Armstrong, County Engineer, ICihikihi, 13th, 188S The report was received and adopted. Lijie Stoke.—Cr. Farrell moved that application be made to the Government to get lime stone to be used on the roads in the County Council freo by rail from Te Kuiti.—Seconded by Cr. Ridler and carried. CriLVERT.—The Engineer reported that since writing his report he had heard that a slip had occurred at a culvert on the Rotorangi swamp road, and that the place required immediate attention. — lhe matter was left in the hands of Cr. Grice and the Engineer to get the work done. Water-TAMiKs. —It was resolved that tho county contribute half the cost of the work required on the water-tables in Te Awamutu, such sum not to exceed £4 Liamutiks. —In reply to a letter from the manager Bank of New Zealand, Te Awamutu, the Clerk stated that the liabilities of the Council wore within the limit allowed by the Act.—The Clerk reported that the overdraft at present stood at £74-1 'os, the sum of almost £1,400 rates collected having been paid into the credit of tho Council since the rate was struck. Noaruawahia Road. —The Chairman of the Ngaruawahia Town Board forwarded a letter from Messrs Newell and Combes, calling attention to the state of the Ngaruawahia-Hamilton Road, and also to a dangerous hole near railway bridge at Ngaruawahia, and asking that something be done to the road.—lt was decided that no action be taken in the matter at present. Dairy Factories.—A. circular, similar to that noticed in our report of the Piako County Council, was received from the Forest and Agriculture Department. The general opinion of the Council was that what the farmers needed was, not an expert to teach them to make butter and cheese, they could do that well enough, but someone to show them where they could get a market for their produce. Petition.—(Jr. Smith presented a petition signed by 17 householders in the Alexandra Town District praying that tho County would, under the powers vested in them by tho 56th Section of the Counties Act, dissolve the Alexandra Town Board and merge the Alexandra Town District into the County. It was resolved that a special meeting of the Council be held on September 11th to grant the prayer of the Alexandra householders. RATK.-Cr. Finch moved that a rate of $ of a penny in the £ be struck for the current year.—Seconded by Cr. Grice and carried. A proposal by Cr. Dawson to make the rate :f of a penny in the £ lapsed for want of a seconder. Advertising.—Cr. Grice moved that the proprietors of The Waikato Times, Waikato News, Herald, Weekly News and Star, be written to, asking at what price they would do the advertising of the Council.—Seconded by Cr. Finch.— The Chairman moved as an amendment that the advertising continue as at pre sent to the end of the year.—Seconded by Cr. Ridler. —The amendment was put first and carried, the voting beine, for, The Chairman, Crs. Hunter, Ridler, Farrell, Dawson, Smith and Taylor. Against, Crs. Finch and Gricc. On the original motion being put, the voting beiug vice versa, it was declared lost. Payments. — The following accounts were passed for payment:—Chamtaloup and Cooper, £1 7s Gd ; interest, £lo 4s ; salaries, £10 2s ; Myer, £1 Is 3d ; Short, 103 ; Cunningham 10s ; Grierson, £1 4s ; McCallum, £1 2s 6d ; Taite, £1 12s; Jones, £5 153 ; Fitzgerald and Crawford, £1 19s Gd ; A. Armstrong, £14 lis Sd ; Fitzgerald £1 10s ; Power, £3 10s ; T. Cowley, £5 2s ; Kingdon, £1 Is 3d. This beiug all the business the Council rose.