PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume 2537, Issue XXXI, 13 October 1888, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usua! monthly meeting of the Piako County was held at 11 o'clock on Thursday, at the rhconix Hotel, Morrinsville. Pro sent: Crs. Cbepinell (chairman,) Heaney, Brnnskill, Murphy, Hunt, Williams, Mills, and Browning. Nkw Memhek.—The Clerk reported that Mr John Horrell had been duly elected to fill tho vacancy ill the Council caused by the resignation of Mr C. Gould. Mr Hoi-roll being present, took his scat at tho Council. Patetbue Loan.—The Secretary to the Treasury telegraphed that a further sum nf £150 would bo granted on this loan on application. Suhvkyoh's Chauoks. —In reply to tho letter with regard to Mr T. (i. Sandes' charges' on the Te Aroha-Lichfield road, the General stated that the charge of £12 10s per mile was not too much, if exploration had to be done in rough country. Claim. —The following was received from Messrs Burton and Keesing :— To the Secretary of tho Piako County Council. Dear Sir,—We are instructed to write to your Council with reference to a claim of our client, Mr E. J. French, of Auckland, commercial traveller. That gentlemen was travelling along tho Te Aroha-Katikati road on Wednesday, September sth, when ho found the same rendered almost impassable by a tree which had been felled right across tho road. In attempting to lead his horse past this dangerous obstacle the animal was precipitated down into the ravine or gully beneath. Mr .French had then to return to Te Aroha, a distance of eight miles, to obtain assistance from two men to extricate his horse from its dangerous position. Besides having to pay the men, one day was wholly lost, his own animal was considerably damaged, and another horse had to be procured. The fall of the tree appears to have been caused in the execution of certain so-called repairs, which have only made matters worse. Our client, through the Council's negligence, lias been put to some £5 of expenses, exclusive of loss of time, nnd now claims that sum, together with £1 Is, the cost nf this letter. —The Clerk Was instructed to replythat the Council never had anything to do with this road, and consequently did not admit any liability. Rates. —Mr W. A. Murray wrote asking why he had been charged rates on Mount Pleasant last February, while at that time he was neither owner nor occupier, he also asked when the rates were incurred. The clerk replied that certain other persons than the owner or occupier according to the Rating Act were chargeable with the rates, and that the rates were for the years ending February, 1887 and Feburary, ISSB. Roll.—Mr C. Cribb wrote asking why his name had not been placed on the roll as he had paid his rates previous to Juno 24th, 1888, and also why Thomas Rowe had been disqualified, as be was Mr Bailey's nominator, and if he was not on the roll tho county had been put to a lot of unnecessary expense. The clerk replied that Mr Cribb's application to bo put on the roll was not authorised until the 18th July, whereas tho roll was made up -n July Ist. With regard to the latter part, Mr Cribb was referred to the returning officer.

Engineer's Retort.—The Engineer read his report as follows: —I have to report that since last monthly meeting tenders have been called for contract No. 3, Licb-field-Te Aroha Road returnable today. I have reserved some 35 chains of work for the natives, which will cost probably £50. My trig stations have been pulled down by a native, and in case I have to prosecute him I trust the Council will assist me if it lays in their power to do so. Plans of the survey will probably be quite complete by next meeting, and through the Survey Office. lain continuing the survey of the road as far as the Wairere Stream through the Mutamata Riding, and have got a very fair road. This work is being done by the Road Board of the district. I have completed the survey of Mr Isaac's road to the Hot Springs, and the plan of this will probably be approved at the same time as the others. Mr Isaacs has put in two culverts and made cuttings to thein, and filled in the t.vo swamps at a cost of some £8 or £!), and the mad is now passable for wheeled traffic. With regard to Contract No. 2, LichfieldTe Aroha road, I regret to have to report that the work is not completed satisfactorily yet. I inspected it yesterday, and I enclose a copy of the letter I have written to the contractor on the matter. I forward Mr Rose's agreement re keeping approaches to Oxford bridges in order, and havo to report that he has placed them in excellent condition to start with, the work done being of a permanent nature and under my own supervision.—l am, Sir, vour obedient servant, T. O. Sanpes, C.E„ Engineer Piako County Council.

Luttkr.— The following is the copy of the letter referred toin the Engineer's report :— Mr J. Finnerty, contractor, Lichfield-Te Arohn road. Sir, —I have this day inspected your contract as above, and regret to say that I cannot seo my way to grant a certificate required by your agreement for final payment on the job.—Clause 2 (clearing) has not been complied with in regard to the stumping About this I have spoken every time I have visited the work, and been promised by yourself and ysmr representative, Mr O'Donnghue, that the stumps should be eradicated, yet they still exist in dangerous number on various parts of the work. Please attend to this at once, as it is positively dangerous to horses, to ride them over many portions of the road. I find that the second cutting from the North, end has not been watertabled. This must bedone. The fourth cutting also is in the same state. This requires to be dune. There are no sods at the ends of the 9 inch pipes near peg 2,1 (close to your old camp.) The specifications requite the ends of the pipes to be sodded up to the road le\el with sods of approved quality neatly sloped to a batter of A to 1. 1 think there is another set of pipes in the same condition, but cannot specify them from memory and omitted to note the locality. These must be finished according to specification. The formation on the south side of the bridge some 5 chains in length is simply a disgrace to any workman, and I have not. taken it into consideration in measurement at all. The ground is worse than it was before it was touched. If you wish to claim payment for this it mnst be reformed. The formation from peg 32 to 33 has not been completed far enough. I told Mr O'Donoghue to connect it with Bartlett's formation. Please get this done. At the cutting near 38 (which I may say has been slightly in the wrong place, although the grade is right), the earth must be thrown back well fioin the top of the cuttings (at least 3 feet), and some portion of it carted forward to make a decent job of the formation down the hill. With regard to the work generally, I may say that several of the cuttings (notably Ormsby's and the big cutting), are well done and finished. All O'Brien's work is Al, but for the rest (except the bridge), it is not up to specification generally, and has not been done to my satisfaction. I had forgotten to say that the work done by Kelly near Tnpapa should be a siding. In places lie has left solid ground on the outside. This should not be. I told him to remove the earth pointed out, and he promised to do so ; and Mr O'Donoghue said he would see it done. I enclose you a copy of your measurements showing that when tho work is complete, you will be entitled to 4M4 Is 7d. I would also remind you that your time has expired long since.—Yours faithfully, T. G. Sandks, O.K. County Engineer. Valuation' Rolls. —As the Clerk reported that no objections had been received to the applications of Jair.es Collins and John Finnerty, to le placed on tho valuation roll, he was anlhotised to make the alterations as requested. W. l'ic-l<ler stated that the property for which he applied to be. placed on tho roll was No. 138, part of lot 11, Graham-street, Waiorongomai, Anne Beeson beint^^t 1 foi mer lessee. The Clerk was ii-istnicteiWii-uke the necessary steps to make tho alteration eq'iested. Nativk Lands.— A circular was received from the Property-tax Department, stating that clause 7 of tho Crown '.ind Native Lands Rating Repeal Act ISSfi, would have to be complied with before any moneys could be paid by the Government in respect of rates ou Native Lands. Walohonoomai Punt.-—Ollly one tender was received for this punt, from C. Murphy who. in addition to teceiviiig all charges according to schedule published by Council, required a subsidy ot 2s Gd per day.— Cr. Brunskill moved that the. tender be declined, seconded by the chairman and carried.—Cr Murphy abstained from voting, being interested.—Cr. Heauey moved that in the event of any application being made before the next meeting of the Council for permissian to work the punt, the Chairman lie authorised to grant permission, the rates chargeable not to exceed double the (•chodule rates at pie-ent laid down by the Council.—Seconded by Cr. Murphy and carried. Tkxijbks.— The following lenders were received for contract No. 3 on the Te Aroha-LiiiMekl Kuad.—Qrmsby Bios.,

£955 ISs (id ; Hubert Kerr, £910 0a 2d ; Junes and Hice, £891 4s 9d ; Kay nnd Miller, £888 4s 9d ;J. Jackson, £85312s (id ; Hici! and Cleric, £819 18s 2d ; P. Dillon, £798 18s Id ; J. Hamilton, £748 7s lOd ; W. lJntes, £745 0, H.id ; B. Ward, £739 13s 9d ; J. Finnerty, £701 llis lOd. J. Finnerty's tender being the lowest was accepted. Rate.—The Chairman in accordance with notice given moved that the Piako Comity Council make a general rate of one halfpenny in the £over all ratable property within the Waitoa, Patetere, Taotaoroa and Matamata Ridings of the said County, and a general rate of three-farthings in the £ over all ratable property within the Te Arolia Riding, such rate to_ be payable in ono sum (.11 the Ist day of November next. —Seconded by Cr. Murphy and carried. Fi.vcku Posts —The Chairman was authorised to empower the Engineer to erect three finger posts on the Te ArohaLichfield road if it was legally right to do so. Payments.—The following accounts were passed for payment. —-Ilott, £18 17s 9d ; Cliepuiell, £22 4s; Bond, 14s; Murphy, £(i 4s ;A. Bremner, £3 8< 2d ;C. Aluer, £18 12s lid ;R, Michel, £1010s ;Thk Waikato Timks, £4 3s 3d ; Sceily, £1 Is ; J. Arnold, £G 5s ; Morrinsville School Committee, os ; T. G. Sandes, £30; J. Orr, £13 15s ; James Shine, £3. This was all the business.