PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2576, 15 January 1889, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tun ordinary monthly meeting of the above Cuuuuil was held iu the Council Chambers, Duke-street, on Saturday, at 11 a.m. Present: Crs. Chepinoll (chairman), Brunskill, Mills, Murphy, Hon-bll, Williams, Heaney and Browning. Air Puvitt, one of the engineers, was also in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Thh Waiokongomai Punt.— The Clerk said the agreement with Air C. Murphy had not been signed, as ho wished a clause, inserted, allowing him to give a week's notice to terminate the agreement, similar to the one mam-ted on behalf nf the Council. —At the Chairman's suggestion it was resolved to alter the terms to a month's notice on either sido, as it could not then be given up during the interim of the council's sittings. The Roads on the Banks ok thk W.uhou.— The Clerk read a copy of the letter forwarded to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, asking for definite intorm.ition as to which wero roads, and which deviations on the plans, lately forwarded to the Council, of the banks of the Waihou river ; and further pointing out that several portions marked as reservations had been used as roads for a considerable period.—ln reply an application had been made fur the ylu.ua to be returned, so that the required information could be placed upon them. Thk Audit Accounts.—No reply had been received from the Auditor-General, re the objections raised by the Council to the charge of £L 0 13s 4d for auditing the accounts. The Waihou Bridge.—Letters have been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, and Mr J. B. Whyte, M.li.K. ; to the former, asking for a subsidy towards erecting the bridge, and to the latter requesting him to support the claim. Iu neithercases had replies been received. CONTItACT TlMB.—Mr G. Walker, junr., wrote, asking that the timo of completion of his contract be extended from the 15th to the 31st. instant, as the holidays had delayed the work.—Granted. Ca.umudgk - Taukanga Hoar — The Engineer (Air Sandesj wrote calling the attention of the Council to a swamp on tho above road, just beyond Toatoaroa, which rendered it almost impassible. He also pointed out that the road is not on the surveyed track, upon which a bridge had been erected, and might be used if a deviation was made. — Cr. Brunskill thought it was time they used the bridge, or rather utilised the material, for tiie bridge had been standing for years in the middle of a swamp, where it would never be required. The material was still good, and they ought to lemove it, as soon as they wanted a bridge. In this instance it was not required as a few loads nf earth would do all tliat was necessary.—As Cr. Hunt was not present, it was decided to defer the matter until lie attended.

Slauuui'KKlNi; LiC'KNsrcs. —Messrs Jnlm Wood and James H. Roe applied fur roiiowgls of their slaughtering licenses.— U ranted.

A Road to bu Closed,—Mr Win. Hoauoy wrote, giving tho Council notice that he intended to atop tho ruad through his paddocks, now used as a portion of the OambridKe-Tuuranga Road. —Cr. Williams said tliis was not bounce on Mr Heaney's part, for, like Air (.!. Walker, he had been most cruelly used by the travelling public. If he wished to cultivate his paddocks, it would be necessary for him to stop tho road.—Or. Heanoy said there would bo very little tratlic upon the roal after the, timber felling contract was finished.—The matter then dropped.

PiXAXCK Commuter. -The Chairman and Cr. Biuuskill having been appointed to

look into t.lio finances for tins ye:ir, with a view to ascertain if tho Council could undertake, the erection of ;i bridge o-er tho W'iiiljiiii, presented their raport. and an estimate, nf receipts mid expenditure to Mnrh HIM, iit which time tin? financial ymir uxpiriis. The- report was ii most i;xi).ins!ivf. mik; ; tin: eslim-itrtd receipts and expenditure being as fol'.'Ws:—Receipts. Ordinal v revenue,' £o.'2i;) 4s Id. Expendi-fni-i:. Payment (if loans existing March Hist lHSij' :md for administration f<ir tho year I.SSB 8!l, IM.OIH Hi: ilil ; Hospital and 'Charitable Aid, £774 ; intHi'iwt and inscriliei! stock, €."(i ln< : road:;. &e.. .£397 12s -Id. Total, .t10.243 4s Id. —'1 ri.r Chairman s.iid the overdraft, would be ''fjU'diifcaiJ, and th-y would have Ail 1.7 to icir credit to h-g'iii thu year with ; but there was a lieu of £:JSB on the. next year's rates. They estimated a jil rate to bring in between iWW* and t7OO ; but, of coiirs.i could not tell until they received the Property Tax valuation. He and his colleague had not agreed on all matters ; for instance, he thought the bridge »\ or the Waih'm was a county work, while Or. Brunskill thought it belonged to tiiß riding. Hβ then quoted an Act that said nil bridges over 30 feet in tho .span, were county bridge?, and should be erected at the cost of the county.—Cr. Horruil said if it was to be a. matter for the ridings interested, it was ridiculous that other members should be able to vote. It that whs the case, the Council could put ridings to an expense that the ratepayers would probably ohject to. —Cr. Murphy contended that the bridge would bo largely used by Waikato settler?, who would take their produce to the mines.— Or. lirunskill said the cost of working the punt would about pay the interest on the cost of a bridge, and he was in favour of one being erected ; but he objected to the road being made a country road simply to get the bridge up, while the Main South Road had been handed over to one of tho ridings. If one of the mam arteries of the North Island was not a county road, he did not see how they could consistently make this one. He admitted the bridw was wanted, but objected, as a duty to the ratepayers of his riding, to the cost being defrayed out of the rates of the whole county until every other means had been exhausted.—Cr. Mills asked if any bridge of over 30ft. had been •>reeted by the county under tho Act quoted by the Chairman.-The Clerk said ho thought not.—Cr. Williams said when a bridge was wanted at Patetere they had to erect it themselves; but ho was. nevertheless, in favour of the county erecting the bridge at To Aroha, for he thought it was their duty to do the large works.—Cr. Brunskill .said the goldfields revenue had been put at the lowest possible amount, but he had better faith in the goldtields than thiMr Chairman appeared to have, and thought it very probable it would be great.y exceeded.— Crs. iVlills and Murphy both thought the amount estimated would be exceeded, and if some of the processes for treating low grade ores were successful, it would be ten times the amount.—The Chairman thought it only a question of cost. They must, however, be careful not to obstruct the waterway, as tho Waihou ig a navigable river.—After considerable further discussion, Cr. Brunskill moved "That Mr Pavitt prepare plans and specilicationsof the bridge, having-iHe regard to the waterway being kept open, and present to the Council at its next sitting." By that time they would probably knowif the (lovernnient would grant a subsidy.— Seconded by Cr. Mills and carried. Tkactiox Engines.— The Chair-nan repolled that he had met thedelegat.es from the Wai pa and Waikato County Councils, and at their request had drawn up a code of 'ly-laws for regulating the traffij of traction !>n«i])«s, which be then submitted for the approval of the Council, of which the following is a synopsis:—A look-out man to ,m in front of the enaiue, sufficiently far in advance to get a good view of the road, and ';o give assistance to any one whose horse may become restive. The engineer to stop tho engine when requested so to do by any ■me riding or driving, and not to blow off steam so as to cause annoyance. Engines •lot to lie taken round any corner or over inv bridge until look-out man reports road ■ ;lear. Engine not to be loft on road in -■ucli a position as to frighten horses, etc. !'\.r every breach if by-laws, a penalty not ■'xceeding £■">; and for every con f inuing branch, a penalty of to per day. The byluvs were adopted, and the- chairman was appointed a delegate to m»>?t the representatives of Waipa and Waikato to pass them.

Ul'l'EK HiIX TIIAOK, WaIOKOXGOMAI.— ,)u the motion of O. Mills seconded by Jr. Murphy, the engineer was instructed to have the metal on the above tract binded with cliiv from the roadside. Thk Donkey Engine.—The Engineer was instructed to call for tenders for the purchase of the donkny engine, wire rope, nvi all Iho property of the Council connected with the Waiornngomai tramway the crane excepted). Tenders to be hi time for the next meeting of the Council. Tuavkixixg Exi'KSSKS.—The Council having altered its place of meeting, it was necessary to re-adjust the travelling expuiises, which was accordingly done, as fol-lows---Crs. Brnnskill and Browning, 13s ; Ors. Mills, Murphy and Heaney, £1 14s ; Ors. Horrell and Hunt, £1 ss; Cr. Chepnell, £1; Cr. Williams when at Oam'oiidg<\ nil; when at Lichfield, £114s. Accounts.—The following accounts were p.issod fur payment:—l. Bates, £5 lGs Sd ; '.\n» On- £1; 11. Michael, £1 7s; A. 'L'hackrav, 12s; Clerk, £2o ; J. S. Bond, £1 • I<\ Pavitt, £119s; O. Walker, jiinr., V~)0 ■ J. Mills, £3 Ss ; Debentures, £28 7s iicl ; Patetßre loan. £41 5s ; Te Aroha loan, l>4l Oi. The overdraft now stands at £094. This was all Hie hnsiness.