WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2640, 13 June 1889, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Ohaupo, at II a.m. on Tuesday. There were present: Crs, Lang (chairman), Ridler, Finch, Grice, Smith and Teasslale. Mr. A. Armstrong, County Engineer, was also in attendance.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed and the outgoing correspondence adopted.

[ Kkport.—The engineer's report was read as follows The period for maintaining contracts Noa. 95 and 101 having expired, I recommend the payment of the balances duo together with the return of the deposits. In accordance with instructions the repairs to the Frankton road have been put in hand, and will be completed in a few days. I would recommend the following repairs to be done (a) The approaches to the Koromatu bridge, near Whatawhata, want making up, (b) The embankment over the brick culvert also near Whatawhata, is in a bad condition. and if possible should be repaired, the sides of the embankment are in places very much worn away by the constant traffic of cattle going to the creek, these tracks being worn back into the roadway should be filled up and the embankment fenced off. Again the approaches to the Ohote creek bridge are equally bad on one side at least, and should be put in repair and fenced about two chains from the end of the bridge. As instructed at the last meetins of the Council, I wrote to Messrs Kawkes and Foxall ro drainage, but as 1 did not lweivo any reply to my letter, I did not call for tenders for the work. There j

is a culvert on the Rotorangi swamp road, the pipes in which are too small to carry away the water, as they are large, 24 inch, I would recommend that they be lifted and the drain to be left open, and tho road-way formed with timber. There is sullieient timber for stringers, near Monavnla bridge, tho property of the Council. Tho report was received and adopted, and the engineer authorised to carry out the various works recommended therein.

Fci'.i.h; Dkaix. —Tho clerk to the Hamilton Road ]!oard wrote enclosing a plan of a drain in tho Hamilton road district, and description of the same, and requested that the Council should have tho drain proclaimed a public drain its required by Sec-

lion 28!), Public Works Act 1882.—0r. Ridlor moved l-hat the drain be proclaimed a public drain and placed under the control of t.he Hamilton Roid Board on condition that the Council be put to no expense. and that the matter be left in the hands of the clerk. —S: i, ided by Cr. Finch and e irried. • • •

W.vrai.—Mr It. Mears complained.that a lot of w.ittsr flowed off the .main. road, down on to some land of his which lie was going to work, and he wished the .water, stopped. It was resolved that the Coilocil give Mr Means authority to make a ditch ailing the road at his own expense,

Ranokii's Fkks.— A letter was received from Mr Johtl Calder demanding that the fees paid by him as ranger for the Whatawhata riding be refunded.—Cr.J Finch moved that the money "paid for-'ranger fees* for the Whatawhata riding by John Calder be refunded on condition that he has no further claim on the Council. —Seconded by Cr. Smith and carried.

Culvkiit. — Messrs Fawkes and Foxall wrote, that the repairs to the watertpble at McCutcheon's would require a culvert or (i inch pipes, and that if the Council would supply the pi pen they would do the woik. The Council did not think it necessary to take any steps in the matter.

Whatawhata Koad,—'The following letter was received from Messrs Fawkes and Foxall re the proposed works on drain near the road. "We have received a communication from your engineer in regard to the prospective deepening of the drain on the Whatawhata-Hamilton road. Surely there is some mistake in the statement your engineer makes, as in the conversation we had with Cr. Ridler there was nothing whatever said about relieving the Council of responsibility, and certainly not a, word about a week's wages for a man. All we require is, that the water shall be confined to its natural course when the proposed draining by the Waipa County Council is finished. Should any dispute arise, wo propose that the Council appoint one arbitrator and we another." —The Engineer said the proposed works would not be of any greatbenefit to the road, and the Chairman suggested that, the work stand over.—The Clerk was instructed to reply to Messrs Fawkes and Foxall that the Council decline to accept any responsibility for any damage whatever.

Ngauuawahia Polling Place.— Another letter was received from tho Clerk Ngaruawahia Town Board, asking for a polling place at Ngaruawahia during an election for a representative for that part of the county.—The Clerk stated that during his connection with the Council, it had only been necessary to'take a poll in that riding once, and then there had been a polling booth at Ngaruawahia.—The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Council adhere to their former resolution, to the effect that the matter be left in the hands of the Returning Officer. Licensing Laws.—The petition from the Hutt County Council re the proposed amendment in the Licensing Laws was read and the Chairman was authorised to sign it on behalf of the Council.—The Clerk was instructed to forward the remaining copies to the various Road Boards in the county.

Trouble Coming.—Mr .Tas. Hally, on behalf of his client, Mr J. P. Thomson, wrote as follows "Mr Thomson being very unwilling, unless compelled by your I Council to launch into an expensive law ,J suit and observing, if the newspaper report of your last meeting is correct, that the liability or non-liability of your Council in II this matter was not referred for legal d opinion v/ould wish to give your Council n an opportunity (if they should judge it d necessary) of doing this before proceeding e further herein. This is therefore to inform you that unless a satisfactory arrangement 0 is proposed by your Council for Mr Thom--0 son's approval on or before the 15th July next, he will without further notice, take the necessary steps to make good his claim 11 against your Council in a court of law.—Cr. 0 Finch moved that the Council do not move is in the matter in any way, but let the law take its course.—Seconded by Cr. Smith and carried. t Walker's Gully Bridge.—The followa ing letter was received from tho Pukekura Road Board with reference to the above: —Oliaupo, .Tune llth, 1880. To the Secretary Waipa County Council: Silt,—l beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 31st May last asking whether, in case the Council decided to erect a brick culvert at Walker's Gully at a rough estimated cost of £100 instead of a, bridge at £250, this Board would be disposed to assist. In reply I beg to state that, in the absence of e any proof that tho Pukekura riding has received an exceptional share (relative to rates) of the county expenditure, and, having regard to the large amounts that t have been spent on the Hamilton-Whata-whata swamp without any similar demand on the Road Boards concerned, this Board 1 cannot admit that the Pukekura riding a should receive exceptional treatment by c being a=ked, in addition to the county 5 rates, to contribute through the Road Board to a bridge on one of the principaal ' main roads in the country, a road which when taken over by the county had been thoroughly made (the ratepayers always taxing thomselves to the highest legal amount for that purpose), and the more so as, although the bridge in question has been notified by the Council as " dangerous for heavy traffic," for the long period of over five years ; and its condition has been repeatedly brought before the Council and their engineer, it does not api pear that the Council have taken a pracl lical step towards proceeding for tho exr penditure necessary to re-build each bridge, 3 and have never, durinsr these years, even l attempted to raise the full amount of t these rates allowed by the Act, although . the Council must be awaro that such a mere t notification of danger, unsupported by ovi- - dence that the Council had done all they i legally could do in reasonable time to rei store normal traffic, would not be held i sufficient to save them from being cast in damages, in case of accident, perhaps far i exceeding the cost of a new bridge. At the i same time wc deem it our duty to protest, i in the strongest manner, against the proposal of tho Council, as wo understand it, i to re-build by putting a new superstructure on tho old piles of a bridge, which was admitted by the engineer who built it in 187(5 to be weak, and which in 1882 when the land span at the Cambridge end failed, and the Road Board (then in charge) proposed to make a new span was reported on by Mr Gwynneth, C.E., as not trustworthy with safety for more than two years, recommending that, if we could not make a new bridgo, we should make some cheap temporary approach to last that time, (which was done), and should then make a new bridgo rather than waste money on improving so weak a structure. We would also point out, for the information of the Council, that the alternative of a brick culvert was also considered at the time and rejected, as Mr Gwynneth was of opinion that the nature of the bottom was of such a character as to require piling for the foundations, and in such cases we would respectfully submit that the expenditure for a brick culvert of same height as present bridge might probably considerably exceed the estimate of the Council, though even then it alight be far cheaper in tho long run, as we could not expect a new bridge on the old weak piles to last long. Under these circumstances, and feeling that any assistance in this matter would establish a dangerous precedent (for we might, with equal justice, be asked to contribute specially to the Cambridge Bridge), and believing that, in the provisions of the Counties Act, the Council hasample powers and means to do all that is required, the Board respectfully declines to assist tho Council in rebuilding Walker's Gully Bridge.—l am, sir, yours faithfully, Edward Lake, Chairman P.R.B.—The Chairman said that there'must have been some misunderstanding as the Council did not require any assistance to build a bridge, but if the Road Board had given any assistance, tho Council would have erected a more substantial structure, viz., a brick culvert.—Cr. Smith moved the Council erect the bridge as proposed, the engineer to proceed with plans at once. —Seconded by Cr. Finch and carried. Payments.—The following accounts were ! passod for payment:—C. Limmer, £2 7s (id ; R. Fleming, il l 13s (id ; G, Vowless, £1' 3s 7d ; Kusabs and Sons, 8s ; Karl Bros., (3s; Crnuin and McXaul, £"> 10s (id; 35. OlForson, 8s ; .1. Kennedy, .til; Salaries, £20 "h lid ; Alexandra Outlying District, £23 2s 8d ; Tun W.wkato Times, £113s; Government Printer, £1. This concluded the business, and the Council rose. Tenders are required by thol'iako County Council for certain road works. The usual weekly salo will take place at tho Hamilton Auction Mart on Saturday. Mr W. M. Servico, Karangahape road, Auckland, advertises an engine and boiler for sale. A notice interesting to certain rate defaulters in the Hamilton Road District will be found elsewhere. Fifteen tons oaten clialf will be offered by Mr W. J. Hunter at Mrs Short's sale on Monday next.