WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2667, 15 August 1889, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Tun usual monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was held in the Cowncil Chambers, Ohaupo, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. There were present: Crs. Lang (chairman), Smith, Dawson, Tcasdnle, Ridlcr and Hunter. Mr A. Armstrong, County Engineer, was also in attendance. Tho minutes of the last; meeting were confirmed, and the outward correspondence road and adopted. Enoi.vkkk's UKrOKT. —The Engineer read his monthly report as follows: —To the Chairman Waipa County Conncl.—Sir, — In compliance with instructions the.swampy portion of tho Tuhikaramea-Whatawhata road has been repaired. The road over the brick culvert at Whatawhata, and the approach to tho Oliote Creek bridge, have been put in order. The Frankton end of the Hamiltou-Whatawhata swamp road has lir?en partially gravelled. The repairs to the Te Awamutu station road and the Kihikihi-Te Awamutu road have also been attended to. The culvert on tho KihikihiCainhridgo road, authorised two meetings ago, has been laid. It has also been found necessary to re-lay a 'Jin. box culvert on the Alexandra-Te Rnre road, the old one being completely rotten and the channel closed, rendering the road all but impassable during wet weather. A considerable number of small repairs have been carried out in various parts of tho county during the month. I think it would be desiralilo to consider what money there would be available for expenditure'in each riding, in order that the works to bo carried out in the same might be determined, and advantage taken of tho slack season as well as the fine weather. Tenders have been called for re-building Walker's Gully bridge, and are due to be opened to-day.—l am, &c., Ai.k.x. AnsisTiioxo, County Engineer. Kihikihi, 12th, August, 188!)'.—The report was received and adopted. Hospital Rath.—Cr. Dav/son asked whether the Council intend striking a Hospital Rate this year, in addition to the general rate, as after paying the Hospital demand out of the general rate, there was not sufficient to keep the roads and bridges in the County in repair.—Cr. Ridler spoke in favour ot striking a Hospital rate, as then tho ratepayers would see exactly how much they were paying towards the Hospital.— I Tiie Clerk stated that the Council could only strike a rato of jd in tho £. higher than the last one, and that the higher rate which would be struck on the new valuation, would not give as much as the last on the old valuation. The now rate would give about £1508, 10 per cent of which would be uncollectab'e, The overdraft at present stood at £850. The Chairman said that they could not at present reduce the vote, and he thought it would be to the ratepayers' interests to strike as high a rate as possible, in order to pay off the overdraft, and thus save the expenditure on interest in that quarter. He thereforo would give notice to move at the next meeting that tho Council strike a rate of jd in the £ for general purposes, and a special rato of |rl in the £ for Hospital and Charitable Aid purposes. Ai.kxa.v[3ra Pound. —T. J. Sage, poundkeepar at Alexandra, wrote calliug the Council's attention to the state of the Alexandra pound. The rails wore all rotten, and would have to be replaced, but the posts were good and sound.—lt was resolved to call for the necessary repairs for next meeting. Hospital Representative.—'The Secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board wrote notifying the Council of Ci. Ridler's resignation, and requesting the Council to convey a vote of thanks to Mr Ridler for his services on the Board. —A unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Cr. Ridler for his services, and, in replying, Cr. Ridler explained the business arrangements which led to his resignation, and he spoke against allowing the Hospital doctor private practice, but in order to keep a doctor for the Hospital it would be necessary to increase t.lie salary.—The Chairman also spoke in favour of having a doctor wholly for the Hospital, as ho thought it was not fair to other medical men in the district to allow him pi ivate practice. —It was'thought necessary by the Council that the whole expenses of the' Hospital should be lessened, as they did not compare favourably with Hospitals of about tho same size in other parts of the colony.--The Council decided to suggest to the Hospital Board that Mr J. B. Teasdale be elected to fill the vacancy. . Visit ok Raiiavav Commissioners.— In accordance with a suggestion from the Waikato County Council, the Chairman and Cr. Ridler were appointed delegates to meet the Railway Commissioners on their visit to the Waikato, and in conjunction with representatives from the various representatives from the other local bodies endeavour to move tho Cmnnjissioncrs to reduce the rates on agricultural produce and requisites. Ai'dit Account. —Another demand was received from the Audit office for payment of the account due. It was decided not to pay the account at present. Major Jackson writing on the subject stated that he did not think there would be any alteration made in the Act, but should any be attempted ho would oppose the cost of auditing being thrown on the Local Bodies. Alexandra Cemetery.— A communication was received from tho Crown Lauds Office notifying that authority had been delegated to the Council to appoint trustees for the Alexandra cemetery. Alexandra Road Board.—A petition, signed by US householders of Alexandra, was received aKking the Council to take the necessary steps to establish a Road Board in tho township «f Alexandra, and stating that a public meeting had been held at which a resolution in favour of establishing a Road Board had been unanimously carried.—The Clerk stated that the revenue of the proposed Board would bo about £20. Tho matter was held over till next meeting and the clerk was instructed to write to the petitioners referring tliom to Clause 4 of the Road Boards Act, 1882. v Proposed Hospital Bill.—Re this Bill Major Jackson wrote that he did not think there would be any attempt made to pass it, but should there be ho would oppose it unless the Waikato district is exempted out of the working and left in the same position as at present. He had seen the Minister in charge of the Bill, who told him that tho schedule is not as was intended, and that it is not intended to make one small borough the sole controlling power. Mr Whyte and himself would do all in their power to have the Bill so altered in committee as to meet the wishes of the district, and there are several other members who will move in the same direction. Raving Act.—The Chairman was authorised to sign the petition from W. Thorn with reference to the proposed amendments in the Rating Act. Fencing.—'The fencing at Cowley s Gully bridge was left to the engineer to have attended to. Tenuehs.—The following tenders were received for the erection of Walker's Cully Bridge :—A. Nicol, kauri, £210 'Is sd, rimu, £231 3s (id ; Maunder and Co., kauri, £311 13s Od, rimu, £243 ; J. G. Gilford, kauri, £301, rimu, £25"); D. Honderson, kauri, £263 lis Id, rimu, £227 l'Js 10d.—Cr. Hunter proposed that the tender of A. Nicol, for the erection of the bridge in kauri, be accepted.—Seconded by Cr. Ridler, and carried. Doc: Rkoistbau.—'The following return of dogs registered was received from the dog registrar:—Alexandra, 12 ; Tuhikaramea, 15 ; Hamilton, 14 ; Mangapiko, 23 ; Pukekura, 70; Rangiaohia, 25. Total, 159.—1t was pointed out that during 1888 there had been 203 dogs registered, and the Clerk was instructed to write to the registrar pointing out this fact. Hamrton-Whatawhata Road. — Cr. Ridler stated that there were a great many complaints about this road, but he understood that if about four chains of it, which was tho worst bit, were fascined, the road would be passable. Cr. Dawson said that it was no use doing this small bit unless something was don9to the whole road. The Engineer stated that he had lately been over the road, and he had not found it in such a bad state as ho had expected from the reports that had been circulated about its condition. He said it would be no uso to put fascines on this portion at present, as at the first rains the drains would wash right over the road again. Before this bit could be made good it would be necessary to either deepen the drain or else raise tho road. The engineer was instructed to see this mad, and if he considered it impassable to do such work as to keep it open. Slaughterhouses.—Cr. Ridler referred to the disgraceful state of slaughterhouses nuar Hamilton, and asked what power tho Council had in such matters. The Clerk stated that he was Inspector of Nuisances, and that it was the duty of the members to report if any nuisance exists to the Inspector who will take the necessary Kt °Ai«tKAUS.— It was resolved that Notice be advertised that all rates not paid by next meeting will be sued for. Accounts. — The following payments were authorised •—New Zealand Insurance Company, €1!) lis; salary, £12; liadfield, £17s Gd ; W. Reid, £2 15s 6d ; Nornsh, £5 4s Gd; Waite, £5 6s Od; Vowless, £17;

Cowley, £6 8s GJ ;W. Bearsley, £113 Gd ; T. Brennnn, fill 3s ; W. Giy«n, £3 15s; Armstrong, £15 9s 7d ; >T. Kenedy, £10; Kuaabs and Sons, £3 4s 3d ; J. McNntil, £2 ss; C. S. McCallnm, £3; J. Fitzgerald, £13 (is; J. Bayliss, £2 ; W. Cunningham, £14 2s; R. Shaw, £1 7s Gd; W. Patton, £10; M. Fitzgerald, £4 5s ; A. Ahier, £lfis. This concluded the business.