PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2693, 15 October 1889, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above body held a, most protracted meeting at Cambridge on Saturday, commencing at 11 a.m. and lasting till nearly i) p.m. Tho councillors present were .Messrs Chepmell (chairman), Brunskill, Murphy, Horrell, Williams, Haniner and Heaney. Both the engineers (Messis Sandes and l'avitt) were present, as wete also several ratepayers who wished to support various works viva voce. The minutes of the previous ordinary, and also of a special meeting, were read and duly confirmed. The I'atateue Loan.—Cr. Heaney reported that the voting at Oxford, to decide if a further sum of £'1,000 for the Okoroire road should be borro.ved, had resulted in 10 voting for, and 1!) against the scheme ; it was therefore lo<t, a majmity of three fifths being required to carry it. Ej.AX.—Mr ll ibert Gibbons applied for permission to dispose of a portion of the flax, leased from the Council, between the Matamati boundary and the Wuirere falls, on the Wailiou liver.—Grunted, subject to conditions. A Lniwui, Om:it.—Mr E. Y. Cox, of Shaftesbury, wrote, calling attention to the impassable state of cei tain poitions of tho road from Shaftesbury to the NVairakau. He had a crop of oats at the other side of it that wants rolling, and cannot get tho roller across. He had spent a great deal 011 this road, but did not see the forco of paying rates for road making, and having if) keep public roads passable without any help as well. If the Council will grant .1)20, to be expended by him under the supervision of their engineer, he offered to add AIIO, and expended tho £30, in putting the road iu good order. With reference to the main road from tho Shaftesbury corner, so far as it passes through his land, ho was willing to contribute £1 for every £'2 expended by the Council iu opening up the load drains, so as to carry the water off into the creeks; about £20 so expended would niako a permanent job of those parts of the road. He said he and oilier fanners, will have a great deal of carting to do un the road, besides which, there will be a great deal of both raw and dressed flax ;arted over it, so it is important it should be got into good order during the spring. —Mr E, I>\ Roche, of Ohineroa, also wrote drawing attention to this road and the approaches to Roche's Gully bridge, which, he stated, were washed away to the depth of six feet.—Cr. Hantner said he had received a letter from Mr Cox 011 this subject.—Cr. Murphy said that at a previous meeting ho had stated that Mr Cox was the only one using the road ; he believed that statement was correct at the tjpie it was made.—Cr. Haniner pointed out that opening the drains on the Diagonal road would relieve the main road of water. — After a considerable discussion, the amount asked for, £20, was voted; and a further sum of £14 was granted, subjoct to Mr Cox paying £7, as offered in his letter.—Cr. Murphy said the money would be well spent.—The approaches to Roche's Gully bridge are to be repaired at a cost not exceeding £7. Thk Bush on the Cambiudge-Tauuang a Road. —Mr F. I). Rich wroto pointing out that this road was continually stoppud by fallen trees. He suggested that two and-a-half or three miles should lie treated as follows :—Cut down one chain above the road and half a chain below, and any overhanging trees outside of this space, having the bush well under-scrubbed before falling. All timber which falls upon the road to be at once cleared off and thrown upon the fallen timber. At the end of the summer, burn off the fallen timber and sow with grass and clover. By the above means tho road would be clear for all time, and being opened up to the sun will be kept partially ' dry and passable, wlieroa«, ati the present time it is two to three feet deep. He undertook to have the work done within one month, and to burn off and sow with grass at the proper tune, for £30 per mile.—This matter was subsequently adjourned until tho next meeting. Patience Rewarded.—Mr G. Walker, juur., wrote stating that he was about to lock thegrtes of hjs paddocks, and so road. He did not wish to stop the traffic, but could riot put up with the nuisance any longer, and should stop the road :m the 12th next month. Travellers seemed to think they had the right to camp in hi* paddocks, and turn thajr horw u(?t fo ?rasH, whioh caused him much trouble and innoyance.—Mr Maudes said Mr Walker's patience was exhausted. Sometimes as many as 50 Maoris would camp in the paddocks, and their dogs killed an ilarming number of sheep and lambs. He, himself, had seen fourtcon lambs iu o\io iole that were killed in one night by stray Jogs. He thought if the Council comnenced the road at oneo, Mr Walker vould perhaps reconsider his decision.—Mr 3andes was authored to call for tou<Jote £ot

making the road, such tenders to bo returniiblo at the next meeting of tho Council. An Ohjkction.— Mis Jano Bates wrote objecting to the proposed de* iation on the Cainbi idgt'-Tanranga road, where it went through liei farm. —It was resolved to inform Mrs Bates that the deviation was being made under "The Public Works Act," and she must, therefore, make the objection in the manner provided for by tho Act.

Anothku Pom. i-'oii tub I'atateke RililNC.—Mrs Isaac*, of the Okoroire •Sanatorium, wrote: "t have again to ask your cmiHderal ion in constructing the road from the Okoroire flag station through my property. Should you comply with my request, I will give you a guarantee to pay £ tor £ towards its construction."--On this subject Mr F. D. Rich also wrote stating that when at the poll taken at Oxford on Wednesday, nearly all those present promised to vote for a road being made, if it was taken from Okoroire to Oxford. The letter continued: —"As a road is of tho greatest importance to the company which I represent, as they contemplate spending from £20,000 to £30,000 in the development of that portion of their property lying directly opposite Oxford, and a road to that township and railway station is absolutely essential for the economical working of their lands, I would therefore agree, on behalf of the New Zealan'-l Thames Valley Land Company (Limited), to indemnify your Council from every expense incurred in tho survey of road and otherwise, necessary to raise a loan for the construction of a road to Oxford, in the event of there not being a majority of the ratepayers in favour of it.''— Cr. Heiiney said it was useless to consider Mrs Isaacs' application ; the ratepayers hud decided against it. The other route would, perhaps, find more favour and be carried it a poll was taken. —Cr. Williams said a subsidy of £ for £ needed some consideration.—The Chairman; What funds would you devote to it? —Cr. Williams: The general funds of the Council.—Cr. Murphy : I object to To Arnha helping to pay to make a road in tho l'atetere riding that the ratepayers have just decided against.—Cr. Williams: Patetere money lias been spent iu the To Aroha riding.— Cr. Murnliy : Not one farthing of Patetere money has been spent on the Te Aroha roads.—Cr. Homey pointed out that the rates had been struck, and the money could not therefore come out of the general fund. it was all allocated,— (jr. Brunskill also spoke on the subject.—The Chairman said the Council had already decided that they could not find tho money. He moved that Mrs Isaacs' offer bo declined. —Seconded by Cr. Horrell and carried.—Mr Isaacs then asked the Council to complete a small portion of a road as fur as the Waihou river, but the matter dropped.—Mr Rich spoke in support of his application, and stated that by the latest advices from the Old Country, ho learned that a largo amount of money was about to bo spent on the land adjoining the railway at Oxford. Me again offered to indemnify the Council from all costs, should the ratepayers decide against the road being made. Mr Isaacs said if the Council decided to adopt Mr Rich'* suggestion, be should withdraw his olfer of a subsidy.—Mr Sandes said the road Mr Rich asked for was through the Auckland Agricultural Company's land, and had been surveyed but not dedicated.—The Chairman thought they could not help themselves in face of the indemnity offered by Mr Rich, and a poll would doubtless be taken ; but they must first learn if the Auckland Agricultural Company would dedicate tho land.—The clerk was instructed to communicate with Capt. Bailey as to tho dedication of the road. Nothing further was done in the matter, and it will doubtless come up again at the next meeting.

A Coin, Puocekding.—Mr H. W. Northcroft wrote objecting to a road being made through his property at Mangapouri, slitting tlmt such a road could only be taken under the " Public Works Act."— The clerk was instructed to infoim Mr Northcroft that they only contemplated putting a corner of a bridge upon his land ; and at the sumo lime ask liiin to give the necessary land—about 10 feet square—l« the Council. It subsequently transpired that the Council had bean upon the wrong track, for Mr Sandes—who was out of the room, when the letter was read—informed Hie Council that a road had been made through tho middle of Mr Northcroft's land, and that Mie Council had spent money on it, in repairs. He believed Mr Rich ha»l made the road, but it had never been dedicated,anddid not appear on the survey plans. The laud for one road had previously been taken out uf Mr Northcroft's section, which constituted nearly the five per cent., liable to he taken under the " Public Works Act."

- The Chairman said they would have to bo more careful, and liud nut that roads upon which tliey spout nn'iioy were pioprrly dedicated. They had been spending money on what Ui'S not legally a road, and even the owner of tJio land did not know of it* existence.—Th« Cleik was instructed to write, apolojri-i ug to Mr Xortheroft for the error, and niter to close the old road if that would meet with hi* \iew--.

Road Boa hp Uikjlkst. -The Cleric <i the Tautaoioa Road Board wrot-i :—" At last meeting of the Taotaona Road Board, I was desired to rcque-t tint you would be so good as to favour the Board, l.y causing a return to be furnished,-howirip theCotlnty receipts and expenditure within the Taotaoroa Uidilijf, for tlje past live yeais."— The Chairman thought it a most extraordinary letter. They had no earthly right, as a body, tn make such a reqnrst.—The Clerk was instructed to reply, saying the Council declined to recognise the light: of the Board to demand returns from the County Council.

Umniiu Givin'i; Wav.—Mr li. B. I). Willis, of Waihou, wrote, caHiog attention to the bad state of the road from the Matamata boundary for 2! miles towards Messrs Murray's. The bridge over the outfall drain had given way, and for the past two months parts of the road had been covered with water, only the bridges being visible. —The engineer was instructed to g:t the work done.

Om-'okp-Mata.uata Road.—Mr T. (!, Saudes presented a lengthy report upon this road. He was instructed to proceed with the work.

N'ativk Kates.—The rates derived from native lands having to be spent upon roads thai will benefit the natives, the amounts were authorised to be spent upon the following roads, at the suggestion of the ridirig members :—To Aroha, £l> 10s 7d, upon the road between the (.Jordan Settlement and the Waiharakeke Block ; Waitoa, £20 7s Od, on the road from Te Mimi to boundary of Ohiueinuii County ; I'atatere, Jt'fiO, l.'O on the Cambridge-Tauranga road, between Lichlield and Takahue ; Matamata, JL'lil life Id, on the .Stanley road, in the Wailuirakete Jilock, or the immediate neighbourhood. It was decided to hand the Waitoa money to the local Koad Board, who will »uppleuient it with a further amount. fnrc Countv Roads.—The committee appointed to consider the best method of keeping the county roads in repair, presented their report. It was received and discussed. After a lengthy discussion the engineer was instructed to draw up a specification for the maintenance of the county roads within the Taotaoroa Riding for a period of 12 months. It was also resolved to call for tenders for the same. On the Thames-Waikato road tho engineer was instructed to get the following works done :— Draining near Thompson's section ; repairs to Waitoa bridge ; repairs near Waihekau ; draining above Te Kahia, and repairs to bridge near Mr Gilford's. Tho clerk was instructed to write and ask tho Government to put ft drain under the railway near Thompson's section. Due notice of the stoppage of the Waitoa bridge will be advertised in Thk Waikato Times. l)m:itKKD Payment Settlkks. — The Commissioner of Crown Landx forwarded a list of monies accruing from deferred payment, or perpetual leases, in the districl, and asking for a detailed scheme of expenditure. As tho amounts vatied from lis to i"_i 2s Id, it was resolved not to allocate them, and to ask the Commissioner to let the money remain until it was sufficiently largo to be of use. Thk KsmßEHs.—Cr. Williams said he had u bit of fault to find with the engineers. Ho wanted all sympathy done away with, and the contractors to understand that, whether the bargain they made was a bad or good one, that the Council would require their " pound qf Hesh," He then proposed that (.lie Council appoint committees for Hie various ridings, to supervise the works requiring to be done.—Cr. Heaney thought the members for the lidings should be the committees.—The Chairman said Cr. Williams wi>s right in theory, but ha was afraid it would not work well. The riding members principally ' for works in thaiv of the county, and he did not iiiink it would be well to invest them with greater power.—Cr. Williams retorted they did their work well in the Council Chamber ; but did they do it outside?— The Chairman said the matter bc;ng brought before the \vhole Co-mcil, it was dispassionately discussed, and, he thought, usually a satisfactory conclusion arrived at.

Cr. Williams' system would work well in a town, but he did not think it would do in a large county.—Cr. Williams then, with the permission of the Council, withdrew his mot ion. Notice oi- Motion.—Cr. Murphy gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he should move, "That the road from the railway station to the foot of the tramway at Waiorongomai, be declared a county load." He stated that all hope of having a borough had vanished. Encboaching on the Roads. — The Chairman stated that several settlers along the Thames-Waikato road had erected their fences on the road line. Mr Murray w;is one of the culprits, and years ago he was directed to move the fences back, but had not done so. Mr Allen had now bought the property, and he (the chairman) then moved tliat'Mr Buttle, the manager of the estate, be requested to remove the fences to their proper line, which the engineer would point out; and that other settlers who had trespassed be requested to do likewise. — Seconded by Cr. Williams and carried. Uiiavkl "Pit.—it was decided to ask the Minister for Crown Lrmds to grant a section of live acres, at the back of Te Arolia, for a gravel pit. Awounts. —The following accounts were passed for payment :—G. Walker, £1 lGs ; G. .Jecklin, t'4 10s ;T. (!. Sandes, £1 Hi Id ; G. Mason, £1 15s; (.!. Klovd, £'30; K. Richards, £(i lils Gd ; 0. Ahier, AM ; R. Maekie, £1 0* (id ; E. Voycev, Ms ;J. ()rr, £ - 2o; W. Iletherington, £3 ; 1). Rehill, £1 7s Gd ; J. Emmett, £12 ; A. ISremner, £1 Is (id ; 1'". 1). Rich, £o 2s ; D. Murphy, U-t 7s; C. Murphy, £2 10s; G. Wattam, £7; D. Dillon, £2 8s ; C. Tuck, £1110s Bd. This terminated the business.