PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2734, 21 January 1890, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Piako Comity Council was held at Cambridge, on Saturday, at 11 a.m. Present: Councillors, \\ . P. Chepmell, (chairman), J. Mill.*, 1). Murphy, J. Horrell, N. I. Hunt, and A. Heaney. The minutes of the special and ordinary meetings held on Decemeer 21st., were read and confirmed. Fknckbon Roads.—Mr H. Buttle wrote accepting the offer of the Council to allow Mr Allen to remove a fence and trees that are upon the road line at Annandale. The trees will not be removed until the winter. Okokoire Road.—Messrs Nathan wrote to the Council that their guarantee of £200 will hold good if all reasonable expedition is used by the Council in getting the road made. The Audit OmcK Defeated. — Tho Council having declined to males out the the County balance sheet in the manner directed by the Audit Officß, it not being according to the Act of Parliament, tho clerk had notified the department of the Council's decision, and had also asked why the balance .sheet had been mutilated. To this the Auditor General, Mr J. K. Fitzgerald, replied under date January Oth. " Before certifying to the balance sheet of the Piako County for the last half year, and referring to tho corresdondence which has already taken place thereto, I desire first to state that I fully recognise that the Council is desirous to keep its aeconnts in accordauca with the terms of the Act. The Assistant Controller rightly pointed out that the suctions 145 and 146 aro difficult of comprehension, because the expenditure in each riding is limited to the amount distributed to it from the general account of the county, which, at the same time, cannot be ascertained until the end of the year in which the expenditure has taken place. 1 have always therefore regarded the account spoken of in section 140", as only a preliminary estimate to be finally corrected at the end of the year as pointed out in the second paragraph of the section. There is no doubt that the Council rnay cpend what it likes out of tho general accounts, on such roads as it selects, and rcay leave tho rent to ba charged on the ridings in which such roads are. But it is imperative that the (turn carried to the credit of each riding Bhall be a share of the whole .sum, so to be carried when divided in the proportion of the general rates raised in each ; and yout account does not show that the distribution has been so made. If that distribution has been rightly made I shall have no objection to certify the account. "—The clerk had raplied that the distribution had been made, as pointed out by the auditor. It was noted that no mantion had been made of the mutilation of the balance sheet, that subject having been carefully avoided. Roads Not Dedicated.— Mr W. F. Buckland wrote that he should be glad to dedicate the roads through the Hinnera estate at Taotaoroa, to the Crown ; the Council paying the expenses. He was not aware that it had not been done.—The Chairman thought there were some distiict as well as county roada that were undedicated.—The clerk vraa instructed to take the necessary steps to dedicate the county roads. Bullion—Replying to an enquiry as to what steps are taken to collect duty on bullion exported for treatment bv tho Te Aroha Gold and Silver Mining Company, and other mines in the Piako County, the Under-Sacretary of the Mines Department wrote : " I am directed by the Hon. Minister of Mines, to inform you that the general rule of the Customs Department-, is to take a deposit of the duty on the estimated quantity of gold contained in the shipment", and bring the duty to account on receipt of a certificate of the result of the treatment of thf> ure."—The Council were satisfied with tho method adopted. Ni;w Roads.—Mr W. A. Murray, of Mount Pleasant, wrote regarding his block of land at Maungatapu :—''Neither Road Board nor County Council would grant my request for an access to this land, and without which I cannot use the roads, for which I am taxed, but by permission of my neighbours. I see that the Council has given a toad since to one of its members, and as they probably have now got po'ver, I hope they may do as much for mo. r, —Cr. Heaney : He evidently takes me to be the Mr Heaney who owns Maungawhara.— It was resolved that Mr Murray be informed that as the proposed road will fee a, by-road, application should be uuulo to the Waitoa Road Board. EsfiiNEKn's Rei'obt he Pai eteiie Roads. —MrT. G. Sandes reported as follows :— I find on making the plans for closing roads at Okoroiro, etc., that I cannot complete them without tho survey of the new road, .'is laid out by the Auckland Agriculture Company, nlnntr tho railway linj pa.-t 'In Ok'Tii.v stirinn. Tnenlan.", Inndm-sUnd, |{ tho Conip.iny have iigrao.i u> supply to the ( Council. I wanfs them for the purpose of ' j

showing exactly whore tho old road enda and the new one begins. Mr Hume's portion is all right, as I have marie the survey of tlie new road myself. Walker's and B.iit's, too, aro all right, but I suppose we had better advertise the whole lot at once. Try and get the plans (or copies) at once, and I will send the necessary tracings without delay. Re tho roads proposed to be run by Mr Rich through Patetero, and morn particularly from Putaruiu to Oxford, I have been to Lichfield anl have seen all I could there, but the information was very meagre. Mr Rich could not supply me with any copies of " surveys," he simply has given me an idea of what lie intends to do. I send a rnnqli sketch of this. I think that Mr Rich should be asked by tho Council definitely what alterations ho has made, and what further ones he proposes, and then the said alterations could be made legally. Having no data to go on, I have not been able to make a plan, as requested by the Council. Plane of roads at Mangawhero, proposed to bo taken, are ready to forward as soon as the other plans, made by tfoo Auckland Agricultural Company, ore available.—The Clerk was instructed to apply to the Auckland Agricultural Company for the plans of the new road laid off by the company along the railway lino past the Okoroire station, to enable the engineer to proceed with the work. Okouoikk Sanatorium.— Mrs A. Isaacs wrote to the chairman as follows :— "Would you kindly obtain permission for me to oroct two sign-boards or finger posts on the Te Aroha-Lichfield road. I also desire that when the poll is taken re the Oxford-Okoroire road, that the waiting room at the railway station will be used and not Mr Rose's store."—Leave was granted to erect the sign posts provided the road is in no way obstructed by the same.— Cr. Murphy thought tho Council should use what rooms they liked, and should not be dictated to. It would take them a month to get a reply from the railway authorities about tho waiting room.—Cγ. Hcaney said Mrs Isaccs was not a ratepayer and had '■bally no right to ask the Council to do anything.—The Clerk was instructed t> reply that tho Council considers the township of Oxford is tin most central place for taking the poll, and sees no reason to alter same. Pom. for Pathpeiie Loan.—The Chairman asked Cr. Heanev if hs would again act as Presiding Officer?—Cr. Ileaney: "Not time thank you 1 Ask the other member fur the riding."—On being applied to Cr. Williams accepted the office, but intimated he should not let it cost him as much as it had Cr. Heaney.—Tho Chair man then fixed the following dates :—Ratepayer's meeting, January 29th ; poll, February 7th ; special meeting to make the rate, February 15th ; subsequent meeting to confirm, April 22th. Mn Gibbons* in I'koublk Again.—Mr Robert P. Gibbons wrote under date Jauuary 15th:—"On Tuesday, Hie Bth instant, my steamer was provonted from passing up ths river by the bridge at Waiorongomni being too low and having no draw-bridge (the river lining slightly swollen bv rain). By this 1 have sustained a loss of at least £25, as my mill as well as steamer was idle, on account of the delay. I will look to your honorable Council to recoup me this Ins*, and notify that you that the bnrifje is an obstruction to ordinary navigation."—The Chairman stated he had particularly nsked if tho bridge would ba high enough, at the time tho plans were submitted, and he was aßsnrred it would bo.—Mr Pavitt said he simply diil not belive the statements made, in Mr Gibbons' letter. Tho bridge was 18 foet above the main level of tho river, which was tho same height a« the railway bridge. On the moti<<n of Cr. Murphy, seconded by Or. Mills, the 1. tter was 'received.—-Cr, Murphy sjid Mr Firths sfearner had a funnel that could be lowered, and Mr Gibb his should have a similar one upon his s'-.eauier. Ifo thought Mr Gibbons wanted something to say because of the injury to Mr Gallagher's punt. Valuation Roll.—No objections having been received to a number of names submitted at the last meeting, for insertion on tho valuation roll in lieu of those who had ceased to be owners or occupiers, the Clerk was instructed to make the alterations. Slaughtering Lickxmks.— Renewals of their slaughtering licenses were granted to Donald Gordon, Liuhfield ; Alfred Comes, Te Aroha West, and George Floyd. Tauniangi, they being the enly applicants. Those who havo neglected to apply for renewals should bear in mind that they aro liable to a substantial fine for every animal slaughtered, until they obtain 8 license. Dog Registaiifor Patkterk.—Mr Edwin Pascoe having declined this office, Mr George Jecklin was appointed, and Mr house at Oxford will be the registration office. Thompson's Track.—Cr. Muiphy laid a report of the last meeting of the Tuuranga County Council upon the tabla, and called attention to the fact that the portion of Thompson's track in Tauranga County, which was being made available for wheeled traffic, appeared to be causing groat trouble, the work, it was stated, being badly done. As it was a matter that would affect the Piako County, he thought the Government should be n.sked to send an independent engineer to report upon it. — The Chairman said that taking any steps would bo premature, and the matter then dropped.

Tβ AnoHA-LicHFrELr Road.—Mr Pavitt submitted a plan of the proposed deviation of fhe above road throughout the Education Reserve at Wairerr. Theclerk was instructed to ascertain from the CWvn Lands Board whether in the event of the Council closing the existing road, the Board would ba willing to to take the action necessary to proclaim the proposed road as a public road, and to take the closed road in exchange, and in the event of the Board agreeing so to do, the requisite step 3 wore ordered to be taken to close the present road. The Matamata Road Board were authorised to erect a bridge over the Wairero stream at this place. When this is done, and the earthworks on tho Matamata side are completed, which will probably be in about two months, there will be a good road right through from Te Aroha to Lichfield. Old Tijieeu.—Mr Pavitt reported that ho had sold tho old timber of Clifford's bridge to Mr Anderson for £2. His action was confirmed, Drains.—Cr. Mills said the drains betwenn the Sf-.nney and Wairakau creeks required cleaning.—Mr Pavitt said the distance was about 300 chains ; the cost would bo about Is Gd per chain. Ho was instructed to get the work done. Thk Waiouongomai Punts.—Mr Pavitt s.iid Mr Gallagher had .altered tha position of his punt, and it was now impossible for it to interfere with the river trafh'c. He had several times endeavoured to view Mr Gibbon's punt passing under the bridge, but so far had been unsuccessful.—Cr. Murphy stated that two barges tied together, had been sent down the river, which he thought was calculated to do damage to the bridge Ho promised further information at the next meeting. Railway Ciiossings.— The Chairman

drew attention to the fact that according 1 to the Public Works Act the public had no right to cross the railway at a level crossing when a train was approaching.—The Clerk referred to the Act, and found the right of the public to cross ceased when a train was approaching, and was within one mile of the place.—The Chairman said, in face of this, the railway authorities planted trees along the side of the railway, which impeded the view, and on windy days it was impossible, in many places, to know that a train ! was near until it was quite close to the crossings. There was one bad place between Hamilton and Te Aroha. He believed accidents had happened in other parts of the country through this cause, and when the population increased it would bo a source of great danger.—The Clerk was instructed to write to the Railway Commissioners, pointing out the inconvenience caused to the public by the planting of trees near level crossings oil the railway lines within the county. Also to call attention to the way in which the same interferes with the proper observance of Section 132 of the Public Works Act, 11182, and suggest that the Act be amended so as to prevent owners of private property planting trees on the corners of their land abutting on the railway at level crossings. Gatjcs ON' RoAiiS.—Cr. Williams spoke of the great nuisance that existed by gates on the various roads being improperly hung. He stated he had met with many that were only hung with wire.—The Clerk said in his peregrinations about the county he had not met with a single gato that was erected in accordance with the Act. —Cr. Williams then moved, "That all gnt j s existing on roads under tho control of the Piako County Council shall be properly hung and fitted with self-acting fastenings; those persons who have such gates on the road shall be charged with tho cost of formation of half a chain of the road on each s'de of each gite, wh 'never such foimnti-.m rnav bn considered nfcessarv in the opinion of the Council.— Seconded by the Chairman and carried.— Cr. Willi ims trusted the Chairman would get tha Waitoa Road Board to adopt aiuii-

lar measures, as there wero many gates in that district that were improperly hung. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment :—James Oir, £5 17s (5.1; R. Parr, £1 2s ;R. Michael, £2 8s ; W. Pickett,; £4 2s B<d; M. Plmnan, £12 2a Gd ; J. Lnvery, £20 ; F. Pavitt, £9 4 3 ; C. Tuck, £20 12a 10d ; \V. L. C. Williams £7 Ifis ; T. Marshall, £9 7s 0d ; E. Pascoe 12.i • W. M. Hay, £3 3x ; Gee Walker, £50; T.' Gage Brown, £2 2s Gd ; interest on spocial loans, £11117s 4d ; total, £271 13h -id. This closed the business.