WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2751, 1 March 1890, Page 2

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thk usual monthly meeting of the Waikato 1 County Counoil was held at the Coiincil Chambers; Hamilton East, at 2.30 p.nil. yesterday afternoon. There were present : Crs, Prutroao (chairman), Kallender, Johnson, Barugh and Seddon. Mr T. G. Sandes, County Engineer, was in attendance. , , The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and adopted. WoitK.—The Chairman stated that he had arranged for Mr Muir to do the of contract No. 41, formation on the Great South Road, at 5s per chain.—The action of the Chairman was approved of. Licensing Committees.--The Clerk reported the election of the Licensing Committees for the various districts in the county, there twiner no contests. Model Faem—Mr Jus. Honeybun wrote, asking that the Council erect a pump and watertrough on the Model Farm Reserve, unless they did this he would have to give up his lease. —Cr. Seddou stated that there waß as much sweetbriar on this reserve now as before it was cleared.—The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Honeybun, that unless he has the sweetbriar cleared off in two months the Council would have it done at his expense, and that the question of the pump would receive the attention of the Council. - Native Lands. —Mr bperrey wrote, stating that he cannot make any alterations in the valuation of Native Lands, as it is now too late. . Huntly.—Dr. Murch wrote, complaining of the hgyienic state of Huntly. and as the typhoid fever time is now coming on, he requested that the engineer be requested to ascertain the cost of draining the s'varap opposite the pottery works.—The Engineer said that the expense would not be very great, and on the motion of Cr. Johnson the engineer was instructed to inspect this place and report-on it. Objection.—Mr G. Hill, Junr. wrote, objecting to the Council closing the road through section 1, parish of Whangamarino, Matahura.—The Chairman said Mr Hill was a little too soon, as there was no question as vet of closing the road. Dog Collars.—rhe Clerk reported that I there had only been one tender received, that of Jas. Reid, and it had been accepted ' by the chairman, and his action in the j matter was approved. 1 Whangamahino Bbidgk.—The SurveyorGenoral wrote respecting this bridge that i the Governor had, after the evidence adduced at the Commission conducted by MrThos. Jackson, vested this V>ridge in the Waikato County Council and apportioned the cost of its maintenance as follows Waikato County Couucil, 70 per cent. ; Mercer Road Hoard, 12 per cent. ; Road Board, 9 per cent. ; Pokeno Road Board. 9 per cent. Mangatawhiui Valusy Road.—Messrs Whiuiker and Russell, agents for Mr Augustine, wrote calling attention to the state of the road from Pokeno to the Mangatawhiri Valley, and as they pay a large sum in rates requesting that something should be done to make the road passable in the winter. Mr Augustine s manager, Mr Anderson, would confer with anyone authorised by the Council as to what should be done, and if there was auy question of funds no doubt Mr ( Anpustuie would assist. —Cr. (Johnson said that all that would be necessary here would be to make a cattle track which would cost about £25. It would, he said, be impossible to make a road for wheeled traffic, xhe Chairman said that he realised now that the roads in the Rmgiiiri district were not sufficient for the requirements of the district, but with the present revenue the cnuuty could do nothing in thy matter. There were two courses ojien to the ratepayers, one to have their present rate doubled making 0-Sths of a penny in the £, or else to adopt the Loans to Local Bodies Act and borrow sufficient money to do these works, as at every meeting there were fresh applications for roads in this district. —Cr. Johnson said that it the question of raising the rates were brought up the requests for works on these roads would stop.—Cr. Seddon took objection to Cr. Johnson speaking for the vvhole of the Rangiriri settlers, and he said that the Council should reply to requests for road works that the Council had no funds to do any of these works, and recommending that one of the steps mentioned by the Chairman be taken. It was resolved with respect to Augustine s road the engineer confer with Mr Andersun on the matter, and report at the next meeting of the Council. Matahura Road. —The chairman stated that at the request of the settlers in the Matahura valley, he in company with the clerk had gone to Matahura and inspected the road deviation as laid off by the engineer, and also the track on which the settlers wished the road to run. After careful consideration he said he thought that the settlers were right in asking that the road should be carried along the present track, but he had no doubt that the engineer had good reasons for making the deviation as he had done. The deviation was a little shorter than the old track, but it went over two hills and across two swamps which would require two culverts. The track as wanted by the settlers ran round the bottom of the hill and missed the two swamps. Perhaps in winter this part would bo a little bit soft, but a drain would remedy this. The engineer had said that the settlers' track would need three or four curves, but for his part two were the most that he could see would be needed. The engineer in replying said that to go round these swamps it would require three or four angles, '«ut it was evident that the Matahura settlers and the chairman knew more about surveying than he did. He asserted that his deviation would make the best road, would be the cheapest to make, and the cheapest to maintain. He said it was evideut that he could not lay out a road to suit the settlers, pnd he would like the settlers to lay out the road to suit themselves and cut the lines, and then he would survey it. Cr. Johnson said that two months ne;o £6 whs voted for the engineer to lay off this deviation. He was to curler with the .settlers as to the laying off the road, but this he had not done. Ho simply went and laid the road out as he liked, just outside Mr Hill's training track. Inn chairman corrected Cr. Johnson, and explained that in the first plan otthis deviation submitted by the engineer, the road went through Mr Hill's training track, and the engineer was then instructed to take ttie road outside of the training ground so as to do away with a heavy claim for compensation. The engineer had then sairt that this would necessitate taking the road across two swamps and no objection was raised to this. The engineer had taken the road outside the training ground, but what he now suggested was that the engineer and Cr, Johnson should meet and lay ott the road, thoir decision to be final, in replying to Cr. Johnson, the engineer said that he had not conferred with the settler-, but that was not his fault, as he had given the settlers notice that he would be at the work at a certain time and they had not toe courtesy to meet him to confer about the road, and one settler who was ndmeby while he was at the wont hac| not troubled to speak to him. The engineer was instructed to meet Cr. ground and lay off this road. With regard to the bridge over the Matahura creek the engineer was instructed to call for tenders for the work to be in at next meeting. Churchill Road.-The J? ported that he had inspected Mr Thomson s contract on the Churchill road, but not being satisfied with the fascimng hei h.id not passed the work until he could meet the contractor on the ground. 1i.,,,;--Accounts. —Payment of the following accounts was authorised-L.ees, , Johnson, £110s; Kallender, 10s ; engineer, £1 lis fi'i; petty cash, £1 I<*> sta " tionery, £112s 6d ; Reid, £SI Is 3d ; Tilsley, £1103 ; Birs, £1; clerk, £12 10=*. This concluded the business.