RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2830, 2 September 1890, Page 2

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The quarterly meeting of this Council took place in the Council Chambers, Raglan, on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 27th, and following day. Present: Crs. Mitchell (chairman), Brooks, Hunt, McGuirk, Langley, Mathias and Calder. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Whaingaroa.—The consideration of the petition of the ratepayers of this road district presented to the Council at a previous meeting, was postponed till the next meeting. Correspondence.— Letter received from the chief surveyor re road near firewood Creek going through Mr Rathborne's land. Reply sent that the Department be requested either to put the road in its proper place or arrange with Mr Rathborne in order to make thepresent deviation on the Government road.—Letter received from the Government that the Tauhau punt had been placed under the county's charge—Letter received from Rf.ndell and Henry, agents for the s.s. Terranora, re wharfingers duties, etc.—Letter from Mr >T. K. McDonald thanking the Council tor having provided another polling place for the Whangape riding.—Letter from clerk of Hamilton County Council re by-laws for bridge regulations, etc. —Letter from Mr W. 1\ Cogswell as to unpaid- account claimed for preparing tariff .charges on wharf. Reply sent requesting him to attend at the next meeting of the Council. — Letter from Marine Department as to the old wharf and requesting to be informed in whom it was vested. Reply sent that it was erected by the late Raglan Road Board.—Letter sent to the Commissioner for Crown Lands in reference to the letting of Section 11, Harbour Reserve, Raglan.—Letter from Mr W. A. Murray re Churchill punt, and also a proposed one at Mercer; also on other matters, among which was a scheme for the acquiring tho lease and settlement of native lands in the county.—Cr. Brooks stated it was a ditticult thing to find out tho best place to fix the punt at. Letter to be replied to, etc.—Several letters and circulars were received from the Oatnaru Farmers' and Employers Club, stating the object of the club and desiring the cooperation of the Council. Also from New Zealand Farmers' Association, Waverly. Reply to be sent that this Council is in sympathy with them and would be glad to receive further particulars.—Letter from Mr W. P. Cogswell re wharf charges and alterations made in the same, and that outside districts not contributing to tho cost of the wharf should be charged and that the Karioi district should not get out of paving their share of the wharf expenses, etc. Letter from clerk of the Whaingaroa Road Board re closing a road and the opening of another, and requesting the Council's approval of the same as required by the Public Works Act, 188!), the said road being in Section 24 and Section 25, Whaingaroa. Reply to be sent that further particulars are requested. Roaij at Kaniwhaniwha.—lt was resolved to go on with the deviation of the work at Kaniwhaniwha, Mr Finlayson having placed the matter before t.h» Council.

Taukau Punt.—Proposed by Cr. Hunt and seconded by Cr. Brooks, "That the Taukau punt be handed over to the (Jnewhero Road Board, providing they take the responsibility of the same and the maintenance thereof." Carried.

Resignation of Wharfinger.— Proposed by Cr. Brooks and seconded by Cr. Hunt: "That tenders be called for the office of Wharfinger," Mr Sutton having resigned. In reply to a letter from the agent of the s.s. Terranora, that the present wharfinger having resigned, instruction should be given to the new wharfinger to give receipts for goods.

Aiuhtional Councillor ron Whangai'k Kidini;.—The petition of J. K. McDonald, A. Chilson, etc., re an additional Councillor for the Whnngape riding was considered, and Cr. Brooks supported the prayer of the petitioners, and proposed and Cr. Langley, seconded, "That in reply to the petition received from ratepayers in the Whangape riding, the representation be increased to two Councillors." Carried.

PuKKKAU'HA KOAD FORMATION.—Proposed by Cr. Langley and seconded by Cr. Mathias : " That the tender of P. A. Kelly for road formation, Pukekawa, at 15s per chain be accepted."

Removal of Rocks at Ruapuke.—Proposed Cr. McGuirk and seconded by Cr. Brooks: "That the application of settlers for the removal of rocks on the beach road at Ruapuke be granted, the outlay not to exceed the sum of £6, and the settlers requiring the work to contribute £ per £ provided that the amount voted by the Council does not exceed £6,"

Derrick. — Proposed by Cr. Langley and seconded by Cr. Hunt: "That the lowest tender, R. Galvan, for ironwork for Derrick be accepted. Derrick to be placed as the engineer directs.

Cabktakkr Churchill Post.—Proposed by Or. Brooks, and seconded by Cr. Lungley, " That the tender of Messrs Gibb bo accepted as caretaker of the Churchill punt, and thatja proper account of the fees collected be kept."

New Ratki'aykhk on Rom..— Proposed by Cr. Brooks, and seconded by Cr. McGuirk, that the names mentioned in the the memo of the Clerk, be entered in the valuation roll of the varioits ridings, carried. Tbe number exceeds liO names.

Road to Karakariki.—Proposed by Cr. Brooks, and seconded by Cr. McGuirk, that two day's work be allowed on the road leading to the Karakariki mill.—Carried. Cakktakhu Whatawhata Bmdge.— The engineer was instructed to arrange for securing a caretaker foi this bridge.

Ai'l'kal Cask : Loank and Co. v. Raman County ConNorr,.—Proposed by Cr. Brooks, seconded by Cr. McCuirk, and carried unanimously, that counsel's opinion be taken, and if favourable that the appeal be proceeded with, and that the necessary security for cost be given.

Wharf Loan.—Proposed by Cr. Langley, and seconded by the chairman (Cr. Mitchell), that the special rate of j'd in the £ for wharf purposes, be collected, if tha poll of ratepayers is not successful.

Engineer's report.— The engineer's report was then read as follows :-During the past quarter various works have been carried out as follows : The several small works in the town of Raglan, viz., the repairs to two culverts, and crossing between Bowstreet and the School hill. The levelling of the bank in front of the Council Chambers, and also replacing the culvert near the Wesleyan Church. The latter work required several puriri posts and slabs. The total amount of work done was eight day's labour, £2, and supplying and fixing puriri, ISs; total, i'l' 18s, for which I. have giveu a certificate. A Xicol has finished his work at the Waihi Bridge and culvert, near Niciiol's farm contract. 1 pass a certificate for him on uccouut, for ITm. I have not yet measured up his earthwork, 'l'e Rata's work at the Whatigape drain has been done, and Cr. Brooks certifies to his satisfaction with the same, viz., 55 chains at 3s 8d —.610 Is Od. Te Rata's original contract was for ."is (kl per chain, but thin he reduced to the smaller amount. I called lor tenders for looking after the Whatawhata bridge, and received two ; one from John Douglas, sen., at lGs per week, and one from D. F. ,Scott at 3s per week for

the first three months, and Us fid for th next nine months. Both these are out ti thequeatjon. I would ad'ise the Counci I >/ totfaltow rile ti»/arrarjgo this matter, wjiicl I cun for aF*mu6h-leas aum.- R main road works, T have had culverts put ii as follows On the Waipn-Raglan' Road seven ; on the Karioi lioad, five ; and on th Kaniwhaniwha Road, eight. Timber t the amount of 310 feet has been suppliei for repairs to bridges. Ten days' work ha : 1 been done on the '• ■ Whatnwhutft bridfl during the quarter "replacing )>lanks, am £1 was spent oni earthworks ou the mail road, ids' on repairs l to" a culvert oft tin , , , Karioi Road, and payment for five months 1 maintenance on the Waiua, Raglan an( Karioi main roads, and I certify for thi . i, ;amount. The works at Onawhero ari being carried out satisfactorily, and Or Hunt certifies to the work dum by Douglas, £12; C. Marshall, All . J. Box £3 18s Gd. 1 enclose certificati for I'egler £1 (is 8d , for 8 months' mainten ance on section 1 Karioi roads, and 10 repairs to bridge. \Vith regard to Hen doraon'a account, I have sent the particulars lie ia'entitled to thq balance i.ei, £7 14s 4d I send an account for Cannell for repairs t( the culvert, at the foot of the mountain The work under the culvert is excellent]} well done, but the'top is rather rough However, I could not get it fixed, as the last of the lime on hand was taken away from the shed where it was stored, and n< trace of it could be found. I liavo therefore no ptuff on hand to cement the copings with,, but will get : it done when fine weather seta in. As far as the main road is concerned it is in' as good order as can be expected at this season, and the culverts are kept well open. With regard to the court case, Loane v Raglan County Council, in which judgment was given for plaintiff. degisibn of the incorrect it seams to me utterly useless for tlie Council ■ to atnploy an engineer to draw up specifications and conditions which are to be over- ■ ridden on the evidence of the contractors whochooso to swear that they made a good ■ job, when (the engipeer says they did not [p the present case the Court accepts the evidence of casual pa?sers-by, as to the quality of road works, in preference to that of the County Engineer. Again some of the evidence given by certain witnesses for the plaintiff was quite untrue, and if it were i i worth while,j : a charge o£ parjury Could f easily li® proved,,«!f correct hotei of >thfe Evidence are obtainable. Had the R.M. been on the bench, IHfeel certain that the coni tention of the Council's resolution "That _ , „the receipt by is a valid , j ,linvo been upheld, as the plaintiff, instead of returning the money as not being correct, retained it. Hut this point 'whs not recognised by the , I send in .hfifewith a letter from: Vi pelljho the snbjeCt, and alsdftscrtpy, ' of the®judgmont delivered. 1 'Would ask if any action has been taken re bye-laws for regulating traffic on the Waipa bridge. Accounts Pashuh kob Payment.—,A. Nicol, i's;) and £2 13s : Mold and Co., £7!) 17s Id : 1). Henderson, £7 14s 4d ; Cannell, >.■ £t»! W; Dpnglas, £12 C. Marshall, £1; I'. J. Box, £318s (id : Billinarton, 7s (id ; Pegler, £1 l'i-i; Te UaU, £10 Is 8d ; A. Collins, £2 18s. ■ • • Voifcf OP Thanks TO THE CIUiKMAN AXI» CtBHK.— I This being the last meeting of the ■ present Council, their term of office expiring in November next, it was proposed by Cr. Mathias and seconded by Cr. Hunt, , " That the best thanks of this Council be given to ,the Chairman (Mr Mitchell) for v , . the able manner in which he has carried out' the duties of his ofJice. —The Chairman re"<l plied thanking thein for their kind vote of confidence, e'.c. —Proposed by Cr Langley, '■'*atld seconded by Cr. McGuirk: "That a vote of confiilence be given to Mr Somerset, the County Clerk, for the very able manner in which he has carried out his duties, and that at all times he has been most courteous and obliging, in giving information when requested, and trusts he may continue to hold the same position for many years." —Cr. Brooks and the other Councillors spoke in favour of the resolution, which on being put) to the meeting was carried unani-