PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2923, 9 April 1891, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above Council met at Morrinsville on Tuesday, at 11 a.m. Present: Couueillors J. ilorrcll. A. Heaucy, W. H. Herries, E. W. Hanmer, N. I. Hunt and J. S. Browne. The Chairman, Mr W. P. Chepmell, was unable to be present through indisposition, and Cr. Heauey was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Waiobongomai Tramway.— The following letter had been received from Messrs Devore and Cooper, solicitors of Auckland, re the above matter : We have received from Mr Gilfillau, the attorney for the Te Aroha Silver and Gold Mining Coy., your letters to him of the 29th January last and 19th inst, with instructions to reply. You arc probably aware of the sale by the Company to Mr H. H. Adams in January last, of all the Company's property including their rights to the tramway referred to in your letters, aud by the transfers to Mr Adams the latter agreed that he would obtain at his own cost all necessary consents to the transfers, including the consent of your Council; and understanding from Mr Adams that the cost of repairing the tramway etc., would amount to £80, a substantial allowance was made to him towards those repairs. We are next informed through Mr Adams, that it is useless to ask for the cousent of the Council to a transfer of the tramway unless the sum of £300, the estimated cost of repairs, was first deposited with your Council. We shall therefore be obliged if you will inform us of the correctness of the information we have received, and what is the exact positiou of matters and what the Council will require. The delay caused by the doubt as to your Council's action has been most unfortunate for the Company and for Mr Adams, with the result that the Company will forthwith, at Mr Adams' risk, proceed to sell the Company's property by lots, as it is believed from enquiries made that a much better result can be obtained by that method of salo. It is to be regretted that the Council did not call the attention of the company to the condition of the tramway before the sale to Mr Adams, had this been done the necessity for the forthcoming sale might have been avoided. So soon as the proposed sale is completed, the company will give prompt attention to the claims for rent and any other claims. We fear that the anticipated future working of the company's mine cannot now be realised, and solely attributable to the difficulties connected with the tramway, its condition

and transfer.—To this the clerk had replied that if the company had been desirous of obtainiug a transfer, they should have communicated with the Council. Mr Adams had been informed that the Council had no knowledge of the lessees wishing to be released, and therefore they could not recognise him iu the matter. They had not stated that the estimated cost of repairs would be £300, and relied upon the company carry, ing out' the conditions of the lease. —Mr Ferguson, battery owner, waited upon the Council, and complained that he had been waiting two mouths for quartz in consequence of the tramway not working. He suggested that if the property changed hands, a clause should bo inserted in the lease allowing anyone to work the tramway if the lessees did not do so.—After considerable discussion it was resolved that upon receiving a reply from Messrs Devorc aud Cooper, or failing a reply beiug received by 11 days from date, the Chairman be authorised to take such steps as he may think necessary to compel the lessees to carry out the conditions of lease.

Gates ox Roads.—Mr Turner of Taotaoroa again wrote re putting a gate across the main road near his farm.— At the last meeting of the Council the application was refused.—Cr. Bailey supported the application although he stated he thought all gates should be abolished. —Cr. Heaney gave notice that at the next meeting he should move that the resolution affecting this matter passed at the last meeting be rescinded.

Thames Harbour Board.—lt was decided to recommend the Governor to appoint Mr Lemuel John Bagnall, of Turua, to represent the Piako County upon the above Board, he being opposed to any borrowing by the Harbour Board.

Cambridge - Tauranga Road.—The Survey Department forwarded a warrant authorising the Council's engineer to enter upon certain lands at Hiuuera for the purpose of surveying a road.—Mr Saudes was instructed to proceed with the work.

Walton. —Mr Starke wrote, askiug the Council to continue the Walton road across a swamp to land he had acquired. —The Council will undertake the work if Mr Starke will pay the cost of acquiring, surveying and formation. Valuation Roll.—There having been ■o objections received to the following alterations of the valuation roll, they were ordered to be made :—James We9t to David Foughey, as occupier and owner of Seotion 19, Block 8, Wairere ; Graves and Baskcrville to Henry Baskerville. as occupier of properties 28 aud 40 at Waiorongomai ; Wm. Aitkcn to James Gordon, as occupier of property No. 187 at Te Aroha ; the New Zealand and River Plate C'ompauy to G. W. Sare, as occupier of I'JU at Waitoa.—Mr C. Ahicr applied to have the name of Kev. .las. Law placed upon the valuation roll as occupier of Sections SI to 81, Lipsey's Block, Tc Aroha.—The Clerk was ordered to take the necessary stops to comply with the application. Rates on Native Lands.—The Ohinemuri County Council wrote, asking this Council to endeavour to have native lands within the county rated.—The matter was not considered of importance to Piako County.—Letter received.

Oxeokd-Matamata Road.—Mr J. Shine wrote asking for an extension of time in which to finish his contract on this road.—The Engineer supported the application, and an extension of ten days was granted. Finger Posts. —Mr Saudes recommended that fiuger posts should be erected at tho junction of the CambridgeTauranga and Oxfoid-Matamata roads, and at the Mangawhara railway station. Ors. Herries aud Hanmer wished one to be placed at the junction of the Katikati track and the Tc Aroha-Lichfield road.— Cr. Brown said one was badly wanted at the junction of the Oxford and Waotu roads on the main road to Cambridge ; and Cr. Heaney advised the placing of a finger post at the I'utaruru railway station.—lt was resolved to erect the whole of the posts suggested.—Cr. Brown undertook to see to the two last mentioned being erected. Cambridge - Tauranga Road.—Cr. Bailey thought the remaining portion of this road should be formed to where it joins the Oxford-Matamata road, which would complete the scheme in that district.—lt was resolved that the Engineer be instructed to prepare the necessary plaus aud call for tenders for the formation of the road to the Mangawhara bridge, including a branch to Mangawhara.

Waiokongomai.— Cr. Herries presented a petition from 18 ratepayers from Kilgour street, askiug to have the street formed from the Post-office to Mr Wallace's store. —Cr. Hanmer supported the application.—lt was resolved to spend a sum not exceeding £30 upon the work, and the Engineer was instructed to call for tenders for the same, such tenders to be in at the uext meeting of the Couueil.

Tknueiw.—-The following tenders were received : Contract No. 1, grading and metalling Thames-Waikato road near Giffords', Jas. Parr, £37 10s; R. Parr, £35. The latter was accepted. Contract No. 2, cleaning drains, etc, connecting with railway drain near Te Aroha: W. Ihompsou, £5B 17s; Jas. Gordon and party, £44 10s. The latter was accepted. TAuro West Coonty.—Cr. Heancy said there were a number of roads in the above county that joined on to the Piako roads that were getting sadly out of repair. About four years ago the Government had granted the Piako CouDty Council £50, which had been expended upon the above-mentioned roada, and it had kept them in a very passable condition. There was now considerable traffic to Taupo—a coach running twice a week, in addition to numerous waggons—and it was imperative that repairs should be done to the road. He moved that the ;Minister of Public Works be requested to place the sum of £100 on the Estimates for repairs to that portion of tho Cambridge-Tuupo Road lying within the West Taupo Couuty, and that such sum be expended by this Council,—Seconded by Cr. Browne and agreed to. Finance Commh^bb,—Tho Chairman and Crs. Herries and Bailey were appointed a committee to prepare a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for the year ending March 31st, 1802. Tkavelli.no Expenses.—The travelling expenses allowed to councillors attendiug the meeting at Morrinsville were fixed as follows :—Crs. Hanmer, Herries, Bailey and Hunt, £1 ; Crs. Hoaney and Browne, £1 (is; Cr. Chepmell, 16s. Crs. Harrison aud Horrell do not receive anything, aa they reside in the district. Accounts.—The fullowiug accounts were passed for paymcut :—J. S. Bond, £1 18s Od ; Te Aroha News, £5 7s tid ; A. Bremuer, £7 6s lOd ; It. Johnson, £2 3s ; R. Davies, £1 2a 6d ; G. Wattam, £13 2s ; J. Boyd, £3 ; W. P. Buckland, £5 ; R.M. Court, £7 ; V. Pavitt, £2 9s; W. MeClear, £2 8s ; R. Parr, £3 10s ; O. McCabe, Pis ; J. Orr, £18 10s ; J. Collins, £0 17s ; W. A. Prime, £3 Is ; J. Shine, £03 16s ; T. G. Sandes, £2 ; total, £l:io 18s 2d. This concluded the business.