RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2977, 13 August 1891, Page 3

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The quarterly meeting of the Raglan County Council was held in the Public Hall, Ngaruawahia, on Monday afternoon, and continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, There were present : Crs. Mathias (chairman), K. B. Hill, McGuirk, Calder, Sutton, Bro iks and Whiteside. Tho returning officer reported that Mr J. L. Wilson, of Waingaro, had been duly elected as the representative of that riding on tho Council, and Mr Wilson, being present, took his seit. Thirds.—Some considerable discussion took place, on the motion of Cr. Brookß, that ingiead of proceeding with the ordinary business of the Council, a deputation Jof those interested in the question of thirds be heard.— Seconded by Cr. Whiteside and lost, the mover and seconder alone voting for it. Special Meeting — Cr. Whiteside moved that all main roads in the county bo gazetted county roads, and that each riding be responsible for the maintenance of its own main roads, each councillor to indicate what are to be the county roads in his riding, the riding accounts to bo kept so that after paying its share of the cost of administering the Counties Act and charitable aid, the remainder of the revenue be credited to the riding trom which it is derived, in accordance with Section 14G "The Counties Act 1886."— Seconded by Cr. Wilson.—Cr. Brooks supported the motion, which was opposed by Cr, McGuirk,—The motion was then put and lost. The ordinary business was now pro csedetl with. Deputation.- Cr. Brooks again urged that the deputation be heard, and on the motion of Cr. McGuirk, seconded by Cr. Hill, the former resolution was rescinded, and the deputation admitted. —Some discussion then followed between the Council and tho perpetual lease settlers present, after which the latter withdrew to appoint a committee to confer with the Council later on. Fines.—Cr. Calder moved that Mr Wilson be remitted the fines imposed for the non-completion of his contract within the specified time.—Seconded by Cr. McGuirk and carried. Harbour Endowments. — The auctioneer reported the sale of the various harbour endowments at Raglan, as given in a previous issue,—The action of the Finance Committee in selling these lots was confirmed, Cr. Brooks dissenting. Wharfinger, — The Chairman reported that he bad arranged with the managor of the Northern Steamship Company that the wharfinger would give a receipt for all goods if the com pany load and unload the goods. —This arrangement was approved of, and the clerk was instructed to inform the wharfiuger that he is not ts allow of goods being loaded after dark. Whaingaroa Foreshore.—Mr Bryee, in reply to a letter from the clerk requesting that he use his endeavours to have tho foreshore of the Whaingaroa Harbour placed ii the control of the Raglan County Council, wrote, stating that he had seen the Minister, who was willing to place sonic portion of this foreshore under the council to levy charges on goods landed, but not the whole of so extensive a harbour. Letters were also received from Major Hamlin and the Marine Department to the same effect,— Some members said that iu the Gazette containing the regulations for the control of the harbour the limit in which fees could be charged was one mile on either side of the wharf.—Cr. Brooks moved that the clerk be requested, after receipt of the Gazette above-mentioned from the Whaingaroa Road Board, to again write, asking that the whole harbour be vested in the council.—Seconded by Cr- Whiteside and carried.—An amendment by Cr. Wilson lapsed for want of a seconder. Whaingaroa Road Board.-With regard to the petition against tho merging of the road district into the county, ruled as informal at the last meeting of the Council, Mr W. P. Cogswell said that tho petition now presented was signed by ratepayers representing a ratable value of over £9000 out of a total ratable value of about £13 GOO, and all formalities have now been complied with.—The Chairman pointed out that the council had not as yet received a petition in favour of merging, and it was useless discussing the question.—With regard to the interest due to the board, Mr W. P. Cogswell, as a delegate from the board, requested that the council make the payment as formerly.—Cr. Brooks moved that this amount be not paid.—Seconded by Cr. Sutton.—Cr. \\ ilson moved, as an amendment, that the interest be paid.— The amendment lapsed, there being no seconder, and the original motion was carried, Cr. Wilson alone dissenting. Noarlawaiiia Ferrv.—The Ngaruawahia Town I'joard wrote that it was necessary to have a house at the ferry for the convenience of travellers who should arrive at the ferry and not be able to get over. The house stands on the ferry reserve. Tho account for this house and for other repairs to the ferry was referred back to the board. Snagging.—The Land Board wrote, agreeing to the expenditure of certain thirds in snagging the MangapikoCreek. Ckappell's Account.—Mr T. G. Sandcs wrote, again pressing the claim of Mr Chappell as inspector on Wilson's contract, as the contractor was considerably over tinip, and extra supervision was necessary.—This matter was deferred to allow of Mr Sandes being present. Rates.--Mr Godsell waited on the Council and stated that he had been billed for rates which were not due, and a rebate was granted.—Mr Allen asked when he was liable for rates iu the county, He had taken up land iu January, but before the land was surveyed he received a demand for a year's rates. Cr. Wilson said in his opinion Mr Allen was not liable till March. 1891. Bridges.—Mr Allen (representing about 6000 acres, on behalf of Mrs McLean, Mr Cogswell, and himself) called the attention of the Council to the state of the bridges on the Karaka road. He also asked that the bush standing ou this road leading to the above selections be felled, and he guaranteed to have the. bush on either side felled for a couple of chains, so as to make a good burn iu the coming season. —Mr Vernon called attention to the bridges higher up the creek, which were in the same state.—Mr Allen suggested that the money voted for the Waingaro bridge be applied to this work. —Tho matter was deferred. Maintenance ok Ferries.—The Minister of Lands wrote that the local bodies interested in the Tuakau and Port Waikato ferries should endeavour to settle the matter amicably before the Governor is asked to use the powers vested in him by the Act. Should they fail to arrange the share of maintenance, the Miuistcr would obtain a commission to empower some one to adjudicate on the matter. The clerk reported that he had written to the Pukekohe East and Waipipi Road Boards, but as yet had received no reply—Ou receiving a reply from the Pukekohe Board with reference to the Tuakau puut, the clerk was inttructod to forward it to Cr. White-

side; and, failing to get a reply, the clerk was instructed to write again. Coi'Scir, Ciiamhh.rs.— The secretary of the Raglan Mutual Improvement Societywrote a-king for the use of the Council Chambers on alternate Wednesday evenings.—There being other public hnild ; nys in Raelan suitable for this purpose, it was decided not to grant the request. HotSprinos Road.—The Land Board wrote granting the expenditure of £25, from thirds accruing from the properties interested, on the Hot Springs-Nga-ruawahu road. Mountain' Road.—The Crown Lands Department wrote stating £34 only is remaining out of the grant of £200 for r- pairs on the Raglan-Waipa road, and stating that that amount will he paid over im the Council complying with the usual conditions. This was done, but on an application for an advance the Sur-veyor-General replied that before authorising such advance the plans and specifications should be approved by him.—The clerk was instructed to for ward the plans, eta., required Rkservks. —The Chief Surveyor at Auckland wrote asking the Council to point out the exact position of reserves applied for by the Council.—The councillors of the various ridings weie requested to confer with the ratepayers and forward a memo to the chairman as to the most suitable places, to b■■ forwarded by him to the Chief Surveyor. Don Registrars. —Inspector Emerson wrote that the constables at Ngarunwabia and Huntly could not act. as dog registrars in the Waipa and Pepepc parishes and Whancape riding, as it is necessary that the office of the dog registrar should be withiu tho district, and it is impossible for either of these constables to establish offices in these districts.—The unsatisfactory manner in which the dog tax is collected in tho County was discussed at some length. Native Land Rates.—Hon. J. Bryee wrote stating that he was in sympathy with the Council oil the subject of native rates, but be apprehends that any action being takeu is not likely. On the same question the Native Department stated that the matter is under the consideration of the Government. Audit Fees.—The Colonial Treasurer wrote that the audit fees are not illegal being authorised by an Order in Couucil, and having been demanded in January, and not paid they wore stopped out of the first money due to the Council. Travelling Expenses.—Cr. Brooks moved that a reply be sent to the Auditor General that in the opinion of this Council. Cr. Sutton's residence is in Raglan, and that he is therefore not entitled to travelling expenses for attending a meeting of the Council in Raglan.— Seconded by Cr. Hill and lost, the voting beiii£, for : Crs. Brooks. Hill and Wilson ; against : Crs. Mathias, Calder and Sutton, the chairman gave his casting vote against the motion.—lt was decided that the £1 refunded by Cr. Sutton be paid again to him, and the clerk was instructed to forward to the Auditor General a copy of the above. Thirds.—The Land Board approved of the scheme of expenditure of thirds submitted by the Council, and Crs Brooks ami Wilson were authorised to carry out the works under this scheme. NfIARDAWHIA P JSRRY LEASE.—MI'G. T. Kellow, ferryman at Nparuawhia applied to havb bis lease of the ferry reserve drawn up at as early a date as possible.— The Council not being able to obtain any satisfactory reply on this matter the clerk was instructed to write to Hon. J Bryee forwarding him all the correspondence on this subject, and asking him to urge the matter on. Road Encroachment.—Mr Robert Bruee called the attention of the Council to the fact that the main WhatawbataKiiglan Road encroaches on Lot 106, his property, occupying about 5 acres. H« suggested that the Council run the road along his boundary.—The clerk was instructed to reply that as the Government hail put the road in the wrong place it now remained with them to take further action in the matter. Bank Overdraft.—At the request of the Bank of New Zealand the following resolution was passed " That the members of the Council beg to confirm the overdraft at present existing at the Bank of New Zealand, Hamilton, in the name of the Raglan County Council, and request the manager of the bauk to allow the same to continue to the extent of the legal limit, it being at the same time understood that the Couucil do their utmost to reduce tho amount and work the account into credit as early as possible." Balance Sheet.— An order in Council was received granting the Council permission to not publish the annual balance sheet, but on representation being received from certain ratepayers another order in Council was issued cancelling the former one and ordering that the balance sheet be published.—lt was resolved to write to the Government replying that permission had been given to have the balance sheet not published ; that all complaints should bo brought before the Council ; that the new Act to be brought in provides that the balance sheet need uot be published, and that conies of the balance sheet will be circulated through the country. BiDiNii Account.—The following statement of riding accounts was laid on the table:—ln credit: Karamit, £6 14s 2d j Onewhero, £S2 2s 4d ; Te Akau, £11 12s Id; Waingaro and Whangape, £115 15s Id. In debt: Karioi £47 Ms ; Pirongia, £35 19s. The amount of the overdraft at the bank is £324 ISs sd.