PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2986, 3 September 1891, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

The above Conncii unit at Morrinsvillo on Tuesday, at 11 a.m. Present : Crs. W. P. Chepmell (chairman). H. Horrell, A. Heaney, N. I. Hunt, E. W. Hanmer, W. 11. Homes, J. S Browne, and M. Harrison. Tho County Kngineers, Messrs T. G. Sandes and V. Pavitt, w«re also present.

Annual Mkkting —The liiUnca Khnnt having been received from the Audit Officn, the annual meeting, which h;id been adjourned from week to week for several ir.nntliH, was at length closed after tho balance-sheet had been duly signed.-The minutes of the previous monthly meeting were read and confirmed.

A Suuahblk Bktwkkn' Lawykhs.— Longthy correspondence was read from Mr Jas. Hully, of Cambridge, and Mr W. M. Hay, of Hamilton, regarding registering a transfer of land, both being anxious to do it. Mr Hay is the Council's solicitor, and Mr Hally represented his client who was parting with the lanl.—Mr Hay forwarded copies of numerous letters that had been sent by him to Mr Hally'.s client ; these the councillors said they certainly should not pay for.—The Council instructed their solicitor to complete the deed of transfer in question.

Katikati-Tb Akoha Road.—A cony of Order-in-Council was received, declaring that tho portion of the above road in Tauranga County be declared a county rond.— The portion in Piako County is a Government road.

The Audit Fees.—The Coromandel Cnanty Council wrote, stating it would support the action of the Piako Council ro the method adopted to prevent counties paying the audit fees charged by the Government. —Mr Hay also forwarded an opinion he had obtained from a brother solicitor on this matter.—The Chairman was authorised to look into the matter, and if he considered it advisable to take proceedings, ho was authorised to do so.—The Council are determined to see this matter out).

Valuation Roll. —No objections having been received to the list of proposed altorations of the valuation roll submitted at. last meeting, the clerk was authorised to make the alterations.—Mr H. J. Hawkins, of Te Aroha West, asked to have his name erased from the roll and G. Brokenshire's substituted for it.—The Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to comply with the request.

Thk Countiks Act.—The Patea County Council wrote, asking the Council to oppose the contemplated chances in the Counties Act. —The letter was received.—The Chairman pointed out many defects of the Counties Amendment Act, especially in the matter of the spending of the money in ridings only in which it was raised, and the one man one vote.—Cr. Heaney said the latter need not tronble them ; their wives and daughters would soon do the husiness for them. —The Chairman was authorised to telegraph te the members for the counties of Piako and Waikato to oppose the Amendment Act, especially spctionx 10, 13, and the Isst paragraph, which gives the Act a retrospective effect.

Thk Hospital.—Tho Hospital Board requested the payment of £217 3.s.—lt was resolved to pay it forthwith.

Thk Waiorongom.u Tramway , —Mr T. Gavin reported as follows: —I have to report as follows on your tramway : When I last reported I had eitrht men engaged repairing the line, and I kept tlvit number on until the 15th, then five of them returned to work in the mine. The oHior three are still engaged, and since the 15th they have bflHti throe days at repairs and nine days running quartz. The new ropps arrived on the 7th and were put on. They answer well, mid, I believ.3, will list a long time if looked after. I could not put the ropes on or work the line without horses, so I made arrangements with Mr Adams for his two, the county to pay fivo shillings per day for each horse and feed them, to be paid for only when at work. I have had them enengaged for 15 days—nine running quartz and six at repairs. I have sent down 94 trucks of quartz and onn of wood since starting, There is a lot of work to be done yet to put this line in good order, but I could not go on for the want of material, such as sleepers, slabs, and timber, and there was no use engaging men until that is on the line. I have been over the line with Mr Pavitt, and have pointed out all the defects in the line, tunnels, trucks and bridges, and he will report on them. I have also benn over the line with intending contractors for thn repairs to trucks and pointed out what I considered required to bn done to put them in good order without pulling them to pieces. I enclose tho pay alieot,—Mr Pavitt said a new turntable was required near the battery: it was on the battery trestle work, but the trucks could not ba emptied into the hnpners without it. The cost would be about £50.—The chairman thought the battery ennpanv ought to do the repairs on their own property.—Tt was resolved to put a new turntable in, and get the battery company to give permission to the Council to removo it if they thought proper.—Mr Pavitt also referred to several other minor repairs that were needed.—lt was resolved to call tenders for the whole of tho repairs.—Messrs Clark forwarded the following letter : Sir,—With regard to the fifty pounds demanded by the County Council, nnd paid by us, on account of the damage done to the two trucks a few davs before the release to us was signed. Mr H. 11. Adams (whose letter we hog to enclose) has offered to renair the trucks to the satis faction of the Council's engineer for the sum of six pounds (£(i). We, therefore, beg to apply for a refund of the difference between the actual cost of repair and the amount paid by us.—We arn, ntc, J. M. Clark (by his attorney). M. A. Clakk, Arch. Clark. —Mr Adam's tender to do the work for £0 was enclosed. —The chairman said if Messrs Clark had paid the £10 at the tirno agreed upon this charge would not have been made, and there were also several other expenses incurred in consequence of the delay.—Or. Heme* considered the charge extortionate. Messrs Clark wero willing to pav for the damage done, but £50 was too much. —Cr. Kanmer thought that £25 should bo refunded.— Tho Chairman said hn had been working in the dark and had done the host he could under the circumstances. The account of the accident was carefully kept from him and he, at the time he made tho charge of £50, did not know if the damige was £50 or £100. If £100 damage had been dnnn, Messrs Clark would not have refunded £50. —He moved that the Council decline to make a refund.—Seconded by Cr Heany. — Upon the motion baing put it was carried, onlv Grs. Hamner and Hemes dissenting. Repairs to Trucks.—Tho following tondnrs ware received: Gen. R. Binsnn, £54 lGs ; D. McClean Wallace, £21 10s; Geo. Devey, £37. —Mr Wallace's tender was accepted. Old Rope.—The Engineer said there wai about 90 chains of wire rope and a ton of old iron that wanted disposing of.—Hβ was instructed to endeavour to sell ths waste material, and Crs. Homes and Hamner wero authorised to accept any offer they considered satisfactory Tub Conditions op Leasb. The clerk read the conditions of lease of the tramway that he and the chairman had drawn up by instruction of the Council.—The Chairman said the conditions had not been published as it would be impossible for anyone to lease the tramway until the whole of the repairs were executed.—Tt was decided to defer calling for tenders for leasing the tramway until it was in perfect) working order; in the meantime the Council will continue to work it.—The conditions of lease wero then read.—Cr. Horries moved that the maximum charge be 33 6d per truck instead of 43 Gd, as it would stop low grade stuff being sent down.—lt was decided to submit the conditions to the Warden, and if he thought 4< Gd too high for the maximum charge the Council would then lower it. Waiorongomai.— Mr Mulcahy wrote stating that the drainage of Waiorongomii damaged hie puddock.—lt bsing the natural flow, the Council could not interfere with it. TtcNDBRS.—The following tenders wero received for improving Isaac's road, Okoriorie: B. Ward, £50: Jno. Barker. £50 lGs ; Geo. Walker, £5918* 3d.—Ward having a contract on hand that he has not finished Barker's tender was accepted.

Accounts.—The follo-ving accounts worn passed for payment:—Jas. M.icfarline, £2 15s 6d ; Mitchel and Co., £84 6s 3d ; Railway Department, £2 2s Gd ; W. K. Carter, £2ir«; Hospital Board. £2 17s 3d; T. Wells t'7l7s; Gnorgo Wattam, £15 10s; T. G. Sandes, £12Gs3d; R. Parr, £20 Is Gd ; Jas. Mills, £6"0 ; W. Bycroft, 17s Gd ; W. P. G>ge Brown, £3 12s Gd ; R. Michael, £3 Gs ; J. H. Emmet, £4 3s; F. Pavitt, £0 15s Od ; W. A. Prime, £9 10s 7d ; 11. W. li;iskerville,£3os3d ; Tramway wages, £8118s. We will give the engineer s report ro roads in next issue.