PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3129, 4 August 1892, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ The ordinary monthly meeting of the abovi body was held nt Morriosville, on Tiiesdav the 2nd inst. Present: Messrs W. P Chepmell (chairman) Browne, Hi-aney Hunt, Harrison McNicol, Herries anc Howell. Resignation.—The resignation of M James Bailey, as councillor for the Taotao roa Riding, was received and accepted. M Bailey having left the district. The clerl reported that he had taken the necessar; bteps to fill the vacancy. Waioronqomai Bridge.—A letter wa< ronflived from the Marine Department for warding copies of a Bill to validate thi erection of the Waiorongomai Bridge, thi Harbour Boards Act, not having been com plied with at the time of the building of tin same. The clerk stated that he had takei the necessary steps and had advertised thi Bill in the local paper. The following n the only clause in the Bill:—"The con struction of the Waiorongomai Bridge bj the Piako County Council is hereby ap proved, and shall he deemed from the timt of 3onstruction thereof to have bean ap proved, as fully and entirely for all pur poses as if the requirements of section on< hundred and fifty-six of ''The Harboun Act, 1878," had been complied with by thi said Council, and aa if the Governor ir Council had approved the plans of the said bridge before the construction thereof hac been commenced." Ohinemdbi Wharves.—A letter wa.< received from the Ohinemuri County Coun cil asking for the co-operation of the Piakc County Council in getting an amendment to the Counties Act passed, to enable counties through which navigable rivers run, but which were outside the jurisdic tion ot a Harbanr Board to levy dues or shipping, trading 11 and from their gazetted wharves. The Council thought that thej were not in any way affected in this matter and they resolved to simply receive the letter Goldfields Revenue.—A letter was received from the Ohinemuri County Council regarding the returns supplied by the Treasury for gold fields revenue to counties. They complained that sufficient details were not furnished to local bodies, showing what charges were made against the revenue, and they asked for the co-oper-ation of tho Piako County Council in endeavouring to get clearer accounts furnished by the Government, so that the local bodies interested should know exactly how their accounts stood. —The Clerk explained that the last accounts supplied to this Council re goldfields revenue were very explicit, and he was instructed to write to the Ohinemuri County Council to that effect. The Council had applied for the information, and had duly received it from Wellington, Tramway.—Re extension of tramway to Newsham's mine, at Te Aroha, the clerk reported that he thought there was no legal power to enable the Council to spend funds on making or subsiding a private tramway. Section 197 of the Mining Act was read, but that applies only to work undertaken by private parties at their own cost, and for which they would have to pay all expenses. Mr Newsham, it was explained, wanted assistance in building the tramway, as he was not prepared to do the whole thing himself. He wanted about £30 or £40 worth of work done—i.e., he wanted the formation done by the Council. The Council found thac they had no authority to devote any of their funds to subsidise such a work. They could of course put up the tramway themselves, but this they did not feel inclined to do, as they would be entirely responsible fur maintenance, accidents, etc.—The matter was dropped.— With reference to the complaint made by Mr Newsham that the tramway contractor (McLean) had not carried out his contract properly in the way of bringing down quartz, Mr McLean wrote saying that he had all along endeavoured to do hie best to work the line to the satisfaction of those using it, and he would continue to do so to the best of his ability. Hβ explained the circumstances of Newsbam's case.—The letter was received. Roads.—The clerk reported that he had written to the Government complaining of the bad state of the Oxford-Rotorua Road, between Oxford and Tapapa, butneanswer had yet been received. Morbinsville Cemetery,—The clerk explained that the certificate of title for this was still in the Land Registry Office in Auckland, and he could uot advertise the taking of the same until the description of the land was received.—Matter adjourned. Cemetery at Waharoa.— It was resolved that Mr Pavitt survey a site wh:ch had been given by the owners of the Matamata estate for this purpose, and the Council passed a vote of thanks to the proprietors for the gift of the land. Return.—A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary asktng for a return showing the number of members on the Council and also on all local bodies in the county.—The clerk was instructed to forward the necessary information. Roads Wanted.—An application wa» received from Mr W. Ring, asking for the dedication of a road into his property at Mangawhara, through Hinuera No. 3, which had been laid off formerly by a Government surveyor but which had not been properly dedicated.—lt was resolved to take the necessary steps to have the road properly dedicated.—A letter was received from the secretary of the Gordon Special Settlement askiDg the Council to take steps to assist the settlers to get a road opened up from the Gordon Settlement towards the Waharoa Railway-station. The road had been surveyed some time since, but had

never been dedicated or put on' the block sheets in the Survey Office.—lt was resolved that the Council ask the Government to get the road dedicated and take steps to have it opened up. Rating Nativk Lands.—A letter was received frnm the Taranalci County Council containing the following resolution passed by their Council:—That in the opinion of this Council it is highly desirablu that native lands should be brought under the provisions of the Rating Act, especially such landj as are individualised, and that a copy of this resolution bo forwarded to all the County Councils in the North Island inviting their immediate and hearty cooperation in the matter.—After some discussion the letter was received. Valuation Rolls. —The clerk reported that the valuation rolls had been received. The following return was produced by the clerk showing the difference in value between the 1889 valuation and that for 1892:—Tβ Aroha Town : 1889, £37.027 ;

1892, £28,338. Tβ Aroha, out diotrict 1889, £55.437; 1892. £49,712. Waitoa 1889, £283,997; 1892, *£250.492. Pata tare: 18S9, £250,042; 1892. £220.0!)!) Taotaoroa, 18S9, £41,877. 1892, £42.(>23 Matamata, Ridiug, 1889, £73,790, IS»2, £78,284; Matamata Outlyinjr District, 1889, £7,348, 1892, £7.971. Total, ISB9, £749,148, 1892, £682,319. Total decrease, £66,999. Striking A Rate.—lt was .resolved to strike the following rates, viz. :—One halfpenny in the pound throughout the county calculated to produce say £1000 to £1,100 ; a separate rate of one farthing in the pound over the Patetere Riding, and a separate rate of one farthing in the pound over the Te Aroha Riding. Roll. —An application was received from Mr G. W. Sare, on behalf of the New Zealand Land Association, asking to have the name of Mr N. I. Hunt placed on tuo roll as occupier of a block known ae Te Tatua-o-baua, 58 acres. It was resolved that the necessary steps be taken to make the transfer. Maintenance.—Councillor Browne ie porred that he had accepted the tender nf E. Rice for the maintenance of the OxfordMatntnata Road from Oxford to Matamata at £33 10s per annum. Tenders.—Tenders for cutting on the Gordon Settlement Road were received as follows :-Jas. Orr, £14 15a ; A Thackeray, £14 ; John McLeod, £13 17s. The tender of ,lMhn McLeod was accepted, Enginkkb's Report,—Mr Sandes, engineer, reported that he had keen all over the roads in the Patetere Riding during the late heavy rains and had ordered certain repairs, amounting in all to about £25. Less damage had been done than might have been anticipated owing to taking the evil in time. Mr Sandes' action was approved. Road Stoppage.—Councillor Hemes reported that Mr Adame was fencing in his battery site and stopping the ordinary wheel traffic. It was resolved to ask the Warden to make Mr Adams keep the road open. Paymbnts.—The following accounts were passed for payment:—lnterest on loans, Bill 17s 4d ; W. Sourer and Co., £2 5s 2d ; Bank New Zealand Estates Co. law costs, El Is; John Barker, £20 13 0d (foal repairs) ; Councillor Heanev, 13 months travailing expenses, £13 3i; Councillor Bailev, do., £4; clerk's salary, £1118s 4d ; W. Barnett, £18 lOe; Geo. Floyd, £15 7s 5d (roads); R. Parr, £3 17a (roads); Brokenshire, 15s (planting poplars Walo•onjromai bnrlae) R. Michael, £G 13s roads); P. Moriarty, £3 (roads); W. Jeffries, £110s; H. and J. CliQVd, £5 1/s )d; W. P. Chepmell,£3 113.