RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Riglan County Council met at Ngiruawahia on Wednesday, aud the sitting was continued on Thursday and Friday. There were present : Crs. B. Hewitt (chairman), McKinnon, Bruce, Hamilton, Mathtas, Lowry and LaTrobe. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting was held for the pii'-pose of confirming the special order, staking a rate to cover the loan of £12(10 f r the Opotoro Bridge and RaglanRuapuke Mountain Road. ORDINARY MEETING. Deviation.—The Hon. James Carroll wrote through Cr. McKinnon, statins that he had communicated with the Minister for Lands on the subject of the deviation of the Huntly West-Rangiriri Road, and he found there was no power to close the existing road except by an Aot of Parliament. Mr Duncao had informed him that this question had been dealt with before, and in December last the chairman of the Raglan Council had been informed of the fact. At that time it was suggested that he should have a local Bill introduced at the next session of Parliament, giving the required power to close the road, und it was clear therefore that the local body should take the first Btep.—better received. Road Grant.— The Chief Engineer of Roads wrote with reference to th" Wai-mai-Waingaro-Ngaruawahia Road, stating that, of the £ISOO appropriated for this work last year, a sum of £257 was reserved for expenditure by the Road Surveyor. The balance £1243 was the first appropriated instalment of the £3OOO promised as a £ for £ subsidy. The promise of £3OOO made to the Council would not be overlooked, and the difference between this sum and the amount already authorised for expenditure by the Council would he placed on the current year's estimates for consideration. Valuation. The Department of Roads wrote re the excessive valuation of Section 21, Parish of Waipa, and stating that a reduction of 20s per acre had been recommended to the Land Board. Churchill Road.—The Assistant Surveyor-General wrote stating that he hud no objection to the closing of the road west of Sections 3,5, 7,9, 11. 13. and 14, Churchill.—On the motion of Cr Lowry it was decided to employ Mr Drury, surveyor, to open the new road. Metalling.—The sum of £3OO was received from the Treasury Department on account of the £3CO') loan for metalling the Ngaruawahia-Waimai road. Mr Hursthouse, Chief Engineer of Roads, acknowledged the Council's letter asking for £SOOO by way of a Government subsidy towards the improvement of the Ragl-n-Tuakau and other roads. He staled that this sum could not be provided, but £IOOO as a £ for £ subsidy towards metalling the Aotea-Raglan Road had beeu placed on the estimates for the consideration of the Government. Lamps —The Council voted the sum of £ls towards the cost of the erection of lamps at Raglan to commemorate the King's Coronation, and the clerk was instructed to apply for the subsidy of £ for £. Thirds.—An application from Mr John Smith for expenditure of thirds due iu order to give him a road to his proproperty was referred to the riding member. Loans —The Treasury Department notified that the loans of £IOOO for the Oportoro bridge and £2OO for the Rag-lan-Ruapnke mountain road had been provisionally approved of by the Colonial Treasurer. Flax.—The Council decided to sell the flax on the swamp road, Rangiriri, for the sum of £4, on condition that it was not cut until Novembei. Rangiriri Pont.—lt was resolved that Ruhu Winikerei should be appointed caretaker of the Rangiriri punt, in place of Te Ahu. Te Mata Reserves.—lt was decided to accept Mr R. H. Watkins' tender of £5 per annum for the Te Mata reserves. Rating Native La.nds.—The Council unanimously agreed to support the Taurauga County Council in an attempt to have native lands placed on the same footing a 8 that belonging to Europeans as far as rating was concerned. Section 124, Waipa.—Mr C. Edwards applied for repairs to the road leading to section 124, Waipa.—The Council authorised the expenditure of £ls on the work. Whatawhata Bridge.—lt was resolved to determine the contract for repairing and cleaning the Whatawhata bridge, and to request Mr Ja«. Calder to take up the work. Olb Timber.—Cr. La Trobe was requested to dispose of the old timber at Maungatawhiri to the best advantage. Gate on Road.—Mrs McL,-ish, Whatawhata, complained of a gate ou the road leading to her property.—lt was decided to inform her that the gate was not a legal one, and the Engineer was instructed to report as to whether it is on the proper road line. Aldred's Road.—Mr F. Aldred, of Whatawhata, asked for repairs to the road Meadiug from Tnnaki to Whatawhata. He also complained of the same gate, and notified that the road passing throuch Ljt 13 would be closed permanently on aud after September 15th, unless a 3tart was made to form the proper rond.—lt was resolved to effect necessary repairs on the old road. Taylor*s Road.—An application from Mr J. F. Taylor, of W r hatawhata, for material for a culvert was granted, and lie was informed that any alteration he might make in the line of fence on the road would he at his own risk. Recreation Reserve.—lt was resolved to support the Raglan Farmers' Club in their endeavour to secure the Te Uku Landing Reserve for a recreation ground, and to communicate with the Assistant Surveyor-General on the matter. Another Loan. -The Council notified its intention of raising a loan of £4OOO over the Onewhero Special Rating District ; term, 41 years at 3i- per cent, twothirds of the amount to be expended between the Tuakau bridge and the southern boundary of Onewhero Parish; the remainder to be expended on metalliug where necessary between the southern boundary and Turner's junction. Land for Selection.—The Council resolved to recommend the Commissioner of Crown Lxnds to throw the Kauri Gum Reserve, Whangape, open for selection. Taking Land.—lt was resolved that the matter of taking the portion of Section 72, Parish of Waipa, for road purposes, he left in the hands of the chairman. That the roads through Sections 77 and 85, Parish of Kariori, be taken, and the road adjoining be closed and exchanged with the owners of Sections 77 and S 5. Also that the road through Sections 35 and 67, Parish of Whangape, be taken under the Public Works Act. Clerk's Salary.—On the motion of Cr. McKinnon, seconded by Cr. Mathias, the salary of the clerk was raised to £l5O per annumn. Road Works.—£2o of 'thirds' was authorised to be expended on works on the outlet road near Mr Jones', Waitetuna, £75 on works iu the Pirongia Riding, and £ls in Karamu. Removing Fence. —Mr Bothwell was notified to alter the fence at the junction of the Botljwell Road with the Tuakaulliiglan Read to the proper line. Work at Awaroa The Engineer was instructed to lay-off work at Awaroa at a cost of £2O. Alleged Liekli.ous Letter. —The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr G. 8. Whiteside, ex-Councillor, demanding an alleged libellous letter written presumably by Mr T. Hunt. The New Bovnimuik.-.—lt was resolved that the portion of Whangap •■ joined to Onewhero be debited with por- '

tion of the Whangape debt pro rata to valuation, and that thu portion of Wai ngaro added to Whangape be debited n ith portion of the Waingara debt pro rata, also that the portion of Karioi added to Waingaro be clear of any portion of the Karioi debt, and that the Karioi Riding debt be equally divided between the Karioi and Whaingaroa Ridings. Landing Sued. Permission was granted to Mr N. C. Matthews and others to erect a shed at the Te Uku lauding, the building to be removed when the owners are called upon to do so by the Council. Pond's Road,—Tenders are to be called for works on Mr W, J. Pond's road, Kauroa. Onewhero Cemetery.—lt was decided to recommend Messrs \V. Alexander, M. Poland, J. Logan, A.Crawford and J. Miller to the Government as trustees of the Onewhero Cemetery. TniUDS.—The following thirds were authorised for expenditure:—Donny's, £3O; Stevenson's, £ls; and Kahuru, £l6O. Telephone Communication. The Chairman was empowered to take steps to have telephone communication established between Ngarua.vahia and Waingaro ; and the Council agreed >o guarantee the expenses in connection with a telenhone line from Onewhero to Glen Murray. Local Bill.—Mr J. C. Martin, snlici tor, Wellington, is to be employed to diaft a local Bill closing the road through Messrs McKinnon's and Niccoll's land and Section 23a, the cost not to exceed £2O. Rate.—The Council confirmed a general rate of l-£d on the unimproved value and Reparate rates in the Karioi, in the Onewhero and in the Whangape Ridings, and £d huspital rate in the county. Other Works.— Metalling in front of Mr Hamilton's store, Raglan, ami gravelling to give accesß to the properties of Mesars Dando and Brown, was authorised ; £2O was voted for the AotcaRaglan Road, £4O for the Raglan-Waipa Road between Mangatawhiri and Raglan, and £lO between Mangatawhiri and Waiteluoa. SnusiDY.—lt was deeded to apply for subsidy up to £SOOO for the WaitetunaRaulan Road. THANKS.—A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs N. and G. Biker for their valuable assistance in county matters in the Whangape Riding. Raglan Drainage. The Council agreed to tot ward Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co. an epitome of the drainage scheme and to give the Riglan residents an opportunity of discussing the question of raising a loan of £4OO for drainage and gravelling works. Accounts.—Accounts amounting to £42(1 were passed for payment. Riding Balances—The Clerk read the following statement of riding balances:—Land Fund, Cr.—Karioi, £l9 9s 6d ; Karamu, £32 5s 7d ; Onewhera, £B4 Is 2d; Pirongia, £6l 12s 3d ; Waingaro, £323 3s 6d ; Whangape, £313 lis Bd. Ridings, Dr.—Karamu, £5 15s 7d; Piroosia. £8 14s 2d: Te Akau, £3'2:is 3d; Waingaro, £134 lis 3d; Onewiiero, £2oi Is 6d: Karioi, £473 lis 3d; Whangape. £6OO 12s 4d. Harbour Board, Cr.. £9(l 19s 2d. Engineer's Rejtout.—ln Ins report the Eugineer, Mr S J. McMeekin, stated that the total cost of a drainage scheme for Raglan would be about £2lO. This amount represents the total cost of pipes, labour, junctions, etc., 12-in pipes in Bow Street, which will be the main, and 9 in pipes in the side streets.—The report was adopted. Deposits Forfeited.—Messrs Kempthotue ami Charleston, and C Johnstone, having throwu up their contracts, it was resolved to forfeit their deposits. Road at Onewhero.—The clerk was instructed to inform the Assistant Sur-veyor-General that the Council does not intend to open the road through Sections 128, P 29, 130, and 133, Onewhero, and to write thanking Mr Win. Duncan fur his .services in connectiou with this matter. The Leper. —The clerk was directed to infi rm the Health Department that the Maori leper actually belongs to the district under the control of the Pukekohe Road Board, and as he has only been living in the Raglan County about three months the Council do not intend to accept any responsibility. It is understood that he was only brought into this district to obtain local native attendance.