THAMES COUNTY.

1 ... MEETING* OF COUNCIL.

WORKS IN THE DISTRICT.

-Mr\R. W. BagnaU (chairman) presided at the meeting ot the Thames County Council yesterday, the other members present being Messrs Killgour, McCormick, Baker, Law, Adams, and Deebie. Apologies tor absence were received from Messrs Bax and Cooper. TENDERS. Tenders were opened as follows :— Turua-Kerepeehi Road, No. 34 Contract (372 cubic yards gravel.) BrenanandCo. ... ... 248 00 The tender was well above the estimate, and was not accepted. Iyuck-at-l^ast - Otainakitai, Contract No. 101 (about 23 chains formation.) M. J. Houlahan (accepted) 35 17 o B.Thomas ... ... ... 39 l 5 o Hikuai-Fourth, Branch Road, Contract No. 102 (10 chains formation.) j. Dufty (accepted) ... 36 "O o Wilson and Lennan ... 48 o k> Hikuai-Fourth Branch Road, Contract No. 103 (110 yards gravel.) J. Dufty (accepted)... ... 27 10 o Upper Kauaeranga Valley Road, Contract No. 104 (about 1 2 chains formation, etc.) G. Walters (accepted) ... 65 o o Adequate and party ... .73 o o J. M. Cunn ... ... 74 9 ° G. Williams ... ... 79 *9 nt F. Kumanch ... ... 80 o o T. Phillips ... ••• ••• 9° ° ° Donovan and Party ... 96 o o WANTED. Permission to instal a pump for domestic water supply purposes in the water race was received Irom L. Thomas, On the motion of Mr Law, the application was granted, subject to the byelaws and the engineer's approval. VOTES FOR PLAINS SETTLERS. A letter was received from the Hauraki Plains Settlers' Association, asking it the Council is taking any further action regarding rates trom settlers on the Plains. He also asked what steps were taken to remove the -names of Plains settlers from the defaulters'list, and reinstate them on the ratepayers' roll. A lettter on the same subject was rereceived from the Under-Secretary of Lands, stating that Hauraki Plains settlers whose names were placed on the defaulters' list could not vote at the election this month,^ but would be able to vote at future elections it they paid the rates they were liable for. Mr Baker said it.was a pity the people could not vote, andthe Chairman pointed out that the amending legislation passed had simply put the settlers in the fiosition of those who paid their rates too j late. ' ' ■■•'"■ No action was taken in the matter. SEPTIC TANK. I The Thames School Committee wrote stating that there was no.v no nuisance at the septic lank at Parawai School, and that in future careful supervision would be made. The srcretary of the committee also asked tor water for flushing purposes, the outlet to be into, the concrete water table in Cochrane Street. On Mr Law's motion, it was decided that the Council could not see its way to grant the request lor free water. WATER FOR BATHS. The question ot the supply of water for the municipal baths in Thames Borough was raised by a letter trom the Borough Council. The letter pointed out that the approximate revenue from the bath was only £30, and the cost of water at the rate ot is per 1000 gallons charged by the County would be £7 for each filling ot the bath, the Borough offered to give the whole revenue from the bath and provide attendants if the County would supply the water. On the motion of Messrs Adams and Law, the Council decided to grant the water on the same terms as previously. OTHER MATTERS. A request was received trom J. Gillon tor repairs to be made to the road between»Hikuai and Tairua so as to make it fit tor wheel traffic. Mr Adams said this was ah important work, and on his motion the engineer was instructed to look into the matter. The Mount Herbert County Council forwarded a copy of a resolution urging Government to impose a war tax,' to meet the expenses, of the expeditionary forces, and asking for support in the

matter. No action was taken in the matter. Mr McCormick spoke ot the necessity of cleaning out the drain on the Ngatiapua East Road, saying it was a small job, but should be attended to now. On Mr Law's motion the carrying out ot the work was authorised. The engineer reported that a dangerous corner on the Thames to Waikawau Road near Wood's Bay should be taken oft", the owner offering to sell the necesi sary land for £io. Mr Deeble said the i corner was a bad one,"and moved that the offer to sell the land be accepted. This was opposed by Mr Law, who said ;£io was too much to pay for the' land. It was decided to. leave the matter, in the hands ot the engineer to make the best terms possible. Mr Deeble mentioned the case ot another person who had previously offered to give a piece of land to improve another portion of this road, and on Mr Law's motion it was decided to make inquiries to see it. the offer is still open. On Mr iJeeble's motion, it was decided to urge upon the authorities the necessity of having the roads to land on Gumtown Road and other places surveyed and dedicated as soon as possible so that people taking up land could get a title to it. A petition from settlers in connection with the Orchard Bridge was received,\ and it was banded to the clerk to make arrangements for the special order in connection with the loan for the bridge. Mr McCormick asked what had been done about the Duck Creek Bridge on Opani Road, and the^ Chairman said the timber would be on the ground-in a few days. It was only withsn the past few days that permission had been obtained from the department to use other timber in place oi jarrah. In reply to Mr McCormick,the Chairman said that the engineer would attend to the Matatoki Creek as soon as he has time. He had been busy on the plans in.connection with the Kopu .Jerry; the next work to receive attention was the Orchard Bridge, and alter that he would see to the Matatoki Creek.