WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 164, 13 July 1899, Page 2

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was'held at the Chambers, Ohaupo, on Tuesday. ; The Council decided to remit three 'years' rates on Lot 81 to Mr E. Dellicar if he put a small bridge over the drain running through Mr Livingston's property to give himself access to the main road. . The Chairman handed in his report upon the proposed new road to give the settlers of Tekapa access to the new Creamery to be erected by «Mr^ Spragg in that district. The estimated cost of the road (including compensation) • was £ 100. - The - Council considered that the parties benefited should contribute towards the work, either by a £ for £ subsidy, or by payment of a special rate. The matter was held over pending a reply from the settlers as to the amount they are prepared to contribute towards the work. The Council decided to notify Mrs Henderson and Mrs King of Frankton, that their fences must be removed back on to the proper road line by Ist August, in order that the approach to s the railway line at Frankton may be widened. It having been reported that the contractor for the work at the Cambridge Bridge was not making satisfactory progress, it was decided to inform him that unless he resumed work within 48 hours of the receipt of the notice, the Council would complete the work at his expense. The Chairman reported that the work at the Maungabaka Bridge could nofr be commenced until the water subsided, the creek being now in a state of flood. Speaking generally of the roads within the County the Chairman suir- ■ gested that in future a larger propov tion of the revenue should be expends;; on gravelling works. A letter from Mr F. Jolly, of Fran'■ ton, applying for permission to divers the course of a drain was received. ; The Council resolved to offer Mr W. |J. Gribble £10 for two acres of land to be used as a gravel pit, and to inform Mr W. Gardner that unless he is prepared to sell or lease portion of his property as a gravel pit, the Council ! will be compelled to take it under the ! Public Works Act. It was decided to urge the Railway Department to have a crossing to the I line made at Section 43 A, Pukete. , A communication on the subject of furze ploughs was read from Mr A. V. McDonald; but its consideration was ■ deferred for the present. j A grant of £25 was received ior expenditure on the Whatawhata Road. The following tenders were accepted for various works within the County: —Mystery Creek Road, earthwork, T. Tebbs, 6d per yard; formation, T. Cowley, 4/4 per chain; Rangiaohia Road, T. Jameson, earthwork, sd; formation, 3/8; Te Rore Road, All- ; port Bros., 3/6 per chain. Cr. Steele was empowered to have the draints on the Rukuhia station attended to. It was resolved to apply to the Government for a grant for repairs to the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Road. A petition signed by 124 rate-payers was presented by. a deputation of seven, of which Mr Gane acted as speaker. The petitioners prayed that, as the licensing of traction engines and portable engines had proved inimical to the interests of the ratepayers, it should be abolished, and also that by- | lay No. 7, imposing licenses on vehicles plying for hire should be withdrawn. A long discussion ensued, during which several of the settlers, residents of the Narrows district, pointed i out the jhardship of the by-law as far ias they were concerned, They had | been waiting to get a traction engine ! for their crops for some months, but as by coming there the engines woukT be in the Waipa County, and there* fore liable to the tax, the owners re-; f fused to do so. Mr Gane pointed out : that the tax gave traction owners a loop hole to increase the prices, and he gave an instance where three farmers had paid enough extra to defray j the tax, while the owner continued to press the extra charge on nil his clients. After a long discussion, thii matter was deferred for a month.