PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 94, 22 April 1902, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Piako County Council met at Morrinsville on Friday.

Mr A. Edwards, overseer of the Waiorougomai, reported that the heavy rains had caused a good many slips, but most of them had been cleared. No quartz had been run down during the month. The Roads Department advised that the Minister for Lands had granted £100 for work on Thompson's Track, plans of the work to be approved of by the roud surveyor at Rotorua.

Mr McCaw's request for the use on hire of the road machine for a week was granted. Foreman Mahood reported that several slips had occurred on the CambridgeNapier Road, and some sandy hill cuttings had been washed out; but he would attend to them before leaving that portion of the district. The rains and excessive carting had cut up the WaotuPutaruru Road badly. He advised that the work on the Arahiwi Road should be let in small contracts to settlers, as he had not time to attend to the repairs. The report was adopted.

Foreman Wattam reported great damage in his district through heavy rains. Culverts, embankments, and in some cases bridges had been washed" away About the worst place was MeLeod's Hill at Gordon Settlement, where the road was impassable for milk carts, as a washout 10 or 12 feet wide had been made in the embankment. He was informed that the Katikati track was impassable, and on the Stanley Road two' wings had been washed away from the bridge over Coleman's drain.

The clerk submitted a statement of the various balances as follows:—General account, debit balance, £38 18/1; Te Aroha Riding, cr., £35 1/11; Patetene Riding, cr., £147 15/; Taotaoroa Riding, cr., 12/2; contractors' deposits, cr., 20/; Te Aroha interest account, cr., 19/2; Patetere interest account, cr., £65 14/6; Taotaoroa interest, cr., £5 3/8.

The Chairman and Crs. Harrison and Farmer were appointed a Finance Committee to consider the County estimates for the year, and report as to the rates required for the ensuing year.

The Clerk was instructed to draw the attention of the Supervising Valuer to the many anomalies and inaccuractos in the valuation roll, and request him to make a fresh valuation of the County tbAs year.

Cr. Farmer reported that he had only managed to raise £100 for the Shaftesbury bridge, £25 of which he had contributed himself, and he asked the Council to forego the other £25 promised by him. This was agreed to.

The following list of works required was compiled for the Chief Road Surveyor: Thomson's Track, £500; Kaimai, £500; Arahiwi Road, £100; Tirau-Rotorua bridges, £300; French Pass Road, Taotaoroa Riding, £50; Walomo bridge, £250.