ORDINARY MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XV, Issue 2108, 3 March 1887, Page 2

ORDINARY MEETING.

Immediately after the special meeting the ordinary monthly meeting was held, the same Councillors being present. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Outward correspondence read and approved. HfWARD CORBESPtfODEITCE. Erom J. Blackett, Engineer-in-chief, — That '"there is a sum of £1573 available for formation of Thompson's Track, and it is proposed to hand that amount to the Council on certain conditions, viz, that the Track be formed to such grades as to be available for formation into a cart track; that the Council shall make suggestions a manner of expending the money, and shall obtain sanction of the Government before proceeding. Erom L. M. Grace, — Enclosing copy of telegram as published in our j issue of the 26th re Thompson's Track. Erom the Under Secretary for Public Works, — In reply to the Chairman's letter, that delay has been caused by consideration of which is the most advantageous route for formation^of a permanent coach road between Katikati and Te Aroha, but that the one via Thompson's Track has been decided on as the most] suitable. The letter further recapitulated the conditions mentioned in the letter from the Engineer-in-chief, adding that it was proposed to place the survey and inspection of the work in the the hands of Captain A. C. Turner, County engineer, and that a formal agreement for signature will be sent on intimation of the Council's acceptance of the conditions proposed. Cr Macmillan moved that the terms of this letter be agreed to. The survey should be proceeded with without delay. This was unanimously agreed to by the Council. Erom Captain Hugh Stewart, — Re claim made by the County Council for | rates against his brother, Mr G. V. Stewart, stating that matters in connection therewith had recently come to his knowledge that were possibly

unknow nor overlooked by the Council, and asking that the Council would not proceed to extremities .until it knew how much could be justly claimed. The writer^ mother, Mrs M. Stewart had paid a large sum for rates under threat of legal proceedings, and it could not be claimed that such payment made in ignorance of the facts and without authority of the owner was ,an admission that such were legally due to the Council. Much the greater part of this payment, was in respect of land at Te Puke alleged to belong to writer's brother, but now in possession of the Crown, The fact that the Government had decided that they could not receive property tax on the land in question from Mr G. V. Steward should make it indisputable that rates or other charges thereon could not be claimed from him. Mr G. V. Stewart or his agent should certainly have got the rate book altered but it was an unjustifiable punishment to sell a man's property because his agent has neglected a technical detail. The writer hoped that the Council would appoint a committee to go into the matter as he was of opinion that the amounts ignorantly paid in excess under threat of law, "on his brother's behalf, would be found sufficient to satisfy all dues to the Council. Cr Eraser said Mr Stewart had had a pre-emptive right over some 1200 acres at Te Puke and had only recently be offered an advance of 25 per cent, on the price, and had purchased 250 acres in his son's name. Cr Macmillan proposed that a committee be appointed to interview Captain Hugh Stewart at Katikati and find out what is wanted to be done in the matter, such committee to consist of Cr Killen and the mover. Erom Captain Stewart,— calling attention to the bad state of the road to Bo wen town which was now much used, as cutters were constantly calling in for ore from the Waihi mines. A similar letter on the same subject was also received from Mr Harley. Cr Macmillan proposed that the Engineer be asked to report on the road at his convenience. Carried. A memorial from the settlers on the road from the four cross roads at Greertpn to TeEanga as to the impassible atate of the road owing to deep ruts,|gorse &c. Resolved that the Engineer report on the road. A memo from H. Dunbar Johnson re the necessity of appointing a clerk to the Maketu Licensing Committee. Matter left in the hands of the representatives of the Maketu riding* Erom J. S. Sperry asking that Mr Aitken's name be removed from the valuation roll as owner of certain pro perty at Maketu . Erom R. Home,— asking that his name be erased from Galbraith's Te Puke Canal petition, as he had come to the conclusion that he had committed an error in signing it and characterising the project as an insane one. Erom Treasurer. — that £38 balance of subsidy under Local Bodies Powers and Einance Act is paid into the Council's account. Erom Acting Manager National Bauk of New Zealand (Limited), — asking that £75 be paid to account of the Katikai;i Highway Board being amount of grant. due. Resolved that amount be paid. Erom * the department of the Minister of Justice, — that it was not thought advisable to abolish the office of native assessor on the Licen r ing Bench of Maketu riding, in the interests of temperance. ?; It was resolved, that the expenses of the Clerk and Assessor of the Maketu Licensing Bench be paid. The Engineer then read his monthly report on the roads &c. The "Wairoa bridge was now undergoing repairs. Reminding the Council that contracts for maintenance expire on the Bth. Cr Willmott said tnere was a very dangerous hole at the very point of the rocky cutting on the Te Puke road that should be seen to at once or some fearful accident might any day occur. He moved that a sum not exceeding £30 be appropriated to widening the road at this point and that tenders be called for the work returnable at the next meeting of the Council. ' Cr Macmillan brought up the subject of providing drinking troughs on the county roads ; it was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Engineer to have troughs formed wherever he thought necessary. Cr Galbraith said he would, in accordance with the notice of motion he had previously given, bring up the matter of a preliminary survey of the proposed JTe Puke Canal. A grant might be obtained either of money or land to assist the scheme, and he gave notice to move that the Engineer be instructed to prepare a sketch plan and estimate for the canal, that they might be able to go to the Government for assistance with definite proposals. Cr Willmott (Maketu riding) said all the Te- Puke settlers condemned the scheme and said if he supported it he ought to be kicked out of the Council. Those whom he had induced to sign the petition had done so on the understanding that not a penny of county rates be spent on the work. Cr McMillan seconded the proposition so that the matter might be discussed. The Chairman notified his intention of voting against the motion, he looked on the scheme as a wild one. On the motion being put to the vote it was negatived by 4 to 3. Crs Galbraith, Macmillan, and Killen, voting fpr it. ..' This concluded the business.