THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6570, 7 December 1882, Page 5

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

[BT TKLKGRVPH. —OWN CORRESFONDBNT.] Thames, Wednesday. At the County Council meeting to-day it was decided to borrow £41,US'2 under the Koads and Bridges Construction Act, ISSI, for metalling and re-forming the road to Te Aroha, and making a bridge road to Tairua harbour, and re-forming the road towards Coromandel. Owing to the inadequate supply of water to meet requirements, it was also decided to move the Government to bring in the water from the Puru stream (about l>i miles north of Grahamstown) by a water race, under the Public Works Act. There are about twenty-five sluice heads of water in the stream. This is a want greatly felt, as many of the batteries have to remain idle in summer in consequence of the scarcity of water. Telegrams were received from the Under Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Ferguson, chairman of the PiakoCounty Council), suggesting that the portion of the Waitoa highway district within the boundaries of the Thames County be attached to the Piako County. The Council decided that if the ' Piako Council gave to the Thames County the whole of the lands (which include the Te Aroha goldlields) on the proper right bank of the Waihou river, the latter would agree to the suggestion, but if, on the other hand, they would not agree, the counties to remain as at present. A letter was received from Mr. .1. H. Nicholls, complaining of the insufficient staff to conduct the affairs of the ] Go)d!k-lds Department hen-: also, pointing out the great expense and inconvenience to winch the public were subjected by the parsimoiiiousness of the GoYernment, and asking the Council to move the Government to place the department here in the same sta'Le of t iliciency as such departments are in in the South Island and neighbouring colonies. A notice of motion by Councillor Bignall to cease contributing towards the big pump was, by permission of the Council, alio" ed to be withdrawn, in order to substitute another motion relegating the question of aid towards the Queen of Beauty and the big pump to a committee of the whole Council, to bring up a report on the whole subject at a meeting of the Council to be held on the 10th January.