WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9011, 26 March 1888, Page 6

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Friday. At a special meeting of the Waikato County Council to-day—present: Mr. Primrose (chairman) and Messrs. Seddon, Barugh, Johnson, Forrest, and Smith —the Chairman moved that a special order be made delegating to road boards within the county the power to make and levy rates for payment of Hospital and Charitable Aid contribution and other county purposes, as provided by sections 157 and IoS of Counties Act, ISS6. The motion was seconded by Mr. Forrest and carried unanimously. The usual monthly meeting was then held. An application from" Mr. Laidlow, of Huntly, for an auctioneer's licence was granted. The Raglan County Council wrote, signifying their willingness to take over the punt at Churchill. Air. Johnson stated that a few days ago the punt, which is in charge of Messrs. Graham and Gibbs, had been lent to some natives, who overloaded it with cattle, and the punt had been sunk in the river. The Council agreed to hand over the punt to the Raglan Council, as asked for. A letter was received from the secretary of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, demanding a sum of £552 7s 3d, as the Waikato County's contribution to the Hospital and Charitable Aid revenue. A resolution was passed authorising the payment of the amount Messrs. Forrest and Smith alone objecting, and declining to vote one way or the other. A letter from the Chairman to the member for Waikato was read, pointing out that £74 9s was still owing by the Cambridge borough to the county, which the County claimed should be reimbursed by the Treasury to the county, and deducted by the Treasury from any subsidy coming from Government to the Cambridge borough. A letter was read from Mr. W. A. Graham advocating the establishment of local Boards of Agriculture in country districts, suggesting that the four counties and two boroughs form a district, and asking the Legislature to form them into a local Board of Agriculture. Such a Board could watch over, the organisation, of the sugar - beet movement. He recommended that the County Council should call a meeting of the chairmen of Highway Boards and others to set the movement on foot. Messrs. Smith and rest said such a Board would 6nly be another taxing machine. Mr. Seddon attributed the apathy in the protection of the agricultural interest to local jealousies. He strongly advocated the unity which a Board of Agriculture would afford. He pointed out that it did not follow as a necessity that such a Board should even strike a rate, and moved, "That this Council invite the chairmen of the different Local Boards to meet and discuss the propriety of establishing a Board of Agriculture for the district referred to." Mr. Barugh seconded the motion. He thought such Boards would be most useful, and need not become taxing machines. He would like to see Schools of Agriculture connected with such Boards. Mr. W. A. Graham, who was present, pointed out the advantages such Board would afford to the establishment of the sugar-beet industry. Such a Board would have great weight ill getting a reduction of railway freights. The motion was then put and carried unanimously, the meeting to be held in the Hamilton Borough Council Chambers, at three p.m. on Wednesday, the 4th April. The engineer reported that the fencing at the Narrows bridge had been completed, at. a cost of 36s 6d per chain. He reported that Jeffries' bridge required to be rebuilt. The timber could be got free from the settlers, and the whole money cost would not exceed £30. It was resolved to carry out the work.