WHAKATANE COUNTY COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9129, 10 August 1888, Page 6

WHAKATANE COUNTY COUNCIL

A meeting oi the Whakatane Council was held at Opotiki on July 9. Present: Messrs. J. B. Gow (chairman), E. P. Dumergue, A. Parkinson, J. Walker, F. P. Drury, and Dr. Reid. The minutes of the last monthly meeting were read and confirmed. Replies to last month's correspondence were read, discussed, and approved. Charitable Aid. —Telegram received from the chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board authorising the expenditure of £3 for P. Monaghan, a destihite person suffering from heart disease. Cost ok Native Assessor.—A letter was received from Mr. S. Wilson, of Whakatane, returning officer, re the cost of getting the native assessor from Matata to attend the Whakatane Licensing Court in consequence of the absence of the local assessor. Correspondence.—A letter was received from the Whakatane Road Board re plans of proposed public works in that district; also, that a copy of balance-sheet will be forwarded to the Council as soon as audited; also, re calico notices for the approach to the bridge. A letter was received from Constable Sisam giving an account of the expenditure incurred in the case of Patrick Monaghan, deceased, and enclosing vouchers for r2 9s and cash (lie), refund of balance of £3 unexpended.

Accounts. —The following accounts were received re Patrick Monaghan, deceased : — J. Anderson, services, £1 10s; Abbot and White, coffin and funeral, £4; Abbot and White, cemetery fees, 15s ; Medical services, £'218 a ; sundries, per police authority, £2 9s : total, til 12s. Resolved, "That the above accounts be certified and forwarded to the chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Tauranga, with an intimation that the police have forwarded a statement of his circumstances to the public trustee."

Native Assessor, Matata.—An account was received from the Matata native assessor for services in attending the licensing meeting at Whakatano, >.'3 6s. Tarawa Creek Bridge.—Dr. Reid proposed, Mr. Parkinson seconded, " That the balance of last year's allocation accruing to the Whakatane Road Board be granted towards the work applied for on the Tarawa Creek Bridge, the .same being on a district, and not a main road." Carried. BAIiANOB-SHEKT, &c.—The treasurer reported that the balance-sheet and books of the Council have been returned from the auditor in Auckland with numerous queries, which have been answered, but these answers have not been sent away, as the Government auditor is daily expected to visit Opotiki to audit the accounts of other local bodies. Waiotahi Approaches to Bridges.—Mr. Dumeivue reported that the approaches to the bridges on the Waiotahi Road have sunk, leaving the sills unprotected, and a drop of six or eight inches from the level of the deck ; also, some filling in on the embankment between the two bridges is needed, and a little planking upon the edge of the roadway to save the bank from breaking down. Resolved, " That the clerk employ a suitable person to do the foregoing repairs. ' Finance. —The following accounts were received :—John Kelly, one quarter's salary as poundkeeper, £6 10a; W. P. Browne, finger-posts, 14s 2<l; C. 1). Litchfield, returning othcer, local option, £1 16s; S. Bates, advertising, £4 15s ; S. Wilson, license clerk, £2 4s 6d ; Mita, native assessor, £3 6s : total, £19 5s B<l. The above were then passed for

payment. Unsafe Bridge.—A letter was received from the Whakatane Road Board asking the Council to construct, a new bridge over the Mill Creek, and enclosing a letter from Mr. .Joseph Healy, describing the state_ of the bridge as being unsafe for heavy traffic. Re-subkvying a Road.—Mr. Litchfield stated that Mr. A. M. Ross had pointed out the advisability of having a small portion of the Opotiki-W aiotahi Road re-surveyed, as he is already surveying a portion of the same road under instructions from the Government, with the object of considerably shortening the distance. A discussion ensued, but no resolution was made. The. meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.—[Own Correspondent.]