IAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9202, 3 November 1888, Page 6

IAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the Waitemata County Council was held yesterday afternoon at the offices, Palmerston Buildings, Queenstreet. There were present: Mr. Bruce (chairman), Messrs. O'Neil, Macky, Bishop, Sinclair. Moffatt, and Thompson. Finance. — The following statement of accounts was submitted : Amounts received, rates, £240 9s 7d ; grants, £251 lis 6d; £492 Is id; balance due to bank at date, £832 I4s lOd ; accounts for payment, £110 18s .Vl— £943 13s 3d. Relief works account: Total amount expended to date from second grant of £000, £'2.3:2 15s 7d ; amount expended out of the special grant, £85—£5S 2a Tel. Total due by Council on these accounts, £70 ISs 2d.

Works Committee.The Works Committee reported lift vine made the necessary arrangements with Dr. Laishley for the deviation suggested by the engineer through Dr. Laishley "a land at Waikomiti. Ihe amount was £12, and the action of the committee was approved. Volkner's Hill, Lucas' Creek.—Tenders for grading, Ac., of the road were received. The"engineer s estimate was £60. Stevenson and Henderson, £C>4 4s; Fritz Baier, £40; Robert Thorburn. i' 67. Mr. Baier s tender was accepted. Carti.no and Filling Metal.—Tenders for carting and tilling 1000 yards of_ metal into railway siding at Mount Eden Smyth and 'Co.. lljd per yard; Benjamin Berrv. 11Hi : Thomas Bray, Is :J. 1 each, 9|d R. and R. Duder. Is od: William Osborne. Is ; William Lovett. lljd: George Totty. Is; John Shields, Is lid: 1". Proingool," 7 id; J. .1. Craig. Is yd; Maurice Casey, io.pl. It was agreed that Dromgool s tender be accepted, and that Reach's deposit be retained until the contract was taken up. Boating and Carting to Birkenhead. —Tenders for carting *00 yards of metal from Mount Eden, and boating it to Birkenhead Wharf, were received as follow:—J. J. Craig. ;is lid tier yard ; William Lovett, 4s Hd; K. and R. Duder. 4s 9d ;M. Casey, os 7\d. As the cost of the metal Mid the carting at Birkenhead would, with the tender, amount to its 2d. and metal could be obtained -s cheaper from the Cake, it was agreed to decline the tenders. Road in Maiketahi Block.—Mr. Alfred Buckland was heard by the Council in regard to a road to Mairetahi (Helensville to South Kaioara Head). He pointed out that he paid more than half the rates in the district, and he obtained no facilities for reaching his place. Mr. Wilson. County Engineer, said he did not think Mr. Buckland's road should take precedence of the other, which would be used bv a larger number of settlers. _ Mr. Buckland" said he would be satisfied if his own rates were expended on the road, and let the other, if they chose, be expended on the other road. The road which he wanted would, however, be of greater advantage to the settlers. He only wanted one year's rates of his own to be expended. The Chairman informed Mr. Bnckland that he might safely leave the matter in the hands of the Council. Kates.—Mr. Buekland also drew attention to a demand made on Mr. Webster for rates £15. He had now no "stock, and was sure he could not pay, but he was willing to work it out. Judgment had been obtained against Mi. Webster, who was present, and expressed his willingness to pay if he could, or work the debt out. On the motion of Mr. Mackay. the whole matter was allowed to stand over for two months. Wade Wharf Landing-place.—At the last meeting a letter was received from Mr. Jack re a road through the landing reserve, and alter discussion it was resolved. " That, provided the Wainui Board pay all cost of dedication, or other means of securing the public the undisputed right to the use of the land as a public road "in perpetuity, the Council is prepared to place under the control and management ol the Wainui Board the road on the northern side of the said reserve. feet tor a public road, to be maintained at the sole cost of the said Board. In accordance with that an advertisement appeal ed intimating that it would come up for ccnrirmation at this meeting. The clerk pointed out that the Wainui Board would nave to accept all the liability. Mr. Moffatt urged that the motion should be rescinded, and the reserve left as it was. The dat was required to put the locs on for forming rafts. Mr. Thompson moved", "That the motion be now continued, and made a special order of the Council." Mr. Sinclair seconded the motion, and it was carried.

Birkenhead. — There were at present a quantity of pitchers at Birkenhead belonging to the county, and Mr. Thompson proposed that they be "offered to the Borough Council at cost, or sold by tender. The pitchers cost £16 10s. and it' would not pay to break them into metal, so he wanted them sold, and the money expended on the road in the district. This motion was agreed to. Kauka fakapa Quarry.— Mr. W. Dawson forwarded a sample of metal from this quarry which he would supply at 6d per yard at the quarry. Mr. Sinclair said he had endeavoured to see the contractor, but was unsuccessful. and it was agreed that the matter be deferred till next meeting. Village Settlement Grant.—ln reference to the application for £300 out of the j grant of £<*/'.» for village settlements to j *ri'.>r t employment for village settlers _ at i -.vanson, the' Surveyor-General replied that only £40 was available, and that would be expended under the control of the Survey Office. The letter was received. Special Grant fop. Roads.—ln regard to the social grant of iS4. the Under Secretary of Public Works intimated that the Minister of Public Works approved of the Council's proposal as to the works proposed, t-.nd forwarded a form of agreement for signature. The letter was received and the form signed. "Kent of Office.—The Minister of Immigration wrote intimating that the Government could not continue to pay half the rent ~f the office after the present year. It would be necessary, therefore, for the Council to pay the whole rent in future. The matter was allowed to stand over for the present. 1 Native Lands Rating Act.—The Commissioner of the Property Tax drew attention to the repealing Act of last session, j intimating that in future all native rates and subsidies must be expended on native land roads, and not go into the general fund of the Council. The clerk pointed out that it would be necessary to define a road on which it should be expended. The matter was deferred. Mr. McLeod, Mr. O'Neil, and the engineer to report at next meeting as to the best means of expending this money. Muddy Creek.—Mr. George Laing applied co the Council to survey, &c., a road through his property, which he had dedicated. The engineer said the road had been pegged out, and he would attend to the survey next, week. It was agreed to inform Mr. Laing accordingly. Henderson's Road.—Mr. J. F. Bell, of Henderson, wrote stating that he was willing to give the land for the new road, and only asked that the old road should be closed, as both roads would be a nuisance to him. _ It was pointed out that some properties might front the old road, and the matter was referred to the engineer to report. _ Swans in.—Mr. Burton, for the Colonial Bank, wrote re a deviation of a road to \\ aitakerei, passing through their land. They would give the land on condition that it should be not more than 15 acres, and that the Bank or its assignees should have the sole right to lay a tramway on the road passing through their land. Exception was taken to tlie latter condition, and the engineer was instructed to confer with Mr. Burton on the subject of expunging this clause. Wade-Waini.'i Road.—Messrs Freeman, Yates, and Brown attended as a deputation in regard to the Wade-Wainui Road, to urge the Council to at once commence the work. Mr. Yates addressed the Council. What was wanted was that the Council should comply with the petition sent in four years ago, and extend the road to the Kaukapakapa railway. Mr. Freeman also pointed out the absolute necessity of having the road made promptly. Mr. Sinclair said that the road had been before the Council tor years, and it was a pity the property owners did not accede to the request ot the Council at that time when they had money to spend. Now the Council had consented to take the road under the Public Works Act, and the deputation came to them at a very awkward time when they had no funds. However, they should see that the road was made as soon as funds were available, and he suggested that the next years rates should be overdrawn for the purpose. The chairman explained that they were. £900 overdrawn, and the rates were coming in very slowly, and they were at present doing no works. Mr. Yates asked if the Council was willing to make it a first charge on next year funds. The chairman explained, said all the conditions were in favour of making the road. It would have been made years ago if the Wainui settlers had consented to give the land for the puruose. Mr. Moffatt said he would consent to £100 being given by his riding for this special work, if' Kaukapakapa would do the same, and the deputation was requested to confer with Messrs. Sinclair and Moffatt.

Miscellaneous.A number of minor, applications for repairs, were received from various districts and dealt with, but none of them .were of much importance.