COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9468, 12 September 1889, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from OUR own , coiucespondents.] Hamilton, Wednesday. I Although the apportionment of the cost of ' maintaining the To Rore and Waipa bridge lias been satisfactorily arranged between the Waipa and Raglan counties there has been a hitch over the question of control. Both counties seek to have control of tlvese bridges, J and the Government has written proposing that tho matter be settled by giving the Te Rore bridge into tho control of Wai pa county; and the Waipa bridge, at Whatawhata, which is on the direct line of road between Raglan and tho Waikato capital I town, into the control of the Raglan county. Failing this arrangement the latter points out that the question must be settled by a commission. The Waipa county complains that the question of control has no right to be raised at all by the Raglan county, as it him been already vested in the former. They now ask that proclamation of such order may be made. They urge that both bridges are noarcr to their executive tluui to that of the Raglan Council. There is no doubt that as a matter of justice and expediency popular feeling will be in favour, or the Government proposal of vesting the control of the Te Rore Bridge in the Waitra. County, and that of the Waipa Bridge in Raglan, the latter being on the main Raglan-Hamilton Road, the chief outlet by land from the large and important : I'vuglan district into Waikato. Cambiuiwk, Wednesday. Mr. Nicol, the contractor for the new bridge at \\ alker's Gully, will have everything in readiness to start upon the work in a week or ten days' time. He has arranged with the county engineer, as this is the busy season, to leave the breaking up of the old bridge as long over as lie possibly on.it, so as to Rive the farmers an opportunity of (jetting manures, seeds, etc., to their farms from the bridge end. Ohaupo, Wednesday. At tho monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council yestorday there wure present;: The chairman (Mr, Tjaing), und Messrs. Karrell, Grice, Smith, Ridler, Finch, and Teasdale. The copy of a. resolution passed by: the Mfuigapiko Road Board wart received, protesting against the proposed increase in the county rates from five-eighths of a penny to j<l, and a Hospital rate 01 in the 11. The Chairman pointed out that, in consequence of the "lower valuation of property this year, a |d rate would only raise £1400, where, last year, the. fiveeighths of a penny rate raised £1700. He did not see how, considering they hud an overdraft of more than £800, they could carry on with less than a three-farthing rate. Farmers grumbled at the rate, but they would grumble more if the roads were unable to carry their produce. Mr. Finch advocated fi three-farthing rate for all purposes, including the Hospital and Charitable Aid. Mr. Teasdale said that, in deference to the wishes of his constituents he would vote for a J rate only, though in his own opinion the .fd rate would be necessary. Mr. Ridler thought both a .yd and a rate would be required. Mr. Farrell said if they neglected the roads for one year it would cost them a large sum to get them into condition again the year after. It was false- economy for the sake of a lower rate to go on paying interest on ail £SOO overdraft. It was then resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Finch and Grice, to levy a general rate of .V<l in the £. Mr. Ridler then proposed a special rate of Jd in the £ for Hospital and Charitable Aid purposes.! The Chairman seconded, stating that they might discuss the matter, leaving any action, if the motion be carried, until legal opinion had l>e<!ii obtained whether they had power to go beyond a. Jd rn.to. After. considerable discussion, it was agreed that the striking of this rate might stand over till it was found the money would be needed, and an amendment proposed by Mr. Finch, and seconded by Mr. ('.rice, was agreed to, " That a hospital rate be not struck at. present.' A letter was received from the Cambridge "oiougli Council, forwarding a copy of Mr. J. Hally's comparative statement of the cost of the Waikuto hospital and nine other hospitals selected from those referred to in Dr. McGregor's report. Mr. Teasdale, as the representative of the Waipa County ut the Hospital Board, stated that the statement of Mr. Hally was discussed at the lute meeting of the Hoard, and that counter-statements were read both by Mr. Cheumell and Mr. T. U. Sandes, to show that the apparently heavy expenditure of the Houpital Board was caused, not by current expenditure, but by the introduction into its year's expenses of a large amount of expenses which, beiug a new hospital, should really go to capital account. KniiKim, Wednesday. From a letter received from the member for Waipa at Wellington, it is learned that the Government intend forthwith to open a direct road from tlie'Waotu to Kihikilri. This will bring a considerable amount of traffic into this part of the Waikato, which now has to go round by Cambridge, shortening the distance to Tail and Napier, and will re-open the question already raised some time ago by. the Waipa Council of extending the county boundaries in that direction. Alexandra, Wednesday. A petition for the abolition of the public pound has been largely signed by residents and outside settlers. Fees are charged for grazing in the township roads, and a ranger is appointed, but i\w. system does not work harmoniously. The local body would grant the prayer of the petition, which is signed by more than half the ratepayers, but is bound by its contract with the ranger till February next, and in accordance with the claims of such contract has accepted the tender of Mr. .1. T. Sage to repair the pound at a cost of £4 10* b<l. ' The tender of Messrs. Constn and Gannonsway, £3 per amiiim for the first live years and f-l per annum for the next five yearn, has been accepted for the lease of the public reserve No. 0 , -'.'*; and for the reserve, lot 320, Mr. W. H. Rutherford's oiler has been accepted, a seven years' lease, at £4 4s per annum for tin: first live and £G per annum for the last two years. [UY TELKORAPII.— OWN* COBTIESPONDKN'TS.] Gamuiuix;e, Wednesday. "At the ordinary meeting of the Borough Council, last night, there were present:—A. Clements (Mayor), and Messrs. -JrlnHy, Bond, Webber, herguson, Young,and Gillett. A letter was read from the Treasury Department, saying that auctioneers' licenses would be refunded to the Borough. The cleric said this had since been dono. A letter whs read < from Mr. (-i. W. Russell, asking the Council to allow him to assign a lease allotment, lot f>ol, to Sir William Wasteneys, as attorney for Mr. Boekernton, Bournemouth, England. After considerable discussion it whs decided that the Council offer no objection. The Finance Committee's report showed the present overdraft to bo fo'iK) 5a sd. The surfaceman was re-engaged on similar terms to the prior arrangement. It was decided not to call for tenders for gravel in the meantime. Mr. Bach having been absent from four consecutive meetings, his seat was declared vacant, and the Returning Officer wos instructed to fill the vacancy. It was decided to proceed at once with tho erection of a strong room, the Domain Board having promised to contribute one-quarter the cost. The quarterly meeting of the Archideaoonal Conference for Waikato was held yesterday, the afternoon sitting in St. Andrew's School, and the evening sitting in the church. Tho Von. Archdeacon Willis was president, and the Rev. Mr. Boler secretary. There were also present the Rev. Mr. Biggs (Hamilton), the Rev. Mr. Kvans (Te Aroha), and a number of lay representatives. A number were present to listen to the discussion, among whom was the Rev. C. If. Garland, who, by permission of the chairman, was allowed to ask several questions on the subject of Church unity introduced by the Rev, Mr. Boler, upon which topic there was considerable discussion. Mr. Swurbrick (Hamilton) read an excellent paper on "Church Organisation," which elicited opinions from the clergy and laity present. The representatives to the conference were entertained at tea by Mrs. Willis at the parsonage. At Cambridge West on Monday evening, Mr. Hyatt, head teacher of the school, gave a very interesting and instructive lecture on agricultural science. It was well attended, the room being quite full. The Rev. C. H. Garland occupied the chair. During the evening two of the pupils Bang each a song. The lecture was illustrated by a aeries of experiments.