WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 3

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Waitemata County Council met yesterday. Present: Messrs A. Bruce, McLeodMcKay, O'Neill, Bishop, Sinclair, Thompson, Moffatt.

Representation.—The Marine Department forwarded a copy of the Order-in. Council declaring that the Birkenhead Borough Council alone should elect a member of the Auckland Harbour Board, the Northcote Road Board having ceased to exist. The Chairman said that about five-eighths of the people in the district would be disfranchised by this step. He moved to the effect that the Council protest against so large a portion of the ratepayers of the Birkenhead and Northcote districts being disfranchised, and that they request that the terms of the recent Order-in-Council be revoked, and the previous resolution to join the Council with the Birkenhead Borough be given eflect to. This was agreed to.

Pound. —A great deal of discussion ensued regarding the choice of a site for a pound at Northcote. Eventually the engineer was instructed to prepare plans for the erection of the pound on the present reserve at Northcote.

Finance.—Tho Treasury notified that the sum of £98 19a lOd had been remitted to the credit of the Council. The Mairetahi Loan,— J. E. Fitzgerald, chairman of the Public Debts Sinking l* und Commission, Wellington, reported that the Commissioners would be ready to lend the sum of £1000, the loan applied by the Mairetalii ratepayers, upon being more fully informed of the security the Council were able to otV>r. It was resolved to send this and other information asked for. Claim for Damages.— summons was sent to the Council by Mr. John McLeod, iiraeside, Kaukapakapa, for the sum of £47 0s Bd, claim for damages for detention in his contract for the carting of scoria, and for work done. It was resolved to defend the action in the Helensville Court. Ihe ( Lake District.—Mr. Harrow presented another petition from residents at the Lake asking that the new road there between the Lake and the sea, be declared a main road, as tliey wished to have as much money spent on that as on the present main road. Mr. ohakespear wrote protesting against this course, and characterised the demand ->f the petition as an impudent one. Mr. '. ->nipsou pointed out that if the road between the Lake aud the sea had become a main road by reason of the increased traffic upon it, it would have as much money spent upon it as upon the present main road. He moved, I hat the request of the petitioners be declined. Ihis motion was agreed to. Mr. Harrow presented a petition asking to bo relieved from the payment of his rates until he could get _ money, He said there was nothing bringing him in any money. The chairman said the Council were all of opinion that Mr. Harrow was not a destitute person, and they declined to remit his rates. Another letter from Mr. Harrow asking the Council to dismiss their secretary was laid upon the table. TiiAmo on the Roads, The Finance Committee was empowered to draft by-laws to regulate the width .of tires and weight of loads on the county roads during the winter months.

<t Ballast Wharf.—Mr. McLeoa moved, ' That the engineer make plans and specifications for a ballast wharf at Helensville, that tenders be called by the Finance Committee for the work, returnable in 14 days, and that the metal now on board tlie barque Conference bo landed at West's wharf in terms of the arrangements made by the engineer with Mr. West." The motion was agreed to. Road Metal.—-It was also resolved," That the engineer make plans and specifications for the supply of road metal for the Helensville and Babylon Road, returnable at next meeting, no tender to be accepted, however, until the loan applied for be paid into the county funds." The Council and the Engineer.—Mr. James Knox protested, as a professional man and a ratepayer, against the action of the Council in granting the services of their engineer in the construction of a wharf at Manukau Heads for the Manukau Timber Company. He urged that the permission was not only illegal, but unfair to outside engineers. The members of the Council, however, pointed out that the wharf would bo a public one, and that it was understood that the Company would grant a road to the wharf.

Compensation'.—Mr. F. W. Sidwell accepted the sum of £7 10s, as compensation for damage to his property at Waiwera. Mrs. Elias wrote, stating that she looked upon the olFer made by the Council for compensation in regard to her property as a direct insult. The letter was received. Mr. T. Ussher (as agent for trustees) claimed £10 compensation for certain land at Waitakerei, taken for a road. The claim was granted. Road Formation. —It was decided to accept the offer of Mr. Button to pay for the formation of a road to be taken through his property at Birkenhead. Messrs. Clinkard, McLeod, and Co. wrote offering to spend pound for pound with the Council in repairing and draining the Waikoiniti-West Coast Road. They believed £20 would be a sufficient sum to do the necessary work. It was resolved to reply that the Council had at present •no funds available for work in the Waikomiti riding. With regard to Mr. Sydney Smith's application for an outlet for road from his section of land near Helensville, it was resolved to do the necessary work if lie would pay the costs. The chief surveyor wrote approving of the plans of the Waimauku - Woodhill road, Kumeu, to be taken under the Public Works Act. _ The engineer was instructed to obtain all information regarding the probable amount of compensation which would be required for the land. An application from Mr. John Quinn (through Mr. Tole) for a road giving access to his property in the Waikomiti Riding, was declined the Council having no funds for the work. Rkpaiks.—Mr. W. (i. Barnes and others, settlers and residents of Kumeu and Tupaki, wrote complaining of the neglect of the Council regarding the roads in these districts. They pointed out that there was no legal road to the Kunieu Railway Station, and that the public hall and cemetery could not be approached. The matter was referred to the engineer. Mr. A. Jack complained of the bad condition of the main road from the Wade to Wainui, through the digging of holes on the roadway by gutndiggors. The letter was referred to Mr. Moffat. It was decided to offer a reward of £5 for the conviction of any person digging on the county roads. Mr. Thomas Lees wrote calling attention to the impassable state of the roads in the Wade district. It was decided to spread metal as soon as the weather permitted. A number of petitioners asked that certain repairs should be made upon roads in tho Lucas Creek district. It was decided that the smaller works should be done by the engineer. Bridges.—Messrs. Hunter asked that the bridge over the Kunieu Creek, Waitakerei, be made available for wheeled traffic. The consideration of the matter was deferred.

Unionism. — The secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' Association, writing from Wanganui, forwarded the rules of that body, and asked that a branch of the Association be formed here. The Auckland Farmers' Defence Association also sent a circular drawing attention to their Union. The consideration of the matter was deferred until next meeting. A large amount of business of minor importance was transacted.