COUNTY COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCILS.

WATTEMATA.

The annual meeting of the Waitemata County Council was held yesterday, at the offices, Palmerston Buildings, Queen-street, at noon. Mr. O. Mays (clerk) presided. The members present were: Messrs. O'Neill, Sinclair, Bruce, Phillipps, Cochran, Wilson, and Hatfield. On the motion of Mr. Bruce, seconded by Mr. Hatfield, Mr. John O'Neill was unanimously re-elected chairman. The ordinary meeting was then held, the chairman presiding.

Waikumete Railway Crossing: The question of the Waikumete railway crossing deviation was deferred till next meeting, the chairman and Mr. Cochran to interview the district engineer and report to the Council. Wade Ratepayers' Association: A letter was received from Mr. A. Jack, enclosing a report of a meeting of the Wade Ratepayers' Association, at which resolutions giving suggestions as to the spending of Council funds in that district were passed. On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to reply that the Council declined to recognise the association in any way. Regulation of Vehicular Traffic.: The Chairman moved, and it was agreed, "That the following resolution, passed at a special meeting on September 7 last, be now confirmed and made a special order of the Council: 'That by-law No. 2 for regulating vehicle traffic in the ridings of Takapuna, Northcote, and Waikumete be adopted.' The special order to take effect on and after January 1, 1901." Railway Crossings: Mr. Phillipps moved, I'That this Council appoint members to constitute a deputation in conjunction with members, of the executive of the Agricultural Conference, to approach the Minister for Railways at the earliest opportunity, to obtain more equitable treatment as regards railway crossings." The Chairman, who seconded, said it was a most important matter, and itlr. Phillipps deserved the thanks of the Council for bringing it up. The motion was adopted, and Messrs. O'Neill, Bruce, Cochran, and Phillipps were appointed to act as the deputation. Tenders: Tenders for works were dealt with as follows:—Constructing 23ft bridge, Helensville-Riverhead Road, J. Griffin, £45, accepted. Constructing 25ft bridge, Ara-rimu-Waimauku Road: Deferred till next meeting. Carting broken metal, Takapuna, Northcote, and Birkenhead Ridings: Mr. John Budge's tender for Takapuna was accepted, Northcote and Birkenhead being declined as too high. Carting and spreading broken metal on the main road, Kaukapakapa: John Drinnan and Son, £51, accepted. Maintenance of part of Birkenhead-Albany Road for 12 months, and supply and delivery of about 100 cubic yards of broken metal, Albany: No tenders being received, it was decided to call fresh tenders. Forming and pipe-claying 20 chains, Dairy Flat-Wade Road; John Hawkes, £58, accepted. OHINEMURI. [by TELEGRAPH. correspondent.] Paeroa, Wednesday. The annual statutory meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held at noon today, when Mr. H. P. Barry was again unanimously elected to the position of chairman. Soveral of the councillors spoke in roost highly eulogistic terms of Mr. Barry's administrative ability, and the fairnoss which had always characterised his ruling. Mr. Barry briefly and appropriately acknowledged the compliment paid to him. Messrs. Saunders and Moore were elected the Council's representatives on the Thames Hospital Trustees and Charitable Aid Board, Mr. Moore being the deputy. The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held at two clock, when there were present: Messrs. H. P. Barry (chairman), Poland, Draffin, Bowler, Marrinan, Stackpole, Saunders, Moore, and Caßsrels. Tenders were accepted as follows: Resurfacing and metalling 30 chains of road from Hungerford's bridge to Woodstock brake, J. Goonan, £103 15s; resurfacing and metalling 55 chains Earl of Glasgow track, J. Goonan, £183 19s; forming and ditching 43 ohains Mill Road, E. Adolph, £73 10s; filling and carting 700 oubio yards broken metal from Mitchell's quarry to section .No. 1, main road, J. H. Emott, £84' 7s 6d; formation Tauranga Road, P. Sheehan, £110; forming and grading portions of Consols-street, Waihi, M. Priston, £60 16s; forming approaches Grace Darling bridge, Waitekauri, S. Viekers, £54 15s; draining and forming portions of Stratford and Cuba Streets, Waihi, P. Sheehan, £45; grading and forming portions of Margaret and Evans Streets, Waihi. P. Sheehan, £59 10s. With regard to metalling the main road, from the Paeroa railway station to the Royal Mail Hotel, Paeroa, it was decided that fresh tonders be called for the work, and that the metal bed be widened 28ft; also, that blue metal bo put on for a depth of Bin on the new formation, and 4in on the old. Mr. Ross, of Waihi, waited on the Council, and asked for a grant towards the Waihi Publio Library and Readingroom. It was decided that as soon as the Waihi residents subscribed £50 this amount would be subsidised by the Council. COROMANDEL. [TIT TELEGRAPH. —own CORRESPONDENT.] Coromandel, Wednesday. The annual meeting of the Coromandel County Council was held to-day, when there were present: Messrs. Gow, Wilson, Horn, Brodie, Swindlcy, James, and McEwan. On the clerk calling for nominations for chairman for the ensuing year, Mr. Brodie proposed and Mr. Wilson seconded, Mr. Swindley. Mr. James proposed, and Mr. Horn seconded, Mr. McEwan. Mr. James remarked that from their past 12 months' experience of Mr. McEwan, he was confident that he would make an excellent chairman. On a division, Mr. McEwan received throe votes and Mr. Swindley two. Mr. McEwan, on taking the chair, thanked the members for the confidence placed in him, and hoped, that with the cordial assistance of the members, the business would bo conducted satisfactorily. The following were appointed delegates to the Thames and Coromandel United Charitable Aid Board:—Messrs. James, Horn, and Gow._ Messrs. James and the chairman were appointed to sign cheques. The members of various ridings in the county were appointed members of the Board of Works for each riding. It was resolved that the regular meetings of the Council be held on the second Tuesday in the month. It was also resolved that the meetings be held in Coromandel, and that a travelling fee of 30s be allowed country members for each meeting. It was decided that the registration fees for dogs be 5s for the year. A special rate of six farthings was levied on all property within the Coromandel water supply district. This was in connection with the £8000 loan recently authorised by the ratepayers. The general correspondence showed that the late chairman of the Council had appointed Mr. D. W. McArthur as engineer for the carrying out of the proposed waterworks, at tho remuneration of 7£ per cent, on the cost of the work. This appointment had, it appeared, been made solely by the late chairman, on his own authority. A letter was read from Mr. McArthin, conveying thanks for his appointment. Several members took exception to the appointment. Mr. Horn thought the action premature. It should have come before the whole Council. Mr. McEwan did not know Mr. McArthur, and what he knew,- spoke well for his qualifications, but ho thought it a daring step for the lato chairman to take step for which he had no authority or power. The appointment, so far as already made, was between Mr. Swindlcy and Mr. McArthur. Mr. Brodie considered the lato chairman hasty in appointing Mr. McArthur, for it was a position thit should have been thrown open to tho public. Mr. Swindlcy, the late chairman, in reply, considered he had the power, as chairman, and that he had made the appointment in the interests of the public, as lie knew Mr. McArthur to bo a thoroughly experienced and qualified man for carrying out such an undertaking. Mr. James proposed, " That this Council disapproves of the action taken by the late chairman (Mr. Swindley) in connection with the employment of Mr. McArthur, and that the secretary bo instructed to at once write Mr. McArthur to this effect, that his appointment as engineer by the late chairman was without the consent or knowledge of tho Council, and consequently has no standing." This motion was carried. It was subsequently resolved that applications be advertised for the position of engineer in carrying out the waterworks. ■ y THAMES. [by: TELEGRAPH. correspondent.] Thames, Wednesday. At the annual and statutory meeting of tho Thames County Council to-day, Mr. T. A. Dunlop was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year, which makes tho ninth successive occasion on which he has been elected to that office. The councillors spoke in eulogistic terms regarding Mr. Dunlop's qualifications for the nosition, and in returning thanks foi the honour • conferred upon him Mr. Dunlop said that he hoped to be able to give the same satisfaction in the future as he had done in the past. Messrs. McEnteer, Taylor, and Otter were appointed the' Council's representatives on tho Charitable Aid and District Hospital Boards; Messrs. Dunlop and Deeble to the hospital trustees; and Mr. Dunlop was appointed deputy trustee. At the annual and statutory meeting of the Thames Borough Council, the following appointments wore made:—

trustees, the Mayor (Mr. F. Trembath) and Mr. Wood; deputy trustee, Mr. W. ! Scott; District Hospital Board, Messrs. W. Davey, J. M. Foy and W. J. Deeble; Charitable Aid Board, Messrs. Davey, Foy and Deeble; Meat and Milk i Inspection Committee, Messrs. Poulgrain, Davey and Lucas. N