PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of tho above Council was held at Te Aroha on Wednesday. Present: Messrs. Chepmell, McCaw, Farmer, Jackson, Brady, and Cox. Mr. W. P. Chepmell was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. Mr. Chepmell briefly thanked the Council for the honour conferred upon him. GENERAL MEETING.

Messrs. McCaw, Brady, Jackson, and Farmer wore appointed, in conjunction with the Mayor of Te Aroha, to elect three reprosen tatives of the Council on the Waikato Hospital Board. They met later, and elected Messrs. Chepmell, Gallagher, and Farmer. It was decided, in compliance with his request to increase the wages of Foreman Mahood to £3 per week. Mr. Buckland wjis granted leave of absence for two months. A request from the Cambridge Road Board re opening a new road from Thornton Road to, Taotaoroa was considered. It was decided that the Council could not do anything in the matter, more especially as Mr. Buck!and, thd local representative, had reported unfavour- ' ably on the proposal. The Minos Department wrote authorising the expenditure of £58 on Thompson's track, within the county. In addition, the Lands and Survey Department had £200 available for the same purpose, giving a total of £258 at the disposal of the county. The Tauranga Council had also been granted £100 for this work. The Department suggested that the track be mad'! 12ft wide, instead of 15ft, as contemplated by the Council, as the former width would correspond with the portion of the track in the Tauranga County. The clerk was instructed to ask the Land Department for authority to expond the £200, and the foreman to prepare specifications and estimates for tracks 12it and 15ft respectively, in order to ascertain difference in cost. A letter was received from the clerk of the Matamata Road Boar 1, stating that they had a road machine in use, and that it was doing road-formation work at one-fifth of cost of the old-fashioned way. It was serviceable, for bush roads, and had encountered gome hundreds of stumps without injury. The clerk was instructed to writ© to the agents for the machines for particulars, and as to where the nearest machine could bo .seen at work. The manager of the Bank of Now Zeals*id wrote objecting to the inclusion in estimating legal limit of Government subsidies, contributions, and special rates. Mr. A. Edwards, who is in charge of the Waiorongomai tramway, reported the revenue since, last meeting had amounted to £32 lis. The expenditure for the same period had been £40 Bs. Ho also reported that on November 2 the rope at the May Queen grade had broken, with the result that two trucks were smashed, and about a chain and a-lialf of track, torn up. The Mines Department intimated that a sub sidy of £60 had been granted for repairs, and would bo paid on receipt of certificate that the Council had spent £160 on the work. In consequence of Mr. J. W. Walker asking that the Council should assist him. in constructing an outfall drain from his land to the river, Messrs. \>>x and Brady were appointed to inspect the place, and report to the Council. A petition was received from settlers on Stanley Road, asking that the road bo taken over by the Corwcil. The request was granted. Mr. James Hume, on behalf of Mr. J. L. Wilson, wrote declining to contribute towards the cost of gravelling part of the Cam-bridge-Tavirariga Road, as he was a large ratepayer, and thai there had been little or no expenditure on the road. The clerk was instructed to gravel a few chains near the Maiuigawhero bridge. Applications were received from Mr. T. Gavin and the Rev. J. Campbell, asking that they would treat as irrecoverable certain rents for mining leases standing in their names in the books kept at the Warden's Court. They pointed out that the Council had the power to do this under the Mining Act, 1898. Both applications wero referred to a committee to report at next meeting, such com&nittee to consist of Messrs. Brady, Farmer, and Jackson. On the recommendation of Foreman Wafctam, the following works wore authorised:— near Newsomo's gate, Gordon, new piles and sheathing to be put in ; formation of 12 chains of road on north ski© of Maori Creek, Gordon ; cutting down and grading hills near Gage-Browne's, at Shaftesbury; reforming of diagonal roads from cross-road to river : erection of new water-trough at the rocks, Motumaoha. Foreman Watfcam reported that owing to scarcity of labour he could not get men to work for 6a a. day. The foreman was empowered to offer 7s a day. After passing a number of accounts for payment, the Council rose.