COUNTY COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11823, 28 November 1901, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCILS.

WAITEMATA.

i The annual meeting of the Waitemata : County Council was held at noon in the ' county office, Palmerston Buildings, yesj terday. There were present: Messrs. Sin--1 clair, Bruce, Alison, Hatfield, Wilson, , Cochran, Phillipps and O'Neill. Election of Chairman: It was proposed by ! Mr. Bruce, seconded by Mr. Sinclair, supI ported by several other members and carried , unanimously, that Mr. John Henry O'Neill be re-elected chairman for the ensuing ! year. Mr. O'Neill took the chair and heart- ! ily thanked the members for their renewed I expression of confidence in electing him for the fifth time to so important an office. He j hoped and believed that the good feeling which had prevailed between the chairman 1 and councillors for so many years would I continue in the future. Adlington'e Bridge: It was resolved that ■ the tender of Mr. John Simcock (£49) be aci cepted for the new bridge. I Metal Supply Contract (Takapuna, BirI kenhead and Northcote): The report of the 1 committee appointed to consider the various tenders for this contract recommended that

| the tender of Paterson and Co. for a supply • of 500 yds of 2sin metal at 6s per yard and j 500 yds of ljin metal at 6s 6d per yard, be j accepted, it being understood that Messrs. j Paterson and Co. will proceed forthwith to ! quarry and spaul stone to be in readiness ! for crushing by their new stone-breaker, which they have ordered from England and anticipate will be in working order early in February next year. Fouhy's Contract: It was resolved, on the report of the same committee, that the loss sustained by the Council through non-de-livery of metal and also the difference in the cost of metal supplied in respect to Fouhy's contract of November 15, 1900, be deducted from moneys in hand. It was also agreed that the chairman's action in sending formal notice of the cancellation of Fouhy's contract be approved. Riverhead Township Roads: Mrs. Lingard again waited upon the Council to request that the county road through this township might be surveyed and marked oil so as to enable her to locate some allotments which she had just purchased for a homestead. It was resolved that the request be declined. The engineer, however, offered to render the applicant whatever assistance it was in his power to give. Proposed New Whau Bridge: The engineer's plan and specifications for a new bridge were again considered, and it was resolved that tenders be called for the workas early as possible. The estimated cost of the new structure was £685, one-half of the amount to be paid by the county and the other half contributed by the following local j bodies in the proportions named:Avondale • Road Board, 6-48ths; Mount Albert Road j Board, 3-48ths; Point Chevalier Road i Board, 2-48ths: Archhill Road Board, 2-48ths; Mount Eden Road Board, 2-48ths; Eden Terrace Road Board. l-48th : Auckland city, 5-48ths; Grey Lynn Borough Council, 3-48ths. The same local authorities are also liable for one-half the cost of maintenence

of the bridge during the past few years. Takapuna-Birkenhead Road: It was resolved that owing to the difficulties and cost of acquiring the land for a deviation of this road through the intervening properties belonging to Messrs. Blyth and others, to cease negotiations, and that Messrs. Beale and Beale be informed accordingly. Glen Vav Road, Takapuna: Captain Cholmondely Smith's application for repairs on this road was deferred till next meeting for further information as to what is required. Albany Roads: Mr. J. E. A. Frost asked for the clearing of about 20. chains of a branch road leading from McArthur's bridge to his property. Referred to Mr. Wilson with power to act. Orewa Swing-bridge: Mr. William Stevenson, jun., wrote stating that it was his intention to trade with his steamer, the s.s. Advance, once a week to and from the Orewa River, and to do this it was necessary that the bridge should be repaired and arrangements made for opening and closing the bridge when bis steamer passed. It was resolved to grant the request on condition that the estimated cost for one season's trading be paid in advance. Great North Road: In reply to the chairman's application for a grant towards maintaining the Great North Road leading irom the Whau Bridge to the northern boundarv of the county, the Premier, in a letter which reached the Council only on the 19t'j inst., stated that ha had brought the matter under the notice of his colleague, the Minister for Lands, for consideration with the Supplementary Estimates. The letter was received. Woodhill Roads: Mr. F. Osborne wrote offering to excavate and cart 200 cubic yards of earth .and form and raise the road leading to Hardens property, five chains in length, for £12 10s. Referred to Mr. Phillipps and the engineer, with power to act.

Rangitopuni Bridge: The engineer reported that to reconstruct this bridge at; its present height and dimensions would cost £450, an expenditure which the traffic did not warrant. He recommended that a bridge be built at a lower level with only one span of 45ft, the sound timber in the old bridge being utilised. The estimated cost would be about £80. It was resolved to build the low level bridge on condition that the Pukeatua Road Board paid half th» cost. Kaukapakapa Roads: The engineer wis instructed to apply to the Railway Department for £50 worth of broken scoria, to be delivered at Mount Rex by rail and to maice specifications 'for carting and spreading eame. . Finance: Accounts amounting to £185 las 4d were passed for payment, and the Finance Committee were instructed to pay wages for November on Friday, December 6. It was resolved to hold the last meeting for the year on Friday, December 20, for the payment of such accounts as may be sent vo the office on or before Wednesday, December ?8. COROMANDEL. [BT telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Coromandel, Wednesday. The annual meeting of the Coromandel County Council was held this morning for the election of chairman for the ensuing twelve months. Mr. James proposed, and Mr. Horn seconded, Mr. Robert McEwan as chairman. There being no other nomination Mr. McEwan was declared duly elected. Mr. McEwan returned thanks for the honour, and hoped . that he would this year carry out his duties i faithfully. Be than£S? the members of the Council for the assistance they had one and all rendered to him last year. Messrs. James and Gow were elected members of the Thames and Coromandel Charitable Aid Board. The chairman and Mr. James were appointed to sign cheques. It was resolved that the regular meetings of the County Council be held in future on the Monday nearest full moon, at half-past nine a.m., and that 30s travelling allowance be allowed: also, that the members of the Barataunga Riding, and the members of the Mercury Bay Riding, be the Board of Works for their different ridings. The dog registration fee was fixed at ss, registrar's lee Is 6d each; and James Meredith, Cabbage Bay, and W. G. Souls. Kuaotnnu, were appointed registrars in the respective districts.^ The ordinary monthly meeting was held at two p.m. Present: Messrs. R. McEwan (chairman), Gow, Horn, Harrison, and Swindlcy. Correspondence was read from Mr. Nairn re erection of fence and £20 compensation. It was resolved that this request be granted subject to the foreman's approval, and on the usual terms. It was resolved that Messrs. McEwan and James be authorised to sign and execute all contracts, agreements, and other (iocnmentsj, in connection with the water supply contracts, on behalf of the Council, it was resolved that the Minister for Mines be aske 4 for a further grant when visiting the district. Accounts amounting to £167 2s 3d were passed for payment. OHINEMTJRI. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] PAEROA, Wednesday The annual statutory meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held to-day, when Mr. 11. Poland was elected chairman for tne ensuing year. Mr. H. P. Barry who has most successfully held the position for the past eight years, having decided not to take office this year. A number of the members testified to the excellent work accomplished by Mr. Barry during his long term, and of the many sacrifices he had made in the interests of the county. On the motion of the Chairman it was resolved that the best thanks of the Conncil be accorded Mr. Barry for the success r way he had conducted county affairs during the eight years he occupied the chair. Mr. Barrv briefly returned thanks. At a subsequent meeting to elect representatives on the .Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, it was resolved that Messrs. Moore and Marrinan represent the Council on the Thames Hospital trustees, and Messrs. Bowler. Dratrin. Moore, and Marrinan on the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr. Moore was elected deputy for the appointment ot an additional trustee. THAMES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES, Wednesday. At the annual meeting of the Thames Countv Council to-day, Mr. T. A. Dunlop was re-elected chairman foi the ensuing year. This will be Mr. Dnnlop's tenth successive year as chairman. The county clerk. Mr. E. W. Hollis, presided, and during the' proceedings he stated that it was the twentyfourth successive occasion on which lie had acted in a similar capacity for the Council, as he had been clerk since the inception of the Counties Act in 1877. It is doubtful whether the clerk of any othei County Council in the colony has a similar record. At the statutory meeting of the Council held directly afterwards in accordance with the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885, Messrs. Killgour, Steadman. and McEnteer. were elected as the Council's representatives on the Charitable Aid and District Hospital Boards, and Messrs. Dunlop and Deeble as hospital trustees. Mr. Dunlop was also apDointerdeautr trustee.