OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL. [FROM OUU OWN COURESPONDBNT.]

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL. [FROM OUU OWN COURESPONDBNT.]

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers, Paeroa, en Saturday last. Present: Crs Cock, (chairman,) Nicholls, Strange, Corbett, Moore, Butler, Walsh, and Humphreys. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, after which ifc was decided to open tenders, for the information of those who might have come from a distance to learn the result with respect thereto. Karangahake Tramway : (To connect county track with Railey's Quartz Reduction Works, and to include laying permanent way, providing wire rope, two breaks, building four county trucks, two traverse trucks, hoppers, etc.) :— Haslett and Meredith, £357 17s Gd ; Win, Barrett, Jas. Lawlor, and John Kelly, £347 ; Sorenson and Segerson, £340 17s 61 ; Comes aud Munro, | £337 15s 6d ; John Morton, £310 3s 6d. Cr Niobolls reminded council that for constructing this tramway they had only £400, viz., £150, provided by! Auckland mine owners interested, £50 , i by the Council, and £ for £ subsidy from Government on this, £200; whilst already they had expended over £200. j Under these circumstances he did not [ see how they could accept any of the tenders opened. It was evident the tramway would now cost about £600, instead of £400, the estimated cost if J | constructed according to first inteu- j tions. It would be necessary before : proceeding further with tho work to communicate with Government, asking for further assistance, and ho would move that both Government and the Auckland gentlemen he communicated with, and that no tender be accepted until they had received replies, but that the two lowest tenders be meantime retained, and in the event of the reply received being favourable, that Mr Morton's tender be accepted. Carried. Crs Humphreys and Corbett both stated with reference to the construction of this tramway that they hnd Loeu tfivt-n to understand that any decision arrived at agreeing to adopt the scale of charges I proposed at the recent meeting of miners at Karangnhake, for treatment of ore at Railey's battery, was by no me ins a unanimous decision on the part of the directors of that plant. The Chairman, in reply to one of the Councillors, said he had not obtained the consent of tho directors in writing, j but he had obtained their verbal conj S-Mlt. Resolved, that the legal manager of Railey's Quartz Reduction Works be communicated with requesting him to state in writing whether or not the proprietors had consented to adopt the scale of charges referred to. Crs Moore and Corbett both expressed the opinion that the proposed alteration would not really prove a reduction to the miners, who under it would be no better off than heretofore. A letter was read from the Railway Department, Wellington, iv reply to Council's application for second-hand rails for the above tramway, stating there were no spare rails in Auckland district which could be given for the purpose named. Collector of Dog Tax —The following tenders were opened from persons desirous of obtaining the appointment of dog registrar : Messrs E. Edwards, at Is 9d per collar ; F. Sill, Is Gd ; F. Law, Is 4d ; W. Dodd Is 2d (accepted). Resolved, that tenders bo invited for the position of Inspector of Nuisances. Inspector of Slaughter Houses.-— Constable Mitchell having signified his willingness to act as Inspector of Slaughter Houses, it was resolved that lie bo appointed at a salary of £10 per annum. A letter was read from Mr P. Traynor, oofcttactor, requesting payment of the balance of his account. Or Corbett said ho had found that Mr Traynor had made some mistakes, and proposed that the Engineer be re,sHsited to inspect the work done, and report thereon at next meeting. Carried. Miners' Rights.— -A list of all those who had taken out miner's rights for Ohinemuri prior to March 31st, furnished by the Mining Registrar, Thames, and a similar list from the Mining Registrar, Te Aroha, were received. Hospital and Charitable Aid. — A letter from the Buller County Council adversely criticising the working of the above Act, was referred to committee for discussion. Refund. — A communicat'on was read from the Treasury Department, Wellington, stating that £G0 deducted in error from the county revenue, had been placed to the credit of the county. Nobte's Agricultural Leaso, — -A letter was read from the Warden, asking if the j Council were prepared to deal with Mr Noble's demand for £100 compensation, on account of his land having been re-

entered for goWfielda purposes, and stating if so, he would request Mr Noble to submit the question of its present value to arbitration. Referred to Finance Committee. The majority of the Council appeared, however, to be of opinion it Was a matter for Government %■) deal with. Vigilance Coramittee.—A letter was read from Mr, A. J. Thorp, vice-chair-man of the Vigilance Committee, reporting at considerable length on the unsatisfactory manner in which Colletts con* tract (widening, formation, etc., wad carried out, and likewise Bein's (metalling) contract. The report led to a good deal of dis* cussion. The Engineer being referred to, stated that Colletts contract was not yet completed. Cr Butler expressed the opinion that tho report was premature, ,aa the contractors had not yet finished work j nor bad the Engineer reported the work as having been passed. He had no doubt the Engineer would see the work carried out properly. Resolved, on the motion of Or Humphreys, That the Valance Committee be thanked for their report, and that the Engineer be requested to report at next meeting as to whether the complaints made were substantiated by facts. Thames Harbour Board.— A letter was read from Te Aroha Town Board, expressing willingness to co-operate with the Council in any steps that might be found necessary to prevent the Thames Harbour Board from obtaining control of the rivers. Auctioneer's License.— Mr E. Edwards applied for an auctioneer's license, provided tl.e fee did not exceed £5. Considerable discussion followed the reading of this application, the Council expressing willingness to grant the license for £5 provided they had the power to do so, which, however, was questioned. Ultimately ifc was decided to defer dealing with the application, until the council's powers in the matter was enquired into. General Rate of ljd.— Resolved, on the motion of Cr Nicholls, that a general rate of six fai things in the £ be levied on all rateable property within the county, including Crown and Native lands. Oivharoa Low Level.— The Chairman stated that application had been made to the Minister of Mines for balance of subsidy due in connection with this tunnel. Repairs, etc— Applications for repairs to Paeroa footpaths, and to the main roads at Waitoa, Rangiora, Komata, and Owharoa were received, anil referred to the Board of Works, with power to act with respect to the two last mentioned applications. Resolved, on the motion of Cr Nicholls, that a footpath be made from Norman by road to Frasers township, cost not to exceed £1 15s. Resolved, on the motion of Cr Walsh, that a man bo pot on for one week to repair Karangahake hill tnck. Finance Committee's Report.— This report was to the effect that tne county was liable for £G5B for wages, contracts, etc., and recommended present payment to the extent of £173. It was resolved that a special meeting be heltl as soon as possible, for the purpose of dealing with various m utera requiring attention before next monthly meeting, including the revision of the (Jounjy roll.