PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 204, 21 May 1887, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting 1 of the above council was held at the Borough Chambers, Hamilton, on Saturday last. Present : Crs Williams (chairman). J. C. Firth, W. T. -Firth, Smith, Gould, Chepmell, Murphy, and Brunskill. Special Meeting. — A special meeting of the Council was first held, when the balance-sheet was adopted. A letter was read from the Colonial Treasurer informing the Council that the additional loan of £.150 applied for on To A roll a Riding, had boon granted. The Clerk stated this further loan would roquire an additional tax being levied for twenty- six years to provide £7 10s annually ; l-30th of a Id would yield about £10. Resolved, on the motion of Or Murphy, that a special rate of l-30th of a Id in the £ be levied on all rateable property within To Aroha Riding. The Chairman remarked that there had been a very considerable loss on the working of To Aroha tramway for the twelve months ending March 31st.

Ordinary Meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Leasing the County Tramway. — I Several telegrams and letters which had passed between the Chairman and the Warden since last meeting of the Council, relative to the leasing of the tramway were read. In one of these letters dated April 22nd, the Warden wrote as follows : " Mr J. 0. Firth has just informed me that at thelastmeetingof your council it was stated 1 would not airroe to the suh leasing of the tramway. Yon are aware I had already written that I < would consent if certain clauses were added. Oblige me by accepting my written promise as the correct version, if you fulfilled the conditions imposed * * * * * The first time I saw Mr Tuck's letter, dated March 23r.1. to my c'erk at Te Arolia was April 20th. I had never at any tli.ie received t\\? draft of the conditions of sub-letting to ascertain if you had inserted the clauses i until this morning.*' etc. The letter concluded by stating that not having | receired any official information that the Council had agreed to the further conditions he wished inserted in the lease, and seeing an advertisement announcing the sale of the lease of the tramway he asked Cr Gould to wire the Chairman requesting the sale to be stopped in the meantime ; and believed he said to Cr Gould he would not consent to the sale unless his conditions were inserted. He had forwarded Government a copy or the conditions,, at the same time intimating his intention to si»u his approval, unless instructed to the contrary, and would wire the chairman as soon as he received a icply from Government. The Chairman and Cr Chepmell having some time since been constituted a committee to carry out all arrangements in connection with the leasing of the tramway, there lvmaincd nothing further to be done in the matter ni present. Prospecting Track, Waiorongomai. — The Waiden wrote, in reply t,o a letter from the Council, requesting that he would have the prospecting track (which intersects special claims recently pegged 'jff and applied for) at Waiorongomai kept open for the public and protected from damage, etc., stating that ho would pro- ! tect the track as suggested by the Council and have n clause inserted when granting special claims, to that effect. S £1500 L.»an on To A rob a Riding. — The Clerk stated this money had been lodged to credit of the Council. £1500 Loan Patetere Riding.— The Clerk reported that the pjll of ratepayers taken on April 20th. resulted in this loan being carried. Resolved, That application bo made to Government for the money forthwith. Stoney Creek and WaiorongomaiTni Prospecting Tracks. —In reply to an application for balance of subsidy, £72 11s 2d duo by Government on this track, a letter was read from Mr J. 11. Hamer, Acting Undersecretary, stating that ho had been j directed by the Minister of Mines to inform the council that on further inspection it has been reported that the above tracks have not been graded sufficiently to be of practical use, and until the grade was reduced to at least 1 in 10, no further payment would be made : And further stating that nil prospecting tracks must be constructed at a grade not exceeding 1 in 10 in future. In reply to the Council, Mr Pavitt, the Engineer, stated the track was simply one to open up the country for prospecting, and when laid off nothing was known with respect to any Government rule that the grade must not exceed lin in 10. \,

Resolved, on tbo motion of O Chopmell, that tlve Clerk write the Minister of Mines pointing out that nothing was known of any such rale when the track was being made. Interest on Old Accounts. — The Olerk stnteil he had received a demand irora Messrs Morrin and Co. for payment of considerably over £100 for simple and compound interest on £729, the liability having been incurred in 1883-4. The Clerk stated the principal had been paid in 1885. In the account furnished interest was up charged till time of payment, and on the interest that had' then accumulated- up to March last. In reply to Cr J. C. Firth, the Clerk stnted the interest had apparently been charged from date of supplying the goods. Cr J. C. Firth : They have no right to do that, they should give at least three months' credit. On the motion of Cr J. C. Firth, the Clerk was instructed to write to Messrs Morrin and Co. asking that the account be amended, ordinary trade credit allowed, compound interest struck out, etc., and that subject to such alterations being made, that the account be paid. Thompson's Track. — A. reply to the Council's application to Government, requesting that portion of the money to be expended on the formation of this road be expended under the control of the county was read, to the effect that the whole of the grant had been placed to the credit of Tauranga County Council for expenditure, but Government would be very gl»ul to receive and consider any i suggestions the Council had to make with respect to the construction of the track. Cr Gould referred to a report which appeared in the Aroha. & Ohinemup.i News with respect to this track, by which it appeared Government had recently placed £300 to tho credit ol Tauranga County Council in connection with the work, and the council proposed applying to Government for permission to construct a bridle track right through under the direction of an experienced ganger forthwith. Resolved on the motion of Cr Gould, that Government bo requested to construct Thompson's Track road, and that a further sum be placed on the estimates for the purpose of completing the work. Thames ll arbour Board. — A communication was read from Ohinemuri County Council relative to the Thames Harbour Board trying to obtain control of the rivers emptying into their harbour, and stating that the Council had taken steps to defeat the intention of that body, who in nowise represented them, thus attempting to tax them. Also forwarding copy of petition being signed by Ohinemuri ratepayers, to be forwarded to Government, and the co-uperation of Piako County was requested. Cr J. C. Firth : There can be no question this Council slioull oppose any attempt on the part of the Thames Harbour Board to obtain contiol of the rivers within Piako county. Several other Councillors also spoke in favour of some steps being at once taken in this matter. Resolved, on the motion of Cr J. C. Firth, That a petition, somewhat similar to that prepared by tho - Ohinerauri County Council, be drawn up for signature of the ratepayers of the county, and forwarded for presentation to the Governor, and that Mr J. B. Why to, M.H.I! , bs wired to urging him to oppose any attempt made by tho Thames Harbour Board in tbo direction indicated ; and that the Chairman Forthwith tako the necessary steps to carry this resolution into effect. To Aroha Hill Truck.— A lellar was read from the Minus Dop.irtment granting tho Council's application for £G0 (£ for £ subsidy), towards constructing a track fiom the real' of Te Aroha township up the hill to connect with the Waiorongomai-Tui and Upper Hill tracks. Cr Murphy said he would like to see this work carried out without any further delay. Cr Gould asked tho Engineer (Mr Pavitt) if ho could make the proposed track for the sum named in accordance with the Government regulation i.e., grade not to exceed 1 in 10. Mr Pavitt said bo could make it a good part of the way, perhaps as far as the Bald Hill, but nob all the way. Cr Murphy said the track was ef great importance, both for prospecting purposes and also would be greatly made use of by visitors. The Chairman spoke in support of the track boing made ; the question was could it be done for £120 in accordance with Government regulation as to grade. Cr J. C. Firth : We have now information with respect to a regulation that tracks must not exceed a grade of 1 in 10, that we had not when the carrying out of this work was first resolved on. In the face of the letter that ha s been i read to-day respecting the grade on ■ other tracks, and the distinct law laid down respecting grade, the Council must not placo themselves in a false position by authorising the Engineer to proceed with the work without further communicating with the Minister of Mines. In reply to the Chairman, the Engineer stated about a mile of the track could be made for £120. Crs Smith, Gould and Chepmell were also of opinion the Council were not at liberty to expend the £120 on making only a portion of the track, and that the position of affairs must be explained to the Minister of Mine?; and,eitlier the rule laid

down must in this instance be relaxed, or more money obtained. Resolved, on the motion of Or J. C. Firth, that the Engineer be instructed to report on the total cost to make the track at a grade to comply with the Government regulation, and that the Chairman be authorised to communicate with the Minister of Mines pointing out that if this prospecting track were to be made for the amount proposed the regulation as to grade would have to be relaxed. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. — Mr Hay, solicitor, wrote stating he had retained Mr Cotter to defend the Council in the action brought by the Thames Board ; the case had been set down for hearing on June 6th. Tramway Manager's Report. — The tramway manager's report stated that | owing to the shoot of the New Find mine being repaired during the first nine days of the past month, no quartz had been conveyed ovei the line during that time, and the men had been employed in repairing the line. The revenue for the month was £84 13s, expenditure £82 3s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £2 9s 2d. The manager recommended that the Council provide a suit of oilskins for each of Hie men, probable cost about 25s each. Cr J. C. Firth spoke in favour of the suits being provided. Cr Murphy objected, and said as the tramway was about to be leased, the lessee should provide them if necessary. Several Councillors objected to the proposed expenditure as unreasonable, no other men in the district having' oilskins provided for them by their employers. No action taken in the matter. Te Aroha Cemetery. — Cr Murphy, in accordance with notice of motion, moved That the Council grant £30 towards the cost of fencing and laying off the cemetery, and spoke in favour of the money being grauted. Cr Smith explained what was being done by the Cemetery Trustees to improve the cemetery, and strongly supported the motion. Cr J. C. Firth seconded the motion, and said he considered the request a very moderate one. They granted a great deal for the living and ought not to refuse a little for the dead. Cr Chepmell was in favour of the money being granted if the council conlcl do so legally, which, however, he felt confident they could not, unless the cemeterj were under their control. The Chairman here referred to the Act, and gave it as his opinion it could not be done. On being put io the meeting — For the motion there voted Crs J. C. Firth, W. T. Firth, Smith and Murphy. Against : The Chairman, Crs Brunskill, Gould and Chepmell ; the motion was lost by the casting vote of the Chairman. Accounts. — Accounts, amounting to £204: 10s, were passed for payment, and the meeting rose.