THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3238, 7 February 1879, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting was held at the Chambers yesterday afternoon. Present : Crs. Brodie (Chairman), Bagnall, Thorburn, Deeble, Greenville, Porter, Brown, Coutts, and Carpenter. Govebnment Gbant.—The following memorandum from the Hon. Mr Sheehan was read:—" Thames County Council is hereby authorised to expend the sum of £40C3 upon the undermentioned public works, vouchers of expenditure to be sent to my office in the usual way:—Bridge over Ohinemuri Eiver, £2000 (to include approaches and road formation, fenoing tapus, fenoing native road, Ohinemuri); ferry at Te Aroha, improvements on Eewi's hill, £2000. Balance of grant to. be made available for road between Katikati and Paeroa. — John Shhehan, Thames, January 21st, 1879. Febby Punt.-Mr T. Spenoer wrote offering a punt 25ft long, for the ferry at Te Aroha, for the sum .of £10.—The offer was accepted. Te Aboha Lands.—The following persons applied to have their names placed on the list for land at Te Aroha, under the deferred payment system: — Thomas Stanley, J. G-. Catran,J.Farmer, A.J. Catran, and C. J. Ellis. It was resolved to refer the applications to the Waste Lands Board. Kemission op Bates.—Mrs H. Wood, a widojv, applied to have her rates remitted, on the ground of poverty.—The application was granted.—A similar request from R. S. Forrester, au invalid, was treated in the same manner. Te Aboha SEHLEiiENT.—The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, wrote that the Waste Lands Board would be glad to receive any suggestion from the County Council on the subject of the survey and settlement of the Te Aroha block.—A memorandum from the same official was read, to the effect that the Board was not in a position to entertain applications for land at Te Aroha, but as soon as the land was notified as open for selection, applicants for farm lots would be informed of the fact. Bia Pump. —The Secretary of the U.P.A. forwarded a statement showing that on the November month £111 13s was required for payment of account.— Eeceived. Motive Poweb.—Messrs J. E, Perry, George Bull, and George Fisher, battery owners on the Karaka Creek, applied for water from the County race to drive their mills,—Referred to the water race committee. HiKUTAiA.-Cr. Bagnall presented a petition from several Hikutaia settlers asking that a road be made from the main road to the Thames river.—Eeferred to the Board of Works, A Complaint.— Mr J. M. Walker wrote that the manager of the Big Pump had refused to allow him to remove the iron rails belonging to the'Kuranui Hill Company.— The Chaibman explained that both the County and the Euranui Hill Company used iron rails in the south drire at the Big Pump, and when the Pump stopped they were brought to the surface, and by some means mixed.—lt was resolved that Mr Walker be informed that the Euranui Company can remove all their rails.

Inspector of Slaughter-Houses,— Mr 11. Stillwell applied for the position of Inspector of Slaughter-Houses and uisanoes, and enclosed his excellent testimoninlg,—Kesolved to inform the applicant I hat when I lie Council decided to f»rm such an office his name would bo placod on the list of applicant'!, Prospecting.—Mr 8, JK. Edwards npplied for assistance in mining operations at the head of the Waiotahi Greek, which, he thought, came under the denomination of prospecting.—Liesolved to forward the applicant a copy of the circular of the Minister of Lauds re prospecting. Bad Koad,—Mr R. Comer, manager of the Moanataiari Company, requested the Council to repair and widen the roadway from the Grand Junction Hotel to the Point Russell mine, as at present it was not payable for drays,—Referred to Board of Works. Rates.- James Thompson, Block 27, asked that he might be allowed time in which to pay his rates, as he had been ill since Christmas.—Tho request was agreed to be complied with.—Kichard Owens asked that his rates might be remitted. -'Referred to the finance Committee. Alleged Overrating.—Mr Alley, of Hikutaia, wrote complaining that he had been over-rated for his farm.—Referred to the Finance Committeo. AHard Case—Charles Grlasson wrote asking for assistance, Ho stated that his house on the Karaka Road had been pulled down at the recent fire, and all the furniture destroyed, leaving liim and his family completely destitute.—The Chaibman said the case was a very hard one, the applicant having for some time previous to the fire been out of work.— Referred to the Finance Committee. Water Supply Corporation.—A letter from the Water Supply Corporation, asking upon what terms the Council would dispose of its interest in the Corporation, was read.—The Chairman gave an account of the proceedings at the meeting of the Corporation on Tuesday night, and said he thought it would be better to discuss the question in a committee of the whole; but on the motion of Or Carpenter it was agreed to consider it after tho special meeting on Monday night. Te Papa Gully.- Or Greenville presented a petition from a number of miners in the Te Papa Gully, asking the Council to construct a road from their claims to the flat, so that they might bo able to get down their quartz at a cheap rate.—Some of the petitioners were heard on the subject, and it was agreed that the Council will make one-half of the road, provided the petitioners do the other. The Works Committee's Report was read as follows Your Board have the honour to report that the roads and tracks have been maintained in good order, and in many places improved and extended, during the month. * Authority having been granted by the Hon the Native Minister for the employment of another party of Maoris on the Tapu Road, two parlies of ten men each are now employed. As the work consists largely of removing rock, two white men have been attached to each party to carry on the necessary blasting operations. Your surveyor visited the Ohinemuri district, and has chosen that portion of the Ohinemuri river opposite the large reserve in the township of Paeroa as the site of the proposed bridge. The choice of this site has given almost universal satisfaction to the residents in the district, Arrangements have been made for marking fifty snags in the Waihou river, above the Ohinemuri junction, and as Boon as they are marked tenders* will be invited for their removal. Arrangements have also been made for placing a punt capable of carrying men and horses on the Waihou river near Sir George Grey's tree. Your surveyor did not make any arrangements for fencing the land of Te Moanauui on the Mackaytown Road, as arrangements have already been made with two parties for the work. ■ Instructions were given for placing a man on the Rotokuhu tioad, to clear away the timber lying across the road since the recent bush fire. A bridge destroyed by fire on the Aroha Road will be replaced. The arbitrators in the matter of the road passing through Stevens's farm on the Kauwaeranga have not yet given in their award.—Alex, Bbodie, _ Chairman."—The Chairman said that in a few days tenders for making the Ohinemuri bridge would be called, also for roads in that district.—The report was adopted. The Wateb Race Committee reported as follows" Your committee have the honour to report that the tunnel between the Waio-Karaka and Waiotahi Creeks is now. driven in a distance of 416 feet. The contractor has been considerably delayed by the difficulty experienced in procuring the necessary timber for the ■ work. Twelve men are now employed, which is still not up to the number specified, but they are quite able to keep up with the supply of timber procurable. The extension for the purpose of bringing into the main race the water of the Mangakirikiri Creek is being rapidly carried out, and nearly the whole of the work is completed with the exception of the tunnel, for which tenders were invited and accepted during the past month. Tenders I were also invited for lining two or more of the tunnels on the main race, and the lowest accepted. Your committee have also been engaged in taking evidence with a view of obtaining information to guide them in its application to the industries of this goldfield, and to utilise it for that purpose to its fullest extent. Each battery has been visited, and the relative cost of working by water and steam ascertained, also information as to the number and weight of stamps in use, the number and size of berdans, and other information necessary to form a correct estimate, Inquiries have also been made as to the probable quantities required in the future. In most cases full information has been obtained. _ There are still a few who have not replied to the queries submitted, but have promised to do so at an early date. Your committee, therefore, cannot report finally on this important matter at this meeting of the Council.— Alexander Bbodie, Chairman." The Finance Committee reported the following accounts as having been examined and passed :for payment— U.P.A., November statements, £111 13s Id; ditto, wages to December 31st, £217 4s 8d; sick and destitute, £5 ]0s; ditto, £7 4s Id; rent, £4 6s 8d; stationery, £18s 6d; printing and advertising, £1 10s; Burningham, for passages, £1; travelling expenses, £9 9s; collectors' commission, £9 2s; total, £368 Bs, And on the 6th February—Half cost of Kopu wharf, £256 13s 9d; stone breaking, £43 18s; road works, £301 lis 8d; water race accounts, £573 12s; incidental expenses, £36 8s; sick and destitute, £9 14s 6d; printing and advertising, £119s 6d; rent, £4 6s 8d; stationery, £1 16s 3d; collectors' commission and expenses, £16 8s lid; Pitkethley, smiths' work, £2 3s 9d; salaries, £74 Is 8d; wages U.P.A. to i Blst January, £301 0s 7d; reception ex*i

£33 ]2s 6d; Tapu road, native w:ig.'x. £59 15s; total, £1,726 12s 6d.— The report was adopted, after it had been decided that Or, Porter should represent tho Council at the meeting of directors of the Pumping Association this morning. The Council then rose.