THAMES COUNTRY COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5185, 4 June 1885, Page 3

THAMES COUNTRY COUNCIL.

]'■'% SPJECIAL meeting of the ThamesiCounty ■.',/ Coiibcif was held at the Qqsntyi Chambers, *if M laßt'eveningj for'the -purpose of striking i;,, M/.the annual-rate. -A resolution was passed ,'■■ , of three-farthings ?' u 'in the £on the value of property in tho ' ; ' ; 'f'Coiirityj-for the*' yeareridirig'Hhe 31st of ;.,/ March, 1886, and,-payable".on the.6th June ' next onsuing. .<:. i < t ; ; ,:!i :;'/ -Thß/regular mtinthly ( bpnesa was then S''' ''"rdoceded wiib)';'the 'of; roll eing as follows:—Crs/Brodie (Co/urity Ckirmah),^'Townsend;'' Pitketliley, ;i McGreenville)- ,!';;,:'!:'.' Murdoch, and /Mbpre<-;., I '.': ■'.'■ mi jM!;'The:nrinUtes of the previous regularand ? t.;; lf i'special meetings were read and cohfirmed. : letter from thp%anager/'of the/Bank of' New requesting the Coiihcil to devote, ,; ■ one-half of .its revenues to, the reduction. l wasdeferred to «.uV:..'lhe Finance: Committee. ;>•-/,' ■ ; . t Iff-; •■: Teddy ' Y :;-, wrote requesting the repair of i.theKauae-"' /■ ranga Valley road, ; ] above 'the Orphanage I,v erred to the Board of-Works.' WAlHi.'DisfMOT;—Walmsley Bros] ;ap; :'/ ,v <;;; ! onYjtjipiiWaihi' .to .7 Si the'Board;of,Works*-A'request ■from''Mr i" ,v''.'!'!" .* oil,'' for' ; as si sta n c e;.; fni f.c onbtru ct i n is; jiii'aisuspensionibridge-over ' ''>''•'''river'at;Waihip ti was 'referred^to' the same • -.Oommi^eef-''- : V4 , 'n:.^V "'* '■'''' '"' I - : ! ; '','v u JjiQBNSiNa ,Clerk!s SAMBY.-/rhe;Chair- 1 ■wn};; .man -pi the'Ohinemuri "-Licensing 'Bench iii' Mii annual'salary !of the clerk'to ithei/Oqmmit. !!; 'f j '•" tee.—Ref erred 'to'the Finance-' Committee. i,t-,ji'■reqaeatj;'the--Assistant Surveyor-Q;ene'ral \'l d;, ; h'^d l ' .al read y : be en; lai d out which gave access tto that gentlpm/an's was decided'that:Mr. Elliott be informed-;accordingly. | s ifc-f r-i Wolff, imahV i<*"■-Vi ,S? r I^Z^P-Herald; battery, s^as ' heard:;in &{,{,< /reference/to his complaint .that'' the j Erigii' •iv?,'v/!;-ne8r had compelled' him toworkthe; plant ;j,';,!!; pnly'l land,alternately : .iwith'.the batte"ry.~The/ j matter T.was' /^'''^eyentuallypreferred;;tp the Water; Race-: -•-■vt»''^9M^^Jl?P»''W^ ppwerio,act.-Vt ' : , . '' '''OHraETOI'COALFIELIi.—Mr A. Hogg 1 , behalf of the Ohinemuri Gpa] PrpspeoN ':■; viyfing''Asspoiaticn,-'requested tho;Oonncil ,£10J), /tb ':: advantage-;to be.- taken/of! the. '. ';";/■ j >übaidy, ( bf promised by the .Minister, '"'..', of: :Mirieß'.—Beferred 'tp./the;/: Board' of " Works..,, ; -''; :i , ■'■•■'-::';/1 ' ; !,:: MoANATA[ARi District!—Bennett ;'and' party wrote asking for the repair. pf4he road /between'; the "old-White Rose claim 1 the :Moanataiari tramways-Referred to the Board;bf'Works, with power. to?ct. // IJioBNaiNO: .Pinlay, Mc-, Liver*,wrbfe*r'om New Jerusalem ithat the' licensee •pf;the Hptdl;h&d. not fulfilled the condition on which his.'license fee had been reduced by £15 .. ,j. namely,.-the.ma;nt,enance„of j; the/'cdr'duroy ''^rb'ad.—lt''was' ordered that' the 'letter '-■J"'*! 'forwarded ,tp ; the ; Hastings: ,' ;,. ..'/"'. i /!'////' Wai'toa'District.—Correspondencewas' read from Messrs Edwards; and Bowler in reference to, the- road/and {drainage |wofks being carried'out in tli6 Waitoa district, and the!subjecit. was referred to tho Board; inquiry, j. ■ '•■■ j | ;; New/Water'RAOE.7-TIIO Property Tax Opmmißßionor forwarded 'the. valuation rollß of: Crown and Native Lands within the -Thames' High ; . LeyeH Water fecial Rating District. ,;/-:/,' i.^'/ ; GonNTYCoNFEREkcE.—A circular 'was received, from the Clork of; tho Waij'arapa East: Oou'nly,-' Council, proposing that a conference of delegates /of • County Councils -shall be iield ut /Wellington to" endeavour to procure frdin Government, by combined action, a. system of administration 'of"local/-affairs which shall placo Counties in a more satisfactory position.— The' Council endorsed the views expressed, but wasl unablo to accept the invitation./: Otumu -District,—Tlib legal manager, of the' New Eureka (Otunui) 6.M.- Co. wrote expressing his willingness tp con'/■'V/: tribute ; £so towards the cost of metalling' •'the road between the mine and battery; on 1 / the condition that tho sum shall be/.'re-.,/•''-funded from the gold duty accruing in the -, "/j;.; Jistrict.—Considered, in.', corijiihctioo:. with ;/ : . ! the report of tho Board.o£ Works, ;/, '•' .' ■•■-.. --.:■'.•.:!: r;:ro;::*:/W : ' J, l-

. Collection of RATES.—Mr ft W-. Hollis, County Clerk, wrote complaining'of'the inadequacy of the remuneration for his services in compiling the rate-books and collecting the general and special rates. During the past year, £1810 had been collected in-ratea, for whiclv he had received £36, an average, of two per cent, out of which £2 8s waspaid in expenses, whe'reas' the former collector had been allowed ten per cent.,.and had,received, considerable assistance.-- Referred to the f inance'pommittee.' ''""''

Thames Public Library.—The .Town Clerk wrote'on behalf of the Library Com\ mittee, requesting assistance in the purchase of books for that institution.— Referred to the Finance Committee.

• ";Tap;u Greek Road.—Or Stoedman presented' tlie petition of' 29 residents at ; Tapu, requesting the cooperation of the Council in-obtaining from Governments grant for the'construction, of- a new road about (pn chainßin,lengthi to avoid passing through private.property.T^Referred to the Board Of Works.. .•:: ;• -.'. :••;■!■:■■;. .V"'

::;.Bovißb:.o'F Works. 1 ;-4. The ;: fpUowidg recommendations'•were submitted, by the Board- of Worksl'-I'li^That,the Bur, yeybr's letters re;A. Butler's' ahd'R.'M. Smith!scontractß.'be considered and dealt withbytheGpiincili.';. 2; ,That the Council decline, to purchase!the tramway at ,Owha-. roa. • >3.'ln the matter of O. D. Wright's claim for £13.135, the Surveyor states that all the work authorised by him was fully paid for, his" claim; cannot- therefore ;be admitted. .' : 4.' That'tip/' further expenditure be madeon the road through D. Sriodgrass 1 paddocks at present. ,5.; That the crossing, i oh, theJTapux'reek for the convenience,'of shareholders-''ia; the. Little .Edith claim be constructed, qu| of the balance of .the £160 rate jand at a sum not exceeding £20. 6. That the settlors offer in connection with repairing; and,' 'metalling ; the Waiwhatawhata road be accepted,'the. Council to provide .the;Jabdur of twomen for 12 days, ap'd. team' and dray,'for'6 'days, the'settler's ,to supply two men daily for a fortnight ■7. That permission b'e| granted to W.S. McCormiok to cultivate the portion of _ the water-race .reserve: mentioned by 'him ; that this be the only/privilege conceded; add ,without, ,prejddice, : to any other existing' lights to relinquish samo' when;required.' 8. That the Surveyor belnsttu'ct'od to estimate the cost'of fencing, and of the bridgesi.requiredioniithe -proposed :road through; L'ayery's land, ;a't the Junction,, ! .and ascertain, Jwhatf proportion,thereof the, settlers will contribute, Your Board cannot make „ any recommendation; in.', the matlerof 'l eiacjpg; • of ;,Mr.Jphn Phillips, juni'. Re Otanui road :• On the promise/ of "the iHbnJ. : Mr v {Larnach, o£ : a grant of £200 to bo supplemented;;.by £100 from the Council,- your.; Board invited tenders for'the above wdrlc returnable today, but this action does not anrwa'y'commit the Council to the acceptance of ; one,' or any tender. The Eureka and Oriental Companies have been asked to what extent they- will .contribute. ..Their .replies are before you, and your Board n'o.w,leaves the matter to your final decisioU' "Attached is a schedule of fees to be charged on the Rangiora ferry, and your Board ask authority to draft tho necessary bye-laWi—A. > Brodie,- Chairman." —The, Engineer's report on the Karangahake suspensjbn;bridge was that thp contractor had finished his work, but fed not complied;with I ;the'sp'ecificatiohs,' the ends oi the structure not being level.' As, howevetyjMr 'Smith" had lost considerably by the undertaking, it was .recommended that [authority should be given for taking over thewio'rk wheahe has rectified such portion is can to' without taking the bridgo;'to'pieces;,—With; reference to Butler'sMackaytown-Owharoa road;deviatioh contract,' the 1 Engineer reported;that'the workhad.been fairly/carried out,- and as the' contractor, had lost largely, ho recommended that it;be ; taken over ; as it now stands.—Both recommendations were ,approyed,of.,—;Discußßipn : took place relative to the action of the 'Board of ; Works iii'iriyitin'g,, tenders'! forthe : Otanui road without di recti authority fro in - the Opuncil, ; biit : eyeritually"the repjprt was; ; adbpted, Cr (Greenville ; , ; alone dissenting.—Or'. Pitkethley,moved; and/Or, Murdoch seconded ithat' the'j dctipn 'of the' Board of .Works be approved, and the resolutioni was ••carried, Crß : Moor% Greenyille',' and; Coutts voting in the: .negative.-rOr Townsend mbyed : {'iTh'a't'bn'the'New'' : Eureka;Oompany depos|ting,the sum of £50 : tb the 'credit of the Council,; the tender of .Maxwell and Short be ;"accepted."— Qii ,; 'Pitkethley secondedjhe resolution,' which was carried, ,Or ; ((Greenville, being;,again the sole dissentient.: iro--*.-.»" : J' r-MV. i UV, .„.»•.. .ii ; ;•';.;.

,'^Coalfield/RQAD.VThe' Engineer: /submitted/plans/ and. specifications for the '.construction 'of/the .proposed • road' to /the. coal-field at;Tarariki:.creek, and .authority was / given •: for,; inviting' tenders' 'fort tho / ; -. : .. ; ,./', /r-./ : ; ■■ -/

Committee / reported: as-.'follows:—"A; letter, from Mr Grawford, ; 'the/ manager of the Kuranui, -was, consideredi '" His application for the company's battery-tb be connected with the' 20-inch' main for motive power .was referred.;tp the surveyor for an estimate of cost.' On the. representation that a promise 'was•'formerly made by the Government /to assist in. the; cost of con-necting-batteries with the water-race, the H6n.'Mr/Larnach consented toan' appropriation of £100 for. the-purpose of bon- ; neoting Mr G; W' f Bull's ba.tteryj provided the; Opiiripil £100,' and Mr, Bull £150. 'Your Committed desire an expression 'of. /opinipn on the matter.—A. BRbMEj/'Ohairmaii."— The Engineer estimated tho cost, of laying the main to the 1 iEuraaui !l bat^ery/^t'£2so ) jorjf pertain : pipes' named 'could be'seou're'd, was resolved v th'at;the pro'pprtipn of the dost to be.; borne by the 'company/should be cp'd: sidered'by the committee of tho whole Council,;four. raemb.ors tp-form. a quorum, and- that -the/subject of supplying pipeß to Bull's' battery'' a'nd' /ai^ ( '...tb 'deep; 1 level prospecting be, discussed' on the; same occasion. l i l ' l '.'- :: ' : '•"':''" ' ':. • l -' '/'' I

/Parawai • /iBo-ARD. : ' -L /The, Finance Committee recommended that the 1 arrangement raado with 'the Secretary of the late Parawai Highway. Board/ for the paymentrpf £20.. in, satisfaction of his 'claims/be approved.—Adopted. ' '■",/

" Financial Statement.-The Treasurer's monthly'-/statement' was ;as- follows;.— Receipts:' Goldfields revenue, 2172 16s 9d; ; water race, 32Z ss; ■ tramways, 152 15s'; 1 general rates, bl 10s 2d ; slaughterhouse recuses,' U 15s; rent of reserve, 2s; sale of rolls, \l 2s; to balance, 49102 17s lid; total, 51872 3s 10d.-Oontra: Bank balance, Ist May, 42892 18s 8d; April accounts, 8972 5s 2d ; total, 51872 3s 10d.—Balance brought down," 49102 17s lid; May aocounts.public works: Hastings Riding, 412 15s 3d ; Upnor Tararu track, 92 2s; Waiotahi .Riding, 352 19s 4d i ; : liauaeranga Riding,• .57^, 16s 3d; Otanui road, 5219 a; Parawai Riding, 252 8s; '.Totara. Riding, :122; Ohinemuri; Riding 11'22:19s'2d7 t water-race, 58'2 lis 3d ; Moanataiai;i''tramw l iy,'242 9s 3d; miscellaneous accounts) 30213s 4d; travelling expenses, .272".'35./' Goldfield votes/:' Karangahiikp rda'd, \\B x \fo ; Tapu Creek Liponsing Act,!/;

charitable aid, 8Z10a; salaries, Ul 3s 4d"; petty cash, 101; total, 54772 0s iOd.— Under Roads and Bridges Construction Act: Ohinemuri Special Rating District, 3062 17b 6d. !

Board op Works — Or Greenville moved;. "That .evory member of the Council be a'member of the Board, of Works, 1 and that four shall. constitute a quorum."- Cr Moore seconded the resolution, which was carried. I Battery .Arrangements.—Or Green ville,inacco'rdabco with notice, "Thata special order be made amending clause 3 of the; Water-race/byorlaws, so that the price of water shall be, £4 per sluice-head per week for water used in tho day-time, and £3 per sluice head per week for iwater used at -night, and when a.fair share J of the night and,day work is taken, the price remain as at present, £3 10s per sluicehead per week." ';;Ho. subtnitted that as certain batteries were bblig'od to takeiwater by night; only, 1 (he owoWs. we're thus put to additional expense, arid we're entitled to consideration.- OrPitkethleyjin seconding the motion,explained that the mills taking water continuously were given the prefer,-, ence : over those which used it merely as they it, hence the latter had to work.at night, so that the pressure in the day : time might not be afEected.—Tho resolution was put and.carried.' : :;,■; - ~ High Level Water- •Race, : -.Tlie Chairman said the arrangements in connection with the High Level Water Race' scheme' had progressed so far that it was, now; necessary to consider.theiqitestibn of ways and means,' He suggested that the matter should be discussed iat the forthcoming .meeting'of the tidmmittee of the whole Council, which was agrced : to.'- ';, TArrj. CEMETERY.^On'the mOtiohjof •Or Steedm'an, it was resolved' that .Govern-' ment be requested to sot apart Block 21, in the Hastings 'Survey District, comprising 36 acres, as a cemetery reserve, j The Council then rose. ' ■■.'! .