THAMES COUNTY-COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5262, 3 September 1885, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY-COUNCIL.

Tub, regular meeting of the Connly Council was held at the County' Chambers at 6,80 last evening. l Present: Ors. Brodie (County Chairman), Townßcnd, 1 McCombio, St'eedman, Pitlcethley,. Coutts, Murdoch, Greenville, and Moore.

Minutes,of'previous meeting were read and confirmed. -i;

''Drain—Mr 11. Comor's lotter calling attention to the neglected state of the water-tables through his proporty at, Wavalioe, was referred to the Board of Works. »\ •. Unfortunate Tenant,s—Mr A. Fleming submitted the names of six residents on.Block 27 who are unable, to pay the rent for,their .holdings, and suggested that the amounts 'due, eoulo £20, should bo paitl by tho Council/us', if the'tenants woro ~ } '

turned out, it was probable that tlio Council would require to," find accommodation for them—Referred to the Charitable Aid Committee, • !

Karaka Road.—Mr W. Ashby wrote requesting the repair of tho Karaka road botween the City of Manchester claim and. Bull's battery,—Ordered that the metal; now broken be spread. County Contracts —Mr E Bain applied for a fortnight's extension of time for the completion of his contract for 'delivery of ,shingle, pleading that thr inclemency of the weather had retarded his progress.—Referred to tho Engineer with power to act.—Mr R. Bawden, contractor for the repair of a portion of the Hastings road, asked for a month's grace, stating that the dangerous state of the high cliffs had given him more work than ho had anticipated.—Mr R. C. McQuade, contractor for the construction of the bridge across the Waikawau river sought a month's extension of time, as his work had been delayod' by the difficulty of procuring timber. Both these applications were referred to the Engineer for a report. Otonui Road.—Tho legal ina: ager of the New Eureka company wrote calling uttention to the stale of the small bridges on the road from, tho mines to the battery at Otuuui, the contractors having done little or nothing, towards th'eir repair. - Ordered that a copy of the letter bb forwarded to the contractor, for explanation. Cemetery Road. — Colonel Fraser, M.E.R., forwarded a. memorandum received from the Under-Secretary for Public Works, anent the application for a loan of £700 for the repair, of the .Cemetery road, to the effect that the Minister is unable to promise tho money asked for until it is seen ..whether or not the Roads and Bridges Construction Act is to remain in force for another year.—Cr -Greenville saiid it seemed that tho present Ministry totally ignored the promise made by Major Atkinson for allocation o£ the amount immediately it was applied for. Tho road was a standing disgraco to tho local bodies, and. after the liberality displayed by tho public it was. discreditable to tho Government. He \na beginning to lose faith in the local representatives when such a small matter could not receive attention, lie moved that an urgent telegram be sent to the member for Thames, requesting "that attention should at once bo given to the subject. -Or Townsend seconded, 'Tho Chairman said it was impossible for the Minister to grant a subsidy unless money was standing to the credit of tho vote. The estimates were now before the House, so that in all likelihood the amount would : be forthcoming ■■ immediately.—The resolution was agreed to. Tapu Creek Road.-A letter was received from Mr J. Popper, of Tapu, urging the Council, to make the necessary .application; to Government for the subsidy promised-by Mr Larnaeh for the formation of the Tapu Creek road, which passed his allotment, the amount required for the purpose being about £250,—Resolved that the communication bo forwarded to the Minister of Mine^.

Canine Pests —Mr Miller, County Solicitor, offered the opinion that a perspp, specially appointed by the Council for the purpose vtould have power to destvoy all icollarless dogs.— I The Registrar was instructed to take stops for the " removal" of all such postal Hastings Road,-Mr :W. Doeble advised that the bridge to bo erected at Stoney creek should be .removed hearer the beach than was intended, otherwise compensation would- probably bo demanded, and if the present site were woilld : not be surprising if the land.wero fenced off before the completion.of the work. •• Referred to the Board of Works for inquiry, with instructions to suspend the contract in the meantime.

'Parawai Road.—Mr T. A. Dunlop directed 'attention to the dangerous state of the Parawai road near the Fever Hospital, owing to tho absence of a footpath. —Referred to tho Engineer.

: "Waihi,—Mr. W. H. Shepherd urged ;th'e necessity for repairing two small bridges between the Martha battery and the Pride of Waihi claim, and the improvement of the crossing of the Ohinemuri river on the road to Katikati, as the shareholders propose sending 50 .tons quartz to the Thames for treatment. He also asked the Council to impress upon Government the desirability of forming a bridge across the river at this. point.—The Engineer was instructed to repair the smaller bridges, and also that over the river, so far as his means' will allow,, and ,it was agreed that strong representations be made to Government; as to the urgency of the other proposal. , . Powder Storage—Messrs Phillips and Son made application ; for a license for the storage of explosives at Paeroa, under the "Dangerous Goods Act."—Referred to the 'Board of Works, with : power to act. ; ; Tajrua.—Mr 0. J. Windor wrote claiming a remission, of his rate, on the ground that, by f maintaining roads and ferries, and constructing bridges, he is already euffi-. cicntly' taxod —Referred to the Board of Works.. : Waitoa District.—The manager of the Auckland Agricultural Co. (Limited) forwarded the plans and specifications of a road contracted for at a cost of £481, part of . which will bo ; within the Thames County, and will connect with and form part of a public road, and requested that a subsidy of £100 bo grantod towards its formation, and that tho company's rates up to tho curront yoar bo devoted, to : tho sarno purpose.—-Koforred to tho Board of Workß.

Oura.-Mr W. Wright claiinod the Bum of SA 15s, for cortuin work which ho alleged to have boon authorised in writing by the County Engineer, raoro than twolyp months ago, .but which that officer now declines to acknowledge — Referred to the Board of Works. : : i ,

Taw Cemetery.—Or Steodmaa presonted tho memorial of a number of rate riding,'suggesting; that tlio coihotery.'at Tapu should bo vested in local who would guarantoo to maintain &c., and that tho Council should also Vote any monoys available : for tho purpose, of repairs, 6cc,—Referred to the Board of Works.

lljll-btiieet. -A potition asking for tho repair of Hill-streot, botweon' Riohmohd and Sealey-strcets, was presented by Or Greehvillo, and a sum of was votod for tho work,

Board cir Works. Tho Board of Works reported as follows" That as the Council has already paid for the earth removed for road purposes from a cortaia block of native land at Ohinemuri, no additional claim should bo recognised; that tho action of tho comtuitteo appointed to confer with tho Borough Council, ro repairs to the lower portion of tho Waiotahi road bo approved, and tho 100 yards of metal authorised by tho coimuitteo bo spread at iho cost of tho Borough; that Edward Bain's contract for £20 bo determined; and tho surveyor authorised to estimato tho'valuo ofjtjio worlf done, and report to the Board, who shall have power to aot j that the surveyor,jMpejjJ) and report on the cost of repairing ffi&traok to Scanlon's . ffi .. M ■ i

claim, at Waiomo,and report to the Connoil at the next ordinary meeting."— Adopted.

Bull's Battery.-The Water Race Committee recommended that the 15-inch pipes purchased frqm.the Queen of Beauty company be used, so fur as .they will gO, for the supply of water to this battery, and that other suitable pipes be obtained to complete the connection ; also that the work be carried out in terms of the agreement, undor the supervision of the County ~'n;::iecr. -Cr Pitkethley moved;'' and.Cr. McOouilic shrouded, that tlio report, ba adopted.—Oi G.f rnville failed to.aee. why concessions should bo pushed upon Mr Bull "over and above those ho. had applied for. He strongly opposed the reeolution, which he considered had been surreptitiously brought forward, as the committee had reported on the matter before Mr Bull's letter of acceptance was placed before the Council.—The Chairman said the speaker was mistaken, for the Council had already decidcd as to tho con? cessions to bo made, and the Committee now merely; sought permission as to a matter of detail, namely, tho use of pipes which had been purchased at a low figure, and would lessen the amount of the Council's , contributions.—Cr Greenville had understood iiiUhe. outset that Mr Bull intended importing pipes from England, —and ho reiterated the.opinion that undue consideration -had been shown,—Cr . I Pitkethley" pointed 'out that tho object of using tho old pipes was to facilitate the prosecution of-the-work, and avoid , the delay of sending Homo for the pipes.— The resolution was then put' and carried, —At a later stage Cr. Greenville'again, broached the subject, claiming the resolution conflicted with one passed at the previous meeting, and could not therefore have been carried Unless with the unanimous consent of the councillors.. He maintained that the original intention was that Mr Bull should defray the cost of the work, amVthat the amount should be remitted wlion lie had. taken'it out in water charges.—The Chairman said this interpretation wns. altogether wrong.: Tho action just' agreed to was quite in keeping with tho. previous resolution, and : as. a matter of fact,.the- use of the-pipes on' liand would decrease the Council's proportion of expense.—'The/subject was theiu dropped. Finance Committee. — The Finance Committee /.recomtnended' • that McLiyor's claim be investigated" and reported upon by tho Clerk and Surveyor : when, the amount of work done on the track froiri Nevosville to Puriri has:been ascertained;; also that: the; question-of■ subsidisingithe Ohinemuri Coal Prospccting Association to the extent of £50 be held in abeyance until the revenue accrued in the districtlbo paid to the County' Fund AccountAdopted. '•

Financial Statement.' - Thb Treasurer's monthly statement was as follows:— Receipt's: Gold duty, 501Zlis 2d; gold fields re\*onuo,,l62/ 4s lid; water race, 61/ 16a; general rates," 149/ 5s 2d; special, 53/ 8s Id ; tramway, 20/ 6s; . sale of iron, 14/; publican's, fee,-1^; to balance; 5626/ lis 5d ; total, 6590Z2s 9d. Expenditure.: Bank,balance. Ist August, ,5^297/.55.9i : ;i July accounts, 979/ 10s; in rodemption of debentures, 313/ 7s; total, 6590/ 2s 9d., Liabilities: Balanoo brought down, 5626/ lis sd; August accounts—Hastings riding, 43/4s lOd ;• Waiotahi riding, 83/ 14s JOd; Collarbone and Karaka rqaas, 38/ Os 6d'; Kauaeranga riding. 86/ 5s lOd ; Parawai riding, 46/ ?Hd j Totara riding, 75/ 5s ; : .Ohinemui'i riding, 65/ 10s 3d.; Earan-gahake-Paeroa road, 277/ 2s 6d; tramway; 94;! |oo account of golMelds-rMaxwell and Short, 45/; P. Sheehy, 40/ j Mangakirikiri track, 52/ 178 6d; Roads and Bridges Construction Act—J. Punch, 12/ 18s; R. McQiiadc, 75/; A Butler, : 18Q/; Hastings road,; 30/ —tojal; for public works, 6884/15s ; i id l ; charitable aidj 12? iSsjiiiiddicai attendance, apd funeral, 16/16s expenses, 13/ 3s; aid to drainage, 20/; miscellaneous accounts,' 11/' 4s, lOd ; railway expense account, 5/ 13s; printing and advertising,; 19s 6d; salaries and commission, 79/ 3a 4d; petty cash, 5/; total liabilities,-.7049/ 10s. -E. W. Horns, Treasurer; ' I ' : Junction'Road.—The Engineer reported with reference to Mr,. Phil lips'. threaten ed actionj l that'tho road in question.had been, duly-gazstted a public roatJ,' "jM:: reconimendetl that £15 l)o'cxpended: in draindgo. —Agicdd to on condition that the action is withdrawn. • : . : :i .

••t Mata BniDaE.—An .alteration -in.'jthe. plan for the bridge over. tlio Mata Oreok by tho addition .of :38i'feot,i at; a cost .of: £120, so as to •straighten,, the: Btrvtcture;. was approved of. > ' I '-: V i ■OniNEMORI follow:; ibg return', of amoiihts'V received . Government for tlio .Oliineinuri Special; Rating ;Bißtrict ; ';up,to,^the' 4 th; Wtimo, with; the mode'of expenditure, was ;laid ,6'i}; ! the ! table Grants received 5 under'" the l Itoads and Bridges Oonßtructioii Actj . £8,883* ssi Expenditure■■ ■■■■*■.■ ■■■ •''«! ■■;

New Votes-,-' 1 - ■ . Komata Bridge'.... ~.£350 £!w8 ' 0 0 Tararaki Bridge (not let) £105 I Clock.— Authority was giron for' the purchase of! arable time-picco'for the, .County Offices; ; •■■■ ' This concluded the business. / - :;

■ : i u jcti* Section B, OhinemuriRoacl .... 856 15 0 Seotion 0, Ohinemuri Eoad '801 .7 G 87617 ,0 Section P, Ohinemuri Road . 673 . 0 0; Section G; Ohinemuri Boad ... 754 11;. 0 : Section I; Rotokohu to Wftitoki 427 9; 6 Scotiou J, Waitibki,to Buakiftkp;.;..808 10: 6; Seotion K, Thorp's to Wqitokauri, 428. < i 0 Section L, Paeroa to Katikati..." 707 ;4, 0. Section:M, Paeroa to Rotolcohu 1,129, '5.6, Section N, TeYAro'ha to,.'.Jloto-!,,.. , ■;: m kohu... ... ... .... 537;i3 3 Thorp's drain ; 96.';5 ( .0 Tararaki'Hill — '112'' 0 '■(} Aruo'y St.', Prioroa ... .... , 38 ip.;10. Yiotoria St., Paeroa : '27 0 Mapkaytown Road '...: . 20 G 0 Mackaytbwn additional ' ... 20 0. 0 Wages ' ... 279 5:-9 Surveyor's Commiaaipn... ... 82 0 0 Advertising/to' ..v >-.»'> -77 10, ;i 0 ' Total 1 ..i ' ... - '■ £8753 ■' 0 .4Balanoo Available ... >»., 130 4 : 8