County Council.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8601, 4 March 1897, Page 4

County Council.

The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held last" evening. Present: Cr Dunlop (in the Chair), Corbett, McEnteer, Walton, Steedman, Teddy, and Ross. Employment.—Win. Towers applied for employment.— Referred to Engi neer.

Hopper.—Mr E. Cartwright, minemanager of the Nonpareil Co., applied for permission to erect a hopper at the Waiotahi —Referred to Engineer with power to acfc. Damage to Pkoperty.— Mr John Granville, of Kaua°ranga road wrote stating that the water-tables in that locality over-flowed at every rainfall and damaged his property.—Engineer to attend to matter.

Repairs at Waiotahi.—Mr Woolcock drew attention to the necessity of attending to a stone wall adjoining the County r»ad at the Waiotahi —Referred to Engineer with power to act. Mullock in Creeks.-It was decided not to accept the offer of the New Whau G.M. Co.—to the effect that the Company should clear mullock from the Sons of Freedom hopper at a cost of £50 if the County Council would contribute £20. It was decided that the Company's letter be received, the Chairman remarking that it was not a question of money but of principle, and the removal of the mullook was work with which the Council had nothing to do. Orlando G.M. Co. — The legal manager of this company wrote asking for a reduction on its debt due to the Council of £41 12s 6d.—The company had previously offered £20 in liquidation, which offer was refused. —It was stated that the company had been living on calls, and that liquidation was now probable.—Resolved that £25 be accepted as settlement of the debt. Hape Road. - H. C. Woolmer wrote asking that the Hape road be put in repair.—Engineer instructed to employ an extra man in repairing the road. Indian Famine Relief. —Resolved in response to an official invitation from Auckland that a list be opened at the County office in aid of the above fund. 1

Slaughter-house License.—Mr L. J. Bagnall applied for a slaughterhouse license at Turua.—Resolved that a license be granted in compliance with the regulations. Unauthorised Work. —Mr B. Morrison applied on behalf of the Wairoa Gold Mining Company, Whangainatii,- for the refund of £6 Bs/inbliey expended by the company in wages on the construction of a road at tThangainata.—The writer to bo informed that the Council does not contribute towards work which it lias not authorised.

Laying off of Roads.—Ml* L. J. Bagnall wrote: " I beg respectfully to call 3 our attention to the fact, that no roads have been properly laid off and surveyed on the western portion of the retard. Riding. I also desire to suggest that your Council sbouM apply to the. Chief Surveyor, Auckland, to have the necessary roads in the said district laid off and surveyed. If this matter were taken in hand without delay theirfc would be no difficulties in the way of obtaining all the roads without compensation or objection from present owners of the lands sffeot&l;' I may add that I understand that the Ohineinuri County Council is &bouMo make a similar application, and I believe both would be favourably enteri&iwiitf. Trusting that your Council will give this matter early attention." —Resolved that (Application be made to the Survey Office to lay off the roads referred to. Takaru.—Mr Jas. Thomas, on behalf of the Thames Exploration Syndicate, drew attentioa to the bad state of the Upper Tararu road.—The Chairman seated that the work had siuce been attended to. Gold Ditv ano Native Revjn c. —A voucher was received from ihe Treasury Department stating that ihe proportion of unknown gold duly to tb a Council's credit for quarter ended

December 3lst 1896 was £74 16a Id. Notification was read from the Warden's Office stating that a cheque for £1974 11s lid (Goldfields native revenue for period ended December 26th, 1896) had been paid into the Bank to the Council's credit—Received.

Outstanding Rate?. — The Chairman moved that the Council's solicitor be instructed to proceed against al persons whose rates have been out] standing for more than two years.— Carried, Drain. — It was decided on the. motion of Cr Corbett that the Eaginear report as the condition) of a drain on the main road near Mr Douglas' property. Thames-Waikawa Road—ln reference to the Council's representation to the Minister of Mines re an error in allocation of £250 to the ThamesWaikawa road, by which a sum of £100 was removed from the last Ministerial grant, the Minister has approved of the full sum (£250) as allocated by him on his last visit to the Thames.

Increase op Salary.— The County Clerk (Mr E. W. Hollis) applied for increase of salary from £200 to £275. Cr Corbett referred to Mr Hollis' long period of service in good limes and bad, and his invaluable efforts in the interests of the Council. He moved that the increase of salary be granted as applied for.—Cr Steeduaan seconded, and the Chairman supported the motion, which was carried unanimously. Condolence. —On the motion of the Chairman it was resolved to send a letter of sondolence to Cr Deeble, sympathising with him on account of bereavement in his family connections also to Mrs L. Ehrenfried, expressing the Council's sympathy with her in the loss of her husband. -Cr Corbett referred to the family bereavements which Cr Deeble had on several occasions suffered, and also spoke hi support of the second motion.—Both resolutions were carried unanimously.

Matatoke. —Mr E. Hale asked for permission to make the south of the Matatoke road 3 feet wider. —Referred to Engineer with power to act. Kirikiei. —Mr H. A. Gordon, general manager of the Anglo-Conti-nental Gold Syndicate, wrote as follows:—" The New Zealand Exploration Company and the AngloContinental have taken up a mining property at Kirikiri and are commencing to develop it, but in order to carry out the developments it is necessary that we erect a small crushing battery on Kirikiri creek. The only way that we can get up any machineryis by following the valley of the Kirikiri, where I am informed a road could be got by the expenditure of about £50, that is merely cutting down the ti-tree and scrub. Our companies would be willing to contribute the half of this amount if the County would clear a road up this valley in order to allow us to get machinery up. Trusting your Council will give this matter its favourable consideratlou." —Resolved that the Engineer confer with Mr Gordon as to the work, cost, etc.

The Wires Track —Cr Corbett referred to the extensive expenditure which foreign companies were entering into at Whangamata, and urged that some temporary work should be undertaken on the Wires track prior to the expenditure of the grant,—The Engineer to repert on the condition of the track.

Extension of Road- TaituhaKaroa, of Oiuabu, wrote :—" I received your note of February 27 th notifying me that you intend extending the quarry road through my property. As I have a ditch dug to keep out the cattle, and your going through my property will take in that ditch, will you please make another in the place of the said ditch. My ditch is 2ft deep in the bottom with 4ft sods at the top, making 6ft in alj. Will you please put a ditch to keep out the cattle the same as you are taking away from me. I have maize and crops intheground which will be ruined if you do not."—Referred to the Engineer.

The Water Race.—The following letter was read from Mr John Farreil, of Irishtown :—" Owing to the defects of the timber in the tunnel of the water race, which runs through the allotment in my occupation in Irishtown, three large holes have run from the surface. This haa put me to inconvenience and loss — not to say danger.—ln fact the holes are dangerous, as they stand. I have filled up one ot them myself, and I beg to request the Council to have the other two filled up as speedily as'possible, and if this is attended to at once, I shall forego my claim for damage to crops, which I consider I am equitably entitled to. I have spoken to the County Engineer, Mr McLaren more than once on the subject, the last time within the last few days, and he appeared to question my right to ask the Council to do anything, I rather apprehend however, that the Council will come to a different conclusi&n, and I trust they will see proper to have the matter attended to without delay."— A brief discussion took place as to the length of time that the holes had been allowed to remain unattended to—Crßos3 remarked that quite 100 tons of earth had passed through into the race and reservoir, carrying away the sets or slabs of the tunnel.—The Chairman skid that if the caretaker would not take the matter in hand the Engineer must at once employ men and attend to the work. The water-race must be looked sfter, and if the man in charge was not looking afier it the Engineer should look after the man in charge and report him. For some time past he (the Chairman) had been unable to find the caretaker.—Resolved that the matter be attended to.

Tenders.—Thiee tenders were received for the delivery of stone and shingle on the Puriri-Tairua road, between the main County road and McKenzie's farm. The work was divided into thre sectiuus. Mr F. Bennett tendered for the three sections at the uniform price of 3s 8d per load. Mr Short tendered for No. 1 at 2s 9d, and for No. "2 and 3 at 2s Bd. Mr Rickit tendered for all sections at the uniform price of 2s BcJ, and his tender, being the lowest, was accepted.