Waipa County Council.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3863, 19 August 1908, Page 2

Waipa County Council.

The Waipa County Council met at Ohaupo yesterday. There were present: Crs. J.Fisher, chairman, Allen, Kothwell, Bell, Potts, Mac Kinder, and Macky. —Hospital Road. —

The chairman reported that with the supervisor he had interviewed the Mayor of Hamilton and Borough Engineer regarding the cost of improving the Hospital road, and as a result he now moved that the council contribute £l3O, without prejudice, towards the cost of metalling.—This was seconded by Cr. Mac Kinder and carried. —Accounts.— Accounts as follows were passed for payment:—lnterest on loan, £33 16s; Souter and Co., £3 4s lOd; C. H. Drabble, £2 Is Gd; C. Teddy. £3 19s lOd; J. Mawhinney, £4 7s; Wilson and Co., £sl 12s; South Auckland Sawmillers' Association, £1; Te Kowhai Hall, £1 lis 4d; B .F. Crow, £1; R. McNaul, £4 2s 6d; J. A. McNaul, £2 ss; J.Hand, £6 12s; H. Becre, £2l 3s 6d; 11. Booth, £3 lis; J. Douglas, £2 12s 6d; C. Bygrave, £ls 6s; D. Morison, £25 11s4d; R. Lock, £1; Auditor, £B. —Demurrage.— The Railway Department wrote with regard to the council's objection to pay demurrage on metal delivered at the Ohaupo station, stating that when the metal arrived there was only one team ready to remove it and it was not until three days later that a second team was provided. Therefore it was quite impossible for the contractor to release the trucks in reasonable time, and the want of effort on the part of the contractor to release the waggons was the sole cauee of the delay. However, they would be prepared to reduce the charge to £5 10s.—It was decided to pay the amount and charge half the cost to the contractor. —Frankton Road. —

The clerk to the Frankton Town Board wrote requesting a detailed statement in connection with the expenditure ot the £SOO loan on the Frankton Road, and that the balance "of the loan should be forwarded to them in order that the board might complete the road.—lt was decided to request the council's solicitor to have the matter settled as soon as possible. The supervisor reported that only £6 4s 5d remained unspent supposing that the council did not charge the board any interest; but after the payment of interest there would be no balance. —Loans Provisionally Approved. — The secretary to the Treasury wrote stating that the Minister for Finance had provisionally approved of the loans of £2OOO for metalling and grading roads in the Mangapiko Riding, and £3OOO for works in the Rangiaohia Riding.—The clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps in connection therewith and to write asking that the Mangapiko loan should be increased to £2500, the amount originally decided upon. —Hospital Contributions.'—■

Mr E. C Cutten, chairman of the Commission appointed to deal with the council's appeal from the assessment of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's assessment for the year ending March 31st 1909, reported the council's contribution had been reduced from £973 to £B9 7s 8d. —A payment of £3 3s was authorised to the council's commissioner. The secretary to the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board requested payment of £SOO on account of the council's contribution by the end of August.- The amount was passed for payment. Exchange.—■ The Waikato Hopsital Board wrote agreeing to the exchange of one acre of land part of Lot 101 Horotiu, for an adjoining acre. —Cr. Duxfield was requested to present a report showing the probable cost and giving the reason for this exchange. —Telephone Line.— Mr Andrew Kay, of Parawcra, on behalf of a number of settlers, asked permission to erect a telephone line along the Waipa County road to the county boundary at Orakau. —Agreed to, the council refusing to accept any responsibility. —Deviation.— Messrs Mathers and Loughnan, Te Rapa, requested that the necessary transfer should be prepared conveying to them the piece of land near Magner's, Te Kowhai, in exchange for the piece they gave for the deviation on the Te Rapa-Te Kowhai road. Referred to the council's solicitor. —Te Rapa Road. — The Paymaster General notified that £ for £ amounting to £SO had been placed to the council's credit in connection with the formation of the Te Rapa road. —Suspension Bridge.— Plans and estimates of the suspension bridge proposed to be erected over the Waipa River at Pirongia were received from Mr G. Dawson, giving the cost at £2OBB. —On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to endeavour to bring in the Raglan, Kawhia and Waitomo Counties as contributing bodies on the following basis: —Raglan, 40 per cent; Waipa, 30 per cent; Waitomo, 20 per cent; and Kawhia, 10 per cent. -The plans were approved and it was decided to request the Government to contribute £ for £ on the actual cost.

—Supervisor's Report.— The Supervisor's report was read as follows: —The fine weather experienced during the last three weeks has done much to restore the roads to a serviceable condition and thereby saved the council a" good amount of money for repairs. Previous to this the roads in some parts w>.re fast becoming impassable—particularly where new work had been clone during the past season. I had light repairs done on several of the worst roads before they dried up, and it is quite possible a lot cf this sort of work will still be required. At Campbell's gully where the new culvert was lately put in, a good deal of work has been necessary. A creamery has just been built close by and materials had to be taken over the gully. Also during the late flooded state of the Waipa River rather a bad slip occurred in the embankment. The road has been put in fair order and can now be used without inconvenience. Further expenditure will however, be required in the proper season to complete the job satisfactorily. Beyond a comparatively small amount of metalling and gravelling, no new work has been undertaken during the past month, but a great number of minor repairs have been done on various roads throughout the County.

New Works:—lf it is intended to carry out during the approaching season any grading works, beyond those already <uithoriscd,l would suggest that the sooner they are decided upon the better, as a considerable delay must always ensue before these works can be prepared and let, to say nothing of delays on the part of contractors in starting and pushing on their woiks. Hospital Road:—The chairman and myself met the Hamilton Borough representatives re this matter, and after discussion the chairman submi ittcd a proposal —No answer has yet been received from the Borough Council.—The report wasattoptej.