WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1419, 6 August 1881, Page 3

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held at the Chambers yesterday afternoon, when there were present : —Captain Steole (chairman), Crs. Wells, Primrose, and Gumming. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. A letter was read from the District Railway Manager, stating that the erection of the cattle-pens at the Huntley station had been unavoidably postponed with other works, but he hoped they would be finished soon, Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., wrote, in answer to a communication from the Council, stating that he had every assurance from the Public Works Depaitment that the survey lately made of the Cambridge railway was sufficient to lay before Parliament, and that he was sanguine a sum would be placed on the Estimates for the construction of the line. Mr F. A. Whitaker, M.H.R., wrote to the same effect. A return was laid on the table showing the number and extent of the hospital reserves in the County. They were situated in Cambridge and Kinkiriroa, and generally speaking, of little value. Cr. Wells said he had asked for the return with a view to getting them handed over to the Council. It was only fair that they should become the property of those local bodies which contributed towurds the support of the institutions of which they were endowments. Cr. Primrose eaid he did not think the Council would realise very much revenue from them, while the Government would be sure to ciedit them with a gieat deal on their account. Cr. Wells f,aid in that case they had better defer the bubjeot for the present. In reply to Cr. Primrose, Cr. Wells said the parsing of the Town Districts Bill in its present shape would not affect the Cambridge reserves, because the town would still remain a part of the County. A letter was read fioin Mr T. G. Sandes, dated 7th July, covering a plan of the road connecting the main road with the swamp road foimed some time since by the Waikato Land Association. The writer stated that at the time the original survey was made he was busy, and accordingly got Mr A.M. Sheppard to do the woi k, and the plan prepared by the latter turned out to be inconect, and wan refused ut the Survey office in Auckland. The money for it was, however, paid by the Council to Mr Breakell. Had it bcpu paid to Mr Sheppard, he (Mr S.indes) could have compelled the latter to rectify the mistake. Since he had been in the profession he had never charged for incorrect work, and that in question should not have been paid for until he had seen and passed the plans. He had prepared a new plan of the road, making a complete re-sm vey, which, if accepted, he would send to the Chief .Sin veyor for approval. He would only charge the Council £10 10s, which was about 50 per cent, less than the actual value of the work. On the 2nd August Mr Sandes wrote further, stating that since his previous letter he had taken the plan to the Chief Survey Office, and now enclosed a certificate of approval from the Chief Surveyor. He »till contended that the money for the original survey should have been paid to him instead of to Mr Bieakell, in whose employment Mr Sheppard was at the time, working for day wages. Alter some discussion, Mr Breakell, who was present, explained that he had had an understanding with Mr Sandes that ho was to draw the money for the survey when he allowed Mr Sheppard to undertake the work. He personally had made nothing out of the job, and had suffered inconvenience in the matter. Ultimately it was agreed, on the motion of Cr. Wells, that the Clerk write to the Chief Surveyor, asking him to foke steps •to recover from Mr Sheppard £10 10p, the cost of the re-survey of the road, or cancel his license. It was ordeied that in the meantime Mr Sandes' account for £10 be paid. The Engineer (Mr Breakell; handed in a certificate for the payment of £00 to Mr M. Walsh, on account of the Toles Tiill-Matahura *oad contract. The amount was passed. The Chief Surveyor forwarded plans of road deviation between Toles hill and Matahura, with his approval. He stated that the closing of the portion indicated in the plan would interfere with private rights. Several of the Councillors expressed the opinion that if the closing of the road interfered in the private rights they coxild let the roads remain open. It was decided to take steps at once for legalising the deviation. A letter from Messrs Linsday and Bruce, Wairangi, was forwarded by Cr. Henry, drawing attention to the necewity ■foy repairing bridges and roads it that locality damaged by the recent rains. It was agreed to refer the letter back to Cr. Henry, and to authorise him to do what was absolutely necessary in the matter of rqwigi. , Several a^fc»an(;s wei'e paused for payment, and: «l#ter, the transaction of other business off* routine nature the Council tows. .

WoEjUJra horses should be fed on orushed corn, as they usually feed raveaonsly and bolfc much of their food, which consequently, if unfinished, yields compar*tively little or no nourishment. It is not often that speculation in high, prioed «(»ek is successful ; but Lord Fttjs. Bardinge has made a good thing of the shorthorn "bull Duke of Connaughfc, for which he gave 4500 guineas some four years ago. tfhe animal has since brought him 5 id 7600 gaine'as, and has, moreover, got him ,eueh stook as had neyp^c before been 'been at' BerlteW. 1 '