RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2790, 31 May 1890, Page 2

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tun regular quarterly meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers, Raglan, mi Wednesday afternoon, May •iSth, -.iiid was continued the next day from i) a.m. to 4 p.m. A large amount of business was brought before the Council for their consideration. Present: The Chairman (MrT. Mitchell), and Crs. Mathias, Hunt, Brooks and McGuirk, Cr. Culder, the new member for Karamn, being absent through illness. The special meeting being adjourned, the ordinary business of the Council was proceeded with. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CouiiKKPOXOKNCJi. A very large amount of both outgoing and incoming correspondence was read and considered. Pilot Station Rkw;:uve.—Letters had been written to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, requesting him to have the lease of this reserve put up to auction for a number of years. The clerk was instructed to write again to the Commissir.ner of Crown Lands re his letter of the 17th March last. Also, to Mr Lake, asking him to communicate with Mr Bryce to have the reserve put up foi 'ease for a periad of 21 years, as the Council was suffering loss from the delay. Lands Soli) l'Oit Rates,—'The Clerk reported that applications had been made to several persons who had bought lands (sold in Karioi for unpaid rates) to completo the purchase, but no replies had been received. Resolved that Mr O'Neill be instructed to proceed against one of the purchasers of the lots sold by the Kiuioi Road Board, for rates due upon the said lot. Waii'a County Council.—An application wps received from the VVaipa Council, for arrears of monies said to be due for bridge and ferry maintenance in years past. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Government re the charges mado previous to the Council's existence, and point out that the Pirongia Road Board was in existence when these charges were incurred, and no applications had been made to thorn for payment. Deviation of Raglan-Ruapuke Road. —A lettor was road from Mr W. H. Wallis, stating that no objection would be made to the deviation of the road at Wallis' hill, provided there was no unnecessary destruction of timber. Eatable Phopeuty. — An application was received from the secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board asking the valuation of the ratable property in the county. —The information had been duly forwarded by the clerk. Northuu.v S.S, Co.—A letter was received from the manager of this company requesting a reduction in wharf charges for steamer?, etc. SUTOU'iISUUQVSIi Hsovui'iwa. - la'

formation having been supplied to the Council that parties not having taken out licenses for slaughtering purposes were selling meat, etc., contrary to the Act, the clerk was instructed to intimate to the said parties that they wore rendering themselves liable to heavy penalties for so doing. French Vinktahds.-—An interesting lottor was read from the French settlers, Messrs Vettier Bros., residing on section lot 174, Pepepe, desiring a road to their section, as they intended to go into extensivo cultivation of the vine, being perfectly satisfied from the vigorous growth the young plant had already made that the land was suitable for the purpose. Further, that several of their countrymen were dasirouß of coming out to settle near them, and to engago in the manufacture of wine, etc., and which industry it would be impossible to carry on without proper access to their lands, etc, The Clerk was instructed to reply, "That the Council regrets that owing to the state of theii funds they are unable to make promises when the work on the road will be done, and would at the same time point out that settlors of 20 years standing are without roads, whilst as yet the Council have received no rates from your property and several others in the district." Mountain Road.—A letter was read from Mould and Co., claiming payment of 50 days' work upon the said road, in removing slips, etc., not previously removed by former contractors. Resolved "That this Council decline to allow the present contractors anything extra for the maintenance of the Rag|an-Waipa Road, and refer them to the specifications, etc. Counthu Petition.—A letter was received from the Clerk cf the Whaingaroa Road Board, re a counter petition sent to the Council, in reference to merging into the County. Resolved that the consideration of the petition of several ratepayers in the Whaingaroa district, etc., be postponed until next meeting. Road Maintenance—A letter was read from Mr C. Moon re the stoppage of £22 for road maintenance.—Resolved: "That the Council will abide by its former resolution on this subject, and with regard to extras claimed the engineer will enquire into the matter, and if found correct the money will be paid." Dei'i:ctiye Culvehth, &c. —A letter was received from Mr E. Frissel and Messrs Rendell aud Henry, in reference to a defective culvert in Green-street and at the junction of James and Wallis-streets.— The engineer was instructed to carry out the necessary works. Timhuk on Roads.— A letter was received from Mr T. B. Hill in reference to utilising the timber growing upon the public roads and clearing the same.—Resolved : " That permission be given to residents to cle:ir off logs, titree, &c., from the public roads upon application being made to tho Council, subject to the following charges for timber, &c :—Puiiri and totara posts. 12s per hundred ; rimu and other posts, 5s per same; rails to be half the above figure." Altkhation ok Polling Flack.—A petition was received from a number of settlers in southern Whangape, requesting the Council to altet the polling place for the riding from Churchill to Ngaruawahia. —The prayer of the petition was granted, and it was resolved that another polling place should bo fixed at Ngaruawahia as well as the present one at Churchill. Bad Roads,—A letter was received from Me J. Secombe, drawing the Council's attention to tho bad state of the road adjoining the Hot Springs and Kahahurua valley toad, and also that portion from Mr S-andors, of To Mata, into hi i land. S'ion'acu opNativio and Chows Lands Ratbs. —The following important letter bearing upon this subject was received from the Chairman of the Cook County Council —viz. : "As this is the first year that local bodies will not receive rates from the Crown and Native Lands, this Council considers it prudent to make some movement towards having the Native Lands brought under the operation of the ordinary Rating Act. To do this the Crown should divide the blocks into sub-divisions, and name one or more owners as the persons liable for rates upon the whole; or the Crown should pay the rate.--, giving notice as at present, and if the owners do not pay up at least once in two years the lands should be let for a term, so that the local bodies should not lose the revenue, it must be clear that the value of Crown and Native Lands has been increased by the expenditure of the European rates and revenue, and it must be remembered that the expensive works constructed out of the Government loans to local bodies are not a charge in any way upon the Crown and Native Lands. I trust, therefore, that your Council will endeavour to impress the member for your district with the necessity that exists for the careful consideration of some new measure whereby the Native Lands may be made as contributors to the local revenue."—All tho members of the Council fully agreed with the importance of this movement, and it was resolved to communicate with Mr Bryce in reference to the subject, also stating to hiin the amount of tho loss incurred by the stoppage of payment of these rates. Road on Private Property.—Resolved, "That the Clerk write to the Commissioner of Crown lands re the letter received from Mr Rath borne, and send a copy, asking what is the position of the Council, and will they get Mr Rathborne to agree to a deviation, so that the roads can be made on Government lands." Fhbsh Settlbus.— Resolved, "That the Clerk be requested to make search whilst in Auckland of all parties having lately taken up fresh sections in the county." TUAK'AU Punt.—Resolved: "That the clerk write to the Government that the Council recommend that the Onewhero Road Board have control of the Tuakau punt, as it is in their road district. Punt Reserve.—" That Mr O'Neill be written to re punt reserve at Ngaruawahia ; also, that the Government be requested to proclaim the ferry reserve at Ngaruawahia as under the control of the Council. Beacons.—Resolved : "That the Council think it necessary that the Government steamer, Hinemo.i, Captain I'airchild should be employed in taking fresh soundings, and replace the beacons to suit the present channel, ".and that the same be represented to the Government. Whangape Don Recistuaii.— Resolved : "That Mr T. Burd be appointed dog registrar for this riding. Rates Mtuuck.— Resolved : "That the 1 following rates bo struck for the ensuing year, etc., viz :—Karioi, : ;d ; Te Akau, Jd ; ' Karimu, ,y»l; Onewhero, yd ; Whangape, '/d ; and Pirongia, ,|d in the £. Cui.yeut. —Mr J. K. McDonald informed the Council that Jib had repaired a culvert on the road near the Hot Springs. Payment for the same was duly passed. Road Works.—The Engineer reported

that the maintenance of the Raglan-Waipa road had been done to his satisfaction, and he brought before the Council several other works requiring attention. Tenders.—The tender of Mr A. Niccol for the Wahi bridge, culvert, etc., being the lowest, was accepted. Messrs Hubbard and Milne and Mr Robert Muir also tendered for the same work. The tender of Mr Douglas, for clearing road 12ft. wide at Pukekawa, was accepted It was resolved that tenders be called for a care-taker for the Churchill punt. Also, that fresh tentenders be called for the Opoutura ferry

service. Whauf Chane.—The engineer was requested to arrange for the erection of a crane at the wharf. Subsidy on Rates.—The Property-tax Commissioner wrote, saying that the subsidy on rates in the Karioi Road District had been forwarded. Wiiaiu- By-laws.—The Marine Depart-, ment wrote in reference to the wharf bylaws that they could not alter by-law No 1. WirAiii' Matt Kits.— I The Council at this juncture went into committee upon the wharf tariff, dues, &c., which occupied their attention for a considerable time. Intkhvieweus.— Mr T. B. Hill was present, and thanked the Council for attending to the culvert on the road opening up the Chamberlain block. He stated that a slight deviation of the road was required, and that Mr C. Sutton was williug to give the land for the purpose. —Mr Bruce, wharf contractor, was also present, and brought before the Council business in connection with said contract. —Mr Mould, surface contractor, also explained t'J this Council the work which had been done upon tho Ruapuke road, and stated that the maintenance upon the said road had been kept up. This concluded the business.