PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2839, 23 September 1890, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

TIIU above Council met in the otlica, Dukestreet, Cambridge, on Saturday nt 11 n.m.. and held the shortest meeting mi record ; the whole of the busmen being put throuah before hall-past twelve. There were liresent : Ors, W. P. Chepmell (chairman), Jna. Mills, C. M. Brunskiil, N. I. Hunt, W. L. C. Williams and E. W. Hanmer. The minutes uf the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Ocu Last Kepokt.—Several councillors th iup[ht our last report had given a misinterpretation of Mr W. F. Buckland s letter re the Taotanroa roads ; but on tho cleric turning up the letter it was proved that our interpretation was correct and that some of the councillors had misunderstood it when read. Thk Railway Drain at Tk Auoiia Wkst.—Mr Pavitt reported he had consulted with Mr Cooin, the Railway Engineer, re the ahovo drain, and ho found Mr Cooin had been labouring under a misapprehension when ho quoted a price for the work, that tho Council wanted a lift, drain putin. When ho found that a 3ft. one was all that was wanted, ha said it could be done for £20, and that he would ' recommend the Government to do the work. Mr Pavitt said the Railway Department kept the drains ready-made up of concrete, and could therefore do the work at a cheaper rate than local tradesmen. Am Indignant Ratepayer.—Mr F. D. Rich, nf the Thames Valley Land Co. Lichfield, wrote to the Chairman on September 1, as follows :—Sir,—ln the report of the proceedings of the last monthly meeting of the Piako County Council, as published in The Waikato Timkx, of August 2Gth, you ore reported to have said with reference to my letter of August 10th: "Tho l'atelere people did not appear to know what they did want in the matter of road*, or where they wanted them. Many Councillors did not know the lay of the country, and they had bceu completely humbugged. He (the Chairman) did not kn«.w how the others felt but he was thoroughly sick of the whole business." These remarks beinj? most offensive and untrue, and I emphatically deny your Council have been humbugged as you term it, or in any way misled. Tho letter under question contained three applications, all of which were granted by the Council apparently without any objection, I must therefore express my surprise that any Chairman of a County Council, could have used such language and charges against the largest ratepayers in the county who have paid in rates over £2,000 and for which only a very small percentage has been spent within the boundaiim of tho Thames Valley Land Company's property. I await an explanation or justification for your very uncalled for remarks.—F. D. Rich. P.S. With respect to the remark that'many of the Councillors did not know the lay of the country,' f may sny Crs. Hannier and Williams, and the County Engineer, who were all present aic quite familiar with the localities. —It waH thought the best way to treat the matter was to let Mr Rich continue waiting and the subject was dropped. Thk Hospitai. Board.— The Secretary to the above Board wiote for the balance doe by the County. —It w.is resolved to pay the amount forthwith

Valuation Koj.i..—The following applications to bo placed upon the roll were received : Mr Hodgson us occupier of Oroniioiriairoa ; Chan. Hall, for No. 03, Lipsey's block, To Arolia, in place of Thos. Aiken ; .Fane Hal', for section (>, block 1, Te Aroha, in place of Mr Dare. Tho neee.-sary steps ue>o ordered to he taken to comply with the applications. Tkndi-.us.—The following tsndets were leseived fur work to be done to the road, and the approaches to the Wairere bridge, in the Gordon Special Settlement; Nathaniel Bnskett, £43 10s : \V. Newsham, fl4; Jno. McLeod, £41); James Orr, €42. Mr Orr's tender was accepted. I'atetkuk Roams.—Mr Sandes submitted plans of the closed portions of the OxfmdMatainata road, duly certified to by the authorities at the Survey office, as cried. It was resolved to >■ top the old roads, and give the land contained therein, in exchange for that taken by the new iouls about to be opened. Thames-Waikato Koah. — Cr. Hanmer said that portion of the above road lyinf: between the confiscated boundary, and a rocky bluff near Morrinsv die, known mk " The Kocks,"needed attention. Some llax bushes required removing, and soycral swampy place* draining.—The engineer was authorised to spend a sum not exceeding flu on the work. llosi'lTAl. KbsbUVKs.—The_ Chairman asked if there were any Hospital reserves in the county.—The clerk said he did not know of any, but he would look the matter lip. ThkNext Mkbtin'u.— It was resolved to hold the next meeting on the 18th I •ctnber. That will be the last ordinary meeting of the Council, as at present constituted. Lkavk or Aii.skn' I-:.—On the motion of Cr. Mills, leave of absence was Kianlel to Cr. Horrell.

rUOTHCTION OK UIIIDCKS.—Cr. Ilrllll.skill stated the surfaceman had fo ind some of the bridges on the Waotu road smothered with fern. It was how removed, hut if it had been hot weather and the fern had caught fire the bridges would probably have been destroyed.—Or, Williams said the engineers should have authority to keep all bridges clear of fern and other matter that wa:; likely to spread fire. The county engineers were instiucted to take all necessary ste] s to prevent any damage to the bi i lges within the county through fire, &e. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment: —T. (1. Sandes, i!IS Ss; Cieo. Walker, £27 lis : J. S. Ingram, 10s; J. Mills, £-1 (is 4d ; C. M. lirnnskill, .tills; I<\ l'avitt, £2 o.t fid; (i. Wattam, £S Sri; R. I'arr, 01; C. Ahier, Kl lis (id ; J. Orr, £30; C. Tuck, £11 10.<. This closed the business.