PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3493, 13 November 1894, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tun usual monthly meeting of the Pinko Couuty Council, was held on Wednesday last, at the county Gifiic, Morrinsville. The Chairman, Ah* Chepmell, and all the other members were present. Audit.—The Cleik reported that the .county books had been audited ou the day previous. The charge for auditing was £ I 13s 4 r l. As the Dog Registrar ai Oxford, had not returned his books, the Audit Inspector was to write him demanding their immediate return. Mining -The Government Mining report for last year was laid on the table, Financic, —The Clerk reported that the cash in hand and in the Bank available to meet accouuts amounts to about £250. Curing the last month there had beeu received Government subsidy in respect of the Matamata Riding £3417s 9d, aud for thirds £2l l"s lOd, Rate Collection.—The Clerk was instructed to draw the attention of ratepayers to the provisions of section 60 of the new Eating Act, 1894. It is enacted that where auy rates remain unpaid after six months from the date on which they first became recoverable the ratepayer shall be liable in an additional charge of 10 per cent, of the amount of the rates. Native L*rd.—The Chairman draw the attention of the Council to the enormous trouble and expense there would be in rating native lands. He thought the Council should petition the .Governor to declare the native land in the Piako County to be exempt from rating. 'The trouble and expense of laying off : all native lands within four miles of the public roads, aud of asceitaining whether or oot the lands had gone through the Native Land Court, aud the extra expense of valuing and of ascertaining the native owners, and at the eud of all that the great difficulty there would be, in recovering money from the natives would be out of all proportion to the amount of rates that could possibly be collected. The amount collected was only to be one half of the general rate and in the event of extreme measures having to bo taken, aud they would often have to be taken, the native land would only be sold with the consent of the Trust Commissioner. He considered that the County would not lose a single farthing by having the whole of their native land exempted from rating. After a discussion on the matter, the Council agreed and it was resolved to make an application t.i the Governor upon the lines indicated by the chairman. Valuation.—lt was agreed that the valuation should be triennial and the Council went into committee to consider the matter of appointmert of a valuer And his remuneration. It was agreed that the appointment should be left in the bands of the chairman aud he was given a jfull discretion io fix the remuneration. Nokthckoft's Road,—As negotiations for an arbitration upon lines proposed by the Council had fallen through, it was agreed to take the road between Oxford and Lichfield through Mr Northcioft'o Jand under " The Public Works Act.", Tenders.-The following tenders for -road works were opened and dealt with.:—l, Te Aroha-Lichfield Road: Forming 24 chains near Mr Roche's, P. Baine, £l2; Owen McCabe, £9; P. O'Grady, £10; James Orr, £8; W. Thomson, £ll9s; A Thackray (accepted i, £7l6s; P. Herbert, £12.-11, Te Aroha Lichfield Road: Forming and satidiug 17 chains near Mr Roche's, 0. McCabe, £2l; P. O'Grady, £24; James Orr, £2O; W. Newsome (accepted), £lB 7s 6d; i\ Herbert, £24 95.-111, Te Aroha-Lich-field Road: Forming and sanding 10 chains near Mr Gage Brown's, O. McCabe, £ll 178 6d; P. O'Grady, £1210s; James Orr, £10; A. Thaekray (accepted), £8 13s 4d; P. Herbert, £l4 28.—1 V, Thames-Waikato Road: Forming 18 .chains near Te Aroha, P. Baine, £9; R. Parr, £7 4s; 0. McCabe, £8 19s 6d; W. Thomson, £1017s; A. Bossons, £l2; P. Herbert, £9 14s; James Shine (accepted), £6 Bs. -V, Thames-Waikato Road • Formiug 14 chains near Waihou sale yard*, S. Burge, £7 18s; R. Parr, £5 12s; W. Thomson. £7l2s; P. Herbert, £7lss; J. Shine (accepted), £3l9s.—Vl, CambridgeOxford Road; Reforming four miles near Gorton, \V. and J. Harris, 4s 6d a chain or £lB a mile; C. Crouch, £79 9s; J. Murphy, £55 10s; Colemau and White (accepted), £ls; James Hamilton, £63; H. Rae, £43. Repairs.—lt was agreed to spend £6O in making good the road between Putaruru and Lichfield, £lO on the road between the Oxford-Kotorua Road and guide post at Northcrott's, and £SO upon live miles of' the road between Waiuiakariri and Lichfield, and a further sum In reforming and draining on the ThamesWaikato Road at Mr Allen's property. Engineer's Report.—The tngineer submitted his report, suggesting that the Cambridge-Oxford Road from Norris' corner to Oxford should be put in repair, estimating the cost at £SO. The Cambridge-Tauranga Road east of Taotaoroa Valley also required repairing. The ti-tree on this road, near the Mangawhara railway station, should be cut down, and the cuttings between the Matamata-Oxford Road and Heaney's require repairing. For these repairs on the Cambridge laurauga Road he estimated the cost at £3O. The decking of the Waipa bridge on the Cambridge Waotu Road required renewing, the estimated cost ; betug £ls, Some small repairs were also required on the Te Aroha-Lichfield Road. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for paymentßurge, £8 10s; H. Rae, £l9; P. Herbert, £l7 Ids 9d ; W. Hogan, £29 ss; audit fees, £ll3s 4d; W. P. Chepmell, £4 Us; W. P. Gage Brown, £3; Te Aroha News, £1 fis; W. McCiear, 9a.