Wallace County Council.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 17, 22 August 1905, Page 2

Wallace County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of thia council was held on Friday last, when thore were present ; Crs D. Clark (chairman), R. Cupplea, J. J. Newton, J. Power; Stevenß, H. Hirst, Fraser, Dyer, and King. this by-laws. The chairman said it had been intended to hold a special meeting that day m connection with the by-laws. •Cr Hirst said he observed that no notice was placed on tbe Order Paper. The clerk said if the special meeting had been held that day the resolution could not have been confirmed at the next meeting, as the by-laws had to be held over for thirty days before being confirmed. They oould not be confirmed at the next meeting, because that must be done within 56 days after the special meeting. It was therefore decided, as five weeks would elapse before the next meeting, to hold the Bpecial meeting over. VALTTATIOK BOLLS. The new valuation rolls were laid on the table for the inspection of the council. TRACTION-ENGINE LICI-NSEB. The clerk reported that Mr Taylor had been sent a copy of the council's resolution, together with a form of application tor a license, but no communication had since been received from him. He had also written to Mr Chilton, of Drummond, who had not paid the pound fee for permission to cart certain timber, and who had not a license. The license expired long ago. Cr Newton : That won't do. Cr Cupples said that Mr Chilton was not now going to cart the timber. The mutter then dropped. BOJ.D IN FELDWICK TOWNSHIP. The Chief Engineer for Roads wrote Btating that enquiries were being madn with reference to the proposal to take land for a road m Feldwtck Township. If the title etc. were found m order, steps would be taken to isßue the necessary proclamation. — Received. DHUMMONP'S FEBIIY. A letter was received from the Chief Road Engineer with reference tothe cjost of renewing the punt at this ferry, and stating that he had now been authorised to ma"ke an offer to the council of £100 to complete the necessary repairs, etc. Cr King member for the Waiau riding), said he understood the estimate for renewing the punt was £300, and the Government offer seemed scarcely enough. He thought it would be only throwing money away to again put on a wooden punt. He expected that at least the Government would have given them a subsidy of . £ for £, which would have amounted to £150. Cr Cupples thought that probably tbe Government were under the impression that a wooden punt was to be put on, which would cost very much lees, and they should be told of the proposal for an iron punt. Cr King said the Engineer informed him that tbe Government bad been notified of the proposal for an iron punt. He moved that application be made to the Government for £50 more, and the clerk was instructed to apply accordingly, pointing out that the present puit was not worth repairing; and that an iron punt would cost £300. Cr Hirst : Tho Act is just about worth the paper it is printed on. Scott's gap telephone. Mr J. K. L 'gan, - uperintendent of Eleotrio Lines, forwarded a statement of the revenue and expenditure on account of the telephone at Scott's Gap, for the 12 months ending 31st May last — The statement showed a deficiency of £1 9s lid— Received. THE COUNTY BTONECRUBHER The clerk road a letter from tho District Railway Engineer, asking if the council could now lend him the stouecrusher, and if so, on what term?. A discussion took plaoe as to the utility of the stonecrusher, several council.- rs stating that it was one of tbe best investments the council had ever made, but others thought that, whilst usefu', the present crusher was too small. In the end the council adopted a resolution proposed by Cr King, acceding to the District Engineer's request, the terms to be agreed upon between the county and the engineer. EXCHANGE OF ROADS, WAIIUO. Mesprs T. M. Macdonald and Sons, solicitors, Invercargill, m writing with reference to the exchange of roads with Mr Gardiner, m sections 9 and 10, Wairio district, advised that the exchange was duly completed and] registered on the 28th Februaiy, 1888. Tbe Clerk reminded the council that when Mr McKenzie of Birchwood, waited upon them at the last meeting, he disputed the fact that a road had been taken by Scotty's grave. Cr Newton : We know where we are now. i The letter was received without further comment, LOWER OBAWIA BRIDOK. Archibald Miller, of Orawia, wrote that there was about a chain of low ground at each end of this bridge. On the east side the road had been raised about four feet but on the 'west not at all. He asked that both Bides be made alike The work would cost about £4, would improve the approach to the bridge, and protect bis garden and paddook trom flooding. Cr King said that when the land was required by the Government from the owners of the Merrivale estate, under the Lands for Settlement Act, to erect a bridge, the formation waa left so low on one Bide that it flooded the land. Mr Miller's was a reasonable request. Resolved that the matter be left m the hands of the member for the riding to deal with. HIS MAJESTY'S MAILS. John Wood, Jr., of Orepuki, mail contractor, complained that ho was being charged toll for crossing Drummond's Ferry with the mail coach. He contended that the mails should be allowed to cross free, passengers and goods being charged for m the ordinary way. Cr King thought the matter should be enquired into , to see if the maiis should be allowed to cross free. They must, of course, guard against any improper exceptions being made. Cr Hirst paid no doubt the matter should be referred to the proper authority, but aß a

matter of fact His Majesty's mails must be allowed to pass free over any bridge or ferry. The chairman thought the grievance should be referred to the Chief Postmaster at Inver- -. cargill. Cr Dyer moved that the matter be left to the member for the riding, — Seconded and oavried, WAIBIO CEMETERY ROAD. ' John Naylon made application for a re fund of £2, kept back from him by tbe council, m respect to his contract for metalling the Wairio Cemetery Road. He did not con sider that he was treated fairly m this matter, , as be did a great deal more metalling than was specified. ' In the course of a discussion whioh followed, it transpired that the work was done m 1902, during the term of the late engineer, Mr McPberson, who had kept baok £2 for unsatisfactory work. After hearing Mr Naylon personally m support of bia application the council deoided to leave the matter m the hands of the members lor the Wairio Biding to take what steps they might consider advisable. •riNANCK. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, accounts were passed for payment to the amount of £586 Is 10s. OBAVXI. AT WAIBIO. _ The chairman reported that, m company with Crs Power and Newton he inspected the gravel reported to exist on Mr Ford's property at Wairio, and waa g eatly surprised to see the quantity that had been washed up. It was really good material, and Mr Ford asked only a royalty of 3d from the council, for all that was carted away. It would be a great boon to Wairio, and would keep them going for two or three years. On the motion of Clrs Hirst and Cupples, the chairman's report was adopted, it being understood that the gravel would be operated upon during the coming season. engineer's report. The Engineer reported as follows — Hbddon Bush Road— l have laid off the work on the road-line running through Heddon Bush estate. Tbe road for the greater part runs through swampy ground and will require double ditching, also a 10ft sill culvert, and a 20ft bridge and several small culverts. My estimate for the work is £200. All that is necessary at present, however, to give settlers access to their several sections, is ten chains of double ditching and sixty-rix chains of grading. This will co<"t £43 2s Od. I have arranged with Mr Cody to do this work according to the resolution of the council. I may say that at present the settlers at the ' west end of the estate have access to their properties by way of the new road at present being formed by the company. This road leads to Nightcaps via Wrey's Bush, but the settlers wish the road to Centre Bush opeued up. — Birchwood Road— With reference to the road leading through Birchwood, I have inspected the different plans, and find that all that has been conveyed to the Crown is that part running through section 9, Wairio District. It will be necessary to have the balance running through sections 27 and 28, Waiau District (about 8 aores) transferred. lam preparing the plans of same, but tbe survey will have to be reproduced on the ground, as the pegs have all disappeared. The Engineer's report was adopted, and on the motion of Crs King and Cupples, it was decided that the members tor the Waiau and Wairio ridings should form a deputation to meet Mr McKenzie to purchase the necessary additional land for the road through Birchwood. MISCELLANEOUS. The Chief Engineer for Boards forwarded a copy of >a proclamation taking land for a road, and closing a rbaii, through sections 79, 83, and 180, Taringatura Survey District (Castlerock Estate). — Received. The clerk reported that, m compliance with an order of the House of Representatives, be had supplied information required m coneo tion with the use made by the council of the increased rating powers, conferred by the Counties Act Amendment Act 1903. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, wrote that application had been made to purchase three small pieces «f land adjoining section 84, Taringatura Survey District, containing about five acres. He wished to know if the council required tbe land. — Engineer to 'enquire into matter and repor at next meeting. Mr J. B. Wright, Inspector of Noxious Weeds, replying to a letter from the council, said* steps were being taken to have abated tbe nuisance of gorse growing on road-lines m the Wallace County. The clearing of roads infested would take some time, but he was pleased to have the support of the council m enforcing the Noxious Weeds Aot. The council approved of the action of the chairman m giving permission to George Henry, flaxmiller, Grassey Creek, Otautau, to take a water-race to his mill across the road leading down to the Waer iki river. Mrs E. A. Templeton asked when they would be allowed to use the road through Mr Horan's property at Lmgwood, as they were completely blocked — Writer to be informed that survey had been completed, and as soon as Mr Horan bad signed the plan the road would be available. Wm. Brown, Orepuki, applied for the use of an unused road alongside the Orepuki railway siding for use as a hack paddock. He said the road was not likely to be required for the next quarter of a century. Granted at a rent of one shilling a year, and on condition that the weeds were kept down and that the council used the section for the purpose of storing pipes and other material when required. Messrs R. T. and P. Pearce, of Tuatepere, sent a communication to the council saying that having no means of access to their property, sees. 11 and 12, block 18, LongW'.od, they had been compelled to make a road through Mr J. McLean's property. They : now asked the council to have it surveyed and declared a public road. — A letter was also sent m by Mr Jas. McLean, stating that i he was willing to grant the required land free of compensation, on condition that tbe road was cleared the full width and formed. —After discussion, it was resolved to refer the correspondence to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Messrs W. Todd and Co., Invercargill, m complaining that they found it impossible to get properly drained a section at Orepuki, at present occupied by Mr H. Printz, asked that the drain m the street should be brought up to their seotion. — Matter left m the hands of the member for the riding to deal with. Joseph Wakefield, of Papatotara, stated that the Engineer had only paid him 8d per yard for road work at Papatotara, for which he should have been paid li per yard.— The Engineer explained tbat tbe price was to have been Is per yard, but Wakefield did not complete the work and did not oomply with the specifications. He therefore allowed him what he thought was a fair thing.— Action of tbe Engineer approved, and position to be explained to writer. Messrs Matheson and Co., Orawia, were granted two months' extension of time to complete their contract at Orawia, provided the culverts required were put m at once.