CLUTHA COUNTY COUKCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 22

CLUTHA COUNTY COUKCIL.

The monthly meeting of this council was held in the County Chambers, Balelutha, on Friday ; present — Messrs J. dimming (chairman), W. Hay, J. R. Mitchell, D. A. M'Lachlan, B. Bradfield, John M'Neil, J. Clarke, D. Robertson, and John Johnston. COBRESPONDEXCE. Mr Edmund T. Sayers, secretary to the Now Zealand Cyclists' Touring Club, Wellington, •wrote intimating that the club was willing to supply and erect warning notices and direction linger plates at all necessary places in the colony, and asking to be informed of any dangerous hills or cross roads v;ilhin Uie j county where boards or plates are required. He ailced to be informed whether the council "would be prepared to re-erect and keep sucli notices in position when necessary. — The engineer to supply the nece-ssary information. Matthew Griffith, Tautuku, wrote ahking payment -for a day's work he did along with the daymen at Tautuku about Christmas time. — Referred to the engineer. John C. Begg, the Gorge, Clinton, wrote calling attention to the delay in the construction of the bridge across the Upper Waipahi on the Wyndhain road, near the Cairn. A tender for the erection cf the bridge was accepted last year, but no further progress has been made. The bridge was urgently re- ! quired, the ford being almost impassable. He also called attention to a broken culvert _ about a mile on the Clinton side of the bridge, •which was in a dangerous condition. Mr M'Lachlan said the contractor had been dilatory, and when it was proposed to inflict a penalty he would not proceed with the work at all. The real contractor had got a dummy to tender for him. and between them they had let it to a third party. The best plan would be to cancel the contract. It was only about a month's work, and it was intended to have it done in time for the wool-caning, but since that was past there was no great hurry. If the propei deposit of 10 per cent, had beau paid, instead of only 5 per cent., the work would probably have been gone on with. Five • per cent, was to be deposited with tender, and 5 per cent, additional on acceptance of tender. This not always' done, and sometimes the contract was never signed until the job was completed. In this respect many of their conCracts were dealt with in a slipshod manner. He moved — " That the present contract be cancelled, and deposit forfeited. and that the engineer attend to the culvert." — Mr Johnston seconded the motion for tho reason that too great latitude was allowed in regard to contracts, the contract time being in many cases quite disregarded, and one contractor had often more contracts than he could carry out in time. — The motion was ' carried. — The clerk was requested to obtain j ihe full 10 per cent, deposit in future. The Public Trustee advised the sale of part it section 8, block LXVi Clutha, 7a lr 6p,

estate of Win. Scott, deceased, to Messrs W. and T. Riddell, Warepa. — Received. The Manager of the Bank of New Zcalan 1 forwarded form of a resolution it was necorary for the council to pas^ to enable it to anticipate the current year' a revenue.- -Mi Robertson moved — "That the resolution bo adopted and signed by the chairman." — Seconded by Mr Mitchell and carried. Mr G. H. Smith, Woodlands, wrote pointing out that about 20 chains of the road leading to his place, section 11, block I, Woodlands, needed forming very badly. — Engineer to get surefacemen to attend to matter. Thomas Boolten wrote that he was felling the bush on a portion of his property in block " VII, Glenomaru, and asked the council to fell the timber on the road line alongside the part felled by him. He wa.s willing to do the fame at the usual rates and sow with grass seed free of cost. — Engineer to attend to the matter. .lohn Campbell wrote calling atti'iition to the \ery bad stale of a portion of Cannibal Boy road, it being quite dangerous to p?s= along it, so much fo that the school had to be closed, as the children were unable to get to [ it. — Left in the engineer's hand:-. [ Francis Lees wrote asking permission to ' erect two hanging gates on the road line, block YJII, Glenomaru. — Granted, s-übject to [ approval of engineer, and in accordance with the Public Works Act. M. Morton wrote calling attention to the i very dangerous condition of Cannibal Bay road. — Letter received. The Receiver of Land Revenue notified a • payment of £98 18s lid, being third* and j fourths for the period from 31fI October, 1898, to 28th January, 1899.— Received. Adam Houliston, Kakapuaka, called attention to gorse growing on the road line leading to his place, Kakapuaka. — Mr M'Neil said the | road referred to was between Mr Houliston's property and the railway line, and most of the gorse peerned to be in the railway side "of the road. Mr Houliston had no gorse. — Mr Jolmslon moved that the engineer examine into the matter, and if nece?sary communicate with the railway authorities — Seconded by Mr >L'Neil and carried. — In connection with this question, Mr Robertson asked what steps the engineer had taken with regard to the gorFe nuisance generally. — The Engineer said he had given the wortt offenders notice. — Mr Brad- 1 field said there were some roads at Owaka ' where there were clump« of gorse, yet there was none on the adjoining properties If the council were to insist on the settlors clearing the gorse the fact should be publicly notified so that they would know how to act before it spread, which it would very toon do. — Mr Robertson thought there was to be a test case made of the case referred to at last meeting. — j Mr Johnston thought it unfair that settlers ( who had no gorse should be compelled to clear ' the gorse off the road lines. — The Chairman and Mr Bradneld agreed. — Mr Hay thought in cases of that kind the surfacemen should clear the gorse. — lit BradSeld said Lhe surfacemen

in hi» riding had done so in one or twc cases, but several councillors told him he was wrong. - — Mr Robeitson f.ud they nvusl comply with the Counties Act, which made no provision foi that. — Mr Johnston thought that where it was only a straggling bush here and there surfacemen should clear it. — Mr Mitchell wanted to know where that would end, if they started it. — After some further discus&ion the subject >vas allowed to drop, it being understood the engineer was to carry out the resolution of the council on the subject, and if necessary bring a test case. Messrs Lkiesfc and Co. applied for permission to lay a tramway across the swamp road near Mr Mat* hew Taylor's — Request granted. The Secretary Charitable Aid Board telegraphed, in reply to a communication from the council, baying it was impotable to allo(ale the amounts payable by the different local bodioa till i!">; hid the new valuation*, which miyht not b<> ">i month". He requested payment on the old lw-is in the meantime. — Mr Hay remarked that it was thought the old-age pension i would relieve this considerably, but it did not seem to do so. — Mr Robertson moved that payment be continued on the old ba'-i<\ — Seconded by Mi- M'Laehlan and carried. The Secretary Clutha River lio.ml wrote enclosing £85 6s 4d, being fourths of ».nall grazing run rents for year ended March 31, 1899.— Received. ROADS 4KB WORKS. The Engineer, in his monthly report, slated : Since lf-t mooting of council, contracts 773, on Popotunoa-Wyndham road, 768, bchool road Kaihiku, and 837, on Callins road, Ahuriri Flat , have been completed. The carting of btone for maintenance metal is completed, or nearly so, with the exception of contract 834-. but breaking is not being .proceeded with quickly. Christie and M'Roric have nearly finished with their clay contract on Olinton-Puerua road. Tne contract for building the bridge over the Waiwera stream on the main f=outh road will be finished in about a fortnight, and sheep will be allowed to cross the bridge in a day or two. The driving of sheep is the only traffic that has been inconvenienced during the building of the bridge. I have inspect iJ the proposed new road intersecting sections ' 27, 40, and part 39, block VI, Pomahaka. To make the road passable four new culverts aro required, two light block cuttings to make up e:ullie.->. and about 30 chains of side cutting. The chief expense in the formation of the road is confined to 10 chains where it leaves the river flat, the siding being composed more or less of rotten rook. Estimated (Oat £50. The doited track intersects sections 127 and 39. It winds down a leading ridge , and striked the rivei about 20 chains further 1 down tiie stream than the proposed road. The dotted road line is, with the exception of two small gullies, fairly passable. I have been told the principal traffic on the road will ba driving coal from the lignite reserve.

Pomahaka Downs settlement. To go in that direction, the proposed road will be about 50 chains nearer than the dotted line. There is a half chain road which intersects both the proposed and dotted road lines. It has been closed, but the land has not been dealt with. In regard to ford across the Kaihiku stream, on Whitelea road, to raise the crossing 24ft, length 1| chains, and width 16ft, with, a re taining wall built with cement, will cost about £70.

With reference to road in block V, Pomahaka, Mr Clarke said the funds of the riding would not stand the strain, and thought the parties interested should assist to the extent of about £30.— Mr Hay proposed that the member for the riding see Mr Gibson and ascertain whether he and others interested would assist, and, if so, that the engineer prepare plans and specifications for the work ; agreed to. — Mr M'Neil said he had no idea the crossing over the Kaihiku would cost so much, and moved that the member for the riding and engineer meet and confer with Mr Wilson as to whether some cheaper scheme could not be devised, and that in the meantime the suspension bridge be attended to. — Seconded by Mr Hay, and carried. — Mr M'Lachlan then moved that the engineer's report be adopted. — Seconded by Mr Robertson, and carried.

Mr Bradfield moved, and Mr M'Neil seconded, that application be made to tbo Government for £500 for metalling on road leading from Owaka railway station to Catlins Lake, engineer to supply all necessary information. — Carried.

Mr Bradfield moved, and Mr M'Neil beconded, that application be made to the Government for £1000 for metalling OwakaClinton road in blocks I, 11, and IV, engineer to give all the necessary information. — Carried. The monthly paysheet, amounting to £364 9s 4d, was passed for payment.