CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1084, 4 February 1879, Page 5

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Clntha County Council, was held in the Athenseum Hall on Friday last. Mr A. Jowitt occupied the chair, and there were present Messrs Jenson, Clark, Mosely, M'Kenßie, Dallas, Brydone, and Ayaon. MINUTIS. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. DEPOIATIOK FROM INCH CXUTHA. Th« Chairman laid it wa« vaual to read the

correspondence before deputations were received, but aa the gentlemen forming this one were anxious to get away, he hoped the Council would hear them first. It was agreed that tho deputaeion should be th°n received. Mr Mostly introduced the deputation, which consisted of Messrs G. M 'Donald and G. H. Gilvary. Their purpose was to present « petition signed by a large number of tie residents of the Inch Clutha distriot, objecting to the plan designed by the engineer for the formation of a road- through the centre of the island, and cloning up the old one by the river banks. , Mr Bell drew the attention of the Council to the fact that although some places in the old road were washed away, the most of it was still good, and that they could get the land required for the purpose of re-constructing the rood in these broken places, free, with the exception of about v quarter of an acre. The Chairman that t>ere was a motion on the order pnper which would bring up their case, and he assumed the deputation that their petition would receive the Council's serious consideration. The deputation thanked the Council, and withdrew. C iRKESPONDXKCE. The following corie.tpondence was then read and received. Lett r from Treasury, W-luiigton, re the deduction of .£-15. Letter from Chairma-', Clydevale Eoad Board, re the vote of £500 for the Pomaba&ka Road Buard. Letter from Treasury, Wsllington, allowing £750 out of £10,000 voted far Road Worka. Several letters of no public importance from the Crown Lands Office. Letters from Mr B'air and the Minister of Pablic Works, in reference to jetty and street at Catlin's River, stating that the Government were of opinion nothing would be gaiaed in the way o F expedition by placing the matter in th County's hands, so the Government would do the works. Letter from Inspector of Police, Lawrence, appointing Constable John Hughes as Inspector of S laugh ter-houaes. It was moved by Mr Dallas, Hecinded by Mr C ark, and carried — 'That the appointmeut be approved, and the Chairman authorised to obtain the necces*ary books." Letter from Mr Duncan Campbell, stating that he was rated for land not occupied nor owned by him. It was moved by Cr Clark — " That the occupiers, the Australian Land Co. be rated. — Carried. Letter, re Inch Clutha Punt, asking for repairs. Mr Clark moved, and Mr Mostly seconded— "Thactha Engineer be authorised to expend not more than £20 on the necessary repairs." — Carded. Valuation of the outlying districts receivedThe Ciuirman stated he had g..t this valuation for £15-. Tuis was the correspondence received. A letter had I een written to the Colonial Treasurer fur a loan of £10,000 to repair damages done by the flood, to which no reply had been received. Mr Moßtly moved — "That a deputation to be appointed to wait on the Hon. Minister of Pnbic Works to endeavour to get this £10,000. The deputation to consist of Messrs Jowitb, Brydoue, and Jenkins .n." The latter geniLmen declined to ac\ The ",ames were altered to M«ssrs Jowitt and M.sely. The motion w&i then seconded by MDallas, and canied. The Council then adjourned for an hour. On resuming at 2 20, the Chairman read a telegram from Mr Scob,e regretting that a pressure of business engagements prevented his atttendance at the netting of the Council. Copies of letters were then read that had been sent to Mr Higgiii'-t-n for a report on the Bridge, and to the O.lonial treasurer about the legality of tbe Bruce County expending their moneys on the construction of isaid bridge. No reply had been received to the latter letter. TRAVELLING EXPENSKS.

The Chairman asked if the Council would allow him travelling expe >cea when on County business outside of Cou;iiy. Mr Jenkinson said thab it was only reasonable tbat when the Caairnvm was doing the County* business, the County should defray his travelling expenses, He moved to that effect, and it was carried. engineer's report. The Chairman then read the Engineer's report as follows : — • The C'jairman, Ciutha County Council. Si r> — I have the honor to report, that, according to instructions, tenders have been called for roid works on Greenvale Road, aud on Mai 1 road Clinton to Wai^ahi. (j u road to Waipahi liailway SfcatioD, through block VII, Wa'p=vhi, Messrs irusler ami P.ul, setlleis, have agreed to do part of the work re quired on this road, which will be i>roc.;edecl with immediately. [ have inspected tli9 main road Cl nton t-j Waipabi adjacent to the lan/t of Taylor Brother*, and estimate that it will take £100 to form the road on the proper line. Estimated cost of abridge over tbe Waikoikoi Creek, on Gore to Taj anui road, £220. The work to improve the a»prt ash to the Ovvake Bridge is being proceeded with. 'The earthwork to cost £7 10 ; the balauce of the vote to be expended in metalling at £4 per chain. I have inspected the road line between sections 1, 2, and sections 4. 5, Block XI, and also the dotted rod line intersecting semi jus 3 and 5, block JX, Waiepa. To form thtse road.ioea for a sledge-track, and build a bridge over the Pnfiua fctream, will require from £300 to £405. I have also inspected rnai-line intersecting block X, Warepa. It woald require a large amount of mon^y to form this roa<l as it passes through a buah for about two miles ; but if the matter of about £50 were expeuded in widening the road by cutting down the bush to a sufficient width on each tile of the formation, and putting in a fsw culverts, it wou.d make the road, passable. * atlin's road. The work at Glenomaru hill is completed, and the stone-walling to protect the road from Glencani iru stream is being carried oat. The sum voted f-r this work will not nearly complete it ; the channel of the stream at this place has encracht d considerably, necessitaiing a much deeper wail than whut was lit tended. The foot-bridge across the creek at the schoolhouse, Inch Ciutha, will be tirushed in a faw days. The providing of sfcoae for the Matau bridge

is being proceeded with ; there are about 130 cubic yards at the bridge ready to be put infc<i the liver when the repairs to the punt are completed. Messrs Falconer and Sons have finished contract No. 24, on Catliu'g read. The following are the BUtna of expenditure I kubmitted for payment for month ending 20th inst :— . . £ • » To Surface labour on Main South .Hoar], Clinton Riding ... ... 12 17 0 „ Repairs on tools aud blasting material 7 17 6 „ Surface labour on Main Road, Waipabi to Tapanui ... ...20 3 0 „ Surface labour on Greenioh road, Waipahi Hiding ... ... ... 912 0 „ Do do on Mitaura road Wairnna Riding 9 40 „ Spikes, nails, pick handles, &c, Waipahi and Wairuna Ridings 115 4J „ Suifi.ce labour, fort M-»lyneux road, Richardson biding ... 5 12 0 „ Do do Ka.hiku Bridge to Hogg's Bridge ... 612 0 „ Providing stone for Matau Biidge 60 10 6 „ Day labour on Catlin's Road, Pert Mjlyneux Riding 45 1 0 „ Do do on old Lake Soad between Pomahawk and Clydvale Riuiugs 19 10 6 £194 7 9i I am, &c, Matthew Patterson, Engineer to County Council Committee. The Eogineer also recommended that several auics should be g.-anted as progress payments to contractors. — Granted. Mr DJlas moved— "That the Engineer's report be adopted. ' Mr Clark seconded.- -Carried. eoabs in befekred payment block. Mr M'Kenzia moved--" That the ChairmaD, Mr Clark, and tho mover be appointed to determine as fco tbe expenditure of £750 allotted out of £10 000, GoverDUient vote on the roads in the deferred payment district, taken up prior to 187S ; aud to report at the next meeting " — Carried. REPORT OF COMMITT E BE CONTRACTS. The report cf ih-i Cumrnstt.ee appointed to investigate as to the condition of contracts was recurred aud adopted. PRICE OF METAL. The Engineer stated that he had written to the Matau Koad Biard, offering to sal th^m a qiaiitity of metal suitai-le for road work ; aud had received a reply, tffnng for it Id od per yard. M<- Mosely propost d, and Mr Dallas seconded — " That the metal be cff red to that B ;ad Board fur 2a 6d per yard."— Carried. TENDERS, i Contract No. 34.— Two tenders were receive.! for this contract ; but as both were considerably over the Engineer's estimate, it was agreed to call for fresh tenders. Contract JSo. 35. -William Smiley, £82 3s; John Taylor, .£lOl lls BJ. Mr Smiley's tender was accepted. PROTECTION OF ROADS. Mr M Kenzie said : That as by the Public Works Act ths Council was to preserve the roads, he thought th.it each member of the Council should be authorised to prosecute persons daniiging County roads withia the ! idin^s th'iy represent. He made a motion to the tffsct that such authority be which was seconded by Mr Dallas, and carried. CLINTON TO TAPANUI BOAD. Mr Clark moved, and Mr Dallaa seconded, " That tenders be called for the formation of Maiu road between Clinton and Tapanui." Mr J.nkinson objected to the work being dont. Enough money is being spent in that district a ready. He thought that the settlers should help to do tbe woik. On a division, the motion was lost by the casting vote of the Chairman. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment : —

An account for £18 18s from Mr Piilans for the services of himeeif ai.d boat's crew during thefl'od was also } ass d. An r.'jcoun" from tho 'Ciutha Times' f«r £12 7-*. for &dv< rtiairii., was refeired to the r induct C ■uruittue. ROAD TO WAIPAHI RAILWAY STATION. Mr M'Keirzi.- inoveti — '-Toat theEugii.etr he aut.l o'-ised %<• extend £-50 on the north tank «•* the Wiiipahi road to give access to the W iuai.i Railway Station." Mr v.lark seconded the motion. My Mosely t otubt iha 1 ; t ere were n:orata.ti ns than Waip*! i wanted seeing to, Warepa for iubt nee, aud that the nation should apply general y to all stations in tbe '..'tiuniy. Mr MKtnaie's mo* O!i was cariied. ADVE-TTSI\G Mr Jenli son moved that teudr-ra altould V.c calle.l for advertising f •■ -i m the two loc;tl papers for all neccseary covinty adverti^ernenis." In moving it he sail it wa* only fair tbat botu I pikers should have a ci anc^, ai d that. ii. wonid only cause a fair competiton. The amount paid lat.ly for local adveitrsing was alarmingly large. The motion lara-d ft>r want of a seconder. PUERtTA BRDGE.

Mr Jenkins- m moved — " That the County Council agree to guarantee payment of the sum of £700 as loan from Government, half of eaid amount to be paid by the South Molyntux Koid B >ard fat the end of five years. This a rou t to be txuended in erecting a bridge over the Puerua, and the improvement of the Banatt:t, bridge near Port Molyneux. He pointed out the important «Df the bridge, as many settlers had to go mik i out t..f their way for the purpose cf crossing vie Puema." Aft^i considerable discussion on the point the motion was put, and carried, Mr M Kenzie alone roting agaiusfc it. THE IKTCH CLT7TFIA BOAD. Mr Mosely moved — " That tbo Chairman and movt r be r< quested to arrange with owners of land on the Inch Clutha island, wi h » view to repairing the main road where washed away. Mr Ayson seconded. Mr M 'Kenzie said it was in relation to this matter that they had the petition from the residents of Inch Cinfcha against t the plan devis< dby che engineer. It was dangerous to accept the decision of nnpropfeßsional persons v against that «f a man whose Lvuiaeus such mat* i Ur wer«.

Mr M-'Sfcly eaid in reply that sunly people living in the district Ur a number- of yean knew better what was best for them than a stranger to the place. TdeCbairman poiuted oat that the motion was merely that they should ie« the settler* and try to arrange with them M to the repairpairing of the road, If the motion wu •arrled he oould assure them it would not eoouoit th* Council. The motion was put and resulted in ■ tie. The Chairman gare his casting rote in favour of the motion, whioh was therefore carried. RATES IK THE INCH CLTTTHA. Mr Mosely moved, " That the rates and sus--sidies raised thereon, in the Inch Clntha district be applied to the construction and re* pairing of County Main road in that district." Be said he thought it only fair that moneys raised on the Island should be expended on the Island. The County had taken orer the road and ought to keep it in repair. The motion was seconded by Mr Ay son. After somg discussion it wad put and lost. Mr Mosely : Then some of the Inch Clatha > folks wont pay their rates. ROAD 3AT WATPAHI. Mr Clarke moved, " that £100 be voted according to the Engineer's report for the construction of road to deferred payment, block 111, on condition that the settlers contribute £50 ; subject to the approval of tho Waste Lands B.)»i-d. : ' Seconded by Mr Ayson, and carried. Mr Clarke moved, "tbat £100 be voted towards the construction of the road to railway station, W -i^a'i. ' Seconded by Mr D«J>as and carried. Mr Clarke mt.-ved, '"That tiio sum of £50 ;-e txpt.uded on rh« improvement of road lcaaing 10 deferred i.ia.y incut section, in block. V." iStCJudcd by Mr Dallas acd carried, CLISTOi* TO MATAURA. Mr Cl.uk uio-.td, " Tiu-tt i-10) »•<* v.-t-jd f;r t,e i'oiuvtiiuu of Miia E -id rroin O ..:WJ Ij M-itaura. be (.aiu tusrt L 247 aal boen alit.uly spent oil this i«*ad ; but wii«.t hid beeu d:.;ic would have been scarcriy ni t.ny Uo>., nuksa more waa giveo." M M'Khuz *> aecoiidfd the niotion. Mr M.idi-.]y opposed tkfc nmtiou, b*.e.-.ii-i- a {iiucli more deserving cast — aaraoiy, t;,c iLC>i C utba rt;qu!r«.-int;nts h*«i beea thrown gvyt v.t want if fuuds. M: J~.witt Baid that as the order of the day waa retrenchment, and the encoabmy, h«j thought this matter Bhould stand ovtr. Tiie motion wa3 then withdrawn. WAIHUNA AND CLINTOK POUND. Mr Ciarb moved, "That Mr U. M 'Donald be appointed pound-keeper, and his paddnck a pouud for the Wairuna and Clinton Ridiags." Seconded by Mr Mosely, and carried. IMPASSABLE ROADS. Mr M'Kenzie moved, "That subject to the approval of the Waste Lands Committee, road along sections I, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, block I, and section 25, block V, be made passable by the construction of culverts, &c. by the Engineer ; cost not to exceed L 60." Seconded by Mr Ciark, and carried. RAIWAY PASSES. Mr M'Keczie drew attention to the fact tha* though the Government had issued free passes on the railway to County Councillors, they had withdrawn them now, becauße, he supposed, the railway line was open. He thought it was not right tbat Councillors travelling on County business should have to defray expenses thereby incurred. BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet for half years, {ending March, 1878, aud 1878, were read and approved. They will appear in our next issue. Tbis was all the business.

£ s d A. R. Livingston 6 16 10 •Du.y Times' un-J 'Witusss' Co. 1 13 0 ' iaiiaoui C urier ' ... ... 7 0 6 H. WsoandCj 0 9 0 VV. JMicoll 6 0 0