CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 48, 26 November 1909, Page 6

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held immediately after the annuel meeting, all the members being pce- , Bent, end the new -Chairman (Mr Jas. Gumming) presiding. CORRESPONDENCE. From Nathaniel Patereon, Wm. Grey, and Smith-Bros, asking that a track be cut to their property at Pounawea.—Mr Saunders Wved that the engineer report at next meeting.— Agreed to. From A. Clulee, secretary Otago Benevolent Institution, notifying the date of annual meeting-viz., 6th December.— The secretary Hospital Board notified that the election of

trustees would take place on game date.—The Chairman was appointed to represent the council. From A. S. Malco'm, M.P., enclosing letter from the Minister of Public Works ra the Clutha County Council's suggestion that subsidies should be granted fur the laying of tramways in bußh districts conveying timber to railways, and stating that owing to the large number of applications for urgent road works in all parts of the dominion it would_.be impossible to make any provision on the Estimates this year for the purpose advocated. —Received. From the Minister of Internal Affairs returning copy of new by-laws, and staving that the Governor had approved of the by-laws, and said approval had been published in the Gazette of 11th November. -Received.

A number of telegrams from Messrs Jas. Allen and Malcolm re the progress of the Tapanui County Bill were received.

From the secretary Land Board forwarding statement of thirds and f urths for peiiod Ist August, 1909, to 30th October, 1909. the amount payable to council being £3O 14s lOd. —Received.

From F. W. Furkett, District Engineer, stating that the department had no money available for reducing the size of the road metal on the Houipapa road, and suggesting thut council put on a surfaceman to do the work. —Received. From the Collector of Custms notifying that the amount of gold .purchased during Ssptember, 1909, in the county had been 132oz.—Received. From the clerk Southland County Council Bsking council's co-op ration in bringing pressure t»> bear on the Government to have the provisions of the Public Works Act so amended as to give county councils discretion in the matter of r. quiting ovvnerH of land subdividing name for the purpose ol sale outside cf boroughs and town districts to gravel or to metal the roads and street?.—Resolved that this county cr.-tpirate with the Southland County. From the secrttary Otago Hospital Board notifying that the levies payable by council for the year ending March 31st, 1910, were, as follows: Consumptive Sanatorium £329, united districts Charitable Aid Board £519 9s, Fever Hospital £375 10s, Hospital Board £521 6a;—total, £1407 0s 10d.—The cleik mentioned that

the total amount for Ihbl year was £1373 7s 3d.-Received.

From Jas. Smaill, Merino Down?, drawing attention to the ttate cf the road bdween his boundary and Mr £). M'lntyre's house. He had to go into private property to negotiate a steep grade on the road. The Wbter tableß too wanted attention.—Mr Quiu moved that the engineer report at next meeting.—Agreed to. From the secretary N.Z. Counties Association re annual subscription (£3 3s), also in reference to the Government State Guaranteed Advances Bill now before Parliament. The Bill sought to repeal the pr visions of the Local Bodies Loans Act, whmby local bodies might borrow in any one year the sums of £6OOO, £3ooo, and £3OO, respfctively repayable in 26 years Bt 4i pvr cent., in 32 years at 4 per cert., and 41 years at 3|, Kithout any further charge for sinking fund; also to repeal the piovisiona of the amending Act of 1908, which empowered the Government to guaraiilee loans of any local authority and to provide one half of the sinking fund. The Association was strongly rpposed to the repeal of these provision?, and BBked the council to co-operate in telegraphing to the Prime Minister and to the district member on the subject. —The clerk to wire as requested. From the secretary M.Z. Counties Association enclosing the opiniois cf Mr T. F. Martin, counsel to the Association, on the following subjects: —Taking sUne from adjoining cunty, erecti n of temporary barrier while highway undergoing repair, logs to protrct water-table?, loans for several purpoaep, and heavy traffic vehicle b*-law.—Received.

From Paul M. Renton, Wsitp.peka, asking for an increase of Gd per day per hurse for his team, presently engaged ploughing and grading on the Otanomomo swamp road.—Mcved by Mr Mitchell that the request be re-fused.—-Carried.

From H. Ollernshaw, Papatowai, asking counc 1 to remove barb wirt fence and panels on M'Lennsn's Rwan p road.—Mr Saunderß moved that the engineer inspect, with power to act. From Jas. D. CalaVr pointing out the great convenience it would be lo have the ends of Pillans' rosd and Long Point connected and marie fit for vehicle traffic; the work could be done for about £lO, and would save a drive of 12 miles to anyone going from Long Point to Papßtowai, or vice ver86.—The engineer to furnish a re pott. From E. H. Burn, schoolmaster, Waipah', askiDg permission to improve the*approach to the school by shping the bßnk fiom the fence down to tl e water-tab'e.—Request granted, wcrk to be carried out to the satisfaction of the engineer. From W. Lawson, Papatowai, enclosing cheque for ratee, with 24s added us share of catting scrub on Tama

Hill. He also wished to thank the' engineer for the very good work his men were doing on the main road between Ratanui and Papatowai. It should 'oo a big improvement in the incoming winter.—Received. From J. G. Tuck, Owaka, complaining of a neighbour's milking cuwb being allowed to graze on Tuck's Creek road, and asking council's advice as to* the proper course to follow. —The surfaceman to visit the locality and report. From Jas. Watt, manager Balclutha Gas Works, applying for permission to lay a pipe from Gilraour's corner to Mr Peter Hunter's residence at Roarbank. —Granted subject to work being carried out to the approval of the engineer, From Robt. L. M'Latchie Owaka Valley, asking that a cutting on Catherwood's road, between Landreth's and Thos. Cook's, be widened.—Left in the hands of the engineer. From Public Works Department stating that £IOO vote had been authorised for Back Creek road, Catlins.—Received. SCARLET FEVER AT OWAKA. Dr Line, Owaka, wrote Blatir.c that premises occupied by scarlet fever patients had been thoroughly disinfected by Mr R. M'Lean (acting for the county counel), as directed in the pamphlets of the Department of Health. The doctor blso notified a case of scarlet fever at Hunt's Road. —Frank Ogston, District Health Officer, also wrote on the subject of the scarlet fever at Owska, stating that lat council's requeßt he had gone to Owaka on Saturday, 13th, and on'the following day, along with Dr Line,' ! visited six. houses where scarlet fever had been or then was. He found I that persons with the fever in their bouses had been visiting neighbours and had allowed neighbours to freely visit them. These people had been cautioned against such intercourse in future. The kical constable had promised to look after the inficted cases, and do what he coald to assist.—Received. j Dr Ogston also wrote that when jin Owaka he had inspected drainage i flowing on to the road leading up the Osaka Valley, and asked that the mutter be attended to.—.Mr baunders moved that the heal constabla be asked to supply the names of householders whose drainage runs on to the road. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

. The County Engineer (Mr \V. R. Leeder) reported lor the month as follows :

i Metalling on School road, Rimu, has been completed—the grade of a steep cutting lowered, and the embankment : widened—in all about lb' chains of metal has been run out; cost of this ; work is defrayed Irom Land luind duo !to that road. The men are now em- | pioyed ou Mokorole road, ploughing ■ and cleaning watertables, and idling j bad holes with rotten rock. They ; will go trom Mokorete road to tlio main Waikawu road, between Mrs Scott's and Tautuku river, and expend the Laud Fund due on that part ]of the main road. About 40 ioads of 1 metal has been run out in various 1 places on the main road between jtUtunui and Tarara Hill. Ploughing : ana scooping on main road south oi ! lararu liin is progressing satisiacI toriiy. The bridge on the .furakaniti stream in this locality, wdl require to 'be redecked ut an early date, and i other minor repairs effected. Repairs ; to limits Roau— tabling and maiu- | tenauce metal, etc.,—are under way. j Contract, i\o. 301, metalling and j maintenance on mam Beach roau, is ion the point of completion. Contract i\o. 300, maintenance and metalling on Port Road is well in j hand, and will be completed in the course of a week or so. : Grading ou Swamp road and on various roads in the locality of Otan- ; omomo has been completed in* a very expeditious and workmanlike manner. Contract iVo. 355, metalling ,on Jack's road, rtarepa, is under way. Contract iNo. 359, metalling Wilson's road, Te ilouka, has been completed. Contract .No. 357, erection of new bridge on ixaihiku stream, is progressing satisfactorily. lormation on Broad's road, near Waiwera, has been completed, and the grading on Hall's road, Clydevale, has also been run out. The grading team that was at Clydevale is now working in Poinahaka Riding. The grading team in Uuipahi liidiug is pushing ahead, and doing very good work ; upwards of live miics of road has been rounded up during the past month. I expect this team to iinish at Waipahi in the course of a week or ten days from date. Shaw's Track.—Some maintenance metal is urgently required for this road, and i recommend you have 150 cubic yards run out as soon as possible. * I have arranged to get another grading team started in Glenkenich Riding. The work has been in hand during the past eight or nine days, and i-s reported to be making satislactory progiess. 1 hope to give you a more detailed report on works in this locality at the next meeting of your council. South Molyneux punt.—One of the pontoons of this punt is very old and decayed, and I think it advisable to recommend tha.t steps bo taken to have a new pontoon built at once. The report was adopted. TIiMIERS. Contract No. 307. Metalling on Barker's Road ;>J chains (more or less).—llawley and MeKenzie (accepted), JEH7 5; E Dabinelt, £SO. Contract No. 372.—Cleaning & Ditch on Swamp Road ; about 1£ miles. —Cameron and Christie, £57 iO/; nm. Sutherland, £OO. There were no tenders for contracts Nos. 309, Clydevale-Pomahuka Road, 373, maintenance and metal, Waiwera, and 374, maintenance metal, Wairuna. DOG TAX. The dog tax for HMO was fixed at 2/0 per dog as hitherto, and it was decided to call for tenders for next meeting for supply of dog collars ; also to invite application?, l for collection of dog tax in each riding ly, at 6d per dog.

* FINANCIAL. The clerk reported the receipts for the month as iollowb : £ s. d. Rates 510 7 8 Rent, etc '. 12 9 Slaughter license 0 10 0 Deposits , 11 1 6' Balclutha Bridge 4 12 8 Clydcvule telephone 112 Charitable Aid refund 49 7 5 Total £578 3 2 The expenditure was—- £ s. d. Land Fund 30 8 0 Government Grant 86 0 0 General 833 13 8 Total £1,006 1 8 The pay-sheet was passed for payment. MOTIONS. Mr Quin moved, and Mr Cuming seconded, "That the Engineer expend £4O iii reducing grado on Reid's road, in' .the direction of Maitlaud Village railway station, expenditure to be divided between Glenkenioh and Waipahi Ridings where boundaries join." Mr Mitchell moved, and Mr Clarke secondod write to the Minister for Agriculture, requesting that section. 4, Block .[, Pomahaka district, which is part of Clydevale ferry reservo and at present in charge of the stock department be now put under the control of this Council; should the request be granted, this Council .will fence the section, and see that it is properly looked after." Mr Nicol moved, and Mr Edwards seconded—"That i the Engineer call for tenders for painting county building*." GENERAL. It was decided that Mr Edwards sign cheques along with the chairman. The Chairman, Mr Edwards, and Mr Quin were appointed a financo committee. The "chairman was granted' seventy five guineas expenses for the year. It was decided to hold the next meeting on Friday, December 17.