VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Dunstan Times, Issue 2087, 30 July 1901, Page 5

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual bi-monthly meeting of the above was attended by ('rs Horn (chairman 1 Laidlnw. Navlor Part'idgc, Rutherford, M'Whirter. Kane, and butler.

The minutes of the special meeting were read and confirmed, and.on the minutes of. the ordinary meeting being read, a discussion arose on the publishing (if lenders. . fter which the minutes were adopted. Cr Kane spoke of the inefficiency of the poisoned gain.—The chairman said his experience was the reverse. He read a letter to to the eff ct that the grain was effective, and asking for more.—Cr u'Whirter suid a neighbour laid two or three bags but got no dead birds.—Cr Rutlcr said that a neighbour of bis used the oats, and some birds died—ami a meat many more did not.—Cr Kane thought there was no poison in the giain. Cr Laidlaw said the poison would disappear but very few dead birds eventuated. -—i r Rutherford spoke against the efficiency of the poison. Coircspon'ence was read From Vincent Extended Company asking for subsidy for road, the eost being £95 7s (id.—The engineer Said that the subsidy had been granted before.—L2o voted provided that no no subsidy had b.ien prevlou-ly granted. From the First Chance Company stating that the co6t of the road for which subsidy was asked was 1,18 9s Id—Engineer to report.

From Roderick Poison, asking for the balance of the money, withhpld t>g a fine for not taking up a contract.—Former decision adhered to

From the Land Board, stating that the sections 38, 89, and 48, block XL, Clyde, were to be offered for lease under the Pub'ic Resftiyes ' Apt, for a terin of 14 yeaij.--Cr Naylpr said that the sections really belonged to the Town Trust. \n the provincial days, when Clyde was a borongh,-these sections, were g anted, as a reserve to hold a town hall, Jle thought the Trpt had a epofj ehjjrn to tJiC mites** w* )w o°?s* ft pfiwfl* $#

they could obt>in them. He moved .. That the clerk write and explain to the Land Board. All the assets belonging to the old borough became the property of the Trust, and these sections were omitted in the embodiment. Nobody had a claim on these sections but the Trust, After discussion the clerk was inrtructed acooiding to the motion. A telegram was read from T. C. Donnelly stating that " O'Connell'a Bridge bad state, accident horse last night claim LSU compensation without prejudice." Cr Laidlaw »aid it was a narrow escape from death the man had. The horse put his foot in a hole on the bridge, and a crowbar.was essential to remove the foot. It was a very valuable horse. The Engineer said in June last he noticed that a plank was wanting, and he had instruct d the man to put it tight. Or Ru.herford said it was the first he heard of it. The telegram was received, the Engineer to investigate, and report at next meeting. From Wm. Bossiter, Albcrtown, asking again for payment for work done on the punt, in dejault threatening legal proceedings. The Engineer said that L2 would well pay him, but he refused that sum The letter was simply received. From F. A. Collings, asking for a months extension of time for Contract 431, which had been delayed owing to the severe frost.—Agreed to» From Dugald Bell, Hawea Flat, complainiu. that the work of repairing the track had not been done. the writer Said the men who wero supposed to do the work knocked off when they liked. 1 he Engineer said the man employed was a reliable man, and thought the letter was actuated more by personal feeling than anythiug else, the two men not being good friends, cr M'Whirter thought it would be a caae for the member of the riding to deal with. Left in the hands oi Cr Kane to iuquire.

From the StooK Department, Clyde, asking for improvements on the Hawkesburn road. the Chairman said that the best course wcnld be to instruct the Engineer to make iho road passable for light t affic to Cairnmuir Flat. The Engineer said L'2o would probably cover the cost Crs MWhirter and Par.ridge thought the council should not pay money on a road which would only benefit the Stock Department. Cr Butlei could not see what was wanted \vi hj a road there for light traffic. Ur M'Whirtersaid that if the money was granted he would have plenty of applications for roads from ratepayer who had some right to ask. Ur Naylor said the rotfd should be repaired. The question was held over to the next meeting, the Engineer to report. Mr Kobert Gilkison wrote, in reply to the last repottof the Inspector of Nuisance, and explained that he was simply filling up the old gravel pit. He had also plantea tiees on the leseive. and the county employees had not kept the fence in repair, „as piomised. He knew of no waste paper being placed on the reseive. Ihe chairman saM that the inspector had suit that what he had stated in his repoit wns conect. Ihe letter was received Ur Laidlaw moved—That the 'son? of LtO be voted to place iron pipes on open jrosaiugs on the load, Matakanuito Ophir. Agreed to. (Jr Partridge moved—That the sum of Lls be expended on the road to Wilson'* coal pit.— Agreed to. Cr is a>lor moved—That the sum of JL2S be voted fir gravelling roads aud si. e walks town of Clyde—The mover said it was a long time before anythißg had been done to the side walks in Clyoe. Some people had been patching up for therase.ves, ;.n the side walks wanted looking al'te. badly. Cr Ai'Whiitei seconded, because the sttects in some places were a disgrace to a county town.--Agreed to. Notice of striking a general laiefor the j eareuding March 3i5t,,1902, m conformity withsectiuu 89, oi " Tils Rating Act, 1894" ud " The Counties Act, 1886."—A rate of Id was agreed to. The Chairman read the

ENGINEER'S REPORT

KOADS Clyde to Ciomwell—The surfaceman, with another man, and horse and dray, have done a good many chains of gravelling near Leaning Rock Creek, and the road is consequently much improved at this pirt. Other surfacing repairs have been attended to. A start has been made with the rc-gravclling near Cromwell. I hia work is to be provided for out of the Government grant

Clyde to Lauder Creek—At the piesent time there arc no me* on the road. Various works were, however, in progress up tiil about June 25th, when the frost compelled cessation of operations. Surfacing works were about compicted at that time and 1 do not anticipate that anything more need be done for some time to come, unless it may be t«r a few days when the host breaks up- The road formation opposite Ophii was continued unti 1 about the same time, ami was then discontinued for the reason given above. About l£ miles have been completed in a satisfactory manner.

Clyde to Tuapcka County Boundary The extra men were dispensed with early in June. During the lime they were employed, a considerable distance of the road was l'o ined up, and otherwise improved. Since then lh" surfaceman has continued similar work, and the road was in very good order when inspected lately. Cromwell to \\ anaka.—The surfaceman, is employed ou 4 ordinary surfacing work and is getting the road into good order. I contemplate placing him on the LuggateCardrona river section shortly, theie room for many improvements on this part. Cromwell to Kirtlebuni A considerable length of this road was formed up, while the extra labor was available, and other improvements were effected isingojil order, lut wi 1 doubtless require attention when the breaks up Cromwell to Nevis—A little work was doue on the U».per section in the early part of June, but frost soon made the road impassible, and /stopped all works. The Bancockburn section has been kept in go.id order. Cromwell to Hawoa— The men on tinsection from Cromwell to Kooky Point wtre dispensed with early in June, but not until this part had been put in good oider. '1 lie men on the section trom Kooky Point to Hawoa were kept on longer, but they did not commence at the same time as the others. Good work was done on this part, Spottis Hundred Koads Penning and travelling » piece of roa'.l opposite section 21, block '3, Lauder district, has been completed and good work done. Kegravelling in Block 5, Lauder district lias been finished some time and good woik done at moderate cost. ' Ophir'to Ida Valley and Ida Valley Koads —ln good order, but will probably cut up when frost breaks C'ONI'KAC'IS No. 415, Pitching between Clyde and Alexandra Process has been slow, There are about two chains of the pitcbd jpg- completed. Hie work js we } doue and

No. 423, Forming Hawea-Lindis road— Tb« contractor informs me that the work is completed, bub I And there is still a ltttls to be done before I can pass it. No. 426, Forming Conroy's Gully road— Fair progress is being made and the work is well done.

No. 425, Forming Galloway-Ila Valley —Completed. No. 430—Forming Block 3, Poolburn— I found that the formation was not in proper shape and very roughly done. The contractor has promised to see to it. No. 437, widening road, Butchers Gully Crossing—The retaining walls were not being properly built when I inspected the work, and 1 instructed the contractor to have them altc ed BRIDGES Nine large beams will shortly be put in Clyde Badge The Alexaudra Bridge is in good order, I rind that the abutment on the East bank requires protection. During the late high river considerable enc, oachment was made on this bank, ana although there is no immediate danger steps should be taken to prevent any further loss of nuterial. Some years ago a large pitce of this bank was excavate!, to make room for the pontoons of a dre ige, Two dredges were in faU built there. 1 attribute the encroachment which has taken place since to tbis disturbance of the bauk A perpendicular face was left on which toe water could act more readily and the large opening created a strong backwater current. I propose to make groins of wire netting, rilled with stones, encircling the abutment fJ and to rill in a good deal of large quarried stone between the groins. 1 have to ask tor a vote ot £isu to enable me to carry out the work.

A supp.y of timber for repairs has come to hand for the idaiiuherikia liridge, and work will be commenced as soon as possible. The balance of our report is held over.