VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2989, 29 September 1919, Page 5

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The. ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council held at Clyde on Wednesday last- was attended by Crs S. T. Spain (chairman) Jas. Ritchie, G. S. Patterson, J. McKnight, D. Middleton, J. Sheppard, J. Kane, and C. Weaver, On the motion of Crs Ritchie and Patterson, the striking of a live farthing rate was confirmed. Tiie minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under: The Counties Association wired that 'he Conference would commence on October Ist. The Chairman intimated that he intended to attend this Conference. The Department notified that the Govt, subsidy on rates £753 has been paid into the funds of the County. The Receiver ot Land Revenue notified that £221 thirds and fourths had been paid to credit of the County. The Postal Dept, wrote in reply to the County’s protest that indifference had been displayed in the distribution of mails during the railway restrictions staling that as the chief postmaster in Dunedin had been given authority to expend any reasonable sum to distribute the mails, the County's protest was unwarranted. The Treasury, Wellington wrote asking support for the Victory Loan.

—The Cnairman expressed the opinion that it was evrrybody’s duly to assist, and a resolution was carried that the Council do everything possible to help. The Dept, of Internal Affairs wrote asking for information regarding the peace celebrations, with a view to the publication of records of proceedings. The secretary of the Gladstone Cemetery, Ilawca, wrote asking for a subsidy of £lO towards the cost of surveying a new area. Cr Kane supported the request and Cr Ritchie remarked that he understood that the old sections had been tilled and new ones were necessary. The request was granted. Mr D. Bunting, Cambrians ' wrote re a sporting party to kill Kcas and asking for particulars re bonuses etc — Cr Ritchie thought the idea a good one The Council had previously asked the Govt, to assist but there had been no response. The runholders most interested should lake the matter up Cr Middleton remarked that the Kea

was protected in the Mt, Cook district. Cr Sheppard suggested communicating with (lie Club in the Lakes district asking for information. Cr Middleton understood that individual ruuholders were paying a bonus of 5s per head and he thought that they were the right people to pay. Cr Sheppard replied that the runholders in his district were paying and were prepared to pay 5s per head. It was resolved to refer the writer to the runholders interested and to communicate with the Lakes Association The Waihemo County wrote asking that the speed of motor cars be limited to 25 miles an hour, and that the Govt, be asked to legislate accordingly.

ll was agreed to support this resolution. Mr Geo. Harvey, Chestcrmains, Malakanui, wrote asking permission to construct a race on tlie road line —agreed to during the pleasure of the Council, The Minister of Public Health wrote acknowledging receipt of letter re closing of one hospital. The secretary of the Central Otago Fruitgrowers Association wrote forwarding the following resolution carried at a recent meeting : '* the Association expresses its disapprobation at the fact that services of the County ranger have been dispensed with and urge that a new appointment be made at once or that the Council’s reason lur the dismissal should be given to the ratepayers. The chairman said that in the Town ol Clyde they had quite sufficient protection in the person of poundkeeper J. Holt Complaints had come in from Manuherikia and Galloway His opinion was that one ranger lor the whole County would never be a success. He thought that any body of settlers should have the right to select somebody themselves. The man dismissed had only attended to the vicinity of Clyde and the appointment had been a failure. In reply to Cr Weaver the Chairman said there had been no instructions as to the kind of stock impounded. He was satis lied that no

one man would ever be a success He quoted the case where one man had been slated to the extent of some ;6'fc> or £9 in one week, who had certain rights over unfenced areas. The intention of the County was that stock doing damage to fences, etc should be impounded, Cr Weaver asked whether they were going to abide by the Impounding Act. lie asked the question because he understood that the residents ol Earnscleugh wcic going to recommend one of their number as a ranger. Cr Ritchie said that the man dis missed had been a failure as a dog lax collector and also as a ranger. He had confined his attentions as a ranger to the vicinity of Clyde whereas be had been appointed for the whole county, The main roads ran through pastoral country and it was almost impossible to keep sheep off them. This made the question of ranging a complicated and difficult one.

fhe Chairman thought that it would give mote satisfaction if each district selected its own ranger. The £4O was not sufficient to induce a man to travel all over Cr Weaver thought that an independent man and a stranger to the ridings would have better resells than local men whose interests would conflict The Chaiiinan took exception to the Council’s action being questioned, but Cr Weaver thought the ratepayers had a perfect right to know the reason.

Cr Kane did not agree with the previous speaker, remarking that ratepayers would be next wanting to know why a roadman had been dismissed.

The letter was received, Cr Weaver dissenting. Mr M. P. Me Ginnis, Earnscleugh wrote asking permission to exchange a road line on section 7, owned by applicant—Agreed to Mr G. Scott Lowburn, asked permission to put a water pipe across the Burn Cottage road—Granted. Galloway residents petitioned regarding the danger from the* Manuherikia River spreading, and leaving its course Petition to lie on the table for two months.

Mr Thomas Govan, Galloway, wrote offering to assist with the work of protecting land from the Mamiherikia River— The Chairman said that the Public Works Department were considering the question. The Countieg association forwarded Counsel’s opinions regarding several matters. The inward correspondence as read was received and the outward ap proved. The County Engineer’s report was read and dealt with as under: Hawea Riding One of Smith’s teams has been working on the Manngawera Roads doing general maintenance work and repairing the bad piece of road near Rae’s. This team is now working at Grandview Creek cutting the new channel across the road. After completing this work the men will repair the approach to Hawea Jetty. As no other tenders were received the formation etc, Luggatc to Hawea the lender of Win. Smith amounting to has been accepted and work will be commenced at once. The Tarras Lindis I’a'ss road has been repaired but some work is still required above Morven Hills, this can be done out of Govt. Grant Ifyjen are available it is proposed to commence the work at Blue Slip immediately. The protective works required on Hyde’s to prevent the further encroachment of Lindis River will be commenced this week.

Clutha Riding— Nothing but ordinary maintenance work has been done in this riding during the past month When Smith’s team has completed work at Hawea Flat it will shift to this riding to complete the expenditure of the Govt, vote available lor Flood damage. This work will consist chiefly of patch gravelling and general repairs. The timber lor redeeking Qucensbury Bridge should come to hand any time now. Garrick Riding— The roadman at Bannockburn has had assistance to carry out general maintenance work during the month. Dunstan Riding— Two men have been employed patch gravelling on the lower portion of the Clyde Cromwell road. As instructed at the last meeting I conferred with the District Engineer P. W, D. at Dunedin on the question of the proposed bridge at Galloway and the estimates for the two classes of bridges have been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works. The estimate for the light traffic bridge is £I9OO and for the first class bridge on concrete piles £4OOO These prices include reading and a small amount of protective work at the bridge and are based on present day quotations so are liable to amendment as prices fluctuate. The whole difficulty at the present time is the scarcity of hard wood for piles and stringers and from what could be learned in Dunedin the situation Is not likely to improve. Until we receive the estimates for the current year It is hardly worth while doing anything further in the preparation of plans etc, Lindis Riding— Tiic timber for the alterations of the Lindis Crossing motor bridge is now ready to send up and the work can be carried out as soon as the timber is at the site. The roadmen have been instructed to proceed to Lindis Crossing to carry out the protective works on the Ardgour Road. Willows have been carted for this work and have now to be placed in position. I have inspected the stone wall at Cromwell Bridge and find that out of a total length of 390 feet, two portions are below 3ft. in height. The first low portion commences 12ft. from the bridge and is 130 ft, long. The other portion commences 270 ft from the bridge and is 120 ft. long. I would recommend that the first portion be built up with concrete to a height of 3ft bins. This would be preterra hie to erecting a wire fence on top of the stone wall as it is more endurable and would have a much better appearance.

Matakanui Riding— Cr. Sheppard and ihe engineer inspected most of the roads within this riding and decided what work should be with the money available, ihe Rqblic Works Dept, arc ageeeahip to the vote Omakan to Matakanui road to the racecourse to between Harvey’s and Matakanui Township. Specifications for this will be prepared and sent for approval, Specilications for the expenditure of the Omakau to Lauder vote has been ionvarded forwarded for approval and on their return the work can be put in hand. A number of culverts throughout this riding require attention and several will have to be enlarged. Manuhcrikia Riding— Nothing but ordinary maintenance work by the roadmen has been done in this riding during the past month. One tender has been received for the formation and gravelling of Nevill's road and this can be dealt with to-day. Enrnscleugh Riding— The approach 10 the Alexandra Rridge ,:.n the Western sidp h il3 l,een repaired in Concrete, The concrete abutments at Conroy’s bridge have been completed and a new beam has been put in to replace a broken one. There are two bridges over the I'raser River which will require cotKitle dbulruepw 19

place decaj'cd timber and as this will be a rather expensive work 1 would recommend that a Govt, vole be asked for to assist. There is already a subsidy of joso J£ for £ to repair the abutments to the bridge at Earnsdeugh. -Fruit Settlement, but this will not nearly cover the cost of the work. The roadman has been carrying out general maintenance work during the past month. Tenders have been called for forming and gravelling 54C11S ot Blackman’s road and are receivable up till 30th Sept.

Cr Kane would like to see the work at Blue Slip pushed ahead, as the motor season was coming on. Everything else in his riding was in fair order. The engineer said that he had one man to do the work at Blue Slip and he intended to go up and try and get more men to carry out the job. There was a straight out Govt, vote of £IOO for the work. The chairman said that he would like to see the work done as the road had been hung up since January. A special effort should be made to do the work. The engineer to attend to the matter at once. Cr Patterson said there was some damage to the road at Kawarau but he had arranged with the engineer to visit it.

Cr Ritchie remarked that everything was all right in his riding. Cr Middleton agreed with the engineer’s lecommendation to increase the height of the parapet walls at the approaches to the Cron.well bridge. Cr Middleton took exception to the press report that he had said that the work at Hydes should be done regardlessofcost. He had recommended that the work be done, but certainly not regardless ol cost. [Our reporter is positive that the words taken exception to “ regardless of cost ’ were used by Cr Middleton. The discussion anent the subject was only bticily reported, and the context would probably have shown that no unreasonable expenditure was suggested. What actually happened was

that the Engineer had intimated that the woik of protection would probably cost £2O or 30, and it was when the Chairman asked for the voice of the meeting as to which amount should be expended that Cr Middleton interjected that the work be done regardless of cost—Edt. D.T.] Cr Middleton again spoke of the necessity of providing living accommodation tori the puntman at Lowburn and he thought that they should utilise the building near the Cromwell bridge for the purpose. He had already asked the engineer to report. The engineer to get an estimate of the £cost of a four roomed cottage, using suitable material from the building at Cromwell, It was resolved that the first 30 ft 01 the parapet wall at the Cromwell bridge be built up with concrete. Cr Sheppard, read a letter from the Omakau Cemetery Trust asking that some bushes be removed from the road near the cemetery. Agreed to. A request of Mr John Wilson to repair a road near his property was granted. Cr Me Knight said that he had several jobs authorised in his riding which he would like hurried up. There was one important matter wanted look ing into and that was the crossing at Bell’s Freehold (Dovedale Creek). The engineer to report on same.

Cr McKnight remarked that they would have to realise, that the Poolburn Creek had assumed a new normal level. In reply to Cr McKnight the engineer said that he would be able to supply pipes as soon as the railway restrictions were removed. In reply to Cr Weaver, the engineer said that he had passed the work at the Alexandra bridge and (lie abutments at Conroj’s Creek. The repairs to the Fruitgrowers Bridge and the one at Me Ginnis would cost about £2OO each. Cr Weaver suggested asking the Govt, to make straight out a vote lor these works. Agreed to. The Inspector of Nuisances for the town of Clyde reported that everything was in a satisfactory condition. The Council f then went into committie, the report on resuming being—Resolved that, the schedule ol accounts amounting to £720 13/ tod he passed for payment. Cr Weaver introduced a deputation of Earnsdcugh settlers Messrs E. Iversen, J. Hawley, and M, Me Ginnis who asked that the Council assist in or make no objection to an endeavour to get a special act through Parliament giving them power to transfer the rights in connection with, the Blackman’s water race. The deputation was perfectly satisfied with the treatment meted out to them by ll\c Council but they thought it would he more satisfactory to gel it transferred to a water Board, consisting of the settlers, so that the rights would attach to the sections Cr Weaver remarked that some anxiety was occasioned to the settlers owing to the possibility that the scheme might be enlarged and the water taken to other lands. Cr Ritchie was sympathetic. He thought the settlers should be given what they wanted. Another Council might want to extend the scheme. The present settlers had paid for it and were entitled to it. Mr Ive.-sen remark ed that there was barely sufficient water now. Cr Ritchie pointed out that tho proper proceeding was for the Council to take any steps, accessary. Cr Weaver movey that this Council pijip immediate steps to have an amendment made in the Act to enable a transfer of the Blackman’s Water Rights from the Vincent Council to the owners of the land in that special water area. Seconded by Cr Ritchie and carried. The Treasurer’s statement was read and received. This showed the over ul iLt L'vgth io bu ‘voS'fe*