COLLINGGWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 50, 12 May 1910, Page 4

COLLINGGWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met on Monday, 2nd instant, all Crs being present. Minutes of previous meeting were read aud confirmed. New Cemetery.—Discussion took place as to work done by Mr Saudisou in terms of the resolution of last meeting, it being considered that the instructions had been misunderstood.—Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman-and Cr Washbouru, that the work done by Mr Sandisoti be altered so as to admit of ploughing aud other work to be carried out as originally intended by the Cemetery Committee. CORRESPONDENCE. From G. H. Allan, applying for renewal of auctioneer's license.— Granted. From Public Works Department, re inspection of Bishop's Washout bridge and other works. —Received, Engineer having attended to same. From Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, stating that the allocation for Collingwcpd County for the current year for Board's purposes was £y6 } payable ifl quarterly instalments. From Westland County Council,

a circular, suggesting amendment in the form of compiling the County electoral rolls in order to ensure more paiticulars. Resolved, on the motion of Crs Walker and James that this Council co-operate in the movement.

Frcni Mining Registrar, Colliugwood, covering list of holders of miners, rights in the County. From Chairman Ferntown School Committee, asking for repairs to old tramline road to school. —Resolved, on the motion of Crs Walker and Flowers, that the woik be done.

From H.Johnston, asking permission to take soil from road-side at Rockville.—Granted, on motion of Crs Fish aud James. INTERVIEWS. Mr J. Fowler attended to ask when he would start his contract on the Coal Creek bridge. —The Engineer said the delay was in the Government Office, the plans had not yet been approved. —The Chairman said that the Council appeared to be doing all it could do in the matter. —Cr Walker said: " we doing our best?" He moved that the Minister be wired to asking the reason of the delay.—Seconded by the Chairman, and carried.

Cr Walker moved that the Engineer receive instructions to allow the contractor to proceed with the work at once.—Seconded by Cr Riley, and carried, Cr Washbouru voting against. Mr F. C. Richardson, attended in connection with his Valuation Roll of Mining Properties iu the County, stating that two valuations objected to had been struck off the Roll.

Mr J. Hargreaves again attended in reference to Dall's Cieek crossing —a matter which had occupied a good deal of his time. 'I he Counci' had beeu " fooling about" for a long lime, and he must take some action soon to protect his own interests. —Cr Fish said the Council was not liable to Mr Hargreaves to anything like the extent to which he (Mr Hargreaves) considered the liability extended.'-If Mr Hargreaves got the natural fall in the creek it was all he could claim. —Cr Riley said the natural fall in the creek had noc been altered more than a few inches in the last 50 years.—Cr Fish moved that the ford way be cut down 18 inches. If Mr Hargreaves wauted more fall, he should contribute towards the cost.—Cr Riley seconded. —This was lost by 4 votes to 2. —Cr Washbouru moved that 2ft. pipes be put in 3ft. 6in. below the present level, at the Council's cost.—Cr James seconded. —This was carried by 4 voles to three —the work to be done by day labour, on the motion of Crs Walker and Flowers.

Mr J. M. Davies attended to ask the Council to take over five twelve foot steel girders, cost abom which had fallen into his hands on Allan's Creek contract, by duplicate order. —Resolved on tue motion of Crs Washboum aud Flowers that as the Council has no immediate use for same the offer be not accepted. Mr Saudison attended with plaus of New Cemetery and tracing for ordinary use; also presenting an account for £9 8s tor work done thereon. He undertook to supply a report on the position of tne Cemetery for £1 is.—Resolved that the amount be paid and the report be supplied, on the motion of Crs Walker and James

Mr P. G. Hawkins attended to ask permission to fence in certain road-lines in Collingwood Township, and undertaking to erect gates as lequired.—Resolved that it the necessary advertising is done the matter will be considered at next meeting.

Mr H. Strange attended to ask permission to shift his fence to take in a small portion of the top end of the Swamp Road (where the road was two chains wide) in order to enable him to cope with the noxious weeds,—Granted, on the

motion of Crs Washbouru and James, subject to .removal if .required. Mr St r ange also ask d when the Lunatic Hill Road w:<s likely to be put in hand.—He was informed that no authoiity to expend ;he money hid jet been received.

Mr C. Lammas abked for two days work on main road to bia place, Silverstream. —Cr said he had been trying to get it done, as instructed at last meeting, and the matter was left in his hands.

Mr Lammas also complained that he had attended on two office days to pay his rates and found the Clerk absent ; yet he had been sued for his at a cost to Jhim of about £\ extra. -It was explained that the Clerk was away on Engineering business on the days stated, and sympathy was expressed with Mr Lammas in his misfortune. Mr Lammas asked when he was going to get his expenses for attending the court case of Council v. Grant.--Cr Fish referred to the long delay i-i settling these accounts —the matter seemed to be shelved continuously.—Resolved, on the motion of Crs James and Walker that all the accounts in regard to this case be paid at once, the Chairman and Cr Washbouru voting against. •

Mr Hunt applied, through Cr James, for permission to erect a hut ou the road near Aorere Bridge, Rockville.—Granted, subject to removal, payment of 1/- per year, and keeping clown noxious weeds. TENDKRS 3. Gravelling James' By-road. Ellis Bros, (accep). 2s 50 per yd. Cook and Harvey 2s oxl ~ ~ H. P. Hawkins 2s 9d ~ ~ 4. Supplying 250 yards Gravel on Main Road at Rockville. Ellis Bros. (accep), .£3B 19s 2d H. P. Hawkins 10s lod Hickmott Bros. : 2s 6d 1. Formation of 29 chains or thereabouts of road formation .at Maugarakau. .., . .L J. Rhodes (accept) #2-35 17s *d F, Harvey os od FINANCE. Accounts totalling were passed for payment. One account was objected to by Cr Walker, who stated that 25/of it had already been paid twice, as he had seen the receipts, aud was now presented for the third time—he thought twice was quite often enough to pay any account. It was resolved to write to M r Dillon asking for information as to a missing voucher, the Chairinau and Cr Washbouru voting against the motion. Cr Fish said it was current report that wages men were not paid their wages promptly each mouth. —The Engineer said there was no foundation for such reports. The balance sheet presented, for year ending 31st March last, showed a debit balance of /1450. The Clerk explained that the credits to come from Separate Accounts and cash iu hand would reduce the overdraft to about exclusive of that day 's payments. GENERAL. RuaTauawha Bridge approaches. —Ou the motion of Crs Walker and Riley the Engineer was instructed to have these approaches widened and protected, at a cost not exceeding £jo. Engineer's Report, —This report was read and discussed, and it was resolved thereon as follows ;■—That the Engineer get all requisite furnishings for the new County Offices—chairs, tables, counter, forms, shelving, etc.

The report stated that it would take ,£309. to reuew Stanton's. Creek Bridge aud that the County Offices had cost £l2l for buildings aud for the laud. Rate Collector.—Resolved that the Clerk be formally appointed rale collector, on the motion ut iuc Chairman seconded by. Cr James,

Cr Walker voting against

Type-writer.— On. the mottpn of. Crs Walker and James it was resolved to supply ibe Clerk with a ty.pe-wiiter at a cost of £25. —Cr Fish dissented, as he considered the iffiee and eq lipment should be paid fur fit's i.

Junior Clerk.—The 'Chairman said the appointment of a Junior Clerk had been held over since the previous meeting. The. present, one official was working, night and day, and could not, keep up with the work. He now moved that the Council advertise for clerical assistance.—Cr Washbouru advocated that temporary assistance be obtained when required.—Cr Riley said the Council might just as well have remained as it was formerly.— Cr Walker said the present time was a busy one, and thought extra assistance should be obtained for three months, if necessary. He moved in this direction. —Cr Fish said there was no more work this year than last year, when,they had two men to do the work. It was now found that the work cannot be done by one man —it had cost £$ for extra clerical work last month and it only required a few pounds to bring the cost up to what was paid before. He moved that assistance be obtained for one mouth at a cost of not more than £<\. — Cr James seconded. —The amendment was lost, only, the mover and seconder supporting it,, and the motion was carried, Crs Fish and James voting against. Public Pound.—Cr Fish asked if there were any returns from the pound-keeper. There were plenty of cattle ou the roads still, and many complaints from the public.— The Chairman said the nuisance at Pakawau was as bad as solved that, a report of the'Pound' transactions be sent in every .'month. Cr Fish reported on several works done and required which were duly 'noted... He moved that a man be put on Mackay's Pass, rOad for £ week. —Seconded by Cr. .Washbourn and carried, Cr Walker vot-. ing against. ..' "■-.,. ... ■ ..,; A\\

General and Special resolution striking the general rate was confirmed, and it was resolved to levy the required special rates. : Cr Washbouru protested against the suing of one ratepayer for his unpaid rates, but it was considered' that no exception could be .made.

Cr Riley asked that a road be made round Puponga- mud-flat to, Triangle Valley at a cost of-about —Cr Walker supported, and it was resolved accordingly, the- Crslnlerested to get same done. Iu reply to Cr Washboum, the Clerk said he had had no further word about the Inland Road vote.

Reporting Meetings.—Cr Walker suggested that the Clerk be asked to send reports of Council meetings to other newspapers, as, he asserted, reports in the local paper were "wrong." He quoted iustances of what he called unreporting.— The Chairman and Cr Washboum said the reports referred to by Cz Walker weie -fair aud correct reports of what took piaci, and relerence to the minutes of the Council substantiated the reports.—Cr James seconded, aud it was carried that the Melsou Mail bd supplied with reporta.—The Chairman and Ci vvaaUUJurn voted agaiust, as the motion east a reflection on the iocai paper which was not deserved. In reply to Cr James, as to the expenditure of balance of vote ou Avery's Hill Road, it was stated that no plans of the deviation have yet beeu received. On the motion of Cr Flowers it was resolved to shift logs from Col-liugwood-Parapara Road. Cr Flowers explained that he wanted only permission to shift fence ou Kohiteretere>Uioad aud not erect a gate as evidently under? stood.—-Granted. . .; i: . The Council went into iniitee to consider matters in Connec.iou with a contract recently ueicimincuoy the Council, .