LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lake County Press, Issue 624, 27 September 1894, Page 3

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

All ordinary meeting of above bo.ty was held in the Council Chambers, Queenstown, on Wednesday, September 19, when there were present Crs J. Fox (chairman), E. A. Cameron. J. Elliott, J. George, W. Muirhead, F. M‘Bride, and B. Rogers. Cr M'Dougall wrote, apologising for not being present owing to illhealth.— Apology accepted. J. T. Marsh wrote, applying for permission to tunnel under the County road at Macetown. Cr Elliott said the tunnel had been worked by another|party|before, and he would advise the granting of the application, —Granted accordingly. W. J. Stanford wrote, drawing attention to E. J. Beale and party’s water-race damaging the County road between the Tipperary mill and the Premier road.—lt was ordered that a note be sent E. J. Beale and party stating that extreme measures would be taken if they did not at once take steps to prevent damages accruing. John Meilson wrote, complaining of John M'Kenzie putting posts in the middle of the road between his place and the Shotover Hotel.—Received.

Willliam Scobie, hawker,again wrote, asking for the return of a fee of £5 paid the Council in Kingston riding some years back. He had at the time objected to pay, as ho had a provincial license, which the courts had ruled was sufficient. He did nut care about law, but would ask the Council to refund the money. The Clerk explained that two test cases were taken to the Supreme Court, Dunedin, when it was held that a hawker holding a license under an old provincial Ordinance did not require any other in the whole provincial district. However, Mr 0 .rew had given a decision to the contrary since that time under the amendment law.

Finally it was agreed that Scobie be written to, telling him to take out a license.

D. M Gibbon, Shotover, wrote, asking the Council for a piece of wirerope for the erection of a chair at the Left-hand Branch. It was the only accessible place to cross to his run in Hood time.

Or Rogers said this place was not crossable for six or eight months in the year, and there were a good many miners who would also be greatly benefitted by it. Seeing that the cost was not excessive, he would request that the application be granted. Or Cameron proposed—That the request be granted, seeing that the Council have only to supply the rope, but on condition that all other material bo on the ground for the erection of the chair beforehand.—Seconded by Or Elliott and carried.

R. Gunn, Miller’s Flat, wrote, requesting payment of money owing for land taken for Dan O’Connell road. The Clerk stated that he had written to Mr Gunn to the effect that the matter would be dealt with as soon as instructions were received from Government.—Clerk’s action approved. D. Miller, Skippers Point, wrote, in reply, regarding permission to change the road at Shotover Hill as per a sketch submitted at last meeting. He suggested that the matter of title be left over till the road to the new bridge was decided on. He would then give the Council a title to any part of the road that went through his lease, and might be able to give assistance in forming the western approaches with his water supply.—Suggestion accepted.

Mrs Allan, Pembroke, wrote, asking for payment of whatever the Council thought fit for some work she had done to the road to her section, block 4, which was in a bad state. The Euginei r said that when over in Pembroke, he had conferred with Or M'Dougall, and, as the work was small, he authorised it to be clone.

Mrs Allan’s request tur payment was declined. James Evans, manager of the Achilles Company, Bullendale, wrote, requesting £l5O to be expended on the road from Skippers Point to Bullendale. H-i pointed out that since the new company had been formed it bad paid £2OO in revenue to the County. Cr Rogers said that the desired improvements were pointed out to the engineer' and himself. They would not alone benefit the Achilles mine, but the Gallant Tipperary nine and timber earners. With such improve meats it would do away with many bad crossings. He would suggest that the engineer report, and tender's be called to be dealt with at next meet-

The Chairman thought the bad portions could be done at once.

The Engineer saict they were all equally bad. Cr Rogers then proposed—That the engineer report, giving an estimate of (he work, at next meeting.—Seconded by Cr Elliott and carried. The Under-secretary of the Public Works Department wrote, saying that the matter of the survey of the Kingston railway extension would receive the fullest consideration.—Received.

The Mines Department wrote, stating that the subsidy grant of £l2oforthe ioad Pembroke Elat to the Nursery rid been cancelled.—Received.

W. Clark, Whitechapel, wrote, complying with the Council’s terms (finding a guarantor) for permission to mine three chains of the Crown Ter race road.- Granted.

A petition signed hy a number of Macetown residents was presented by Or Elliott, asking that the road from Smith’s Gully to the rock-cutting be gravelled. Cr Elliott said one portion of the road was very bad—in fact the mud was up to the axle. He thought the engineer could visit the spot, and then fix it up to his satisfaction, as lie knew there was not much money available: at prent. It was eventually agreed, on the motion of Crs El Ho fc and Rogers— That the E igineer give an estimate of the cost and then tenders be called for the work. Letters were reod from Messrs Fraser, Ward, and M'Nab. M H.R's, regarding the Kingston railway extension; the two latter expressing their willingness to co-operate with Mr Fraser. Or Elliott said he had seen in Hansard that Mr S-ddon (or at least he thought it was that gentleman), in reply to Mr Fraser, said that it wou’d take £450 to survey the line, and he thought that sum would be better expended in his (Mr Fraser’s) own district. The speaker thought, Mr F'aser had done his best in the matter.

Other member* agreed. with Or Elliott’s opinion, saying the railway was now practically shelved. Tim Railway Oommissomers wrote, asking part payment of <£ls for the footway on the Garston railway bridge for the school children and passenge rs.—lt was decided to pay £7 10s, that being the original rum agreed upon.

A circular was read from the Commissioner of Taxes, offering the use of maps and section lists if the local bodies would furnish the Tax Department with a list of valuations for the cost of copying same. The following resolution of the Taranaki County Council on the matter, was endorsed by the Council, on the motion of Ors George and M'Bride—That, in reply to a circular

letter from the Commissioner of Taxes re local bodies furnishing the Tax Department with a list of valuations for the cost of copying same, in consideration of which the Tax Department will allow local bodies the use of maps and section lists, the Taranaki County Council request die Government to contribute a fair proportion towards the cost of assessment in addition to the present conditional offer. The manager of the Loan and .Mercantile Company wrote, stating that he would have nothing to do with the working of the Kawarau punt.

The Chairman said tie’s matter could be dealt with now, as Mr Peterson intended waiting on them after lunch,. He thought the company should work the punt. Seeing that they refused to have anything to do witii it, he thought they should pay the same as any other ratepayers. Or M'Bnde thought the Council should offer Mr Peterson <£l4 per year to work the punt free, bit possibly he would work it for the same as before £lO. There were more outsiders crossed than the Loan Company's employees. The Chairman thought it should be a free punt too. —A view that Cr Cameron agreed with. Or Rogers said he thought the reason the Council let the puut drop with Peterson was that they thought they would have a great expanse in keeping it in repair.

The Clerk, in reply, said the Conn cil received £72 of revenue from the Loan Company. Cr George moved—That Peterson be paid £l2 a year and that the public and goods be taken over free.—S *conded by Or Cameron and carried. — On Or Rogers’s suggestion it was resolved that, failing this, the matter he left ii> the Chairman's hands. Mr Peterson here waited on the Council, and in the courte of his remarks said he wanted only a fair thing, his idea being .£2O per year to w mk it free to all. He declined the offer of <£l2.

The matter was fully discussed, but no settlement anived at.

On Cr Rogers’s motion, it was resolved to ask Government (considering the state of the County finances) to allow the £IOO voted for improvements to the main road Saddle to Deep Creek to be expended without insisting on the County subsidy. H> understood it was on the £ for £ basis, and the C luncil could not be expected to go up to £IOO in the present state of its funds

The yearly and half-yearly balancesheets to March 31st were read, and the Chairman authorised to sign same.

Or Rogers said a balance-sheet should be posted to each member a month or two beforehand, so that it could be properly considered. They could be easily raanugraphed. It was a veryimportant mattei, and it was for the members to look the balance-sheet over at their leisure, and see where the expenditure could be cut down, instead of just having it read over and then signed at a meeting. Cr Muii'head was of Cr Rogers’s opinion.

Or Cameron thought it would pub the clerk to a lot of unnecessary trouble. The accounts had been audited. What ni"re did a man want?

The Chairman thought it was unnecesary, for the accounts were passedat their meltings. Doubtless they kept either the County Press or theMail, and for the balance-sheet they could always keep the papers by them.. The matter then dropped.

John Edgar’s offer to do the valuation of the whole County at a fee of £B3 was accepted.

Cr Ediott moved the motion of which he had given notice at last meeting—That the Council of Like County hereby determine that the Rating Act, 1882, shall he in forcewithin the district of the C-ninty of Lake, also that nil assessments of property within the said district of the County of Lake, shall he made under the provisions of suh-section 6 of section 2 of the Rating Acta Amendment, 1893, according to the rateable value of such property as defined in section 2 of the Rating Act, 1882. Seconded by Cr George, and carried. The engineer’s report, as follows, was adoptsd : Thu Chairman and Councillors, Lake County Council, Gentlemen, —I beg to submit my report' for the period from July 16th to September 19th. • « Ronds and Tracks.—These are in good order, but the very changeable weather has somewhat, rctarde I surfacing operations, bat as soon as the dry weather sets in, I hope to have them all in as good'order a« possible. Contracts.—No. 104, Pembroke-MatubL tnki Road (Government grant); I inspected this work on 23rd August, and found the contractors pushing ahead, and by this time the first section should be finished, and all’ the timber has been cut and delivered for the bridge and culverts.—Glendhu Bluff: I have had a chain of parapet wall built at a very dangerous corner on the Glendhu Bluff road which greatly increases the safety of the public and a deviation has been made on the road towards Cattle Flat, so as to avoid crossing the Motatapu river in flood time.— Mrs Allan’s, Pembroke : I found, o i visit ag the street that Mrs Allan asked to be improved, that the work required-was so small that after conferring wi f h Mr M'Dongall I gave the necessary orders to have' it done.— Deferred Payments, Nokomai. —The work of forming the road ieiding to bl iok 4 t , Nokomai, is progressing favorably, and will be c -mpleted in about a fortnight. Road Leading to the puut. —I estimate thecost of gravelling this rood at £">•“> Ciilvert at Barnetr’s Road.—This work is.now completed, and a very good job made, but the road generally requires sev<-ral improvements bef -re it can bn called anything, like good. General Instructions. —All the small matters on which this Council gave instructions at last meeting have been attended to. Glonorehy. the main road at Gleuorchy leading from the township should be formed this Hummer soils to let it get hard before next winter and about six of the culverts in tile Routeb-irn bush require attend in' to, as th y are iu a very rotten condition. Fincher’s Bridge —This Bridge which was being silted up with tailings, has been raised 4ft and lengthened, .about 20ft, and will now serve for some; years. Footbridge, Maeetowc.—A small footbridge at Smith’s G« !y, M.tce'own, has been erecte 1 for the convenience of foot passengers. Jonv Black, Engineer. Tenders, ns follow, for contract 102 (road formation near Mr H-z.n-l’s, Miller’s Flat) were opened ;N. Wynn, £2B 16s (accepted) ; Charles Hav and party, £3O 8s ; Bryant and Ferry, £3O Bs‘; J. W. Baker, £36

A vote of thanks to the chair tor minuted the meeting.