LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lake County Press, Issue 1066, 28 May 1903, Page 4

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of tho above body was held in tho Chambeis, Queenstown, on Wednesday, 20th iusfc., and wag attended by tlio whole of *he council lore. Adolph Holms, Sandhills, wrote complaining that ho had been rate'd for a two acre claim, which he had never held. Writer also complained cf the valuation on hia alluvial claim, which had been doubled in ana fear. He woe Id have objected at the Assessment Court, but had overlooked the date of the sitting.—Received. C. Illingworth wrote regarding the rent owing by the Bonanza G.D. Co. for which hirs name appeared on tho Court books. Writer explained that on January 24, 1903, ho had transferred all hi* interest in the claim, to Frederick Jones, trustee for tho Company, but the transfer had never been registered. He had been summoned for the rent, and asked the Council to inform the Mining Registrar to apply to the Minister of Mines and hove tho debt declared unrecoverable. It was decided to hold consideration over till next meeting. P. Rattigan wroto stating that he was unable to pay the rent ou extended alluvial claim in Bush Creek, Arrow, and asked the Council to strike it off as unrecoverable.— Held over till next meeting. A. A. Mair, Receiver of Goldfields Revenue, wrote forwarding list of claims in Queeustowq and Arrow district, which had been cancelled for non payment of ront, and asking the Couucil to pass the following resolution :—That the Minister of Mines be as!<ed to treat the rent on each of the claims as not recoverable in terms of Section 313, of "The Mining Act, 1808,"—so tint be conld have tho arrears wiped off his registor. Tho resolution, as submitted, was passed on the motion of Crs M'Bride and M'Donga 11. Cr M'Dougal! thought the Council should suggest an alteration in the Mining Act in the direction of compelling persona taking up a lot of country, to put down a substantial amount for the payment of rent.' Tha Arrow Borough Council wrote acknowledging tho offer of the Lakf County Council of £ls towards tho cost of repairs of the Borough Extension road,—The Eugiueor was instructed to lay off the work at once. R. Fountain, Inspector of Stock, wrote drawing attention to the existence of ragwort in various parts of the county, asking the Council's opinion as to whether it should be declared a noxious weed, as it was dangerous to stf ck. It was decided to hold the letter over till au expert's opinion was obtained. W. D. R. M'Curdie, road surveyor, wrote stating that part of the formation of the Ben Lomond road was on tho freehold property of Mr J. T. Bryant, Owaka. Before any vouchers could be passed tho property (5 acres) would have to be vested in tho Crown. Under a later datx- writer said that the lowest sum Mr Bryant would take was £SO. Mr W Turton informed the Council that the Tourist Committee had brought the matter of this ground before Sir J. G. Ward, S;r Joseph informed the committee that tho only way Was to invoke the Public Works A;;t, but this ccur:i3 would cost as much as to buy out thn land for JL"O. Mr Turton Raid the ground was barren and was not worth more than £2O. Mr Turton alao stated hs had written to Bryant on the matter, and had received a telegram from the latter staging ho would not take less than .17>0. It was resolved—That Mr Turtou be thanked for the trouble he h.-.d taken iu the mattei'. Proposed by Cr M'Bride, seconded by Cr W. Reid—That this Council offers Mr J. T. Bryaut the sum of £2O for 5 acres of his property along Lake Wakntipu, all surveys and transfers to bo p*id by Council.— Carried. Cr M'Dougall wished to know the Council's pontoon iu regard to the maintenance of this road. Some of the members of tho tourist committee had informed him that tho committee would p«y the expenses in connection with the purchase of Bryant's land. Cr Cockburu said that Sir Joseph Ward had informed a deputation that the Queenstown Borough Council would ba responsible for the maintenance of the improvements which had boen carried out in the Park, The Chairman said ho supposed that if the Tourist Department continued to make roads the Counoil would have to keep them in repair. James Ritohia, farmer, Cromwell Flat, wrote (in reply) stating he was carting coal from Bannockburn to tha Gentle Annie dredge, and therefore used only a very anal 1 portion of the Lake County roads. Writer aßked the Council to issue a quarterly carrier's license, as oarting was very uncertain The Engineer stated that other carriers had asked for a reduction in tho fees. It was decided that tho carriers be informed that tho Couucil could net see its way to issue quarterly licenses, and to take proceedings against nil carriers without lioenses. W. Keating. Branches, wrote stating that ho was in search of quarts reefs, and asked for permission to put a tunnel undor the track at the Blue Slip. The application was refused, the Engineer stating that If the tunnel was pat in the track would not stand. B. P. Gray wrote forwarding the names of W. Sharp and G W. Gray, as sureties for his contract at Arrow Falls. Writer stated that both men had money in the b nk, Uo had beau unable to got auy busihoss men to become sureties. Councillors were of opinion that the fact of men having mouey in the hank was not, a sufficient guarantee, au the money could bo drawn at any timo. It was decided to ask the contractor if he would be willing <o allow tho Couucil to relain 5,0 per cent, until duo completion of contract, as Council did not appiove of sureties. C. K. Waller, wrote drawing attention to tho dangerous state of tho road between Wy u ia and Giemrcliy, ami asking tho Council !o put tho road iu fair order. Cr B rley said ho had travelled ov.t the road very often. The road whs very steep, and tlicie had nearly been accidents on it two or three time*. He considered it very uectitisary that xnmcthing fdtonld bo done, as urmjihiii's had boen made before. Cr M Bride said lie had been «ver th" road ••s often :i» anybody and he did not consider it very bad. 'i.he vrus no slo*pur than the Lower Shotover hill. The Kngineor *nid L2 or L 3 might be spout on the road. Left in the hau's of the Engineer to spend

hi Kit'Ti'tr.f r's h.iu.la. t'. Reid, fin hciult ; ~! I.over Shofovci' resident*. wvot« {o.-vr.rd'.M cheqno for LIS 10", their cfmtrib'itir/.i towards tUc«K;t r.f telephone to bower Shotoycr, ..id asking the Council to instruct tht Telegraph Department te proceed with the work without deliy.—lt was decided to u*k the Department to proceed with the work. R. Day, secretary Charitable Aid Board, wrote forwarding uames of persons receiving aid in the County. It was decided to ask for the Christian names and oc.up&ticns of two persona named Green, who were receiving aid. H. J. H. Elliott, Under-Secretary for Mines, wrote consenting to the expenditure oi LIOO for Sawyers Gully roid by day labor.—Received. Baird and Elliot wrote ntiting that they were agreeable to take 1.5 for the use of gravel pit in their property, all fences to bo left in goe<i order. Cr Cooklmru said MrW. Gumming had informed him that he would give the Council the right to gravel pit in hi.; property for L 5, providing Ilia Council fenced the same. lb was decided to accept both offers S. Jones. County ranger, sent in his raport of catilo straying, and fines paid.—Received, Macalistcr Bros, nnd Evans, wrote oa behalf of J. Bordeau, demanding payment of bah nee due on contract 187 (L 34). If amount was not paid at once a summons would be itsued for hearing at next Court. In reply, the Engineer said there hud been nothing further done towards finishing the contract. Councillors wcro of opinion that as the Engineer had got instructions ho should have acted up to them nnd had the contract finished at Bordea.u'B expense. The letter was received, Mr Tnrton to act for Council if proceedings were taken. W. Turtou aud Sou wrote forwarding draft of agreements between the Couety engineer and County clerk. Mr W. Turton waited on the Council and explained that the engineer objected to the clause re travelling expenses for Government works. The Engineer also objected to the clanse referring to paymeut of salary after the monthly meetings, as the Council did not meet monthly, anil he (the Engineer) thenght it waa unfair that the officers of the Council w*it longer than a month for their salaries. Cr M'Dougall was under tho impression that at the time of dividing the offices Mr Black wns to have his 2$ per cent, on Government votes. Cr M'Kibbin thought the Engineer would he justified in claiming the 24, percentage. There was one section of the Council had advocated a salary of £350, and the other £325, on the understanding that the percentage on Government vole 3 would bring the salary up to £350. Tho Engineer said it waa the custom with other Councils that the engineer got 2} per cent, on Government votes. Even in some cases the engineer got a percentage on deferred payment votes. The Chairman aaid that Mr Fraser, M.H.R., had Informed him that the percentage had been discontinued, exoept on cooperative works, fie (tho speaker) considered that, as there was nothing in the adveriisement culling for applications for tho position regarding tho 2J per cent., it should not be given. Cr M'Kibbin thought that if the engineer could get the percentage out of the vote he should have it. Other councillors concurred but they were against having it included in the agreement. After further discussion the Eugineor agreed to sign the agreement, with some alight alterations. Tho only objection to the agreement with the clerk km as to who should pay the premium lor tho Fidelity guarantee of £2OO. Tho Clerk said, In reply, that Mr Black bed written to him, stating th*t it would be necessary tn take out a policy for £2OO as security for his po-,ition. He (the clerk) would have bc-en able te heve found sureties up to £IOOO, but he had no choice. Tho Chairman said, under the circumstances, it would be unfair to ask the clerk to pay the premium. He asked Mr Black who had giveu him authority to write Mr Harto (the clerk) to the above effect. Mr Black said it was tho expressed opinion of the Council that he (the speaker) should be insured, and he thought thr- same coui'6* 1 w-'uld he followed in regard to the clerk. The Chairman : But you pr/furred to insure, rather than get auroti«s. Mr Black said if he bad oversteppci the mark, he had done it in tho interest; of the Council, Proposed by Cr M'Dougall, seconded by Cr W. Reid-—Tint if they can legally do so, the Counoil refund to tho cleik tho 30s paid to the Fidelity Co. as a guarantee premium. —Carried. It was decided that the officers of the Council should be paid every month. A lfrtter was received from the Department of Roads, Inveroargill, asking for a return ef the amounts required for roads and bridges in the district. A similar communication was received trom the Duuedin office. Tho following is a list of the amounts, which arc priacipally required for improvements to existing roads and tracks :—lnvercargill district: Main road, Garston to Black Bridge, £IOO ; Garston-Nevis road, £SO ; bridge, Gordons, £SO. Dunedin district: Improvements to grade at Arthur's Point bridge, £l5O, Arrow to Cardrona Saddle, £3OO : Qneeustown to Gentle Annie, £SOO ; repairs to bridges on same road, £300; Arthurs Point to Arrow, £200; Arrow to Speargrass Flat, £IOO ; extension of ArrowMacetowu road, £4OO j gravelling Priory road, Head of Lake, £IOO ; Roes Valley completion, £l5O ; Martins Bey track, £IOO } Route burn boggy road, £4OO ; road te connect Paradise wirh Dart Road, £500; bridle track, Oxbnrn, £100: extension of dray road, Shotover Valley, from Hardy'e £SOO ; improving track. Stone's Creek Terrace, £IOO ; improvements to Skippers road, £100; Susrarloaf to Tucker Beach, L 15 0; Cardrona Saddle to Cardrona, L 1.50; Cardrona township to Pembroke, L 250 j Pern broke to Glendhu Valley, L 150; Glendhu to Matukituki and Mt. Aspiring, L 20 0; MaUkituki river to Albertown, L 10 0; Albertown to Wilkin rivor, Ll5O ; improvements to track at Bob's Cove, L 250. T. F. Richards wrote statug that the engineer had stopped work on the writer's contract, as he said the gravel was too fine. Writer also asked for a progress payment of L3O. Mr Richardß waited on the Council and explained that before he tendered for the work, he had asked Cr Cockburu where the gravid was to be obtained, when the latter told him that it was to be taken from the pit he had been using. The pit the engineer now wanted the gravel taken from was 60 chains distant, and the work could not be done for L2 103 a chain, R. P. Anderson corroborated Mr Richards' statement, The Engineer said it was not gravel at ali. It was silt. Tho contractor did not even strip it. The specifications distinctly stated that the gravel was to bo of approved qualitv. His opinion had not been asked at all. Mr Richards denied that the pit had not been stripped. The gravel that had bee i put on was good clean gravel, and he invited any of the councillors to iuapect it. Cr Cockburu said he had told Richards where to get it, and he thought thut a Richard* hud tendered on that understanding it wan unfair that ho should he asked to g»* gravel elsewhere. lie considered the gravi-1 was g <»d. The Chairman said tint with all due re hj ect to Cr Cock burn, the eugineer was the only person to say where tho gravel was 1o lie got. It the engineer did not approve of it, lie did not thin!;, the Council should interfere. Cr M'Dougall agreed with tho Chairman that there wa- only one authority and that was the engineer. Cr M'Kibbin thought; " approved grivel " was not a just condition in the sj e.iihcatius,

■■'• -■'" " "• 1 -■ -v. .■•<»■> fane, H»j ,;■ .. . !:-. ,j on the men. In all contracts he thought the pit should bo poiutcd oui, or else stated in the spooifioations. The v'n-'.i.T/ivn said th«y could nat al'.er toe specifications in tha present ca<*e, nmi the Council could not force theengineor i.u approve of the grarel. The matter was left in the hands of the entf.neer. Proposed by Cr M'Kibbin, seconded by Cr P. Reid—That in contracts for graveling in future, the engineer state in tho specifications where the gravel is to ba got for puch work.—Carried. Cr P. Reid pointed out that tho oontractor for gravelhug at Mayne's was not taking the gravel from where it was understood it was to be got. Cr Cockburn said it waa the intention of the Quoen3town Tourist Committee to form croquet grounds in the Park, and he hr.d been asked to get the Council's permission to take soil from the County roads.—Tho request was acceded to, Cr Cockburn thought that the Couucii should buy two horses, a dray and a plough, so that the surfacemen could be employed in the winter months, gravelling. At present tho men might as well ba idle in the winter for all the good they did. A sledge hut could also be procured, which conld be shifted about to different parts of tho County, Crs M 'Bride and Birley agreed with Cr Cockbum's remarks regarding the work of the surfacemen in the winter. The Chairman thought tt would be bettor tc hire horses and buy a dray. Cr M'Kibbin thought that at tho present rate they paid for a horse aud dray it would be better to hiro them. At the present they could get a horje, dray, and m?.n for 12s6dperday, which roally meant 4s Gd per day for tho horse and dray. There wero plenty of idle horses in the winter time, tie thought it would be a foolish idoa tc buy horses. Proposed by Cr M'Bride, seconded by Cr Lambie—That this Council invite applications and prices from persons willing to hire horses, dray, aud driver for say a term of three months, applicants to state alternate terms for one, two, or three horses. The engineer to direct where they sre to be eta* ployed.—Carried. Cr Cockburn said that Mr Yanseu had complained of the bad state of road at Tucker Beach. The Engineer's report, as follows, was road and adopted j The Chairman and Councillors, .Lake County Council. I have the honor to submit report for period ending to-day. Roadu and tracks are in good state, and the surfacemen are making good progress in making preparation for the winter season. Contracts.—The various contracts are being carried out, but I have had to take exception to the material used as gravel in two instances, but the contractors have, in each instance, met my views, and the work will be finished properly. Bridges.—-It will be necessary to attend to repairs to the Arrow, Meg, Victoria, and, Kawarau bridges at an early date, as the very heavy traffic of the past two years | has (greatly damaged the structure*,, and if attention is aot paid promptly a greater expense will be involved. Punt.—Temporary repairs have beer, made to the Kawarau Puit, and as soon a. the river is low enough further repairs will be effected. Chair at Gibbeton.—Arrangements for the erection of the ohair »t Gibbston have, been made, and in the course of a few da/a the chair will be ready for use. Chair Martins Bay Track.—l have arranged for repairs to the Pyke Crook Chair, aud the necessary hauling line will be eenfc over next trip of the Minernoa. Tenders for Gravelling.—Several tenders for gravolltng Mil'ere Flat Road will be laid before you to-day. jgOfSce Foncc —I would call the Ounci's attention to the state of the fence in front of tho office, which, in my opinion, reqeires renewing. J. Black, Eujj nicer. In r-ply to the Chairman, the said M'Mullen had promised to go on wirh his contract at Macetowu at once. The Chairman: M'Mullan had promised this before but had i>ot done so. Regarding O'Grady's Ben Lomond road coutr :.ct. Cr Birley asked the engineer if it was st.-itod in the specifications that tho stone wail waa to be built on a sod foundation. Ihe Chairman sail that when exception was muds to this work at last meeting, the engineer had stated that the walls might be rough, but they were ou a good foundation, When the couucillors had visited tho work that day they found that such was not the case, as one of the councillors had driven a bar six feet through the foundation. Cr Ceukburu said they were not deserving of having meney to spend, when work liko this was passed. O'Grady's contract was a disgrace. Tho Engineer said Mr M'Curdie had stated work had been carried out satisfactorily. The Chairman: Well, if Mr M'Curdia said this was a good job, he was easily satisfied. It was resolved not to pay the balanoe due ou contract till the Council were satisfied that the work had baen properly finished. Cr Birley wished to know why tenders had not been called for the work at Muddy Creek, Head of Lake, The engineer had been instructed at last meeting to lay off the work. The Eugineer stated that on the day he was going lo the Head of the Lake he had • received an urgent wire t» visit Victoria" Bridge, which was out of repair. The work would be laid off as once. Cr M'Dougall said the contractor for the Cardroua coal pit road had informed bin: that the work would be fiuished that day. Ou the suggestion of Cr M'Doagall it was resolved to spend the balance of the vote. (L 95) by day labor in' making repairs to road from coalpit to Cardrona township. Resolved oa the motion of Crs W. Reid aud P. Reid—That the overdraft of L 2998 9s with the Bank of New Zealand at the end ef tho financial year, 31st March, 1903, be a liability for the, current year.—Canied. Cr Lambie drew attention to repairs that were required en Skippers road at Maori Point.—Left to the Engineer. Regarding the licensing accounts, the Chairman said he had taken the accounts, to the Government auditor. The auditoi . considered the charges had suggested that they be returned tb the re-. turning officer to have a reduction made.— It wae decided that this course be taken. Cr Birley asked the reason of timber being. got from Southland when it eoold be* procured at the Head of the Lake. The Enginoer said he had always got the timber from the Head of Lake sawmill, but it had been closed for three months, ho he had been compelled to get it from Southland. Cr M'Dougall eaid that Mrs Thomas Russell of Pembroke had informed him she had been rated for 4 sections, and that she only held three sections. —Left in the Clerk's hands to attend to. When tenders were opened, considerable, dixciissiou took place over tho acceptance, of a tender for contract 217. H. M,Mullen was the lowest tenderer, but some of the councillors thought that, as M|Mullen, had several uncompleted contracts in hand, his tender should not be accepted. Cr M'Kibbin thought that the lowest tender should be accepted, as the Council, had the sureties to come on, if tho contractor did not carry out the work. The, enginoer should see that coutrae'e were done according to the spjeifioatioas. On being pnt to a vote, the next tender. (R. P. Anderson''*) was accepted* Crs M'Bride, M KibSmi, and B.it*oa voting against it. . Accounts amounting to LiSd fa were. pa<«cd far payment. The next rneeliug was fixed for J dy