LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lake County Press, Issue 2391, 31 August 1911, Page 4

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

(Balance of report.) Major-General Godley, General Commanding New Zealand Military Forces, forwarded a letter asking the Council’s co-operation, help and assistance, in the training of the senior cadets and Territorial forces now being organised throughout the Dominion, by placing at the disposal | of the Defence Dept, any hall or shed under the Council’s authority for the I purpose of commencing the necessary drills. The Municipal Act of 1908 part XXXIF gives authority for Municipal Authorities to assist in the encouragement of shooting and providing of rille ranges. The Chairman said the Council should give any assistance that it -could but they bad no hall suitable. Cr Baird expressed .himself of the same opinion, and that they should try and facilitate matters and act with the Defence Dept, as the Dept, was doing all in its power to make the new sysLm as easy as possible. He understood that a Sergeant would bo going round and even drill in a farm bouse if he could get a number together. The Clerk was instructed to write the Department that the Council would he willing to give all the assistance they could bat they had no

suitable ball. If the Dept, would point out what assistance they required the Council if possible would give same. Hon. Sec. of the Taylor Memorial Fund, Christchurch, forwarded a circular letter with re7iud to subscriptions to the fund.—Received. Mr W. Fraser, M.P., wrote ac-

knowledging receipt of copy of the list

of votes forwarded to the Minister for Public Works. He would use his utmost endeavors to have as many as possible placed in the Public Works

Estimates. Mr Fraser also wrote that he would be pleased to act for the Lake County Council at the forthcoming Municipal Conference. He had seen Mr Atkinson and was drafting a fresh resolution which he fancied would meet their case.—Received.

Town Clerk, Arrowcown, wrote that the Arrow Borough Council was willing to donate the sum of £3 towards the coat of destruction of small birds, providing the Council take full responsibility for destroying birds in the Borough as well as in the County.

The Clerk stated that for the last few years it had cost the Council some £75 for the destruction of birds. The cost to each local authority in the district, worked out on the rateable value of each, would be Lake County £6O, Queenstown Borough £ll 10s, Arrow Borough £8 10s.

The Clerk was instructed to write the Arrpw Borough Council stating that if they forwarded the sum of £8 10s this Council would take the whole responsibility. Several Councillors expressed dissatisfaction on the method the Queenstown Borough had adopted for the destruction of small birds, but before making any further complaint would wait and see if their method was effective and how many eggs were purchased.

R. J. Hendne, Manager Mount Pisa Station, wrote requesting that as soon as the weather permitted certain portions of the Meg track from Cardrona to Plank Creek be repaired and should the chair over the Kawarau River at Gibbston be under the Council’s jurisdiction, he had to advise the Council that rabbiters reported same as out of repair and unsafe for use The Inspector stated that he had already attended to both track and chair.

Peter Olsen, Garsfcon, wrote re the fourths as collected from Section 10 Blk IV, Nokomai, and according to information and instructions from Cr McCaughan that if he carted gravel he could have it placed to liking on the County Road, and get paid out of the above fund. He had put in two days with four horses and two drays and two men and carted 20 good loads of gravel, which were deposited partly under the Inspector’s direction, and the gravel was spread by the County surfaceman. He considered if the work was worth anything it was worth £2.

Cr McCaughan recommended the payment as a good job had been done. The request was granted. Scaife Bros, wrote that they had trow completed Rumbleburn Bridge at Matukituki. They asked for payment of their share of the cost viz. £l2 9a.

The Inspector said the work had been done satisfactorily, and it was arranged some time back that Scaife Bros, should be paid half cost when the work was completed. The amount to be paid. Minister of Tourist Dept, wrote re Ben Lomond road similar to letter received last month from the Public "Works Dept. The Clerk stated that they had now authority to expend £6B. The Inspector also said that the balance of the whole vote was to be expended by day labor. The District Engineer had been up and taken the levels, etc. District Engineer, Invercargill, wrote re Council’s application to move a level crossing from 78| miles to 74fmiles Kingston Branch. He was instructed to inform the Council that the application was declined. An offer to lease a private crossing at 74£ miles has been made to Mr McOaughan. Cr McCaughan expressed himself satisfied with this arrangement. Licensing statement for year ending 80th June, 1911, was read and received : Expenses —Travelling expenses, £24 18s ; salary Clerk licensing committee, £ls ; salary County Clerk, £10; printing and advertising, £lB 15s lid ; postage etc., 10s—£68 18s 11 d. Fees collected by Local Bodies— Lake County, £220 10s; Southland, 271 10s; Vincent County, £ll6 10s; Arrow Borough, £142 ; Cromwell, £247 10s; Queenstown, £l77 — £1175. Portion of expenses—Lake County, £l2 Os Id; Southland, £l4 18s 7d; Vincent, £6 6s lOd; Arrow Borough, £7 14s 7d; Cromwell, £l3 9s 2d ; Queenstown, £9 12s Bd—£6B 18s lid.

The Ranger’s report was read and received.

The Inspector reported that he had visited the road to Mt. Aspiring with Mr Furkert, District Engineer, and the Government vote for this road would have to be expended in forming a new road round the foot of the hill away from the river. The road line asked for by Mr McPherson is not suitable, as the river over it in flood time, and there is no drainage for the swamp. The road at Ballantynes, leading to Povctt’s. requires grading and two of the grades on the hill reduced. He proposed' to do it when the grader was in that locality, as they have had very little done to this road. He had ordered pipes for the culvert asked for by Mr J. Reid, at last meeting, which will carry the water “down McDonnell’s road and clear of his property. He had carried out the gravelling on the Frankton road by day as it was more suitable for the work required. The gravelling at Hunter’s had been held over till he could get the gravel pit open. Ho proposed to carry out this work by day labor, as there may not be sufficient gravel in tha pit to call tenders for a contract. The raducing

of the grade on the Coalpit road, Gibbston, will be started as soon as a team is available A start has been

made in erecting the foot-bridge over the one-mile. The reducing of tho grade on the hill, and the filling at the foot of the Saddle road is also started. Tenders were called that day for contracts—Pleasant Creek, Pembroke Wharf, and gravelling at Urqnhart’s, Lake Hayes. All tho roads are in fair order. The fine weather we have been having lately being of great benefit to them after the severe frosts.

The report was adopted. Or Cockburn said that a couple of jobs had been done, near his place, which would have been done much quicker if the Council had a wheel scoop. He thought the Council should purchase two or three. They were very useful in cutting down the little rising and hilly portions of the roads. He thought Council should do away with obsolete tools and use the up-to-date ones.

The Chairman said ho had purchased one lately for £lB. The Council could see how it worked, and if they approved of it they could purchase it, as he would not require it. Cr Cockburn suggested if the Council approved of the work done they should purchase it. This was agreed to. Cr McMullen complained of the delay over the footbridge at the Onemile not being put in hand sooner. The Inspector explained that he had only just got tho timber.

Resolved on motion of Crs McKibbin and Baird—That ten chains of gravelling be done below O’Fee’s and Deep Creek, on the Gibbston road. Resolved on motion of Crs Baird and McKibbin—That the road from J Millar’s, at the back of Perriam’s, leading on to the main Gibbston road, be graded. Statement of receipts and expenditure was read: receipts, £(511 12s fid ; expenditure, £l7l 10s 2d; balance £1875 15s Id; that day’s account, £4ll 5s 2d ; less amount paid, £l3l 4s, leaving a debit balance of £2,155 16s Bd. Accounts for £417 5s lOd were passed for payment. The Chairman said nothing further had been heard re the Lower Sbotover bridge.

The Clerk was instructed to wire Messrs Hoskiags and Cook if there was any further development, and if the date had yet been fixed for the case. A reply was received from Messrs Hoskings and Cook—That a date would bo fixed when the Judge returned from Invercargill. Next meeting was arranged for September 20th. Vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the meeting.