LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1109, 6 March 1879, Page 2

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above body took place in the Council Chambers, Queenstown, en Monday last. Present Mr Edgar (chairman), Pr Douglas, Messrs R. M'Douga.l, W. I. Smith, T. Hicks, F. H. Daniel, and M. J. Malaghan. Messrs R. M'Cracken and A. H. Douglas, re-elected members for Arrowlliding, also took their seats. Minutes of previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed.

Correspondence. Besides other communications of a routine character the inward correspondence consisted of letter —From the Colonial Under-Secretary in reference to the advance paid of £7OOO towards repairs to works by the late floods, and stating that Government were prepared to hand over a further sum of £3OOO provided the Council were willing to enter into bonds for repayment of same in five equal annual instalments ; from W. Shore, asking for remission of portion of dog-tax on account of the dogs being used for the purposes of killing rabbits ; from J. Roche, Hayes Lake, asking that the Council would dispense with some of the surfacemen not required, in order that the same might go harvesting for a few weeks; from J. Smith, cattleimpounder, asking that the Council would take into consideration the unremunerative character of his employment, that he had had nothing to do of late and consequently lost by looking after cattle, and, moreover, had been put to considerable expense thereby the writer also stated that he would be willing to undertake the duties of County Range?; from Mr P Butel, Arrow Flour Mills, in reference to the. question of road lately made through his private property (brought up at previous meeting), offering to transfer land used for said road to the Council, and expressing a hope to be refunded, as promised by the Council, two-thirds of the £9O expended by him. . Telegrams were also read—From the Colonial Treasurer, stating that the Public Works Minister had agreed—provided the Kawarau Bridge and approaches could not be done for less than £l3,ooo—to place an additional subsidy of £2,500 on next year's Estimates ; from the Public Works Minister, offering to place another £2OOO on the Estimates for Kawarau Bridge, approaches, etc., provided the same cannot be done for less than £12,000 ; from the UnderSecretary Crown Lands, stating it was necessary to see Mr M'Kerrow before finally granting 100 acres at Cardrona for a plantation reserve. Outward correspondence consisted, amongst others, of letters—To Mr M'Cormick, accepting offer to erect three bridges, and make approaches to connect the Arrow and Kawarau (Clyde) roads, for £12,000, but if not approved of by Government the Council would adhere to its original offer. Petitions.

Mr M'Cracken presented a petition from a number of settlers with regard to the road recently made past Mr Butel's Flour Mills, and requesting that the Council would sanction the same, and extend the same privilege in regard to its formation as to that of other private roads by granting a subsidy to Messrs Butel Bros. The Council denied ever having expended money on private roads, and after a short discussion the matter was held ever. The Chairman stated that there were no reports from Committee's. Engineer's Report.

The following report was read and received : Queens town, March Ist, 1579. Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, _ I have the honor to report that I visited Sedan's District, and the tracks are now being repaired. The approaches to the foot of the Shotover Bridge have been widened and the large stones removed. I have not had time to visit Kingston, relative to road through deferred payment block. Specifications have been prepared for the repair and gravelling of road through Speargrass Flat. With regard to road at Maloney's Creek, the turn might be improved by a bluff being removed from the side next Arthur's Point, and the hill cut into ; but I do not consider that it can be made safe for the traffic of teams until a new bridge is built and the road diverted for a few chains. Accompanied by the Chairman, Mr M'Dougal, and Mr Powell, 1 visited the site proposed for taking a road from Glen Dhu to Cattle Hat. All the difficulty exists within a distance of about 25 chains; but this would be very heavy indeed, the greater portion of it being rock cutting. The road up to the commencement of this 25 chains would require little more than forming, and on the far side next Cattle Flat, there is only a short distance of sideling ground ; on the other hand it is impossible ever to make the present track a good road, as the gullies are very steep, aud there is not sufficfent side room to lengthen the road in order to obtain a good gradient. I have the honor to be Your obedient servant, Parke Neville.

Ordering ox Correspondence. Ordered that the offer of Government re floods' relief advance of £IO,OOO be accepted with thanks. . . Re Shore's letter touching remission of dogtax for rabbiters Dr Douglas thought it opened up an important question as to how far the Council could deal with such cases. Some of the Councillors thought they ought to be careful, as almost anyone having a dog or two might claim exemption as being rabbiters ; Mr Daniel thought there could be no difficulty, as the persons following the occupation always had a pack of dogs. Mr M'Dougall questioned whether they could remit any tax this year, even if thought desirable, as the sole right had already been sold to 3, collector. After discussion Dr Douglas agreed to make a notice of motion. Re Mr Roche's letter the Council thought they had suffered enough last year by knocking off surface men to go harvesting, and it was decided not to entertain the application. lie J. Smith, it was ordered that the letter be acknowledged and the writer informed that information would be given through the Press when a ranger was required. lie Mr P. Butel's letter some conversation took place. Mr Butel (who was present) stated, m answer to questions that he purposed to make over the road—to be one chain wide —to the Council for public purposes. It was necessary to have a road past his mill. The length of road formed 011 his private land was 25 chains, besides nc h he had made 15 chains on one public road, and 26 chains on another. He had spent altogether £lO2 on the work at the lowest estimate. Mr A. H. Douglas thought the best plan would be to accept Mr Butel's offer to transfer the land, such transfer to be made at his expense, as promised at a previous meeting. Mr Powell, inspector of works, stated in reply to a question, that he believed the road through Mr Butel's property would be beneficial to the After discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Dr Douglas and Mr Smith—That Mr Butel's account (£6O) be paid immediately after his execution of a deed of transfer of land for roadway through his property. . Ordered that telegram from the Colonial Treasurer concerning subsidy for Kawarau Bridge be acknowledged with thanks, A letter was read from Mr O'Meara, collector, stating that, having heard he was likely to be

appointed ranger, he begged to decline as the time at bis disposal would not enable him to properly carry out the duties.

Committee of the whole. Tenders for contracts were dealt with as follows : No. 32.—Gravelling road at Speargrass Flat, between Mr A. Brown's and Mr D. Fox's farms (five tenders).—Mr Saunder's accepted for £BO. No. 35.—Jetty at Halfway Bay—Time extended to 10th March, at noon, to be then dealt with by the Public Works Committee. No. 34.—Gravelling between Shotover Hill and Mr Douglas' gate —(four tenders) —Mr Saunders' accepted for ,£l3O. No. 35. —Maintenance and repair of Moke Creek track—(two tenders), that of Mr C. Moss, for £65, being accepted.

The business of the ordinary meeting was here resumed. Mr M'Cracken referred to a resolution in his name, and passed on the 6th January last, wherein the Council decided to form and gravel at once, where necessary, the main road the Lower Shotover and Arrowtown —the ) to be let in sections. He found that tenders only had been called for such work between Mr Gibson's and Mr Douglas' farm, Hayes Lake. The road between Mr Roche's Hayes Lake, was worse, and that beyond was worse still. He could not understand how these things had not been done. Again, some places had been formed but not gravelled. Dr Douglas was at one with the previous speaker—in fact, the road was the real artery of the district. Mr Malaghan coincided. The Chairman thought it was a serious matter to gravel five or six miles of road. Mr M'Dougall considered that, when possible, the resolutions of the Council should be carried out.

In reply to Mr M'Cracken. Mr Douglas said that only day labor had been employed on one portion of the road to shovel up the soil after the plough had been used, and this had been done in accordance with a resolution passed previous to the one made by Mr M'Cracken. After further discussion a suggestion of Mr Smith was adopted, and it was ordered that the execution of the work be left to the engineer. Resolved, on the motion of Messrs Daniel and M'Cracken—That rabbit catchers in the County be charged for ten dogs, and all over that number to be exempt from tax. Proposed by Dr Douglas, seconded by Mr Malaghan, and carried—That tenders be called for the collection of the dog tax for the County for the year ending 31st March, 1880.

Afternoon Sittings. It was resolved that the Chairman be authorised to sign cheques. A short discussion took place as to the advisability of carrying out a resolution passed some time ago, that a sub-committee be appointed to make an examination of the Martin's Buy district, and it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs M'Dougall aud Daniel, that the body referred to in the minute book re obtaining knowledge as to the capabilities, etc., of the Martin's Bay and Greenstone Valley sections of the County give immediate effect to the resolu- , tion passed by the Council. The Depasturing Regulations, as revised, from Mr Turton, were laid upon the table, and some discussion ensued. Some of the Council had a doubt whether it would pay to collect depasturing fees for the various districts in which there were Commonages, and Mr M'Dougall suggested that a return should be obtained from the Arrow as to whether the fees from the Cardrona Commonage—which was separate from those of the County—were commensurate with the cost of collection. It was resolved, on the motion of Dr Douglas and Mr F. H. Daniel-That tenders be called from persons living on or in the neighborhood of the various depasturing districts in the County for the right to collect the depasturing fees for all stock for which fees are payable. Duties, to see that the depasturing regulations are carried out. It was also decided that the seven depasturing districts mentioned in the Regulations should be divided into five so far as the duties of Collector were concerned. Dr Douglas said he thought that the notice of motion he was about to propose in the matter of an Acclimatisation Society, was one which would commend itself to the whole Council. He had no doubt that, in the course of time, if the matter were taken in hand properly, that fish would constitute an important element in the food supply for residents of the County. The efforts of the Society would also be extended to the introduction of valuable birds such as p irtridges, quail, black game, etc., and also hare?, and other useful animals. He thought the Council should take the subject in hand, and vote a certain sum. He therefore proposed—That the sum of £IOO be granted by this Council for the purpose of assisting the Acclimatisation Society in their efforts to introduce fish and game, etc., into this County, and that the above amount be paid to the Acclimatisation Society as necessity arises. The Council unanimously agreed to the P r «- position, which was seconded by Mr M ( Dougall, and carried. t Be the Crown Terrace road it was proposed by Messrs M'Dougall and Smith, and carried— That this Council telegraph to Government that, as the Crown Terrace is to be opened up in a few days, it is desirable to form a road from Arrow Flat to that locality, this Council having determined to form a road over the site surveyed by Mr Bewes, engineer, is prepared to supervise the work, and now asks authority to expend £1,500 on Government Estimates by calling for tenders for construction of the road. Resolved, on the motion of Messrs Daniel and Hicks-That the inspector be authorised to visit the deferred payment block, Kingston, and report upon the work necessary to make the road available for traffic ; and that the Public Works Committee be allowed to deal with the matter. . Proposed by Mr Smith—That the engineer receive instructions to place sufficient men on the track between Macetown and the top of Big Hill, so as to put it in good repair before the winter season. Mr Smith, in support of the motion said that nothing had been done to the road in question since the floods, and mining companies were wanting to get machinery up. The Chairman thought if there was any need for the engineer there was little hope until he had visited Skippers and Moke Creek ; he had also to visit Half-way Bay, and the site for Ivawarau Bridge. . i Mr Smith differed, as his resolution jon the present matter was made first. ; The motion was finally seconded by Mr Doug--Ib>s and c&m6d» Proposed by Mr Daniel, seconded by Mr Hicks and carried—That tenders be called for keeping in repair the road from One-mile Creek to the Head of the Lake—tenders to be sent in on or before noon of 7th April next. Resolved, on the motion of Messrs Douglas and Smith—That two suspension bridges be erected over the Arrow River, and one over the Roaring Billy —the engineer to visit the district and choose sites. The Engineer's Report. Jit the making of road from Glen Dhu to

Cattle Flat aucl two other roads in the locality, the engineer estimated the cost at MrM'Dougall thought, if the Counc I had not the money to spare for the whole work it would be well to cut a certain portion which would open up an area of some 3,000 acres of first-class laud, the additional fees from which would cover the cast in three years. Mr Smith thought this idea was very fanciful, and to carry it out might suit the Vincent County, but the very heart of the country might be reached by the Arrow in from 30 to 32 miles, whereas, by Mr M'Dougall's plan people would have to travel to it over 50 or 52 miles. After some further discussion the matter dropped. Proposed by Mr A. H. M'Dougall, seconded by Mr Daniel, and carried—That the mad from the top of the hill at Mr Gilmour's Mill to the punt be formed and gravelled—and that tenders be called for same. Estimates of the probable income and expenditure of the Council were reaJ by the who said that the Estimates had JHfenmade up as he thought it was very desirthat the financial position of the Council should be understood. He was afraid if the Council continued to go on as it had been doing members would find themselves in a very unenviable position. Financial. A statement brought up showed cash in Bank and hand posits to the amount of £6,500. Current accounts to the amount of ,£7l 9s 4d, were brought up and p;is»ed for payment. Amounts due as per pay sheet were not filled up. The Council went into Committee of the whole on various minor matters, and afterwards broke uj/at 4.30 p.m., with a vote of thanks to the chair. Notices of Motion. By Mr R. M'Cracken—That this Council having taken into consideration the necessity now exist ing for the erection of a jetty at Franktoil, do hereby resolve to erect the same a little below the jetty belonging to Messrs Robertson and Co., for the use of the general public, and that plans and specifications be forthwith prepared, and tenders called for the execution of the work. By Mr R. M'Dougall—That this Council being aware of the necessity which exists for the erection of a jetty at Pembroke, Lake Wanaka, for the convenience of the public of that district, requests that plans and specifications of same be prepared, and tenders called for the construction of the work referred to.