LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2169, 13 August 1897, Page 5

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Aa ordinary meetine of above-named bod? took place last Wednesday m tbe Council Queen-town. »««" present the Chairman (Mr J..Fox,) and Meters F. M'Bride, R. M'Dougall, B. kWerl A. Frutr, J Reid, W. J. Stanford, TVMrirl»«d,a^.KA.CMiaai. Minutes of previous ordinary and Works Committee meetings were read and conOutward correspondence waa read and * P fnward correspondence read and received was at followt: Foßremnu.—D. M'Pherson, Pembroke, wrote in reference to the forfeiture of his deposit of £2 for the Glendhu Peninsula road contract. The writer made explanation re mistake in tendering too low. He hoped the Council would take a more generous view of tbe matter and refund tbe money. Mr M'Dougall said that Mr M'Pherson had undoubtedly made a great mistake when he tendered £24, when the work was eatimated at about £92. He (M'Pherson) had tendered for a lump sum instead of reckoning to much per yard. The epeaker thought, under tbe circumstances, that the explanation of M'Pherson was sufficient to induce the Council to refund the amount It was very hard on the man, especially as he had not a proper grip of the work. The speaker knew it was u bad precedent, but this was an exception. Resolved on the motion of Messrs M'Dougall and Cameron— That the forfeiture in re M'Pherson's tender be reduced to 6s only. Mr Rogers was against the resolution, alleging that it waa a bad principle.. Stobx Shkd.—A petition signed by some twelve residents at Kinloch was read, drawing attention to the much felt want of a shed or store on Kinloch jetty. Kinloch waa at least one hour nearer than Glenorchy to all of the petitioners. They would ask that the shed be erected at once, as at present all goods coming to Kinloch are dumped down on the jetty and left to the tender mercies of wind and weather.

Mr Fraser said this shed wis very much needed, and he would ask the Council to CMOS Same.

Mr Stanford arid the wharf would have to he pat in order first, as it is in a very bad condition, and at the present time the steamers can hardly get up to it owing to not being in very deep water. Mr Fraser—The store could be pot on the beach next jetty for that matter, and £l2 would be sufficient for the work. It is a hardship for people to pat their goods down to be subjected to weather. In was found, in reply to a question by Mr Stanford, that a similar store w«a erected on the Glenorehy jetty by the Shipping Co. Mr Sogers thought therefore that the L.W.8.8.C0., was the proper body to approach on the matter. After some further discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the Shipping Co. Bouitdabt Gats.—A. Bryant, Kinloch, wrote asking permission to pot a gate on the boundary fence between Miss J. H. Eraser's ran, No 419, and the writer's run, No 417.Graoted on the usual conditions. N.Z.C.A.-From F. A. Majendi, president, N.Z. Counties Association, stating that, as Parliament will not meet till October, the Executive has decided it will be unnecessary to hold a Conference of Delegates for some time. If the Council bad any question it wished to bring forward they should let the Executive know not later than Uth September next, when it will be dealt with by the Executive, who will watch proceedings in Parliament, and if necessary convene a Conference of Delegates. The jsjsjajejsj position of the Association is satisfactory and they had a small credit balance. The subscription of the Council lor the year ending June 90th is also due.

Mr Rogers proposed that Mr Fraser, our member, be again appointed the Council's delegate, and that the subscription be paid.

Mr M'Dougall made some reference aa to subject matters to be dealt with at the Conference, but it was pointed out that they bad been defined some two years ago.

Mr Rogers thought that the correspondence relative to Charitable Aid might be discussed in conjunction with the previous letter from the N.Z.C.A., and the Council could probably represent the matter to our member.

The correspondence relative to above was then read, as follows: Chabrabli An).—From James Hemp* hill, county clerk, Otamatea County office, Maungatoroto, Auckland, stating that, aa the revenue required to minister Charitable Aid; under the present law presses heavily on occupiers of land, a petition which was herewith forwarded on the subject was for presentation to Psrliament, and in the event of it being approved ky the Lake County Conned, that steps be taken to have it nnmeronsly signed by all landholders, and that the same be presented to the Hodte of Representatives through the member for the district. The petition to be presented to the House states that the present unfair system

of nearly 50% of revenue required for charitable aid purposes being a direct tax 00 the land, presses very heavily on those who live by the land. It asks the House to cause the whole of the revenue required for charity purposes to be made a charge on the Consolidated Fund of the Colony, so that every person in the colony would then contribute an equal share towards the unfortunates who require relief. Mr Rogers thought this was an important matter, and should have the Council's attention. It was undoubtedly a sore tax on landowners. He suggested that the Government valuator should take the petition around to landowners and get them to sign it The Assirniiti*" does not meet till Pvliament sits and there would be time to present it to our member. After some discussion it was decided to support the proposal contained in petition, and that the valuator get the landowners to sign the petition. TaUPHOR, GißßsrroN.—From W. Fraser,

M.H.R., enclosing letter from Postal Department indicating terms on which telephone communication will be granted to Qibbtton from Arrow. He endeavoured to make them easier, but in vain. In now lies with the member for that Biding to get the Council to agree to terms. From W. C. Walker per Postmaster General, stating terms and conditions of the telephone communication above referred to. The amount required would be £OO or £ls fors yean. Mr Beid impressed on the Council the great advantage of a telephone between the two places. It would pay well when the dredging claims were taken up. Mr Stanford thought the Council were not hi a position to give anything like the amount stated. There was nothing else but pegging out of dredging claims just now, and the dredges would not be on the ground for some mm The Council would have to retrench and retrieve, and get funds for the more important work of patting the roads and tracks of the County in order. Mr Rogers—The residents of the district should be interviewed to see how much they would be prepared to guarantee towards erection of a telephone. The Chairman said the people concerned in this line should raise half the amount, the came ai was done with the Bollendale telephone. The amount now asked for was, however, too much. MrM'Dougall thought Mr Beid should withdraw the matter just now, and wait till the dredging boon comes on. After Further discussion it was decided to hold the matter over till further development of the mining industry. Pabbawa.—From C. H. Howarth, Engineer, Southland County Council, re Selwood's section, Parrawa, which he finds is entirely in Lake County, but as the question of fencing off the used track has been settled by allowing gates at each end of the road the matter will be ended for the present. Re footbridge below Athol, he says the matter has been before the Council who no doubt will pay half cost if the Council recommend it From same stating that, by direction of CuaioMO of SootbUod Countf Council, the

latter body hid agreed to pay hilf coat of amount providing that tbe Council Agreed with Mr Rogers for the footbridge referred to.

A largely signed petition was received trom ratepayers in locality f£ above bridge, asking tbe Council to take over same on account of reasons expressed to the Council at it* last meeting. The Engineer explained that he visited the locality with Mr Muirhead since last meeting. Mr Rogers wanted £lO for the footbridge, ana it was in tbe Engineer's estimation, not worth more than £6. In reference to other matters re Selwood's section, it was a question whether it was in Lake or Southland counties. The course of the Mataura river, which is the boundary line, had not altered since 1878, and the section was in his opinion partly in Southland. The surveyed hue for the, road passes through his section, and the present one leading to Nokomai has been in existence as long as he could remember. It would be a considerable expense to the Council if they had to make a new road, but this would be obviated if swing gates were put on by Sel wood. Mr Muirhead thought the section was all in Southland, but at anyrate one gate would be in each County. After some further discussion, it was decided that Selwood be allowed to put up Stes, and if he was not agreeable, let him ice his section, and tbe County Council will make the road.

Re purchase of footbridge, it was decided that the Lake Council pay half the cost of bridge, and: Southland the other half. Surchabges.—J. K. Warburton Controller and Auditor General, wrote acknowledging receipt of letter of 17th nit. with memorandum of Chairman of Wakatipn Licensing Committee re exception taken by bis office to payment out of County Fund of the travelling expenses of Inspectors. The writer pointed out that if, as appears to have been the case, it was in an official ca* Ecity that the inspector attended before the censing Committee to give evidence against O'Kane, he would be quite entitled to his travelling expenses as a payment chargeable to the Consolidated Fund under vote 69, item 5, like any similar expenses incurred in the discharge of such duties. The local authority were not responsible for any expenses beyond what expenditure was incurred by the Licensing Committee in carrying out its own functions. The Council attached the blame to the Chairman of tbe Licensing Committee for having passed the accounts without the Council's authority, and it was therefore no fault of the Council that the money was paid. The Clerk said a refund would have to be obtained from the Consolidated fund to the County fund. The following resolution on the matter was carried on the motion of Messrs M'Dougall and M'Bride— That the Controller-General be appealed to on the basis of his letter, asking that a sum amounting to £5 14s be refunded, it having' been an illegal and unnecessary payment, although authorised by the Chairman of tbe Licensing bench. Southland H. and C A. Board.—From T. Perkins, secretary, Southland H. and C. A. Board, forwarding statement of the Board's disbursements on account of Lake County and Boroughs of Arrow and Queenstown for the year ending 31st March, 1897. The Clerk did not know the whereabouts of some of the parties receiving aid, and he was instructed to write to the Board asking for same. Remainder of report held over.