SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 828, 13 December 1900, Page 5

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, December 11. * ■ The ordinary meeting, held at Invercargill, was attended by Councillors Raymond (chairman) Green, Lennie, Fraser, Stuart, 'McCallum, Robertson, and Hamilton. ' - E. R. Bowler, solicitor, Gore, forwarded?---n eo 'py of the application for a prospecting' ■ license by J. A. Yule in respect of land in the", Charlton Valley. The writer pointed outtbat if the license were granted operations could only be carried on subject to such conditions for the preservation of the road and public convenience the Council might think tit lo lay down.— The Engineer recommended that the application be declined, pointing out that the Council had spent about £400 on that road for Ihe benefit of settlers and coal carting to dredges.— Councillor Green stated that by the Mining Act anyone could apply for and dredge a road. Several Government votes had been made for the Charlton Valley road by the Mines Department, and altogether the road had cost some £400 to make along the creek. It was not desirable that the Council should allow Its roads to be taken up for dredging. Anyone might apply for the road along the full length of Mataura river for dredging. He moved that the application be refused.— Seconded by Councillor Lennie and carried. . Alex. McDonald, Hedgehope, complained of a very bad sidling on the Mataura-Duns-dale road at Helm's gate, and also to a st=ep pinch opposite A. McDonald's house.:—Surfaceman to attend to the work. D. L. Poppelwell, solicitor, Gore, forwarded copy of an application for a water-race at Charlton Creek lodged by the Charlton Creek Dredging Company. He stated that the application was merely a request for a license to use the natural bed of tbe Charlton as a water-race so as lo seoure the water in its natural course. It in no way interfered with any road or bridge, nor did it interfere with the creek itself. As the countyroadadjoinedthe creek on one side, it might facilitate matters if tho Council gave a formal assent to the application.— Resolved , on the motion of Councillors Green and Lennie, that the Council has no objection to the Charlton Creek Dredging Company using tbe Charlton Creek as a water-race as requested. Lewis Matheson, ex-harbor master at Fortrose, applied for some compensation on account of tbe money he had spent on the harbor.— Received. In regard to K. Ross' (Riversdale) complaint as to the flooding of his property by a small stream running across the road and through the corner of his property (section 470, Hokonui) being blocked with watercress, the Engineer recommended that Mr Ross should apply to the Council lo request the owner of land through which the stream flowed to clean it out. Copy of the Engineer's recommendation to be sent to Mr Ross. W. H. Wood reported that he had collected dog tax as follows :— Mataura riding, 579 flegs ; Hokonui riding, 409 dogs ; Waikaia riding, 303 dogs.— Received as being satisfactory. , ... F. J. S. Parker wa3 granted permission to erect a fence five feet on the roadline at Athol to protect a live fence. A communication from John Blair, Otara, regarding the right to cut ilax on the Tokonui river bank was received, Mrs Mavitta, Fortrose, complained of the growth of ragweed on the road near her property, and asked if it was the duly of the surfaceman to keep it down.— Held over till next meeting. The chairman was authorised to sign agreements for expenditure of the following Government grants : —

Accounts amounting lo £2310 Is 7d were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.

Waikaia Bridge, £1 for £3 £300 0 0 Leithen Bush road . . 100 0 0 MoPherson's Ford road, Mokoieta .. .. 300 0 0' Dipton-Bulfour, £ for £ . . 100 0 0 Carie to Bews' road . . 100 0 0 Oteramika, £ for £ .. 500 0 0 Waikawa-WyndhamYalloy main road . . . . 147 15 11