SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 945, 14 September 1901, Page 2

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Friday, September 13. The ordinary meeting held at Invercargill was attended by Councillors Kayruond (chairman), Green, McQueen, Fruser, Stuart, McCallum, Hamilton, and Lennie. A petition from Henry Warden and 111 others asked that the road about two miles from Woodlands connecting the main road from Woodlands to Gore and Mabel road bo made passable for traflic. —Member for riding and Engineer to visit the district.

E. Thomas and 2(5 other ratepayers at Waikawa complained of the state of the mo in street running through Waikawa township, and asked for repairs at once.—Council regrets it cannot comply with the request. The petition of Gall and I'aterson and three other Waikaia ratepayers asking that the old suspension bridge at Glenary bo removed and re-erected near Hyde Home station was again comidored, and the Engineer instructed to report on the matter when in the district.

Jas. Craig, Mataura, asked for gravel on the road between sections 29 and 30, Mataura subdivision of Edendalo estate, offering to do the carting.—To be attended to. John Badman, surfaceman, reported that R. Buchanan, who was carting lignite and coal to the Charlton and Central Charlton dredges was overloading his waggon and doing considerable damage to the roads. The wheel tires were ljjin, and the loads frequently up to two tons and over.—Councillor Green reported that Buchanan would have the width of his tires increased within a fortnight.—Left to Inspector to take action. A. Alexander, Wendon, complained that the road near section 2, block XIV, Wendon, was being blocked up with silt from sluicing operations on other sections owned by J. Scott.—Councillor ltobcrtson reported that in an action between Mr Alexander and lladford Bros, over the matter in the Warden's Court the latter had been ordered to keep the channel clear.—Engineer to notily clearance.

W. Townshend, Mataura, asked for about 12 chains of gravelling on the road in front of section 05, block 11, Wairaumu subdivi-sion.-Held over till October. Geo. Gregg, Tokonui, and 21 other ratepayers in the Toi Toi riding, asked that four pinches on Gregory's road to Waimahaka railway station be gravelled.—Held over. Wm. Walker's (Wyndham) application to erect a swing gate on the roadline at section 9, block IV, Wyndham district, was granted on the usual conditions. J. E. Frizzelle, Wendon, asked for pipes to make two crossings across a County ditch to his section. —Surfaceman to report. J. F. Denniston (Wyndham) and six other ratepayers, asked that something be done towards forming the road between Shirley'* and corner of Beango's paddock, on theWynd-ham-Waireikiki main road.—Left in the hands of the Chairman. Jas. White complained of the very bad state of the Otama Valley road. The Knapdale Road Board had agreed to spend £35, and a few of the settlers were willing to make the amount up to £SO, if the Council would spend £IOO. The School Commissioners had agreed to contribute one-fourth of the cost, so that £2OO would be available.—As no communication had been received from the Knapdale Koad Board, the letter was held over till next meeting. A. W. Robertson, Wendon, asked that a number of cuttings be made on the road between sections 10 and 12, block XIV, Wendon.—Left in the hands of the member for the riding. The Council decided to oiler no objection to the grant of a grazing right over the quarry reserve on section IU, block VIII, Waikawa, to Archibald Campbell. Paul Barrett and three other ratepayers at Longridge North complained of the bad state of the road between sections 218, 7.'i, and part 521, Hokonui survey district from Mr McDonald's corner to the top of Lumsden Hill (about 30 chains), and asked that something be done.—Held over till November. It was resolved on the motion of Councillors Raymond and Green : " That this Council considers that an amendment is required in the Land Valuation Act making it compulsory for solicitors and licensed land brokers to notify the Supervising Valuer forthwith of all transactions relating to transfers and leasing of 1 md passing through their hands."

It was resolved to forward the following schedule of works and amounts required for each in the Waimumu and Charlton goldhetds to the Mines Department:--Forming and gravelling lroni Croydon main road along the boundary of sections J'jli and 407, Hokonui, £100; forming and gravelling road along Charlton Creek to section 453, Hokonui, £250 ; forming and gravelling road through section 487, Hokonui, to Charlton Creek, £SO; road running between sections 'ill and iJO, Waimuinu, £100; forming and gravelling road along boundary of sections 28 and 21), Waimumu (known as Humphries' Hill), £IOO.

The Town Clerk, Mataura, forwarded a resolution of the Borough Council, representing to the County Council that the main road from the Mataura railway station to the boundary of the Borough leading to the Waimumu dredging claims was being cut up and destroyed owing to the exceptionally hcr.vy trailic, all of which belonged to the County. The Borough Council was not in a position to maintain the road, and asked the County Council to take steps to assist the Borough Council in the matter.—The Chairman said the borough did not realise the responsibilities of the County. The Borough got all the revenue for fees from the hotels, and the largest support to the hotels came from the County owing to their proximity to the dredges. The Borough of Mataura was netting £2 for every 5s of cost for maintaining roads.—Councillor McQueen thought the County Council should do something if it could in the matter. There was no doubt the road complained of had been cut up by County trailic. In the present ease, however, he understood no funds were available.—Councillor Green thought the request was too large an order. If boroughs demanded so much it would be better for the County to take them over altogether.—Resolved that the County Council cannot accede to the request of the Mataura Borough Council.

Applications for repairs to roads in the Waimumu district from H.. ]'. Raymond and Thos. Grieve wero held over till next meeting.

A number of ratepayers at Waikawa protested against the Council dispensing with the services of Mr Gourley, surfaceman, and asked that he be reinstated.—The Chairman said he had dispensed with Mr Gourley's services for reasons of economy only, because the funds of Toi Toi riding were at a very low ebb.—The Council cannot see its way to accede to the request.

The General Manager of Railways, in reply to the Council's letter of June 15, in regard to the construction of an over-bridge at road crossing of the Waimea Plains railway, section 125, Hokonui district, stated that the Department would erect a suitable over-bridge provided that the County Council paid the cost of same, which was estimated at £2;i7 excluding earthworks for approaches.—Councillor Green said this was a very hard case. A now settler (Mr P. McLeod) had taken up a large block of land, and wanted to build a homestead on a piece of his ground (near Otamita), which was set aside as a County road-line before the railway was thought of. The railway had made a deep cutting through the road-line and shut oil Mr McLeod's aocess to his section. The only way to get in was by an over-bridge, and for this the Hallway Department wanted to lie paid £237. The Department ought in justice put in tun over-bridge at its own cost.—Resolved that the Chairman look into the matter and report at next meeting. Dr Ogston, District Medical Olliier of Health, asked ta be informed as to the measures the Council was employing in cases of diphtheria. He advised that the sick should be as far as possible isolated for not less than three weeks after the disease had been got over, and all dairy produce and farm produce should be prevented from leaving the farms till that time had elapsed. This was essential, and a general clearing up should be insisted on.—Received. Sir J. G. Ward notified that Dr Ogston would deal with district health matters in Southland at present. If the work should be found too much for him. another medical man would be appointed later on.—Resolved on the motion of Councillors Raymond <vnd Lennie that the Minister of PublicHealth be written to and urged to appoint a District Medical Officer of Health for Southland, resident at I.ivercargill. Dr Eogers, Wyndbam, reported two eases of diphtheria at Oteramika Gorge.—Resolved to write to Dr Ogston to appoint someone to attend to his instructions. Jas. Shepherd, Mataura Island, complained of cattle straying on the road.—Received.

The Engineer recommended that Mr L. Coutts' application to make a road through his farm at Gore be granted, the road to be formed and culverted to comply with the terms of the Act.—Copy of the Engineer's memo to be sent to Mr Coutts. Permission was granted to Richard YardIcy (Lumsden) to erect a swing gate on Lumsden-Lowther road. It was resolved to agree to the proposed alteration of boundary with Clutha County from the coast to trig station E E as follows: • -From the mouth of the Waipati stream up the course of that stream, thence by other lines to trig station E E. W. MeGill complained that owing to a ditch being cut on his section (20, block IX, Wendon) the water from the creek was spreading all over his land, and the end of the ditch was dammed up.—Referred to the surfaceman.

Denis Corcoran and seven other ratepayers at Waikaka complained of the state of the footpath fronting sections 1 to 8, Waikaka township.—Referred to the surfaceman. A Waikaka ratepayer pointed out that it a was a usual thing there for persons to " squat " on Crown lands, carrying on different callings, to pay neither rates nor taxes of any sort, and to use the public roads more than any other ratepayers.—Engineer to make inquiries and report. It was decided to inform Messrs J. Catto and D. Ryan that works at Otakarama applied for by them were included in the the schedule. Jas. Scott, Otaraia, asked for repairs to the road between Nithdale and Bennett Bros.' property.—Provided for as far as funds pormit.

The Engineer recommended regarding Mr J. G. Reid's (Otaraia) application, that work on the Slopedown and main south road be held over, and that work on the PukerauOtaraia road be provided for as far as funds permit.—Adopted. It was resolved to inform Jas. Scott, J. G. Reid, and P. Cameron that no reply had been received from tho Government regarding tho grant applied for for the road from the Kaiwera school to Mataura river. P. Andrews' (Kaiwera) application for road work near his place and Clements' was held over till next meeting. W. Scoullar and six other ratepayers near Pukerau, complained of the deplorable condition of the road between Pukerau and Waikoikoi and asked for some relief.—Held over till next meeting. It was resolved that It. T. Coomcr be notified that complaints had been made by W. Graham that he is obstructing trallia at the tramway crossing near Waiiuuniu, and that he be informed that the concessions granted for the tramway will be cancelled if it becomes a nuisance. It was resolved to procure 1000 yds ot broken metal from Greenhills quarry to be delivered at Edendale as soon as possible ; Oteramika Road Board to pay half cost. It was resolved to ask the Minister for Mines for a grant of £IOO towards repairing the road Waikaka township to MeGill and Edge's coal pit, as they are completely destroying the road by carting lignite to the dredge.

It was decided to strike a rate of Jd in the £ over the Otaraia road district and a rate of Jd in the £ over the Wyndhain road district.

The Chairman moved. " That the Council memoralise Parliament to amend the constitution of the Blull Harbor Board in the matter of representation so as to lessen the anomalies that exist under the present Act. This Council desires to point out that this Council has only one representative on the Board with a population of 25,000, whereas the remaining nine members of the Board represent in the aggregate about 20,000 inhabitants. This Council would suggest that two extra representatives be conceded to this Council and also that a representative should be allotted to the important boroughs (grouped) of Gore, Riverton, Mataura, and Winton." The speaker said he had brought the question before the Harbor Board, but it had practically shelved tho matter by resolving to ask Parliament to bring in an amending bill to apply all over the colony. The County Council represented half hj: producers in Southland, and only had one representative on the Harbor Board. At present the farming community was not represented on the Board, except indirectly by Mr Watson and himself. —Councillor McQueen seconded, and said the people should be represented on the Board in something like proportion to their interests in the port. Evon three representatives was very modest. He suggested they should ask for four. Ho did not say whether the system of placing Government nominees on the Board was right or wrong, but the large power given to these representatives was to be deprecated. They were given power which miglit bo abused.—The motion was then put and carried. A schedule of works was adopted (invoking an expenditure of £805) in which the following district items appeared :

Latham's to Anderson's formation. Ryan's to Nichol's - formation. Gore to Mataura (river load)—formation and gravel. Hastie's to Taylor's -formation and gravel. Gardiner's to Kaiwera repairs to old gravel. McDonald's to Kaiwera—repairs to old gravel and three new culverts. Mataura to Wyndham repairs and maintenance. Mataura to Otaraia -gravel and metal for repairs. Timber and pipes for small contracts. Waikaka Siding to Waikaka -re-gravelling. Waipahi road-He-gravelling. Gore to Gold Creek bridge regruvelling. Gold Creek bridge to Chatton regruvelling. Chatton East and West—regravelling. Stoney Creek bridge to Hunter's—regravelling. Pukerau road—regravelling. It was decided to ask the railway department at what price it would supply'from 500 to 1000 yards gravel at Balfour siding. Accounts amounting to £ll()'.l '.ls lid were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.