MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 31, Issue 9232, 7 September 1900, Page 3

MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the.above council was held in the Council Chambers, "Naseby, on Wednesday,.' sth September, 1900. Present Councillors Kinney (chairman), Coram, Johnstone, lader, Smith, Buniett and Cogari. Councillor Logan wrote apologising for his absence. MINUTES. The minutes of last special and ordinary j meeting were read, and confirmed on the motion of Cr Coram, seconded by Cr Cogan, CORRESPONDENCE. Schedules of outward and inward.correspondence were read. BOUGH BIDGE. F. H. Perry, Rough Ridge, wrote complaining of the state of the road in two. places caused by the- works in the construction of the Otago Central Railway. The outlet from his place has been completely blocked up as no proper crossings had been left. He had to mount an embankment about 3ft high, and to drop into a ditch at least 2ft deep. All light traffic during the past two months had to pass through a fenced paddock owned by, Mr Darling, and had to contend with two barb wire gates. The chairman stated that since the receipt of the letter the work had been attended to by the Railway Department, and . the road placed in good order. DONATION OF TREES. The secretary of the Naseby School Committee applied for a grant of trees to allow the school to hold an Arbor Day at a suitable date in September, "Moved by Cr Burnett, and seconded by Or Inder—That the letter of the secretary of the Naseby School Committee be received, and that he be informed that this council has no trees for distribution, but would recommend an application to Mr Mathews, who controls the Government nursery at Eweburn.—Carried. A COMPLAINT. James Hore, Idavale Farm, wrote complainingof the deplorable condition of the road leading from his farm through Messrs Inder Bros, property towards the DunstanKyeburn road. As they had fenced along the road-line the road he had been using through their ground was blocked, and nothing had been done to. make the road passable. He had repeatedly spoken to the engineer about it, and he had promised to meet him and see what was required- Others than himself were speaking about the state of this road. He trusted the chairman would visit the road referred to and see for himself. He had written before to the conncil but had not received any reply.' Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr Coram—That the engineer be instructed to call for tenders for the work ; tenders to be dealt with at the next meeting of council.— Carried! unainmously. BECKS, The Superintendent of Electric Lines forwarded a statement of revenue and expenditure of the telephone office at Becks for the twelve months ended 7th June, 1900, as under:—Revenue, £24 5s 6d; expenditure and interest at 5 per cent, on cost of construction of line (£238), £ll 18s ; maintenance per annum, £7; stationery, £2 ; fees paid to telephonist, £2O 6s 9d ; deficiency, £l6 19a 3d; county subsidy, £l3 10s; loss to department, £3 9s 3d.—Received. SMALL BIRDS. A memo, was received from the county clerk, Vincent County, asking to be informed what means were to be taken by the county for the destruction of Bmall birds, whether by poison or purchase of eggs or heads, and how much per 100 if by the latter method. The chairman stated that a reply had been forwarded to the effect that poisoned grain was supplied to settlers at half cost, but the experiment was .not altogether successful. GOVERNMENT VOTE GIMMEBBURN, £282. The Chief Surveyor, Dunedin, forwarded documents referring to the expenditure of £282 (Gimmerburn) by this council, and asking for approximate time of dates of commencing and completing the work. The engineer said no undertaking had been received. Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr Cogan—That the Chief Surveyor's letter be received, and. that the chairman write to the ■ Surveyor-General asking that the undertaking to expend the vote of £282 for Gimmerburn district be sent to the council for the chairman's signature, and that the work would be commenced when the undertaking was signed.—Carried unanimously. KYEBUBN BIVER BRIDGE. The Assistant-Surveyor General wrote acknowledging receipt of letter, and also copy of resolution passed at last meeting of the council urging the construction of a bridge over the Kyeburn River on the main road, Dun.back to Clyde, and asking that the sum of £IOOO should be placed on the Estimates for the purpose.—Received. CATTLE WANDERING. W. Beath, on behalf of Alice Beath, wrote as under-:—"In accordance with a resolution passed by your body at a recent meeting regarding a complaint I laid before you re cattle and horses wandering on the roads. You resolved that the matter should be left in the hands of Cr Smith, and the engineer to deal with. I spoke to Cr Smith, who agreed that the complaint was a genuine one, but failed to give me any satisfaction as to the intention of the council in this matter. Cr Smith is acquainted with the parties I refer to as being the principal cause of this trouble, and who daily turn horses and cows on to the road notwithstanding the complaints that have been made to them, and thereby causing to others a deal of expense, trouble and annoyance that could otherwise be avoided. Now, as i the interest of the council is or- should be the wellbeing and protection of the ratepayers I trust the necessary restrictions will be enforced on those who wantonly turn their cattle and horses out on-the road, destroying and -damaging property, I trust you will appoint a ranger or grant those holding property the power to impound off the road, or otherwise make it a case of fining for cattle wandering. Moved by Or Burnett, and seconded by Cr Cogan—That Mr Beath's letter of 3rd inst. be received, and that he be referred to section 141 of the Public Works Act, 1894, and section 17 of the Impounding Act, 1884. Carried unanimously. OUTDOOR BELIEF. The secretary of the Benevolent Institution forwarded a return of all persons resident within the county who are in receipt of outdoor relief. —Received. . " ._' Moved by Cr Burnett, and seconded by Cr' Kinney—That this council brings under the notice of the public the large proportion of Chinamen in receipt of charitable aid, there being six out of IC, and trusts that all the cases are inspected before grants are recommended . —Carried unanimously. PROPOSED BOAD THROUGH J. LAW, JUN.'S FREEHOLD. The chairman informed the council that he and Gr Inder had waited on Mr J. Law, jun., respecting the road asked for by Mr VV". I Mawhinney to give access to bis property. I Mr Law was not willing to give Mr Ma- ! whinney a right to all the privileges of a road through his freehold, but would.allow him (Mawhinney) to travel on foot or on horseback provided self-closing gates were erected and wire-netted. jf* Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr Smith—That this council considers Mr Law's offer a verv fair one, and would recommend Mr Mawhinney to accept it in the meantime. —Carried unanimously.

KYEBURN DIGGIKGS. Gee Wee wrote drawing attention to; the dispute between Mr; J". Stewart-arid'himself in connection jvith a foottrack for which he had applied to the Court.-to compel him (Gee Wee) to make good,. . The trnjk-in question is situated in the-pedof German Greek, and is liable to be washed away at any time of flood. His countrymen have been sluicing on it for 15 years as it was. the only way to discharge tailings on that side of the creek. If the track had to be kept good it would be the means of stopping the ground being worked. Or Logan viewed the ground and decided that the track was a river bed. Left in the hands of the engineer. CAMBRIANS. J. M'Guckin wrote respecting the contract recently called for four chains of gravelling" at Cambrians Coalpit. As that part of the road had been abandoned and would not be used again he would ask the council to change the contract called for .to the main road leading to the coalpit, which is in a had state of repair, is in use now and will be for many years to come. The gravel was convenient, suitable and easily obtainable. Moved by Cr Burnett, and seconded by Cr Cogan—That Mr M'G-ockin'a letter, of 3rd inst. be received, and that the letter be left in the hands of the engineer.—Carried unanimously. LINNBURN. Alexander Cameron, manager Linnburn Station, complained of the state of the road between Patearoa homestead and Linnburn ford. The places referred to were (1) opposite the Patearoa stockyard ; (2) a short, distance beyond the woolshed ; and (3) the first culvert beyond the woolshed has sunk so that the water now floods over the road. The present time Was favourable for the work. Moved by Cr Coram, and seconded by Cr Cogan—That the letter of Mr Cameron be received, and that the engineer be instructed to put the road in a passable state of repair. —Carried unanimously. .. . . i WHITE SOW VALLKY. ! D. Duncan wrote stating that'the road ; leading from the main road to his residence - was in a very bad state, and asked the council to place it in repair. Moved by Cr Smith, and seconded by Cr i Inder—That the letter of Mr Duncan be i received, and that the engineer inspect the road complained of with a view to having it placed in a proper state of repair.—Carried unanimously. engineer's report. Tenders have been invited for the follow- * ing works: I Mount Ida Riding.—Contract 649 : 22 t chains of formation and gravel on road deviation near county pound. Government Grant.—Contract 669 : i chains of formation and gravel, Komako township. , The following are the contracts still in contractors' hands : ' Contract 652. Light formation, open < crossings, ditching, and putting in' pipe culverts, White Sow Valley. Let on sth February to J. M'Kay, £35. ■ Road improvements between Bection 11 ( and 12, block V, Maniototo. Let on sth < February to P.. M'Cluskty, £SO. Contract 661.—Gravelling road Hyde Cemetery. Let on 7th April to T. Dowling, / £ll. : j Contract 662.—Formation, &c, near Mrs Allison's, Eweburn. Let on 7th April to C. Dougherty. £l2. ( Contract 663.—Cntting and filling near ] railway crossing, Bweburn. Let on 7th , April to J. Berryman, £ls 15s. ( Hyde Bridge Repairs.—The contractor informed me that the work will be ready for a final and joint inspection by Mr Cruick- / shank and myself after 6th inst. , Manuherikia Bridge.—l understand that , the timber or a portion of it is on the ground . and at Wedderburn. I have no intimation ', of when Mr Wilkinson, the contractor, in- '< tends starting work. The time allowe.l for , the completion of the work was six months j from 10th March. Dunstan Creek and Manuherikia River ' Works.—The work of putting in training walls and groins is being proceeded with , satisfactorily, the time employed up to Ist , September is 23 days for four men, and ( about 18 days with horse and diay on the work I expect to complete the work in about a month. Mr Perry's Letter.—ln the matter of irtr ' Perry's application re the railway works in Ida Valley—cutting off the road in places— , I interviewed the District Engineer (Mr Usher) and two crossings have been made ] by the Public Works Department. I would recommend some formation and gravelling > in connection with these crossings be done , by the county. ' Kyeburn Diggings-—Mr Gee Wee has promised to replace the portion of foottrack i leading to Messrs Williamson's and Stewart's , as complained about. Mr Stewart being present, it was arranged to inspect same in about three weeks. . Surfacing. The eight surfacemen are attending to thir duties steadily. During the month of July it was necessary to put on extra men with horse and dray for some time, but during the past month (August) the work has been done by the surfacemen, and the roads are in fair order. Road Grader.—ln my July report I mentioned that I had delayed ordering a grader, as it would have to be stored at Ranfurly until now. Unless otherwise instructed will order the grader at once. Hills Creek.—My attention has been directed to the inconvenience to travellers and residents at Hills Creek owing to the want of space for waggons camping in front of Messrs Holding's, Inder's and Mason's premises. This was made apparent when the reserve fronting Mr Holding's was covered with snow and ice last winter. By widening the roadway opposite Mr Holding's house and diverting the creek and. surface waters the waggons would be able to camp off the road-line. Road from Hills Creek to Railway StaHon in Ida Valley.—.The question of making provision for heavy traffic from the Railway in Ida Valley to Clyde. St Bathans and Cambrians, via., Hills Creek requires some consideration . I would suggest that instructions be given me to report upon the several routes as to mileage and cost, &c. Gimmerburn.—There is a bad piece of road just to the North of the Gimmerburn bridge near Mr Spedderi's gate, it is about three chains in length and requires a deep watertable out in very solid hard rock, on the upper side. Apparently there is a spring of water coming from the rock. The rook will require to be blasted'and it will probably cost about £ls to do the work. Mr James. Ho re's Letter.—With reference to certain improvements asked for by Mr Hore on road -through .block .3, Maniototo district near sections 13 and 14, I propose calling for tenders to improve the steeper gradients.

m'kay's contract (No. 652). i. Moved by Cr.Smith, and seconded-by Cr : Inder—That contract No. G52 be cancelled, s and the deposit (£3 10s) be foifeited. That : fresh tenders be called for the work, to be d"alt with by the Finance Committee. Calmed. MANUHERIKIA BRIDGE. It was resolved that the engineer be instructed to communicate with the contractor for the Manuherikia bridge, drawing his attention to the fact that the time for the completion of the job is the 10th of the present month, and to ask him to at once commence the work, and to carry it out. without further delay. Failing an immediate start the chaiimau to have authority to cancel the contract.—Carried unanimously-, IDA VALLEY.. Moved by Cr Smith, and seconded by Cr Burnett—That the crossings, &c, on the Rough Ridge road, Ida Valley, be carried out according to the recommendations of the eiigiueer.—Carried unanimously. GRADER. _ Moved by Cr Burnett, 'and seconded bv Cr Cogan—That the resolution of the 2nd May last as to the purchase of a road grader be given effect to, and that the engineer be authorised to at once order same. —Carried unanimously. IMPROVING ROADS. Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Or Burnett—That the engineer be requested to report at next meeting of council the cost of improving the roads in Ida Valley to Clyde, and iSt. Bathans and Cambrian via Hills Creek, to better adapt them for the carriage of heavy traffic—Carried unanimously. GIMMERBURN. . The council agreed to leave the improve- , ments near Mr.Spedderi's gate, as suggested , by the engineer, in his hands. , poundkeeper's report. 1 The poundkeeper reported that four head , of cattle had been impounded since last < meeting. All were released. Fees, 4s 6d ; ( food. £1 lis 6d ; driving, 5s ; advertising, . 4s 6d ; total, £2 5s 6d.-Received. j pound inspector's report. The inspector reported that the management was efficient, and that some n jcessary { repairs to the walls had been effected.— Received. finance committee's report. j The report of the Finance Committee « was read and adopted. i SIGNING CHEQUES. On the motion of Cr Smith, and seconded by Cr Cogan, and carried, Cr Burnett was , appointed to sign cheques in the absence of , Cr Logan. tenders. Contract 649.—22 chains road improvement , near the county pound. T. Stephens (accepted) ... £75 0 0 I M. Fennessy rejected) ... 97 0 o Contract 669.—45 £ chains formation and gravel near the Komako railway station. , A. G. Pearce (accepied) ...£74 15 0 ] W. H. Tregonning (rejected) ... 79 10 0 ] G.Murdoch ~ ... 89 0 0 M. Bradley „ ... 95 Q 0 GIMMERBURN NURSERY. j The lessee of the Gimmerbnrn Nurser (Mr J. Dougherty) applied to the council ] for sufficient ryegrass seed to sow about 54 1 acres. Moved by Cr Burnett, and seconded by Cr Smith—That the lettor of Mr J. Dougherty-.be received, and that the chairman be authorised to order the seeds required by him.—Carried unanimously. puketoi. A petition was read and presented by Cr Coram, signed by eight residents, praying that the road through section 1, block 11, Upper Taieri, and between (sections 13, 14, and 17, block 11, Upper Taieri, and between sections 3, 4, 5, and 6, 7, 10, 11, block VI, 1 Gimmerburn was in a very bad state of t repair last winter. The petition requested < that the.road be formed early in the summer so that it would be suitable for traffic next winter. , The council agreed that the chairman and \ engineer should so arrange that a portion of this road should be laid off for the purpose of testing the grader. | stopping roads. , Cr Coram reported that he had presided < at a public meeting of ratepayers held in £ the Waipiata schoolroom on Saturday, July ] 14th, for the purpose of considering whether ( the road on the northern boundary of sec 1 tion 7, block XII, Maniototo. now occupied ) by Mr J. C. Young, should be stopped. It | was moved by Mr J. C. Young and seconded , by Mr Jas. Howell that the road in question 1 should be stopped. Only two persons were ' present. Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr 1 Ceram—That in accordance with the resolution passed at a public meeting held at Waipiata on the 14th July, that the road , on the northern boundary of section 7, ; block XII, Maniototo, be stopped.—Carried j unonimously. Cr Coram reported that he had presided at a public meeting of ratepayers held in ; the Waipiata school on Saturday, 18th , August last, to consider whether the road . mentioned -below' should be stopped. It was moved by Mr W. H. Tresprimng, and j seconded by Mr J. G. Pearce, and unanimously carried that the road in question should not be stopped. • . ( Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr 1 Cogan—That in accordance with the resolution passed at a public meeting held at Waipiata,on the 18th August, 1900, the road running between sections 12 and.26, , and opposite part of section 11, block X, Maniototo district be nob stopped.—Carried unanimously. Cr Smith reported that he had presided at a public meeting held in the schoolhouse, Eweburn, on Saturday, 11th August, for the purpose of considering if the road running through block VI, Maniototo district should be stopped. It was moved by Mr J. Forrester, seconded by Mr . E. Dow, and carried—That the road as advertised in the Mt. Ida Chronicle be stopped. Cr Smith also reported that he also presided at a public meeting of ratepayers held in the. Eweburn schoolhouse on Monday 13th August, 1900, for the purpose of considering the shopping of road through blocks 111, XVIII, and XIX, Maniototo district. It was moved by Mr John ; Kearney, and seconded by Mr G.. G. Devinney—That the road as described in the: advertisement in the Mt. Ida Chronicle be stopped. The motion was carried, Mr E, Dow objecting. In eo.uneetidu with the proposal to close this road the Chief-Surveyor wrote to the effect that he would object. This road runs through block 111, XVIII, aud XIX, Maniototo district. His reason for objecting was that it would leave some Crown lands without road access or egress. James Howell wrote pointing out that if this road was closed a great mistake would be made. The road is part of or an extension of a road which runs through the Kyeburn Hundred, and is used t>y the Canterbury sheep buyers in to the Pass road to avoid the tutu plant. Nearly the whole of the' sheep sold in Central Otago last season passed along this road. If the road proposed to be closed were opened up for traffic there would be a saving of a distance of about four miles in a drive from Wedderburn to Murdoch's yards at Kyeburn Hundreds. The closing of the road would mean that he (Mr Howell) would have to drive his sheep a distance of two miles additional in taking them back and forward fronv- his run to sections at Kyeburn, near Douglas's. Moved by Cr Coram, and seconded by Cr Inder—That owing to the objection from the Chief-Surveyor and settlers in the district, the road leading through blocks 111 XVIII, and XIX, Maniototo survey district be not stopped.—Carried unanimously. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £278 19s 3d were passed for payment.