TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mt Benger Mail, 19 September 1923, Page 3

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of tho above was held on friday afternoon. Present —Crs. Cotton (chairman), Rodgers, Mac Donald, McLennan, Rovie, Bennetts, Brown, Leary, and Simpson. CORRESPONDENCE. From A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines, giving formal notice of his intention to apply to the Warden at Roxburgh for reduction of rent on special alluvial claims Nos. 1358, 1360, 1377, and 1741, land asking the Council’s assent thereto prior to date of hearing. The Council unanimously agreed to tho proposed reduction. From the Agricultural Department (Wellington), drawing attention to the amendement in the Noxious Weeds Act giving local authorities power to declare any plants mentioned in the second schedule of the principal Act (except blackberry) not to be noxious weeds within its district or specified portion of its district. —Deferred till next meeting. From Wm. Spencer, Edievale, complaining that the county surfaceman, when cleaning out water table on tho other side of road along his property, deposited the spoil with gorse and gorse seeds on their side, an action ho considered very unjust seeing that they had n,o gorse or gorse hedges on their property. —Surfaceman to be instructed in future t,o deposit watertable spoil ,on same side as taken from. From Commissioner Crown Lands, Dunedin, asking if the Council had any objections ho the granting of an occupation lease for a small area in Block 1., Teviot District, a plan of which was enclosed. —Deferred till next meeting. From Lands and survey Office, Dunedin, re tracings of road in sections 5, 8, 9 and 20, Block XII, Bonger Survey District, stating that before these could be approved the Department must be supplied with the .schedule and traverse sheet.—Received.

From George N. Haugh, Heriot, again drawing attention to the injury to rpad through the trees on section 12, Block 111., occupied by Mr C. Thompssou.i—Cr. Revie said this section was in a deplorable condition in the winter time and would never be right till the trees are taken down. He suggested tho Council should again write Thompson, giving him two mpnths to cut the trees down to 12ft. Ho suggested that the Council should inaugurate a policy us to dealing with, similar cases. —Cr. Rodger seconded the motion, which was carried. From D. Sheddan, jnr., Millers Flat, (ono of the new settlers on Teviot Settlement; drawing attention to the impassable condition of the road to his property and asking that sometfiing be done to allow him to got over it with his team.—lnspector tp report on this and other roads in Toviot Settlement at next meeting. From Margaret Vernon, Goal Creek, complaining of the damage to her fence and paddock through flood water which was turned from its natural course through her property. —Referred to member land inspector with power to act. From McLaughlan Bros., Evans Flat, staling that in April they contracted with the Council to cart some bridge material from Lee Flat, Wiaipori, to Beaumont. Some plates were missing and the Council held back £7 10s. These plates were now delivered at Beaumont and tas it was through no mistake of theirs that the plates wore left behind, they asked the Council ta meet them half-way with the cost of bringing these in, viz., £1 ss.—The inspector explained that the platas were included in the contract and that McLaughlin Bros, were shown everything that had to bo brought) in.—Application declined. From clerk Bruce County Council advising that a conference in connection with the replacement of tho Manuka Gorge bridges would be held in the Bruce County Offices on Friday, 21st inst., iat 10 a.m., and inviting the Tuapeka County to bo represented.— Resolved tahat no delegate attend the conference.

■From clerk Cluiha County Council, enclosing letter fr,om Mr E. F. Pannett, in reference to the working of the Tuapeka Mouth Punt. —The letter stated that the running of tne punt had been very unsatisfactory during the winter, owing to the low river, with the result that traffic had been held up and children attending the Tuapeka Mouth sch<*ol had lost weeks of attendance through not being able to get across. The writer suggested that opportunity should be taken while the river is high enough to have the bar of silt that is blocking the punt on one side dredged out or, failing this, that the punt site be shifted. —Cr Leary said he had seen the punt recently and interviewed the puntman, who assured him that nothing could bo done to improve tho position. —Received. From M. McDonnel, Roxburgh, asking if any steps had been taken to have the road through Recreation ground surveyed, and if not that the matter should be attended to.—Clerk to instruct Mr Edie to have this work carried out. APPLICATION TO SLUICE ROADLINE. The application of Messrs Treacoy Bros., for right to mine portion ,of road in Munro’s Gully, was before last meeting ,of the Council and as there was a petition against the greeting of this right tho matter was referred to the Oharman, inspector, and member of the riding to inquire into. In the meantime several of the petitioners against tho grant have withdrawn their objection.' —Cr. Simpson expressed the opinion that as far as ho could see from inspection, no possible disadvantage wmuld be experienced by the settlers. He moved that the application be granted. Cr Eedgcr seconded the motion pro forma. The Chairman endorsed the remarks of Cr. Simpson. So far as ho could see there was no danger of the worked road being subsequently washed away by flood, iand seeing that a substantial bond was being given there was little to fear but that a satisfactory temporary maid would be given and tho original road satisfactorily reinstated. Mr P. Treacey, who was present, explained their proposed method of working the roadline. On being put to the meeting tho motion was carried. THE ETTRICK BRIDGE. Cr Bennetts moved, and Cr. McDonald seconded, "That steps be taken to straighten the creek above the Ettrick bridge to prevent the isolation of the bridge. ” The Chairman who had made an inspection said he was satisfied this ;was the only solution of the difficulty. Cr. Mac Donald seconded the motion. On the motion of Ora Bennett* and Mac Donald it was resolved that the c,ost of metal put down on main';road (£35 16s lOd) charged in first instance to Beaumont Riding be charged to Genwal Fund.

1 BANGER’S REPORT. | Tho ranger reported that during the month, ho had found eight head of cattle on the roads. On the whole the roads were now very clear of wandering .stock. He asked for tho Council's advice in regard to mobs of sheep, which were frequently on the roads and of which ho received frequent complaints..—The ranger was instructed to warn the owners to keep their sheep pff the roads. GENERAL. Cr. McLennan complained of tho delay in proceeding with the ''xp*n Ulure of Government vote of £3OO for Eaes Juneiion-E die vale rpad after ho haid made the arrangement with Messrs Sim and Sim to proceed with tho work and instructed the inspector to arrange for the metal. Ho considered that the contractors could 1 as easily have been working on that road as on the main road.—sCr. Rodger explained that no blame was attachable to the inspector in connection with the delay which ; w.aa entirely due to a series of circumstances which hold arisen. He did not see that anything mpro could have been done. Only two months had elapsed since authority for the expenditure had been received and Sim and Sim’s tender was not accepted straight away. Afterwards, when approached and given the order, their plant was out of prder and had to be taken to Dunedin for repairs. Then came the snow storms and the bad weather, when it was not advisable to allow heavy haulage on the road. Cr McLennan reiterated that it was .over two months since definite arrangements were made with Sim and Sim and that they might as well have been working on portions of this road as on the main road.—lt was understood that the work wpuld now be proceeded with at once, and tho inspector was instructed to attend to tho procuring of the metal. The arrangemens for the expenditure of tho £IOO on main road voted at last meeting was loft in the hands of Crs Bennetts and McLennan. Cr Revie was granted authority to expend £2OO in metal and gravel for maintenance work in Crookston Riding. Cr Rodger was authorised to expend £2OO fior casual surfacing and grading work in Tapanui Riding, and it was also resolved that the work at the mill (estimated to cost £ll 2s) bo gone on with. On the motion of Crs. Rodger and McLennan, it was resolved that all Government votes be applied 1 for and that the Inspector immediately prepare the necessary plans and specifications to accompany the applications. Cr Rodger reported having attended the conference held in Dunedin on Wednesday in qonnoetion with the proposed groupings of counties in connection with tho Highways Board, and that they had been successful in having group 17 amended so as to give greater community of interest and better representation. Tho group had been split into two and he considered the position would now bo more satisfactory to all concerned.—'The Council passed a resolution approving of tho amended grouping.

INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Waitahuna Riding.—A bridge is reqlired on the croek at Waitahuna railway station. The roiad in Waitahuna Gully at Mr Wilde’s, requires to be protected with scrub and the short piece opposite the sheep yards widened. The gravel on tho hill near Lawrence on the goad Lawrence to Waitahuna is cut out. Beaumont Riding.—The pot holes in the Roxburgh Road at Spud Flat require filling up and some gravel put on the small bridge. The metal on Junction Hill requires naking in and some blinding put over it. Browns and Gabriels Ridings. —The cutting on Beaumont hill needs cleaning out. The obstruction of willows in Bowler’s Creek should be removed and Bowler’s Creek cutting into main road is in need of protection. Bengcr Riding. —Throp’s road on the hill near Ettrick, is very much scoured. This road requires three culvets, grading, lead for water down north side and the scoured places filled with stones. Toviot Riding. —Repairs to the washout at James Tough’s are nearly completed. Waipori Riding.—Timber to re-dock Waipori Bridge has been ordered. On the road Lawrence fio Waipori the gravel is cut out in several places. Crookston Riding. —Twenty-four-inch pipes to repair culvert at scrubby Flat have been ordered. The culvert on Dusky plantation has been repaired. Tapanui Riding.—The gravel on Tapanui Flat r,oad has been graded in and slack places re-gnavelled. Gravel in Sheddan’s Ford requires levelling down and footbridge extended. There is a quantity of glazed pipes required for Tapanui Riding. Expenditure on Works. Teviot Riding.—Day labour £39, carting and grading £22 14s; —total £6l 14s Bcnger. —Day labour £l4 19s; earring and grading £6 14s; goods 4s 9d;- — total £2l 17s 9d. Crookston. —Day labour £29 7s, carting and grading £3 9s; —totals £32 16a. Tapanui.—Day labour £36 8s; carting and grading £27 8s; blacksmith £2 9s, 6d; —total £66 5s 6d. Beaumont. —Day labour £SO 7s 6d;: carting and grading £ls 18s; goods 9s;; miscellaneous £36 9s 4d; contracts, £54 14s; —total £159 17a lOd. j Browns Riding.—Day labour, £l7 lls] 6d; carting and grading £4 4s; material! timber £2 2s 4d; goods lls,•<—total £24j 8s lOd. t j Waitahuna Riding.—Day labour £34 2« Gd; carting and grading £75 12s; goods £2 16s 7d; —total £ll2 lls Id. j Gabriels Riding.—Day labour £22 2s; carting and grading £1 10s; —total £23 12s. Waipori Riding. —Day labour £3 18s; —total £3 18s.