WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4096, 28 December 1887, Page 3

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was held to-day, when there were present Messrs Sutherland (chairman), Borrie, Hall, M'Kerrow, Paterson, Shaw, Thomson, Hodges, and ladale. The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed as read. A Toucher was received from the Treasury for Ll4o Is 81, payment on account of grant for roads in block 13, Mueraki. Also another voucher for L 159 9a 61, payment on account of grant for roads south-east of Kurow river. Also goldfields duty, L2 0s 61. Constable Pascoe, as inspector of slaughter yards for the Dantroon district, reported favorably as to tbe Btate of the yards under bis supervision. Constable Bethel also reported favorably with regard to the Oamaru slaughter homej. A circular was received from the Chairman of the Libor Exchange, requesting the Council's co-operation with regard to certain matters connected with the unemployed question. The letter was received.

Tbe Clerk to the Hsmpden Licensing Committee wrote, asking that oopies of the Licensing Act be forwarded to each of the members, as for the want of these some of the members were almost igu.irant of the laws they were elected to administer.

The Clerk said he had, as far B3 possible, supplied the copies, but several old members had not returned their copies.

It was decided that the same be supplied. Mr George Yonngaon, Ngapars, wrote with reference to the almost impassable state of the road near his cottage, and asking that the Council have the same attended to. Tne matter was referred to the Engineer for report. The Clerk to the Waimate County Council wrote forwarding the following resolution passed by his Council at its last si'ting with reference lo the Upper Waitaki Ferry :—" That this Council, on the face of the agreement with Mr Cain, does not see its way to give any further assistance than agreed to ; and that this Cjui cil does not see its way to take the whole responsibility of the Ferry upon itself, but is willing to carry out the agreement entered into between the Waitaki and Waimate Connly Councils and Mr Cain, of tte 12th October." Mr Borrie said it was evident that the Waimate County Council were laboring under a mistake, and did not understand the arrangement proposed by this Council. When in Waimate last week he saw the Chairman and pointed out that the Waitaki County Council had no desire to shirk their share of the coat of work. From what he could learn, he thought the Waimate County preferred this Council should take the management. Mr Thomson moved that the Clerk write to the Waimate County Cjuncil and state that this Conncii is willing to take the management of the Ferry and write to Wellington for delegated powers providing that Council did not care to do so, the cost to bo borne equally by both Councils.

This was seconded by Mr Borrie and carried. Mr O'DonDell waited on the Council and stated that he bad been instructed (verbally) by the Engineer to put in a culvert on the Corriedale road. Since this had been done the Engineer had refused to sanction payment of the work. The Engineer said no instructions had been given to Mr O'Donnell to substitute stone for pipes in any of the culverts on the road, nor bad he instructed him to touch the culvert in question. Mr Thomson moved that the matter should stand over for the Engineer to inspect and report. Carried. Mr M'Kerrow'a amendment, that the Council abide by the Engineer's statement, was not seconded. From the Crown Lands Department, requesting to be supplied with certain plans of lands. Mrs Rawcliffe, of Alma, wrote drawing the Council's attention to a ditch now being made past her property, sections 2 and 3, which had cat off the entrance into her paddock, and asking the Council to make the same good again, or give her the pipe 3 to get the work done. The Council decided that they had no power to accede to the request. Renewals of slaughtering, licenses were granted to John Veitch (Maheno), New Zaaland and Australian L*nd Company, Hector Morrison (Otepopo), W. Smith »nd Co. (Oamaru), and Thomson and Co. (Kakanui). A petition, signed by 10 ratepayers of Kakanui North, was read, requesting the Council to grant permission to them to run their cattle on the road known as the '' back beach," the same not being used for traffic. Petition received.

It was decided that the Engineer report with regard to repairs to the bridge and road near the mill race, and give estimate of cos's.

M'Vey and Co.'a tender for formation, gravelling, and fencing, new road at Mabeno, at Ll6O, was accepted. It was decided that fresh tenders be called for road formation ia block 9, Otepopo district, under oontraot No. 352. The tender of J. Cruickabanks for collecting the dog tax, at 6i per dog for tha whole of tbe ridings, exoept Ocekaike and Ahuriii, which were to be 93, waa accepted. The Clerk to the Waiareka Road Board wrote stating that the contract on Henderson's road bad been completed, and requesting tbe Coanoil to cause the same to be opened to Totarß. _ Mr Henderson waited on the Council and pointed ont the hardships under which he and other ratepayers were plaoed for want of the road. On the motion of Mr Borrie the Eaginear was Inatrncted to prepare estimate of costs. A letter was read from the Waitaki Road Board requesting the Council to take over the Airedale road, and make the same a conoty road. Mr lidale moved that the Council take over the road, but as this did not find a seconder, the matter dropped. (Left sitting.)