WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10752, 27 April 1911, Page 6

WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the Council was held yesterday. Present —Messrs Hart (chairman). Lyali; Walker, JSitchener. El worthy, Dohrman, White, and Milne.' The Chairman said it would lie seen from the elaborate .statements prepared that tile financial year which ended on the -'fist March had been .1 satisfactory one. Omitting all subsidiary accounts the revenue of the general account had been £13,3(10 and the expenditure £II,OOO. Of this amount there had been expended on roads and bridges £7315; hospital and charitable aid contributions £iu)B, small bird destruction £'46l. The total revenue of all the several accounts had been £16,323, and. the total • expenditure £14,549. The Waihao water maintenance account, revenue. £273, expenditure £260. Waihao water inte'rest'account, revenue £250, expenditure: £279. The Tiraaru'harbbf levy absorbed £1971. The position of all these 1 accounts was quite satisfactory.. The debit- balance of the bank account that day : was £1383, and ; accOnnts aniouritincr to £876 were-'prese.nted.vfor payment. , Following is the Engineer's report:— Deep Creek No. 742, Lindsay's- Rqad\(nietalling) -thirds account, was.'started in the-middle of the month,'-and 'Until the break in the weather was - - making good Contract No. 743, Timaru and other rdads state of : ' the weather "prevented\this • ibeing started on the 24th instant, but it will be proceeded with immediately' the weather holds.np.- In the-matter of-the Willowbridge drains, it was found neeessary afc the expiry"of the' statutory period -under section 62 of the Land and Drainage Act 1908 to employ men to properly complete the-work, and this was done, and;the work'finished as directed by the Council at a cost of £2. Waihao Biding.—Contract No: 736 Wallace Roadv (Government grant), is satisfactorily finished, and will be takeli over at once. Two' stonebreakers were employed finishing off the . con- : tract during the month. Contract No. 739, Redcliff Back Road-, metalling (Government grant) and Contract No. 740 Waihuna Road (metalling, .Goveriir ment grant) Metal carting on both works is finished and two men werei employed stone-breakjng on .each most of the month. An intimation has been received from the Commissioner of Crown' Lands that there are no funds at present available for subsidising the proposed Waihao River protective works, and these will in consequence have to be held over in the meantime. There was no suitable opportunity for dealing with Mr M. Henstridge's application this month, and it will be examined and reported on; in time for next meeting. A section of'7s chains of the Waihaorunga Back Road 'is much in need of re-surfacing, and I would recommend- that a contract be prepared and'tenders invited for the week of the Council's May meeting. Hakataramea Biding.—Contract No. 741, Hakataramea and Te Akatarawa Road—This contract was signed on the 21st instant, and will be proceeded with immediately the weather may permit of its being undertaken. Mr J. C. Rowley's application deals with the present bridle track up the Waitaki Valley between Te Akatarawa and Black Forest, a length of approximately 14i miles of which is in this County. There is no surveyed or.legal road reserve between the points maintained, and the track, at least within this County, has never heeii formed. A fair bridle path could be roughed out for from £8 to £lO per mile bv selecting the easier ground and avoiding the larger boulders and rocks along the bank of the river. _l he greater portion of the rough ground is situated in the Mackenzie County where cuttings have been made in disconnected lengths for a few miles. General. —The alternative, proposals for bridging the Pareora River at Jefcoate's and Brassill's Road crossings have been under review by your Committee during the month. An area was defined and personally canvassed tor the signatures of those favorable to bridging at the respective sites, these, with the other particulars of the nature and quantity of traffic likely to accrue from the areas will be laid before you for your information during the meetin" * Court proceedings were taken during the month against persons lninngin«- the traction engine by-laws, and fresh cases will be; brought under your notice to-day and directions asked lor dealing-with them. The Council's teams since last meting completed road works in Lower Pareora and Otaio Ridings, and for the past ten days have been emploved- on the Main South Road, between'Otaio and Makikihi. The recent heavy rains have done some damage to fords and bridge approaches in the Upper Pareora. Riding, where the rivers have heen in considerable flood. Further south, so far as I have yet learned, there is nothing of a special character resulting from the storm. Messrs G. Winter. H. R. Parker, D. Priest, and Thos. -Muir waited on the Council as a deputation to support the proposal to bridge the Pareora River at Cannington Cliff.. Mr White withdrew his notice of motion, and - the-Council adhered to its previous resolution. Mr E. C. Studholme waited on the Council and asked that the Council erect a bridge, oyer flie i Waimat© Creek on-the Gorge road,' of put the crossing in .'order. He thought they should put a bridge np that would take a trap over. -

Mr Walker moved that the engineer be asked to prepare plans for a light traffic bridge. The Engineer 6aid he' already had the bridge on the schedule that he was preparing, as previously instructed bjj the Council. : There were some eight bridges altogether, ~ and particulars would be furnished with the. estimates for the current yearV ■'•■»'■•• Mr. Walker urged that the footpath, in .front of Mr S. Green's property be shingled. •■ ' The Chairman said the matter had been decided against previously, and it .would be necessary to give notice of amotion to rescind the Council's previous resolution. Mr. Walker said that Mr W. Hawkins, Timaru road, wanted a few loads of shingle put on Carnarvon street, and he jwould suggest that shingle up to £5 be put'down. The suggestion was agreed to. Mr Bjtcherier asked that a side track be;made on Hook road in front of the creamery. He_ thought that by doing so .a. lot of shingling would be saved. The distance . .would be about threequarters of a mile. It. was resolved that the work be done. '...-•'.. '.' ■ .

Mrs' J. Manchester wrote thanking the Council for its expression of sympathy. ' • "■ - ISjlr "W. Kane wrote stating that his tender for ranging should hare been per week'.and not per month. The price was £1 10s. He had agreed to go on for| one : month so as not to' cause inconvenience to the Council,' and it was resolved that he he paid £4. The Borough Council wrote relinquishing its'claim regarding the amount iu dispute. Mr H. Eden asked for footbridge at Hook bush crossing of Hook river. : — Engineer to report.. It was resolved to grant the Technical Classes Association the usual contribution of" £5. Mr Jas. Davidson sent a comparative statement showing the areas of farmers who would use Brassell's and Jefcoate's crossings respectively. The opinion was expressed that Brassell's crossing was the best and was the most central. It was resolved that the Council have Government vote.transferred. Mr R. Gray- St. Andrews, complained.of the action "of a tractionengine driver the road. —It was" pointed out that he had his legal re- - medy. The writer to be .referred to the Police Department. Mr C. S. M'Lachlan asked for road repairs and it was agreed that the overseer be asked to report.' - The district railway engineer asked' that the fence between, the railway line and Morven neighborhood be repaired. —The repairs to be attended to, ■ application to be made to the Department for sleepers. Sir W. J. Steward wrote suggesting that the Council's resolution re registration of engines, etc., bo sent direct to Government. —Clerk to explain that tliis had been done. It was resolved that Messrs Hart and LynlL attend the Conference of Local Bodies re auctioneers' licenses and small birds on May 20. Mr J. A. Powell asked that the road from. Mr F. Burson's to his house be shingled.—Overseer to report.

The tender of Mr J. Easthornc for lease of Gretna Green at £1 10s per year for two years and £1 for a third year was accepted. Mr Jas. Ravcnhall wrote resigning his position ;l s poundkeeper. —It was decided to aska resident living near at hand. if he would undertake the duties. Mr A. S. Elworbty wrote complaining that the Pareora River had cut into his land.—lt was decided that the Engineer should report on .the,matter, tlit Council to accompany him oil his visit of inspection. It was resolved that accident insurance of £5 be "paid oyer to Mr Page. Four applications ' were received for ranger and Hakataramea" and. northern part of WaihatJ H. 'Leybourne was lowest at £3, Cd for dog collars and driving fees, and H. Williamson was next at £4 per .month, 6d for dog collars and driving fees.-—Williamson was appointed. The surfaceman at 'St. Andrews objected to paying rent when he had to take.charge of the' pound.—lt was decided that notice of motion would have to be given, and notice that no rent be charged to the surfaceman at St. Andrews was tabled for next meeting. 'lt .was resolved, on the motion of jMessrs Ehvorthy and Bitchener, "That the Engineer be directed to prepare plans, and when approved to invite tenders for expending the ' Government grout in bridging the Pareora River at Cliff Crossing."