WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10955, 21 December 1911, Page 2

WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The monthly meeting was hold yesterday. Present: Messrs I. L. Hart (in the chair). G. Lyall. A. Walker, J. Bitchener. G. Winter, and A. Garland. —Chairman's Statement. — The accounts to be presented for payment amount to £1152. and the debit balance of the bank account stands at £oBG. Advice has been received that

a warrant for payment of £IS33, being 75 per cent, of subsidy due on current year's rates, has been issued. You will have noticed the result of Mr Harrison's case against tho Council, and the solicitor's report thereon will be read later. —Engineer's Report.— The Engineer's report was read. The following refers to the central and southern portions of the country : Otaio Hiding.—Contract No. 753: Stanley Road (metalling) is finished, and will be taken over when the main^

tenance requirements are complied with. Contract No. 755, Springbank Road (metalling), is well forward, and should be out of hand early in January. Contract No. 757, Sodwall Road (metalling), Government grant,, was duly advertised, and tenders closed for your consideration. Measurements were taken for placing foot planks on the different crossings of Peters Creek (application of Messrs Stanley and others), and these will be laid down, at an early date.

There are four different waterways to provide for requiring the use of 33 planks. The Council's teams have given some attention to repairs on the back line, resurfacing the metal, and also forming side widths for the accommodation of summer traffic. Applications, with accompanying specifications, were duly sent to the Public Works Department for expending the small £ for £ grants of £2O each on the branch roads in the Kohika Settlement, sections 10 and 11, but no reply, is yet received regarding them. Makikihi Riding.—Particulars will be found in the accompanying estimates of the cost of works reported as necessary on the westerly portion of the Hook School Road. The estimate, was" prepared some months ago and consideration held over pending other expenditure on works of greater urgency at the time. This work should, if possible, be done before winter and before the grain carting season begins. Deep Creek Riding.—Fresh tenders will be submitted to you to-day for contract No. 756, Wintane Road (formation, Mr G. Gray's application). Contract No. 753, Cardiff street (metalling), is satisfactorily finished and taken over. Waihao Riding.—Repairs in accordance with the Council's decision have

been made on the Zig-Zag Road (Mr I. Black's application), and when inspected on the 14th inst. the line was in good order. It will be understood that the proposed metalling was not done, the draining and crowning of the road only being undertaken. Tenders for Contract No. 758, Redcliff Back Road (metalling), and for Contract No. 759, Wallace Road (metalling), both Government grants, will be laid before you for consideration to-day. An estimate is given herewith of the application of Messrs J. H. Andrews and others for metalling on one of the branch roads near Glenavy township, and provides for a light covering, of

gravel only, but probably sufficient to meet the requirements of local' traffic. In the matter of Messrs Menzies Bros.'

application for repairs to the Dip CreekKainarua Road, it has been arranged for the County Council teams to do this work iir the autumn when they will be working round in that direction. This proposal meets with the approval of _ the applicants, and is the most convenient that could be made. In connection with the Allanholme Settlement roading I am advised by the Commissioner of Crown Lands that provision would bo made for securing a gravel* reserve at the site set aside as a creamery fronting section No. 8 of the settlement, near the coal pit bridge. Hakataramea Riding.—Contract No. 741, Hakataramea Valley and Te Akntarawa Roads (metalling): This work, let seven months ago, is now reported finished. Final inspection has, however, to be made, as quite recently a considerable quantity of stone-breaking had still to be done. General.—A number of cases of breaches of the traction engine and heavy traffic by-laws were taken before the Magistrate's Court in the interim since last sitting of the Council, and in each case convictions were recorded and fines imposed.—Specifications for grass seeding on the roads throughout the .

county were advertised as directed, and plans, etc., placed at the various centres for the convenience of intending contractors. Judging by the prospects in most parts the crops should be unusually good this season. —I. am sorry to report the absence from duty, through ill-health, of the County Foreman of "Works, and trust he may soon be again able to take up his work. Matters arising out of the Engineer's report were dealt with as follows: Makihiki Riding.—Tenders to be called for February meeting. Waihao Riding.—Glenavy township: Tenders for work to be called for February meeting.

—Correspondence.— W. Howell wrote re expenditure of his "thirds" in construction of a bridge, and stating that he would object to same unless bridge was made wide enough for carts. —To be informed that the proper width of a stock bridge was Bft.

A. Walker wrote agreeing to Mr Hayes' conditions re proposed road deviation at Hakataramea. —Received. Notice of three cases of infectious disease were received for the period 7th October to 25th November. The Chairman of the Nukuroa Public Hall asked that some work bo done on the road at the entrance to the hall.— Agreed to do the work required. G. Camcbell asked to have a road named Carlisle street near his property opened.—: The Engineer was instructed to have a fence across the street removed.

The Council's solicitor reported the result of the Harrison compensation case. The costs. awarded would have to be fixed by the Court and embodied in the award.—Received.

I A letter was received, signed by all the members of the Waihao Water Race Committee, protesting against the decision, of the Council in the matter of the charges made by G. Archibald, and stating that unless a more satisfactory reply was given the members of the Committee intended to resign. The Council earned the following resolution:—"That the Council carefully considered the whole question, and while it hopes that the incident will not interfere with the cordial feelings which have hitherto existed between' it and the Committee, it regrets that the Committee'did not produce the evidence required to substantiate its refutation of Mr Archibald's statement, and regrets it cannot see its way to alter its view on the subject." —Tenders. — • •

TJrutane Road formation —W. Hawke, £33 10s (accepted). Sodwall Road (metal) —W.. Cochrane, £249 15s (accepted). Redeliff Back Road (metal) —Horgan Bros.. £32 17s 6d (accepted). Wallace Road (metal) —Horgan Bros. £ll4 8s (accepted), R. White £129 Bs. It was decided to call fresh tenders for Contract No. 760.

Tenders for the right to cut cocksfoot on the county roads were accepted', the amount realised being £34. Accounts amounting to £1152 7s 2d were passed for payment.