WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8861, 19 July 1890, Page 5 (Supplement)

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this county council was held In the Council Chambers, Palmeraton, on Wednesday, when there were present—The chairman (Mr A. D. Bell), and Ors T. Dent, J. E. Glover, O. S. Hay, J. Hartstonge, T. Muir, A, M'liaren, D. M'Leod, and J. K. Robertson.

A petition from 17 residents at Macraes was read and received, asking the council ".to do what in many caßes might be a bad precedent—viz., to give the contractors for the public well more than their contract price; and as there waß no rule without an

exception." the council wero " respectfully urged to do something in the case of Messrs Grogan and I'lynn, who unexpectedly had come upon hard rock within 3ft of the Burface, and whose contract price was little, if any, more than half of what would pay wages." Tho petitioners referred the council to Crs Hay and Hartstonge to corroborate

their statement, and added " that as the granting of £10 over the contract price would still be less than the next tender they hoped the council would in justice do so."

The contractors also applied to the council to grant them an exira sum for the work as they had been misled as to the nature of the ground; the rock being of a peculiar nature some difficulty was experienced in doing a fair amount of work with explosives which had to be used from the surface. Crs Hay and Haetstonse stated the faeta to be as' represented, and that the contractors had been induced to continue the work on their representation that the council would allow them an extra sum under the special circumstances of the case, as the earnings of the men had not averaged more than 2s 6d per day. Ihey moved that tho application be granted. The council, however, resolved to refer the petition to the inspector to report at next meeting.

D3PUTATIONS. Messrs O. M'Gregor, A. Gilmore, and E. Steel waited on the council in reference to the small bird nuisance and the desirability of the council voting a

sumsof money for tho purchase of poisoned grain for their destruction.

The council resolved, on the motion of Or M'Leod, seconded by Or M'Larbn, to expend £20 in tha purchaoe of poisoned grain, an amendment proposed by Cr Haetstonge, seconded by Cr Hay, that those requiring poisoned grain pay for the grain, being negatived.

INSPECTOR'S REPORTS,

Capburn Bridge.—The Inspeotor reported that he had in company with tho ohalrman visited this bridge and had met tho chairman and engineer of the Maniototo County Council, but did not hold any hopes of a settlement. He could not Bee tho foundation, but the bridge was still unsecure, the bridle screwß were reduced In size and strength, as

well as the cables, tlie latter being 3ia instead of 4Jin galvanised steel rope, and the second rope was 3in instead of 3Jin galvanised eteel rope. He advised that the bridge should to finished and a professional engineer employed to inspect it. It was resolved to inform the Maniototo County Council that the council desired to have the disputed matters settled by a Government engineer, and the couuoil be invited to join in the expenditure, if any.

Green Valley.—The roads In this riding were in good order until the late rains. The new road through M'Leod's land was in progress, and would be a good one. The road leading to D. Muir's was in a very rough state and steep, and required improving. The Sailors' cutting culvert had been delayed owing to the weather and scarcity of men. The road was, however, expected to be ready for traffic in a few days.—Received, and a few chains of the Greon Valley road to be gravelled. Dunback Hiding.—The Surface Hill road required improving, and a small devation was required through Cunningham's section.—The consideration of the report was postponed.

Accounts for the month amounting to £223 IDs 6d were passed for payment.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Treasury, Wellington, intimated that the sum of £28 Us (id, including £S3 Is 6d gold duty and £28 Us 6d goldfields revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the council at the Colonial Bank, MmerBton.—Received.

The General drown Lands Office, Wellington, wrote stating that an application having been made by James Flanneryand Henry Cushman, two settlers in the village Battlement at Goodwood Bubli, respectively « cupying sections 42and 51, block 11, Hawksbury, for a road to their holdings, the Minister of Lands requested the council to state (be estimated

oost of providing a road for the aooommodntlon of the settlers In question; also whether thecouuty would bo willing to contribute towards Its construction, and if so, what amount.—Received, and olerk instructed to forward a detailed itatement of the amount of money expended in road formation In tho settlement.

Mr T. Oalcutt, Goodwood, wrote calling attention to some slips on the main district road, which blocked the water ohannels, and with a little more rain, if not removed, the recent gravel would bo washed away.

I Mr H. Fraser, Shag Valley, wrote drawing the attention of the counoil to the state of tho water tables leading to two culverts opposite his property on the Bushy road. Mrß. Amyes, Hillbampton, applied for permission to putnsivlng gate at the entrance of the road lending to hiß property, as cattle were continuously trespassing on the road and destroying hia live hedges along the road.—Referred to the inspector. The Property Tax Commissioner, Wellington, wrote, re subsidy for year 1889-90, and enclosing declftr&tloti, wiilcli was received*

Mr W. H. Bayiey, Green Valley, applied to the oounoil to have a few chains of road formed leading to section 9, blook VIII, Waihemo.—Keferred to the inspector.

The Wairarapa County Council wrote, enclosing the following resolution, and wanted the oonncll's confirmation in getting the Counties Actamendedin the direction Indicated:—"That in the opinion of this counoil power should be given to county counolls to levy a special rats over the whole oounty, for the purpose of f undiog interest on loans to renew bridges of the value of £400 and upwards, without taking a poll of ratepayers."-Beceived. KmSOT The Maniototo County Council forwarded the following resolution s—" That the chairman ba requested to oommunlcate with tho Walhemo County Counoil pointing out (1) That its action in regulating by bye-law the width of tires and weight of loads to be carried by oarriers over Its roads Is likely, if carried into effeot. to cause a loss to the ratepayers of the oounty equal to many times the amount saved to those of Waihemo; (2) that the waggon trafflo to th<U, n!? tlor musfc benefit a large section of ratepayers of Waihomo through the'enhanced prices' a market as their own door glveß, and that they should on that acoount be prepared to spend a fair amount on the road that carries that traffic; (3) that the experience of this council leads to the belief that the saving to the Waihemo Council effected by tho change will be very small, ana will have the effect of driving the waggon trafflo off the Waihemo-Pigroot road onto that-via Strath-Taleri, at least two years aooner than ie :rou!d otherwise go, aa the distance to Mlddlemareb, to which the railway will ba completed.'within six months, is about the same as to Dunback, while the rond i 3 even drier and sounder ground; (4; that the Hyde-Middlemaroh road being not nearly so well formed ai the Pigroot-Waihemo road traffic, if left free, would hardly be likely to be diverted that way until the railway reachea Hyde; (5) that it is tho intention of this counoil, if the Waihemo County Council enforces the said bjelaw, to at once set about the improvement of the HydeMiddleraarch rood."—Keceired.

The Treasury, Wellington, wrote stating that upon investigation it was found that a sum of £74 received for an agricultural lease had been credited in error to goldficlds revenue, and subsequently transferred to territorial revenue, and the amount inoluded in the sum upon which tho county waa charged percentage for cost of collection. A transfer in adjustment of the sum overcharged would now be made.— Eecelved.

CONTEAOTS.

Tenders were opened, and the lowest accepted for for the following works:—Contract 154, formation through Muir's run—W. Dodd, £31 7s; A. Kobertson, £43 sa; William Ellison, £55 15s. Contract 155, formation, Macrae's road—W. Ellison, £16 13s 4d; W. Dodd, £57; W. Kendall, £75 10s; J. liendaH, £78; Hourston and Ward, £87 lOs.

OTHBR MAIT3RS, Permission was given to Mr A. Gilmore to erect a Kate on Gilmore'B road; and Ors M'Laren, Muir, and Bobßrtson were appointed to superintend preparation of poisoned grain. The council then adjourned.