TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9523, 3 September 1892, Page 3 (Supplement)

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Tiiicri County Council, held yesterday, was attended by the Chairman (Mr W. Snow), Cm Oliisshoiin, Jvoberts, Graham, Thomson, Bunting, Todd, and Andrew^ THE COUNCIL'S I'INANCIAr. POSITION. The council went into committee to consider the financial position of the county, when the following resolution whs carried .•—"That for the now cnnent year all expenditure beyond ordinary departmental and surfacing outlay (excepting such as can bo charged against the land payments) should only come up for consideration before the council by_notice of motion given by the member of the l'idiug for which the special work is required."

It was also decided—" That Mr IT. 1,. Ghi-istie (ranger) and Mr Kobert Bain (sanitary inspector) receive one month's notice that their services will be dispensed with." The remainder of the business was couductei in open council. INSPECTOR'S IVEI'ORT. The Inspector of Works reported re Mr Thomson's application for improvements recommending that a light coat of metal be placed on the road, and a small water table on the high side ; also, a Gin pipe. The distance to be metalled was eight chains, and tho quantity of metal required SO cubic yards. The cost would be L2O. The road to the Cliffs would require a few yards of metal to "patch" the ruts, and the gorse on both sides of the road also required to be removed. Tho timber in alt the old bridges on the Fairfield and Taieri Mouth road wanted continual attention. The road leading from the Main South, road at Greytown to the top of the hill could be improved for about L 5. He would suggest that the works proposed to be carried out in Deep Stream riding be put in hand soon.—lt was resolved that the inspector report to next meeting as to the number nf surfacemen in each riding whose services could be dispensed with. engineer's hepokt. . Mr It. Hay, county engineer, reported that the Kuri road contract was progressing favourably, and should be finished in about 10 days. Kcgarding contract No. 252 and the compensation claimed by John ltyall re completion of same, he might state that the contract was very similar to many others iv the same district, and was not any worse than was to be expected. There should have been no extraordinary difficulty experienced in the completion of the contract, as " rock" only occurred in one cutting—that was on the far away side of Sidey's creek, llock was never specially specified, but contractors, when calling at his (the engineer's) ollice, were always informed of tho class of material they were likely to meet with in the several works.—lt was resolved that Mr Ryall's application for compensation be declined. . hanger's heport. The County Kanger reported that lie found a great many cattle and horses wandering on the county roads during the month, and besides cautioning a number of people about the matter he had impounded IS animals. There were now 14 slaughter houses in the county, tlieie being an increase of live new licenses in about 15 months. About 1260 dogs had been registered up to date, but he expected to bo able to register a good many more yet. The revenue for the month from all sources amounted to LSO 19s 3d.—The report was received. COIUtESPONDENCE. A memo, was received from the Land Board, Dnnedin, forwarding a supplementary list of perpetual lease sections, and requesting to be informed on what roads it wasinteuded to expend the money derived therefrom.—Keferred to the chairman and Cr Roberts.

" A'letter was received froni the Awatere Road Board, accompanied by two petitions to be presented to Parliament praying that no reduction be made in the amount of subsidy at present paid to local bodies.—The letter was laid on the table. 1 Mr D. Sutherland and 10 ratepayers residing in the North Taieri riding forwarded,a petition requesting that steps be taken to stop up the culvert between Mrs Taylor's house and the Silverstream bridge on the main West Taieri road, returning the flow of water at present passing through it to the''mill''creek at K. Findlay's corner. Mr Alexander Smith also wrote in support, of the petition.—Consideration of the matter was deferred till next meeting. Mrs Christina Smith and Mr Alexander Smith wrote complaining that Mr John Mndlay had at divers times'trespassed "on the public highway and cut ditches thereon to tho dauger of the public, and asking that he be dealt with under section 100 of "The Public Works Act ISS2."— Consideration of the matter was deferred till next meeting. / . . . ■ The Clerk of the Mornington Borough Council wrote intimating that the necessary precautions would be taken to prevent a nuisance arising from the establishment of a nightsoil depot in the Kaikorai Valley.—The letter was received. :

The Manager of the Bank of New South "Wales wrote re the transfer of Burnsido road lines to the bank, stating that if it were made the position so far as the rights of the public and tiie council were .concerned would not bo altered, and undertaking, when required, at the cost of the council, to transfer to the Queen as public roads all existing roads in the township of Burnsido to the south or seaward side of the railway line, and the road known as Princes street on the north side of the railway. —It was resolved that the clerk be "instructed* to reply that the council did not feel called.upon to take any action in the matter ■Mr .F.-Stilling,.instructed by Mr D. Edmond, wrote calling attention to the obstruction in the county drain passing his property, caused by the bridge erected by Mr A. Thomson, and to the damage done to the road by the removal of the soil to cover the bridge.—The letter was received. Mrs C.Milner wrote calling attention to the state of the culvert on the road near her property at the North. Taieri.—The letter was received, the Inspector having stated that the matter had been attended to.

Messrs Webster and Callender wrote oflcring to purchase a small piece of land severed from Hastie's farm, on the Ontram and Greytown road, by the road deviation through section 3 of 10, block 111, Maungatua district, at the rate of L 25 per acre.—lt was resolved that the offer be accepted on condition that the purchasers pay the transfer fee.

Mr James Thomson wrote calling attention to a cutting on the Brighton road, which was slipping down and encroaching on liis proporty.—Referred to the inspector. Mrs Margaret Whitton wrote asking that a road be made through the small grazing run lately held by J. Cunningham to section 20, block 111. Nenthovn.

Mr John Stevenson wrote requesting that tho timber remaining over after repairing the two floodgates near Walsh's be utilised in putting the B box into a proper state of repair.—Referred to the inspector with power to act. Mr David Camithers and a few others interested petitioned the council to forego its claim for interest due on the unpaid balance of costs in the case of Millar v. the Outram Road Board and the Taieri County Council, on condition that the outstanding costs, and costs of adjusting the proportion payable by each party interested, was paid without further trouble.—lt was resolved, after .some discussion, that the council's solicitor be instructed to accept Ll5O in one sum in payment of the claim, Cr Roberts neither voting nor taking part in the discussion.

The Secretary of the United Districts Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that the amount of contribution required from the council by the board for the year ending March 1593 was L6'5G 14s Sd, in addition to LlOl 0s 6d—the amount of the deficiency in the payments already made in anticipation of the levy.—lt was resolved that the amounts be forwarded.

The Secretary of the Hospital Board wrote stating that the council's contribution to the board would be L3-W 17s scl, in addition to L4915s lOd— the amount of deficiency in the payment already made in anticipation of the levy.—lt was resolved that the amount be paid.

Mr B. Cockerell wrote requesting the council to open a road through section 7, block VII, Strath Taieri, to enable him ta bring in his goods by dray or waggon.—Referred to the chairman and Cr Roberts. ■ ■ .«

Messrs J. and E. Cuddie wrote statins that through some misunderstanding, the contractor for the Greytown creamery had lai-l down pipes to carry the water across the road without having obtained the council's permission, and requesting that the pipes be, allowed to remain, subject to the inspector's approval.—The request was acceded to.

Messrs It. Sparrow and Co. wrote offering to sell a dredge for the purpose of dredging the Taieri river, and giving full particulars of the same.—Consideration of the matter was postponed till next meeting. MOTION. Cr Roberts moved— "(a) That a committee consisting of the chairman and the mover be appointed to confer with the engineer and report on works which will absorb the unexpended balance of funfts received from deferred payment and perpetual lease sections and small grazing runs; (b) that the committee be instructed to allocate the works to the various districts from which the revenue is derived proportionate to the funds contributed by each." Cr Thomson seconded the motion, which was carried. TENDERS.' The following tenders were accepted :—Supply of 150 yds of gravel at Riverside—John Byall, 2a per cubic yard ; contract 2SB, formation, Deepstream road—D. O'Kqurke, 1,139 10s (3d; contract 28!>, formation, Deep Stream road—lX O'llourke, LI4S 18s. PINANCIAt. The bank-book, winch was laid on the table, showed a debit balance of L 4057 10a 7d. Accounts amounting to L52310s 4d were passed for payment.

— The Municipal Council of St; Etieune, France, has decided upon an interesting experiment, which is to distribute electrical power to 18,000 looms scattered about in the homes of the inhabitants, 70,000 of whom are engaged in the ribbon industry. The power is to be supplied from the city reservoirs.