WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10289, 21 February 1895, Page 3

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary mooting of this county council was held in the Council Chambers Palmerstou, yesterday, at which there were present—The Chairman (Mr A.. M'Uren), and Ora J. If artstonffo juu., M. Jabißter, 1). Kennedy, T. Huir, It. Watiieson, I>. Koss, .1. lUws, and ,T. J. Ramsay.

i After the minutes bad been read, the CitAlit- ' MAN made a personal explanation in reference to ! at the ln-,t meeting re plans and spar.ifieiitions and i calling for tunilen. fur tin; re-erection of the Cu.pImru bridge, i« whir.h he pointed out that as the money, or ut least £a) oof it, was a (iovernment grant, the Government engineer would have to improve of the work and its nature. On these | ({rounds, wlii-.h he had full) explained in a cirI culurto members of the council, he hud deemed it unwise to invite tender?, and to hold over this until the plans and specifications prepared by the j inspector had been approved. This was the course I they hat! had to pursue in the or«ctv>n of th« bridge on the first occasion, and tip) difficulties then experienced should prove a salutary lesson to them. Cr Ramsay explained that the council had no intention of accepting tenders until the plans and specifications had been approved an susifested. What the council's object was to hu,vo the work carried out at the earliest moment. The council approved of the chairman's action on the motion of Cr Ramsay, seconded by Cr IsmSTER, anil the minutes were then adopted. CiOOIIWOOn VIUAI'iK SETTLEMENT. Messrs Gilmore, MAdams, M'l>ou«all. and Cushnan waited on the council in reference to an obst ruction across the road near their properties, leading to a water reserve. ' 'Ins nature of the obstruction was a fence erected by \lr limes, who wrote th« council a long letter on the subject, and point- out that some years ago the council had granted him permission to put up the fence to save him from having to drive hi- cattle to water. He also complained of the conduct of Mr Gilmore, and applied to be allowed to fence across the creek, but only to take in part of the road. A petition was also read from Mexsrs M'Dongall, MAdams, Cushnan, Brown, Bullen, and Flanagan, residents in the village settlement, asking the council to " immediately remove all obstacles existing on the water reaarve in the Goodwood bush, from which they suffered great inconvenience." The council resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr D. Ross, to instruct the inspector to take stops to have the fence removed. FINANCE. Accounts for the month, amounting to £3G5 3s Cd, were passed for payment. inspector's reports. The Inspector reported having inspected the fence referred to by Measrs Gilm.ire and others in the Goodwood village settlement, anri* he recommended its removal, as the settlers had no available access to the water reserve, and required tho full use of the same. Ho alao called attention to some formation on the reserve, which Mr ,T. Gilmore wanted to enabls him to get out with some stones. At the Goodwood railway station ths inspector recommended that the pipes running under the road should not be relaid at the gate, as they would bo of no use if the water was taken the other way. He had met the resident engineer on the ground, who had promised to take the levels and report tho result to the council. —The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The Treasury, Wellington, wrote intimating that the sum of 18s, Roldfiekls revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the council at the Colonial Bank, Palnaerston.—Received. The Resident Engineer of Riilways, Dunedin, wrote stating that from in inspection of tho ground at the Goodwood railway station, and the levels taken, he was quite satisfied that the original outfall of ths water was as the county inspector claimed, and that instructions would be given to have the pipes under the entrance of the roadway to the goods shed lifted Ift to the original level of the drain, and that in future it would be carried down the roadway. He supposed the council would have no objection to the department deepening the drain on the county road opposite the railway cutting, provided the water was carried away in the direction indicated. —The letter was received, the council approving of the suggestion, as it met the objections raised to the drainage.

The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, wrote acknowledging receipt of letter from the council intimating that the sum of .£65 16s 3d had been paid over to the Waikouaiti County Council.—Received.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, wrote in reference to the Fair Kent Bill which the Government proposed to introduce during next session of Parliament, and soliciting the council's opinion thereon. —The circular waa referred to a committee of tho council consisting of Crs D. Rosb, R. Matheson, J. Hartstonge jun., and J. J Ramsay.

The Secretary of the Survey and Land 3 department, Wellington, wrote informing the council that the Government had granted the sum of £20!) towards the re-erection of the Capburn bridge, which waß available on certain conditions being complied with. Also with respect to road repairs and bridge construction at Dunback and Swinburn, and stating that the Government had granted a sum of £800 for the work, which would be banded over to the council for expenditure on certain conditions.

The plans and specifications in connection with the Caubura bridge having been laid on the table, Cr Hartstonge moved, and Cr Hunt seconded—

"That the council approve of the plans and specifications, and that the same be submitted to the Government for approval, and that on intimation of same the chairman be authorised to call for tenders for the work, to be lodged at next meeting of council."

With respect to the grant of £800, the inspector was instructed to prepare plane and specifications for its expenditure on works and in most convenient contracts, and that it be left to his discretion to select the localities between Dunback and Swinburn. in which the grant could be most beneficially expended.

The Receiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin. wrote stating that whether the rent wa3 payable halfyearly, yearly, or at any other period had nothing to do with the question as to the payment to local bodies. Section 129 of "The Land Act 1592" provided that the Receiver of Land Revenue " shall quarterly pay over to local bodies all moneys accrued and payable to such bodies."—Received.

The Secretary Department of Lands and Survey, Dunedin, wrote stating that the council's application for the payment of £10 an Cushnan's road, Goodwood village settlement, had been approved and forwarded to the Surveyor-general. Received.

The Government Receiver, Naseby, wrote stating that no rents payable to the council had been received by him during the months of December and January.—Received.

Mr J. Palmer, Logan's Point, Dunedin, wrote calling attention to the fact that as the Government had made a large reduction in railage of road metal he was prepared to supply metal at reduced rates, delivered in Palmerston free.— Received.

Mr R. Steel, Palmerston, wrote objecting to the council entering and taking poesession of his land for the purpose of permanently enlarging a dangerous obstruction on the district road above Mr Geddes's entrance.—Received.

Messrs A. and G. Craie, Palmerston, wrote making a demand for the payment of £15 as damages for the loss of. a horse through falling over & cutting on the county road and being killed. The council declined to acknowledge any liability in the matter.

Mr T. Peddie, Macrae?, applied to have an entrance made to his property, being section 1, block VII, Strath-Taieri, on the boundary road between the Waihemo and Taieri counties —The council could not see their way to entertain the application as the road on which the expenditure wan applied for was outside the county boundary, and Mr Peddie to be informed of the fact.

The Clerk of the Clutha County Council wrote applying for copy of by-law, if any, regulating the bicycle traffic on county roads.—The clerk to reply that the council had no by-law referring to the matter.

The Whangarei County Council applied for information in reference to road construction, and as to the cost of Btone breaking »nd haulage, and as to the success of stone-breaking machinery if used in the district.—The clerk was instructed to supply the information.

Mr Flanagan applied for an extension of time to remove gates on village settlement road, Goodwood. —An extension of a fortnight was granted, and if not then removed the inspector to have thorn removed. RATE. Defaulting ratepayers after the 31st March next to be notified that 10 per cent, will be added to amount owing. CONTRACTS. Tenders were opened for contract 262—supply of 20 chains of metal on Main road, Moonlight, from Messrs Dodd (£3 per chain) and Gilbert (£'i 5a per chain), and that of the latter was accepted. MR STEEL'S APPLICATION. Cr Mum reported in reference to clearing out some ditches on road alongside Mr Steel's land. Shag Valley, that ho and Cr Isbister had inspected the place, and it had been arranged between them and Mr Steel that if the inspector instructed the surfaceman to clean out nne of the ditches it would meet his requirements in the meantime.—The report was received, and the inspector was instructed to attend to the matter. The council then adjourned.