TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14213, 14 May 1908, Page 2

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary meeting of tho Tuapeka bounty Council was held on Friday prosent— Crs Simpson (chairman), Oudaflle Keonan, Knigln, M'lnerncy, Bennetts, and Ho watt. ' THE LATE CE BENNET. Boforo proceeding with the ordinary business, 1 tho chairman referred to the loath of Mr ,Ja«. Bennct, M.P. ' The late Mr Bonnet had, lie said, represented Beaumont Riding in tho council since the incoplion of the county system 31 years ago, ind had, by his straighforward eonduot and groat administrative ability won a very high placo in ; tho esteem of the peoplo through tho _ county. As thoir ropiesentativo in Parliament for tho past oight years ho had ako dona a great deal to promote the various interests of tho people throughout the electorate, and ho was suro they all sincerely regretted his loss. « Ho moved—"That the members of this council desire to express thoir rcgrot at. the death of tho late Mr James Bennct, M.P., ex-chairman of the Tuapeka County «ounoil and representative of tho Beaumont riding for tho past 31 years, and to convey thoir sincere sympathy and condol211C0 to the members of the family of thoir late colleague in their sad bereavement."- > M'lnorney seconded the motion.Ors Knight, Keenan, Howatt, and Bennetts also expressed their sincere regret at tho Ices tho council and community had suffered by the death of Mr Bennct.— I The motion was then put and carried by the members standing in silcnce for a few noments, and the council adjourned fori 10 minutes as a tribute of respect to his nomory. W. Sinclair, solicitor, wrote on behalf .of Mr Robert Elliot, of Tapanui, in regard :o subdivision of farm and half-chain road bounding lot H. Tho writer pointed out ihat under the Public Works Act it was mperative that the owner in such a caso must tako back his fences and dedicate so niich of his land for a road as will leave lalf a chain from his fence to the ccnt.ro of .ho road, tho local authority paying him rcmpensation. He suggested that tho council should pa 69 a resolution to tho sfFect- that it is unnecessary to widen the •oad in question, and have same approved >y the Governor-in-Council, as it would be i pity that tho county should have to pay or a road that nobody wants.—On tho notion of Cr Howatt it was resolved that ho provisions of sections 116 and 117 of 'Tho Public Works Act, 1905," shall not ,pply to the roadline running from main oad, Tapanui, to Kelso, between sections 1 and 12, block 15, Gl.cnkenich Survey District,' and extending along northern ioundarv of section 12, block to. Tho Under-seeretary, Luids Department, Bote asking tlie council to nominate Qv«

feontlemen as trustees for llio Bastings Lometery.— Referred (to tho engineer anil w Bennetts. Clias. T, Swannel, engineer, Punedin, wroto inking whether tile joad leading to _ antimony and seheolito mine, Waipori, was Effing to bo blocked by tho dam that is being built by Mr Johnston. He also ( lew attention to tho state of tho road on .no "iwrcnce side of the river leading to ? selieelite mine.—Matter of road was leterrcd to engineer for his attention. ii f OOVl> . "»d others, Black Rock, ill i. i? r , a eutl ' n " on road leading out- to i /! a n ' :ir °' I' oo flat homos cad. Cr Knight pointed out that the coet of cutting was estimated by the ent lieei at £500. He moved that, an applies ion bo made to tho Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, for a grant of £350 for formation o road to R ivo access to riod y Cr M ' lner "OJ'0J' and car- . The Offico of Internal A [fairs, i„ reply to council s letter asking if the Government was preparing a sefc oE IIHX , eI by , laws stated that before the Government ' could do so legislation would bo neeessary. J1 £S. Graham secretary Charitablo Aid * Board, again asked tho council to reconmder the question of accepting- control of charit-ablc aid in jts own district —Cr M'lnerney thought local administration would bo abused, and moved that the council adhere to its previous deoision.-Seconded by Cr Keenan and carried, Alox. Nelson, clerk Bruoo County Council, forwarded copy of resolution passed by Bruco County Council, ro road through Hardio's section, Greenfield, to tho effect that a joint report tie sent, to the Land Board, and asking Mr Edie, engineer, to forward a, report to writer, which, ho would either sign or supplement by another report.—On tho motion of Ore Keenan and M'lnerney it was resolved that tho engineer's report ro road through Hardic's section, Gecnfield, bo forwarded to tho Commissioner of \Lamls, Dunedin. Goorgo H. Stewart, applied for leave of alxsencc from the May and July meetings of* the council.—Granted. From Mary Adams and 50 other ratepayers in Heriot district, asking that the road extending in a northerly direction from Heriot Presbyterian Church, and footpath running alongsido that road, be improved before the winter sots in.—The engineer to report on probable cost of foot- j path at next meeting. The Land Offico, Dunedin, advised the payment to tho council's orodit of £67 14s 6d, "thirds" and "fourths" and royalties duo for period from September 2 to Novembor 30, 1907.—Received. Jamas Hewitt, Rankleburn, asked what arrangements tho. council intended making for his residcnco at Rankleburn, pointing out that it was very inconvenient for himself and wifo and family to live in , a tent.—Resolved, after a lengthy discussion, that a house be •provided by the council. ENGINEER'S REPOBT. / The Engineer reported as follows for the • . months'of March and April, 1908:— Plat-man's house at Rongshere: As you are aware, this house was burnt down. I made inquiries as to tho origin of tho fire, and the only evidence I could obtain waa from the pun'roan, who asserts that the fite took place through a defcctivo chimney. Unfortunately tho house was uninsured. "I would suggest that in future the puntmen's houses bo insured. Eraser's road: I have made an inspection of this road. I consider it was an ovorsight on tho part of the Lands Department that this road was not 'connected to the Crookburn road. I would suggest that the matter bo placed before tho Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands for his favourable consideration. Mr Fraser- is willing to do all tho horse ijrork in rannccwau with the formation of tho road. Repairs To Main road, Lawrence to Roxburgh: This work is being carried out. Repairs to road Edievale to Ttae's Junction: This work is being carried out. Ro motion passed at Inst meeting in regard to the position of works passed by the council and not carried out. I would like to bo advised how far to go back before preparing such a list. I would like dofinito instructions what period I have to include. Tuapeka Mouth bridge: I have mad© a. start to the/repairs of this bndgo, and 'the four centre piles are driven. Owing to the rise of the Cliitha Biver, tho work had to bo suspended) / and nothing further 'can be done until the river falls to winter level. The repairs will be moro extensive than anticipated. Three links or' iron girdars will have to be procured, and With tho consent of tho chairman, I have ordered-these. Gflldefi Treasure dredge: This (hedge is Working too close to the road line, and I would recommend that a bond of 4200 bo-demanded from tho oompany to uiako the county secure. Road to Rankleburn: Ouo large culvert will have to bo erected as soon as possible, as t-bo present outveTt is giving way. Government votes: Acting on instructions from the chairman, I have mado application to the Government for votes to carry out necessary works in our county. Contract No. 704 (j. Ryan), construction of bridge over Waittdmna River, road to Greenfield : As the- council cancelled this contract, the final payment liaa been put on for work up to date. The position of this work is as follows:— Piers, abutments, and wing-walls are complete, and portion of the approaches. The girders for bridge are lyiny in Mr Ellis's yard, Waitaluina. Tho report was adopted. RETURNS. ' ' Expenditure on works from' Marolrl to April j}}:— " Teviot Riding, £130; Jamee, £347 10s 4d; Tapanui, £326 4s 9d; Beaumont, £63 6s 7d; Browns, £108 7s 7(1; Clarks, £50 lis 4d; Waitahuna, £56 15s 4d; Gabriels, £134 2s; Waipori, £58 16s Bd. Government Vote.—James, £19 16s; Browns', £106 ss; Olarks, £14 18s: Waipori, £54 16s 4d. Genoral Account.—Teviot, £5 14s sd; James, £85 14s sd; Tapanui, £67 Is 4d; . Beaumont. £4110s sd; Browns, £75 7s lid; Clarks, £113 14s lOd; Waitaluina, £42 53 7d. BIRD POISON. On the motion of Crs Bennetts and M'lnerney it was resolved that tho fame amount bo voted for procuring poison for the destruction of small birds as was ex'.pended last.year.—ln reply to Cr Knight us to whether the while of the poison procured had been laid,' Or Bennetts said it had. ALTERATION OF RIDINGS. Tho minute of the special meeting of the oouncil, held on March 28, in Connection with the alteration and re-adjustment, of the boundaries of the ridings were read and confirmed on tho motion of Crs M'lnor. ney and Bennetts. An amendment, proposed by Cr Keenan, failed to find a seconder and lapsed. The following motion was also passed— "That tho council of tho County of Tna- I 'pelta do heroby confirm a special resolution intended to oporate as a special order passed by ihem on Saturday, March 28, 1908, altering tho representation of tho ridings within tho County of Tuapeka, and to como into force on the Ist day of July, 1908. Cr Oiidaille objected to tho alteration of James 'Riding to Orookston Riding, and pointe clout that tho proper procedure for this change of name had not been complied with. \ GENERAL. Tho usual resolution in regard to borrowing from tho Bank of New Zealand by way of overdraft was passed. An application for charitable aid for an aged and destitute Chinaman in Gabriels Riding was granted, tho usual 3s per week being allowed. Tho treasurer's statement, laid on the table, showed that the revenuo from all sourcos during the months of March and April amounted to £1623 7s 4d. Cr M'lncrnoy ir.ovccl that £30 bo spent in gravelling on Tuapeka Flat road.— Seconded by Cr Keenan and carried. In roply to Or Keenan, the engineer eaid tho timber for tho repair of tho Tuapeka Mouth punt was on tho ground, and the I work would bo proceeded with immediately. , Tho engineer undertook to furnish tho council with all availablo information in regard to the deviation of Galbraith's road at. next meeting. He also undertook to attend to tho improvement of Clark's Flat road, passed during tho late Cr Walker's term of office. Tho engineer was instructed to have some repairs carried out on the road leading to Mr Garden's, AVaitahuna. ' It was rcsolevd that £30 be spent in repairs to Waitahuna-Lawronco road. On the motion of Cr Howatt the engineer was instructed to have somo of the worst places on tho Tapanui Main road repaired at' once; Tho clerk was instructed to writo to the Acclimatisation Society asking when tho owls it was importing would bo available. Cr Knight asked that some repairs be effected to the footbridge at Post Offico Creek; that £10 worth' of gravel be put' on tho road leading down tho Waipori flat from tho Empire dredge; and that tho portion of road between William Gare's and Jutland Flat dredge be gravelled.— The engineer undertook to have these works carried out.—Tuapeka Times.