TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15101, 25 March 1911, Page 14

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meciting of tho Taieri County Council, held at Mosgiel yesterday, was attended by Crs J. Doherty (in tho chair), J. Gow, R. Robinson, jitn., F. Freman, J. Hay, J. W. Blair, and J. Allan.

The Engineer of tho West Taieri and Drainage Board wrote stating that tho residents of tho township of Berwick wisheda drain cut along Mclroso stalest from Lavxlar street, in order to drain the scufch side of tho drainage reserve in Dunso street. It was proposed to cut a drain in Melroso street,, on the west side, amd immediately adjoining tho property boundory.—lt was decided that. Cr Robertson, tho chairman, and the engineer, in company with' the Drainage Board's engineer, make an inspection of tho place with power to act.

A letter was reoeived from tho Marino Department, Wellington, in connection with tho HayhoiiT Board elections, stating that the Taieri County Council had been appointed the principal authority for tho countics of Taieri and Wakouaiti, that portion of tlto county of Waihemo not included in tho Oatnaru -Harbour Dsitrict, the Bay Town Districts, and tho. Peninsulas Tomahawk, Portobcllo, and Otakau Road districts, and also reminding tbo council that, os provided by tho HarbouT Amendment Act, 1910, a,n election of one member to represent the aforementioned placcs must, shortly be made.—Received.

The Secretary of tho Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wrote bringing under tho oounciTs notico tho claims of the society, and asking that the council grant it a yearly donation. The writer also drew attention to tho necessity for Greeting drinking troughs at suitable places between Mosgiel and Dunedin. —To bo informed that the council has the matter of "recting troughs under consideration, but that owing to lack of water it was at present impossible to provide any; also, in regard to the request for a donation, thai- there was no provision on the statutes for payments of this nature. Tho Department of Lands, Lkraedin, Wrote stating tihafc tho Railway Department had agßecd to put in a 6idmg at Matarae, providing it -was oniy oalloi on to pay half cost. Tho writer desired to know what the council would contribute towards tho cost, and also asked the .council to ascertain from the parties interested what they were prepared to contribute.— Information to be obtained and supplied. Tile District Engineer, Dunedin, -wrote dating that on receipt of deed duly executed by the council, a stock brdigo over the Taieri River and a stock overbridge j over the railway near Hindon, would be' put in hand—probably dining -the next few weeks.—The Chairman said that a stock bridge across the Taicri River would be a boon to the settlors, who often found 1 it very difficult, to get their stock across the river. It was decided that tho offior bo accepted. A le-tter was received from the secretary Otago Motor Association, stating that at a recent meeting it was resdved to request the oouncil to open the Brighton road to motor traffic. If the road were opened for motor traffic, subject to limitations as to speed, etc., thero would be' no greater risk of accident there than on any other highway, and a one-time favourite seaside resort would once again be thrown open to tourists and 'plwfiurc-spckors.—On the motion of Cr AHan it was decided that the council adhere to its former resolutic'n not to open the road to motor traffic in the meantime.

The Hon. Thomas Mackonie wipto as follows with regard to tho rumour that the Taieri electorate may be wiped out at the forthcoming alteration ot electoral boundaries" 1 personally appreciate the action of tho Taieri County Council in connection with the rumoured abolition or the Taieri electorate. Along with a similar protest from tho Western Taieri Drainage Board, I have forwarded the council's protest on to the Minister for Internal Affairs, for him tc 1 hold and to transmit to the Boundary Commissioners wh™ tho fame be appointed, in order thkt they may have tho 'evolutions before them during their deliberations. No action can bo taken until the Commissioners have been appointed and hold their sittings. Of course, it must be clearly understood that th!o Commissioners have entire control in the matter as to how tho boundaries shall be fixed, and until the census' is taken and the statistics mad® known tho Commissioners cannot come to any decision."—The letter was received, the Chairman ' stating tnat tho council would, if necessary, objcct at the proper time to ■ tho electorate being ,l iped out. OBJECTION TO A BY-LAW. A petition, signed by about 50 farmers and • graziers and others interested, was presented to iihe council praying that it would uso its influence in opposing tho passing of a by-Jaw which is to come 'beforo the Green Island Borough Council on April 4. The proposed by-law reads:— " No person shall drive any cattle not in harness or yoke (exocpt any milch cow going or returning from depasturing or watering) through any sfcroot in tl:(3 borough oxcept between the hours of 3 p.m. of any one day and 9 a.m. of the next succeeding day, and then- not without having an attendant preceding and another driving such cattle." Messrs J. Dove, D. Sutherland, and John Kirk waited on tho council in support of the petition. Or Freeman said ho thought that this was a by-law that would prcrvo very irksome lo farmers on tho Taieri, butchers, and others. It simply meant that they would not be able to take stock along the borough roads between 9 a-m. and 3 p.m., and' during tho hours when the roads were open there were other restrictions. It was very hard to understand tho attitude of the' Borough Council in tho matter. The rateable value of tho freezing works, the abattoirs, and yards, etc., in the borough amounted to, in round figures, £32,030, and it was difficult to see the reasons for imposing such restrictions on these sources of income. It was really a mutter for a public meeting. He thought that the County Council should assist the petitioners by all the means in its power. The petition should be forwarded to the responsible Minister.

It was also pointed out that tho bringing into force of the by-law would mean that if a farmer wished 1 to bring stcck into the sa.leya.rds from any considerable distance he would 'have to start at 3 o'clock in the morning, and when bringing stock- home at night ho would bo on the road half the night. The Chairman said ho thought that the best course would be to hold a public meeting at the Burnside Salejards on sale day and discus the matter. It was finally decided that the council support the petition, and 1 that it bo forwarded to the Minister-of Public Works, and 1 also that Ors Freeman and Gow represent tho council should a puMio meeting bo held. TENDEBB. Tho following tenders wero accepFcd:— Contract No. 5 (supply and delivery of 1350 cubic yards of grovel on Brighton to Taieri Mouth road)—Seddon and Rot.hwell, from Wright's pit, at 3s 4d (£224 19s 6d). Contract No. 8 (delivery of '450 tons of ballast., Eiycrsido road)— Hannah Bros, at Is 4d (£3(5) EEPOUTB.

Tho Finannce Committee recommended that the following accounts be passed for payment:—General account, £526 16s; .Government grant—Maungatua Hill £95 Is, Outram to Middlemorch £50 6s, and McLaren's Gully road £162 17s 4d,—making a total of £835 0s 4d. The receipts for the past fouj weeks amounted to £1880 19s 6tl, and the bank book showed a debit balance of £4122 7s.—Tho recommendations were approved. Tho Ranger and. Sanitary Inspector reported bavinsr distributed! some 400 dog collars. During the month 42 cows and eight horses had been found wandering, And poundage fees had been collected totalling £1 18s. Frequent visits were made during tho month to the Kaikorai Streaim, which was in a very bad stato owing to the small quantity of water running. It was especially bad near Green Island, wliero the water lay in stagnant pools.—Received. engineer's REPORT. M. B. B. Oouston, the council's engineer, reported, as follows on tho operations for the month of March:— •

The contracts let at last meeting of tho council have kept the available supply of casual labour and teams fully employed, and sonio of the 'xmtractors have two months' work ahead before thoy can fulfil present engagements. Jn oonncction wi'.ii the Brighton grovel contract, trial holes wore sunk an Wright's farm, and a fair class of gravel obtained. It is 'not oqunl to Sorogg's Hill pit, but will be suitable for tho purposo for which it is intended. Contractors have been asked to tender separately for delivery from Sorogg"s Hi!J pit. whl from Wright's farm. I have completed surveys and plans for Moonlight road, rograding and widening raid at Brighton cliffs, and havo also made a trial survey to ascertain whether a suitable road could bo formed with tho Castlo Hill to Barewood' vote of £200. Tho result, of tho survoy compels mo to recomiriaxl the council to leave this Toad alono. The yot®' of £200 is not sufficient to form a satisfactory road, and if the work wore

started you would then be responsible for tho (maintenance of the road. The: forma-t-ion of a deviation road at Wharo Flat i 6 completed, also tho fencing of land obtained in exchange for tho old road, and all liabilities have beon discharged in, connection with' tho undertaking. Tho metalling of M'Laren's Gully road is completed, and a decided improvement has beon effected by reducing- the gradients at stoep pinches, nod the insertion of pipe culverts to cany tho storm water from tits road channels. The two metal contracts on the Maungatua Hill are in progress, and the lower contract will be completed next weolc. A start has been matie at the Brighton gravel contract; delivery being conimenoed at the Green Island ond of the road. Tho delivery of ballast on Centre road and B road, South Taieri, is completed, a.nd this surfacomon are now engaged knapping over material on these roads. It is proposed to disposo of tho next. 500 yards of second class materiali on tho Riverside road. East Taicri, amd a contract has been let to Messrs Hannah Bros. for tho cartage of this material from tho trucks at Riverside. At Mosgiel quarry the contractors have bean fully employed in supplying metal for country contractors, and 1200 yards of metal have been railed from the quarry during, the month. Working on one shift this. is about tho limit of tho plaint. The metal produced is of first-class quality. ' Tho only tronblo experienced at tho present time is that ftie ' utput is too limited for requirements. As two of the council's regular employees are engaged feeding tho crusher and regulating the trucks tho work of North and East I'aieri suffers in consequence, oral I therefore recommend that an extra hand be employed permanently. Bis duties would' be to attend to the crusher whenever working, and during oft' seasons he could bo cmployod making pipes at the oounty yard, and' other oasual work. The crusher will be kept fully employed for tho next six months. ■ A number of works have been carried on by day labour l , amongst others, Russell's road, Kaikorai Riding, blinding Main South road a"d Saddle Hill road, repairs Owhiro-Glad-field road, repairs Fulton's bridge and Woodside footbridge, a,nd insertion of two 2ft 6in concrete culverts at Hornsby's, North Taiori, and on Gordon road. Tho timber lias been sent forward for redecking Sutton bridge, amd the local surfacemen will attend to this work, and also to the blasting of watortables on the Northern road during the month. My proposals for expenditure of the vote at Scenic Reserve, Otokia riding, havo been approved of, andi I have put W. Rains in charge of a squad of men to clear the bush and grade the track'from the jetty to the top road. Mr Wcstwood has attended to your instructions relating to tho removal of hedge trimmings from roads and tho clearing of willows growing on private property that overhang oounty bridges. I have actod in conjunction with Cr Allan in tho matter of a water supply for ' Allarrton. A force pump has been erected near the bridge, with a lain pipoto thfe river, and provision made for watering stock, and also for a supply

to tanks for general household use. This water is not ■ suitable for drinking purposes, ajid the two existing wells whioh are spring fed aire being widened- and deepened, and will ho built in with dry rubble and fitted with pump and trough. The total ccst will bo about £30.—Tho report wa6 adopted. GENERAL.

_A. Baxter, tho contractor for gravelling the Green Island- to Brighton road, petitioned the council for some assistance in regard to tho carrying out of the contract Ho stated that tho road to bo gravelled extended; fully half-a-milo further than he had thought whe.n he tendered.— A perusal of tho specifications showed that the distance to be gravelled had been set out quit© clearly, and that the mistake was tho contractor's own. It was decided to hold- over consideration of the matter until the completion of the contract.