WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15955, 24 December 1913, Page 2

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held on Saturday; present—Crs R. Cameron (chairman), Pilbrow, Clark, M'Lennou, Bayley, O'Neill, Randall, O'Connell, and Ross. BROAD TYRES. A lengthy petition was received from the settlers in the Macraes Ric/ng urging upon the council not to enforce its recent decision Hint the width of tyres bo increased Mr Stanley, the only carrier in this riding, waited upon tho council in support of the petition. Ho pointed out that it would bo a distinct hardship upon the residents of the riding. It would prove a great disadvantage to the mine-owners and to tho miners, and, in addition, it would put tho ratepayers to an unnecessarily increased expenditure. He expressed the opinion that from a carter's standpoint broad tyres in wet seasons ■would prove dangerous on clay roads—in fact, tho drivers' lives would be in danger. Mr Clark moved that tho petition be received, and that no action be taken. Cr Ross said he would move an amendment, that the resolution passed at last meeting be rescinded, whereupon lie was informed that ho would have to give notice of motion. After further discussion it was discovered that the whole of tho discussion was informal, and that this question was not to como up for consideration until January 17.

Mr Sltanley explained further that tho hardship which would be imposed upon miners lay in the direction of increases m the cost of their necessaries of life. He pointed out .that at the present time a sack of' coal cost, the miners 4s 6d, and if the council insisted upon tho tyres on waggons being increased in width, tho carters would have to put up the price of coal to ss. 6d per sack. Ho said he would carry out the letter of the law, but would not increase tho width of his tvres, but would reduce the strength of his teams from eight to six horses. REPORTS. The County Ranger reported that he had impounded 17 horses during the month.—Tho report was received. Tho following report was submitted by the engineer:— Blue Mountain Riding: General work had been carried out in this riding during the month, nil planks to the river crossings having been reinstated, but, owing to the recent heavy rains, all this work would require to bo again undertaken. When the river reached its normal depth concrete pillars would be constructed at Isbister's crossing. The large culvert at Mathcson's, whioh had been built of inferior timber, had collapsed, and was now fenced off until the necessary material was landed on tho site, when tho culvert would bo reconstructed. Meadowbank: Very little, progress had been mado with the contract work owing to the wet weather. The contract for widening Taieri Peak road had to bo abandoned, but, weather permitting, would be again undertaken some time in January.

Bushey: Wittlestone's culvert, which was reported on some time ago, had become very dangerous, and arrangements were now being mado to erect permanent guard fencing. During the month no less than threo motor cars met with accidents while crossing the bridgo at Muddy Creek. The space, 7ft Bin, in the clear, he considered too narrow to allow the large cars to pass over with safety, and he recommended that the bridge be widened to 9ffc Bin, and a more permanent handrail erecetcd. The estimate for the work was £40. New planks had been erected to Fleming's crossing, which should give reasonable facilities to foot,traffic for some time to come. Several small slips and washouts were now being dealt with.

Goodwood: Tho contract for quarrying metal at Preston's quarry had been completed and taken over by the council. All team work in this riding had to be discontinued owing to the wet weather. As instructed at last meeting, an examination was mado of the road to Goodwood, opposite Mr Cunningham's residence, and to gravel from tho point where the last contract ended to the rise at the east end would require 150 cubic yards of gravel, at a probablo cost of 5s per yard. Dunback: Tho planks to the Grange crossing had been erected, which should prove to be of a more permanent nature. Several underrunners had been dealt with on the Stoneburn road, using' galvanised netting and scrub'. During the month a permanent planking would be erected over the Sweetwater Creek to allow motor cyclists to cross.

Green Valley: Much important maintenance work was being carried out' on the Pigroot road, but the recent heavy rains had required its discontinuance. All creeks crossing the Main road were being carefully watched, and repairs would be effected when the weather was favourable.

Macraes—Maintenance work had been carried out on Arthur's, Hyde bridge, and Fillybum roads. The team was now engaged in repairing the road to Taieri Lake Station, when, after this work was completed, the repairs to the main HydeMacraes road would be undertaken. Horse Flat, Golden Point, and main DunbackMacraes roads had received general attention, while all the metal throughout had been raked in and blinded. Tenders for taking off two points to the Butter and Egg road would be laid before the council at the next meeting. Contract for quarrying metal at Mount Helen road was progressing favourably, tho metal, being composed of hard stone, was very suitable for roadmaking; in fact, it was tho best material for road purposes that he had ever come in contact with A large culvert had been constructed at Terioiti, jarrah timber being used for docking. Cr Ross asked a number of questions of the engineer relative to the placing of surfacemen throughout tho county, and these were answered with satisfaction to tho members; and the report wa6 adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs Hostting and Cook, writing in reply to instructions received per resolution of tho council to prepare an opinion with respect to the distribution of the goldfields' revenue and take steps to have the question decided by a Supreme Court judge, 6iated that they had arranged with Messrs Reid and Bundle (acting tor Cr Clark) to tako out an originating summons and prepare a statement of the facts for submission to, and to be approved of by, them,, as tho basis for the court's decision. They also pointed out that as they wore not tho council's (solicitors the regular course would be for'all communications on this subject to take place between Mr J. Crisp (county solicitor) and them instead of directly with tho county.—The point 'Was raised by Cr Randall as to by whom tho county solicitor had been instructed to communicate with Messrs Hosking and Cook.—The clerk said he understood that Messrs Hosking and Cook had communicated with Mr Crisp in the first instanco by telephone.—Tho chairman said it was obvious that the solicitors would not go past Mr Crisp, who was the council's solicitor, and in his opinion it was essential that Mr Crisp should bo available to instruct Messrs Hosking and Cook upon any matters on which they might require information.—This was assented to by tho council, and the letter was received. The Inspector of Public Health (Dunedin) wrote stating that numerous complaints had been received by him that buildings had been removed from tho district of one local authority and re-erected in tho district of another local authority. In connection with this matter, ho directed the attention of the council to tho provisions of section 92, subsections 1 and 2, of "The Public Health Act, 1908," asking it to tako steps 'when necessary to prevent a breach of these sections.—Received.

Tho Secretary of tho Otago Land Board wrote advising the council that it had been decided that an ana, one chain square, on Section 24, Dlock IV, Makareao Settlement, be set aside as a eito for a public pound.— Received. CEKEEAL. Cr Ross moved, and Cr Randall seconded, and it was carried: " That tho engineer compile an estimate of the cost of gravelling tho road frqm the bij bridge to the crossing at tho borough boundary."—Cr Ross said that this road was in a deplorable condition. Cr Randall moved that the engineer report upon the question of improving the crossing at M'Lew's, and also tho probable cost of his proposal, to the next meeting.— Cr M'Lonnan seconded tho motion, which was carried.

It was resolved that the dog tax for tho ensuing year bo 2s 6d for sheep and farmers' working dogs, and 76 6d. for all other dogs, and that Mr D. Cameron bo iip|K>intcd collector of dog tax.

the engineoL- was appointed mining valuer.

The following tenders were received; — Contract No. 45, supply end delivery of 200 yards of metaj, Deepdell Hill—Thomas Gilbert, 9s 6d per yard; contract No. 47, carting 80 yards of metal from Preston's quarry, Goodwood—Stanley Morrison, Is 9d per yard.