CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15955, 24 December 1913, Page 10

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above council met at Balclutha, on Friday; present—Crs J. R. Mitchell (chairman), J. C. Begg, J. Edwards, \V. Hay, •T. Camming, W. H. Smith, W. Quin, W. Nicol, and J. Clarke. ENGLMJEe's 11EPORT. Tlie Engineer (Mr J. R. Eamsay) reported as loilows tor period ending Deccm- | bor 19:—" Contracts: Pomuhuka Dowii6 metalling contract i 3 completed satisfactorily, and the metalling of Poinahaka road, sections 48 and 49, block 11, is completed, but not finally passed. - The formation and metalling at Owaka railway station and the footpath leading to Mr Cohen's store, Owaka, have been completed, and the metalling on M'Kay.'s road is finished. General: The surfaceman is quarrying metal for repairs to the Main South road near Cartcrliope. As yet no teams arc available for grading White Flat road. Grading is being done on the Tahakopa. road, and water-tabling and filling of holes on Papatowai to Cliaslands road. The metalling of the Tarara Hill, near dairy factory, is almost completed. Several miles of grading has been done during the last month on Grccnvalo and Glenkcnich roads, and gravelling will be done on Middle road and Greenvalc next month. The timber is 011 the ground for Hawke's bridge, and the work will be put in hand immediately. A start has been made to grade the Clydevale roads, but the weather conditions have not been favourable. The formation on the Taumata to Clinton road would havo been completed this week if the weather had kept dry. Tho continuous wet weather has undono a considerable amount of work and hampered the carrying out of work in every part of the county."—The report was adopted. Cr Quin moved, and Cr dimming seconded:—" (1| That tenders be called for metalling 20 chains on Seddon road, Glenkenich, Government grant; (2) that tenders be called for 15 chains metalling north end of Hawke's road; (3) that tenders bo called for gravelling 18 chains, Shanks's road, tenders to be in by January 9, 1914."—Carried. Cr Cumming moved, and Cr Quin seconded—" (1) That the engineer procure 90 tons of Logan's Point metal for Webb's road, Waipahi; (2) that the engineer be authorised to expend £25 in rcduoing grade an Cemetery road, Waikoikoi, and £7 for hill near Simmer's."—Carried. Cr Smith moved, and Cr Cumming seconded—" That in future the following be added to the conditions of tramway permission—' Should tho council at any time desire that the tramway bo removed, the owner mitfit immediately, upon receipt of notice of such desire, remove from the roadline nil rails and material used in construction of the tramway, and also thmu&hly repair the road in all places where tramway crossings have been made.' "—Carried. TENDERS. The following tenders were received:— Metalling Purakanui to Caberfeklh railway station: Livingstono Rae, £4 15s per chain; W. Hourston, £4 5s per chain (accepted). Ten chains metalling, Caldervan road: L. Stewart, £4 5s and £5 per chain (alternative tenders for two quarries)—accepted at £4 ss; John Hewitt, £5 per chain. Twenty chains metalling on Quarterman's road: Alqx. Robertson, £4 per chain (accepted); L. Stewart, £4 76 per chain; John Hewitt, £4 23 6d per chain. Gravelling White's Hill, Waikaka: D. Dynes, 2s per yard (accepted up to £50). John Cruickehank wrote that he was prepared, to start contract on Kings and Kilhastio roads (Clydevale), tho contract not. to include embankment at bridge, and enclosed deposit— Accepted. FINANCE. The statement of receipts and expenditure for period ending December 16 showed: Receipts, £652 les 6d; expenditure, £1276 Os 3d. Crs Quin. Smith. Begg, and Mitchell were appointed a Finance Committee, Cr Quin being appointed chairman. The Clerk submitted tt , statement of rates, 1913-1914, on December 16, 1913, showing:Collectable, £10.985 Os 8d; collected to December 16,- £3462 Os 3d; outstanding, ii'*s23 Os sd. The general rate is included in the above, tho amounts being:—Collectable, £9128 15s 8d; collected to December 16, £2857 9s Id; outstanding, £6271 6s 7d.Or Hay moved that all rates unpaid by tho end of January be sued for. —Carried. The balance sheet as returned by the auditor was adopted, and the chairman was authorised to sign it. CORItESPONDEXCE. Mr James Craighead, health inspector, wrote that numerous complaints had beon received in re buildings removed from tho distrct of one local authority and re-erected in the district of another local authority, and he would bo glad if tho council would take steps where necessary to prevent a breach of" section 92, sub-sections 1 and 2, of " The Public Health Act, 1908."-Re-ceive'd. The District Land Registrar wrote asking if the streets in Quakcrfield (Owaka) had been formed and the provisions of sub-sec-tion 2 of section 117 of the Public Works Act. complied with—The Clerk said Mr D. Stewart had informed him that the roads in Quakcrfield had never been dedicated.— Cr Smith moved that the clerk reply to tho department that the roads had never been dedicated to tho council or formed.—The motion was carried, and meanwhile inquiries will be made of the Rev. Mr Ryley. who originally owned the property and sold it in lots. Mr K. Neave, on behalf of the trustees in tho state of the late F. D. S. Neave, Wairtrna Downs, wrote asking the council to consider whether it could metal the entiro length of road leading from Waipahi railway station to the estate.—Received. Mr John Mat-heson, Waipahi, wrote complaining that he, lhad been settled there two years, and had not, got a. road to liis house yet.—Road to be formed when the grader is in tho vicinity. Mi" A. K. Campbell, Nugget Bay, wrote asking that portion of the Land Fund be spent on repairing Campbell's Creek road, which was almost impassable.—Left with engineer and Cr Hay to have necessary work done. Mr J. Lindsay, Otekuva, wroto asking if the council would authorise the metalling of the road to Otekura Post Office now, as. work was slack. He had offered to do the work, about 4J chains, at £5 a chainLeft with engineer and member for riding to get work done at £4 5s per chain. Mr Leslie Geo, ■ Ulcnomarii, wrote in reference to tho request for repairs to M'Kenzie's road, blocks 111, and IX, Glonomaru. and challenged tho engineer's statement that the ratepayers were responsible for,the bad' sfcito of the road, as t'hey did heavy carting on it ill wet weather. To show that the rateypaers were in earnest they offered to assist in putting the road in order.— Left with cnginoer and member for riding. Messrs Sutherland and Dippie, Puerua, wrote that the site where they had been getting'gravel' for tiheir contract on Swamp road had been scoured out by recent floods, and asked if the council would sanction tho

procuring of Logan's Point metal for the balance of the contraot at a price to bo agreed upon.—The matter of getting gravel was left with the chairman, Cr Hay, and tho engineer to arrange.

ili-s J. Henderson, Kaka Point, wrote aplying for permission to erect telephone poles along; the road-lino from the Port Molyneux Post Office to residence at Kaka Point.—Granted subject to usual conditions.

Mr J. A. Anderson. Stirling, applied to have a road opened to his Education reserve, section 42, block VII, Glcnomnru. He did not require the owners of land through whose property the road led to fence, and gates would be sufficient—Held over.

Mrs M. Jottrneaux, Houipapa, -wrote asking the council to form part of road leading io writer's section at Woodlands.—Held over.'

Mr A. Ombler, Puketiro, wroto that the council had beero misinformed about the engineer and Cr Smith inspecting tho Catlins Valloy-Pukctiro road. They had not inspected this road, which was in an utterly impassablo state and not even provisions could bo taken over it by tho grocer. The Public Works Department was not spending a grant of £75 on repairing this road, but in continuing it to the writer's section. —Received.

Mr Arthur Clothier, Valuation Department, wrote asking the council to nominate a person who could act on behalf of the council as a member of the Assessment Court in the revaluing of Glenkenich, Waipahi, Clydevale, and Clinton ridings.—Mr Robert Grigor was jppointed. Messrs John Black. H. (J. Stevens, Jas, A. Jenkins. D. and D. Crossan, and E. Jenkins, Kelso, wrote offering to cart shingle for Middle road, the council to fill and spread shingle and pay 10s per day for all three-horse teams employed.—Offer accepted, work to be under control of chairman and engineer.

Mr Henry A Brough, Houipapa, wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the Catlms Valley road fronting section 9, block IV, Woodlands. The Government made a. grant of £150 for the metalling of this portion of the road, and instructed the public works engineer to proceed with the work as soon as possible -Clerk to write to Public Works Department asking that the workbo put through as soon as possible." Mr Arthur Wilson, Tawanui, wrote asking whon the engineer was going to inspectthe road at Tawanui, and also requested the council to apply for authority to spend the £150 which he had got placed on tho intimates for Catlins Valley road extension, so that he could get access.—Held over. Mr A. C'ouston, Wairuna, wroto drawing attention to the fact that the council had never fenced the roadline, as agreed by the engiheer, on road going through his property.—Received.

The Public Works Department notified the following authorisations:—Metalling Lucas road (pound for pound), £50; metalling Burk's Ford to Tuapeka Mouth (pound tor pound), £100; formation Hanning road, £99 10;; metalling Owaka to Shvubb Hill and village settlement (pound for pound), £50.—Received; specifications to be prepared and clerk to apply for all grants. Mr Allan Marshall, Toiro, wrote asking if the council would arrange with Mr Abernethy to get an outlet for the writer from his newly-acquired property at Toiro, an<7 fence the outlet—lnspector to report. Mr W. Sheddan, assistant clerk, wrote tendering his resignation as from the end of the year.—Accepted, and clerk to call f< r applications for the position of assistant clerk at a salary of £100 a year. ) The Clerk 'Southland Countv Ooiihci! wrote that his council declined "to contribute anything towards the cost of the erection of :a bridge at Purvis's, as its erection would not benefit any of the council's ratepayers. (At the last meeting of the council it was resolved that a, bridge be erected near Purvis's, at a cost of £150, the council to bear the cost on a basis of £2 for £1 paid by Morris Bros., and tho Southland Council was to be asked to contribute towards the cost.)— After discussion, Cr Begg moved that legal advice be taken to ascertain if tho Southland Council .could bo compelled to contribute.—This was carried. GENERAL. Tho necessary advertising having been clone by the applicants, permission was given to G. Bnrai to erect rabbit-proof swing gate at end of road near Roiiga'here, and to D. Stewart to erect swing gates on the Sweetwater Creek road, block VI, Glenomaru district. Mr C. Capamagian's application to erect swing gates on new Lochindorb road, and Mr W. Gwyn's to lay tramwav along roadline from section 9, block VIII, Tautuku, to railway at Stewart's corner, were again held over. Cr Clarke was appointed chairman of the Works Committee. Cr Smith said that he and tho engineer purposed making a tour of tho southern end of Catlins after the holidadys, when they would give v attention to several matters already brought before the council by ratepayers of Houipapa. Kahuika, and Ohaslands districts. Cr Begg's motion, that the council meet in future at 1.30 p.m. instead of* 3.30, was lost, an amendment that the council meet at 3 o'clock being carried. Dog tax collectors were appointed as follows:—Clutha, Pomahaka, and Richardson Ridings—Mr D. Scott; Glenkenich and part of Waipa.hi—Mr John Steward; remainder of Wa'palii—Mr Charles Trusler. Appointments for collectors for Catlins, Clinton, Clydevale, and South Molyneux Ridings were left to tho respective members for the ridings to arrange,