TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16189, 26 September 1914, Page 12

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

i —^_ j The monthly meeting of the J'aiori County Council was held yesterday; prwut —O.s J. VV. lilair (chairman), Doherty, Blaekie, Elliott, (low, Christie, anil Freeman. UOURKSI'ONDKNCE. 'Phi' Prime Minister wrote acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the council in regard to (he trouble mused by the billing up of the Silverstream. Ue promised to give the mutter his careful considcrnton. — 111 connection with this matter a petition bearing 23 signatures was received by the council praying that every endeavour be made to have the Silverst.ream attended to by the 'Uovenment. Three years hail elapsed since commissioners had been appointed; but so far nothing had been done. 'J'ho petitioners suggested that a deputation be sent to Wellington to interview the Government on the matter. —It was decided that a deputation consisting of two or more ratepayers and a member of the council be appointed to proceed to Wellington to wait, upon the Prime Minister in connection with this matter. Tho Dunedin Drainage Board wrote asking the council to waive its right to the statutory month's notice required under the Act before tho board could procced with tiie Kaikorai drainage telieme.—lt was resolved that this matter bo referred to a sub-comniittoo consisting of Or Freeman and tho engineer, to wait upon the Drainage Board with power to act.. The Maniototo Council wrote relative to the severance of tho Strath Taieri Riding from the Taiori County, stating that it could not see its way to postpone tho question as had been suggested by the council. —The letter w.is received, and it was decided to forward a reply to the effect that the council would oppose strenuously the proposal to place tho Strath Taieri Riding in the Maniototo County. The Secretary of tho Otago Patriotic and WeLfarc Association wrote asking if the council was prepared to put any worlts in hand to assist in relieving ' unemployment, and if so, to forward nature- and locality of work; also inquiring if any labour was required for public works.—lt was resolved that tho association bo informed that the County Council was prepared to find work in any of ite ridings and would allow its surfacemen to surpervise such work as surfacing or road widening, and would also supply the tools cocessary and the horse work. Mr W. Cook, Fairfield, wrote drawing attention to the necessity for having the footway leading from tho Abbotsford Station to the Main South road, repaired.— Referred to tho engineer to attend to that portion situated in the Taieri County. Messrs Solomon. Gascoigne, an d Hay wrote on behalf of Mr D. M'lntosh (Brighton) stating that in addition to the obstruction placed in the water-way complained of previously, a considerable amount of material had been left in the waterway by the contractors so as further to impede it. Notice was given that if this obstruction was not removed at once, their client, and others who might bo injured by it, had deckled to move in tho Supreme Court for an injunction and damages.— It was deoided that the writers bo informed that the contractor would remove tho material as soon as practicable. REPORTS. The Engineer reported that tho gravelling of the approach to tho Brighton bridge hatl 'been completed, and the sheet piles forming the old coffer darn had been drawn, but the mullock under tho bridge ha/d not yet been removed. Tho surfacemen in North and East Taieri, Kaikorai, Outram, and Maungatua Ridings had been blinding metal, and with t]iu exception of those roads which had been metalled this month there is now very little loose metal on any of the county roads. The Strath Taieri surfacemen had effected repairs to tho deck of Cottesbrook bridge. Two men were employed getting ready schist metal for repairs to the approach to tho Taieri Mouth bridge. The amount of metal run out from Mosgiel quarry since last report was 400 yards, and there were 50 yards in the heap at the depot and 400 yards of spalls quarried at the face. The 25 yards of gravel allocated for Duke's road had been run out and grass seed had been sent to Brighton for sowing on the track through the domain. Tenders were called for 400 yards gravel for maintenance repairs on that portion of the Green Island to Taiori Mouth road between Watson's and Mee's. This quantity would be sufficient for filling the potholes on that length of road. Tenders were also called for delivery of metal on Spark's road, Maungatua Riding. The water opening over Long's Creek, on Gordon road, North Taieri, was in a dangerous condition. Traffio had been carried on during the last few years by constantly propping up tho bridge, but it had now become necessary to provide a new structure and tenders had been called for this work. With regard to the washout on the by-road near Mr Birchall's property, Maungatua Riding, the engineer wTis _of tho opinion that a 4ft wateropening would bo required, and as that size of pipe could bo obtained in Dunedin he had called tenders for inserting a full width culvert across the road. There was a bridge of 20ft span across Miss Croek, on the road from Berwick to Waipori Falls. The superstructure was altogether rotten, and the beams had collapsed. The piles appeared to be fairly sound, but all timbers other than the piles would hove to be renewed. The cost would be £30. It had always been an open question whether the bridge was in Taieri or Bruce County, as the AVaipori River, which constituted the boundary between Taieri and Bruce had changed its course, and the rates from certain of the land on the Taieri side of tho present Waipori River went to Bruce. The bridge served the Kowai Spur road and the Oitv Corporation's now road to Waipori Falls, and Taieri, Bruce, and the City Corporation should all contribute to the cost. It was a matter of urgency that repairs be carried out at once, and he suggested that a copy of this report be sent to the local bodies interested, with a recommendation that either Taieri or Bruce carry out repairs, each county to contribute £80 to tho cost, and the City Corporation £30.—The report was adopted. The chairman and engineer reported having inspected the road leading to Mrs F. M. Dow's, and that they had given instructions that the road be surfaced as soon as surfacemen were available. They regretted that the riding fund would not permit the metalling of this road at the present time.—Adopted. The Sanitary Inspector reported that he had inspected all the slaughterhouses in the county and found everything clean in and around them. Some ratepayers were still depositing coal ashes and other rubbish on the road sides.—Received. The Ranger reported having visited all tho ridings in tho country during tho ' month, and with the exception of Outram Riding found tho road fairly clear of stray stock. He also . reported having issued 1206 dog collars. The collecting of this tax was now practically finished.—Received. Accounts amounting to £748 13s Cd were passed for payment. TF.xni'.ns. The following tenders were accepted:— Supplying a four-horse team for grader, P. Ilanlon and Son, 3s 9d per hour; delivering 400 cubic yards of gravel on Watson's to Mee's section of the road to Brighton, John Switalla, 3s 4£d per yard. £67 10s: delivering 70 tons of metal on Sparks road, Joseph Hughes, £10; constructing a 4ft pipe culvert at Maungatua, Seddon, and Rot.hwell, £59 15s.