TAIERT COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17504, 21 December 1918, Page 10

TAIERT COUNTY COUNCIL

The adjourned annual meeting was held yesterday, the clerk presiding. Cr Christie* was re-eiected chairman. The ordinary monthly meeting followed. The Finance Committee reported that the receipts for the last eight weeks amounted to £622 6s lid. The bank books showed a debit balance of £3405 9s 3d. The accounts for November totalled £1091 2s, and for this monthr £1042 10s 6d. The committee recommended that an application for a refund of rates on section 57, block I, Otokia, the grazing license of which had lapsed, be declined.—Adopted. The Sanitary Inspector reported having inspected the slaughter-houses in the county since last meeting, and with one exception all were in good order. The owner had. promised that mattera would be. attended to in tho ease of the unsatisfactory one. There had been a general cleaning-up of tho ditches, drains, and water channels in the townships throughout the county. At Middlemarch an excellent job had been made in cleaning the ditches, water-tables, and the water-holes, and some of the creeks had been sprayed with disinfectants. At Brighton the water-tables had also been cleaned out, but as there were a number of houses draining into them the fact of these bemg clean only made the filth more visible. He thought that the practice of draining into the water-tables _ should be stopped, especially at the holiday season, when there were a great number of children staying at the place.—Received. The Ranger reported having impounded 72 cattle and TO horses. The fees collected had totalled £4- 10s. Some people still persisted "n .herding on tho county roads.—Received.

In connection with, ths recent influenza epidemic, reports and correspondence setting forth what action had been taken were read. Some accounts were also handed in.

A special to to of thanks was passed to the chairman, clerk, and sanitary inspector for the work r hny had carried out in connection with the influenza epidemic. In connection with, the engineer's report, in which he asked for instructions regaining the payment of wages for the time the men were off work through sickuess, it was decided to pay half tie amount. Provided ,the City Corporation was agreeable, it was decided to use some fine gravel from the quarry at the school instead of metal for tho road from Irishman's corner to the schoolhouse.

As an outcome of a suggestion by Mr W. D. Mason, Middlemarch, it was decided to place gauges at the Hindon and Cottesbrook bridges to record the rise of the river. Mr Mason stated that if this was done he considered he could arrange with the Dunedin newspapers for a, daily statement of the state of the Taieri River during the rainy or flood season. Mr James Wither wrote regarding repairs to the Berwick Flat road.—Referred to the, chairman and Cr Kempshell, with power to act. % Mr William Robertson {Middlemarch) requested permission to erect a bank in his paddock opposite a culvert on the Main road. —Held over till Or Matheson was present. The Clerk reported that the Middlemarch rightsoil contractor had agreed _ to carry on at an advanced remuneration.—Confirmed.

The Ontram Domain Board wrote with reference' to a gate that had been erected on the ford crossing the Traquair Creek.— Referred to chairman and engineer. Three ratepayers petitioned the council for repairs to the river road from Henley bridge to Wain's drain. —After much discussion, it was decided that the chairman and clerk wait on the Western Taieri Drainage' Board in the matter, and report to the next meeting.

Mr Waverley Scott -wrote asking the oouncil to reopen for consideration a proposal to open a road to Brighton connecting with the Main South road.—The council could not see its way to undertake tho proposal. Already there were seven roads to Brighton between Allanton and Green Island, though they were not very good ones

• The Undcr-secrctary of the Minos Department notified that an extension of time had boon granted m -which to pay rent duo to the Deep Stream Gold Mining Company.

Permission was granted! to Messrs A. Watson and J. B. Snoll to re-erect buildings on sections in Brichtoo. A letter was received from the Department of Lands regarding the proposal to erect a stock bridge over the Broad Crook on the Leo Flat road. —Tt was resolved— " That the clerk write to the commissioner explaining that the council decided upon «. stock bridge a£ Broad Creek after a careful inquiry regarding the noeds of the small grazing- run settlers, and as an earnest of views proposed largely to subsidise the " thirds " and " fourths" accruements out of general revenue; and that a oopy of the engineer's report be Bent with tho letter."