CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 6

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Cluliha County Council was held on Friday, when there were present Crs J. Gumming (chairman), A. North, A. MTntyre, T. Maginness, H. Morrison, R. MTndoe, A T. Harris, D. R, Jack, W. Lawson, and W. S. Thomson.

The ‘council held a special meeting to consider the question of tihe weekly halfholiday, and on a vote being taken four voted for Saturday and six for Wednesday, so the motion fixing Wednesday was car ried.

The Finance Committee reported the receipts for the period amounted to £2448 ISs 9d, and the expenditure to £2661 18s sd. George Gunn (Toiro) applied for the petition of dog tax collector in Richardson and Clutha Ridings, and ihe was appointed; and J Gordon was appointed tor Clinton and Pomahaka Ridings. The appointments for the other ridings were left to the members for the ridings.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy, for the Minister of Public Works, wrote with regard to the proposed Hina Hina bridge. He was prepared to proceed with the work only on the understanding that half of the total cost of the work was found by the local body. The total cost was approximately estimated at £3470, but it was difficult to accurately estimate what the cost would be.—Cr Maginness said the council had already agreed to pay pound for pound for the cost of the bridge. He thought the business was settled. The settlers interested should interview the Minister when he was in the district, and he moved that they should be so asked, which was agreed to. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote that the Department was prepared to undertake the expenditure of £IOO on the Chloris Pass road on condition that the council paid £IOO into the public account before Ihe work was commenced.— It was decided that the money be paid when the work was completed. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote enclosing schedule of unauthorised balances on votes for works in the district, and asked that they bo placed in order of urgency.—Already supplied. Dr T. M‘Kibbin, District Health Officer, wrote thanking the council for agreeing to pay £lls under the new Health Act. He recommended that the new working commence with the financial year. In the meantime the work will be carried out by existing staffs.—Received. L. W, Potter. Bruce County clerk, wrote that the council was agreeable to the erection of cattle stops at South Molyneux punt.—Held over to special meeting. F. Goodsir, Tawanui. wrote asking for one sack of grass seed .to plant on side of roadline leading to his section.—Granted. A. E. Russell, secretary' Kaka Point Welfare Society, on behalf of the executive, made application for the erection of danger signal notice boards at the following places on the road to Kaka Point:—One on north side of church, one at Guest’s gate, and one at Rata street comer. The society suggested that these boards bear instructions to reduce speed below a certain rate, say. #ix miles per hour. It was also requested that a notice board bearing the injunction, “Drive slowly,” be erected at the end of M'Keohnie’s store. The notice would require to be painted on both sides of the boards. The extensive traffic to Kaka Point during the holidays warranted that the utmost precautions be taken to prevent accidents, and the society trusted that the request would be favourably considered by the council.—Cr North thought the Motor Association supplied danger _ notice boards, and he moved that the association be asked to provide the boards asked for by the society, and this motion was carried. W. J. Mulrine and 61 other ratepayers in Bruce and Clutha Counties forwarded a petition drawing attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the South Molyneux punt, stating that it is now too small to deal with the increased traffic, and that a larger and more convenient punt was urgently required.—Cr North said this was a matter that concerned Bruce County as well as Clutha. He was satisfied that the lime for a bridge had now arrived. TBe increased wages and cost of running the punt would go a long way towards interest on the cost of the bridge. They should not think of more punts, but bridges. He moved that the council ask for a conference with the Bruce Council regarding the whole question of erecting a bridge and the running of the punt.—Seconded by Cr Thomson, and carried. John Mulrine, Romahapa, wrote asking that a road be formed into section 30. Held over.

L. Rae, Tarara, wrote on behalf of the settlers with regard to the Waikawa road grant, and asked the council to support the currying cut of the work as they wished. They thought the particular piece of road they wanted done might be left to the Public Works Department and all the money spent. The settlers all wanted the road at Tarara Hill made first.—lt was decided that the Government be asked to start the metalling from Ratanui. H. D. Cooksley, Wharetoa, wrote that a culvert on the road between the Wharetoa School and his property made the road impassable for thrashing plant. He understood it needed strengthening. He was willing to give his services for two days to assist to get the work done.—The matter was left to the member for riding to attend to. _ . R. J. Telfer, Ratanui, wrote offering to sow grass on the Hina Hina Stream road if the council would supply the seed.—Seed to be supplied. Alexander Anderson and J. Williams, Kelso, wrote offering to cart gravel from Kelso to M'Gillivray homestead at 17s per yard, and rock at 8s 6d per yard.—Held over.

W. M'Phee, secretary Katea Road League, wrote that the league’ protested against the neglect accorded the district in connection with the spending of the loan moneys. Not a single yard of metal had been crushed, and’the work done in connection with the laying of a tram track had been a reckless expenditure of money. The league asked the council to hold an inquiry into the matter. —Cr Maginness said this part of the district was treated better than any other. They. had had over two miles of road metalled out of rates. The requests were unreasonable. He moved that the letter be received. —Agreed to. F. Sutherland, Arthurton, on behalf of the ratepayers interested, applied to the council to nave contracts for quarrying and forming road from D. Young’s to Biccard’s p\it in hand before it was too late in the y ear .—it was decided that the writer be informed that the money would be spent as soon as authority was received. chas. Campbell, clerk Southland Electric Power Board, asked for permission to place material on the road in the county.— Granted. D. S. Mackenzie, Romahapa, wrote offering to assist the council with regard to some work near his gate.—Cr North moved that the offer be accepted and work put in hand.—Carried. W. M’Phee, secretary, Katea Road League, applied for six trucks of metal for Horan’s road. —Held over. W. Prentice, secretary, Otanomomo Road and Drainage Board, wrote asking the council to contribute one-half the cost of cleaning out drains alongside road.—Cr North moved that the matter of co-operating with the Drainage Board be left to member for the riding, which was carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The Engineer (Mr J. Ramsay) reported as follows: Metalling.—One hundred and ten cubic yards of maintenance gravel has been put down on Gore-Waikoikoi and Pukerau roads where required. The contractor is making good progress with the carting of Logan’s Point* metal. Hunt’s road. The metal for Chectwood-Romahapa road is now quarried, and a start will be made to cart same out when teams are available. The crusher at Solomon’s quarry at Katea is all ready to crush metal. A trial was given .* few days ago, and the stone crushed proved satisfactory. Bridges.—The Kelso bridge approaches have been nrotected with willows and a new channel made to strengthen the river bed, which will divert the water away from the'bridge approaches. The work is of a substantial nature, and should stand for some considerable time The bridge on Cannibal road has been repaired with new beams and decking. The usual surfacing and maintenance is being done throughout the county. The report was adopted. GENERA!..

Or Gumming moved, and Gr North seconded, that the clerk make application to the Public Works Department, for £ for £ subsidy for work done to date on WaipahiTananui road —Carried. It was decided to hold a special meeting on, February 11, and io invite delegates from Bruce to meet the council at 1 p.^n.

Extermination of eagles is urged in Alaska to stop their enormous destruction of fish and guar