UAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19047, 18 December 1923, Page 8

UAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ihe monthly meeting of the above was eld on Friday afternoon. Present —Crs otton (chairman), Brown, M’Lennan, Macanald, Revie, Bennetts, Leary, and SimpCORRESPONDENCE. I’he Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunin, wrote asking for • detailed informam in regard to the council’s complaint . to condition of roads Teviot settleeiit.—Mr Edie to be asked to supply the -ormalion required as soon as possible. D. R. Boycs and 21 other ratepayers . Gabriel's Riding wrote asking that the iads in this riding leading from the Main ad bo exempted from the operations of uiger M’Neilly. They pointed out that uese roads were mostly adjoining Crown ands and mining reserves and that it was inpcssible to keep their cows from straying' thereon. —The chairman and member were authorised to arrange with the ranger in regard to the exemption of certain roads in Gabriel’s Riding. Fahey Bros., Evans Flat, asked that a road be formed to give them access to Chinaman’s Flat, which they purposed cultivating. Ihey were prepared to assist either with horse work or otherwise. —Cr Leary explained that to make a proper road would bo a big job, but what they required was merely a track to enable them to take their implements. He had arranged with Messrs Fahey Bros, to subsidise their work up to £so. Approved. Arthur Craig, secretary Greenfield branch of the Farmers’ Union, wrote asking that a supply of bird poison be forwarded to Mr Kimnont’s store as soon as possible. The branch also recommended that the council should give the Clutha River Board financial assistance in connection with the Ka waran dam application.—Or Leary said he had been able to send on seven bags of poison to Tuapeka Mouth. The Secretary. Otago Education Board, wrote asking that the council forward its promised contribution of £IOO for the Manuka Gorge bridges to the Bruce County. —'Crs MT.ennan and Bennetts moved that the money be forwarded.—'l bo motion was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. Gilbert Winslow wrote applying for (he closing of road through freehold section 121, block 111, Teviot district, and passing into section 4, block V. and in the event of this being granted he asked to be given a title to occupy it. —Deferred till next meeting

The Minister of Public Works wrote stating that ho was having inquiries made into the council’s complaint as to condition of roads in Teviot settlement.—Received. H. T. Dcvrdson and four other rimholders. Millers Flat, asked tho council to complete chipping snow tussock on Mount, Teviot road and repaitr three cuttings to enable them to get out material to repair damage done by the snow, —Request granted. E. Hart, Whcnuakoa, asked that a road lino be marked out through mining reserve between section 95 (held by John Stewart) and an area held by Mrs Smith in order to give him better access to his property.Mr Edie, surveyor, was instructed to mark oft the road as shown in sketch. The Secretary, Clutha River Board, asked for the Tuaneka County’s co-operation in safeguarding the hoard’s rights in connection with (he application for damming the Knwarau. —On tho motion of Crs Bennetts and Revie, it was agreed to contribute up to £lO.

M‘Donaid Bros., Heriot, applied for permission to erect gates on the road leading from their property—about 2i chains.—Permission granted James Tough, Miller's Flat, reminded the council that it had not yet. taken anv steps to protect his property from flood.—Referred to member and inspector to confer with the writer.

R. E. Hyde wrote drawing attention to the weakened condition of the third bridge from Bowlers Creek going towards Roxburgh through the supports on the top side being washed down. —Inspector to attend to the matter. GENERAL. Tho inspector was authorised to pul a surfaceman on the Nobby road and to have a culvert put in. The Chairman, member for riding, and inspector were authorised to deal with the tenders for Tapanui contracts due on tho 20th inst. The balance sheet for the past year was adopted, and the chairman's action in connection with the charging of small birds’ poison was approved. The accounts for the month amounting to £958 4s lOd, were passed for payment.

Samuel M’Clelland, who was engaged on some formation work on a back road in Teviot Riding, applied for payment of horse work at the rate of 8s and driver at 15s. — It was resolved that he be paid 7s per horse, and 15s for the driver. It was resolved that tenders be called for the various works on which Government vote authorities had been received.

Cr Revie was given authority to expend £2OO on maintenance gravel in Crookston .uding. The inspector was instructed to make immediate arrangements for the starting of the work on Yardley’s and Wilden roads.

The inspector was instructed to arrange with Mr Wallace to. go on with the footbridge over the Molynenx at Coal Creek as soon as possible, and the clerk was authorised to write to Mr Wallace informing him that the council hoped to be able to keep him in continuous employment. Mr Sim, of Sim and Sim, waited on the council in regard to the proposed holding up of payment for main road contract eminent vote) on the ground that the con- - ' ditions of contract had not been complied with inasmuch as some of the material put out contained stone of greater dimensions than was specified.—Mr Sim drew attention to the uncertain terms of the contract taken

in conjunction with the sketch plan, and said that his firm had faithfully carried out the contract. —Crs M'Lennan, Bennetts, and Kevie spoke in commendation of the manner in which Messrs • Sim and Sim and carried out this work. They admitted that some of the stones were a bit on the big side, but the quality of the material was such that they were going to have a road that would last for years. They advocated payment of the contract in full and the giving of an assurance to the Public Works Department that the council would be responsible for bringing the work to the standard to be passed by its inspector.—This course was unanimously agreed upon. When the passing of the accounts was under cons deration, Or MT.ennan expressed the view that ridings should bear the cost of the temporary sendees of the engineer. This gave rise to considerable discussion, the result of which was the massing of a resolution to the effect that such services bo n charge on the General Fund. Two tenders were received for contract No. 945 (quarrying 600 yards metal), but a' both were higher than the estimate they were referred to the member for the ridic; (Cr Rodger) and inspector to deal with. _ The ranger reported that he had visited) most of the ridings during the month and 'had found eiph; head of cattle wandering or the roads. —Received. The inspector’s report, covering the work on the various ridings was read and adopted.