TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 7

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council waa held in the Corporation Offices on the 3rd. Present : Messrs Fulton (chairman), Samson, Shand. Charters, Allan, Findlay, Rutherford, and Driver.

NORTH TAIERI RIDING.

The Chairman announced that Mr John Findlay had been elected member for the North Taieri riding, in the room of Mr A. J. Burns, resigned.

RAILWAY TO THE INTERIOR. Messrs Hay, of the Taieri Council, and Brown, of the Maniototo Council, forwarded reports in reference to the above line of railway. Mr Hay'a report has been previously published. Mr Brown's report coincided with Mr Hay's as far as it went. The fol lowing is that portion of it which supplement's Mr Hay'B report :— " Continuing from the 33rd mile towards the Rough R f dge, through the Eweburn block for a distance of seven miles, the gradients are remarkably easy— one in 400— and the constructive works light. From thence crossing Eden Creek about one milu below the road at Wooley's accommodation house, aad tho Wedderburn above the road, crossing the

line with a gradient of one in 150, and a distance of 2£ miles roaches the higher terraces, whence the ascent, a3 shown, increases rapidly, until the Rough Ridge saddle is crossed at its lowest point with a short gradient of one in 50 ; thence descending to the Ida Burn with a gradient of one in 60. The line at this point is in proximity to Mr Coyle's survey."

An approximate of estimate and distance allowed from Aimea's to Rough Ridge, 13 miles at £3500, makes the total for 86 miles, £352,550.

Resolutions passed at meetings of the Muniototo and Vincent County Councils were also read.

SILVER STREAM BRIDGE.

A deputation, beaded by Mr Gibson, waited upon the Council for the purpose of urging upon it the necessity of repairing the present bridge across the Silvcrsteam, or to erect a new one.

The Chairman said that he could only refer the deputation to a previous resolution of the Council in reference to this matter, and which was to the effect that the Council was quite willing to hand the bridge over to the settlers to repair it themselves, or to form them into a special district, in accordance with the Act.

Mr Gibson did not see why the settlers should be called upon to pay a special rate for this bridge, seeing that it was on a County road.

The Chairman said that the Works Committee had visited the place, and in accordance with their recommendation, the Council did not feel justified in incurring the expenditure. The matter was oue oi finance, and the Council would be short of funds for the next three months, and if £50 would do the work, it was doubtful whether the Council at present was in a position to vote that auiouut for it.

MR MACIN DOE'S ACCOUNT.

The Chairman said that he had arranged a meeting that af tcraoon before Mr Watt, iv reference to Mr M 'ln doe's olaim, when he hoped that final arrangements would be made.

SEASIDE ROAD.

Mr Allan said he was not in a position so far to submit a report in regard to the above road, and Risked for an extension of time. — Granted,

BOROUGH AND COUNTY ACCOUNTS.

Consideration of this matter' was postponed in consequence of the absence of Mr Roberts.

METAL CONTRACT.

After some discussion, it was decided that the Chairman should write to Messrs Henderson and Ferguson, the contractors for the supply of maintenance, requiring them to use greater despatch with their contract.

WEST TAIERI TOLL HOUSE.

Mr Shand moved— " That the West Taieri toll house and bar should be removed from its present position to the Buckeye Hill." Mr Samson seconded the motion.

Mr Allan thought it would be very unjust to place the bar across the road leading to the Bush.

The Chairman said that the ratepayers iv the riding which he represented wished him to make a proposition to the Council to have a road leading from Lake Waipori to the Railway Station declared a County road, but it waa not the road upon which Ivlr Shand wished the bar placed. If Mr Shand's motion were carried,' it' would result oniy' in taxing a few people in the corner of the district He suggested that the toll house should be placed at the Church, about a mile farther on. He concluded by advocating that, before people residing in a district in which no money had been spent should be taxed, an opportunity of being heard by petition or otherwise should be given to them.

Mr Driver did not think that the Chairman's arguments were conclusive. If one bar did not catch all the traffic, a check bar should be erected by the Road Board. Mr Allan proposed, as an amendment — " That the toll bar at the West Taieri bridge be placed near the church, on the road leading to the interior."

The amendment was not seconded, and Mr Shand's motion was declared carried, the Chairman and Mr Allan being the only dissentients.

On the motion of Mr Shand. ifc waa further resolved that tenders should be invited to give effect to the resolution.

KAIKORAI VALLEY ROAD.

Mr Shand proposed—" That a side tollbar should be erected on the road leading up the Kaikorai Valley."

The motion, being seconded, wa3 declared carried.

EXEMPTION FROM TOLL.

On the motion of Mr Driver, seconded by Mr Chartres, ifc was resolved— "That the Chairman of the Council be exempted from payment of tolls m the district."

The Chairman said that when not on County business, he would pay toll the same as any other ratepayer.

ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW TOLL-BARS.

Mr Samson moved — " That a toll-bar be erected at the Mosgiel Railway Station, also at the Main South Road near Greytown ;" but after some discussion he withdrew his motion.

Mr Shand moved—" That the question of the Greytown toll-bar be postponed till next meeting, and that the Clerk be requested to ascertain the takings for the last six months at the E?st Taieri toll-bar." Mr Allan aeconded tho motion. Agreed to.

POUNDS.

The Chairman stated thai a communication had been received from the Government in reference to Pounds in the district. If the Council did not take them over, they would be closed.

GRAVEL CONTRACT.

Or. the motion of Mr Chartres, it was resolved that Mr Mead's contract for the supply of gravel bo so extended that the whole of the vote for that purpose should be expanded.

THE KAIKORAI ROAD.

On the motion of Mr Samson, seconded by Mr Chartres, it was resolved that £(J0 l>o eApended on the Abbotsford subdivision of the Kaikorai road as soon as possible.

NOTICE OF MOTION.

Mr Findlay gave notice that at the nexb m opting of the Council he would move that a bridge bo erected across the Silver Stream. The meeting then adjourned.