Councils & Road Boards,

Otago Witness, Issue 1582, 18 March 1882, Page 5

Councils & Road Boards,

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUWOIL

The usual monthly meeting of this Council, held at Lawrence on Friday last, was attended by the Chairman (Mr J. Buchanan), and Cra Herbert, Sheath, M'Nab, Oudaille, Bonnet, Mervyn, Cotton, and Borton. CORRESPONDENCE. MrD. R. Hunter wrote on behalf of MrT. Hinde re the closing of certain roads in Browns Riding. The latter gentleman would pay all expenses.— lt was decided to take tho usual steps to close the roads. Mr G. W. Harvey wrote on behalf of Mr Win. M'Connack, who he stated had somo difficulty in obtaining permission to go on to Mr Herbert's land for gravel to start his contract. If any further delay or damage was caused he would hold tho Council responsible. A. communication was also received from Messrs Begg and Brand, Glenkenich, on the same question. They claimed £25 for work doiw since they were turned out of the upper gravel- pit.— The Chairman explained that the claim of Messrs Begg and Brand had been settled, so that they had now only to deal witn M'Cormack's letter.— The question was then adjourned till the evening sitting, when Messrs Bennet and Sheath were appointed to interview Mr Herbert and the contractor with a view to obtaining an amicable settlement. A memo, was received from the .Bruce County Council re joint action with a view of reducing hawkers' licenses.~The letter waa received, but it was not decided to take any action in the matter. Another memo, from this Council, re tho bridge at Tuapeka Month and alteration of county boundaries, was also dealt with. — It was resolved that the Council carry out tho agree* ment when the bridge was erected. Mr J. Harrop wrote stating that he resigned his appointment as returning-officer for Clarkes Riding. —Received. Mr John Ross wrote asking for another £5 for a culvert on his road, Tuapoka East. Ha was quite prepared to supplement that sum. — It was agreed to do the work. A memo, was received from the Southland County Chairman, who forwarded a resolution passed by the Council, urging on the Government the necessity for subsidising the County Council and handing over to them a fair proportion of the land revenue.— Mr Herbert stated that in conjunction with Mr Sheath he had seen Major Atkinson during his recent visit to the South, and he had informed them that the Government intended to subsidise the county councils to the extent of £3 for £1 for the making of county roads. He (Mr Herbert) did not think the plan of giving a portion of the land fund was a good one, whereas the proposal of giving £3 for £1 was all they could wish for,— The matter was postponed till next meeting of the Council. Francis Tubman wrote asking the Council to give their attention to the formation of a road from the Beaumont along the east side of the Molyneux to Miller's Flat.—Messrs Orr and Donaldson, who stated that they had been appointed at a public meeting held at Miller's Flat on the 4th inst. as a deputation, now waited on the Council in that matter.™ Mr John Kerr also wrote on the same subject.-— After some discussion it was proposed to write to the Government on the subject. John Joyce wrote stating that owing to sickneßs in his family he would have to give up his contract at Dalvey. He asked to have his de-posit-money returned.— lt was resolved, as the case was an exceptional one, to grant the request and call for fresh tenders.

PETITIONS.

A petition was received from a number of settlers, miners, and others in Waipori, praying the Council to expend £100 in clearing the present track from Waipori to the Upper Stony Creek as far as the antimony lodes and other works on the said road.— The engineer was instructed to report aa to the advisability of going on with the work, also with regard to the cost.

Mr Hehbkrt presented a petition, signed by nine settlers, asking the Counoil to expend £30 on road leading from Herriot's to block XIII, Greenvale. — The petition was granted, and it was decided to deduct the amount from the first deferred-payment moneys received for the block.

Twelve settlers wrote asking the Counoil to establish a public pound on Mackay's property, Herriot, near Tapanui.— - The petition was granted. The Crookston Progress Committee poti. tioned the Council to make the road leading to the Crookston School passable. — It was re* solved to comply with the request as soon aa funds were available. REPORTS.

The County Engineer reported on the construction of the county road over section 17, block VII, Tuapeka East district, in order to give Mr Rose an outlet. The Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Chief Surveyor had, after a good deal of correspondence, agreed to allow a road to be surveyed through the section, and a contract was entered into with Mr Ryan for the construction of 15 chains of sidecutting, at a cost of £49 6s Bd. On the plan of the road being sent to the Survey Office it was objected to unless the survey was carried through a portion of Mr Rose's private property. In consequence of this all the expensa incurred by the Council was so much money thrown away; and, seeing that the road was solely for Mv Rose's benefit, it was strange that he should throw difficulties in the way. The contractor had agreed to give up the contract on condition that his deposit was returned and he was paid 10s for loss of time. — The matter was postponed till next meeting, Mr Oudaille to try and arrange the matter between Messrs Rose and Mackenzie. The Engineer also reported that the work asked for by Mr P. Robertson was necessary, and the probable cost of forming the road would be about £25.— This request was acceded to. The expenditure on tho county roads for the month ending February 28th was as follows : — Upper ridings, £105f> 5s 2d; lower ridings,

£353. The punt returns for the month were: — Beaumont, £18 7s 4d ; Miller's Mat, lls 5d j Roxburgh, £2 18s Bd. With regard to Mr D. Robertson's communication received at a previous meeting, the Engineer reported that the vote of £1000, referred to by Mr Robertson, for road works in Run 106, Tuapeka, was being expended on the lines of road referred to in the letter of instruction from the Government to the Council. — Adopted.

GENERAL.

The Treasurer was instructed to communicate with the manager of the Colonial Bank with the view of getting the rate of interest reduced.

A large_ number of applications were received asking for exemption from the dog tax. — With regard to the applications of Messre G. B. Partridge, J. Spencer, and H. W. BalHston, rabbitera, it was decided to instruct collector not to press for the tax at present. — A motion to the effect that shepherds be allowed exemption for two dogs was negatived. It was resolvod fcbafc dogs used solely for the desfcru.gsion. pf

rabbits be exempted on a certificate being received from the inspector.

A notification from Wellington stated that tthe Government would not promise any further assistance for the erection of the Beaumont bridge. It was resolved .that the road from Ralstou's to Griffiths' be made passable, and that the road to Beaumont Bush be also repaired ; that the road below Waipori be gravelled.

TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted :— Gravelling road at Ettrick, G. Gilchrist ; gravelling road at north end of Ettrick, James Burgess ; formation of road at Beaumont, W. Bohning ; gravelling the road from Johnston's station to Purward's, T. W. Morton ; construction of bridge over Herriofc Burn, J. M'Cormick.

FINANCIAL.

Mr Buchanan stated that next month the overdraft would amount to about £3000. Accounts to the amount of £1600 Is lOd were passed for payment.