WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1598, 8 July 1882, Page 21

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the abovenamed Council was held at Waikouaiti on Friday (30th), there being present— Messrs J. Green, M.H.tt. (in the chair), H. Orbell, J. Crickmore, J. Duncan, J. M'Kenzie, M.H.R., M. Todd, and A. Fraser. MERGING OP WAIKOUAITI ROAD DISTRICT, Or Duncan moved— "That the resolution adopted at a special meeting of the Council held on the 24th May, ' That the Waikouaiti Road Board be dissolved,' be confirmed, and that on and after the 3rd July next the said road district be merged in the County."— Seconded by Or Crickmore, and carried. Resolved, also— "That an order in conformity with the foregoing be drawn up, and signed by the chairman, as also sealed with the seal of the County, and notified in tho Gazette as required by the Act." BALANCE-SHEET. The Clerk read the balance-sheet for the 12 months ended the 31st March, 1882, the receipts from all sources being (including balance on March 31st, 1881, of £582 3s 4d, as also including overdraft at bank on 31st March, 1882, of £824 1s 3d), £3943 Jl7s lid; and payments, £3943 17s lid. The assets and liabiUtios statement showed — assets, £2657 12s '4d ; liabilities, £3903 12s 2d. The public debt of the county — viz., loan contracted by the late North-East Valley Road Board— £42l ; on. the other side, county buildings and site, £450, The Chairman was authorised to sign the balance-sheet in accordance with the Act. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting was then held } the whole of the members being present. DIVISION OP THE COUNTY. A long petition was brought before the Council from residents in the northern part of Waikouaiti County, setting forth that a fairer distribution of representation than _at present "bxisted might be obtained by giving four members to the northern section, instead of three as at present. The petitioners state that they have been urged to entirely separate from Waikouaiti County, but as no public advantage would follow the adoption of such a course, they are adverse to its adoption, and think that the plan they suggest of dividing the northern portion 'into four ridings would be a concession to which the great majority of the residents of the county might agree. The petition was signed by 110 residents of Macraes, Waihemo, Moonlight, &c. Cr M'Kenzie moved—" That the petition be received, and consideration of the same stand over until after Parliament decide on the question of county separation." Seconded by Cr Duncan, and carried. DEFERRED-PAYMENT BLOCK, DUNBACK. The inspector was instructed to prepare plans for necessary works on the road petitioned about by nine settlers — subject to the Land Board givhig their sanction. FINANCE. The Finance Committee recommended the payment of accounts amounting to £218 16a lOd. Contract No. 111, formation of 24 chains Mill road, Hawksbury Riding : the tender of Mr Rendall, formation (£2G) and gravelling (Is 7d per yard), was recommended for acceptance. Contract 111 a, 37 chains, Mill road : the tender of Mr Rendall (formation, £40 ; rotten rock, Is 11-^d per yard— both contracts probable amount £182), also recommended for acceptance. Contract 112, formation and gravelling 13 chains, Double Hill road : the tender of John Stuart (£8 15s for formation, metal Is per yard for cartage, and gravel 2s 6d per yard) recommended for .acceptance. — Report adopted. ■ inspectors' reports Nos. 1 and 2, referring to repairs, were adopted, CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from Mr Thomson, Murdering Beach, — It was resolved that £35 be spent on Heyward's Point road s and tenders called for by next meeting. With reference to the road through Mr Smith's property, Deborah Bay, and Mr Malcolm's letter, it was decided to consider it when the question of the road is dealt with. The inspector was instructed to report ' on the road alluded to in the -letter from Mr Stevens. In reply to Mr Fleming's letter, the clerk was instructed to write to the effect that his request could not be granted. ( Sundry letters wore received from parents respecting cases of scarlet fever. Mr M'Fadyen wrote about the bad state of tho road-line dividing the county and NorthEast Valley.— Pound for pound granted on application. ) , Mr M Donald, Seacliff, Avr-ote about widening the road which goes through the reserve there. — Work ordered to be done to the satisfaction of tho inspector for county. Tho Secretary to the Treasury wrote transmitting a Htatoment showing tho amount at the credit of the county on deferred-payment land in the late Deep Doll road district. — Received, and ordered to be acted upon. Letters were read from Messrs G. and J* A. Cook and Mr B. C. Haggitt, Dunedin, having reference to a road through Colonel Kitchener's land. , Cr Orbkll moved— "That in regard to Colonel Kitchener's claim for compensation for

knd taken for a road through his property at Dunback by the late Provincial Government, in pursuance of certain promises said to be made by Colonel Kitchener at the time the land was dedicated by him, and which was unfulfilled at the time of the ([abolition of the provinces, the Council considers Colonel Kitchener's claim as a provincial liability, the settlement of which devolves on the Government of the Colony." • Seconded by Or Duncan, and carried. Mr Newton, Council Chamber, West Harbour, wrote that a cheque for £33 18s would be forwarded in the course of a week. GENERAL. It was resolved to spend £25 on road at Sawyers' Bay. The Inspector was requested to report on damage being done to tne Shag Valley road though railway construction ; as also to report at next meeting as to the state of the Main road from Palmerston to Green Valley.