COUNTY COUNCILS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1681, 9 February 1884, Page 11

COUNTY COUNCILS.

Tivieri County Council. The ordinary meeting of thi* Council was held at Mosgiel on Vriday. There wore present — The Chairman (IVlr J. Roberts), Cia Bunting, Snow, Shand, Thomson. Graham, Findlay, and Charters. ' THE NATIVE UESERVJC. The Engineer repoited that he had, in conjunction with Cr Graham, examined the ground through the Taieri Native reserve for the purpose of ascertaining the best line of route for the extension of the coast road to the Taieri Mouth. At present it terminated at the boundary of the Native reserve, and the settlers on the coast were thereby debarred from frea access to the river, which is the natural outlet for their produce. The road would be .about 20 chains long, and with the exception of a small portion was practically level, and would require but a small expenditure to open up. Ho enclosed a plan showing the proposed line of road.— lt was resolved lo forward the plan to the chief surveyor. SLAUGHTERHOUSES. Mr J. Smith, inspector of slaughterhouses, reported that during the 12 months ending December 31 the number of great cattle killed in the county was 1511 ; of calves, (55 ; sheen, 69,803 ; lambs, 3043 ; and pigs, 355. All the slaughterhouses had been kept in a very fair state of_ renair dm ing the year.— The report was received. CORRESPONDENCE. G. B. Smith, manager N.Z Drug Company's works, Burnside, wrote complaining of thn disgraceful state of the Kaikorai road. — The matter was referred to the inspector to have the work carried out. Archibald Barr, on behalf of some of the residents of Lower Kaikorai, wrote concerning the state of one of the* culverts on tho u an line of road through the valley. The culvert, he stated, was too small to carry off the floodwater, and the road, in consequence of the water rushing over it, had been occasionally damaged. — The Council retolved to contribute £30, provided the settlers contributed other £30, to have a new culvert put in. Dugald MEwing wrote stating that he had paid rates for two years, and yet, in consequence of the bad state of the loads at his place at Silver Peaks, he had baen compelled to shear his sheep on neighbouring property in order to get his wool sent to town. — Applicant to be informed that the works about to be undertaken will relieve him. A telegram was received from the authorities in Wellington to the effect that the licensing districts of North and East Taieri had been abolished, and East Taieri district constituted, comprising the road districts of Taieri and North Taieri — Received. William Thomson complained of the insufficient outlet for water running through a small culvert at his Moss-side property- --The inspector was instructed to carry out the necessary improvements. pOO TAX COLLECTION. The following tenders were received for the coilection of the dog tax :— VV. Macpherson, 9d per head ; .James Smeaton, juu., 9d per head ; S. Chesney, 9.] d per head ; R. Murdoch, lOd per head ; J. Snow, lid por head; and James Matheson, 8d per head.— Matheson'a tender was accepted. BOAD AND BRIDGKS ACT. It was resolved to ask the Government to declare the fo'lowing main roid-i under the Roads and Bridges Confctriictir n Act:—Berwick to Otakia ; Otakia to Kuri Bush ; Main South road at Look out Point to CatU« Yards ; Outram to Greytown ; Half-way Bush to \Vhare Flat, via Zig-zag ;• Mosgiel from Town district, via Mr Kirklaud's, to Owhiro road, thence to Outram Main road, past Riverside railway-siding. JIULLOCKY GULTiV. , The following tenders were received for the works on the road from Mullocky Gully to Silver Peaks :— Murdoch, £200 and culverts ; Madden and Bowcott, £476 ; Coatworth and f Jo., £562 10s ; Gregory, £2?G and culverts ; H. Wiles, £449 ; A. M'Kenzie, £656 9s and culverts; Matheson Bros., £32G 2s; Rilgendorf £29G 8s; Biingans, £284 and culverts.— Tho engineer was instructed to accept the lowest tender. BEVKVOHCNT INSTITUTION It was resolved to make a donation of 10 guineas to the funds of the Benevolent Institution. Bruce County Council. v Ta° 7 me £ tin X o£ this Council was held at Milton on Tuesday. There were pre- ?> en ( . t ~ M^ S9rS \ °J a & > ha i™an), Smith, Petrie, Murray, Duff, Wilson, M'Kuy, Calder and Darling. ' ROADS AND BRIDGES COXSTUUOTION «^,- le w r^ as /f? civ l d frc ' ai * fa e AlinWtor of Public Works stating that the fimout<ts granted under the Council's apphVat \*rt<i {<„■ '-'0000 vn, £500 for bridtre over tin-. T.,k«ii,.iiriio Kiw'r and £900 for roadmaLing. The -Chairman saM it w:,'. «„.>• apparent that they had sprnfc a i;if,,i <v *\ 1,1 un-tipy ;„ obtaining plans wt woiis <ii <i. a <,•>■< not likely to bo canied out lor yp-Mn. I!e thought, bowever, the Government, im^hi, Lv Induced to pay the expense of the ciiKJn'x i iwg. Other cmmoiilore ex press- ctj an opinion that the Council had hern led into ;i fi ivolous exppu dituro ot money, and niado fooly of by the Government. On tho motion of Cr Hurra it was resolved that the Council remonstrate with the Minister i of Works in the strongest terms for the action of. the Government in compelling the Council to go to the expense of £780 for engineering in connection with projected works when they bad only been granted £900 out of the roads and bridges vofa.

The clerk was instructed to take a poll of the ratepayers in tho Tokojnairiro district, in terms of the Roads aud Bridges Construction Act, to determine wh -ther tb'e ratepayu-s were agreeable to be specia'ly rated in order to repay | the grant. j The poll having been carried in favour of the worka on the road from Stirling to Beuhar, it was resolved to take steps to lovy a special iato of 'id in the pound to meet the o.vpnndifcui'/i of the Government grant. The Chairman rind Cr Potriti woie appointed to arrange with the parti,?? for tlie necessary land required for tho road Stifling to Benhiu, with power to act. ALTHKAT.OV OV UOUNIWKIL.S. A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary stating thai the proclamation alter- . ing the boundaries of Bruce and Clutha I Counties had been gazetted. Ho called tlw attention of the Council to tho necessity of adding Inch Clutha road district to Uisexuting riding, or constituting it a riding by itself. — It was resolved that the boundaries of tho Matau riding be altered so as to indudo the liichClutha road district ; and it wad mentioned that a fresh election would have to take place after tho alteration of tho boundaries. TAIIiRI BIUDOK. A lettor :\'ah received from Mr W. X. Blair stating that tho contract timo for tho supply of the ironwork for the Taieri t> idgt? had expired in October last, aud advica should soon be received of its shipment to the Colony. On Sits arrival tenders would at once ha called mr the woilw. .For the information of tho Council he stated that the girdois w»:ro of aluel, and not of common iron. The bridge would thus be tho first dteel bridge erected in the Colony. THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. It was lusolved to givu a donation of £10 to the fandM of tho Benevolent institution. Several councillors spoko of making the vote £20, but in th& present &tate of tho Council's finances it was not deorned advisable to increase the donation. TENDEKS. The following tenders were accepted :—Contract No. 46, Robert Gray, £13 o\i ; No. 47, Jamca Arnold, £39 183 ; i\o. 48, Jamos Pettigrew, £57. LOVKLI.'s IUAT. The Inspector of Works reported having examined the bridge at Lovoli's Creek, near the railway-station. Tho bridge was not originally intended to carry the traffic now passing over it, consequently the beams had given way, and had on two occasions been supported by temporary uprights. The whole structure wa.fi vory shaky, and as it was liable to give way at any moment a new bridge would have to be erected. Tho bridge had been built 16 years ago. A new bridge with stone abutments would cost £150.— 1t was resolved to call tenders for the work. BALirOHAI, BIDING. Cr Smith moved that tenders be called for formation on road from Castlo Hill towards Waitahuna bridge to tho extent of £50 ; also to the extent of £50 for works from junction of roads Clydevale and Tuapeka Mouth towards Newton. OIROLE HILL. The teacher at Circle Hill wrote stating that the want of a footbridge over Tokomairiro River was greatly felt in that district, and threatened to bo the means of closing the school, as the children frequently could not cross the stream. -The Council decided to recommend the Mount Sfcuart Road Boaid to again call tenders for the erection of a bridge. Oulram Town Board. A meeting of the above Board was held on Saturday evening. The, Commissioners present wore: Messrs Snow (in the chair), Chish)lm, M'Brtarfcy, Tynan, and M'Leod. It was agreed that the inspector of works be authorised to procure the necessary labour to cart the gorse into the layoon, in order to make a foundation for the roadwiy across it. The Clerk reported having waited on Mr Hay, the engineer, in reference to a tracing of town district showing the reserves, and that Mr Hay was to get it done at once. , Commissioner CuiaHOLM moved — " That Commissioner Tynan bo authorised on behalf of the Board to- obtain the dates on which the reserves in Outram Town district wero set aside, aud the purposes for which they were granted, with a view to have the administration of the sni.no vested in the Town Board." The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Fish asking him the cost of making aud painting a board with the scale of poundage fees on it in accordance with Impounding Ordinance of 1872. The Inspector reported that Mr Thomas Henwood had completed his fencing contiact in a satisfactory manner, and that Mr John Bride would finish the goVse clearing in a day and a-half. On the motion of Commissioner Chishomi, seconded by potnmi:<.ii<mt;r M'Bubaktv, accounts amounting to £18 133 4d were passed for payment.