COUNTY COUNCILS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1716, 11 October 1884, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCILS.

Taieri County Council. The ordinary meeting of the Taieri County Council was held at Mosgiel on Friday. There were present: Messrs Shand (chairman)* Bunting, Snow, Graham, Thomson, Charters • Findlay. HEPOKTS. The Inspector reported on the works com pleted and in progress during the past month. He also gaye particulars of damage to the roads in various parts of the county in consequence of the recent heavy rains. — The inspector was instructed to effect necessary repairs. The Engineer reported' regarding the road »t the Cattle-yards that members of the Council and representatives from the Cattle-yards, the Refrigerating and Drug Companies had met on the ground and discussed the matter. He was of opinion that it would be very undesirable to' interfere with the Kaikorai road &\ this point, as it would involve considerable cost to the county without effecting any improvement to the road. The approach to the Lower Kaikorai bridge had been temporarily repaired, pending permanent works being effeoted. The bottom of the channel at the north abutment' had been scoured out to a depth of 9ft since the survey made in 1880. This scour was caused by the water accumulating on the low lands at Green Island when the mouth of the stream is closed at the beach, and the water being discharged with great velocity on the reopening of the outlet either by manual labour or natural causes. He recommended that the north abutment be sheet-piled, and some loose rubble thrown into the Tbed of the stream at that point to prevent the scour. The esti mated cost of sheet- piling " was £40, of stone-piling £12. The work at Strath-Taieri bridge was progressing satisfactorily, 18' piles having been screwed down, capped, and braced. The remainder of the piles and timber, with the exception of the beams, were on the ground. The Taieri River was in flood on the 28th ult., but beyond carrying the contractor's pile engine and staging some distance down the river no damage was done, the bridge work being unaffected. The land required for road purposes at Mr Humphreys' on account of the encroachment of the Taieri Rivet had been surveyed. The cost of the land would be £12. Mr Humphreys was prepared to sign the conveyance immediately on its being forwarded to him. On the Council's acquiescence in the above agreement he would recommend that the fence be at once shifted, as there was only 15ft of roadway left, and that was in a dangerous condition. He reported having examined the bridge on the main road in the Kaikorai Valley, which at present is in an unsafe condition for heavy traffic. The bridge had never been a very substantial structure at any time. It was about 35ft long and 25ft above the creek. The cost of a new bridge would be about £225. — The report was adopted, and the engineer instructed to carry out necessary works mentioned by him. — It was resolved to endeavour to obtain a grant under the Roads and Bridges Act for the Kaikorai bridge. WEST TAIERI BRIDGE. Cr Snow drew attention to the dangerous state of the West Taieri bridge. The planks were quite rotten, and unfit to bear neavy traffic. — On the suggestion of the Engineer it was resolved to apply for a Government grant in aid of the copstruotion of a new bridge. TENDERS. "The following tenders were received :— For culvert at Mrs Miller's : John Cameron. £12 ; Louis Junge, £16 10s. For Robertson's road : Alexander M'Kenzie, £64 10s ; Alexander Hamilton, £64 105 : Jainei Casey, £69 10s ; J. Hannah and Sons, £78 9s 4d ; Louis Junge, £89 16s 6d. Metal for Centre road : G. Murdoch, 6s 3d per yard ; J. Casey, 6s 5d : J. Spence, 6s sd ; W. Meade, 6s ll£d : A. M'JEay, 7s. The tenders of Messrs Cameron, M'Kenzie, and Murdoch were accepted for the respective contracts. RETURNING- OFFICERS. •The following returning-officers were appointed in the event of it being necessary to take a poll at the next election : Outram, John Grant; Maungatua, R. B. Twelftree: Otakia, Alexander Blair ; East Taieri, J. T. Douglas ; North Taieri, G. B. Anderson : .Kaikorai, John Kennedy ; Wakari, John Smith ; Deep Stream, A. Purvis. CATTLE NUISANCE. Or Charters brought under the notice of the Counoil the desirability of coping with the cattle nuisance. — It was resolved to appoint an inspector for each side of the river. THE INBPEOTOB'S SALARY. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Thomson, to raise the salary of the inspector by £30 per year. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. Cr Graham moved the resolution, of which he had previously given notice, regarding the preparation of a monthly table showing the amount of revenue and expenditure in each riding. Cr Charters seconded the motion. It was resolved to write to other Counoila regarding the 'working of the method, and to further consider it at next meeting. On the motion of Or Thomson, an additional grant of 800 yards of metal for the Kaikorai road was agreed to.