Taieri County Council.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 4

Taieri County Council.

The regular monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was held on Friday. Present — Mr J. Roberts (chairman), Crs Gow, Thompson, Graham, Grant, and Snow.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN.

Mr John Roberts was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year.

COR KES lON DENCE.

Mr Graham, of Lake Waipori, wrote stating that he desired to have section 83, block VI, Maungatua, incorporated with the Taieri County. — Resolved that the request be complied with, provided the annexation cost nothing to the county.

The secretary to the Education Board wrote asking how much the county was willing to subscribe towards school buildings. — Resolved that the county cannot contribute any funds towards the erection of school buildings.

A letter from Mr T. Burton, managing trustee in the estate of J. B. Macgregor, with reference to a proposal to deviate a road up the Silverhtream was referred to the chairman to report on.

The Secretary to the Land Board forwarded a statement showing the amount payable on deferred-payment blocks, and asking the council to submit a plan of the proposed expenditure. — Referred to the chairman to report.

Mr W. Hutchings wrote with reference to the destruction of a box culvert on the road between Henley and Buriibide, and a deputation waited upon the council upon the same subject, asking them to replace the culvert. — Resolved that the engineer be instructed to draw up plans and call for tenders for the work.

Messrs J. and A. Boyd wrote asking for compensation for a road taken off their Mount Hyde property. — Referred to. the engineer for report.

T.VIETtI TUVER PUNT,

A deputation from the Bruce County Council attended with reference to providing a punt upon the Taieri River. — It was resolved that a ferry or punt be erected across the Taieri river near the mouth to connect Taieri and Bruce counties — estimated cost, £500, to be met as follows : Government vote, £200 ; one-third of the balance to be paid by the Taieri county, and two-thirds by the Bruce county. The Minister of Public Works to be requester! to place the control of the ferry under the Bruce County Council ; the expense of maintenance and management to be equally borne by each county, and the surplus revenue (if any) to be equally divided. The Taieri 'county's engineer to have the carrying-out of the work.

TENDERS,

Three tenders were received for repairs to the bridge near Thompson's road, of which Alexander Mitchell's (£32) was accepted. Bight tenders were received for the HenleyBarwick road contract, of which Allan Cameron's (£380) was accepted.

MOTION.

On the motion of Or Graham, it was resolved that the property connecting the old and new Brighton roads be proclaimed a county road, Mr Kirkland to contribute £5 of the cost.

ENOINJJEB'S BTSPORT.

The engineer reported that the contracts in hand were progressing fairly well. As regarded the Henlpy road, he did not think anything could be done in order to drain the ditches into the Taieri River further than to clear out the present outlets and drains, which were large enough to carry away all the water the tides would allow. He recommended that in order to drain the road ditches a windmill should be erected at the upper end, and the water lifted into the lake. He had made the necessary researches regarding Mr Mann's assertion that there was a road-line reserved through certain

church property in the vicinity or his property, and found nothing of the kind in any of the survey records. — The report was adopted. The Engineer also wrote stating that the cost of fencing one side of the road through Mr Orbell's property at the back of Flagstaff would be about 15s a chain, and the distance with deviations would be about 80 chains. — It was resolved that the erection of the fence through the land lee delayed until Mr Orbell was prepared to fence at his own expense on each side of the road. INSPECTOR'S RKPOItT. The Inspector reported that the necessary repairs to the bridge at Brighton had been effected. He would strongly recommend that about 15 chains near Mee's Greek be formed and metalled, as that part of the road was almost impassable during wet weather. Also, that 300 cubic yards of gravel be obtained to repair the road between Barnes' farm and Christie's, and that ahorse and dray be employed for a few days in carting gravel for repairs near Kirby's cutting. He called the attention of the council to the necessity of forming and gravelling nine chains of road near Meadowbank, also 17 chains between Kirkland's and Bernard's corner. Temporary repairs had been effected to the Wost Taieri bridge, but the timber was very rotten, and the whole structure required renewal. It was recommended that 100 yards of gravel be obtained for Holyhead street, Outram, and 400 ft of timber for repairs to the Lee Stream bridge. It was resolved that the necessary timber be got for repairs to the West Taieri bridge ; also that tenders be called for fencing of chains near Meadow Creek. FINANCE. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £307 8s 2d.

The bank-book laid on the table showed a debtor balance of £2634 14s 9d,