Tuapeka County Council.

Otago Witness, Issue 1778, 19 December 1885, Page 8

Tuapeka County Council.

The above body met in the County Chambers at Lawrence on Friday for the transaction of ordinary business. The members in attendance were — Messrs Bennet (in the chair), Oudaille, Cameron, Fraser, Cotton, M'Farlane, M'Nab, and Clayton. CORRESPONDENCE. John Young wrote surrendering contract No. 238 (road formation at Waitahuna West), as he had made a mistake in his calculations. The engineer reported that he had called for fresh tenders for the contract. The secretary of the Otago Education Board drew the council's attention to the amended Counties Act re providing funds for school buildings. Cr Oudaille did not see how the Council could render any assistance, they had no say in the expenditure of the educational vote. Letter received. James Niddrie and party made application to mine on a roadline in block 11, Tuapeka East. A similar application was received from a party of Chinese to mine oil the Wetherstones road. — Both applications were granted subject to the usual bonds being entered into and satisfactory guarantees given. The under-secretary of the Mines Department wrote asking which works in the annexed schedule, towards the construction of which subsidies had been promised by the department, the county would be prepared to undertake before 31st March next — viz. : Road Lawrence to antimony mine (£133 6s 8d), road Waitahuna to copper mine (£133 6s 8d), and track Clutha Valley to Campbell's (£3oo).— Mr Oudaille moved, — "That the engineer prepare plans for the erection of a bridge across the Waitahuna River on the road to the Waitahuna copper mine", and also for the other works referred to." —Carried. Peter Miller forwarded a subscription-list for assistance to Edward Peters (better known as " Black Peter "), the first discoverer of gold in Otago. — Cr M'Nab stated that Black Peter, who was at present living at Balclutha, was in reduced circumstances, and as this was a matter of pure charity, he moved to the effect that a donation of £5 bo granted, provided the council has the necessary power. — Mr Cotton seconded the proposition, which was carried. William M'Cormack drew attention to the fact that an application of his to be allowed extra for the mason-work of the Heriotburn bridge on account- of extra cartage was referred to the former engineer, who had made no report, and asking that the matter ' be referred to the present Engineer.- 1 - Mr M'Cormack waited upon the council with regard to his claim for extras. He stated that the amount of his tender was £249 10s, but there had been several alterations and additions made to the original plans after the acceptance of the tender. The decking of the bridge was made wider, and likewise the wing-walls. The extras performed in excess of the contract amounted to £90 6s. — It was resolved to allow she claim for extras to stand over till next meeting for the Engineer's report. W. Waugh, Miller's Flat, brought under the council's notice that the rock on the main road opposite his property had not yet been removed, although passed to be done some months ago. — The Chairman said he would give the engineer instructions to get the rock removed by the surfaceman for the riding. F. W. Knight, on behalf of the Waipori Deep Lead Prospecting Association, wrote stating that the sum of £63 had been subscribed up to date by the residents towards prospecting purposes. He hoped that sufficient had been raised to justify the council in making application for the Government subsidy of £2 to £1. — It was decided that as soon as £37 10s had been placed in the hands of the county treasurer, application be made for Government subsidy thereon. James Nelson, clerk of the Balmoral Road Board, intimated that the board was quite agreeable to spend £50 on the improvement of the road Jones'-to Crookburn, provided a similar amount was expended by the Tuapeka County Council. — It was resolved to instruct the engineer to furnish an estimate of the cost of forming the road from Jones' to Crookburn (Waitahuna West). Wm. Smaill (ex county engineer) informed the council that he had returned all the leaves alleged to have been missing from one of the account books kept in the engineer's department. — Letter received. Vincent Pyke, M.H.R., wrote in the following terms : — " Evidently there has been a mistake about the vote of £1500. On looking up the appropriations for 1884, 1 find the amount set down amongst ordinary public works as a road on run 137, but I have not the remotest idea of fyhat it refers to. When I received your letter afc Wellington I showed it to Mr J. C. Brown, whd was unable to give me any information ; and after a cursory glance at the map 1 took it for granted that it must mean the BeaumontMille.rs Flat road. I have obtained a sketch of run 137, which I .enclose. Please get your engineer to mark out the road, showing where it starts from and ( where it goes to." — The Chairman remarked that the Government vote of £1500, which had been allowed to lapse, was towards opening up a road to run 137. — Cr Phaser, said the vote had lapsed, but he was inclined to think that Mr Pyke could get the amount again placed on the Estimates. — Cr Oddaille expressed himself to the effect that the money should have been applied for and expended last year. — The Chairman said the .council bad applied to Government for the vote, but a reply was received that the Government were not at the time prepared to expend it.— Letter minuted as received. The Under-secretary for Public Works wrote as follows : — " I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th November, requesting that Government would allow your county five per cent, on all extras entered into in connection with contracts undertaken in pursuance of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. In reply, the Hon. Mr Richardson directs me to ask you tc be good enough to furnish definite information of the several contracts to which your remarks apply, giving in each case the dates and the amount of the grant for the particular work, the exact excess in cost, and the reason for such excess." — The Chairman moved — " That the engineer be requested to prepare a return showing the expenditure for extras on all works undertaken in terms of the provisions of the • Roads and Bridges Construction Act." — Carried. WAITAHUNA LICENSING DISTRICT. .&. petition signed by 34 ratepayers of Waita"ihunal&ensing district was received, requesting •the coiw?ilto appoint a returniug-officer for that district, so ,tha- a Licensing Committee may be elected in,due form. It was , rescued, on the motion of Cr 'Oudaille, that Mr Woods be appointed re-vturning-officer for the Waitahuna Licensing district. SEPARATE ACCOUNTS FOR gACII RIDING. '.The Chairman mentioned thafy in accordance with " The Amended Counties Aci } 885, r^eparate accounts had in future to be kept ,of

the receipts and expenditure of the several ridings within the county. Cr Fraser moved — " That tlie matter be allowed to stand over until next meeting, and that in the meantime members be supplied with copies of the statutes of 1885, so as to make themselves acquainted with the several amendments to the local government laws." — Carried. TENDEKS. Tenders for the following contract:! wercs accepted on the recommendation of the Engineer :—: — No. 238 — Road formation at Waitahuna West. — John Webster. No. 240 — Tallaburn bridge and approaches. — Brunton and Middleman. No. 241 — Road formation at Bastings township. — John Kay. No. 242 — Road formation at Waitahuna West —A. Rntley. ENGINEER'S REI'OtfT. The county engineer submitted the following report dealing with the past month';-) operations, from which the following excerpts aro taken: — The roads 'throughout the county are, now all dry and in fair order. The main road in some places will require to be attended to soon, or else the pitching will be. completely ruined. The big hill between Lawrence and Beaumont and portions of the road from Raes Junction to Evans' Pinch are the places that require most attention so as to keep the pitching from being turned up. Teviot Road. — The surfaceman (Borland) at Miller's Flat, along with another man, lias formed the road leading to Crossan's and others in block XII, Benger. They are at present forming the road leading to Tubman's. Culvert near Roxburgh. — As instructed, 1 put a man on to repair the culvert over water-race at the island below Roxburgh. Remarkable Bush Road. — The road to the bush down the river from Beaumont has been repaired. ■Scrubby Flat Road. — From the main road at Kelso up to block XIII, Greenvale district, is about 260 chains. Of this about 60 chains have been formed ; the remaining 200 chains will require to be formed. The cost of formation would be 8s per chain, exclusive of culverts. Road at Matheson's Corner. — This road was destroyed by carting material for Anderson's contract. The road from Featherston's bridge, down to the corner of section 23, requires forming very badly. The length would be about 70 chains. It could be formed for 8s per chain, exclusive of culverts. The worst part — viz., at the bridge (about 20 chains)— would cost £2 2s per chain. Probable cost, £90. Schoolhouse to Heriotburn. — The length of this road to join on to the above road is 90 chains. About 30 chains have been already formed ; the remaining 60 could be formed for 8s per chain. Schoolhouse to M'Donald'sPinch. — The length of this formation is 110 chains. It could be formed at the rate of 8s per chain, exclusive of culverts. Shank's Road, Heriot. — The distance across the road from the main road to the top of the terrace on the north side of Swift Creek i,s about 50 chains. I would suggest that it be formed to a width of 30ft, and culverts be put in where necessary. ' The formation could be done at present for from 7s to 8s per chain,'exclusive of culverts. The distance from the top of the terrace on the road leading up past Shank's property would be required to be formed a distance of 50 chains. It could be formed for the same price as above. 'Herriott's Road. — The distance from the top of the terrace at the bridge (junction of the roads) to the top of Herriott's property would be about 80 chains. It could be formed for the same price as above, exclusive of culverts. Road at J. F. Herbert's Stables. — This road is worn very low in the centre ; it has never been formed. Between the bridge across the stream, at sections 14 and 17, down to the bridge across Swift Creek, at section 31 — a distance of 100 chains — badly requires formation. It could be formed at present for 8s per chain, exclusive of culverts. Road at M'Kellar's Granary. — I would recommend the council to call for 150 yards to 200 yards of maintenance gravel. After the report had been received, The Chairman drew particular attention to the fact that the pitching on the main road in many places was very bare. He .suggested that material be placed on the road in the places as recommended by the engineer. Cr Cameron said now that the wool season had commenced, if there were a few wet days the roads would be as bad with the heavy traffic as they were in the winter time. Cr Fraser remarked that so long as the council allowed the heavy traffic to traverse the main road it would be impossible to keep the road in good order. The matter then dropped. Cr Cameron moved — " That the recommendation of the engineer with reference, to Shanks', Herriott's, and Herbert's? roads be adopted to the extent of £50, conditionally that the settlers plough the road-lines." — Carried. The council then adjourned.