TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1874, 21 October 1887, Page 10

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the abovenaaied body was held in the County Chambers, Lawrence, on Friday, the 14th inst. Present— Crs Clayton (chairman), Bennet, Oudaille, Cotton, M'Farlane, Fraser.and M'Nab. t The minutes of the previous meeting wefe Stead and Confimed. CbERESPONDESci. Mr Fihlayson (solicitor) j on behalf of William Robins* madia ft olaihi of £8 8s" dn aiicouht Of damages to the wheel of his threshing engine* sustained while crossing the county *oad at Crowley's Gully, Tuapeka Flat.— Received. The official, assignee in Bankruptcy wrote stating that Murdoch Gordon (bankrupt) had a claim of £&8 against the coilncil for miistef ing cattle at Mount Benger, and requested to know whether the council admitted the claim in full or in part. — The clerk informed Mr Ashcroft that the council had receipts in full for all moneys alleged to be due Murdoch Gordon. James Smith, chairman of the Balmoral Road Board, stated that he had received a demand from the council for £87 6s, being half cost of formation of boundary road, run 106. He reminded the council that the Balmoral Road Bpard had agreed to eipend pound for pound with, the Tuapeka CoUnty Council to the extent of £st), and that amount had been minuted to be paid to the council on the completion of the work. He enclosed a cheque for that amount, and wished to know the reason why the amount was exceeded without authority.— Cr Feaseb moved— "That the clerk write Mr Smith requesting payment of the balance of the contract money ; at the same time drawing his attention to the sections of the Counties Act bearing upon boundary roads."— Carried. Thomas Sim, Crookston, requested the council to consider the excessive rates charged onsections 11 and 12, block VII, and 39 aud 40, block XIII, Crookston. He asked that a substantial reduction be made. — Cr Bennet remarked that the Government assessor made the valuations, and that any reductions would have to" be made through the Property' Tax department.— lt was agreed to instruct the clerk to wf!to Mr Sim to that effect. Mfessfa Buckley, Tteadwell, and Stafford, solicitors to the Government Insurance departmant, wrote re the proposed loan ; they were not of opinion that it was the intention of the Local Bodies' Loans Act to give local authority to raise loans for the purpose of paying off any overdraft.— Received. The Under-see'retary of the Colonial Secre- j tary's office wrote pointing oiit that as the general election of county councils is fixed for the second Wednesday in November, which this year will fall on the 9th of that month (Prince of Wales' Birthday), it had been suggested that it would be desirable to postpone the day for holding these elections to the following Wednesday (16th).— The Chairman stated that he had replied agreeing to hold the Tuapeka County elections on the date suggested. Robert Ford, Waitahuna, asked that the road laid off by the county engineer through sections 29 and 30, block V, Waitahuna East district, be opened as early as practicable.— Cr Oudaille pointed out that the old road line would have to be closed before anything could be done to the roa,d laid off by the engineer. He moved — "That step's be taken to have the road line closed."— Carried". E. Jackson drew attention to tbe state of the Mount Stuart road, and stated that seVer.il of the settlers were willing to give their teams to plough the road line.— ln reply to Cr Oudaille, the Chairman promised to send the road grader to Mount Stuart at an early date. Allan Scott (on behalf of Mr Buckland, Waipori station) directed attention to the dangerous state of the crossing over Shepherd'»j creek. A petition was also received from a number of residents at Berwick and Lower Waipori on the same subject.— Referred to the engineer for report, the work of dismantling th« bridge to be entrusted to the surfacemeu. William Sheath wrote complaining of tbo in- | convenience caused him by Mr M'Farlane's tramway on road line adjoining Dalvey estate, on which he had been ordered to clear thegorse. He proposed to Clear the whole of the road line if the tramway were rettotred. — On the motion of Cr M'Farlane, seconded by Cr M'Nab, it was agreed — " That as the matter has already been denlt with, Mr Sheath be referred to the former resolution of this council."— The Chairman remarked that he had seen the N rond in question, and it was utterly impossible to plough tbe gorse. He considered that the tramway was more of a saving than an inconvenience to Mr Sheath. COUNTY ENGINEER'S UEPOET. The monthly report submitted by Mr Edie, county engineer, was as follows .— MONTHLY REPORT. The roads are all in fair order for the 6eason of the 1 - epr, I would respectfully suggest to the council the advisableness of making provision for having maintenance works on roads gone ou with in the early part of summer. To leave auch work until autumn is very unprofitable. A very heavy slip has occurred ou road, easi. bank of Cl»t)>a river, near Casey's Bluff. Fully «Moyds c-.me dottn from the hill, taking the road andnvervthing into the river. The road is again open for traffic, but it will take some time for it to settle. REPORT AS PfcH WORKS REGISTER. Ford over Swiffc Creek.— Thiß work has been completed by the surfaceman. Culverts, Shamrock Gully, and at Hugh Boss .— Thestl cuJverts are under way, and will be completed very soon. Hoad DeviatKJn,Scrubby Flat road.— Thelength of thi3 deviation would be about 20 chains. There is about 10 chains of fencing that could be utilised, and it would require another 10 chains of fencing to fence off the road as desired by Mr Huddlestone. l would recommend that the council remove the present fence back to the edge of the proposed deviation, but that the company do the remainder of the fencing. Cost of formation, £30. Eoadwork, Block XII, Benger .-There is a very bad sidling opposite section 5. From the end of the present formation up a distance of 100 chains would cost £600. REPORT ON CONTRACTS. No. 295 (Donlin and Smyth), road east bank Glutha river.-Completed ; made a fair job. „,.., No. 296 (Donlin and Smyth), road east bank Clutha river.— Completed; made a fair job. No. 305 (Whelan), formation along Pomahaka river.— Getting on fairly well. Nos. 306 and 307 (Wbelan), formation along Spylaw creek.— No progress since last report. No. 308 (Auld and Co.), road east bank Clutha river, Minzion Burn to Miller's Flat.— Completed ; made a very good job. The report having been received, Or Oudaille moved— "That the clerk write to Mr Huddlestone enclosing a copy of the engineer's report bearing upon road deviation at Scrubby Flat."-r-Cr Cotton seconded the motion, which was carried. miller's flat punt. The Chaibman stated that, along with Mr Cameron, he had waited on Mr Anderson regarding the purchase of his iron punt. Mr Anderson wanted £400 for it— £loo cash, £100 ia 12 months, and £200 in two years, bearing interest at 7 per cent. They examined the punt and were thoroughly satisfied with it. They had also examined the Miller's Flat punt, and it was the opinion of the engineer and puntman that the punt, with repairs to the extent of about £40, would last for a couple of years. The boats were out of order and required immediate attention. He suggested that the punt be overhauled mmediately,and that the loading be limited to four tons gross.

I It was agreed to carry out the suggestion of I the chairman. j FOOTBRIDGE AT WArPOEI. [ Cr Cotton asked the chairman if he would give instructions to have a plank placed across the Lammerlaw creek; also to get the footbridge erected across the Waipon river at the lower Crossing, It was necessary that these works should be attended to immediately, as the residents were greatly inconvenienced as matters stood at present. The CfcAiBMAK said that the matte* would be attended to. GENERAL BUSIITESS. The accounts for the month of September, amounting to £564 9s, were passed for pay. ment; The tender of John Hogg_was accepted for road formation contract, Switzers track to Spy. x law creek. Cr Bennbt drew attention to some bad places on the main road, a little beyond Coskery's. The water was lying on the road, and unless something was done to it there was a probability of accidents occuring. The oxpense of putting the road in order at the spot in question would not be great. This was all the business.