CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 4

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annnal meeting of the above council was held at Balclutha at noon on the 23rd ulfc There were present: Crs Brydone, Hunter Christie, Hay, Bradfield, M'Lachlan, Robertson, Mackenzie, and Scott. Mr Reunert (county clerk) presided. Cr M'Lachlan proposed Captain Mackenzie as chairman for the ensuing term. Cr Robertson seconded the motion. Cr Bradfield proposed Cr Hay for the office. Cr Chbistie seconded the motion. On a division five voted for Cr Hay and four for Captain Mackenzie. Cr Hay was therefore declared chairman, took the chair, and thanked the council for the honour they had conferred on him. The chairman and Crs Scotfc and Hunter were appointed as a Finance Committee; Cr Hunter also to sign cheques and contracts. This concluded the business of the annual meeting. ORDINARY MEETING. An ordinary meeting was then held, the same members being present. CORRESPONDENCE. The Paymaster-general intimated a remittance of £1 148, gold duty for the month of September. W. M'G. Murray, Wairuna, called attention to the very bad condition of the road passing his place, and suggested that it should be repaired with maintenance metal,— Engineer to attend to matter. A number of communications were received from the secretary of the DunedinHospi6al,tho j Otago District Hospital Board, the United Dis- 1 tricts of Central Otago, Tuapeka and Otago Charitable Aid Boards, and the Benevolent Institution.— Captain Mackenzie was appointed a delegate to the Dunedin Hospital and Benevolent Institution; and Messrs Brydono and Christie were appointed to vote on behalf of the council for a number of chairitable aid boards. A telegram was received from the Secretary of the Treasury asking whether the council wished the loans paid in one sum or advances made as required. — The chairman had replied that the council preferred advances. Mr Colin Allan wrote asking the council to reconsider their decision to take no steps in the matter of the proposed road through Mr Rae's property to Catlin's village settlement. — Mr Allan to be informed that the matter had been repeatedly considered by the council, and that the decision arrived at at last meeting was final. Eliza Catherine M'Kinlay wrote stating that sometime ago a road from Port Molyneux to the lighthouse passed through sections 10, 11, 12, and 13, which was the only access to land purchased by her beyond ,these sections. A notice had now been posted that trespassers upon such sections would be prosecuted according to law. She was thus cut off from access to her property, and asked the council to take the matter into consideration.— lt was pointed out that this was one of many cases where persons had purchased property to which there was no road except through the private property of others; and that the council had no funds with which to purchase the required roads. — Letter received. The Paymaster-general notified a payment of J £800, advances on loans. Mr H. E. Valentine, M.H.R., wrote that he had seen the Minister with reference to the vote for the Waikaka road. Until the Financial Statement is dealt with by the House the Minister could do nothing. He (Mr Valentine) hoped to get the matter fixed up somehow.— Received. Michael O'Connell, Catlin's river, wrote pointing out that he had no access to his property except through private property. He asked the council to do something to open up the_ road to his section. — No funds available. Received. John Grant, Waitepeka, wrote pointing out that the road to his property would be damaged during wet weather by the contract laid off and let to Richard Smith.— Referred to the engineer. Captain Mackenzie wrote reporting the decision of a meeting of ratepayers as to the closing of certain roads in the Glenkenich district.—Decision confirmed. PETITIONS. Cr Robertson presented a petition from 21 ratepayers of North Glenkenich, asking the council to take into consideration the advisability of opening the Kelso-Pukerau road in a direct line through the north side of sections 15 and 16, block 11, Glenkenich district, to main road leading to Waikoikoi. Cr Mackenzie moved—" That the road on Mr Robertson's property, sections 15 and 16, block 11, Glenkenich, be advertised to be closed, a 6 it was omitted from the advertisement lately of closed roads; that the prayer of the petition from settlers in Glenkenich for opening the new road through Mr Robertson's property, sections 15 and 16, be granted, and that the engineer be empowered to open the same at once, and proceed with fencing, as agreed to by Mr Robertson." Cr Low seconded the motion, which was carried. MISCELLANEOUS. The clerk intimated receipt of a summons from Mr Harrison for £18 compensation for permanent injury done to a horse by a hole being left in the Waikoikoi Valley road on the 15th August last. — The claim had previously beeu considered and repudiated by the council. It was now decided that the county solicitor bo instructed fco defend the action. Cr Scott reported that he had seen Mr Breeze with reference to the damage done to his property by flooding. He asked that the matter be left in his hands till next meeting.— Agreed to. Tho Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £23 18s 6d. — Adopted. The engineer's report on the progress of contracts, &c. was read and adopted. The following resolutions were passed -.—"That the engineer be instructed to attend to the opening and closing of roads on Mr Logan's property so that the latter may be able to have his fences erected. That Charles Dabinet be instructed to remove the slip panels from off the Gorge road, Warepa, by Mr Ayson's property, and either erect swing gates or leave the road open. — That steps be taken to cause the gorse to be removed from the back of Bush road in accordance with the advice of the county solicitor. — That -the engineer stop from all contracts carried out under loan in the Richardson and South Molyneux Ridings sufficient to meet tyie cost of engineering and advertising, except where doing so would impair the stability of the work, such as bridges, &c— That the cost of engineering work done by the county engineer on account of loan money be charged against the ridings where the money is expended, and a proportionate deduction be made from the proportion of expenses charged pro rota against the other ridings. — To form about five chains of the worst part near the cutting by section 55, block X, Hill road, £15; to form worst parts by sections 42, 8, and 9, block X, from Lavender's gate up the hill, £40 ; fco form a few chains by section 20, block IX; to improve formation by sections 13, block 11, by cutting down the hills

and filling up on the culverts, £15 ; to put in culverts at section 40, block 111, to carry off the water on Main road Kelso to Pukerau ; to form a few chains between sections 2, 3 and 9 10, block IX, all in Glenkenich; to repair crossing at Waikoikoi, on road Kelso to Waikoikoi, £s.— That the sum of £13 be spent in forming Waiwera Gorge road, and metalling near the metal at railway crossing.— That the engineer be empowered to contract for fence on road through Robertson's road, Kelso to Pukerau, six wires and barbed wire on top, cost not to exceed 12s per chain. — That tenders be called for day labour, and drays and horses by the day for Waipahi riding for six months." TENDERS. The following tenders for works were received .-—Contract No. 258, M'lntyre's road, Waipahi riding, Murdoch Gillies, £40 17s ; No. 283, Waiwera Gorge road, John Cruickshank £37 6s ; No. 295, Owaki road, John Clapperton, £98 lOs-accepted up to £70 ; No. 298, Waipahi road, Thos. E. Steele, £48 10s 4d— accepted up to £40; No. 300, Catlin's road, John Carrick, £195 3s 6d ; No. 301, same road, John Ester, £134 11s 3d ; No. 302, Catlin's Bay road, John Ester, £24 19s 6d— accepted up to £15 ; No. 303, Newhaveu road, John Ryan, 11s 6d per chain ; No. 304, Ahuriri road, Peter Wright, £53 15a ; No. 305, Balclutha to Port Mojyneux road, fencing, John Askey and James M'Neil and Sons (equal), £1 per chain— left with engineer to arrange ; No. 306, Terrace road, Clydevale, Murdoch Gillies, £447 ss. In No. 307, five tenders were received, and decision held over for a fortnight. In a number of works no tender was received, and fresh tenders were ordered to be called. This concluded the business.