TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

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

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the abovenamed body, for the purpose of electing a chairman, was held in the County Chambers, Lawrence, at noon on the 23rd ult. All the members were present ; Cr Clayton in the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed. THE LATE MEMBER FOR JAMES RIDING. The Chairman, before proceeding with the business, would crave their indulgence for a few minutes in order to refer to the loss the council had sustained through the death of their late friend and respected fellow member, Mr James K. Cameron. Mr Cameron was noted for his open-handed charity, and for his kind, genial, and manly qualities. His face would be sadly missed at the council table. Cr Bennet, after referring to the influence for good which the late Mr Cameron exercised both publicly and privately, proposed — "That this council desires to record its deep ssnse of regret at the loss it has sustained by the death of the late and highly-respected member for James riding, Mr J. K. Cameron ; and that a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs Cameron and family, expressing the sympathy of the council with them in their sad bereavement." Cr Cotton seconded the motion. Cr Edie made a few remarks expressive of the esteem in which the late Mr Cameron was held, not only as a public man but also as a private individual. The motion was carried unanimously. THE CHAIRMANSHIP. Cr Cotton proposed-—" That Cr Clayton be re-elected to fill the chair." Cr Smith seconded the motion. Cr M'Faulane moved as an amendment — " That Or Beunet bo chairman for the current year." On a division being taken, four voted for the amendment and five against. There being no further amendment, Cr Clayton was declared duly elected. Cr Clayton briefly returned thanks for the honour which had again been conferred upon him. ORDINARY MEETING. The council met for the transaction of ordinary business at 2 o'clock the same afternoon. All the members were again in attendance. CORRESPONDENCE. John Guilson, Upper Waikaia, applied for assistance to open new ground on the Waikaia terraces. -Referred to the engineer for report. W. P. Welch, manager of Lee stream station, asked for permission to fence the ground below the main road at Nor'-west creek and the Waipori river. — On the motion o£ Cr Cotton, it was decided to inform Mr Welch that the council had no jurisdiction in the matter, but would offer no objection to the erection of the fence. The Chairman of the Lake County Council requested the co-operation of the Tuapeka County Council in inducing the Government to make the " Counties Act 1866 " retrospective.— Cr Bennet moved to the effect that the request be granted, and that Mr V. Pyke, M.H.R., be asked to use his influence in the matter. The Secretary of the Benevolent Institution wrote intimating that the annual meeting of representatives of the several contributory local authorities for the purpose of electing trustees of the Ofeago Benevolent Institution would be held in Dunedin on the sth prox. The council was requested to appoint a delegate to attend the meeting. — Mr Peter Miller was appoiuted as delegate to attend on the council's behalf. James Smith, chairman of the Balmoral Road Board, complained that the council had given them no notice that any money in excess of the amount agreed upon was being expended on the boundary road on run 106. If the board had been consulted, they would have endeavoured to have got the road made passable as far as MAuleys section. — On the motion of Cr Livingston, the engineer was requested to furnish an estimate by next meeting of the cost of making the road passable as far as M'Auley's. The Clerk of the Roxburgh Borough Council drew attention to the dangerous practice of fast riding and driving over the new bridge there, and suggesting the advisableness of erecting notice boards cautioning the public against crossing other than at a walking pace.— Cr Smith moved to the effect that the request be complied with as far as practicable. James Jasper Gibson wrote complaining of the condition of the chair over the river at Horseshoe bend.— Referred to the engineer for report. Charles Huddlestone, manager of the Roxburgh station, Glenore, accepted the council's offer re road deviation at Scrubby Hill conditionally that the cutting was taken in band by the end of the year.— lt was agreed that the work be commenced as soon as practicable. H. M. Henderson, secretary of the Beaumont Prospecting Association, made application under the goldfields regulations for assistance to prospect the Beaumont Flat and terraces.— On the motion of Cr Bennet, it was resolved to forward the application to the Government. PAYMENTS. Accounts amountiug to £417 14s 2d were passed for payment. COMJnTTEES. Crs Smith, Ovulaille, Cotton, M'Farlane, and M'Nab were appointed members of the Works

Committee ; and Cra Bennet, Edie; M'Mab, and Smith members of the Printing Committee. Crs Livingston, Bennet, Smith, and- M*Nab were chosen to represent the council on the Tuapeka Hospital Board for the current year. GENERAL BUSINESS.Cr Cotton moved—" That the clerk write to the Taieri County Council for assistance towards putting the boundary road at Maungatau in order, so that Mr Robinson may get his wool to market."--Carried. Cr Smith moved—" That the engineer prepare an estimate by next meeting of the cost of forming the road to blocks XII and XIII, Benger district."— Carried. Or Livingston moved— "That two strong ploughs— a swing and a double^furrow— suitable for road work, in connection with the grader, be advertised for."— Carried. m Cr Bennet moved — " That tenders be invited for the purchase of the old footbridge at Tallaburn."— Carried. Cr Bennet moved—" That separate accounts be kept by the engineer of all moneys spent on the main roads throughout the county."— Cr M'Farlanh moved— " That tenders be invited as early as possible for gravelling 15 chains of the worst portions of the main road south of Tapanui* cost to be debited to the deferred payment fund account for Tapanui riding."— Carried. . . , Cr Edie moved—" That the engineer furnish an estimate of the cost of gravelling the Teviot road near M'Connell's."— Carried. Cr Cotton moved—" That the surfacemen be instructed to chip a track and erect snow poles on the road to the Devil's creek, Waipori. — Carried. , It was agreed that the next meeting ol tne council be held on Friday, January 13, 1888.