WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 10

WAIHEMO COUN TY COUNCIL.

AN'NtJAL MEETING. The aaniial itteeting of this cotmty council ] was held 'oh ihe 28rd ult; at the Council Chambers, falraerston, at wliich there were present t Crs A. D. Bell, C. S. Hay, J. Hartstonge, jun,, T. Muir, A. BTLaren, D. M'Leod, E. O'Neill, and J. K. Robertson. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Clerk presided, and intimated that the first business was the election of chairman. Cr M'Laben said he had great pleasure in proposing Mr A. D. Bell as chairman, and referred in eugolistic terjiis to that gentleman a capabilities for the office attd the satisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties in the past. While he was aware that Cr Bell desired the office should be a rolling one, he combated the idea that every member was competent to discharge the duties, although he might make a very good councillor. He attributed much of the success attending the transaction of business to the tftct and judgment bt the chairman. , . Or RoiJebtson seconded the rdotion J in doing which he expressed the pleasure it gave him. He did ndt thinl? the council could do better thati re-elect Cr Bell} their old chairman} who" had in the past done his duty in the jWsifcion to his own credit and to the satisfaction of the whole body of ratepayers. The motion was declared carried. Cr Bell returned thanks, and intimated that the kindly sentiments expressed towards him would be duly appreciated. His feedings had been correctly interpreted wiieh khad begn said that he was in favour of the office being a rolling one, and not from year to year held by one person, which was bound to lead to dissatisfaction on the part of the general body of ratepayers, whatever the opinion of the council might be. He agreed to accept the position for three months to enable the new members of the council id strive at edme expression dn . the 1 matter; when he would place his resignation in the hands of the council. It would be ungenerous of, hiiri not to again accept the honour* and he d ; » not say thdt he would not agree td carrt on the dtities if it was this Unanimous wish of the council that he should do so. ORDINARY MEETING. DEPUTATIONS. Mr Deeni appeared to urgfc ujion the cottneil the necessity bf e^eoutittg sb'rae repairs td the road leading from his place to the Main road at Waihemo. The work could be done by the surfacemen. He also asked to have the approach to the footbridge near his place improved, and stated that on reaching the bridge the road was bo steep that people had to tako bold of the tuesocka to pull themselves up. He also applied to have two planks placed across ,the river, near the Wpihemo Hotel, and puiuted out thß inGonVc-nichco sivflehid m children not being able in times of ilood to cross tho river to get to school.— The council agreed to instruct the inspector to have the road repaired by surfacemen. The approach to the bridge the, council resolved to improve, as Mr Deem 1 bM anothet road ; and the planks were allowed provided he put thctt across the river himSelf, i . tINANCfi. The Finance Committee reported the exanilnatidn of accounts fof tlfe riitfhth ataottating to £225 14s 3d, which were passed for payment. REPORTS. The Inspector reported at some length on the state of the road to Pigroot, and in reference to the complaint lodged by Mr Sutherland at the last meeting.— The repott was pdstpohed for consideration. „»«-,, i In the Bushy riding the road at Muddy creek had been completed, and the superstructure of the old bridge had been taken down and the temporary footbridge repaired. Some repairs required to the Bushy Park road were also referred to.— The report was received, and the inspector was instructed to have the repairs attended tO. .... TIT §ome roads requiring repair in the Macraes riding were reptfrted on* and the recommendations were postponed. With respect to the Meadowbank riding, the Inspector reported the cutting of gorse and Its laying of the road lines, thereby becoming a nuisance. He had, however, served the farmer with notices, and requested the clearing away of the gorse. The Taieri Peak road in this riding required attention.— The report was received, and the inspector instructed to attend to the work whetfceonvenient. CORRESPONDENCE. The Colonial Secretary, Wellington, forwarded a copy of tho official circular re the Centennial Exhibition to be held in Melbourne next year.— Received. Mr James Gilmore, Goodwood, wrote complaining of the scrub being thrown on his line of fencing, and asking to have the line cleared.— Reforred to the inspector, the person complained of having promised to remove the scrub. „, .„ Mr F. Graham, as agent for Messrs Allen, Dunedin, wrote stating that Messrs Allen could not see their way at present to agree to the council's proposal re formation of road to Mr M'lntosh's coal mine, but would further consider the matter and let the council know their decision. In the meantime he recommended the council should deal with Mr M'lntosh, who was in possession of the mining lease, which had a term of 21 years to run.— Received. Messrs Duncan and Ross, Dunbach, requested the council to open and form the road line through sections 31 aud 32, as far as section 10, block 11, Dunbach.— Received, and matter postponed. _ „ The Chairman of the Lake County Council, Queenstown, wrote asking the council to cooperate in making "The Counties Act 1886 retrospective, aud further amending it so as to coverall expenditure incurred Una fide on behalf and for the benefit of the ratepayers, and su^gestinff that in future legislative care should be exercised to eliminate the penal clauses of all acts having reference to public bodies, the members of which freely gave both their time and labour without any remuneration. The members of the council having been surcharged with items alleged to be illegal at the special audit held by the Auditor-general, they desired that special legislation should be invoked to relieve them of their liability.— Consideration postponed. , , Mr A. D. Bell, Shag Valley station, forwarded for record the agreement between him and the council re elevation of the Main road it the Sailor's cutting.— Received. ....*„, The Treasurer, Wellington, intimated that the sum of £15 Is, goldfields revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the council at the Colonial Bank, Palmerston.— Received. The Colonial Secretary, Wellington, wrote enclosing copy of letter from the chairman of the Waikouaiti County Council, dated 21st October, in reference to the allocation of maintenance of the main 'road as between the two counties.— Received. . , Mr J. Hartstonge, sen., Macraes, complained that a demand for rates from the council for section 8, block I, Rock aud Pjllar district, had been received by him, and he had been informed

by the Land Board that the fcndrefdtfed tottad no existence. He Jtheref ore held the council liable for any consequences in being deprived, bt his vote— Received,and theCBAifiMAN explained that tiny mistake that had arisgn had been At the instance of the Property Tax department. The Secretary of the Charitable Aid Board, Dunedin, notified the council as to the dates i of the election of trustees. — Received. The Mines department, Wellington, forwarded copies of regulations for the depasturing of cattle within mining districts ; and with respect to the authorisation of the sabsidy of £59 towards assisting prospecting for minerals in the Waihemo county, intimating that the Ministef had; in view of tKe proposed retrenchment* Found it necessary to cancel the authority,-** Received, and the matter was left in the hancU of the chairman, CONTBACTS, The following tenders were opened, and the lowest accepted .—Contract 86— Gravelling or metalling road near Gifford's farm, Macraes, "W. Butler, £49 14s Gd ; L. Flynn, £50 0s 6d. Contract 87— Culvert neat Shag river bridge, William Kendall, £l8l6s; Peter Ltraham, £19 10a 6dj D. W. Phillip, £19 17s. Contract 88— Clearing and making bush track to village settlement, W. Madame, £19 ; J. M'Bean, £20 16s; Donald M'Bean, £19 16&