TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1899, 13 April 1888, Page 9

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this council was held yeterday, and attended by Messrs Roberts (chairman), Bunting, Smith, Andrew, Thomson, Snow, and Grant.

Cr Graham wrote apologising for his absence on the ground of ill-health. The Chairman stated that the county solicitor's opinion had been obtained regarding the compensation claims sent in by Dr M'Uaw and W. Heid, the opinion baing adverse to the granting of any compensation. It was resolved to pay Mr Gracie the sum of £15 for the land necessary to be taken for the road through his property, the council to pay registration fees, &c, the total expense being £20 2s 6d. The Inspector reported that the bridge over the Mill Creek oa the Wingatui road had been destroyed by a traction engine. The Greytown, Silverstream, and Mosside bridges, and two culverts had been repaired. A portion of the Henley and Berwick road, between Lee Creek and the township, was in an impassable state, and required attention. Fourteen chains of the road close to the school should be formed before the winter set in. He recommended that 60 cubic yards of metal he got for repairs to the Centre road between the Mosgiel Borough and Meadowbanks ; also that 1161 superficial feet of timber be procured to repair the culvert over Graham's Creek, Brighton road, and 1080 ft to repair a culvert on the Saddle Hill and West Taieri road, near Taylor's farm. A few pipes were required for a email culvert on the Kuri Bush road. He had to inform the council that Mr Sutherland had cleaned out the ditches on the Ceutre road at Aitken's corner. The surfaceman on the Strath-Taieri road had become unable to do his work.— The report was adopted, and it was resolved to get the timber as suggested. The inspector was instructed to allow no interference with the roads and bridges under control of the county. It was resolved to notify the Mosgiel Borough Council that the ditch at Sutherland's would be filled up. It was resolved to call tenders for 300 yds of metal for the road from Look-out Point to Abbot's Creek, and to do one or two minor works.

, The Engineer reported that the bridge over the Mill Creek, on the Wingatui road, had been partially destroyed. A tender of £52 2s 6d had been accepted for rebuilding the bridge. The pile driving at the Riccarton bridge was progressing fairly. The piles being used were those drawn from the Greytown bridge, and, together with the other timber being utilised from the same source, would be valued at £80. The remainder of the timber had bpen disposed of for £t, as it was useless for any county work. Ha presumed the Greytown bridge would have to be credited accordingly with £84. With regard to the piles left undrawn in the Silverstream. he could not recommend that the contractor be paid anything on account of the contract, and that he be informed that the council will hold him liable to complete his contract should the necessity arise at anytime tor drawing tho piles. Failing his agreeing to this, he would recommend that he bo instructed to complete his contract forthwith in accordance with the specification. He had inspected Lee stream bndge at Wallace's and tound that it was generally out of repair. This bridge was built 14 yfars ago by the Provincial Government, and cost £1000. The masonry was in liirje mortar and vers'-'p«Rhly built, portions being hollow and set dry. !i'he joints in the foundation courses had been scoured, out, and at present were about equal to dry rubble. He thought most of the beams were goixi, toyet.her with the parapet and two-thirds of the planking. The bridge required a general overhaul, masonry joints to be raked out inn! pointed with cement, and the foundation well pinned and pointed, plunking stripped, beams cleaned ot rot mid new ones substituted where required and tarred, pnrapet repaired, planking relaid a ! >d renewed «hnr« necessary. He would suggest th it the work be done by day labour as the moat economical and effectual way of putting the bridge in order, the cosh of which he estimated at £80. In its present condition it wns liable- to be entirely destroyed by a high flood on account of the defective foundations. Tenders hnd been called for the several works passed at last meeting. Palmer's claim for compensation ior land taken for rond purposes through the Taieri Native Reserve had been laid before tha county solicitor for his opinion.— The report whs adopted, £80 being voted for repairing the Lee stream bridge. It was decided to call tenders for the work at Gracie's.

Edwin Palmer applied for a refund of rates for property in the Maori Ifeserve. —It was resolved to obtain a lejral opinion regarding the claim. James Allan, Jflopehill. wrote regarding a running stream of considerable dimensions that had been deviated from its natural channel below the West Taieri Church. He understood the council now proposed to lead this water along with the drainage into the canal to run through sections 40 auA 48, bioek 111, Maungatua. To this action lie must protest in the strongest manner possible. The practical result would be that nil the drainngo from the hills from Outram to Mr James Fulton's would be led into the canal.— The matter was referred to the engineer. Alice Fo^g, Burnside, wrote stating that her sec ion was being damaged by clay iuid water from tho new road leading fo Matheson's.— Received. Hardy and Hncken wrote asking the council to do something to the streets in Abbotshill township. — Tho council could not comply with the request.

Thos. Charters, Kuri Bush, wrote complaining of the valuation of his sections at Kuri Bush. He was rated at £-(SO, but had bought the sections in March last from Mr A.W.Morris for iJtJOO.— The ciunc.il decided to reply that they had no power to make a reduction.

31. ICeonan wrote stating that he had collected £10 towards the repairing of the road at his property, and he looked to tho council to make up the balance necessary. — It was resolved to call tenders for the work, the amount not to exceed £20.

The Surveyor-general wrote stating that the Government had no funda for tho formation of a road through runs 254 and 25<U.— Kesolved to call tenders to about the sum of £50 for opening up this road. Elizabeth Jones wrote stating that the Church road near Woodeaton required repairing.— Keferred to the inspector.

Constable Maokenzie applied for three years' salary as clerk to East Taieri. Otakia, and Maungatua Licensing Committees. — It was agreed to make an allowance of £2 per annum per committee.

The following tenders were accopted :— Formation, &c, Prinaes street. Buruside— Wilson Brothers, £32 9s ; Bank of New South Wales to pay cost of culvert, lloivl formation, &c, near Brighton— Fowler. Robertson, and Co., £92 14s 2d- G-ravelling, Outram to Berwick— John Sinclair, Is Bjd per yard. 500 yds metal, Greytown to O'ltrnm— J -Bryant. 5s 9d per yard. 100 yds gravel at Berwick— O. Anderson, £6 ss. "Formation and fencing, Henley to Berwick— Alex. Sinclair. £^8 Is.

A petition rogardiag tho drainage of Lee Creek was received, and referred to the engineer for report.

Cc Graham's motion » egardiug the same matter was deferred till next meeting.