TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 15

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was held at the Council Chambers, at Mosglel, yesterday afternoon, when there were present: The chairman (Mr Snow), Ors Grant, Graham, Pogson, Bunting, Smith, and Thompson. BKPORTS. The County Engineer reported that there were no fresh tenders for the month. AH fclje contracts on hand were proceeding fairly well. He returned final payments on three contracts— viz., Mills' road, Green Island ; road formation at the stone hut ; and Bethune's road, Nenthorn ; also, a progress payment on Messrs Black and Allison's contract, West Taieri bridge.— Adopted. The Inspector reported that the contract for the supply of 80yds of pitchers near Green Island, and the contract for road formation, Green Island to Brighton, near Crawford's, were not yet, completed. The contract at Green Island, near Mills', was completed ; and the contract for road formation along the side of railway line, between Moagiel and Owhiro, was not yet completed. The road formation at Mount Hyde was commenced. He reported I that the contract for road formation from Outrara to Hindon, near stone hut, was completed ; and that the contract for road metal, Princes street, Burneide, was not yet finished. The contract for road formation and water opening at Healey's creek, near Clark's, was progressing fairly well ; and the contract for 100 yds of metal on the North Taieri road, near White Swamp, was - not yet completed. The Inspector further reported tliat he had examined the road leading to Mr Bennet's station, Strath-Taieri, and found that the old track had been washed away during the late flood, leaving Mr Bennett no access to his property until a new track was formed. The work required to make a passable road would be the erection of four culverts and a few chains of side cuttings; estimated cost £25. He had examined the ditch on Henley road, at George's paddock, and found the length to be about 26 chains, and the half of it was periectly closed up. He would recommend that it be cleaned out. The cleaning out of the Duke's road ditch was not yet completed. He reported that two culvertß on the road near Maungatua had been repaired. The repairs to the road leading to the Lee Flat station had been attended to. Six hundred feet of timber were required to repair the bridge at Mount Hyde, and 300 ft required to repair the bridge near Mr Campbell's, Brighton road. The inspector reported that one surfaceman had been employed in each of the f olio wingrldlngs :— Bast Taieri, North Taieri, Outram, and Wakari. He further reported that two had been employed in Maungatua and Kaikorai, and three in Otakia and Deep Stream. Referring to this report the Ohaikmaw stated that the bridge at Healey'B creek now in the course of construction could be increased in width by 2ft at a cost of 80s.— It was agreed to expend this sum, and so Increase the width of the bridge to 14ft. ; ', Referring to the road to Mr Bennett's station it was decided that the sum' of £20 be granted for its construction, Mr Bennett having already notified his willingness to add £5. •, < Regarding the ditch at George's paddock, Or Thomson objected to the ditch being interfered with without the engineer reporting, as they Invariably took water from one part of the plain and put it on another. — The Inspector stated someone had offered to do it for 5s 6d per chain. The total cost would be about £6 10s. — After discussion It was finally resolved to call for tenders for the work. The cleaning out of the Duke's road ditch was left in the hands of the inspector. With respect to the timber required for dredge repairs, the Inspector stated that there was planking at the Weßt Taieri bridge that would do the work. He believed the settlers would cart it gratis, to enable them to get the work done.— Left in the hands of the inspector, with power to act. In answer to the chairman, the Inspbctob said he could not do without any of the surfacemen employed, but would probably require more.—Discussion to stand over. The report was then adopted. COHRESPOKDENCB. Mr John Hay wrote asking that a foot-bridge be placed over the March creek.— lt was resolved to construct the bridge as requested, the sum of £10 ■being devoted for the purpose. Messrs Smith, Chapman, Sinclair, and White wrote giving their opinion that the council were not only justified in applying the excess of Bpecial rate over and above the sum necessary for repayment of interest towards providing a sinkiDg fund for repayment of loan, but were required to do so.— Received. Messrß Humphreys and J. Allan wrote asking that a road running through their property might be closed, it being of no use to anyone but themselves ; and they, further, would bind themselves to purchase the land. — Referred to engineer to report. ' Mr Allan Mann wrote asking that a bridge oyer Carr creek might be repaired, the beams being broken in the centre.— Referred to inspector, with power to act. Mr David Edmond wrote drawing attention to the state of the Otakia-Lee creek road, below Mr Heenan's, which had been damaged by the late floods. — Referred to inspector ; he to report to next meeting. Mr A. M'Kegg wrote consenting to grant a lease for any terra up to 21 years for a site for a public pound, at a rental of £1 per annum, where the old pound Is at Henley.— Accepted ; the solicitors to be instructed to prepare a lease for 21 years. Mr T, K. Weldon, inspector of police, wrote stating that he had taken steps to remove the police station from Nenthorn to Mmdlemarch.— Received. Mr S. G. Smith wrote applying for a renewal of his slaughtering license, or for a 'new one, and • enclosed cheque for same.— Granted ; and commute tion fee fixed at £10. Mr D. B. M'Meikan wrote complaining that he had not had a gate erected when the council put up* the new fence, and asked that one might be erected, or the sum of £1 granted to him.— lt was decided that the writer be granted £1 . The County Clerk laid the information before the council that the.total number of dogs in the county was 366, and yielded a revenue of £255 Bs. A number of settlers on the west side of Lee creek wrote asking for a subsidy of pound for pound to widen the creek bed. There were 12 signatures to the letter, and the sums set against the names totalled up to £79.— Consideration deferred. A letter \va9 received from the Colonial Secretary's Office stating that a proclamation had been published in the Gazette deolaring " The Impounding Act 1884" to be in force in the Taieri County,— Received. The Auditor-general wrote returning the balance sheet of the county (which* was approved) certified o.— Received. A large number of settlers desirous of forming a road from the back sections to the beach at Kurl Bush forwarded a subscription list of sums which would be contributed for that purpose. — Referred to t the engineer to see for what sum the necessary land > could be purchased. TEKDEB. j James Low's tender for the tupply of. 1000 dog collars at 4jd each ww accepted, . l.

NOTICES OF MOTION. | The Chairman gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows—" That when the account of any I riding shall be overdrawn up to the amount of one year's rates, such riding shall not be allowed to undertake any but most urgent work." Cr Thompson gave notice of motion that the cost of renewing the superstructure of West Taieri bridge be paid as follows:— Outram riding, four-sixteenths; East Taieri, four-Bixteenths ; Deep Stream, threeBixteenths; Kaikorai,' one-sixteenth; Maungatua, one-sixteenth ; North Taieri, one-sixteenth ; Otakia, one-sixteenth ; Wakari, one-aixteenth. Or Pogson gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows—" That the subsidy paid for the destruction of small birds in the Taieri County be discontinued, and that the County Council shall pass a bye-law to make the destruction of said birds compulsory. MISCEUiANBOUS. The question as to the best mode of collecting the dog tax was discussed, and Cr QEAHAM.moved that tenders be called for its collection in each riding, Cr Thompson thought they onght to try the surfacemen for one year, each surfaceman to do his own riding. He thought this could be worked in with the surfacemen's other duties. As an amendment he would move in this direction. The amendment was put and lost on the voices and the original motion carried. The Chaibman drew attention to the fact that there was £2000 worth of rates unpaid, and he thought that the clerk should be instructed to take proceedings to recover them. It was resolved that at the expiration of the month proceedings be taken to enforce payment of sums unpaid. The toll collector's account was passed for payment, and it was decided that £2 103 should be the remuneration in future. With regard to the new superstructure of the West ! Taieri bridge Or Thompson thought that payments i should be allocated to the various ridings. He looked upon it as a county work, and did not see why two ridings should pay for it. The Chairman thought they should make it .a charge against the general fund, and this was supported by Cr Poasox-. Or Buntiwg would suggest that it stand over till next meeting, but Or Thompson objected to this, as' he thought a financial meeting should not be put off from meeting to meeting. Or Graham said that he would table a motion that all bridges and river crossings to cost over £150 be paid out of the general fund. The matter dropped, and at the close of the meotIng Cr Thompson gave notice of motion as already stated.