CLUTAA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 10

CLUTAA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above council was held In the County Chambers, Balclutha, on Friday. There were present— Crs Hay (chairman), Dallas, Scott, Mackenzie," Robertson, Bradfleld, Christie, and Hunter. Before proceeding to the business of the ordinary meeting the council held a

I . SPECIAL MEETING-. To consider the balance sheet received from the Auditor-general, duly audited, but with the reservation of the sums voted to members as travelling allowances, and in respect of which be asked the council to furnish him with the items. Ore Dallas and Scott spoke against the course pursued by the Auditor-general. Or Hxtntkr thought that section ICS of the act clearly 'showed members could not charge more than actual travelling expenses. Or Mackenzie read section 105, and said it seemed to him clear enough from the wording of the section that the council was the judge of what reasonable travelling expenses were, and not the auditor.— (Hear, hear.) Or Dallas said two of the ablest lawyers in Dunedin were of opinion that councillors could charge ordinary travelling expenses. Or Christie said when he came before his constituents, he gave them to clearly understand that he was to charge £1 a day travelling allowances, and if he could not get that he would nob take anything at all. Or Robertson thought the charge of £1 a day for attending the meetings was reasonable. Or Mackenzie moved—" That this council is of opinion that the council alone is proper .judge of wh*t are reasonable actual travelling expenses, and having passed the items to. which the Controller and Auditor-general takes exception in the balance sheet, as such must insist upon their right under section 105 of ♦ The Counties Aot 1886,' and that the balance sheet be passed with the exception of the said remarks."— Seconded by Or Soott and carried. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary business was then proceeded with. COBBBBPONDENCE. The Clerk of the Bruce County Council wrote that that council would remit the amount of their share towards Koua punt upon receipt of the engineer's I certificate — Heceived. The Paymaster-general notified that deferred payment and perpetual lease thirds and gold duty to the amount of £39 4b 2d had been placed to the credit of the council.— Received. Samuel Cunningham wrote that he had been driving a dray for Peter M'Neil, a contractor, but received no pay, and asked the council to assist him if possible.— Council can do nothing except under an ; order from the resident magistrate. William Cawthorne again wrote asking the council to issue a slaughtering licenso,-his previous application having been refused on the ground that the slaughter yard was too close to the road, but he waa now prepared to erect it at a distance that would affect no one.— Referred to slaughter house inspector. F. Rehberg wrote asking for an extension of time to complete nis contract for the Koua punt in consequence of his having to send for some of the timber to Auckland.— Granted. John Obirnside enclosed an order from the Resident Magistrate ordering certain moneys due to him by Peter M'Neil to be paid by the council out of moneys ' owing to M'Neil.— Chairman to attend to matter. Robert Douglass wrote asking for an extension of time to finish his contract owing to ill-health, unfavourable weather, and scarcity of men.— Left to the engineer. - Morgan Williams applied for a slaughtering license at Glenkenich. — Granted, subject to usual conditions being complied with. Elizabeth Smith wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the culvert near Balclufcha.— Engineer to attend to the matter. R. Seadden wrote asking the council to continue the road through block VIII f .Owake, for a distance of 30 chains. He could not get on to bis section till this road was done, and was willing to do the work and lie out of ;his money till August.— Matter left in the hands of the chairman and Or Bradfield. . Samuel Taylor and Sons and others near Port Molyneux drew attention to the flooding of their properties through the 1 want of a box on the new road.— Brigineer to attend to the matter. " , W.JD.-Woodg, Waitepeka.drew attention to the bad itate of the road to his property, and asked the bbnnoil to attend to the matter before winter.— B6>' oelved,

; daniel Stewart, solicitor, wrote with reference to the council calling tenders for the use of the county stables and yard, Baying that it was. an express condition when he leased the offices that he was to have the'^use of a stall for his 4 horse and coal shed.—Beceived. George Hay, Glenomaru, wrote that he intended, to fence in his property, and in consequence it would - bejaecessaryfor the connoil to open up the road line. Matter referred to the engineer. ■ I The Surveyor-general wrote asking for a tracing o< the longitudinal and cross sections <of the proposed new road, Kelso to Waikaka.— The Surveyor-general also wrote in reply to a letter from the council, stating its inability to contribute to the preliminary expenses of the road, asking the estimated ;boßt' of forming, culverting, bridging, and metalling.— Engineer had attended to thete letters. H. S. Valentine, M.H.8., wrote on the same subject, urging the counoll to get the money voted for the road carried forward so that the vote would not I lapse, and enclosing some correspondence that had passed between himself and the Minister on the sub- | jecti.— Received. j The Assistant-secretary Marine department wrota I asking the council to be good enough to make any suggestions on the Fisheries Bill intended to be in- ' troduced next session.— Received. • ' ■ The Under-secretary Rabbit department .wrote, in reply to a request by the council to lessen the 4 arbitrary powers of rabbit inspectors,, thai; itiindfr proposed to amend the act at present. ' :': ' The Clerk of the. Tuapeka County Council wrote ye widening of Fomahaka river at Kelso enolosing plan of course of river Bhowing how it was proposed to alter course to prevent damage to settlers. — The matter to lie over for a month. MOTIONS. The following motions were passed t— Proposed by Cr M'Kenzih, and seconded by Or Robertsoh — " That Mr Stewart, county solioifcor, be instructed to write again ' requesting a reply to his communication regarding Mr Brooks' road as the matter is urgent." By Or Chbistie, seconded by Cr BOBBBTBOIC— "That the chairman communicate with! the members of the Assembly who represent this district, by letter, calling their attention to the very arbitrary powers vested in the rabbit inspectors under the Rabbit Act, and requesting their good offices towards obtaining an amendment of the said aot in the direction of making it ne<>esfery that inspectors should, in all cases, pro.v£ the charges they may see fit to make, to the satisfaction of th^ court in the ordinary wp.V.*' By Or M'Kenzis. Seconded by Or. Robert' w. ,•• That the chair^ wr ite to Mr Valentine Hanking him for i»' l 8 ii e tter and enclosures, and \\ n foBmingx him tfl*; v tniB council is and always en , anx \ous to make the new road, has hl^ j4j 4 BOrv eyed' "and plans prepared, and trusts th» -fi Mr "Valentine' will see that the vote of £1000 is <J\ frte a forward, and" not allowed to lapse, so that fife eV y necessarywork may may be carried out Moa M possible." . By Or Mackenzie, secoD^^ |,X, K q k Soott— " That all rates uncolleoted be B^4 far- unless paid wlthirn 14 days, and that the By Or Dallas, seconded by Or Scott—" That tho > engineer call tenders $9$ painting the bridge aorosa > the Fomabaka rlve^ on. the Oiydevale to Waiwerflv road. Teuders to evened on Friday 12th April, . by the chairman^ Or, Hunter, and the mover." By Or CHRXsy^c, seconded by Or Hunter—" That - the engineer expepd the sum of £16 16s 6d, perpetual" 1 , leaie thirds, (derived from sections 6 to 8 and 7 to 11,' ■ block IX, and 3io 5, block VII, Warepa), in forming j a bridle track on some of the worst, places on road > leading up the Kaihiku Gorge." GENERAL. The engineer's monthly report gave information' regarding .the various contracts on hand, and the ■ progre'^s<.n>ade,.wii)h them. It also stated that the engineer, had ordered, timber for decking, anew 8 email bridge og Aehtey-Dawns new road, and also a few planks for bridge on Olydevale-Waiwera road. — 1 he report was adopted. It was resolved that the advertising and printing: in connection with the county for the ensuing year be given to the Olutha Leader. Only a few tenders were received, and the only one accepted was that of J. Grulokjhank, £11 4s, for contract No. 296, Wsiwera.. This was all the business, a&d: the meeting then closed.