WAIHEMO COUNT COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1952, 18 April 1889, Page 9

WAIHEMO COUNT COUNCIL.

I The ordinary meetiug of this county counoil was held in the Council Chambers, Palmerston, on Tueo* day, when there were present : Crs J. B. Glover, O. S. Hay, J, Hartstonge, jun., T. Muir, A. M'Laren, D. M'Leod, and J, K. Eobertson. Cr M'Laren occupied the chair, DEPUTATIONS. Mr J, Millar waited on the counoil in reference to a road line between sections 16 and 17, block 111, in connection with which he had received a letter from the clerk requesting him to remove a gate placed across it. He claimed the road as his property, produced hi« Crown grant showing the boundaries of hit property, and reminded the council that in September last, in an interview he had had with the counol, the chairman bad expresssed the opinion that no roitd existed. But even supposing there was, he asked what was the use of removing one obstacle wb«-n tbree others existed higher up.— The clerk was infracted to write to the" chief surveyor to obtain fuller information on the subject. - Cr Robertson called attention to the fact that, the council hud already a letter in its possession from the chief surveyor, who expressed the opinion that there was a road where Mr Millar said none existed.— Mr Millar : What about the revolver and ammunition ? Haa the council supplied It ?— (Laughter.,)— The Ohaibman : They are not ordered yet,— Mr Millar said ac he required the road himself he was willing to allow the road to be used by those requiring it providing no injury was done to his property. Mr Caldwell waited on the council to ascertain why nothing had been done to the road leading to his place, and what the council intended to do in regard to the encroachment of Mr Neill's fence on the road line.— The Chairman reported the road to be an excellent one, and the useleseness of the proposed expenditure. He only wished all the roads in his riding were as good. — The council, however, agreed to expend the money voted, as against a proposal not to do so. Mr George Ross also waited on the council to urge some repairs! to the main road between M'Cormack's creek and Lorry's gully, which he represented to be in a very bad etate and dangerous to ride over on a dark night, from the existence of large stones and projecting boulders.— The council decided to call for tenders for gravelling the worst portions of the road referred to, cost not to exceed £40. FINANCE. The Finance Committee recommended the payment of accounts for the month amounting to £157 14s 9d. inspector's reports. Maoraes Biding.— ln this riding the roads were in fair order. The road referred to in Mrs Hercus' application was on her property, but it would not impede traffic much if she fenced the section. At the first deviation the nearest end of the present culvert was 9ffc from road line, and at the south end from Mr Curries homestead it waa on the Government land ; but two culverts could be put in, the tussocks removed, and the road formed for £12. On the flat the rabbits were very numerous, and the culverts were often choked by them — dangerous holes breaking through behind them. He had to repair seven culverts there, arid in Moonlight there were three gates on the Nenthorn road ; the lower one (belonging to Mr J. Hartstonge) would have to be removed as it confined the traffic to one place, which in wet weather was very inoonvenient. On Curries road he had to put in one culvert, and recommended another one and about a mile of tussocking done. — Resolved, on the motion of Or Hat, seconded by Cr Habtstongk— " That the report be received, and that the tussocking be done at schedule price of present contract, and one culvert constructed under thd supervision of the inspector ; and that tenders be called for the formation of road referred to in Mrs Hercus' application', and plans and specifications be prepared for the same." Dunback Riding.— ln this riding the inspector had to attend to the hill from Jordan's to Macraes, as it was very rough with heavy traffic passing over, it, and the grain season coming on the traffic from Macraes would be increased. Mr Garvin was busy with the Stoneburn road, and if that portion was cut it would improve the grade of the hill. JUhe main road waa veryroughi and the woret road in tbe county waa from Dunback to Inch Valley.— Bo-, , ceived and adopted. ' .•< Goodwood Riding.— The roads in this riding were in fair order. Flanagan's contract had been finished, and it would help considerably. Bpsley and Ireland did some work, and Butler Bros, and Gitmourroade , about 10 chains, but the road would require a water

cut in that part, further tin Innfes, Fianag&tt Mahoney, Madams, and M'Dougall would make ii * into the creek. If Hi Walker were employed to lay of the proper grade for them, it would give a fair roac in dry weather. A deep cutting and bank from th« Main road to the district road required gravelling foi about 20 chains; estimated coat about 30s pei chain.— Heport received and adopted, and reaolvec that Hugh Walker be employed to form the grade ir the event of the settlers interested ttimiug out fc( assist him. It was also resolved to call for tenden for gravelling a portion of the road wbere th< inspector thought necessary. | Bushy Biding.— The roads in this ridiug were ii * fair order ; but owiug to the increasing traffic froir both coal mines and the grain season being on, tin road was very thin and flat in some places, anc would require some 800 <Subic yards of gravel froir the Main road at the Mill road corner down to the saddle at Pukeiviri to repair it and keep it in gooc order tor fche heavy winker 1 traffic. The contract on Main road had been finished up to the bridge.— Received and consideration deferred. 1 COBBESPOSDENCB. * Messrs Fraser and Stilling, the county solicitors , [ Dunedin, wrote enclosing deeds in connection with , the county buildings froiti Messrs Moltiaon, Duthie, and Co.— Received. The County Clerk* Waitaki, informing the counoil that Cameron, in the employ of Mi Kitchener, had registered two more dogs.— Received, The Keceiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin, desired information as to whether the counoil had received from the Treasury the sum of £263 19s on account oi deferred payment sales, &c— Received. The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, intimated that the sum of £4 2s goldfields revenue, and 5d gold duty had been remitted to the credit of the council at the Colonial Bank, Falmerston. — Received. The Secretary to the Charitable' Aid and Hospital Board, Dunedin, again applied for a return 1 of rateable property in the county for the current financial year, and stated that an application to the property tax commissioner, Wellington, had failed to elicit the desired information.— Received, and information to be furnished after Bitting of Board of Heviewers. Mr W. Currie, Hyde, wrote drawing attention to the state of the road leading from Deep Dell Hill to his property. There had been three culverts and some tußsockß cleared off the road about two miles from his place, and he asked to have the work continued to his property aa the contractor waa now at work, and it would not cost much to finish it.—Received, and application granted. Mr W. Cunningham, Duuback, drew attention to the state of the road leading to his section. He had been paying "road rates " for nearly eight yearß and the road had not been formed.— The council agreed to employ men to clear the tussocks 10ft wide. The Chief Surveyor, Dunedin, requested the council to forward him estimates of the sums required for roads to open up Crown lauds before sale in the county for the year 1889-90.- (Che clerk was instructed to forward the information. lhe manager of the Colonial Bank, Falmerston, forwarded declaration of the amount of gold purchased batween the 6th February and the 2nd inst. — Received. An agreement from Mr R. Matheßon was received, consenting to deviation (without remuneration) of the road through his property, being section 2, block 111, Highlay, to give Mr P. M'Leod an outlet from the present surveyed road to his small grazing run, provided the quantity of land taken for the road equalled the amount of the present surveyed road to be given in exchange ; and also to receive from the council permission to erect a gate at each end of the said road. CONTRACTS. Contract 119 : Formation and culverts on road to Peter M'Leod's small grazing run, Green Valley riding-D. W, Philip, £55 2s (accepted) ; W. Dodd, £60; P. Lunam, £71 6s. Contract 120: Formation of road and culvert, Deep Dell to Horse Flat, Macraes riding— W. Dodd, £52 (accepted). BAKER'S CONTRACT Cr Hay suggested that the work on this contract should be extended two chains, to bring it to the old road.— The matter was referred to the inspector. NOTICE OP MOTION. By Or Hay—" That whereas on the grounds of convenient and economy it is desirable that the solicitors for this couufcy should ba resident in Palmerston, and that Mr J. G. Findlay be appointed the county solicitor in place of its present solicitors, Messrs Fraser and Stilling, subject to their receiving one, two, or three months' notice of the council's intention. The council then adjourned.