WAIHEMO COUNT! COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 12

WAIHEMO COUNT! COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Waihemo County Oouneil was held in the Council Chambers, Palmerston, on Tuesday. Present: The ohairman (Mr A.|D. Bell), Cra T. Dent, J. B. Glover, J. Hartatonge, T. Muir, D. M'Leod, and J. B. Sobertson. DEPUTATIONS. Messrs Duncan and Gailaway were introduced by Or Qxover as a deputation appointed at a public meeting held at Dunbaek recently re the rabbit question.—Mr Duncan explained that the meeting referred to waa a fairly representative one, and the majority present were favourable to having the county formed into a rabbit district, and a board appointed to locally administer the act. The counoil was asked to take the preliminary steps in the matter to secure the object desired.—The Chairman pointed out that the council could not possibly do what was asked in the request of the Dunbaek meetIng. To carry out such a proposal"the other ridings in the county must be consenting parties. He explained that there were two ways in which the rabbitß could be dealt with locally. Firstly, by a board of five trustees to be elected by the ratepayers; and, secondly, by what was called local administration, comprising a board of not lobs than five nor more than sevea trustees, who were also elected locally. The boards were invested with oimilar duties to those possessed by the council, and were authorited to levy a rate to meet expenses, upon which the Government would grant a subsidy out of the consolidated revenue. The machinery, in fact, was very similar to that ef the council, and the boards would be under the supervision of the Audit office in connection with the accounts. If the county desired local administration under the Rabbit Act the majority of the ratepayers, by petition, must say so, and the district mußt not embrace a less area than 200,000 acres. Mr James Ritchie, who was present, said that the object of the meeting at Dunbaek was to strengthen the hands of the council in any action taken as the outcome of the deputation from the Farmers' Oiub at the last meeting on the same question.—The Chairman said the council at present had no locits standi in the matter. — The deputation thanked the counoil, and withdrew. Mr Kitchie asked to have the present track, known as Cox't, from Dunbaek to Macraes improved. The road was impassable, and he considered it a hardship to have to trespass on other people's land. He did not think it fair to ask for a deviation, and was surprised to find the inspector's estimate (£3O or £40) of the coat of improving the road so large.—The Uhaibmait suggested that the present track should be improved by the surfaceman.—Agreed to. CORBKSPOKDENCB. Cr Hay wrote that he was unable to attend the meeting through illness. The following protest was read :—" Seeing that ib iB the intention of the Waihemo County Counoil to allocate each j ear, for two years, two-thirds of the entire revenue accruing to the counoil from small grazing ruus, deferred payment lands, and any other land revenue in the Macraes riding to the improvement of the road known as Duncan's road to such an extent as may be sufficient to render it available for regular heavy traffic, we, the undersigned landholders and ratepayers in Macraes riding, do consider ourselres aggrieved in that the council's proposal is distinctly against the spirit and intention of section 208 (part 7), section 127 (part 3), and section 160 (part 4) of • The Land Act 1885.' We." beg to enter our protest against the revenue being so allocated. (Here iollow 18 signatures )" Messrs John Duucan, H. E. Matheson, C. P. Hiltou, and about 30 ratepayers in Macraes riding also wrote against the counoil'B proposed action —Cr Robertson moved— " That the matter be.postponed till next meeting." — Cr Muir seconded the motion, which was carried. The Receiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin. wrote stating that he had paid in the sum of £233 14s lOd at the Colonial Bank, Dunedin, to the credit of the county fund account, being moneys payable to the county as deferred payment or perpetual lease "thirds" or small grazing run "fourths" for the period from 28th January to 28th April 1889.— Received. Mr John O. Gow. on behalf of the proprietors of the Shag Valley Mills, wrote asking permission to erect a fence at the bottom of the mill paddock. —Granted. Mr John Duncan, junr., wrote that having purohaßed a site for a dairy factory at the lower end of the mill property, facing the main road on the Palmerston side of the white bridge, he would respectfully ask tbe council to grant him a little assistance in making an entrance.—Decliued. Mr J. M'Kenzie, M.H.8., wrote that he was in a position to vote against the Charitable Aid Bill, and forwarded a communication from the Minister of Publio Works stating that provision had been made in the Publio Works Ameudment Bill forgiving effeob to the wishes of the council in regard to providing for all documents connected with the exchange of lands for roads, &0., being exempt from the payment of stamp duty.—Received. inspbotor'b report. The Inspector reported as follows: — Dunbaok Riding.—The application of Messrs Ritchie and Murray to have the road line improved leadingjfrom Dunbaek to Macraes was represented to cost from £30 to £40. A small wooden bridge at the swamp near Mr Kitchener's was very much decayed, and should at once be renewed, the estimated cost being £120, and from £loto £15 would be required to make a by-track. The inspector was authorised to irdprove the track referred to in Ritobie and Murray's application, and to prepare plans and specifications for the bridge, tenders to be called by next meeting. Macraes Riding. —ln this district the roads were in good order except for the heavy wagon traffic. A road to Maccaes, near Mrs Griffith's farm, would require 1000 cubic yards maintenance metal; cost, about 5s 6d per yard. The road from Shark Hill to Nenbhorn was very steep in places, J>nd the bridge across Nenthorn stream would cost a considerable sura, not less than £200.—1t was agreed to provide a simple crossing for the Nenthorn stream. Blue Mountain.—The White bridge was finished and a bridge at Mr Robs' farm would next require attention, also the culvert in Mrs Drcaver's land.— It was agreed to call tenders for the repairing of the culvert, and the inspector was asked to attend to Ross' bridge. * ' FINANCIAL. Accounts for the month amounting to £268 11s 8d were passed for payment. GENERAL A statement of unpaid rates for the year ending March 1889 was laid on the table, the amount outstanding being £148.—Cr Haktstonge moved, and Cr Glover seconded—" That the list be handed to the county solicitor so that that the amounts may be recovered." Cr M'Lkou moved—" That the council confirm the resolu'ion of last meeting re a rate of fd in the pound."- Cr Muir seconded the motion, waa carried. The inspector waß instructed to attend to the Taieri road and to make necessary repah a ; also, to prepare a comparative estimate of the cost of formation of Mathpfou's road at Mareburn.