WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held at Waikouaiti on Friday ; present — Cra J. Green (chairman), W. J, Bolt, J. Crickmore, J. Porteous, and J. D. Ritchie. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector reported as follows :— " (1) The Merton riding has been receiving a considerable amount of attention from myself and the surfaceman during the month. (2) Mr Hemming's application has been attended to. I find that a road can be opened at the line at a very little cost. There are about 14 chains of bush to clear at (say) 10s per chain, £7; two culverts, ;£3 15s; about 60yds excavation, £2 ss ; total, £13. This expenditure would take the road on to Mr Hemmings' section. The road line past the end of Hemmings' section is comparatively level, and could be opened through to Mr Blair's section, a distance of 17 ohainß, at the cost of clearing the bush off about nine chains, the balance being already clear. (3) Messrs Fergußson and Storey's application to open up a road through sections 68, 69, and 70 : After carefully going over the line I mußt say that the cost of taking the road on the line aB marked on the map would be very great, and all the money spent on it would not make a fair road of it. The suggestion offered by Mr Stead aa to taking the road along the boundary line between 69 and 70 is to my mind the best thing that could be done, as the road line would be shortened by at least one half. (4) North-Bast Valley riding has had the usual attention given to it by the surfaceman. (5) Mr Rochfort's contract has been completed, and the metal spread. (6) Hawksbury riding: The surfacemen have been on the main north toad, on Jeffries' road, and near Mount Royal, during the month, and are now engaged on the Mount Watkin road. (7) Brown's contract has been completed satisfactorily, anJ also Catoerwood's contract. Ihese contracts complete all the works on hand on the Nenthorn road. Buston and Brown are getting on with their gravel contract on tho main road. I expect both to be completed within the next two months. (8) Blueskin riding : I have gone over the WaitatiWakari road in reference Messrs Cowen and Wallace's application, and have to report that the work asked for far exceeds the limit fixed by you. What they want is an expenditure of about £70, whioh I think will be required to metal and form the worst places in the whole line of road unmetalled. Mr Liddle's application has been attended to and reported upon. (9) Mansford Town: I recommend thai 70yds of metal be contracted for, to be broken on the road between Isbister's and the boundary. The works required to be done in this town are of so trifling and varied a nature that the whole of the work required can be done cheaper and better by day labour. As there ia plenty of good rotten rock at the upper end of the township, I purpose placing It on" the upper roads and footpaths, and keeping the blue metal ou the beach road. The road from Fort Cha'mers to Blueskin shows signs of requiring metal. I ask your permission to call tenders for the carting and breaking of, say, 100 yds of two-inch metal where required, and also 100 yds between Waitatt bridge and Mount Oarglll. (10) A surfaceman is much needed on the Nenthorn road from the river to the boundary on the other side of the Nenthorn creek, The amount of money expended on this road would justify placing a surfaceman on it permanently, the man to reside as near the centre of the road as he could. The matter of employing more surfacemen generally throughout the county will be reported on by myself next month." The following supplementary report was read : — " I have omitted in my report of the Merton riding to mention the requirementsV)f the Seaoliff- Warrington ro.id, especially at Sim's cutting. I ask to be allowed to call tenders for 50yds metal, to be spread in the woist places. There is a great deal more metal required, but this will tide over the worst of the bad places." Or Bolt moved, Cr Gbickmore seconded, and it Wcia resolved—" That the inspector's report for the current month be received and adopted ; no work to be done till satisfactory arrangements are made and papers dulj signed by each of the persons affected by the deviation recommended by the inspector in paragraph No. 2." The supplementary report was received and adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs James Sutherland and Richard Driver, Purakanui, again drew the attention of the council to the state ef the road leading to their property, and pointed out that if an accident happened on it the council would no doubt be liable.— Cr Bolt moved— " That the petition be received, and referred to the inspector to submit plan and specification, together with report, for consideration at next meeting. — Seconded by Cr Criokmorb, and carried. The circular! irom the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards re contributions due were received, and it was agreed that the same be paid monthly. Twenty-three ratepayers in the Merton riding petitioned the council to provide work for James Gallaway, either by contract or day labour.— The petition was received, and it was agreed -on the motion of Cr Pohteous, seconded by Cr CrickitoßK —to consider it when the council is dealing with work suitable to Gallaway's abilities. Mr Robert Blair, Mount Hoyal, drew attention to the want of a road to his section 75, block I, Waikouaiti ; and Mr Willis Lang, Mihivvaka, reminded the council that they promised some months ago to improve the approach to his land. Referred to the inspector to prepare plans in the firßt case, and in the st-cond fco attend to fche approach with the aid of the surfaceman. Messrs John Driver and P. W. Mouat asked the council to make a road from Mr Lang's property to Half-caste's reserve, at Heyward's Point. They would be satisfied if the bush was cleared off about half-a-chaiu. It would probably coat about £10, and it the couucil could grant the track applicants would guarantee half tho amount.— lt was agreed, on the motion of Cr Bolt, seconded by Cr C'eickmork, that the letter be referred to thu inspector for a report. Five ratepayors petitioned for four claims of rotten rock in one part of the road known as Stead's road, and two chains in another part, also for a culvert.— Referred to the inspector for a report, and to prepare specifications to be laid before next meeting. The clerk, Waihemo County Council, wrote that his council concurred in the proposed repairs to Pleaaant river bridges, subject to agreement" regarding them between the inspectors of the two counties. — Refeired to inspector and Cr Ritchie to arrange with tha Waihemo inspector. Messrs Oakden and Begg, Dunedin, wrote:—" Can you furnish us with any particulars in connection, with the road line at Sawyers' Bap through Messrs Tlioimon and Borlusu's property ? We made a survey of thio road lino some time aj,o at the instigation of Messrs Valemiue aud Uorlaso, but have not been a»ile to ( btain the consent of Mrs Turner (Captain lhomsona daughter), who resides in Australia, to the plan. She wants compensation for the land taken from her property. Kindly let us know how tins matter stands, da we are anxious to get fche ulau deposited. —The clerk was instructed to reply that the couucil could give uo information, i,Qd. aid nob

know who could if Captain Thomson or Mr Borlase could not. Mr W. Barnes wrote stating that if the council would close the road through sections 68 and 69 he would allow them to take the road along the south boundary of his section 69, from where it entered from flection 70 until it joined the new road at the south-east corner of his section, on condition that the council gave him the road running through his section in exchange.— This matter was considered in connection with the inspector's report, and the resolution arrived at therein is also applicable to Mr Barnes' propoaal. TENDERS. The following tenders were received :— Formation on quarry road (Hawksbury) : Thomas Hounton, £72 10s ; John Rendall, £51 10s ; William Kerr, £38 (accepted). Supply of metal on Long Beach road : Charles King, 4s lid per yard (deollned). Repairs to bridges at Sawyers Bay : Kenneth Robertson, £40 lls lid (accepted) ; Isbister and Styles, £54 7s ; Joseph Manning, £58 ; B. Bagohop, £59 ; John Walker, £78 17s. Formation No. 1, Nenthorn road ; John Kendall, £56 10a, rock Is 9d per ynrd (accepted); Thomas Hounton, £75 10s ; A. Catherwood, £80. Formation Nob. 2 and 3, Nenthorn road : A. Oetberwood, £39 12s (accepted); O. Bond, £130 (for the three roads). ACCOUNTS. The Finance Committee reoommended that accounts amounting to £308 Is be passed for payment. The committee also reported that they had considered and dealt with the tenders.— The report was adopted. GENERAL. On the motion of Cr Ritchib, seconded by Cr Bolt, it was agreed that the inspeotor should report to next meeting, re the road leading to Mr Watkln's bush. A list was forwarded by the receiver of gold revenue giving the names of 93 persons, not being aliens, who had taken out miners' rights at Nenthorn, from the Ist April 1889. to 31st March 1890.