Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 12

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was held at Mosgiel on Friday afternoon ; present —Crs Snow (chairman), Graham, Grant, Pogson, Thompson, Andrew, Bunting, and Smith. engihkee's bepobt. The Engineer (Mr R. Hay) reported: —"ln accordance with your instructions, I have called tenders for the reconstruction of the bridge near Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co.'s fellmongery, Green Island. The walls are falling down, and the superstructure is in a dilapidated condition. i 2« bridge over the Taieri river, I : have examined the river between Henley and Otakia fora suitable sit^ for the proposed yew bridge in Jieu of tho on 3 near Henley. There are Beveral good sibts, but the river at the end of the Berwick roa-1 presents about tho best features for tha construction of a bridge. The embankments are low, and the flood level has rarely been known to reach the level of the main road, aud this reach of the river is straight and the banks are of a fairly permanent nature Another poiut in favour of this bite being selected is that there alraady being » bridge in this locality likely to be carried away by the first flood, or broken down by any specially heavy traffic, the county would require iv the event of euch a casualty occurring to replace the same; and although a bridge is also required iv the neighbourhood of Otakia, 1 have to recommend the council in the present instance to place the new structure at the end of the Henley-Berwick road, where the traffic from Berwick and the Henley railway stat.ou will ba accommodate 1 as well as the settlers on the. plain. I would suggest that the bridge b^ constructed in three timber spins of 70r't each, the \t'wn consisting ot east- ir./i cylinders. Tuo approximate cost of i structure of this nature will be £l°'BO. 161 6 will be uocessarj before finally completing t.he plans to expend a .vnaU sum in putting do^ii theco or four bore h to unot rtaiu the depth at which it will be necessary to s-iuk the cylinders. The Chairman biipgestiiil that I buy should ask tho O >v< nnmi:\t to help them in the construction of tin-; bridge. They might mt»kc a request for £l< 00, and oven that would not go far on a T-iieri bridge. Or Bunting "remarked tint they might ask £2000 ThtiCnAinMANreplifd that the. Government would not givo that sum, but they might give pound for pound.

It was agreed— "That the Government be asked to subsidise the erection of a new bridge at Henley to the extent of pound for pound." inspector's beport. The Inspector reported that the principal work done throughout the county since last meeting was in the way of surfacing clay roads, the rain having softened them very much, after which they were cut up considerably. Two extra men were employed on the HenleyBerwick and Outram-Berwick and Maungatua roads, while another man was employed for 16 days to repair a slip on the Hindon road. On the whole the roads were in good order with the j exception of Centre road, which required some metal. From Mosgiel boundary to Meadow Bank about 150ydt) of metal was required. The deviation work at Palmer's, Taieri Mouth, was well advanced, but on account of the late high tides a little more work would have to be done. The ferry punt was in a very unsatisfactory condition. The Kuri bridge had been widened, and the Greytown clay contract was completed. Four stay piles were required to strengthen the two piers in the Greytown bridge that were in the mound. Piles could be o'otaiued from the old structure intended for the railway, and could be driven off the sand while the river was low. Nothing had been done in the Wakari or Bast Taieri ridings during the month. About 25 chains of the road from Hindon to Clark's road required to be formed, and 10 chains chipped and levelled ; total cost, £27. According to instructions, he had made an estimate of the cost of reinstating the Boat Harbour Creek bridge. It would amount to about £48. Mr S. G. Smith was making improvements in the way of tanks and piping covering up the old ditch. Mr Samson was also making a move as desired by the council. At the refrigerating works additional catch traps were hni'fj utilised to prevent solid matter finding its w>v into the stream. U was agreed— (l) that the matter of maintenance me.tal for Oentre road be deferred for a month ; (2) that the Brace County Council's attention be called to the unsatisfactory state of the Taieri Mouth punt; (3) that the repairs recommended to the Greytown Bridge be re-ferr.-d to the inspector with power to act; (4) that the council supply the pipes neceesary for tho continuation of Little's contract, Kuri Bush ; (5) that the surfaceman be employed for a month in the Wakari riding ; (6) that tenders be called for 25 chains of formation on the road from Hindon to Clark's; (7) that the railway

authorities be communicated with in respect to providing sufficient railway crossing into the township of Arden ; (8) that the Silverstream ford at Wingatui be attended to by the inspector as recommended ; (9) that the inspector take steps to prevent the scour under Mill Creek Bridge. It was further resolved — (1) That batons be put on the Cottc sbrook bridge Jby the inspector ; (2) that the inspector be instructed to take action against any person infringing the byelaw rfi width of tires to be used on the Kaikorai Valley road; (3) that the surfacemen be employed for a few days on the short road to Look-out Point, and that the inspector report on the condition of the road. COEBESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Treasury, Wellington, intimating pajment of £1 13 asd to the credit of the council iv respect of goldfields I revenue for the month of March 1890.— ReI ceived.

A memo, was received from the Receiver of Land Revenue intimating pnjment of £217 9s lOd to credit of the council in respect of deferred payment land " thirds," &c, for the period from the 28th October 1889 to Ist February 1890.— Received.

A request was received from the General Survey office for a return showing tho total length and character of roads constructed or improved during the period from Ist April 1889 to 31st Maroh 1890, with the money granted by the Survey department. — It wss agreed to refer the request to Mr Hay to attend to. Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. wrote quoting the price of poisoned wheat for the destruction of small birds at the rate of 37s 6d per cwr. — It was agreed — '• That the council give a subsidy of pound for pound up to £10 in each riding for destroying the small birds."

William Gawen, collector of dog tax in the Kaikorai riding, intimated that Henry Wilson hid commenced to collect the tax as his agent.— Received.

The Green Island Borough Council requested the co-operation of the council in repairing Dall and Patf-raon B) reels, the total cost not to exceed £6. — Referred to tho inspector, with power to act.

Daniel Jones wrote asking the council to form the road leadiug to sections 74 and 77, block VIII, Dunediu and Bast Taieri district (Saddle Hill). — Referred to Cr Graham to report to next met ting. Mr E. L. Ashley requested permission to use

the soil alongside the hedge on the boundary of section 8, block V, Burnside, to form a road into the section. — Permission refused.

Mr James Harrison called attention to the necessity of making a few small cuttings on the road between his property, Strath -Taieri, and Mr Pugh's. — It was pointed out that the matter had been attended to.

Robert Leishman called attention to the state of the Silverstream road, and stated that there was no outlet to the Taieri except through private property. — Referred to the engineer to report to next meeting.

A letter was received from Williamson Currie intimating that the road from North Taieri to Mullocky was closed through the action of Messrs Boyd fencing their section, and requesting that some steps be taken to reopen it. — It was resolved that Mr Boyd be asked to reopen the road through the corner of section 26a, block I, Dunedin and East Taieri district. Mr William Adams, jun., asked the counoil to reconsider the' matter of allowing him to embank on the river adjoining the reserve at Otakia to protect his property. — The council had no power to deal with the request.

Messrs Begg and Andrew requested the council to support their application to Government to forego the arrears of rent due by the Mount Hyde Gold Mining Company. — It was agreed to accede to the requf st

Mr Duncan M'Coll and eight other ratepayers in the Otakia riding called attention to a difficult and dangerous portion of the road leading from Brighton to Scrogg's Hill, and requested that the inspector be instructed to report as to the best means of improving it. — Referred to the inspector.

Messrs Oakden and Begg forwarded a plan of section 8, block I, Otakia, showing thereon in different colours areas to be dealt with to complete titles to road lines and exchanges in connection therewith, and requested the counoil to grant the transfer of a portion to Mr J. Young. — It was agreed that the council would have no objection to the transfers provided the firm's clients bore all cost.

A petition was received from Messrs J. Kitchen and Sons and 45 other residents in Burnside asking the council to make such repairs to the road leading from the main road to the Burnside railway station as would enable it to be passable for foot passengers and wheeled traffic. — The petition was referred to Mr Hay to report to next meeting. GENERAL. It was resolved to notify the intention of the council to make a general rate at next meeting of f d in the pound on the rateable value of 'property in the county for the year ending 31st March 1891, such rate to be payable in one sum on 4th August. Accounts amounting to £220 were passed for payment. It was resolved that the Colonial Secretary be communicated with in reference to the registrar of electors for the Taieri electorate being appointed in Mosgiel. TENDEHS. The following tenders were received for reconstruction of the bridge, Green Island : — Gabriel Hodges, £153 12s 66 (accepted) ; Campbell and M'Laughltn, £173 4s 3d; James M'Douald, £174 7s ; Alexander Bain, £215 5s 10d. There was only one tender received for thu timber iv the Henley Drainage district — viz., that of James Thompson, at 7s Id per 100 ft. — It was agreed to allow the tender to stand over for a month.