CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1945, 4 June 1891, Page 11

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clutha County Council met at Balclutha on Friday afternoon. There were presentCaptain Mackenzie (chairman), and Crs Brown, Christie, Mitchell, Hay, Simmer?, Wallace, M'Lachlan, and Dallas.

COBBESPONDENCE.

The secretary to the United Districts Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards forwarded account for the amount of tha contributions required from the council to these boards for tha year ending 31st March 1892. The amount for the Charitable Aid Board was £401 2s 3d, and for the Hospital Board £215 is 2 j. — It was agreed to pay the amount by quarterly instalments as hitherto.

Michael Barratt, Upper Owake, asked the council to put in a culvert on a creek on the Block road, between section 1, block 111, and section 26, block IV, Catlinp, so as to give him access to his property. — Referred to the engineer for report.

Messrs Cumine Bros, wrote dedicating to the council a deviation road across the hill from Kaihiku to Puerua Stream, as previously arranged. — It was agreed to take the necessary steps to have the present road closed.

Archibald Farquhar, Purekireki, wrote asking the council to have the road through part of section 13, blook IV, Catlins, opened up, as the same was at present quite impassable. Mr Farqnhar explained that he had expended £5 in making a track for himself, but the surveyor had now made a deviation^ the road, and the owner of the section through which the old road passed was about to fence it off.— Referred to the engineer for report.

M. Fahey, Balclutha, forwarded a bill for £1 0a 6d, for repairs to his buggy, which had been damaged by his horse falling into a hole on the road, near Warepa station. — It was agreed to pay the bill. Messrs George and J. A. Cook, solicitors, wrote with reference to tbe title to certain road lines on the Carterhope estate. — The matter was left in the hands of the chairman to obtain further information.

The Secretary to the Otago Benevolent Institution forwarded a number of applications for an increase of relief. — The recommendations were agreed to.

The Receiver of Land Revenue notified a payment of £95 18s, as deferred payment and perpetual lease thirds and small graz'ng run fourths, for the period from 3rd November 1890 to Ist February 1891. — Received.

Feter Millar, Catlins, forwarded map showing the track he had previously asked to be cut so as to let his children get to school.— William M'Phee also wrote asking that the road referred to might be made passable.— Referred to the engineer for report at next meeting. The Property Tax Commissioner forwarded a schedule of all dealings with Crown lands within the county from the date upon which last valuation roll was made np to the 30th April last. — Received.

The Surveyor-general wrote, in reply, that about £700 of the £800 vote, available for opening up lands in the Rankleburn district, had been entrusted to the TuspeKa County Council for expenditure, snd the balance of .-£IOO would be granted to the Clutba Council on their stating what they think should ba done with the money. The approaches to the' punt on both sides would be made by the Tuapeka County Council. — The Chaibman explained that he had replied that the council wished the £100 expended on the River Bank road. He also explained that the punt put on by the Government could only be open, d for a saw mil). From tbe site chosen it ?,ould be of no u-e to any of the settlers. — Several councillors pointed oub that this was another caso of public money wasted.

Mr Thomas Brown wrote, askiag permission to erect wire netting at Totara Hill, block VIII, Glenomaru district, in a gully on the road lino, but off the main roar*. He explained it would be out of the way of any traffic. — Request granted. William Mason, Owako, asked the council to put two culverts on the road leading to his property, so as to render it • passable where a creek crosses the road. He also pointed out that two small cuttings ware required at the culverts. — The engineer to attend to the matter. Alexander M'Neil wrote asking payment of £3 18a deposit he had paid for Peter M'Neil on bis contract, at Kaihiku, in 1888, and for which he enclosed the contractor's order. — Matter of contract settled long ago, and no funds in council's hands.

BOAD CLOSING AT OWAKE.

Cr Hay reported thit a tueetiu^ of ratepayers of South Molyneux riding, helJ in the schoolhouse, Owake,,on 29;h A.onl. to decide whether the following roadline should or should not be closed : — That portion of road running between pec ions 58, 14, and 12, and sections 13, 8, and 7, and filso thah portion ittUrsecfciDg section 6, all in block VIII, Gleriomaru district There were 27 ratepayers pre ent at the meetine. For a motion that the road be closed 18 voted, and for an amendment that it be not clcs.3d seven voted. The motion was, therefore, declared oarried, OrßgowN presented a petition, signed by 41

ratepayers, praying that the road be not closed, and a deputation appeared before the council in support of the prayer of the petition. Cr Christie pointed out that it was a rule with the coupon not to close any roads when there were objections to this course.

Cr Hay said that some who voted at the meeting against the closing of the road had no interest whatever in it, and some signing the petition now before the council did not reside within eight miles of the road. The road ran parallel with the main road, and the distance from Mr Mason's placa to the township was only 24 chains longer.

Mr Finlay, solicitor, addressed the council in support of the prayer of the petition, and urging the necessity of the road being kept open as it was used by settlers in going to the church and the township, and would ba the road to the railway station. It was also used by children going to the school.

Mr Campbell, Owake, spoke in favour of the road being closed.

Masars W. Mason and J. Easier spoke in support of the prayer of the petition. After discussion, Cr Hay moved that the decision of the ratepayers be confirmed. — Seconded by Cr Dallas.

Cr Christie moved as an amendment — "That that portion of the road through the swamp— the only portion really objected to— be not closed."

On being put, there voted for the motion — Crs Hay, Dallas, and Brown ; - and for the amendment — Crs Christie, Mitchell, Simmers, Wallace, and MLachlan. The amendment was therefore declared carried.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Chairman drew attention to the bye-law dealing with the weight of loads to be .carried on the roads within the county. Some, he said, were honestly complying with the bye-law but others were ignoring it. He submitted a list of transgressors and wished to have the instructions of the council before taking proceedings. — After a discussiou it was agreed to lot " byegones ba bye-gones," but that in future the byelaw be strictly enforced.

The Engineer's monthly report was read and adopted ; and the pay sheet, amounting to £204 19a passed for payment. Tenders for printing were received and dealt, with. That of the Clutha Leackr was accepted. The Clerk reported that, with one exception, all the collectors of dog tax had finished and reported.

Cr Simmehs moved — " That the £50 received for closed road to Conical Hill siding be expended in opening up the new road to said siding."

Secoaded by the Chairman, and carried.

On the motion of Cr Christie it wa3 agreed that Mr Pullen's contract be left in the hands of the engineer for completion.

It was agreed, on the motion of Cr Hay, that all gates be removed off the swamp road, Balclutha to Fort Molyneux.