TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1959, 10 September 1891, Page 31

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was held on Friday, when there were present— The Chairman (Mr W. Snow), Crs Chisholm, Graham, Elliott, Bunting, Todd, Andrew, and Thomson.

INSPECTOR'S BEPOJtT. The Inspector of Works reported that he had examined the surveyed road over Bare Hill, I through Mr Donald Reid's property. The road j waa very rough in places and very steep, especially in the vicinity of " Trig C." It would require a considerable outlay to make anything lof a track on the surveyed line. The only obstruction on Boyd's track was a small portion (about two chains in extent) that Mr Boyd had fenced up. If this piece could be bought the ! difficulty would be removed, as the road bad 1 been used before. The whole of the 'road to Mullocky Gully was very much waterworn, and in the event of being used would require to be repaired. A deviation could be got through Mr M'Lean's section, round Mr Boyd's corner—a distance of 10 chains. The coat of making a side cut would be about £6. On the 21st of August there was 20in of water on the Eaikorai mouth road, approaching the bridge. He estimated the cost of widening and raising that part of the road to ba £20. On account of a slight addition being made to the tail board of the Taieri Mouth punt, the landing was at present safe and easy. The Riccarton road between the stream and Dukes' road was getting cut up and wanted 100 yds of gravel. This was near at hand and would cost 8d per yard. As there were a great many dead cattle lying about in tho streams, he would like to know whether the council had any power to cause them to be buried by their owners. It was resolved—" That the inspector write to Messrs Boyd and M'Lean with reference to opening up the road to Mullocky Gully through Mr Boyd's sections ; that tenders be called for 100 yds of gravel for the Riccarton road, between the stream and Duke's road; that the ranger attend to the matter of proceeding against the owners of cattle who neglected to bury the same ; and that alternative tenders in wood and atone be called for the bridge on M'Donald's road at Maungatua." engineeb's eepobt. Mr R. Hay, county engineer, reported that pile-driving had been commenced at the Otakia i bridge, and was progressing fairly. Owing to I the change in site longer piles would be required in two piers at the point where the scour was and would be greatest. Tenders had been invited, and one accepted at 22s 6d per chain for fencing the road through Mr Palmer's land. It would be necessary to invite tenders shortly for forming and covering with clay the road approaches to the Otakia bridge in order to prevent the sandy soil being cut into by the traffic and blown away by the wind. He forwarded a tracing showing portion of Oufcram to Greytown road to be conveyed to the Queen, and also portions of abutting land to be conveyed to neighbouring owners, which matters were now in course of settlement. He had inspected the Cardigan street contract, but found that the work was not completed in accordance with specification. He, therefore, could not issue a final certificate, and had notified the contractors accordingly. — The report was received. banger's eepoht. The ranger reported that while in SfcrathTaieri he interviewed Mr Steel re the pound, and he informed him that the timber was on the way to Middlemarch, and the erection of the pound would be proceeded with at once. The revenue for the month from all sources amounted to £516 19s lid.— The report was received. SANITABT INSPECTOR'S BEPOBT. Mr R. Bain, sanitary inspector, reported that he had visited the works situated on Abbott's Creek several times during the month, and found everything in a very satisfactory condition ; in fact there had been very little pollution. On Friday, the 21st ult., the Eaikorai stream was in considerable flood, and this had had a wonderfully beneficial effect on the bed of the river. On the 22nd nit. the mouth of the river was opened so that now the whole of the back water had entirely disappeared. This, together with the effects of the flood, had left the stream in the meantime in splendid condition. During past month Messrs John Ellis and Co. had commenced the manufacture of manure from nightsoil, blood, and digested bones. The works were situated dose to Robert Wingfield's piggery, and very close to a small tributary of the Kaikorai stream, and within the Taieri County. Complaints had been made to him by residents of Caversham about the offensive smell said to come from these works. On the Ist mat he visited the works, when the smell proceeding from them was very bad indeed, but nothing worse than that which arose from other works of a similar character in the district. The liquid matter from the digester was being discharged into the gully, thence finding its way to the creek, and ultimately to the Eaikorai stream. He cautioned the person in charge of the works ( about the matter, and a promise was at once given that the nuisance should not be continued, Mr Ellis was also taking steps to prevent the offensive smell which arose from the works from being a nuisance to the neighbourhood, by having the fumes consumed with charcoal. — The Inspector was instructed to take proceed* ings against Messrs Ellis and Co. if the nuisance complained of continued, but not otherwise.

THE OTAKIA BRIDGE. The following letter from Mr R. Hay, county engineer, was read :—: —

I would respectfully ask your council to place on record the f net that the preient site of the Otakia bridge ii not of my choosing, I will undoubtedly

make every endeavour to render the bridge as secure as possible in I' • altered position, but in the event of anything happening to it, I would not like the onus of having choien the site resting upon me It would be all right enough if the present members of the council were always In oSce, but in time to coma there may be changes, and new members may not be cognisant of present events. The Chaibuan Baid the council had gone in direct opposition to Mr Hay's wishes and advice, and he felt that they should certainly relieve him from responsibility in the matter. The bridge waa not being erected on the site the engineer had recommended. Cr Thomson: Then he should resign his position. The Chairman : Not at all. Cr Thomson said if the council relieved Mr Hay from responsibility in the matter, the contractor might put np a slim bridge, and if anything happened to it, he might say that it was dne to the site, and not to the construction of the bridge. He would move that the letter be received. Cr Chisholm seconded the motion. He stated that the minutes of the council already recorded the fact that Mr Hay was not responsible for the Bite. Or Gbaham thought that the letter should be allowed to stand over until next meeting when Mr Hay was present. Probably if it were allowed to stand over some compromise might be made with regard to the matter. Perhaps Mr Hay would withdraw the letter. He moved in the direction he had suggested. Or Thomson Baid he would withdraw his motion in favour of Cr Graham's, and it waß« eventually decided to allow the matter to stand over till next meeting. COBBEBPONDENCB. A circular was received from the Patea County Council containing a copy of a resolution passed by that body expressing dissatisfaction with the proposed amendment to the Counties Act in respect to the proposal to introduce the one-man-one-vote principle into the county elections, and also opposing the Land Bill of the Government. — It was resolved that the council protest against the introduction of the one-man-one-votß principle into the Counties Act, and that the member for the district be notified to that effect. The Secretary of the Bruce County Council wrote intimating that a committee would be appointed to confer with the Taieri County Council as to the abate of the Taieri Mouth punt, and that in the meantime the puntsman would be warned not to cross any person except at bis own risk. He also asked that a date for the conference might be arranged. — It was resolved that the chairman, Crs Graham, Andrew, Chishalm, and Elliott proceed to the Taieri Mouth on October 1 to confer with the members of the Bruce County Council on the matter. Mr John O'Leary wrote disclaiming having made an offer of £7 to assist in putting in a pipe culvert to drain Otakia township.— The letter waß received. The Secretary of the Roslyn Borough Council wrote intimating that that body declined to contribute a portion of the sanitary inspector's salary or to co-operate with the Taieri County Council in endeavouring to prevent the pollution of the Kaikorai stream.— The Clerk of the Green Island Borough Council also wrote to the same effect. — The letters were received. Mr Thomas Crossan wrote asking that Petrie's hill, on the Outram to Berwick road, be gravelled.— The request waa declined. Messrs Stout, Mondy, and Sim, instructed by Mr W. Fleming, wrote complaining of the action of the council in allowing some of the settlers to open the floodgates in the drains in the Henley Drainage district at high tides to admit water into the drains for the purpose of irrigation. — It was resolved that the keys of the floodgates be obtained from the parties who had them in their possession at the present time, and that they be kept in the custody of the inspector. Mr C. Clark wrote requesting that the road at the west end of section 50, block V, StrathTaieri, be made on the surveyed road line; sailing attention to the" necessity of improving the road line on Billy's Ridge ; and offering to j construct a pound at Strath-Taieri on certain conditions.—The inspector of works stated, in reply to the chairman, that the part of the road on Billy's Ridge, referred to in the letter, was outside of the county boundary. — It was resolved that nothing be done with regard to the road at the west end of section 50 ; that Mr Clark be referred to the Waikouaiti County in regard to the road in Billy's Ridge; and that the matter of establishing a pound be left to Cr Elliott to arrange. Mr Charles Robinson, the occupier of deferredpayment seotions 9, 10, 11, 12, block XIII, Manngatna, wrote requesting that some work might be done on the road leading to the above sections, so as to enable him to place material on the land for the erection of dwellinghouse, woolshed, and fencing.— Mr James Wilson wrote making a similar request to the above in respect to the road leading to section 6, block Till, Waipori.-— Both letters were referred to the inspector to report. A number of ratepayers and residents in the county and travellers petitioned the council to metal the short road from Look-out Point leading to Green Island.— Consideration of the matter was deferred in the meantime. THE HINDON GOLD MINES. Mr Thomas Begg waited on the council, and asked them if they would recommend the Government to forego the rent due by him on the Hindon gold mines. He stated that he bad written to the Minister of Mines on the subject, and he was willing to grant the relief he asked for if the council, who received part of the rent, were also agreeable.— lt waa resolved to recommend the Government to forego the rent due from the mines. MtOPOSED BBIDCE AT HENLEY. Cr CHiSHOLsr moved — " That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for a bridge at Henley, tenders to be opened at next meeting; and that in the meantime a notice be put on the existing bridge cautioning paople from using it for heavy traffic." TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted :— Road formation at Strath-Taieri, D. O'Rourke, £46 3s; supply of 85yda of metal for Kaikorai riding, D. O'Rourke, 5a 6d per yard; supply of 56yds of metal on Brighton road, near Kaikorai, W. R. Mabson, 4s 3d per yard. FINANCIAL. The bank book, which was laid on the table, showed a debit balance of £1796 4s Id. Accounts amounting to £515 14s lOd were passed for payment.