ORDINARY MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1977, 14 January 1892, Page 17

ORDINARY MEETING.

The ordinary meeting was jthen held, the same gentlemen and Cr Bunting being present. The report of the inspector showed inter alia that the recent rains had been severe on some of the hill roads, and that the damage was being repaired by surfacemen ; that culverts are required on the road from Harvie's flat to Mr George Nicols' ; that the railway crossing at Sutton siding had been removed, and that the road here should be made (it for traffic ; that in re road to Connelly's 'section, that Mr Mason should be asked to fence his proper line, and thus give a convenient roadway; that Harden Township road is finished, and the junction of Wiugatui road has been graded and levelled ; that Duke's road, near Mr Gow's property, be gravelled ; that the Centre road (On tram riding) be widened and made higher, so as to lie passable during winter ; that nothing be done to Waipori flat road for the present, and that in the ovent of the Taieri Mouth punt being used again some repairs be effected on the roadway.— The report having been considered, it was decided to call for tenders for maintenance metal for Kaikorai road, maintenance gravel for North Taieri riding, and for heightening and widening Centre road (Outram riding) ; also to allow Mr O'Rourke an extension of time of ono month for the Malcolm creek contract. The Chairman mentioned that Galifornian thistles were spreading on the road lines, and expressed the opinion that they should now be cut to prevent spreading.— The inspector saiil,- that they were all cut on the county roads, but'not on the roads in the Outram read district.— Cr Thomson thought it would be well to instruct the surfacemen to cut down the thistles on the roads in Outram road district, and moved accordingly,— Motion agreed to, An appTioation from Mr Edward Palmer for the use of a boat, the property of the county, was granted, on condition that it be put and ke])t in repair, and that it be returned to the council when required. Mr M. M'Leod waited upon the council with reference to the silting up of the main drain from Thomson's to Shand's (Otakia district), and stated that he had suffered a loss of L3OO in consequence of the flooding of the drains.— lt was resolved to grant a subsidy of pound for pound to the extent of L2O for the work, and that tenders should be called for to scour the drain.

Two applications for charitable aid wore referred to Or Thompson for report.— The Chairman expressed his approval of the action of the Charitable Aid Board in investigating the cases in which relief was applied for.— Cr Thomson said that one of the applicants for relief had some freehold property, but he understood he was disposed to hand it over on condition that the Institute made provision for him.— The Chairman thought that made a material difference, but apart from some agreement of the kind, he considered the holder of property was not entitled to relief.

The County Surveyor reported that the work at the Henley bridge was progressing satisfactorily ; advised that tenders be called for the removal of the old brjdge ; reported that tenders had been invited to' open up the Mount Stoker perpetual leases, and that the Mirvoy of the roads at Kurow Bush was being proceeded with in order that a plan of the land required might be prepared. The surveyor also reported that the Otakia bridge would be finished in a few days.— The report was received, and it was resolved that alternative tenders be called for the purcha&c of the old bridge for removal, or for its removal and for the stacking of the material. Tin ranger's report, which was of a formal chiracter, was received. The report of the sanitary inspector shower! that he had found it necessary to caution several persons re pollution of Abbot's Creek and the Kaikorai stream, within the boundary of the County, and that in each instance the warning had been followed by very satisfactory results. On the motion of Cr Andrkw the ranger (Mr Christie) was appointed inspector of dairies. Advice was received from the treasury to the effect that a voucher for the payment to the Taieri County of L 1575 advance of subsidy under the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act had been forwarded.

Donald Duncan M'Donald applied for a slaughterhouse license.— Granted. A letter was received from the tollgate-keeper at Henley stating that a waggon carrying wool passed the toll,?atc on January 3, and that the driver, Robert Ferguson, of Lawrence, refused to pay the toll demanded.— The Ciiaikman said he understood that the waggon contained four bales of wool. There might have been 40 bales of rabbitskins in the waggon, and no toll would have been demanded, but if there was a bag of wool in the watrgon a toll of L 5 was demanded.— Cr Bunting thought that the imposition of the toll mentioned was only a temporary matter.— The Chairman said the toll was a class tax of which he had never approved, and in his opinion this particular bye-law ought to be allowed to remain a dead letter.— Cr Bunting was in favour of the toll being abolished.— Cr Thomson thought the matter should be allowed to htand as at present, and that the statement regarding the amount of the load should be verified. If the wool traffic was allowed to come along the Berwick road the result would be that one-half of the rates of the riding would be required to keep the main road in ropair in order to carry this traffic. This would be a very heavy tax upon the riding for the advantage of people outside its boundary. No other traffic would affect them in the same way, and there was a railway to carry the wool,— Cr Graham paid, that wool was sent by wag^ou only foy the

purpose of bringing the railway to reasonable terms. He had never approved of this bye-law.— On tlie motion of Cr Thomson it was resolved, without further discussion— "That the ranger investigate the bona fides of the case, and that the whole question of the imposition of the toll be considered at the next meeting." A letter was received from the settlers ou the Kaikorai stream asking permission to ptit«a box at the mouth of the stream to stop the sandingup of the stream, and requesting, in the event of the work proving successful for 12 months, a subsidy of pound for pound on the cost of the same. — It was resolved to subscribe L 125 if the work proved successful. The following tenders were accepted :— For dog collars— James Law, LI l(!s Id per 100 ; formation at Button's, Strath Taicri— John Ryall, Ljil 12s ; formation at Jeffcoat's road, Saddle Hill— M. Hardy, L 5!) 'Is ; formation Mount Stoker small grazing runs — James Casey, I*l4l 14s !)d ; format:on, Ac, Mount Stoker to the Hummock— Thomas Hourston, Llsl Gs lOd. The bank book showed iv debit balance of L2ll l 6s lOd ; and accounts amounting Ll23llKa Id were passed for payment.