CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 33

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above council met at Balclutha on Friday afternoon. There were present : Crs Dallas (chairman), Brown, Christie, Mitchell, Simmer?, Hay, Mackenzie, Wallace, and M'Lachlan.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was read from the Marine department, in reply to an application from the council for control of tho Pilot Station reserve, Woodlands, intimating that arrangements had been made in October last to allow this reserve to be occupied by Mr Harming on condition that he should render assistance to any vessels requiring it, and that the Government do not consider it advisable to interfere with those arrangements. — Received. Mr Keith Ramsay wrote, calling attention to a beacon at the mouth of the Owake river that required to be strengthened. — The engineer to attend to the matter.

The Under-secretary for Crown Lands forwarded copy of an Order-in-Council declaring all that portion of the road known as the C.vtlins-Waikawa road, which commences at the eastern approach to the Mackenzie bridge, near the town of ltatanui, and proceeds to the sea coast at Taukupu Bay, all in the County of Clutha, to be a county road. — Cr Brown explained that there was no settlement in the district through which this road passed, that the road was not required, and he objected to any portion of the revenues of the riding being expended upon it. lie moved — "That the Government be informed that it is quite impossible for the council to do anything whatever with the road."— Seconded by Cr Hay, and carried. , C. F. Dunnet, Kelso, forwarded a petition, asking that a footbridge be constructed across the Pomahaka river. — Received.

Messrs Batson and Dodd, Tapanui, asked permission to cut flax on the reserve on the bank of the Pomahaka river for a distance of one mile on each side of their mill site. — Request to be granted on payment in advance of L 5. "~ Anne E. Dellon and Richard Holmes, Waipahi, 'asked that a road might be formed to give them access to their properties in Waipahi. — Received. F. Powell, Longbeach, notified that the poisoned grain ordered by the council had been forwarded. — Received.

Mary F. Frazer asked the council to take the steps necessary under the Public Works Act to vest in her a portion of land between her property and the roadline now formed through section 1, block 111, Woodlands district. —Mr Thornton appeared to support the application, but as further information was necessary consideration of the matter was, on his suggestion, deferred till next meeting.

The Secretary to the Department of Agriculture forwarded a circular with reference to Arbor Day.— lt was pointed out that school committees and other bodies throughout the counties had already taken action in the matter. — Received. Mr Samuel Vaile forwarded a circular with reference to the railways. — Received. The Secretary to the New Zealand Fanners' and Country Settlers' League, Christchurch, forwarded a copy of the programme of the league, and invited councillors in their individual capacity as farmeis to take steps to organise a similar league iv the district. — Received,

John M'Kny, asked that tho- third of the rent accruing from section 38, block IV, Glenomaru, held by him on perpetual lease, be expended on a steep part of Kororo creek road, near to corners of sections 37 and 38.— Granted.

An application for charitable aid was directed to be forwarded to the Charitable Aid Board.

Mary W. Kirk, Catling, wrote, asking that an outlet be opened to her section— l 7, block VIII. She explained that the owner of the sect/ion between her property and the road now prohibited any person trespassing on his land, so that it was impossible to get stock to her section, while she had to carry all herstorcs through a bush track.— Referred to the engineer, James Richardson, on behalf of Mrs Manning, asked permission to erect a gate on the road leading from section 50, block I, Warepa, to the village settlement, also forwarding bill for L 5, compensation for land taken for road.— Permission to erect gate granted on usual conditions, and claim for compensation allowed.

A number of settlers in the special village settlement, Warepa Bush, asked assistance to have a bridge erected over the creek on road loading to Mr 11. Sanclford's place, as they had no outlet to their sections. Thoy offered to assist with the work, and suggested that a committee of the council should meet them on the ground and arrange matters.— The Chairman, Cr Christie, and the engineer, were appointed a committee in the matter, with power to act. H. S. M'Coll wrote calling attention to the dangerous condition of the bridge across the Omaru stream leading to sections 40, 38, 36, 43, 41, and 52, block 111, Glenomaru. lie and othei<i expressed their readiness to assist with the work. — Refeired to tho cngincor to do what is necessary.

John Allison asked permission to cut firewood on ro.idlinc through section 22, block X, Warepa. Granted.

The Manager Bank of New Zealand notified that the arrangement with the council regarding the bank passing cheques on other places for the council free of exchange would cea.se from and after 15th prox., and that in future exchange at the rate of { per cent, would be charged on the aggregate amount paid in on auy one place on

the same day, with a minimum charge of 6d.— Received. George W. Draper asked for the removal of a wire fence and other obstructions from the 'halfchain roadline through section 14, block 111, Woodlands.— Mr Thornton appeared for the applicant and explained the position of the matter. He maintained that (this line— a dotted line— was a public road under the Public Works Act and was under the control of the council, yet tho chief surveyor, without authority from the council or anyone else, had marked on the map the dotted line as now closed. — From the discussion that ensued it appeared another person claimed that he held a title to the roadline, and there were several other complications. The matter was therefore referred to the chairman with power to take legal advice, he to report at next meeting. Mr Rhodes, asked and obtained permission to erect a gate on the road Clinton to Owake. EXI'KNI)ITURE Ol' PERPETUAL LEASE THIRDS, ETC. Air Cumiue appeared before tho council and pointed out that Messrs Cumiue Bros, were entitled to a larger expenditure of money upon a road up the Kaihiku Gorge and across the hill to lueruastieam, so that within a reasonable time they might have access from their Lochindool property to the Warepa railway station. Their present outlet was to Romahapa railway station, 15 miles distant, whereas Warepa station was only eight miles distant. He explained the various sums paid by Messrs Cumine as perpetual lease thuds, and showed a balance of L3O due to them for road works on 31st December 1891. He also explained tho various sums paid by them as county rates, amounting during the time they had been settled there— about 3J years— to a total of over L2OO, while with the exception of about a dozen chains of road metal in Little Puerua gorge, they had received no substantial benefit in return. Ho proposed that a portion of their county rates should also be paid on the direct road to Warepa railway station.

Some discussion ensued, after which Cr Brown moved — That a committee be appointed to investigate into the whole mutter of the expenditure of the deferred payment and perpetual lease thirds, and small grazing runs fourths, the committee to consist of the chairman, and Crs Wallace and Christie." Cr Hay seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Rhodes also appeared before the council and complained that the perpetual lease thirds and small grazing' runs fourths of rents paid by himself and others had not been expended on the Cairn roads required by the lauds contributing the rents.— Referred to the committee already appointed.

MISCELLANEOUS Cr M'Lachlan referred to the circumstance that the council hadlo pay L 27 6s 9cl annually in connection with the administration of the Licensing, Act while they only received a revenue from the same source of L 5. lie moved—" That the following be appointed a committee to consider and report on the matter : The Chairman, Cr.s Wallace and Christie, and the mover." Seconded by Cr Hay, and carried. The engineer's monthly report was read and adopted.

_ Cr Wallace moved— "That tlio engineer be instructed to erect a suspension bridge capable of crossing sheep at the Upper Waiwera ford."— Seconded by Cr M'Laciilan and carried. Cr Mitchell moved, and Cr Hay seconded— That the engineer call for tendons to metal the new road through Clydcvale Ferry reserve." — Cai-iied.

Cr Mackenzie moved, Cr Simmers seconded, and it was agreed to— "That the clerk communicate with a number of owners of land in the Waipahi ridiug, nnd ascertain upon what terms they will consent to give a chain road through their properties in order to connect the lands in that locality with the Kclso-Pukerau road."

The Finance Committee recommended payment of the monthly pay-sheet, L 306 14s 9d ; interest, L2ll 2s sd ; sundry accounts, L4ls 5d ;— total L1512 18s 7d.- Adopted. It was agreed that tho necessary steps be taken to levy a rate of -}d in the pound ; also a special rate to raise the sum required for charitable aid Cr Caristie moved— " That the chairman obtain a legal opinion as to who was responsible for keeping Kakapuraka roadline clear of govse." — Seconded by Cr Hay, and carried. The following tenders were accepted : Contract No. 496, James Ottaway, L 23 15s ; contract No. 497, James Ottaway, L9l Bs.