TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 2046, 11 May 1893, Page 10

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

An ordinary meeting of the Taieri County Council was held on Friday, and attended by the chairman (Mr W. Snow), Crs Chisholm, Graham, Thomson, Andrew, Bunting, and Todd.

THE LATE PREMIER.

The Chairman said as this was the first meeting since the death of the Premier, he thought it was their duty as a public body to mfike some reference to his death. There was no one who had the welfare of New Zealand at heart but must regret the loss to the country of such a man as the late Hon. John Ballance. Although they might differ with him in politics, they must all admit that he was an honest man and a statesman. He moved — " That a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs Ballance, expressing the council's sympathy with her in the great calamity which has befallen her."

Cr Bunting seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

inspector's report.

The Inspector of Works reported that the roads and bridges in the county were all in fair order, considering that the grain traffic was nearly over. There had not been so many broken bridges this season from the traction engines, which he thought might be attributed to more careful driving on the part of the owners, although none of them had conformed to the by-law. He would like the council to decide which of the roads to block VII, Strath-Taieri, was to be made— the one asked for by Mr Duncan M'Rae or the one by Mr B. Cockerill. One road leads from Cockerill's seotion to* Moonlight boundary. This is a surveyed road. The other leads from the same section to the Middlemarch road, and would require a deviation and fencing as stipulated by Mr Cockerill. The road leading to Moonlight or Waihemo boundary-would, in his opinion, be most serviceable for the settlers, as it divided the block. The cost of formation would be about £40, and the work could be done by the daymen if the council thought that that would be the best way to have it done. He had inspected Mold street, Arden township, and found that very little good could be done there unless two small bridges were erected and also a box put in to carry the race running to Garthmyl. In the event of the work being done he would suggest that the bridge on the water race at Smooth Cone be removed to Mold street. It would make the two bridges required, all except the frames. If the bridge were removed as he suggested the cost of the work would be much less — about £25. The removal of the obstructions on the streets in Arden was being proceeded with. He had examined the double ford on the Silverstream road to Whare Flat, and found that to make the road round the bend to avoid crossing the stream about one acre of land would have to be taken from Mr M'Gregor's trustees. To make the deviation a strong embankment, either of masonry work or of wood, one chain and a-quarter in length and 6ft in height, would be required to be made, and a cutting at each end of the bank about 10ft in length, to ensure an easy grade. He estimated the cost at from £60 to £70. The only other way to avoid the fords would be to turn the stream down a channel in Mr Irishman's property. If there was no objection to this plan, it would cost less than half that proposed by the settlers. He would recommend that 100 yds of gravel be placed on the road Holmes's gate on the Owhiro road and the station. — It was resolved that the work on road in block VII, Strath-Taieri, as recommended, be carried out by the inspector ; that M'Lay's application for improvements on Mold stretfbtxden, be refused on account of want of fundsyuhat no action be taken with respect to the improvement of the road at Longford, Silverstream ; that tenders be called for 100 yds of gravel between Holmes's gate>nd the Owhiro road ; that Mr Nichdl be informed that his application was for improvements on a road that was not a surveyed line, and Consequently that the council could not grant his request ; that tenders be called for 40yds of metal for Green Island to Brighton road, near Hamiltons ; and that the inspector arrange with Mr M 'Donald for exchange of roads and necessary formation at Hindon, Mr M 'Donald agreeing to convey the deviation to the council when called upon to do so. Cr Chisholm said (after the inspector's report had been dealt with) that he noticed that some of the votes passed for works that day were not more necessary than what he voted for at last meeting. He then moved that some metal be placed upon a road which was in an almost impassable condition, but the council would not agree to do the work. Now there had been a quantity of metal passed for one road and a quantity of gravel for another, and both those roads were in about the same position as the road he applied to have repaired. That being the case, he could not see that the council had any grounds for not agreeing to repair the road in his riding, which was admitted to be impassable during the winter. The Chairman said he was in the hands of the council, and if they wanted to go on with works he could not help it, although no one was more willing to reduce the overdraft than he was. ' He admitted that the road that Cr Chisholm wanted repaired required repairing, but where was the money to come from ? It simply meant an extra rate of a farthing in the pound. Then all these applications for repairs to roads might be granted. He thought it would come to that before long.

Cr Geaham quite agreed with Cr Chisholm that some maintenance metal should be obtained for the road referred to by him. The Chaieman thought that the matter should be brought up again, aa Cr Chisholm had not been treated verylrindly. After further discussion, the matter was dropped without any resolution being come to. ENGINEER'S ItEPOBT. Mr R. Hay, county engineer, reported that he had forwarded applications to the Chief Surveyor for grants to construct roads to open up Crown lands for sale. There was not much land open for sale within the county boundaries, and the applications made were only two in number: — (1) Blocks XII and XIII, Maungatua district ; amount applied for £100. This would open up the road from T&ieri Plain on to the leading ridge and practically allow access to nearly 2000 acres of unsold land. (2) Part of the Hummock district, near the county | boundary, in the neighbourhood of the Nenthorn district. Application £450, to construct bridge and approaches to give access to about 6000 acres of unsold land unsurveyed. He had also to report to the Chief Surveyor on the road opened during the year ending March 31, there being only one from the Deep Stream railway station to the Nenthorn small grazing runs.— The report was received. COUNTY TREASURER'S REPORT. The County Treasurer reported that the revenue received and paid into the bank since last meeting amounted to £744 3s Bd. The bank book showed a debit balance of £3127 12s 2d.— The report was received. CORRESPONDENCE. The Receiver of Land Revenue wrote intimating the payment of £301 8s 5d to the credit of the council in respect of deferred payment thirds, &0., acoured from the period from October 30, 1889, to January 28, 1893.— Received. The Secretary of the United Districts Obari-

table Aid Board wrote forwarding a claim for £603 12s 9d, being the amount of contribution required from the council for the maintenance Of charitable institutions in the district for the year 1893-4. — It was resolved to pay the claim by monthly instalments as usual. The Secretary of the Otago Hospital Board wrote forwarding an account for £295 19s 9d, being the amount of contribution required from the council for the maintenance of the Dunedin Hospital for the year 1893-4. —lt was decided to pay the claim by monthly instalments. Mr William Thomson, Banks, Maungatua, wrote intimating that he was willing to accept the responsibility of damage to road that might arise through the water table being taken across the road to his butter factory.— The application was granted on the condition mentioned by Mr Thomson. Mr R. H. Leary wrote inviting the council to appoint three delegates to attend a conference to be held in Dunedin on the 11th inst. on the subject of the Otago Central railway.— The chairman and Crs Bunting and Thomson were appointed to represent the council at the conference Mr E. Smith, factor of the Presbyterian Church Board of Property, wrote requesting that the culvert which at present carried the water through the road on to Mrs Taylor's property, near the Silverstream bridge, Mosgiel, be closed, and the water made to run alongside the road towards the bridge at the corner of Duke'B road, instead of allowing it to continue as at present. — It was reßolved to inform Mr Smith that under existing circumstances the council did not see their way to interfere in the matter.

Mr R. A. Ewing wrote requesting that the steep grades on the Abbotsford to Brockville road be reduced. — It was resolved to inform Mr Ewing that the council had no funds available for the work.

Mr W. A. Steel wrote requesting that the council would cause the obstruction which the residents had erected in Milford street, Middlemarch, to be removed. — Referred to the inspector. Mr W. Kennedy wrote asking that the road to section 2, block I, Sutton, be opened up ; or that the bridge on the road leading from the main road be repaired. — Referred to the inspector to report. The Green Island Borough Council wrote requesting that the water table or culvert in front of the manse, Green Island, be put in a state of repair, as in its present state it caused much damage to the church road. — Referred to the inspector with power to act. Mr James Gray wrote pointing out the necessity of gravelling that portion of the Brighton beach road, near Mr Patterson's, which was formed last year. — Cr Graham moved that 500 yds of gravel be obtained for the road. Cr Todd seconded the motion, which was negatived on the voices.

A letter was received from the Treasury, Wellington, intimating the payment of £5 Is to the credit of the council, in respect of goldfields revenue, for the period from March 24 to March 30, 1893.

Mr Joseph. Bryant and 18 other ratepayers in Lower Kaikorai wrote requesting that the road leading from Williamsburgh to Lower Eaikorai, or Bryant's corner, be formed and metalled, as it would be a safer and easier road than the one in present use.— Referred to Cr Thomson to report to next meeting. Mr Charles Samson wrote requesting permission to treat, the blood from his slaughteryards for manure purposes, and guaranteeing that no nuisance would be caused by the process. — Referred to the sanitary inspector to reports Alice and Benjamin Cockerell wrote offering to allow the council to take a road through sections 7. and 15, block VII, Strath-Taieri, on condition that the roa^ was fenced within one month after the formation wai completed,— Received.

READJUSTMENT OF HIDINGS.

Cr Robehts wrote stating that, owing to his absence in Australia, he had arranged for Cr Thomson to move the motion re readjustment of the riding boundaries of which he had already given notice. Cr Thomson moved — "That a petition be presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying, in view of the great inequality of the rateable value of the-various ridings of the county, that a readjustment of the boundaries of the various ridings be made, and that a committee, consisting of the chairman, Cr Thomson, and the mover, be appointed to draw up and forward the petition."

Cr Bunting seconded the motion, which was carried.

THE SMALL BIRD NUISANCE.

Cr Andrew moved, in accordance with notice of motion — " That a supply of poisoned grain to the value of £30 be procured, with a view oi its distribution over the county by the council surfacemen during the winter season, for the purpose of destroying the small birds." -,- <

Cr Todd seconded the motion, which was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

TENDERS.

The following tenders were accepted : Supply of 200 yards of metal for Kaikorai road — A. Rutherford, 4s 4d per cubic yard (hand-broken) ; 300 yards of gravel for Factory road — Gavin Murdoch, lOd per yard ; 50 yards of metal for Finnie'a road — W. R. Mabson, 3s 9d per cubic yard.

ACCOUNTS.

Accounts amounting to £494 4s 6d were passed for payment.

THE SCHEDULING OF ROADS AND BRIDGES.

It was resolved that a meeting of the committee of the whole council be held on June 2, at 1.30 p.m., to consider the scheduling of roads and bridges to be a charge on the county funds.