WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 5

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this county council was held in the County Council Chambers, Hawksbury, on Friday last, at which there were present— The Chairman (Mr James Green), and Ors W. J. Bolt, J. Uouglas, J. Porteous, and J. A. Townsend.

FINANCE.

Accounts for the month amounting to £106 8s were passed for payment.

CONTRACTS.

Tenders were opened for the following works, and the lowest accepted :— Contract 508— supply of gravel on Jeffery's road, Flag Swamp— T. Hourston, £16 18s. Contract 509— formation on Gilmore's road, Kilmog creek— D. Foliar, £5 10s. An account from James Ritchie, for surfacing on Kilmog Hill by James Galloway, was considered, and the Finance Committee recommended the council not to entertain the claim, as they were satisfied Galloway was not entitled to any further sum than had been already paid him for the surfacing referred to.— Adopted. Cowan's Road.— The Inspector reported that this road was in a very bad state, and- Mr Cowan was prepared to give stone on condition that the council carted and broke the same to metal about five chains of the worst part of the road, which would put it in fair order. — Received, and resolved that the council break and spread the metal, provided Mr Cowan and his neighbours supplied the spalls as directed by the inspector. Donald's Hill.— Reporting on the petition of Messrs Parks, Coombs, and others in reference to this road, the inspector pointed out that he was not aware of any accident having happened there. The road had been used for 30 years, and nothing had been done to make it more unsafe now than formerly } and to fence the road would be very unwise, as there were many other places equally as dangerous in the county. The inspector recommended that no fence should be erected there.— Received. Middle District Road. — In referenceto the petition of Messrs Low and others, re this road, the Inspector stated that in going over it he found it in a good state of repair, and a man had been put on to do some surfacing where the water came down the road. The road could notbe improved except by metalling it, to do which would entail a very large expenditure, some 60 chains requiring metal. — The inspector was instructed to effect what improvement he could to the road by the surfaceman. Flag Swamp Road.— After inspection of this road, in compliance with the petition of Messrs Lindsay, Galbraith, and others, who asked to have the grade improved, the inspector stated that there were places where culverts were required and the road graded to carry off the water, and some repairs to other portions. — The council resolved to call for tenders for the work.

. Pigeon Flat Road.— This road the Inspeptor reportedt in reply to a petition from Messrs M'lntosh and others, was in the same condition as other clay roads in the courfly— viz., very soft at this time of year, bat in a fair state of repair, — and could be left until the days lengthened. That portion of the toad from Craig's to the saddle was in very good order, but from Craig's toM'lntosh's gate it was somewhat broken and had not been graded, and 'required something to be done to it in the spring. The road through section 10, owned by Mr M'lntosh— a distance for about 22 chains,— was in a very bad state, and as this was the only connection with Blueskin t and Dunedin, and not being on any of the county maps, he asked instructions in reference to it.— The inspector was direoted to have the surfacing on .the road attended to and', to make further inqniry as to the legal status of the road at M'lntosh's properly. -'•>.' - » The Blueskin Bridge.— The Inspector recommended that this bridge should receive immediate attention as it was showing signs of decay, the shoes sinking into the longitudinal beams. If over much longer fears were expressed that 'the bridge would collapse.'— The council agreed to call for tenders for the repair of the bridge. Monthly Report.'— ln this report the Inspector stated that iri the North-East Valley riding the roads ; we te in viry fair condition, except the road 'leading over Fine, Hill, which was very badly cut up. In the. Blueskin riding the roads had received the usual attention, and were no worse than might be expected at this season of the year. Contracts 503 and 504 were being proceeded with, and with good weather would bo completed shortly. In the Mertori riding the coast road with cross roads had been very bad, especially those portions not metalled, and he had done what lie could to improve them. Contract 496 and 502 had not been commenced owing to the continued wet weather. In the Hawksbnry riding the roads were in very fair order, except the bush road and M'Auley'a road, which were very much cut up. Contracts 500 and 501 had been commenced, and very fair progress was being made. Contract 497 was near completios, and the contract on Nenthbrn road would be commenced next week. — Received. From Mr T. Clark, Hawksbury, applying to the council to form a orossing into his property from the Main North road. He pointed out that he had applied to the Hawksbury Borough Council last week, and that body referred him to the county council as he resided in the county and paid his rates to the council. The clerk was instructed to inform Mr Clark, in reply, that the council could not comply with his request, as to do so would establish a precedent and entail an expenditure beyond tho total revenue of the county, besides the part of the road referred to was a boundary road and under the supervision of the Hawksbury Borough Council. From the Commissioner Crown Lands, Dunedin, requesting the council to inform him in what way and for wfcat purpose the "thirds" paid to the county in respect of sections 1, 2, 3, 8, and 14, block VII, Strath-.Taieri district, amounting in all to £33 17s 3d, had been expended, and whether or not any of the said sections or portions of them were included in the rate roll of the county. The clerk was instructed to reply that the sections enumerated were not on the rate roll of the county ; that the amount named had been expended on roads submitted to and approved by the Qtago Land Board to open up the blook. From Mr R-. Jefferjs, Flag Swamp, calling attention to the desirability of the counoil supplying poison for the destruction of small birds as in years past, same to be obtained at the Council Chambers. — The olerk was instructed to procure a sufficient quantity of poison and issue the requisite quantity to, the chairman of a committee appointed by c ' the I settlers for the purpose of poisoning small birds in their respective districts within the county., . From the Waihemo County Clerk, informing the council that the financial position of that county would not admit of the work being proceeded with re proposed erection of a bridge to connect the formed portions of Stenhouse's road through Cr Douglas's property at Pleasant river.— Received, and the counoil expressed the hope that the matter would not be lost sight of, bat that the Waihemo County Council would give a satisfactory reply to the application at an early date,

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr Joseph Mawson, secretary to the Cemetery Committee, Purakanui, applying for the sanction of the council to the removal of a small portion of the bank on the opposite side of the road for improving the approach to the cemetery. — Referred to the inspector, with instructions to allow the removal of the earth if the road is not injured thereby and the work is done to his satisfaction. From Mr Thomas Newstubb.Mansford Town, drawing attention to the condition of the street! and roads in Mansford Town, which were in a very bad state of repair, and more particularly pointing out the state of a culvert in front of his property which required attention.— Referred to the inspector. From the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington, intimating that a voucher for the balance of subsidy, £125, had been sent to the Treasury for payment.— Received. From Mr G. S. Arthur, Gore, calling attention to the impassable state of the road leading to his property— section 21, block 111, Merton riding.— Referred to the inspector. From the Secretary to'the TaieriMilk Supply Company, Dunedin, stating that they were erecting a creamery at Mihiwaka, and applying for permission to carry water in pipes underneath the district road at that place.— The application was granted, the work to be done at the cost of the applicants and to the satisfaction of the county inspector. From Mr G. ~E. Roberts, applying for a slaughterhouse license.— The police offering no objection, the application was granted.

OTHBB MATTERS.

It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Douglas, seconded by Cr Townsend— •" That the clerk be instructed to write to the Hawksbury Borough Council drawing their attention to the muddy state of the road and footpath in fijont of the County Council Chambers, with a request to have the mud removed and a few loads of gravel spread thereon." The council resolved to levy a general rate of three farthings in the pound for the year ending March 31, 1894. The^ council then adjourned.