TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 5

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was held in the Council Chambers On Friday last. Present: Crs Henry (chairman), Edie, Bennet, Livingston, Knight, Inglis, Sim, Michael, and Oudaille. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk of Clatha County wrote stating that their engineer had reported the Kelso bridge to be unsafe for traffic, and the bridge has been closed by order of the council. It is intended to provide a ford for crossing.— Cr Sim said the council would require to also put up a notice to stop dray traffic. A crossing in the creek had been made. A bridge would eventually have to be erected. W. M. S. Knight, secretary Waipori Miners' Association, wrote requesting the council to call tenders for the extension of 20 chains of the bush road which was passed to he done at a previous meeting of the council.— Cr Knight moved— " That tenders be called ; cost not to exceed £50."— Cr Bennet seconded.— Carried. George Bartlett and A. Rowe wrote asking that the gorse be cleared off the roadline leading to Scrubby Point, as the road was in some places impassable.— Cr Oudaille moved — " That the inspector notify the property ownerß adjoining the road to clear the gorse ; failing same, to be empowered to take legal proceedings."— Carried. S. Caudwell and J. Lewis wrote drawing the attention of the council to the injury their property sustained through the silting up of the Waipori river by the deposit of tailings from the Amalgamated Deep Lead Company's workings. The bed of the river has been so much raised that the least fresh almost sends the w.ater over the adjoining land and even into their dwellings. There was also a tendency for the river to cut a new channel to the south of the township, crossing the main road to Lawrence. Should this happen a new bridge will he required. They asked the council to take some steps to compel the company to stack their tailings instead of running them into the river. Cr Knight moved— " That the manager of the Deep Lead Company be informed that the council will hold his company liable for any damage done the road through the tailings from their workings causing the river to overflow." — Cr Edie seconded the motion. — Carried. Mrs Shaw, Kelso, wrote asking that the road he made passable for about 10 chains at hack of show ground, leading to her property. Mr Dunnet offered to plough the road.— Cr Sim said the matter had been attended to, Mr J,. D. Aitken, on behalf of the settlers in village settlement block XI, Glenkenich, wrote asking that the road to sections 80 and 98 be opened, as the pettlers bad no o.utlet at present.— Cr Sim, moved—" That the inspector be authorised to employ extra surfacemen to expend the thirds and fourths due to the new settlement.'' ! "Mr W. Whitefield and another wrote stating that a petition was forwarded from a number of Bottlers in block XlVjGlenkenichj to have the road opened to the Tapanui main road, and requesting that the matter be now attended to. — In reply to the Chairman, the Inspector said the road was not required.— To be informed accordingly. Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. wrote, ye road' deviation in block 11, Benge?, asking, on Mr Clarke's behalf, that the'eouncil should remove the fenoo to the boundary of the new roadline and Crown-grant to Mr Clarke the portion of the old | road to be closed in consideration of the grant i from him to the council of the new road deviation. ! If the council would obtain the closing of the cM ; roadline and the title for Mr Clarke, Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. wou\d bo happy to execute the necessary deeds for the transfer of the new piece of road. — Deferred for consideration till next meeting. CHARITABLE AtD. The Secretary of the Otago Benevolent Institution wrote stating that a certain man \vou}d be admitted at any time to the inqti\,utipn. I,'ho trustees declined to grant any outdoor relief to. another, but are prepared to aaa\it h}m to the institution. 'In the case, o.f a third vo,a.\\, recently admitted.no advice was forwarded of his expected arrri^l, $nd «c was, in consequence, wandering about the streets all night.— Cr Oudaille said he had seen the second of those mentioned, who declined to go to the institution. He (Cr Oudaille) objected to the arbitrary and unreasonable manner in which tho institution attempted to do things. It cost the counoil less to keep the man at Waitahuna than in the benevolent. He moved — "That thj vecpest be. renewed for aid."— Carrie^. THE MITLURVFWA.I> I'UNTMAN. P. Laffey, postmaster, Miller's Flat, wrote stating that he could not decide on any particular hour for crossing the mail, as the coach arrived at no particular time.— lt was resolved— " That the

puntman be instructed to cross the mail on arrival, and to obey the commands of the inspector of works, failing which he be dismissed." Michael M'Carthy, Crookston, wrote asking that a culvert be placed over section 3 road, block XII, Crookston, as there is only oho culvert on the road, and offering to cart the stones himself. — Cr Bennet moved— "That the request becomplied with." It was only a small matter, and the applicant offered to assist. About £200 had accrued from deferred payment thirds and fourths to this block, and as the request was reasonable and money available he hoped the work would be proceeded with.— The Chairman said he did not feel justified in going on with this work. If a number of the settlers interested waited on the council and showed that the road was wanted he would assist to open it, but he could not do so for one man. The erection of the culvert would be no good as the road was not open. — Cr Bennet said the council could sanction the removal of the obstructions and the road would Boon be opened. However, he would not press the matter, hut would allow the settlers to act on the suggestion of the chairman. inspector's report. The Inspector of Works submitted the following report for the month of January 1894 :— 'lhe following works have been attended to since last meeting :— Brown's Riding. — Road from Barclay's towards Tuapeka Mouth ; Valley roadCorkscrew road, also boundary road towards Tuapeka Mouth. I would recommend that the following works be atttended to in this riding :— Big Hill, 400 cubic yards metal ; concrete pier in centre of Miller's bridge, main road. I estimate the cost at £40. Beaumont Riding.— l would recommend that 250 cubic yards of metal be procured for the Big Hill, as it is badly cut up. The following roads have been attended to : Road up east bank of Clutha river ; road to Beaumont station ; road on west bank of Clutha river, towards bush. Teviot Riding. — Being pushed for time, I could not visit the upper portion of this riding. The following works have been attended to :— Chair at Horseshoe Bend ; road from Ridds's towards Beaumont station ; also, road to Lindsay's and repairs to Miller's Flat punt. I would recommend that a small storeroom be erected at this punt, as it is greatly in need of it. On account of bad weather, I was unable to get finished with the grader. I expect to start the grader at Teviot by the end of next week. James Riding.— l would recommend that a culvert be constructed on Main road at Island Block, near Maddens. The metalling of the road near Mr Edie's is being attended to. Tapanui Riding.— I would recommend that five chains of gravelling be done on Wooded Hill road, as this is a bad piece of road in winter. I estimate the cost at £10. lie obstruction on Cemetery road : I may state that if this gate is removed Mr Smith will have to fence his land. His fence will cut away the traffic bridge, as a portion of the bridge is off the roadline. Re obstruction near the Bush road : I may state there is no traffic on this road. Harris's road at Manse reserve : I visited the road, and it requires three small culverts and three small cuttings, and about 12 chains of scrub cleared to give him an outlet. I estimate the cost at £30. Bridge over Pomahaka river at Kelso : I would recommend that this bridge be closed for traffic, as it is unsafe. Waitahuna Riding.— The grader has completed about 70 chains of road in this riding. The con. tractor for contract No. 385 ia making very slow progress. Claries Riding. — The grader is working on Boundary road in this riding. Waipori Riding.— Owing to the heavy floods in Waipori river I was unable to get on with gravelling. I expect the surfacemen will start metalling Boulger's Flat by the end of next week. Gabriels Riding. — The surfacemen are employed repairing Blue Spur road near Devine's, as it was considered more urgent than a footpath. I would also recommend the bad holes on the main road from Lawrenoe town boundary to Roxburgh be attended to before winter. MINING VALUATIONS. The mining valuations were laid on the table and approved. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £433 7s 6d were passed for payment. *• ARREARS OF RATES. The clerk was empowered to sue for the recovery of rate arrears. TENBfERS. The following tenders were accepted :— Contract 338, C. Oassidy,— Blacksmith work : Browns and Gabriels riding, P. White; Tapanui, J. B. M'Alister ; Teviot, J. A. Boyd ; Waitahuna, D. M'Taggart. — Dray work: Browns, A. M'Leod; Gabriels, James White ; Beaumont, A Stevenson ; Waipori, D, Blaok ; Waitahuna, J. Ryan.—Maintenance gravel : Lawrence to Waitahuna bridge, Moore Brothers ; Waitahuna bridge to county boundary, J. Ryan ; Beaumont bridge to Rae b Junction, R. Coskery ; Rae's Junction to Evan's pinch, A. Milne. Sundries: Tapanui, J, B. M'Alister ; Lawrence, Herbert and Co. — Stationery, G. Jeffrey.— Firewood and coal, Browne Bros.— Timber, BjGwneßroa. and Tyson and Dunlop. GENERAL. Cr Sm moved— "That from 100 to 200 yards of i metal be obtained for repairing the worst portions of road in Tapanui riding ; that a bridge bo placed across the Crookston creek, Wooded Kill road, cost not to exceed £15, the R,ettless to as&ist carting."—Carried. . . Cr Sim moved— '■' That the chairman communicate with, Mv R. Hay, engineer, and obtain his charea for- preparing plans for works exceeding £100."— Carried. * Cr Sim suggested that the chairman write to the Government to allocate the grants appearing on the Supplementary Jfistimates .for works within the county, so tha,t works can be proceeded with, Cr HmuHT a,ske.i that the inspector be instructed to lay off road through Lee Flat, and report at next meetlny. Cr Oudai^lk requested that the inspector report on the necessity of a gate on road near Mra Leslie's, Waitahuna river. Cr Bennet recommended that the Main road on top of Big Hill be gravelled at once. Cr Bennet asked that the surfacemen be instructed to put the Rank}ebu.rn bush road in repair before the bad weather. The Chief Surveyor forwarded plans of deviation of ro^d block XV, Glenkenich, which he apnToyed.-rdßeceived. r ihe deviation of roads through Dusky were deferred for consideration at next meeting, Cy Sim in the interim to go over the road.

A man named Mitchell baci his head blown oil at Craigieburn, l^ew feiouth Wales, through the accidental discharge of a gun. He leaves a widow an<£ five children,

It is mentioned as strange, though true, that in Asia and Africa, where grass will not grow, the most beautiful flowers and shrubs flourish |9 perfection,

A Timaru telegram states that most of the grain is now in stook. It is feared the return of warm, damp weather will cause some damage.