TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 35

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The aLove-named body met for the transaction of ordinary business in the County Chambers, Lawrence, on Friday afternoon. Present — Crs Henry (chairman), Livingston, Edie, Knight, Bennet, Sim, Oudaille, Inglis, and Michael. CORRESPONDENCE. George Turnbull, Koremata, Tapanui, asked for permission to fence off half a chain of the two-chain road line that leads to his house for the purpose of planting forest trees. Letters were also received from Messrs G. F. B. Poynter and John Edgar supporting Mr Tarnbull's request. — Cr Sim remarked that all the Rankleburn roads were two chains in width. The settlers were all agreeable to the planting of the trees. He moved — " That Mr Turnbull's request be granted." — Carried.

Robert Cotton, Waipori, drew attention to the state of the road at Boulgers's Flat, and requested that it should be metalled during the frosty weather. — Cr Knight moved—" That the work be attended to as soon as the weather permits." — Carried.

John Sharp and John Gent, Rankleburn, as holders of section 45, block VI, and sections 3 and 4, block V, Rankleburn, directed attention to the fact that nothing had been done to the road leading to their sections. — On the motion of Cr But, it was resolved — " That the member for the riding and Inspector Young visit the locality, and that they be empowered to expend the deferred payments accruing to the district to the best advantage."

Wm, Sinclair, mayor of Tapanui, wrote stating that the Olutha County Council had joined with the body he represented in taking steps to test the legality of the claim made for their proportion of the expense inourred in the late local option poll for the Clutha licensing distriob, and requesting to be informed if the Tuapeka County Council would take the same course and bear its share of the expense. Opinion of counsel had been asked for, and it was further intended to state a case to a Supreme Court judge. — Gn the motion of Cr Bennet, it was resolved to accede to the terms of Mr Sinclair's request.

The Mines department, Wellington, acknowledged the receipt of a resolution passed by the council urging that the miners should be allowed to use the Waipori river for mining purposes, and stating, in reply that a professional report would be obtained as to whether the level of the water of the Waipori lake and river can be lowered by means of dredging, so as to prevent the accumulation of silt and tailings. — Received.

Ephriam Varpoe, Munr&'s Gully, drew the Council's attention to the dilapidated state of the wingdamß erected some time ago by the council to protect the road -opposite Mr H. M'Cann's property, Evan's Flat. The wing--dams had been washed away and the roadline was partly swamped and needed immediate attention. — Cr Michael moved — "That the request be complied with, four men on each side (the county and the mineowners) to be employed for a week or 10 days in carrying out the work." — Carried.

James M'Harry, Kelso, wrote calling attention to Dusky road, through block V, Greenvale, and stating that Mr J. F. Herbert had fenced across the roadline and deprived the writer of any access to his land. He asked that the council should compel Mr Herbert to remove the obstruction. — Cr Edie said the minute passed at the meeting relative to the closing of the road was to the effect that Mr Herbert was to get the old roadline from the top of M'Harry's fence, but the new roadline was taken by the surveyor some 30 chains lower down than was agreed upon. He (Cr Edie) moved — " That the chairman look info the correspondence and report upon the matter at next council meeting." — Carried. John Kirkpatrick, Horseshoe Bend, wrote asking that the road to the Undaunted Company's mine be put in order. — It was resolved, on the motion of CrBENNEr, " That the work be attended to by the inspector as aoon as practicable." John Crawford, Lawrence, made a claim of £26 7s 6d for extra work performed by him in carrying out contract No. 384, AthfcDwum Reserve road, Tuapeka West to Beaumont. He pointed out that the sontract had not been surveyed so as to arrive v at the proper quantities. — Mr Cumine, surveyor, wrote stating that he had made a mistake of 200 cubic yards in the quantities. — Cr Oudaille suggested that £15 be allowed Mr Crawford in full satisfaction of his claim for extra work done in connection with the contract. He moved to that effect. — Cr Sim moved as an amendment — " That the account be referred to the engineer, with a request that he state what amount (if any) the contractor is entitled to, and explaia why cross sections were cot shown on the plan for all the road."-— Cr

Bennet supported the amendment, as it would satisfy the contractor and the council as well as all other contractors. — Amendment carried. Patrick Gregan and seven other ratepayers asked the council to put the road on tbe east side of Wetherstones Flat in repair. — To be attended to by the surfacemen. Fifteen residents of Miller's Flat drew attention to the state of the road between Yorkey's creek and Mrs Connor's houae, Horseshoe Bend. Referred to the inspector for report. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £1242 12s 9d were passed for payment. ' - The Clerk stated that he had received the following accounts in connection with licensing matters :— James Horsburgh (stationery and printing), £14; Pilling Bros, (advertising), £1 18;1 8 ; Mt. Benger Mail (advertising), £1 Is; Dunstan Times (advertising), j £1 78. The expenses ot the members of committee were :— J. Hetherington, £3 7s ; D. I M'lntosh, £3 7s; James Campbell, £3 7s; W. ! S. Laidlaw, £3 7s ; T. E. Williams, £4 7a ; Alexander Fraser, £3 17s ; J. N. Wood, £3 7s ; C. C. Rawlins, £1 5i ;— total, £44. INSPECTOR YOUNG'S REPORT. Mr Young, inspector of roads and works, submitted the following report :— The following reads and works have been attended to by the surfacemen in the different ridings for the months of April and May • — Brown's Riding.— New deck on bridge at I\ Cumming s ; new deck and beanu on bridge on - road to J. J. Gibson's ; repairs to bridge at Tmpeka Mouth ; repairs to bridge on main road from Lawrence to Big. Hill; repairs to Labes' bridge ; repairs to Corkscrew road, Valley road, road to Rankleburn punt, also metalling at Big Hill, five new culverts from Tuapeka Mouth towards Barclay's. Waifcahnna Riding.— Fencing each side of road at Corry'a bridge; five new culverts on road Waitahnna to Waipori ; also Mt. Stuart road, road to Waitahuna Gully, clearing tussocks off road Waitahuna to Wainori, repairs to Main road in township. Clark's Hiding.— New deck on small bridge at Fraser's, Clark's Flat ; new deck and biams on bridge, Main road, Clark's Flat ; repairs road to Greenfield, main road to Lawrence, Poison's creek road, Clark's Flat, road Waitahuna to Tuapeka Mouth, repairs to bridge at Duncan Robertson's. Waipori Riding.— Road Waipori to Po3t Office creek ; repairs to footbridge, Waipori ; repairs road to bush, repairs to river bank, near township ; alro laid off and called tenders for 20 chains road V/a pori Bush. Gabriels Riding.— Repairs to road Lawrence towards Waipori, bridge Wetherstones Creek, and Ec'uc Spur to Munro's Gully. I wish to draw the council's attention to the road Lawrence to Blue Si ur, as the water from the claim i 3 running over the load in several places. Ecaumont Riding.— Metalling Big Hill, repairs to road Beaumont to Rae's Junction, bridges at Rae's Junction, Tapanui road, road east bank of Clutha river, and road to Kirkpatrick's. James Riding.— Repairs to Main road, forming deviation at Judge's creek, road Moa Flat to Dunrobin, road Heriot to Orookston, road to Scrubby Flat, new culvert at Dunrobin Hill. Tapanui Riding.— Repairs to bush road, Harris and Sheddan's road, Brooksdale road. Manse road, road Tapanui to Kelso, repairs to bridge at Kelso, 40yds stone Kelso protective works, also road to Rankleburn, road from punt to Tyson's. Teviot Riding.— Main road Elder's to county boundary, new crossing at Black Jack's oreek, repairs to culvert at Elbow, road Teviot to Nobbies' (east bank Clutha river), road to Beaumont station, 40yds stone Yorkey'a creek, road to Forbes' repairs to Horseshoe Bend ohair.

The following contracts have been completed :— No 384, formation 47 chains road. Dale's Flat ; No. 386, gravelling 27 chains road, Kelso ; No. 390, gravelling 25 chains road, Waipori ; No. 389, formation 20 chains road, Waipori Bush. Contracts 386, 389, and 390 have not been passed. Owing to the recent floods, I have had to employ a number of extra surfacemen, but they will be discharged from date. I would recommend as follows :— That Judge's creek bridge be shifted from its present site, as I cannot find a foundation good enough to build on ; also, that the council fence the roadline for Mr Dingwall, Pomahaka, and close the new one, as it will cost too much to form the latter. The report was read and received. Be the deviation recommended at Judge's creek, it was resolved to defer consideration of same until Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. forwarded Mr Clarke's reply. Cr Edib mived — " That the inspector visit Diugwah'ti ro-d (Pomahaka) and report thereon at next meeting." — Carried. STRU^NG GENERAL RATE. Cr Michael moved, and Cr Edie seconded — " That a rate of f d in the £ on all rateable property within the county be struok for the ensuing year."

Cr Knight thought that an additional id in the £ was desirable to meet the expenses of charitable aid.

Cr Sim moved as an amendment—" That the rate be Id in the pound 'for the ensuing year." It was penny wise and pound foolish to have a Jd rate and a heavy overdraft. The amendment did not find & seconder. — Motion carried. BRIDGE OVER CLUTHA KIVEH AT MILL.BKS' FLAT.

Cr Inglis mentioned that, the residents of Miller's Flat were agitating to get a bridge erected across the Clutha river at Miller's Flat. A petition, which was being numerously signed, was in circulation asking the Government to grant a sum of money for the work. Sir Robert Stout, he understood, had promised to present the petition to Parliament, and had likewise promised to support it in every possible way. He thought the council should lend a willing hand, and moved to the effect that the local committee be informed accordingly,—Agreed to. APPOINTMENT OF VALUER. It was resolved that Mr J. J. Gibson be appointed valuer at remuneration stated, conditionally on the Mining Act in regard to assessmeets remaining as at present. GENERAL BUSINESS*. Sevtra alterations in the rate rolls were saacci ed by the council. It waa resolved that the old roadline through cccticns £7 and 58, block 11, Benger, be closed. It was resolved to accept Mr ~R. Hay's offer us erg-^teer fn the 'expenditure of Government votes, cr for any other engineering work required. The inspector was authorised to put the road leading to Finlay Muuro's and also to P. Cutumings's, Tuapeka Flat, in passable repair. The council adjourned at 7 o'clock, resuming at 8 to consider the by-laws regulating the traffic on the main road.