WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 13

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this county council was held in the Council Chambers, Palmerston, on Tuesday last, at which there were present the Chairman (Mr A. M'Laren), and Crs J. Hartstonge jun., M. Isbister. D. Kennedy, R. Matheson, J. J. Ramsay, D. Ross, and J. Roas. inspector's report. The Inspector reported as under: — Green Valley Riding. — In this riding the Main road as far as Shingly creek was in fair order, and M'Donald's road, as far as surfaced, was also in good order. The bonds complained of were sharp, and a waggon could nob go round them, but there was not much difficulty iv taking a, two-horse dray them. The grades on tho rest of the roads were fairly good — Adopted. Duuback Riding. — The roid in this riding up past Cox's was much waterworn, and required to be generally improved in the spring. The Stoneburn ro.xd was iv fair order, except a small piece in Bell's £.r*ss paddock, which was rutted aud waterworn. The metal on the Main road was becoming thin, and would require to be attended to in tho spring. The timber ordered for Kitchener's bridge had not yet come to hand, the required sizes having to be obtained from Australia. — Received. Blue Mountain Riding. — Arnott'sroad in this riding had been repaired, and the road past Mrs Randall's was being attended to leading to Giaig's property, but work had been suspended owing to the wet weather. The growth and spread of gorsc on the road lines in this riding was on the increase, the means adopted to abate the nuisance proving insufficient to keep it down. The water-tables and culverts got blocked by the practice of settlers trimming their hedges and leaving the gorse to blow about and lodge in them. This caused a good deal more work in surfacing. — Received, Bushy Riding. — The Horse Range road in this riding had been improved and the culvert repaired at M'Gregor's. There was a considerable spread of gorse in the riding, and as the county road extended for 300 miles and included an area of some 1500 acres, the small amount of time at the disposal of the surfaceman was naturally limited, after keeping the bridges and culverts in order, to clear the water-tables leading to and from the culverts to overtake the extra labour entailed by the spread of gorse. Wright's Hill on the Goodwood road required about 50 'cubic yards of maintenance gravel, and some improvements were required at the cutting leading to the lodge at Goodwood House. Mr J. Duncan, of the Palmerston Cheese Factory, complained of the water from the Main road discharging itself on his property, and the inspector suggested that the council should put in 9in drain pipes across the road to carry off the water, which would meet the difficulty. — Adopted, and the inspector instructed to put iv pipes as recommended in the report. FINANCE. « Accounts for the month amounting to £276 19s 9J were passed for payment. CO a RE&PONDENCE . From Mr P. Barr, secretary to tho Duuediu City Sinking Fund Commissioners, enclosing bill of costs from Messrs Bathgate^and Woodhouse in connection with the transfer of road lines. — Received. From the Department of L«.nds and Survey, Dunedin, applying for information as to the erection of the Capburn bridge, the benefit the holders of small grazing runs sections 1, block IV, and 1, block V, Highlay district, and 1 and 2, block IV, Rock and Pillar district, the fourths from which amounted to £13 13s 9d and £15, the council proposed to expend upon the bridge ; also as to the benefit the holders of small grazing run, section 2, block V, Highlay district, would derive from t'^e proposed expenditure of £11 16s, on the road along the Taieri river, fronting section 20, block VII, Kock aud Pillar district. — Tho clerk was instructed to supply the board with the information asked for, Cr Ramsay moving that certain laud revenue in tho blocks referred to bo allocated iv improving tho roads leading to them. From Mr W. Fowler, P^lmerston, applying for a refund of £3 Is, fine in conuecti.n with a breach of the county by-law re traction uugiucs. — Consideration deferred for further inquiry.

From Me T. Gately, Macraee, calling attention to the fact that when he tendered for the county surfacing ho was informed that on finding bondsmen the successful tenderer would have his deposit refunded, and also get paid the full value of the work done, on which understanding he accepted the contract at a very low figure. He applied for a refund of his deposit and payment in full for work done. — Resolved, on the motion of Or Matheson, eecouded by Cr D. Ross — "That until the agreement is signed by two responsible bondsmen, approved by the c.uacil, the deposit be retained."

From Mr J. Service, Palmerstou, drawing attention to the encroachment of the Shag river to the road leading to Shag Point, about six chains east of where it crossed the Main road, opposite his farm.— Referred to the inspector to report. From Mr A. Craig, Shag Valley, drawing attention to the state of Rendall's road. — Received.

From Mr J. Douglas, Mount Royal, stating that the Taieri Peak road leading to his hut not having had the extra culvert placed across it which he called attention to as necessary it had become a veritable quagmire. He asked the council to attend to the matter as his rabbiters had to camp there.— Received. From Mr J. Fraser, Moonlight, drawing attention to the state of the road near his farm, it being in very bad condition owing to the lodgment of water. About a chain of formation was all that was required. — Resolved, on motion of Cr Harts jonge, seconded by Cr Ramsay— "That tenders be called for the work."

From Mr E. Stack, Macrae?, one of a party of prospectors, applying for assistance in tbe shape of some timber, 150 ssts, to prosecute their prospecting. In the event of the council agreeing to the request he promised to be responsible for the same. — Declined on account of tbe state ot the county funds.

From Mr 11. Steele, Palmerston, applying for information 39 to the action the council intended to take with respect to closing the district road opposite his farm, as he was put to great inconvenience in the meantime. — The council decided to consult the parties interested as to their views with respect to closing the road referred to.

From the secretary of tho Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards, Dunedin, enclosing list of

persons in the county in receipt of outdoor relief, and intimating the council's proportion of contribution to the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards for the ensuing year. — Received. From the Treasury, Wellington, intimating that the sum of £2, goldfields revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the couucil at the Colonial Bank, Palmerston. — Received. OTHER MATTERS. The council decided to invite applications from competent persons to act as county valuer for the ensuing year ; to accept tho tender of 15s per day for horse and dray work for the county as against 16s ; to remit an application from Mr M 'El wee to have the road through Terrace farm opened to Cr Isbister and the inspector, to consult with Messrs Robinson and M 'El wee, and report result to council at next meeting. Resolved, on the motion of Cr Mathhson, seconded by Cr Istuster— " That the clerk be instructed to write to the Minister for Lands to ascertain if the cost of administering the land revenue can bo charged to that fund." On the motion of Cr Hartstonge, seconded by Cr Ramsay, permission was given to Surfaceman Nicholson to fence in small reserve in Macraes riding during the pleasure of the council. Resolved, on the motion of Cr J. Ross, seconded by Cr Matheson — ' ' That a committee be appointed, consisting of the chairman and Crs Muir, lobister, Matheson, and tho mover, to consider the question of making an all-round reduction in the cost of administration of the council." — Cr Ramsay opposed the motion. Cr Hartstoncik moved, and Cr Ramsay seconded — "That tender bo invited and lodged by next meeting of tho council for the formation of the Horse Flat road leading to M'LelUu's homestead, cost not to exct-ed £25, and to be defrayed out of land revenue."— Carried. CONTRACTS. Tenders were opened for the following works, and the lowest were accepted : — Contract 242, formation of M'Lellan'a road Highlay — T. Dodds, £32 ; W. Baker, £34 14s ; T. Hourston, £36; A. Robertson, £39. Contract 243, formation of road to Muir's small grazing un, Green Valley— T. Hourston, £14 ss; W. Randall, £22 2s ; A. Robertson (amount not stated). Contract 244, gravelliog boundary roads, borough and county— W. Kendall, 10d per yard ; T. Hourston, lOd per yard ; J. Kitchen, 11^ d per yard. The tender of W. Rendall was drawn by ballot and accepted. The council then adjourned.