TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2146, 11 April 1895, Page 5

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was held at Jlosgiel on Friday afternoon, and attended by Crs Graham (chairman), Chisholm, Snow, Roberts, Samson, Nichol, Todd, and Andrew.

inspector's report.

The Inspector reported that it was suggested that part of the protection fence at the junction of the road to Brighton on the hill near Mr Crawford's, Green Island, should be removed and that the Brighton grade should be followed, but he would not recommend that that coursa be taken, as it would increase the grade, which was verysteep, unless the cut were carried through to the top road, and that would necessitate a cutting of 7ft. lie suggested, therefore, that the road be smoothed off. and that 50 cubic yards of metal he put on it. He had examined the road to Mr Keid's homestead, near the Deep Stream bridge, and found that the track which Mr Reid wished repaired was not on the surveyed line but was mostly on bis private property. He (the inspector) thought, it anything was to be done, that the proper road should b9 made as far as Mr Reid's boundary near the homestead. It would be quite a3 goad as the present track for grade, and the cost would be about £70. The poplar road in the Henley dietrict was now the principal road to the Henley School, and was invariably bad in winter. It was 06 chains in length, but was narrow, with one ditch on the west side sft wide, ne suggested that the present ditch be widened lft 6in and deepened 2ft, so as to get 30 yards of stuff per chain for formation, the estimated coßt being £26. Regarding Hamilton and M'lndoe's box, he did not think the council had incurred any liability as to putting a box in tho locality indicated, as the new road was not any higher than tbe old river bank. The adjoining proprietors had tbeir own private boxes on the road and attended to them. A chain of the road at Mrs Canning's eate

had never been metalled and was very sloppy ia wet weather ; 10 yards metal would suffice for it. Iheie was a bad place also in front of the Prcsby. tenan manse, Gieiii Wand, that required 10 yards metal Ho would suggest that some of tho most urgent works bo put in hand without delay, such n3 maintenance metal for the Kaikorai road, AUin South road, and the Centre road, Bast Taieri riding,- as it was desirable that metal should be at hand to natch with before the ruts got deep. The gravel for the Lngaton road should bs got before the winter. Iho portion of Grey street, Greytown, which bad been gravelled, was 22 chains in length, and as the gravel was completely done he woulo! suggest that a good coat of gravel be put on at a cost of £20. Ihe other 10 chai ns were nietalied, and 20 yards would make a good job of it. About 50 yards of metal were wanted on tho road between Greytown and Outrara. The East Taieri ndiog road from Brown's corner to Owhiro was in a bad state last winter, and something should be done before winter in the way of gravelling about 300 yards at a coat of £20. Part of the school road between tho post office and the school North Taieri riding, would require 400 yards' gravel, at a cost of £24. For the road Roslyn boundary to Flagstaff 159 yards metal were needed to extend the mttal through thebmb, tho estimated cost being £22 10s. Ha suggested that the off«r of M'Millau and Leishman, to cart gravel at Gd per yard for tho road b3lween Silverstreara and Whare Flat, be accepted, the surfacemen to fill and spread to the extent of 500 yards, at a cost of £1210*. As there would be aconsidcrablearncuntof traffic on the Granton road, Outram riding, on account of the land held by the M' Leod brothera being cut up into small farrua, he thought that a coat of gravel should be put on the road which had been formed. Fifty yards gravel would be required, and the C33t would be £50. A new bridge was required on the road near Heenan's factory, Maungatua riding, the old one being completely done. He would suggest that a timber bridge be constructed at a cost of £30, and also that some gravel be put on the road formed list year by the settlers to Lee's creek. A piece of road from Brown's corner to Carruthors's could be formed by tha grader. The cut to turn the river above Cottesbrook bridge would have been finished, but owing to a ri?c in the river the party had to leave off. As a further protection to the bank on the west aide, he would suggest that a row of willow branches, tisd together like a fascine, should be laid in a trench on the beach so low that the water would always be near the roots. To prevent them washing away they could bo strapped down with wire and stones. 'Jhe distance was about seven chain?. A few chains of fence would bo required to fenco off cattle, lie thought a cheap and effectual groin would be formed if his suggestion was adopted. Ho had sounded tho liver at Greytown, and found that a considerable scour was taking place below the second ep^ce from the Greytown side. Granting that tho piles had been faithfully driven, they would not bo more than 10ft in the ground. If the new cut had the desired efFect the channel might silt up again. He had let the work of making the cut to Charles Junge. lft thought it would ba desirable to havo a scoop for the county, as much more work could then be done on the clay road. A wheeled scoop would be the be3t as it would save the labour of - one man. The contracts in haud were nearly all completed.

In connection with the raport it was resolved — " That tenders be called for the reformation of the road to Brighton on the hill near Mr Crawford's at Green Island ; that the sum of £v be spent on tha road to Mr Reid's homestead ; that it ba referred to Cr Snow to report at next meeting as to the state of the poplar road leading to tha Henley School ; that it be left to the inspector to metal one chain of the road at Mis Canning's gate ; that tho question of tho road in front of the Presbyterian inaiißC, Green Island, be referred to the Green Island Borough Council ; that the inspector's recommendation respecting the gravel for the Biighton road be adopttd ; that the suggested gravelling in Grey street, Greytown, be done : that the metalling of the road between G-reytown and Owhiro ba proceeded witli as recommended ; that it be left to the inspector to repair the road from Brown'a corner to Owhiro, with either schist or gravel, at a cost of £20 ; that tho work recommended between the post office and school, North Taieri, be authorised ; that the matter of metalling the road from the Roslyn boundary to Flagstaff bo referred to the Maori Hill Council ; that the work proposed on the Silverstream and Whare Flat road be nndertaken ; that . the recommendation as to work on tho Granton road stand over for a month ; that tenders be called for the proposed woiks in the Maungatua riding ; and that the suggested protective work in the river be undertaken."

engineer's report.

The County Engineer (Mr R. Hay) reported that, in accordance with instructions, ho had sent into the chief 6urve3 - or estimates of sums required to open up lands before Eule by the construction of roads, and the following were tho amounts applied for :— Blocks XII and XIII, Maungatua district, to open up 20U0 acres, £100; Hummock district, to open up 0000 acres, £450 ; block XV, Maungatua, lately surveyed, £400 ; roads through tho Blair Taieri village settlement, £130. This sum would be available for expenditure by the council shortly, as the amount had been added to thesale priceof the sections, and would borefunded to tho county council for expenditure on th« roads. — The report was approved.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr Thomas Finnic wrote that a deputation would wait on the council to urge that the Breakneck road be put in repair. — Mr Finnio and two other ratepayers waited on the council in connection with the matter, and it was agreed to vote ££0 for expenditure on the road.

Mr Charles Iliggins, Hindon, wrote asking the council to get the road made between his honiestead and the siding on the Otago Central railway at Christinas creek.

Mr James Harrison, Middlemarch, directed attention to the desirability of having the road, from the upper end of the Switchback to the Rook and Pillar station opaued up.— lt wa3 agreed that the council expeud the sum of £30 In opening tip the road, provided the settlers interested \mdertake the cartage, Mr John Hay, Middlemarcb, complained of obfetiuctiocs being placed on the street lines by a public officer,— Referred to the inspector. Mr Alexander Watson, Whaie Flat, wrote requesting the council to give Bonie assistance towards making the road, to his property passable.— Received. Mr A. Smith, Woodlands, wrote supporting the request of Mr Charters that the Duke's road ditch at Lacglea be cleaned by the county. — A report by the Chairman and Cr Todd, stating that there was no apparent reason why the ditch should bo maintained at the public expense, was adopted. Mr Edward Finch and 11 other settlers in Blair Taicii wrote asking the council to open the centre road from Miadlernarch to the settlement.— The council resolved tint it could not see its way in the piesent state of its finances to undertake the work. Messi'3 J. Blown and Michael Hughos wrote asking tho council to put the road fronting theic property audalso the junction of that road with the Wingatui road iv good order.— Referred to Cr Andrew to repoit. Mr Peter Dippie, Kuri Busb, directed attention to the fact that a portion of the road loading out to the Otakia road was becoming badly overgrown with whins.— Referred to the inspector. Mr R. Barron, jun., Hindon, drew attention to the necessity of forming the road leading to hia ground, Mount Hyde district.— Referred to Cr Nichoil. Mr Duncan M'Co'l, Brighton, called attention to the stata of the culvert on the road near hit house.— Referred to the inspector. GENERAL. It was decided to ballot for the names of five defaulting ratepayers ia each riding against whom summonses should be issued.

On the motion of Cr Samson, seconded by Cr Snow, it was unanimously resolved to abolish the Henley toll. The estimate of revenue and expenditure for tha year wa3 approved. It was decided to grant a subsidy of pound foe pound, to the amount of £4, towards improv« ing the road between the cattle yards and tha Junction Hotel, Cr Samson's motion that tin council undertake the work being lost on tbA casting vote of the chairman*