CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 12

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above council met at Clinton on {Friday » present— Crs Mitchell (chair), Johnston, Bradleld, Wallace, Dallas, Hay, Cumming, Rhodes, »nd Robertson. CORBBSPONDENOE, Mr W*. H. Atldmon, Wellington, wrote re the conference of delegates of local bodies to coneider the Local Government Bill, and subsequently wired intimating that the date of the conference had been fixed for Juno 19, and asking to be supplied with name of coancil'a delegate.—The Chairman did not know whether councillors had considered' the bill, bat so far •she bad done so he was not ■ favourably disposed towards it. If the council was to appoint a delegate, the council itself would have to oome to some decision on the bill.— Cr Johnston thought they should appoint their member M their delegate.— Gr Ccmming did not think there was any chance of the bill passing. — Cr Bbadfibld said if the Government wished to pass the bill they conld easily de so. That was Evident. — Cr Ha* thought if the counoil were to consider the bjjl^a special meeting would be accessary. — It was decided to hold a special meeting of the council to consider the bill that day fortnight.* Mr J. Robio, chairman United Charitable Aid Board, wrote pointing oat the inconvenience that resulted from the irregularity with which some of the representatives attended the meetings, — The Chairman said he had attended (he annual meeting, bnt he did not attend a fleosnd one called to reconsider the requisition fro*m the trustees. He, however, was glad to »cc that the representatives had abided by their Brat resolution. — The letter was received. The Secretary Charitable Aid and Hospital Board wrote asking the council to continue its payments on the same basis as last year, till the new valuation lists were ready. — Received. The Clerk Bruce County Council wrote ltating that that council was in favour of jLhe cost of the boat at the Eoau punt being added to the item, " repairs and improvements," and made a charge upon all the local bodies interested in the proportion already agreed upon. — Received. Mr 0. J. Crawford, for the Trust and Loan Company, wrote re the road on Lansdowne estate, stating that as the parties "concerned had now » greed to convey the land, he hoped the matter would be put through without delay.— Received, .it being agreed that the { matter should be attended to. ' i Mr J. B. Logan, Eelso, wrote asking the council if it intended to accept the £100 he had promised for the erection of a new bridge over the Pomahaka, and appoint a receiver. — It *ras decided to let the matter stand over pending the receipt of a reply from the Taapeka County Council. Mrs J. Anderson, Waiwera, wrote stating that she would like the council to attend to the toad leading to the Waiwera station as soon as possible. — The Engineer said there were two places that were too steep for any traffic, and would require block cnttings at a cost of £15.— On the motion of Cr Johnston the engineer was instructed to attend to the matter as far IS funds would allow. The Secretary Benevolent Trustees wrote giviag a li'fc of persons in receipt of relief SjithiaHhe county whose periods had expired, bat whose allowances had been continued pending instructions from the council.— lt was agreed to recommend that the allowances be aontinned. The Secretary of the Dunedin Hospital wrote In reference to a woman who had bean admitted fO the hospital on the recommendation of the pouncil, stating thai; the account foi the mainknanM of the child, which faad to he admitted

with iti mother, would be forwarded to the counoil in due course. — It was decided to reply asking that application ba made to the Benevolent Trustees. Captain Butler, Balclutha, wrote stating that the wire rope across the river in connection with the Eoau punt was too low for the steamer to pass under in safety. — The Chairman said this matter had already been put in the engineer's band, Mr R. S. Murray and five others at Puerua drew the attention of the council to tbe state of the Block road to Arikiki Bush, near Mr James Johnston's place, and asking that same be made fit' for light traffic— Referred to the engineer to report;. Several firms wrote quoting prices of poisoned grain for small birda.—Crs Hat and Bbadfield •aid that what was supplied last year was not of much account. — Cr Robertson said the chemist at Tapanui had been very successful with rabbit and bird poison, and moved that he be asked to quote prices. — Cr Johnston said he would move at next meeting that a bonus be given for birds' eggs. He thought this would ba more effectual than some of the money spent on poisoning — Cr Bbadfibld thought, if birdlime was any good it would kill more birds than all the poison if it would stick the birds to the aheep feed-boxes. — The Chairman thought the mud at Catlins would do that. — (Laughter.)— Consideration of the matter was deferred for a fortnight. Mt James Wyber, Catlins River, wrote to the effect that the engineer must have mistaken the ; line when he reported adversely to the writer's complaint as to trees having been fallen from j the road across his boundary. — Cr Bradfield thought if Wyber would remove the trees fallen across the road from his land, the | council would remove all the trees fallen from the road on to Wy bar's. — A motion to this effect, seconded by Cr Hat, was carried. Constable Christie, Balclutha, wrote stating that he had taken steps against F. Poff for slaughtering without a license. He was in favour of a license being granted to Mr Bigwood. — It was agreed that a license be granted to Mr Bigwood. Mr A. A. Robert, Clinton, wrote asking to be allowed 6s a day for stonebreaking, as he had to ride a distance of four miles to his work. — The Engineer said he understood it was only the permanent men to whom a horse was necessary who were to get 6s, and he acted accordingly.—Cr Rhodes said this man was a casual labourer, and there was more reason why he should get an extra 6d than a man who was permanently employed.— The matter was left in the engineer's hands to decide whether a horse was necessary. Mr James Crawford, Waikoikoi, wrote informing the council that the culvert near the township had got silted up, and that it had been a source of nuisance for several years. — Received, the engineer having referred to the matter in his monthly report. Mr P. H. Jones and eight others at Waipahi jointly wrote the council complaining of the nuisance and danger to health resulting from the stagnant water lying in a drain cut by the council along the Main street. The drain was blooked by the_jailway lino, and the drainage from the railway tanks and houses flowed along it.— Cr Cdmsiing said this drain wanted attention badly. He had seen the railway engineer on the matter.— The Engineer said the drain was being cleared out now. — Received. Mr James Brown, Tahatika, wrote applying to have 35 chains of the bush on roadline fallen, between sections 55, 58, and 59, block IV. He offered to fall same at schedule price, and was agreeable to wait till money accrued if there was none available on hand. — Received, money being cot likely to be on hand foe some time.

The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, advised the payment into the county fund of 10a, being goldfieldu revenue to April.— Received. BOADS AND -WOEK3. The Engineer, in his monthly report, estimated the cost of making the road from the top of the Pomahaka settlement across the Clutha river, at the Upper Clydevale station at £400. In regard to the culvert complained gf at Waikoikoi, the culvert was too high, but if Mr Crawford would put a few loads of earth in the hollow ifc would remedy the matter.— The Chairman suggested with reference to the Pomahaka road that the Minister for Lands should be communicated with. — Cr Wallace moved to this effect. The proposed road was one that affected the Pomahaka settlers solely. — The motion was carried. The engineer's report was then adopted. W. Taylor's tender for contract No. 667 at £12 83 was accepted, and D. Wiliiam&'s for No. 668 at 10s per chain, provided he lodged his deposit within a week, or, as an alternative, R. Crawford's at 11s per chain. Cr Rhodes proposed, and Cr Hay seconded — "That the engineer call for tenders for the I erection of a bridge near Mr Robin's, Waipahi I district, as s jon as the timber is carted on to i the ground, and also for formation required at I same." — Carried. Cr Wallace proposed, Cr Bbadfibld seconded — " That the engineer be instructed to take the levels of road between sections 49 and 1 50 and 37 and 65, block VIII, Pomahaka, and i report as to probable cost of opening same."—I Carried.