WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 26

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this county council was held in the Counoil Chambers, Falmeraton, oa Tuesday, at which there were present the Chairman (Mr T. Muir) and Ore J. Hartsfconge, jun., M. Isblsber, D. Kennedy, R. Matheson, J. J. Ramsay, D. Ross, J. Rose, and J. Stewarb.

FINANCE.

Accounts for the mouth Amounting to £274 18s 7d were passed for payment.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Returning Officer wi-ote announcing the re-election of Mr J. J Ramsay as a councillor for Maoraes ridiDg. — Received.

Messrs J. Kennedy aud Coutts, Dunbick, wrote drawing, the attention of the council to the unsatisfactory and unsafe condition of the distriot road from Cunningham's corner to Hewitt's section. They pointed oat that during the past six years they had resided in the district the sum of £16 only had been expended on this portion of the road, and that "thirds" accruing from their holdings during tie same period amounted to the sum -of £165. This was the only pirt of the road that required attention, ' and they asked that it should be placed in a satisfactory state for traffic. — The Inapeotor explained that since the letter had been written some iunpiovoraents had been effected by the surfaceman, with which Mr Coutfcs had expressed himsdlf satisfied. — Messrs Kennedy and Coubtf. to ba informed that all the moucy accrued from the sections referred to had been expended on roads "loading on aud to the block."

Mr H. D. Atkinson, Wellington, intimated that the Counties Conference meet on the 19>.b. inst., and requesting name of delegate to represent the counoil. — Received.

The Clerk of Magistrate's Courr, O^maru, wrote requesting information as to the names of the d'fferent ridings for the purpose of advertising sitting of Relief Court at Palmers ton. — Received, the information having been supplied.

The Department of Lauds and Survey, Dunedin, wrote abating tluk applications for payments re Capbura bridge had been approved and forwarded to the head office. — Received, aud clerk to apply to Manioto'oo County Council for their contribution of £40 towards the cost. The Town Clerk, Palmersbon, wrote stating that, re formation and repairs to boundary road leading to Mr S. Dick's property, the Palmereton Borough Council h»d agreed to expend the sum of £10 as suggested, tbe work to be done under the supervision of the county inspector. — Received, and offer accepted.

M«a»rs Matheson and Craig, Green Valley, wrote in reference to the valuation of section 5, block XIV, Swiuburo, the area being 2698 acres, the lease of whioh had been surrendered and fresh lease granted, the Valuation having been made on the original instead of the present rental, to which it had been reduced ou the re-lease of the land. — The council decided to refund Miss Freland the sum of £11, overcharge of rates for the three years ending March 1895. inspector's reports. The Inspector reported as under : — Green Valley riding : The site of the fence to be shifted in this riding re -deviation, of road through Mr A. D. Bell's laud at Stonebura was very rough, and the wire was nob worth much. [ It was the strong thick kind, and there were only fire wire* in the 'fence. The distance to erect the fence was approximately a , mile and three-quarters, which consisted of iron standards and wooden posts in the hollows. I Cost of shifting estimated at 2s per chain. — I Received, and clerk instructed to write Mr Bell to ascertain the terms upou whioh he was pre- ; pared to grant the deviation, the inspector ' to I explain what wab required. Dunback < riding : The road from Coutts's homestead I to Cunningham?! corner in this riding had been formed, and directions given to have the surfacing attended to on the southern boundary of the Fort Chalmers endowment. The 1 road from Coutts's homestead was in first--class order as far as surfacing could make it, I apd as compared with other roads in the same ' riding left no room for complain!* The gravel I was being spread on Brothers Hill. The toad 1 was very good to within half a mile of the old I Figroot Hotel, and most of the roads' in the riding were in good order as regarded surfaoing. — Received and app'ored. CONTRACTS. Tenders were opened and the lowest accepted 1 for the following contracts : — Coni-.raut 302 : Supply of 160 cubic yards of metal, Main road Macraes to Hyde— E. Griffiths, £47 6« 81 ; W. Dodd, £48'7b; T. Houston, £51 6s Bd. Contract 303 : Supply of 480 cubic yards of gravel, Blue Mountain riding — J. Kitchen, £20; !D. W. Philip, £20 ; P. L'lnh^tn, £28 ; T. I Hoarsroa, £39 ; -T. Thompson, £40. Contract ! 30*1 : Formation of boundary road betweerv-the county and rhs Borough of P-ilme-H'-ai— M. Kttohcn, £18; T. H iisntu s, £8 10?: W. Tnylor, £18 13j 6d ; D. VV P<iil.», £19 7* ; W. Paffl, £23 17s 6d. OTHER MATTERS. On the motion of Cr Kennedy, the inspfiotor was instructed to report 03 ihe cutting at; the Shag river on the Main road near Duuback ; also on the Macraes main road from Mrs Fljan't to Mrs Jordon'e. Cr Hartstonge drew attention to the mode adopted by the council in deciding the accept- j ance of tenders when there were two fee tbe

same amount, whioh he regarded is unfair' and calculated to defeat- the wish of the council to give it to fche'besb man. He moved th%t the matter should in future be decided by a vote of the council and not; by drawing a mmc from a hat.

Cr Matheson seconded the motioc, whioh wao, however, negatived, several of tho mambees expressing their dissent from establishing a hard and fast rule, preferring to leave the -question open, with a " fair Held and no favour " to all who ohose to tender. The council then adjourned.