TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2255, 20 May 1897, Page 25

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Tuapeka County Council, held on Friday, was attended by Messrs J. Bsnnet (chairman), R. Cotton, J» Edie, J. Inglis, W. LivingntoD, W. Osborne, F. Oudaille, J. Sim, and J. K. Simpson. CORRESPONDENCE. Scotfc and Blackmore, Waipori, wrote asking for the payment of £40, which they claimed as due on contract done by them on Waipori road. — The Inspector explained that there was an error in the specifications, but this had been rectified and an equivalent granted. — The Chairman as id the work was done under a Government vote. — Received. F. G. Dalziell, for Mrs Rae, wrote complaining of the slate of a bridge leading on to her property.— The Chairman explained that the bridge had been pnt up owing to the widening of a drain near the property, bub the counoil could not maintain ib. In reply to Mr Dalziell, he said Mrs Rae had no claim whatever to entitle her to get the bridge. — No action taken.

The Bruce County Council wrote stating that the sum of £12 had been voted to the Mount Stuart Road Board for expenditure on road past section 12, block VII, Table Hill, on the condition that the Road Board and tho Tuapeka County Council contributed an equal amount. — Deferred till next meeting. M. Blaokmore and others, of Waipori, wrote calling attention to the bad state of the roads in the Waipori township. — To be attended to. The Chief Surveyor, Dunedin, wrote rs surveying road through section 28, block VI, Tuapeka East, and stating that he had communicated with the Surveyor-general for instructions, as he felt some doubt as to whether the work came within his duty. — Received. T. Wilkins, Crookston, applied to exchange a small piece of road lino by section 13, block VIII, Crookston. — Cr Edie explained that some years ago a bit of Wilkins's section had been gravelled by mistake instead of the road. Wilkins was prepared to take a bit of land on the other side of the road in exchange for the ground destroyed. — Granted. M'Neill aud party, Waipori, wrote asking the council to gravel 15 chains of the Main road near Rl 'Kay's.-— Cr Cotton explained that seven chains of the work required had been done, and the rest would be attended to. — Received. The Mines department wrote that all votes under the department for Tuapeka Couuty had been authorieed. Under the Survey and Lands department, the £500 voted for the Pomahaka bridge bad not beeu authoiised because tho bridge Bite had not been agreed upon, and tho £166 for the Teviot block had not been dealt with as it was not proposed to cxp9nd the vote jusfc at present. — Received. J. Tamblyn, Coal Creok, wrote forwarding accounts for £4- 19s 9d, subsidy on birds' eggs collected in the Teviot Riding, and asking if the subsidy would be continued. — It was decided to pay the subsidy specified, but to decline a subsidy on poisoning. The circular from the Waitaki County Council re a tax on bicycles was received. F. G. Da'ziell, solicitor for the New Zealand Minerals Company, wrote asking consent to the erection of a line of electric conductors from the Waipori Falls to the O.P.Q. and Canton reefs. — Granted subject to the county chairman's approval. Smith, Chapman, and Sinclair, Dunedin, wrote on behalf of Mr Taborn, Clarks Fiat, calling attention to the action of Mr Brydie in making a ditch on the Couuty road, thus intercepting the natural run of the streams through the farm?, and asking the council to rectify the matter, as it was occasioning damage to their client, and stating that if it were true, as stated, that the council had given an iudeinnity to Brydie, it would be an illegal act. — Resolved— " That Mr Brydie be notified that he must abate the nuisance caused by water running through sections 8 and 30, block V, Tuapeka East district, and onpoaite French's, Clarks Fiat." Herron, Simmonds, and Co., who wrote with reference to an application by J. M'Lougblin to purchase a piece of land at Shirgle Creek, were recommended to bring the matter before the warden. S. Caudwell, Waipori, wrote calling attention to the st&te of the roads near the river at Waipori.— To be attended to. chairman's eepobt. The report for the months of March and April submitted by the chairman stated :—: — The following contracts have been completed :— viz., No. 419, gravelling at llankleburn ; No. 421, quarrying at Clarks Flat ; No. 422, quarrying, Robs Gully road ; No. 426, gravelling road to Wetherstones ; No. 427, gravelling road to Blue Spur ; No. 428, gravelling Bush road, Tapanui ; No. 429, gravelling Manse road, Tapanui ; No. 425, road formation near Beaumont and Tyson's road towards Beaumont, while slips and other repairs have been attended to Government vote, £100, Black Hill, Beaumont : This work being urgent has been canied out by clay labour and teams, under arrangement with the Survey department, and has been well and cheaply executed. Road to Sciimgeoui-'s, back country : In company with Cr Inglw and Mr Scrimgeour, I visited this place, which h-ads to a large extent of agricultural land, and, as merely a track is required, the co3t will be about £50. On account of the good weather and repairs made, the county roads are in exceptionally good order for this^time of the year. DUSKY EOAD. On the motion of Cr Edie it was resolved that a special meeting of ratepayers interested in the closing of Dusky road be held on a day to be appointed at Mr M 'Kay's house, Heriot.' LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted for three meetings to Cr Edie, as he intends to visit the old country. PROPOSED INCREASE OF BATES. Cr Sim said that he thought the state of the finances warranted an increase of a farthing in the rates. The prosperity of the district and the large number of bridges, &s., in all the ridings required a large amount of money, and fee thought the council would be wise to increase the amount by a farthing. He therefore moved — " That the rate for the current year be one penny in the pound." Cr Edie seconded che motion. Cr Cotton said, in the course of the discussion which ensued, that the only means of carrying on was by the exercise of strict economy. In his own riding the increase of new works meant an increase of revenue. There was over £6000 to be spent in new works. He thought it would be a hardship to tax people who were just starting works. He thought that the income would be likely to meet the expenses. Cr Livingston said that as far as he could see there had never been a member for the district like Mr Larnach, and if the Government continued giving in the future as in the past there would be no need for new taxation — £400 would cover all that would be needed. He thought there should be more economy. Cr Sim said if the council adhered to the motion passed some time ago each riding should keep within iti limits. If that were not done it would be necessary to jtrike a further rate, i The increase of new works, of which Cr Cotton ] had SDoken, meant a large increase in the

mining industry, and the carting work done ig connection with that meant a great deal of cufc« ting np of tb.9 roads, necessitating & great expense. Or Cotton moved as an amendment — " Th*t the rate be as previously — via,, Jd ia the pound." After further discussion, the amendment wm put and oarried. ACCOUNTS. The revenue for the two months wasehowlTßr be £1170 153, while the expenditure w»8 £1258 0s 105. BALANCE SHEET. The balance sheet for the year ended 31al March, 1897, was read, received, and adopted. OVERDRAFT. A resolution authorising the overdrawing of the council's account at the Bank of New Zealand was carried on the motion of Crs Simpson and Cotton. INSPECTOR FOR MILLER'S FLAT BRIDGE. It was resolved, on the motion of Crs Livingston and Cotton — " That the Government be asked to appoint an inspector for the Miller* Flat bridge." THE LICENSING ELECTION. Cr Sim suggested that the council should take into consideration the question of the expenses of the last lioensing election. He pointed out that while the Tapanui Riding did not receive any license revenue yet it was saddled with its proportional share of the elections,' the whole cost of which would be about £184, besides which his ridiDg bad to contribute to the members' expenses. He thought that the S.M. and two J.P.s would be arnp'e to conduct the business of the licensing committee, and that the council should take steps to have the matter brought under the notice of PArliament. NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS. Cr Sim also referred to tb.9 matter of obtainiug narrow gauge railways for the country, and stated that he was opposed to the step, as the difference in the gauge would necessitate considerable shifting of goods, and also render another class of engines, waggons, and carriages necessary. He hoped the council would consider the matter. GENERAL, Ib was resolved, on the motion of Cr Cotton — " That the repairs in connection with Waipori, the subject of some of the correspondence, be left in the hands of the ohairman." The matter of repairing the road leading round by M'Cluskey'a was left in the hands of the chairman to attend to. Cr Osborne moved — " That the road by Hogg's house, Tuapeka Fist, be repaired afc j once." — Cr Cotton seconded the motion, which j was oarried. Tho matter of making the footbridge over the creek near Labes's bridge passable for sheep waa left in the hands of the chairman. In reference to the request of Mr Scrimgeour for a road to the back country on the Teviot station, Cr Inglis moved — " That an amount not exceeding £50 ba expended on the formation of a track an requested." — The motion was seconded by Cr Edib, and carried, | Ib was decided, on the recommendation of Cr Cotton, that Inspector Young attend to the work of placing a tootbi-idge over Post Office Creek at the lower croßaing. It was also resolved that all the stone at present quarried be placed on the roadf, that tenders be called for the removal of Reef Creek bridge, and that culverts on the road to Lee Flat station be attended to as soon an possible. A return was laid on the table showing the proportionate amount of day labour employed, with the carting and expenditure in each riding ; also a return showing the progress of county works for the months of March and April. — Tuapeka Times.