WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 15

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Hawksbury, on Friday lasb, when there were present — The Chairman (Mr A. S. Orbell), Crs A. Graham, Charles Duke (who took his seat for Blueskin .Riding), J. Foote, J. Porteous, and W. Souter. FINANCE. Accounts for the month amounting to £319 13s 2d were passed for payment. ,:INSP>"CTOR"S BEPORTS. The Inspector reported as under :—: — Merton Riding.— l have the honour to report that owing to the slippy nature of 'he land a cousideiable hollow exi-ts on a portion of ISddie's road_, and to put this part of, the road in good repair would require about a chain of new formation and 10yds of rotten rock.

Received, and the inspector instructed to get the necessary work dove as recommended. " North-East Valley Riding.' — I have the honour to report that I examined the culverts on the Pine Hill road, and find that they are in a state of good repair. I also waited on Mr T. Sullivan in connection with his complaint al last meeting of council. He has no fault to find with the culvert, but that the water comes through it and goes on to his property. H« now wishes the council to cut a ditch through his private property, which I declined to do until further instructed.

Received, and after consideration the council cannot see their way to undertake the work as applied for by Mr T. Sullivan.

I have also tlie honour to report that one of the culverts on Hanson's road is very much decayed and requires to be renewed. I would respectfully recommend that a man be put 'on with the surfaceman for about six days and have a new culvert put in.

Received, and the inspector instructed to get the necessary wok done as recommended, provided Manionand M'lntoxb. cart the sfcoua free of cost.

Merton Riding. — I have the honour to report on the application of Messrs Doyvnes and Blatr re clearing road line leading to section 12 and fronting section 75, block I, the distance of which is 2G chains, but Mr Blair has cleared six chains, and there are 20 chains of bush which requbes cltaring in order to make the road fit for traffic.

Received, and the matter deferred at present.

PETITION,

Mr Henry Green and five other ratepayers in the North-E**t Valley Riding petitioned the council (o widen the road leading from the Hon. Mathew Holmeb's property at Mount Cargill, kno-?»n aa Campbell's road, as far as section 3, a distance of about eight chains, which was impassable. — The petition was recaived, and the inspector was instructed to report fully on the application at next meeting of the council.

CORRESPONDENCE

A circular from the Treasury, Wellington, was read requesting to be furnished with copie3 of balance sheet in duplicate for Parliament and for record in tue department. — The clerk was instructed to comply with the request.

A ciicular from the L".nd and Income Tax department, Wellington, was read, wantiDg to know if the 10 per cent, penalty had been included in the declaration for subsidy on rates collected for the year ended Maroh 31, 1897.— The clerk was instructed to reply that no penalty had been included. An opinion from the county solicitor, Mr D. M. Findlay, was read with respect to the validity of the electors' roll, and a3 to the qualification of Mr Duke to become a candidate for the vacancy in the Blueskin Riding, he living and being a ratepayer in the North-East Valley Riding. — Received,

A return from the inspector of slaughterhouses in the Port Chalmers district, giving the number of cattle slaughtered during the month of August, was read and received. The Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington, wrote iutimatiog that a voucher for the payment of £125, balance of subsidy due the council for the year 1896 97. had been tent to the Treasury for payment. — Received.

The Pajmaster-geneial, Wellington, wrote intimating that the cum of £30, goldfields revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the council at the Bank of New Z- aland, Waikouai ti . — Received ,

The Chairman of the Fahtatua County Council wrote proposing amendments in " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886," in the direction of relieving lecal bodies in the payment of interest, and by extending the period of loan to 50 years for its extinguishment. It was suggested to reduce the rate of interest to 2£ per cent. The co-operation of the council was invited in bringing influence to bear on the member for the district and a consensus of opinion obtained to attain the object desired. — The circular was received.

Ml- Charles Dore, Middlemarcb, applied to have the road known as the Main Nentborn road, running through runs 171 and 121, widened. — The council resolved, on the motion of Cr Souter, seconded by Cr Fokteous, to instruct the inspector to write Mr Dore and arrange a day to meet him on the ground to point out the work that he required done ; and, if urgent, to call for lenders by next meeting of the council. The Under-secretary, Mines department, Wellington, wrote forwarding a copy of the proposed Consolidated MiniDg Bill intended to be introduced during the present session of Parliament for consideration by the council. — Received.

The Secretary of the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards, Dunedin, forwarded a return of persons in the county iv receipt of outdoor relief.— The return was in.parb approved, and

I other portions were referred to the board's, in* ! spector, drawing his attention to them. Mr Kilpitrick, Waitati, wrote stating thai; having occasion to visit Blueekin Riding lately | he found that very great dissatisfaction existed ■ I as to the amount of money allocated by the council to the different parts of the riding. The ratepayers of Mansford and Lower Harbour averred tba.fc their part of tbe riding had been unfairly treated, while other, parti had received too liberal treatment. To prove whether. there existed any grounds for these statements he aeked the council to furLish him with » return showing the income and expenditure for the past five years in each of the three districts of the Blueskin Riding, the boundaries of the districts being as follows: — (1) The road leading. from Mr Henry Clark's property past Mopanui on to Porb Chalmers; (2) Hey ward Toinfc road. It was suggested tba*i the expenditure of those dividing ioads should be charged half to each of the two districts they divided. The. expenditure on Main North road t» be charged «s the council deemed just. — , Cr SotfrEß moved— "That the letter be received only." He pointed out that any ratepayer desiring information could obtain it' on making personal application to the Islerk. Further, if a ratepayer had a complaint t should be made through tbe member for the riding in which he resided.— Cr Dckk seconded the motion, which he considered met the case— w Gr Graham moved as an amendment—" Teat the clerk supply tbe information asked for — for the past 10 year* — Cr Porteous seconded the amendment pro forma. — Cr Foote said he was not answerable tor what had been done'in the past, and any expenditure in his ridiog'hadTieen incurred with the sanction of the council,' Cr Graham included. The inspector could verify his (Cr Foote's) f-tatempnfc that the roads in tbe Waibati portiou of the Blueekin Riding were'in good order, and in much better condition than at the Purakanui and Hey ward Point end, and, as the council were aware, no application for works had been made or money expended at his (the speaker's) request. — The Inspector, who was called in, stated that the roads at the Waitati end of tbe Blueskin Riding were in good order — much better than at Cr Foote's end, ■everal cf tbe ro&ds there being un metalled. — On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost, and the motion declared carried.

Mr R. Gilchrist, Waitali, - applied to have the road improved between the railway station and Mr Miehie's property. He pointed, out that stone could be obtained from his paddock, and gravel near the bush where reqnired. — Received.

OTHER MATTERS.

The e'erk was instructed to write to the chairman and members of the Wasto Lands Board asking for their support and their recommendation to the Government to have the section at the lighthouse, containing 16* lr 16p, and section 2, recreation reserve, vested in the council as a recreation reserve, and that a copy of this resolution and plan of the land in question be forwarded to the Hon. the Minister for Lands, Messrs Allen and T. Farata, M.H R's., asking them to use their influence in getting the application granted and carried through at the prerent meeting of Parliament.

Cr Duke moved and Cc Foote seconded — "That the application of Mr Marshall re road improvement be referred to the inspector to gefe the work done ; cost not to exceed £3." The council then adjourned.