WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 19

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this County Council was held in the County Council Chambers, Palmerston, on Saturday last, when thera were present the Chairman (Mr T. Muir), Crs G. Ciarke, M. I«bister, D. Kennedy, R. Matheson, D. .Ross, and J. Ross. PAYMENTS. Acoounts for the month amounting to £148 11s 7d were passed for payment. inspector's report. The Inspector reported as under : — County building : I have gone over the county building and find the front a good deal decayed. Ths south-west wall and the angle wall are bosh done, and from the angle to the front might stand, but the building is almost done, and is only held together by atays. To repair ifc and tbe roof would cost about £150, and to add a strong room £60 cr £70. These prices are only approximate, as the expense may b3 reduced or increased when the work is commenced. The present roof is not suitable for carrying off the water, and is always subject to leakage. The Chairman reported the result of an interview with the manager of the Bink of New Zealand in reference to the old bank building and its sale, which, it was stated, could in all probability be purchased for the valuation placed on it. — The whole matter, however, as to carrying out and improving the present building and obtaining the opinion of an architect waa left in the hands of the chairman. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr P. T. Wnl*h, Dunback, wrote stating that he would grant a deviation of road through section 10, block VII, Waibemo, on condition that the council did not charge him any rates, including (hose now due emounting to £2 16s Bd, co long as the term of hia lease existed. — Referred to the inspr cfcor. The Clerk Waikouaiti County Council applied for a refund of rates on small grazing runs in possession of Mr D. Ross and Mr S. Griffiths, sections 1 and 6, block VII, Dunback district. — Deferred for consideration until the new valuation roll was received. The Receiver of L»nd T'.Wf- nue, District Land Office, Dunedin, intimated that hehsdpaid the eurn of £155 6s 9A into the Bank of New Zealand, Palaaertton, to the credit of the council, being thirds and fourths accrued during the period between November 1, 1897, and January 29, 1898 —Received. Mr John Douglas, Mount Royal, applied to have tbe track leading to hi 3'• Stenhcuse " land* and others adjoining in block V, Mneraki Survey District, improved, and off etiug a deviation. The aonouueement had been made that the Government were about to initiate limeburniDg at Blue Mountain, and that to enable him to avail himself of the lime it was absolutely necessary to give him access to the land referred to and that the road should be rendered serviceable for traffic. — Consideration deferred, and seferred to inspector for a report. The Secretary Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards, Dunedin, applied for a statement of tha annual value of the rateable property in the county, to enable the levy on contributing local bodies to be made for tbe year 1898-99. Until the amount of this year's levy was ascertained the council were requested to continue present payments. — Received, the clerk being instructed to supply information wh< n available. Mr J. Guttone, £hag Point, applied for permission to straighten the f ance near the railway crossing at Buj>hy, as he- was desirous of rooting up the gorse and planting a thorn hedge instead. — Th« application was granted, subject to the supervision cf the inspector. The Chief Surveyor, Dunedio, wrote intimatiug that the council could carry out the erection of the footbridge over the Shag River at Duuback and invite tenders for the same. — Received, the instructions having been carried out. The Paymaster-general, We'lington, intimated that the sum of £5 Bs, goldfield3 revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the council at the Bank of New Zaaland, Palmerston — Received. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, forwarded the following latter :—": — " Mr M'Leod, of Islay Downs, lessee of section 3, block IV, Higbliy, under email grazing tun lease, has been representing to the Minister for Lands his desire to have the fourths accruing from his holding expended in such a way as will give access to the said leasehold from his freehold. Ha has also represented the difficulty which both your council and the Land B iard have in recommending that the fourths in question should* ba expended as he desires. It is now suggested that if the County Council will agree to have a road or track laid off, and marked on the map, through M'Leod's leasehold, the Land Boaid will be willing to declare tho aams a road under r,he provisions of the Land Act, which empowers the board to fcako a road anywhere on a small grazing run ; and iv view o£ the council's approval of the suggestion I herewith enclose a lithograph plau, in order that joar engineer may maik off such road or

track in the position bast calculated to satisfy the Itssse'a requirements. I have further to suggest for your council's approval that the amount of fourths (£l2 17a Id) accrued duriDg the period from August 2 to October 30' 1897, included in the schedule returned with the clerk's letter of the 19(.h mat., might; be be.d for expenditure ou this proposed road instead of as stated, • from miin road, Greea Valley, ro small grazing run, section 3, block IV, Highltty.' I trust your council will see its way to a concurrence iv these proposals, and that you will be able to favour me with aa early reply." — The Chaibman moved and Cr J Ross seconded a motion to the effect that tbe , suggestion contained in the letter from J the Commissioner of Crown Lands be approved , provided the Minister for Lands and tbe Land Board accept tha responsibility of establishing J a precedent of expending public mouey in mak- | ing a road leading tiom private laud where no 1 public read exists ; at the same time the council ; desire to point out that in an interview the chairman had with the cotnmHsioaer of Ciown lands it was understood that no expenditure would be legal in the direction the board had now agreed to sanction aud the council to recommend. OI'HER MATTERS. Cr Clarke moved and C<- J. Ross seconded — " That tenders be invited by n»xb meeting for improvements to road through section 4-, block 11, Budle, and on main road, Moonlight ; cost i to be defrayed out of the land fund." — Carried. | Cr J. Ross moved and Cr Isbister seeon 3ed — ' "That improvements to the road leading to Busby Park be carried cut, and than tenders bo called for the works ; cost nob to exceed £25." — Carried. Cr Clarke called attention to the condition of the bridge over the Taieri River. — The matter > was referred to the inspector. I TENDERS. j Tenders were opened for the following works, I and the lowest accepted : Contract 352, formaj tion, Moonlight road— W. B ker,£lß ;J. Dodd. [ £31. Contract 353, metalling oh Nenthora ' ro&d— J. Dodd : mttal (main road) 4-s 6d per ■ yard, schist rock (Nenthorn road) 2s per yard ; C. Griffifhs : f chut rook (Main road) £4 s=j per chair., Nenthorn road £2 per chain. There were two tenders for contract 353~construefcion of footbridge over Sfcug River at Duoj bacu— whicb ifc was decided to forward to tha chief surveyor for consideration, and acceptance or otheiwiße. BOUNDARY ROAD. The Mayor waited ou the council in reference to some improvements in the shapo of gravelling and easing the &rftde at the junction of Burraness and Stour streets, neat tbe Dunback , railway crossing, which tbe Borough Council j were desirous of obtaining the sanction of the ; County Council to Lave carried oub, and to them agreeing to pay half cost of same. He pointed j out that there was a lot of traffic on the road i to the flour mill, and as Mr Go» — the proprietor — waa a considerable ratepayer in the county, the council would be justified in sanctioning the expenditure he was only entitled to. The council agreed to expend up to £1 on gravelling the road. The couucil then adjourned.