CLUTHA COURT COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 15

CLUTHA COURT COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above council Jwas held at the Council Chambers, Balclutha, ion Friday. There were present — Messrs J. jCumming: (chairman), J. R. .Mitchell, D. A. iM'Lachlan, W.,Hay, P. Bradfield, J. M'Neill, ~o,< Clarke,- D. Robertson, and J. Johnston. COBBESPONDENCE. - The department of Lands and Survey wrote fetating that the Government proposed to place ■Ikhe Waiwera Bridge vote of £400 at the dis.jposal of the council for expenditure on the iiterms and conditions set forth in attached Lagreement, which the council was asked to sign and return. — The same department also - wrote in similar terms with jregard to the "JWaipahi Bridge: vote of £100.— Mr M'Lachlan proposed that the ehairnian^sign the agreement on beßalf . of the council, seconded .by *-iMt Hay, and carried. The Controller and Auditor-general wrote etating thafc_the Governor's powers under section 6 of "The Cemeteries Act, 1882," having been delegated to the council, as. to the appointment and removal of trustees for the Port --Molyneux Cemetery, asking to be supplied with the names of trustees- appointed by the council, and the name of the newspaper in ■which their appointment was publicly notified. — Mr Hay said some of those originally appointed had left the district, and others were dead. If the matter were left in his bands he would make inquiries into the matjter, and make a recommendation to the coxinjcil. No doubt those who had taken an in-«.-iter«st in- the cemetery in the past would like '. to act in the future, and it would not be right - ;to pass them over. — I/eft in Mr Hay's hands. - The Secretary Department of Agriculture -*vrole advising that it .was contemplated bringing section 5 of "The Dairy Factory Act, 1898," into operation, so far as -the inspection of dairies and cows from which the public milk supply is drawn. Under this section the powers at present held by local authorities as ■Boards of Health were transferred to the 'Agricultural department, which would in future issue all regulations *nd secure a more uniform, and thorough system of inspection by qualified inspectors. Government veterinarians being utilised as far as possible. — Received. The Clerk Tuapeka County Council wrote in reply to the council's communication re petition for erection of Pomahaka footbridge stating that his council had no recommendation to make. — Received. The Charitable Aid Board forwarded list of persons in receipt of outdoor relief within tho . county. The cases and amounts were distributed as follows: — One at Romahapa, 9s per ■week ; one at Clinton at 6s, and one at ss ; one at Ratanui, 7s 6d ; one at Arthurton, 6s; and one at Ahuriri, Bs.— Mr Bradfield said Ratanui case could be Btruck out. — Mr Robertson said the Arthurton case was to have been struck out four or five years ago. — The Chairman said this recipient was now under the doctor's care. — Mr Robertson said several of. the family were now at work, and he did not see any reason for its continuance. Besides they had a farm of about 100 acres. — The Chairman said he did not want anybody to be a burden on the public, but he could not'recommend itß'diecohtinuance. The /arm •was lijttle good — merely a horne — and • was heavily mortgaged. — Mr M'Neil thought that relief should be continued in the meantime, till the woman was convalescent. — The list was approved of, with the exception of the Ratanui case, which was stuck out. Mr R. Simmers, Waikoikoi, wrote calling attention to a broken and choked up culvert on Kelso-Pukerau road, the result of which .was the flooding of his dipping paddock. Mr John Goldsbun', Gleuomaru, wrote ' asking the council to forward him the sum of £1 due to him for a bag of cocksfoot which he had sown on Goldsbury's road by the engineer's and Messrs Hay's and Bradficld's authority. Likewise, there was 35 chains of the same road felled aud burned and formed for 25 chains, and he offered to find and sow cocksfoot on it for 2Ss.— Mr Hay moved that the account be paid, and that the offer with regard to the other road bo accepted. It was very necessary that these roads should be sown, for if not they became aa bad to clear as they were to begin with.— Seconded by Mr Bradfiold, and carried. The Commispionpr of Crown Lands forwarded an application from the New Zealand Tioan and Mercantile Agency Company for a Crown grant for closed road intersecting sections 12, 11, and 9, also part of closed road on north-west boundary of part of section 6, block XXVin. This company pointed out tbat these roads were apparently closed with others in exchange for other roads, but no title had been issued to the owner at the time. The Crown Lands Office had referred the company's letter to the Chief Surveyor, whose reply was attached. It stated that in 1864 tho late Major Richardson signed two , covenants agreeing to .give new roads through .sections 11 and 12, block XXVni, and 1 and 2,_ block XXIX, in exchange for old road numbered 148b and 149b, between sections 11 and 12, block XXVni, and 1 and 2 block XXIX. ' In 1573 new roads were conveyed to the Government, and the old ones conveyed to Major Richardson. -There was jio men- . tion in' the covenants regarding the old road .through section 12 and parts of 11 and 9, and that portion fronting part of section 6. block XXVni, being given in exchange, so that he presumed it would be necessary for the company to buy these roads under section 128 of "The Public Works Act, 1^94." However, lie would suggest that the application be forwarded to the Clutha County Council for its consideration. — Mr Hay thought there was little doubt this piece of road was to have been given along with the rest in exchange for the deviation. It had, howover, apparently been neglected at the time. He thought it was an oversight. If the matter were Jeft in his hands for a month he would inspect the road along with the engineer, • and also put a value upon it. — Mr Robertson said the question was," Could the company' now get • the land otherwise than by purchase?— rMr Hay's suggestion was agreed to, on the motion of Messrs Mitchell and BraJfield. SOUTH MOLYNEUX PDVT. Messrs Matthew and John Taylor, Port Molyneux, wrote asking that it be made a condition in connection with the South Molyneux punt that school children be crossed free of charge. — Mr Hay thought children might be allowed .to cross to school free, and moved to that effect. — Seconded by Mr M'Neil, and carried. F.or the position of -puntman there waa only one offer,- James Thomson, at £15 a year and fees, and on the motion of Mr Hay, seconded by Mr M'Neill, it was aooopted conditionally on his crossing school children free, contract to be terminable at a month's m-tice on either aide.

BOTfB'S BOAD.

Mr R. R. Grigor, on behalf of John Boyle, Wrote re culverts on road across Mr Boyle's run. It was almost impossible for him to. obtain access to parts of his land. He pointed 'out that Mr Boyle had- a claim to some slight expenditure on account of the rents .he paid, and respectfully suggested that the- council

undertake the constructing of three culverts before the winter. — -After discussion, Mr Claxka moved that the chairman, engineer, and member for the ridiug. inspect the road and report at next meeting, seconded by Mr M'Neil and carried.

BOAD CULVEBTS AND DIIAINAGK.

With regard to a request made by Mr Jas. Motion at last meeting for the lowering of a culvert through the road near Clinton, Mr Motion said he had seen that the Council had agreed to allow him to put in pipes to carry off the water. He did not think this would be suitable. The present culvert was 4ft by 3ft Gin and the l^ilway culvert, two chains distant, was Bft by 6ft. He suggested that the road culvert be deepened by about 2ft. Some years ago the engineer had told him- that when the culvert wanted renewing it would be made about twice as big, and thereby save all flooding ; to put in pipes was only playing with it. — The Chairman : What you say is that the culvert is not big enough and that the pipes would be useless. — Mr Motion assented. Now that the culvert was done he thought they might renew it and lower it. He would willingly attend to the drains leading to it. — The Engineer' was also heard on the matter. — Mr Clarke moved that seeing the culvert needs renewing the engineer be instructed to make allowance to carry off -the drainage of the adjoining land. — Mr M'Lachlan seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr George Bsdloch, Port Molyneux, wrote calling the council's attention to a culvert on Beach roa<cl, which required to be a little lower, a 6 at high tideß the water could not get clear of the ditches. — Mr Hay moved that the council abide by its original resolution to provide pipoe, with the addition that Mr Balloch be"grauted the use of the surfacemen for two days. — Seconded by Mr M'Neil, and carried.

ROADS AND WOBXS,

The Engineer, in his monthly report, stated that tenders had been called for the maintenance metal on Ahuriri-Catlins road. Contracts 781, Upper Station road, Clydeyale; 788, Clinton-Tapanui road, Waipaha bridge; 811, Kolso-Woikaka road ; 815, Ahuriri road ; 820, Little Owaka road ; 827, Otanomomo road, building bridge at Waitepeka creek ; and 831, on middle road, Kaihiku, were completed. Widening formation on Tapp's road (Owaka) was nearly fiiiished. Considerable progress had been made on contracts since last meeting. Some of the contractors having a number of contracts on hand had failed to complete their works within contract time. He had communicated with the receiver of land revenue with reference to the perpetual lease thirds, on Mr Peter Miller's section. In all 20 payments of £1 5s 2d had been made. Of this sum (the engineer uaid) £20 2s 8d was allocated and expended on Wyber's road years ago, and at present there stood to the credit of the road Mr Miller wanted made £6 5s lOd. He had inspected the road. The bush had been felled and burned, but tho hea-vy timber wanted to be logged and a track of 14ft wide cleared. There was about 30 chains, and Mr Miller offered" to make the road passable for £10, and he recommended that Mr Miller's offer be accepted. The old iron, timber, etc., at Waipahi bridge has been sold for £5, lls.

Mr Mi/aehlan asked which of the contractors were not proceeding with their work. — The engineer said P. DrummoßcVf contract, which was to have been finished to enible Mr Begg to cart his wool away, was not yet begun. M'Rorie, Gray, Ohrictie were also behind, and others who had more than one contract on hand. — Mr M'Lachlan said a resolution had been passed to inflict penalties. Had they been inflicted? — T-he Engineer nothing had been done. " Drummond's, at any rate, should be cancelled. — Mr Johnston said Christie and Gray had contracts in his diftrict which were considerably behind, and not started. The contract on road near Kaihiku Church was to. hava been finished before last winter, and if the weather broke now it was likely to stand over for another winter. — The engineer was understood to say that thoae works, would probably be started at once, and it was decided to cancel Drummond's contract.

Mr Bradfield proposed that Mr Miller's offer be accepted. Seconded by Mr Hay, and carried.

Mr Hay then moved that the engineer's report be adopted, which was Eeconded by Mr Mitchell, and carried.

Mr Hay proposed — "That the engineer be empowered to employ two surfacemen to repair road from Hunt's road to bridge, copt to be divided between Catlins and South Molyneux ridings." — Seconded by Mr Bradfield, and carried.

Proposed by Mr M'Lachlan — "That' the sum of £10 be expended to improve a portion of the Clinton-Owaka road opposite the Gorge school." — Seconded by Mr Mitchell, and carried.

Mr M'Neil asked leave to draw Mr Johnston's attention to several bad holes in the Otanomomo load beyond the bridge. — -^Mr Johnston explained that the engineer was' attending to this matter.

Mr M'Neil said he omitted at last meeting to move that fresh tenders be called for Clifton road. Mulrine was, however, agreeable to do the work for 5s a chain less than last contract, or £5 -a chain, and if the council would agree to the acceptance of the offer it would save the work being delayed into the winter. He moved accordingly. — The Engineer said the price was reasonable, — Mr Johnston seconded the motion, which was carried.

The offer of James M'Lay, juri., for the supply of 30yds maintenance metal for road at Ahuriri, at 6s 6d per yard, was accepted, on the motion of Mr Hay.

Mr MtNeil moved that fresh tender* be called for works on Jeffrey's and Barclay's roadi, an* \nlto for maintenance metal on

main road, tenders to be in by the middie of tho month, and to be dealt with by the chairman, engineer, and member for the riding. — Seconded by Mr Mitchell, and cariied.

THK BALCI.UTHA TRAFFIC BRIDGE. Mr Bradfield formally moved the motion standing in his name rescinding the motion charging wholly against the Clutha riding the total charges again-st the Clutha County, in connection with the Balclutha traffic bridge. Ho had supported the motion to begin with, but he was not then aware of the proclamation enjoining that it should be chargeable against the whole county. The bridge was in the borough of Balclutha, and it was pointed out that Richardson riding used the bridge as much as Clutlia riding did. It was also understood at the time that any extraordinary expense on the bridge could not be borne wholly by Clutha riding, but would be made a charge on the county.— At the request of Mr Hay, the Clerk read the proclamation in the Gazette of November 29, 1883, on the subject.— Mr Hay thought that this was conclusive, but Messrs M'Lachlan and Robertson weie of opinion lhat while it was a charge against the county, it could be allocated againut any riding or ridings. --The Chairman would support the motion, having legal advice to the effect that it must be a charge against the general funds of the county. — ?\lr Johnston voted against the motion assessing the charge against Uiutha riding, and would vote for the present motion. — Mr M'Neil thought the legislature was wise in making provision that the maintenance of the bridge should be made a charge against the three local bodies. If anyone was to bear the whole cost surely it ought to be the borough. Councillors might vote as they chose on the present occasion, but he would ta.ke care that his riding was not saddled with the whole cost, which it was provided should be borne by the county aa a whole.— Mr M'Lachlan fully expected that the mover of this motion would have proposed some remedy. He admitted it was wrong to «addle the cost on one riding; Richardson and perhaps some others were as much interested. But the outside ridings had their own bridges to look after, and it was not right that in addition they should be charged with a portion of the cost of this one, in which they had no interest. It was wrong to read the act in one way as regards the Clutha bridge and in another way for the other ridings. The council had power to allocate the cost against any particular riding. If £1000 were required for the bridge, Clutha was no worse off than the other ridings, but if- that riding was not able to bear the strain he would be prepared to assist. The ratepayers of outside ridings should not be called upon to maintain this bridge in which they had no interest, and ho would oppose the motion imless it were amended in the direction of charging the ridings interested.— Mr Bradfield made a mistake in voting for the original motion, and was always ready to see a wrong put right. Were he in Mr M'Neil's place he would resist the matter to the utmost. — The Chairman then put tho motion, which was carried, there voting for it — Messrs Hay, Bradfield, M'Neil, Johnuou, and the Chairman, and Messrs Mitchell, M'Lachlan, Clarke, and Robertson againct. — The Chairman aairl he voted for the motion on purely legal grounds.

TUB STTKFACEItKX'rf WAGES,

This question coming up for consideration from last meeting, Mr M'Neil moved that there be au increase of sixpence a d«y all round. If they only increased one man's they would have some of the men trying to put in a sixpence less work in the day than others. He did not see why their surfacemen should be paid a less wsga than men in sinim.r positions — the railway men, for instance. — The Chairman: "Would you not increase the. head ones only? — Mr M'Neil did not think it possible to .' make any distinction. It would only cause dissatisfaction. A farmer could pay different wages, for he had different classes of men, but here they were all supposed to be alike, and most of them knew the dissatisfaction that would exist did they pay the men different wages. — Mr Johnston thought they should confine the matter to the application that was sent in to the council. — Mr Hay concurred. — Mr Bradfield mentioned that full time was paid. — Mr Robertson Baid they worked full time ; in wet weather their instructions were to put on their glaze coats and see to the culverts. — The Chairman said there was no seconder, and the motion lapsed. — Mr M'Lachlan said that in Campbell's case he was % very good man, and had often long distances to travel, leaving home at 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoons sometimes. — Mr Clarke said that part of Clinton Riding could be more handily surfaced by the Waipahi man. — Mr Johnston agreed that this could be done in other ridings also. It would be better if the surfacemen lived near the centre of their ridings. — In answer to a question, Mr M'Lachlan said Campbell did nOt live near the middle of the riding. How would it do to leave it to the member for the riding to give an increase where necessary? — Mr Mitchell : Better let the -engineer do it if anybody. In his opinion the surfacemen were the best paid labour in the county. — The matter then dropped, no action being taken.

FINANCIAL.

Mr Robertson took exception to the allocation of the general expenses charged against hie riding, compared v.ith that set' against Clutha Riding, for e\ample.— The Clerk said he had not had time to work out the proportion chargeable against Clutha Riding. The motion governing the allocation was that the salaries of the engineer and clerk be charged against the ridings in proportion to the expenditure in the ridings, and that the general expenditure be charged in proportion to the rales paid. — Mr Robertson said that councillors would know better how the matter stood if all the riding books wera *ntered yjj at

the same time.— The Chairman agreed that it would be better if they were. The monthly pay sheet, amounting to £296 19s 6d, was passed for payment, on the motion of Messrs M'Lachlan and Hay. — A discussion initiated by Mr M'Lachlan ensued as to the proper examination of the accounts by the Finance Committee. — Mr Hay said it was impossible for the committee to check the accounts outside their own ridings, of which they had each personal knowledge. Each councillor should personally examine the accounts and check those relating to his own riding. Of course the vouchers were all checked by the engineer. Mr Clarke asked when it was likely that the annual meeting would be held. Last year it was rot held till September, which was too late. — The Clerk saw no reason at present why there would be so much delay this year. — Mr Bradfield asked how the rates were coming in. It was in respect of the arrears of lates that the auditor chiefly complained. — The Clerk said they had come in very well lately, but there was a lot out yet. — Mr Clarke: Would you enforce the 10 per cent? — Mr Bradfield thought it would be a very good plan, but Mr M'Neil doubted if it would. — Mr 'Bradfield said there was some excuse for not getting tiie rates in from the Catlins Riding, but not as regards the others. — The Clerk said he had issued several summonses, and had others pending. — Mr Bradfiold proposed that 10 per cent, be added on rates outstanding after the end of 4piil. — Seconded by Mr Glarke, and carried.