TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 8

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Taieri County Council, held on Friday, was attended by Mr A. Chisholm (chairman), Crs Harrison, Miller. Samson, Todd, Peat, and Douglas.

inspector's report.

The Inspector of Works reported that the Qtakia-Maungatua road and the other two cross roads would never be in a good state unless some scheme of metalling them was carried out. The Ball Creek bridge had been damaged by Mr Reid's traction engine. The bridge was too light in construction, and was not meant to carry tractidn engines. A bridge on B drain required new mud sills, as the weight was crushing the banks. Thie bridges at the Strath-Taieri had all been attended to except the Cottesbrook bridge. Witht regard to the Silverstream bridge, he would suggest a pile and plank wing instead of the proposed concrete one. The cost would be less, and it would stand for twenty years. He thought some improvement should be made on the Wingatui road. There were some little embankments on the road that would be safer if widened, and about 75yds of metal were placed on the road near the racecourse. The cost would be £25 10s. Nothing had been done in the way of lopping the dangerous overhanging branches of trees on the roadsides. Six parties had been duly notified by the clerk, and there were a good many more who had hedges encroaching on the road lines, causing considerable damage during winter. The surfacing work was well advanced in all the ridings, except Kaikorai, East' Taieri, and Strath-Taieri. He would suggest that one man be put on surface work on each of the above ridings so as to overtake the w.ork. Three men were employed on the Waipori track," and he expected the work would be finished by the end_ of May. The new road from Mr Robinson's to the Mill Creek was very much cut up, the cause being very heavy carting in wet weather. He had been round the Berkley bank, which was used by the Beikley people as a road. He did not think, however, that the county had ever recognised it as a road. The surfaceman had at times done a little surfacing on it at the request of the settlers. To make it passable a lot of filling un would require to be done, and the clay would have to be carted. — It was resolved that consideration of the matter of repairing the wing of the Silverstream bridge, and also the matter with regard to the repairs suggested to Wingatui road, be deferred till next meeting ; that statutory notice be given to parties who had failed to comply with the council's request to cut down and trim trees overhanging the roads; that an extra surfaceman be employed in each of the following ridings : Kaikorai, East Taiori, and Strath-Taieri ; that the inspector and member for each riding make the appointment; and that the inspector report to next meeting the cost of makinpr the road from Cardigan btreet to Mr Coatsworth's. SANITAHY INSPECTOR'S HEPORT. Mr R. Bain, panitarv inspector, reported that he inspected the Kaikorai s'lream on 12 different days during the past month, and on each occasionahe found the stream in very good condition ; although there was still room for improvement. Tlie City Abattoirs and Mr Bailey's works at Green Island were the greatest polluters of the stream at the present time, but there had been a considerable improvement in regard to the discharge from the abattoirs during the past few weeks. Me had given Mr Bailey notice that an improvement n-ust at once be made in the nature of the dibcharge going into the stream. Mr Bailey had promised him that he would at once exlend or enlarge his settling pits ; and when this was done he felt certain that it would have the effect of considerably improving the stream. During the month ho had given every possible attention to the enforcement of the heavy traffic ny-law. He had warned a large number of those who were licensed during the last quarter that it was necessary for them to at once renew their licenses, and in every instance they had promised to do so during the present month. — The report was received and approved. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Treasury, Wellington, intimating the payment of £55 13s 3d to the credit of the council in respect of goldfields revenue from the Ist to 24th March. Mr W. B. Currie wrote stating that he could not comply with the council's request to remove the gate on the Whare Flat road in his property, as it was a condition of his lease that the gate should remain there. — Mr M'Gregor's trustees also wrote with reference to the same matter, stating that the conditions undo.- which the exchange of road- lines was effected was that th"b council undertook npt to disturb the tenant during the currency of his lease. It was resolved that Mr Currie be notified bo remove the sate At once, and also be

informed that the term mentioned in the cow ditions of sale expired in August, 1898. Mr T. K. Sidey wrote intimating that ths simplest way to effect the exchange of >- road lines with. Mr John Sidey through section 45» block VI, Dunedin and East Taieri district, was under the provisions of section 13 of " The Land Act, 1892," a notice in the Gazetta being all that was necessary. — The matter was left in the hands of the county clerk to arrange. Mr John Isbister wrote applying for an increase of 6d per day in his wages as surfaceman in the Mount Hyde district. — It was resolved that Mr Isbister be granted 6s 6d peu day. Mr C. Freeman wrote urging the council to proceed with the erection of a bridge oveu the Taieri River at the 24-mile peg, for which tenders were called at last meeting. He also forwarded a statement of " fourths " received from the runs affected.— lt was resolved that the applicants for the bridge ba supplied with a statement of receipts and expenditure from the "fourths" revenue in the locality up to date. The Clerk of the Green Island Borough Council wrote calling attention to the unsatisfactory state of the culvert between Hap- . wood's house and new road, arid asking that it bo attended to. — Referred to the inspector. A letter was also received from the Green Island Borough Council dclining to contribute a -proportion of the salary paid to the inspector in connection with preventing tho pollution of the Kaikorai stream. — The letter was minuted as read. . • The Manager of the New Zealand Trust and Loan Company wrote requesting that the bridge across Bull Creek, Berkley estate, ba re-opened, and that the bank road 'to the "company's, pumping station, be. made passable. — It was resolved that the bridge be repaired and strengthened by the addition of two new beams and 2in black pine planking, and that the council undertake to do the filling and spreading of the necessary material to repair the road on the river embankment, if the company would do the cartage. Mr R. Rossbotharfl wrote asking that John M'Coll be requested to remove all obstacles on an old road line through section 12, block VIII, Dunedin and East Taieri district. Catherine M'Ewen also wrote on the same subject. Referred to Cr. Douglas to report at next meeting. Mr B. Wasserbrenner wrote calling attention to the impassable stats of the road in front of the Brighton post office, through sand drifting on to.it, and asking that some preventive measures be taken. — Referred to the inspector to report. ""■ Mr H. Stephensbn wrote applying for the issue of a slaughtering license for premises situate on section 67, block IX, Strath-Taieri. — The application was granted. Mr James Robertson wrote with reference to tho alleged alteration of the specifications for contract No. 249 after they were open for public inspection, complaining that he had been misled in compiling his tender to the I extent of over £10 worth of cartage, and requesting that the matter be settled by arbitration.—lt was resolved that the matter be j deferred till next meeting in order to give the ! inspector and Mr Robertson an opportunity to j produce evidence as to the alleged alteration I iv the specifications.

THE SMALL BIRD NUISANCE. Cr. Harrison moved—" That meetings of ratepayers in the various ridings be called, to be presided over by the member for .the riding, to ascertain the feeling of the ratepayers as to the advisability of bringing .the Small Birds' Nuisance Act into force." Cr Samson seconded the motion pro forma. After some discussion the motion was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

TENDERS

The following tenders were accepted : — Formation and culverts in Kent street, Sutton, D. O'Rourke, £52 4a; supply of 700yda o£ gravel on Centre road, Strath-Taieri, Michael Moynahan, metal Is 2JLd per yard, stripping 6d ; supply of 400 yds of gravel, Middlemarch, John Ryall, Is 3d per yard ; formation and pulverts, Deep Stream Riding, D. O'Rourke, £94 2s 4d : supply of 150 yds of gravel at Riverside, J. Hughes, Is lOd per yard.

FINANCIAL.

The bank book, which was laid on the table, showed a debit balance of £543 18s 7d. Accounts amounting to £2442 17s were passed for payment.

The exports from Victoria last year showed a falling off to the extent of £867,424.