TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 23

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was Kekl in the Council Chambers, Peel street, on Friday, when there were present Crs Bennel (in the chair), Cotton, Edie, Inglis, Livingston, Osborne, Oudaille, Sim, and Simpson.

CORRESPONDENCE,

From W. T. Scrimgeour, Teviot station, calling attention to his letter of the 13th April, drawing the council's attention to an error made by the surveyor in including a pieoe of road on his property where no deviation was necessary or intended, and asking to have the mistake rectified. — Resolved — "That the council ascertain where the mistake had been made and get it rectified." From the. secretary Upper Waipori Dredging Company, calling attention to the impassable state of the road from Lawrence to Waipori.—Cr Cotton explained that no doubt some time ago the road was impassable, but, though bad enough now, it was in a much belter state. He would move — "That the council do the best they can to keep the road passable during the winter months." — Seconded by Or Livingston, and carried. From M. O'Gorman, Lawrence, calling attention to the state of his paddock on the Wetherstones road, which was covered with water coming from the railway and other sources. — The matter, was left to the chairman and inspector to deal with.

From the clerk of the Vincent County Council, stating that the following lieenseß had been issued from their office for* the year 1899-1900 for Vincent County, within Tuapeka licensing district: — Publicans, £206 sc; accpmmodation. £33 ; wholesale, £40 ; conditional, £6. — Received. From the Havelock Dredging Company, asking for permission to dredge part of Henry street, from the Waitahuna Dredging Company's race to the river, and part of Fordhall street, starting from Henry street and terminating at Lumley street, the greater 1 art of the ground applied for being at present under water, being part of the old coalpit. The company guaranteed to leave the ground in a better state than it is at present. — Moved bi* Cr Oudaille, and seconded by Cr Livingston — "That the request bo granted on the usual conditions, the amount of the bond to be entered into to be> left with Cr Oudaille." — Carried.

From E. Hooker, Clydevale, asking to be informed when the road up to his section would be opened, as there was no way of getting on to his section except by the road. He was prepared to clear the scrub and make the road passable for £12.— Moved by Cr Sim, seconded by Or Edie — " That the sum

of £2 19s lOd be handed to Mr Hooker, conditionally that it be spent on surveyed line." — Carried.

From the Under-seerelaiy Works department, stating that the Berwick-Waipori road had been declared a public road by Orcler-in-Council. — Received.

From F. J. Stilling, solicitor, Dunedin, enclosing- copy of application by Mr Edward Trythall to the Minister for Mines to resume certain lands in block VIII, Benger Survey District, for mining purposes.. The application had come before. Warden M'Carthy, at Roxburgh, on the 11th May, but was adjourned to allow of the proprietors getting notice of same. Al«o enclosing copy of application by Mr E. Trythall for a prospecting license over the same property. — Received. From J. and A. Anderson, Christchurch, asking to be informed what had b<*en done towards getting a grant from the Government of £666 in connection with the Miller's Flat bridge. — Received.

From R. J. Hendrie, Brooksdale, stating that he had written to the council on 4th May with reference to a proposed change of road, and as yet had received no official reply thereto. He wanted to know what decision had been come to. — Matter already attended to.

From the United Districts of Central Otago, Tuapeka, and Otago Charitable Aid Board, giving a return showing that there were within the county 11 persons in receipt of charitable aid, the amount received by them being £2 lls 6d per week. — Received. From T. Featherstone, Roxburgh, stating his inability, owing to bad health, to finish his contract at Crossan's Gully, and asking what course the council intended to adopt. — Cr Itiglis moved — " That the council take the work over and finish it, deducting the amount for so doing from the contract price." — Seconded by Cr Edie and carried.

From Charles Thompson and six other residents of Waitahuna. Gully, stating that the pipes crossing the Main road near Mr B. O'Kane's residence, at the foot of Waitahuna Gully, were too small to carry the flood water away. Damage was consequently done to petitioners by the water backing on adjoining lands, and they ask that a culvert should bo put in to carry the water across the Main road. — Moved by Cr Ouadaille, seconded by Cr Simpson — " That the work be attended to by the inspector." From John Robinson, dredgemaster, Tuapeka Dredging Company, asking for permission to work across the roadline at Fitzgerald's crossing on the usual conditions. The company was prepared to make a temporary road and crossing and to carry out any other conditions the council may impose. — llr B. Hart attended in person, and having explained the facts connected with the req»est, Cr Oudaille moved, and Cr Edie seconded — "That the request be granted on the usual conditions." — Carried.

From F. Trayes, for City of Dublin Gold Mining Company, Waitahuna, Gully, asking for permission to construct & tail race across the road, fronting the claim at Richmond Hill, Waitahuna Gully.— Moved by Cr Ou-daille,-seconded by Cr Simpson — "That the request be granted on the usual conditions." — Carried.

SMALL TBIRD PEST. John C. Browne,' Secretary"*}? 'Tuape'ka Agricultural Society, wrote stating that he had been instructed by the society to request the council to take the small bird question into consideration with the view of adopting some effective means of keeping the pest in check. At its last meeting the society had passed the following resolutions: — " (1) That the County Council be asked to lay poisoned wheat along the road lines ; (2) that the council be asked to set aside for each riding of the county a sum of money to be devoted to the purchase of the heads and eggs of sparrows, linnets, and goldfinches, and to_ appoint someone in each' riding to take delivery of the heads and eggs from the collectors."

The Chairman said the council had alwayß made it a practice to make contributions for th« purpose of providing poison for the destruction of the small bird-3, but it had done less last year than formerly.

Cr Osborne said the last poison provided and distributed among the Settlers had done a largo amount of good. He himself had suffered very little last harvest from the depredations of the birds, and other settlors had a similar experience. He thought the council would he well advised in voting a sum of £10 to each riding for the purpose of fighting the pest. , Several councillors thought £10 too much, and suggested that the council would be discharging its duty in voting -£5 for the purpose. Cr Osborne then moved — '' That the- council vote a sum of £5 to each riding, to be expended in purchasing poison for small bird destruction, ami that the poison be purchased from Brooks, Ashburton.' Seconded by Cr luglip.

Cr Sim said he should like to point out that, judging by the results obtained from money previously expended for such a purpose, it would be much better if the council employed someone to spread the poison along the roads. If that were done some good would follow. No good could come from one man spreading poison, while his neighbours neglected their duty in that respect. To have any effect it should be spread all over by the settlers. He did nofc think much good would be done unless they engaged a man to spread it. Cr luglis said his experience was pretty much the same. When he got poison he gave it to (.ho Coal Creek Fruitgrowers' Association to distribute, otherwise ho could uot get rkl of it. He had sometimes to carry it around to the farmers, and some of them appeared as if they were doing him a favour by taking it. Cr Sim thought before any money was voted the council should have tome understanding that the poison would be properly spread.

Cr Cotton thought that when members of the council baw that farmers were, dilatory in taking and distributing the poison they should be empowered to have it spread themselves.

Cr Livingstone said now was the time to spread poison, as the birds were moving about iv large flocks. He did not, however, think there was murh use in putting down grain on the roads. The birds would not look at it ; they required to be fed for a couple of days' with chaff. * The motion was carried. chairman's beport. ] The Chairman's report for the months of May and June was read as follows: —

As instructed at last meeting, I visited the proposed site for a chair across the Clutha River. I may state that such a thing ia impracticable, as the banks of the river are too low. I wouM suggest that the stem rope of tho Millers Flat punt be put across the river near Mrs Faulkner's, and a small boat would meet the present requirements. Portions of the main roads aTe in a bad state, and I have been unable t( takß advantage of the Government votes through the weather being so bad. Nearly all the present contracts are at a standstill until the weather improves. Contract No. 457, rfls4 formation a$ N_obbyst

no progress; 463, Waipori bridge, almost completed; 472, gravelling at Heriot, stopped until weather takes up; ' 473, gravelling at Crookston, stopped till weather takes up; -176, gravelling at Beaumont, stopped until weather takes up ; 480, metalling at Bungtov/n, slow progress; 481 i gravelling Waipori road, stopped until weather takes up; 454, gravelling at Gabriel's Gully, stopped till weather takes up; 485, road formation Waipori Bush, fair progress; 486, road formation Waipori Bush, no - progress ; - 487, road formation Waipori Bush, slow progress; 488, road formation Tapanui-Bush, slow progress; 489, road formation Tapamu Bush, slow progress; 490, road formation Tapanui, good progress; 491, gravelling at Beaumont, completed: 492, metalling on east side of Clutha River, completed; 493, quarrying at A. Barr's, no progress; 495, gravelling at Teviot, completed. The report as read was adopted.

The following shows the expenditure on the various works: — Contract No. 487 (Government vote), Waipori Bush road, £20: 472 (James), Heriot towards Shanks road, £32 13s sd; 480 (Government vote), Lawrence-Wai-pori road, £13 10s; 485 (Government vote), Waipori Bush road, £30; 492 (Government vote), Beaumont Block, £64 3s 4d ; 495 (Government vote), Lawrence-Clyde, £34 Is lOd; 490 (Govornment vote), block 11, Glenkenich, £25 9s 2d; Government vote, Lawrence-Wai-pori road, £32 Is 2d; timber, etc. (Browne Bros.), £25 17s 7d; timber, etc. (Thomas M'Kenzie), £5 4s 6d; cement. £11 ss; pipes, etc. (Todd Bros.f", £31 3s 7d; Government vote, road Lawrence to Waitahuna, £12 12s; Government vote, Beaumont Block, £3 10s; Government vote, Lawrence-Clyde road (grading), £81 Is; Government vote, Glenkenich road (J. E. Bromley), £10 ; day labour, carting, grading, £606 15s 4d ; miscellaneous, £610 4s Bd;— total, £1649 123 7d.

TENDERS.

The following tenders were accepted : — 496, R. J. Nichol; 497, John Long; 498, D. Lynch and Sons ; 499 and 500, James M'Corkindale; 501, not let.

BY-LAW NO. 9,

Cr Sim moved — " That a return be laid on the table at next meeting of the council, not necessarily for publication, showing: (1) The amount of legal expenses and to whom paid, (2) amount paid for printing and advertising, and naming the papers receiving same, and (3) all other necessary expenses in connection with By-law No. 9 ; also, the amount received from licenses up to date." He said his object in tabling his motion was for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the council with 1 regard to the by-law referred to. They did nofc at present know what that by-law had cost them, nor did they know what they were receiving in the way of licenses. It would, therefore, be as well to be enlightened as to whether they "were justified in framing such a by-law in the future. That was his reason for asking for the inf ormation ; he had no hostile intention beyond that. — Seconded by Cr Edie, and carried.

THE MAIN ROAD

Or Inglis moved the following motion: — " That in justice the .Government should grant some adequate provision for maintenance of the main road from Lawrence to Clyde, as the heavy traffic is continuous and likely to, increase, ; as dredging is assuming ■large ; ; pr opaptibns, And it will of necessity be a great burden on the ratepayers' of this county to maintain the main roa'cl for traffic for the general public." Cr Inglis explained that there was a, probability of a number of old dredges being, taken rdovra country to such places as Switzers, \Vaikaka, and other places. In fact, they had taken a couple of them down already, and in the very near 'future others of their small or old dredges would follow to ground that they would be better adapted for working. There would also be a great many new dredges .going up-country. Ho considered it would be a very heavy burden on the ratepayers of Tuapeka under such circumstances to have to maintain the road -for the general public. The Chairman observed that there was at present an intention in the House of Representatives to amend an existing act with the view of making such provision in the law as would meet the case referred to in Cr Inglis's motion. Cr Inglis understood such was the case, but there -was no assurance that .the amendment would become law.

The motion was seconded by Cr Edie and carried.

GENERAL.

Moved by Cr Edie and seconded by Cr Simpson — " That a rate of |d in "the pound be struck."— =-Carried.

It was reaolved, on the motion of Cr Oudaille, seconded by Cr Cotton — " That the clerk request Mr C. C. Rawlins, M.H.R., to use his best endeavours to obtain a further grant of £200 from the Government to be expended on the Reidy Creek to Waipori road." It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Edie — "That the inspector inspect the road from Heriot School .towards Samuel Heriot's to see what can be done re gorse nuisance." Accounts amounting to £1722 17s 4d were passed for payment. — Tuapeka Times. 1