CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 8

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clutha County Council met at the 'Council Chamber, Balclutha, on ,Friday. There were present — Crs John Johnston (chairman), W. Hay, J. R. Mitchell, D. A. M'Lachlan, A. C. Saunders, J. M'Neil, John Clarke, D. Robertson, and J. dimming.

COESESPONDENCE.

The Assistant-surveyor General forwarded two proclamations taking land for road deviation through sections 12 and 13, block 4, Catlins, and section 1, block 2, Tautv'ku. — Received.

The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, notified that the Colonial Treasurer had provisionally approved of the council's application for Pomahaka Riding loan of £3000, and asking council to sign and return documents at (ached.- — Received.

A circular was received from the Secretary Otago Patriotic Fund, Dunedin. —Cr M'Neil intimated that the local committee held applied for, and intending circulating, 500 copies of the circular referred to. — Cr Hay thought it was a good idea to remit the whole amount in one sum. — The Chairman thought there were very few districts missed out. — It was resolved to advise the Dunedin committee that the county generally was doing all in its power to carry out the object aimed at. — Or M'Neil explained what had been done by the local Patriotic Committee in regard to the patriotic sports on Wednesday, and the mass meeting in the evening. — Cr Saunders explained what had been done at Catlins. One difficulty the collectors had was that they were very often asked what the fund was to be devoted to, whether to re- ! fucces or to the wives and orphans of sol- ! diers. This they were unable to answer.

The Charitable Aid Board forwarded return of persons in receipt of outdoor relief within the county. — It was decided that consideration of the matter stand over till next meeting to enable councillors to make inquiries.

The Valuer-general forwarded statement of alterations on the valuation roll, and authorised the council to alter its roll accordingly. — Received.

Dr Fitzgerald, Kaitangata, wrote bringing under the notice of the council, the case of James Thompson, punt-keeper at South Molyneux. He suggested the advisability of the council putting up a small house for Thompson so as to obviate the necessity cf him and his family being separated as at present. — Cr Hay agreed that Mr Thompson was the best puntman they had had. He thought the be.=t way to assist him would be to add £5 to his sa'ai-y and make it £20 a year. He thought ho deserved that. To put up a house was beyond their means. He moved — " That the sakr.y be increased by £5 a year, subject to the approval of the Bruce County Council." — Seconded by Cr M'Neil and carried.

Mr D. StowarC. solicitor, wrote advising the council that the Counties Act gave full power to appoint a rate collector at Owaka. — Cr Saunders moved — "That Mr Craig be appointed to receive rates at Owaka, conditionally on the bond required by the act being satisfactory." — Seconded by Cr Hay and carried.

Mr R. B. Stansfield, Ratanui, drew attention to the state of the ditch in front of his place, which had got quite silted up, resulting in the water flowing over the ground, rendering it boggy and unsafe for horses to go over. If any accident occurred he would expect compensation. — Left with the engineer to attend to.

Mr Edmund Ward. Ahuriri Flat, wrote statins: that the road formed by the Government leading to E. Ward's property was badly in need of surfacing, particularly in the cutting. If the surfacemen could not do it he would do it for bis rates, and carfc all the stuff out of the cuttings to the embankment. There were about 50 chains of road altogether. — The engineer to attend to the matter.

Mr Jas. Bailey, Ratanui, wrote asking for permission to erect a gate on Purakauita road between section 13. block 6, and section 13, opposite Woodland district. — Granted subject to usual conditions.

Mr John Angus, on behalf of the N.Z. and A. Land Company, wrote that the company had sold to Mr John Gibson about 300 acre? of land in the Pomahalka district, also to Mr David Bower about 150 acres in the sama block, and asked council to make necessary alteration in valuation roll. — Clerk to attend to the matter.

The N.Z. and A. and Company forwarded tracing of exchanged road in block 6, Pomahaka, and asking council to have same put through at once. — The matter to be attended to on usual conditions.

Mr Robertson presented a petition from James Y. M'lntyre and 13 other ratepayers of Glenkenich Riding asking the council to open, for traffic road line through block 6, where it crosses the west branch of the Waikoikoi stream opposite sections 6. 7, and 12. They pointed oul that the opening of this road would immediately benefit a larpe number of settlers. — Cr Robertson said that the party who drew out the petition must have drawn upon his imagination for his facts, for the road was in a very isolated position. It ■was in a. very bad state, and would take possibly £200 to put it right. However, he would move — " That the engineer the first time he is in the district examine the road and report as to the probable cost." — Seconded by Cr M'Lachlan, and carried.

THIBDS AND FOURTHS CATLINS HIDING,

Or Saunders drew attention to a statement he had in his hand of the position of "thirds" and " fourths " in the Catlins district. This showed that there was apparently a credit of £1033 18s 2d. and against it a debit of only £85 16s 9d. Now he wanted to know where that money was? — Or Robertson said this expenditure had been \inder the control of the member-! for the ridings. — Or Saunders said the settlers down there had a good idea how much " thirds " and " fourths " there should be, and said it had not been expended where it ought to have_ been. They threatened to write to the Minister of Lands on the matter, and some of them had even been to the receiver of land revenue. — Several councillors explained that the money had all been spent in the riding. The trouble was that some charges had been debited to general account that should have been charged to land account. — Or Saunders said the settlors said the money had not been spent in the district. This was particularly so in regard to block 111, Rimu, where he had been told the "thirds" and "fourths" amounted to £100, of which he was told not £40 had been spent. — Cr Robertson said it was evident the engineer and member for the riding had spent the money on the roads in the district. — The Clerk said it would keep matters clearer if a separate bank account were kept of land fund account. He might mention that the general rate only amounted to £250, and that about five surfacemen alone were employed. — Cr Saunders said the statement he had was dated September 30 last, and it was no use saying the money was not available when a credit balance was shown at that date of nearly £1000. The question he was asked by the ratepayers, and the question to which he wanted an answer was where was that money? — N«. i mfchfc- reply was forthcoming, and after

T some further discussion the council proceeded to the next business. j KOADS AND WORKS. I The Engineer reported that tenders had j been called for metalling in connection with [ Pomahaka Riding loan. Contracts completed since last meeting were 825, 790, 799, 822, 84-7, and 857. Contract for making bridge over Waiwera on Main South road, contract for supplying me ial on cross road near old j Waiwera, Hotel, contract for formation on Lambourne road, and contract for metalling on Popotunoa-Wyndham road are likely to be finished within a fortnight. As authorised at last meeting, the engineer and member for the riding interested had accepted tenders for contracts 854- and 855 (Glenkeriich Riding), 859, 860, 861, and 865 (Pomahaka Riding). Contracts £60 and 865 had been extended up to amount allocated for the road. Contract 861-, on Waiwera Siding road, had been let to Mr Motion at £4- 14s 6d per chain, conditionally that the work was begun at once. Contract 866, Waipahi Riding, had also been let, and notice had been given to all the contractors. The bridge over Valley Creek to Waikoikoi Road had been rebuilt, and the one over the Piawata at Kaihiku would likely be finished the following day. — The report was adopted. Tenders were opened and dealt with as followi : — Contract No. 867, John Sharp (accepted), £4-8; 868, John Taylor (accepted), £127 10s ; 869, E. Conston, £160 ; P. M'Rorie, £148 10s; P. Kane (accepted), £140; 870, P. Kane, £147; P. M'Rorie, £148 (fresh ' tenders to be called) ; 871, P. M'Rorie, £63 : ■I. John Sharp, £54- 12s ; J. M'Lay, jun. (Ac- ; eepted), £52 10s; 872, J. M'Lay, jun. (Ac- ! eepted up to £100), £117; P. M'Rorie, £157 10s; John Sharp, £120. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr Sanders reported that he had put on J two extra surfacemen at Hunt's road, and ( that the work was nearly finished. The monthly paysheet, amounting to £436 19s 9d, was passed for payment. Collectors for dog tax -were appointed a= follows:— Clydevale, P. Miller: Clutha, J. M'Neil. jun.; Richardson. R. Gnmi : Clinton and Pomahaka, D. M •Donald ; Calling, R. Tapp ; South Molynsux. R. Ledingl'am; fresh applications to be called for Waipahi and y Glenkenich Ridings. Cr A. C. Sanders proposed — " That tenders be called for 200 yds maintenance metal for Owaka-Clinton road from Owaka railway station." — Seconded by Cr M'Neil and carried. Cr M'Neil proposed — " That tenders be called for 150 yds maintenance metal for road from junction of Main South road to railway crossing at Waitepeka." — Seconded by Cr Sanders and carried.