WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 9

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the County Council was held in the County Council Chambers, 'Palmerston, on Saturday, 20th, at which there t ivere present— The Chairman (Mr T. Muir), and Crs Isbister, R. Matheson, J. H. Matheson, D. Phillips, D. Ross, J. Ross, and J. gtewart. FINANCE. Accounts for the month amounting to £236 8.3s 7s were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Contractor for the repairs to tho Taieri bridge wrote, in reply to the county inspector, pointing out that the cause in the delay of proceeding with the work was the difficulty in getting the beams from Australia. — Received.

The Secretary. Charitable Aid Board, Dunfedin, forwarded return of all persons residing in the county in receipt of charitable aid. —Received.

The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, wrote intimating that the sum of £4 5s o"d, goldfields revenue, had been remitted to the credit of "the county fund at the Bank of New Zealand, Palmerston. — Received.

The Hon. J. 'M'Kenzie, Wellington, wrote 'drawing the council's attention to the fact that he intended ""recultivating Heathfield, and he was desirous of getting access to the southern portion of his farm near the Pukeviti Hotel to the Main road. There was 1 legal -road leading "to the Main road from Shis farm, which only required forming, and as the matter was a small one arid would not cost much, and would be a great convenience -to him, he trusted the council would comply with his request. — Referred to the inspector.

The Secretary Department of Lands and Survey, Dunedin, wrote in reference to a communication from the council re the proposed road through section 14-, block 11, Dunback district, that owing to the neglect to forward a survey of the proposed road, as requested by the Land Board on the 28th March, 1895, that if it was now necessary the road would have to be taken under the provisions of the Public Works Act. — On the motion of Cr Isbister, seconded by Cr Stewart, the inspector was instructed to have the road opened, and as near as possible on th 6 dotted track through M'Culloch's land. Colonel Penton, Wellington, forwarded a telegram thanking the council and borough for their generous gift of a horse for the

eecond contingent, which was greatly needed. ■ — Received, and Cr J. Ross moved — " That

3810 be voted to the chairman for services rendered by him during the time he has filled the position. , Cr Phillips seconded the motion.

Cr Isbister protested against the motion, as intended to cover an illegal vote, ostensibly for the chairman, but in reality intended

to cover the half cost of the horse purchased as a gift from the ratepayers of the county and the Borough of Palmerston. Rather than vote for the motion, and the money come out of the county rates, he would con tribute £1 himself. Cr Phillips remarked that he had not heard a single objection to the purchase of the horse for the second, contingent. Cr J. j^oss said a majority of the council Jhad agreed to the expenditure, and a large number of ratepayers he had spoken to had expressed themselves favourable to it. He Was" surprised that any man with a drop of 'British blood in his veins should object to the cost of the horse. If he did so, he deserved to be denounced a Boer. On the 'other hand, the council and ratepayers ought to feel proud of being the first county to contribute towards the purchase of a horse for the second contingent. Cr Isbister pointed out that he did not obqect to the expenditure, but on the grounds of its- legality. ,Cr J. Ross said he was quite willing to contribute his £1 towards the expense. The Chairman remarked that rather than Hot see the council unanimous with regard to the vote he would pay the £10 out of his own pocket, or forgo his honorarium for six months. He had acted with the best intentions, had consulted councillors before doing so, and the question of the leg-ality or otherwise of the expenditure did not jeeur to him at the time,especially as an eminent legal authority had pointed a way out of the difficulty — that covered by the motion — to avoid the question being raised afterwards. Cr R. Matheson said rather than the chairman should be out of pocket by the action taken, he was quite willing to contribute his £1. _

Cr D. Ross objected. He did not see that any councillor should be out of pocket by the transaction. The gift of the horse and its cost were the joint contribution of the county and borough, and the Borough Council 'had sanctioned their share of the cost. The motion was carried, Cr Isbister being the only one voting against it. Mr A. D. Bell, Waihemo, wrote drawing the council's attention to the fact that within a few weeks would be the end of the financial year, "when vote's would lapse. He suggested that steps .should be taken to obtain the money voted for works in the county by Parliament at the end of the month at latest, •otherwise it would never be got. He was glad to hear that 'the Hon. J. M'Kenzie had promised to attend to the matter. — Received, the expenditure of the grants having been authorised. -J^f-. Barron, Assistant Surveyor-general, Wellington, wrote, in reply to an application for the expenditure of £600 for formation of Shag Point road to the mine, stating that the expenditure had not been provided for on the appropriations for the current year. — Received. The Secretary to the Central Patriotic Fund, 'Dunedin, forwarded circulars xc contributions to the fund. — Received. ■ " ' INSPECTOR'S HEFOBT.

The Inspector reported that the Main road Ski Macraes, from Hanlon's farm up to Heffernan's run, which had been metalled by the Deepdell Road Board, had become very much .worn, and required metal. The sides of the road also required attention, and had been looked to by the surfacemen in the meantime. On' the Moonlight roads, which had been

raised and. ample provision made for carrying , (off the water through the culverts, some of the settlers had turned the water on to the roads by cutting ditches through their land at» different places) diverting it from the original .watercourse, thereby forcing the water on to #he roads from ditches made for keeping it from spreading on to the roadline, and for obtaining material for raising of the same. This ihadbeen attended to, and he was asked to ikeep the channels clear. If the council agreed £0 this, he (the inspector) would require the assistance of extra men for a few months, as Sthe present surfacemen, could not do it in (Winter, owingto its being so wet. — The eounjcil agreed to invite tenders for metalling the a'bad from Hanlon's farm to Heffernan's run ,to the extent of the land fund available ; and f, 'empower the inspector to see that the water ainago on the Moonlight roads be confined

deputations'. Messrs Craig and Dalziell waited on the council to urge that some repairs be effected on the road leading to their properties in the Blue Mountain Riding. The road was represented to be very low in the centre, and was very much in need of improvement. — The Inspector stated that the road required a little formation and some gravel. — Referred to the inspector.

Mr T. Butters waited on the council in reference to the road leading to the Goodwood village settlement, which, he pointed out, was in a deplorable condition and almost impassable. He offered to contribute £5 if the council would expend £20 in gravelling and repairing the road. — The council resolved to call for tenders for improving the road at a cost not to exceed £10.

OTHER MATTERS,

The chairman was authorised to sign several agreements on behalf of the council, undertaking the expenditure of certain grants of money by Government for works on the Dun-back-Swinburn road, on run 109, block VIII, Waihemo, and the council agreed to call for tenders for the several works.

Applications .for dog tax collector were received from Hugh Walker, W. J. M'Culloch, F W. Yean, and Aaron Kennard, and that of Hugh Walker was accepted. Or R. Matheson moved, and Cr J. Ross seconded — "That the clerk be instructed to apply to the Waitaki County Council to have the bridle track chipped from slate qxiarry by the Dasher on run in the occupation of the New Zealand Land Company." — Carried.

Cr J. Ross moved, and Cr Stewart seconded — "That plan and specifications be prepared and tenders called for forming and gravelling about 16 chains of road from Bushy Park peak, connecting the gravelled portion of road through the Goodwood Bush." — Carried. The tenders of P. Lunladen were accepted for contracts 339 (gravelling road from J. Stewart's to Main road, Goodwood Riding, at £19 3s 4d), 390 (formation and gravelling parts of Stoneburn road, Dunback Riding, at £26 5s 10d), and 391 (gravelling parts of Stoneburn road from Main road to red gate, at Is 9d per yard, and to end of gravel at Allen's gate, 3s 3d per yard, to the extent of £30). The inspector was instructed to ascertain if Mr Abernethy's residence, Dunback district, was situated in the mining reserve. The council theD adjourned.