WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2400, 1 March 1900, Page 10

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this County Coun- ; oil was held in the Council Chambers, Pal- [ raerston, on the 17th inst., at which there were present — the Chairman (Mr T. Muir) and \ CrsW.-E. Griffin, R. Matheson, J. Matheson, 1 D. M. Phillips, X>. Ross, J.. Ross, and J. Stewart. • 'finance. Accounts for the month amounting to £288 15s 9d were passed for payment. inspectoe'b bepobts. Goodwood Riding. — In this riding the Main district road was now in fair order. That 'portion at the south side of the bush to the church had been gravelled, and from Stewart's College to past the bridge had had some maintenance gravel, and with the sides trimmed, gave it a tidy appearance, and was in good order. About 17 chains of the road leading to the village settlement had been reformed. B. Mahoney and J. Gilmore had given, the former seven and the latter six days' labour, and T. Butlers had agreed to form about eight chains more if the inspector laid off the ground. This he agreed to instruct the county wcrkmon to grade and they were carrying out the work. No work should be done on this road in winter, as it would only be wasting money. — Approved. Dunback Riding. — In this riding the road up past Duncan's was much in want of gravel, as it was hollow in the centre and very difficult to keep the water off the road. The contractor was gravelling the Stoueburn road, and would soon be able to form and improve the end next Stoneburn. Having to attend nnd assist the surveyor during the month, he (the inspector) had been unable to get through Avith some of the work he had in hand. — Approved.

Blue Mountain Riding.— Referring to the application of Messrs Alexander Craig and Dalziel at last meeting, the inspector, after examining Ihe road, expressed the opinion that there were many roads in the district in a much worse condition, although a coat of gravel would improve it. The road from Inch V alley to A. Cockerill's farm was not in good order in places, and required improving, which would be done by the surfaceman. Several parts of this road had been improved last winter, and the settlers would have to wait until some of the roads in the Bushy Riding and in the Blue Mountain Riding had been attended to. — Approved, and consideration held over until Cr libister was present.

Macraes Riding. — The district roads in, the Moonlight and Nenthorn portion of the riding were in good order. The road at the junction at Despdell had, been improved. The Hyde bridge had now been closed for a time to get tlie repairs carried out in the erection of a new superstructure. The main road from Deepdell to near Dunback required maintenance gravel in many places. The council resolved to call for tenders for the work, expenditure to be defrayed out of the land fund available. COR-RESPONDENCE. The Ounce Gold Mining- Company, Stoneburn, wrote drawing attention to the condition of the road leading from Mr Davie's to Macraes, which required the grade reduced in one or two places. They asked the council to attend to the matter as soon as possible, — Referred to the inspector. The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, intimated that subsidy amounting to £367 10s, being 75 per cent, advance on rates collectable, etc., had been remitted to the credit of the comity fund at the Bank of New Zealand, Palxnerston. — Received. Mr J. White, jun., Macraes, wrote stating that a company of live had taken up a special quartz claim of 30 acres for mining purposes, situated on the Mareburn Creek, near Highlay, had purchased a battery and accessories, and desired to know if the council would assist them by chipping and fencing a road to the mine. They had between 30 and 40 tons of machinery to cart at once, and as it had cost them a considerable sum of money, they hoped the council would encourage the industry by granting- the request. Tho road referred to joined the Four-mile and Hyde road and Mr J. Matheson's homestead. The road would also be very useful to the grazing runholders adjoining, and he had no doubt they would be agreeable to allocate a part of their rates to repay the cost of construction. He asked the council to let him know as soon as possible if they were disposed to assist the company, as they wanted the machinery on the ground as soon as possible.

Cr J. E. Malheson moved — " That the application be referred to the inspector to make inquiries, and that no action be taken in the meantime."

Or Griffin said that White had spoken to him dn reference to the matter. Ho estimated the cost at from £10 to £15, and the company were very anxious to get the macliinory on the ground, and to postpone the application, as bucrgested, would be a great incoiiveaiGnce and loas to them. He moved as

an amendment — " That the matter be attended to at once." The men were willing to assist in the work themselves by giving four of five days' labour. GrD. Ross seconded the amendment, which was carried. Cr R. Matheson then moved as a further amendment — " That the- application be referred to the inspector to report, and that no money be expended until it is ascertained if the council has received any rent from tho claim." He said that the rent at 10s per aero would amount to £15, and this would cover the cost of the work. Cr J. Ross seconded the amendment. Ha pointed out that at present the council were not in possession of sufficient information to> incur the expenditure right off. — The amendment was carried. The Clerk Waitaki County Council applied for particulars as to the probable cost of chip-* ping a bridle track from Slate Quarry to "Dasher," through run 109, which the council were asked to have done. — The clerk was 7 instructed to inform the Waitaki County Council that the estimated cost of the work referred to — a four foot track — would be from 6cl to 9d per chain.

The Secretary of the Treasury, Wellington, wrote intimating that the sum of £28 3s 4d, goldfielcls revenue, had been remitted to the credit of the county fund at the Bank of NewZealand. — Received.

The Under-secretary Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, wrote stating thafe the Minister of Lands had agreed to tho clause being struck out referring to the work in the agreements in connection with the expenditure of grants of money for the Dun-back-Swinbum road and road through blook VIII, Waihemo, being done under the cooperative system, and that of contract substituted. — Received. CONTRACTS. , Tenders-- were opened as under: — Contract 394, supply of 200 yds of metal on Main road, Moonlight, Macraes- Riding— W. Dodd, 16s per yard (accepted). Contract 395, supply of 100 yds gravel, village settlement, Goodwood— The council decided to call for fresh tenders for this contract. Contract 396, formation and gravelling portion of road Bushy Ridino—P. Lunham. £49 4s 2d. OTHER lIATTEHS. Cr Stewart stated that the ratepayers in the Goodwood Village Settlement had agreed to contribute £3 10s towards the expenditure of gravelling and forming the road, in addition to the labour already given and promised in carrying out the much-needed improvements to the road. The Chairman said his attention had been called to, a piece of road at the boundary of the county and borough leading , past the sc'iool building to Bushy that required improving:. The Inspector pointed out that the piece of road referred to- was under the control of the Borough Council. The Chairman moved—'-' That the attention of the Borough Council be called to the condition of the piece of road referred to." Or J. Ross seconded the motion, which was carried.

Cr J. Ross drew attention to the state of the by-road leading to the slaughteryard, on tho Goodwood road, which required improving. He moved — "That the inspector be empowered to have it gravelled." Cr Stewart seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Griffin drew attention to a piece of road in the Nenthorn Plat which required forming, and from which the water flowed on to D. M'Rae's property. He moved — "That the matter be referred to the inspector." Cr Matheson seconded the motion, which' was carried.

Cr Griffin also drew attention to the approaches to three bridges on the Nenthorn' road, which were referred to the inspector to attend to.

On the motion of Cr R. Matheson, the inspector was instructed to revjort on the condition of the road near Pott's house, Green Valley.

The Ohoirraan explained that he had interviewed the Hon. the Minister of Lands in reference to the road through M'Culloch's land at Dunback, and he had promised to send up a surveyor to look into the matter, from which it appeared that the road at present existing was in the wrong line, and that the road would now have to be taken under the Public Works Act. — The action of the chair-< man in the matter was approved. The council then adjourned.

King Mahuta has requested the Tauranga Natives to assemble at Wahi on the 28th inst. to receive- Lord Ranfurly and Earl Beauchamp. These are a few of the qualifications of ai candidate for the third contingent whose services were provisionally accepted at Wellingtorf: — "An M.A., boundary rider, tennis player, rifle shot, pugilist, surveyor's assistant, champion footballer, chess ■nhweij schoolmaster." eta,