TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 8

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taieri County Ccuacil, held on Friday, was attended by Crs Chisholm (chairman), Samson, Harrison, Peat, Robinson, Todd, and Gibson. We are indebted to the Taieri Advocate for the following report : — inspector's repokt. The County Inspector (Mr John White) tabled the iollowing report: — ■' The contracts in hand are all completed, except the metal at Wharo Creek, which is well advanced and expected to be finished by the middle of March. '' Ihe loads are all in good order at present throughout the county. " Bridges. — Marshall's is in hand, and will be fixed up in three weeks. As the traction engines have commenced to travel again, some of the culverts are being crushed. There are two on the back road in Maungatua Riding above Mimro's. One is a large culvert, 4ft 6in wide, with stone cover, apparently not fit to carry an engine and a 14-ton load. The other is a smaller one, also broken from the same cause. They are at present' patched so as to carry ordinary traffic. Some of the large bridges, mentioned in the annual allocation, Wesfc Taieri, Otakia, and Kaikorai, are in want of repairs. The bridge on Mr Graham's creek on the Brighton road is now finished. This is a strong job, and will last for at least 20 years. Kaikorai and Brighton bridges are the only ones on this road that are weak. I have examined the bridges at Wain's drain and also the one at C diain. Both' will have to be renewed. Wain's drain, 18 x 4 x 5, cost £15; C drain, 16 x 8 x 4, cost £18. " T have also examined Mr Angus M'Diarmid's road and ford. Most of the road ccuTd bo made with the grader, and would not cost iimch. Of. course, there would be the neces-" sary culverts. However, Mr M'Diaimid does not expeel the load made this year. The creek is the obstruction, at this point. It is about

Oft deep in the bed. The formation of the bottom is soft clay, although there is a layer of gravel above the clay. I don't think that a satisfactory ford could be made on account of the high banks and soft bottom. A bridge would require to have a span of 20ft to carry the creek in time of flood, which is of frequent occurrence in this creek. The cost would be about £75. " Thiids and Fourths' Account. — I have examined the country through which Mr Arthur Gibson wants a bridle track to his hut station section 0 , Silver Peak distilct. As it is almost impossible to pack anything over the ground in its present state, I would suggest that a track be innde from the hut known as Matheson's to the top of the spur in Higgins's run, about tlnee miles. This would be as much as could be made this season. The west spur of Mount John could stand till next summer. With the council's consent, I would propose putting four men on, to start as soon as they are done at Strath-Taieri and JSTenthorn districts, finishing after the grader. '■ JBerwick-Waipori Road. — A surfaceman has been on for 34 dsys cleaning slips, water tables, and timber. It is now clear, and if the cattle could be kept off would bs a passable riding track.

" The annual allocation for main roads has been . prepared, and will be laid before the council for consideration."

The following instructions consequent on the above report were given to thp inspector: Large culvert above Munro's, Maungatua, to be replaced by a 2ft pipe; the inspector to make the necessary lepairs to the smaller one on same road. With respect to the Otakin, West Taieri, and Kaikorai bridges the inspector was empowered to act. He was instructed to make the necessary repairs to Wain's drain and the C drain. No action to be taken in the meantime as regards Angus M'Diarmid's road and ford. As regards the " thirds ' and " fourths " account the inspector was empowered to carry o'it his suggestion. — The report as read was then received.

SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT. " In accordance with my expectations at the exid of last month John Jones, the contractor for the removal of nightsoil from the city, commenced on the first of the past month to deposit the same in one of Mr Sprott's paddocks, adjoining the Corstorpliine ropcl, creating a terrible nuisance, not only a nuisance, hut also polluting to a very serious extent a watercourse within the county. lat once took action in the matter, with the result that on the 22nd ult. Jones was fined 40s and costs for the nuisance, and 20s and costs for polluting the stream. Since then no further deposits have been made on this property. Ellis's depot, also the one on Mrs Biown's farm at Corstorphine, have been fairly well attended to during the past month. The Kaikorai stream still continues in very fait- condition.'

CORRESPONDENCE

A letter was received from. Messrs Smith, Chapman, and Sinclair, intimating that Jones, th-» contractor for the removal of the Dunedin nightsoii, had been prosecuted for depositing nightsoil near Corstorphine road, and for fouling ii sti-eain running through Mr C. Samson's property, by means of nightsoil, and that he had been fined £2 and £1 for these offences. — Received.

Intimation was received from the Treasury, Wellington, that £14 7s 8d had been paid to the council's credit in rescect of goldfields revenue for the month of January, 1900. — Received.

The Mines department intimated that a grant of £200 had been authorised towards the cost of constructing the Outrani-Waipori road ; also that a grant of £100 had been authorised towards the cost of constructing the WaiporiBerwick" road. — Inspector instructed to enlarge his specifications, , so as to include the grants mentioned.

The Receiver of Gold Revenue, Dunedin, stated that since sending the half-yearly returns of gold&elds revenue, the rent due on R. Sheppard's occupation license had been paid. — Received.

The Inspector of Mines intimated that he had been requested to repoit re Boult's application for a. prospecting license on the Taieri Eiver, below the Outram bridge, and requested the chairman to be present. — Cr Chisholm st.id he was present, and that the Inspector of Mines' roport seemed to influence the warden, vdth the result that the decision on Boult's application was again adjourned until the first Saturday .in April. Mr H. Baron requested to he informed of a solicitor who ■will accept service of writ of summons re James Bolitho's claim for damages from Lee Creek water. — The council's solicitors were named.

H. Stephenson applied for a lenevval of his slaughtering license for premises at StrathTaieri. — Renewal granted. Arthur Elwell and three others requested that the gorse be cut off M'Laren's Hill rc&d. — All parties interested to ba given notice to clear the gorse. ( Mr C. Graham wrote re the engineer's report on the purvey line from Brighton Beach to Scrogg's Hill, and contended that his fence did not encroach on the road line, and that the engineer had made a mistake in his last survey. — Engineer's report referred back to him, together with Mr Graham's letter.

Cr Hqrriscn said the manager of the creamery at Middlemarch had asked him to inquire if the council would do the work in connection with a. certain drain if he stipplied the pipes. — Such matters are always done entirely at the private individual's expense, after the permission of the council to the work has been obtained.

TENDERS.

The following tenders were received : — Contract 278, formation in block VII, Strath-Taieri, John Hyall, £58 9s 6d (accepted), Baker and Peddie £69. Contract 275, supply of 550 yds schist metal, Waipori road, D. O'Kourke, 3s 6d per yard (accepted), C Brensell, 3s 9d per yard. Contract 270, bridge over Lee Creek, at M'Lean's, James Callander, £20 2s 6d. It was resolved not to accept this tender, as the bridge is oji a road line not under the control of the council.

GENERAL,

The consideration of the allocations for the year 1839-1900 was deferred until next meeting.

It was resolved that an additional charge of 10 per "cent, be made on all rates remaining unpaid after the 31st March-; the ratepayers to be publicly notified of that fact, and the amounts to be sued for for the recovery of some. It was resolved that a special meeting of the council be held on Friday, the 6th day of April, 1900, for the purpose of making a special rate for the South Taieri special rating district, to e'ear the payment of interest, and repayment of principal of the loan of JC6OOO, which it is proposed to borrow for the above district under the provisions of " The Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1881. '

Information was received from the council's solicitor re the roads at Henley through Mr M'Lean's property, advising .the council that the roads arc not legally under the control of the council so as to completely justify the expenditure of public money on them. The council therefore resolved, on this advice, to take no action in the matter.

As Cr Douglas was unavoidably absent from the- meeting, his notice of motion re surfacemen's wages was allowed to stand over till the next council meeting. The schedule of expenditure amoruitirig to £623 4s Id was passed for payment.

— "Women are not permitted to be photograjphed iv Shim*