WAIKOUATI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 8

WAIKOUATI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this council was held in the Council Chambers, Hawksbury, on Friday last, at which there were present — The Chairman (Mr J. PooLe), and Crs C. Duke, A. r Graham, A. S. Orbell, J. Porteous, and W. Souter.

FINANCE,

Accoiints for the month, amounting to J219 Ss sd, were passed for payment.

inspectob's reports,

Mrs Allen's Application. — In reference to this application, it would take about 4£ chains of formation and the scrub cleared off to make it fit "for dray traffic. — Tenders to be called for the work.

Blair's Application. — With regard to this application, it would require aboiifc four chains of formation and one culvert to effect the necessary repairs to this road.— Tenders to be called for the work.

Road Buckland's Station. — Thirty-six chains o£ this road could be considerably improved by cuttings and nlling-in on several portions of the road. There was one portion on which the grading could be reduced from one in six to one in nine if a slight deviation could be obtained through Orbell's property. The council resolved to call for tenders for the work, and the inspector to erect the fence in accordance with the agreement with Mr Orbell for granting the deviation free of cost.

PETITIONS,

Mr B. Bray and six other small grazing runholders petitioned the council in reference to prosecuting the work in improving the road from the ford on the Waikouaiti River, leading to Kiatoa station, and sanctioning the expenditure of the land fund derived from their small grazing runs in carrying out the work.—Received, the matter having been dealt with in the inspector's report, and for which work the council resolved to invite tenders.

Mr Michclson. and three other ratepayers in the North Harbour and Blueskin district petitioned the council and expressed their deaira to have portion of the Skyward Point road metalled to Mr Michelson's deviation, and agreed to subscribe the sum of £14 10s towards the cost of the work. They asked the council to contribute pound for pound to have it done. — Consideration of the petition was postponed. Mr George Mason and 3^ ratepayers and residents in the "Deborah Bay district petitioned tho council, drawing attention to the deplorable condition of the Deborah Bay road to the Blueskin road, and asked that the necessary repairs should be undertaken at once and the road rendered passable. — Eeferred to the inspector to report at next meeting.

COB.B.jSST'ONDENCE

Mr E. a. Allen, M.H.Rf, Wellington, wrote acknowledging receipt of a letter from the council, and agreeing to act as delegate re the New Zealand Counties' Association. — Received.

Mr T. Pratb, M.H.8., Wellington; wrote en- ' closing reply from Minister of Lands, _ who stated that it was not practicable to transfer tho vote of £25 for the construction of the road > to Brian's Point and devote it tp iorniatioa of >

road leading to Corner Bush; but that consideration would be given to placing a similar sum on the Estimates for the current year, the Brinn's Point vote being allowed to lapse. With regard to a refund of .the cost of survey and fencing the Corner Bush road, the Minister considered this a work the cost of which

should be paid by the County Council, but the council's representation, in the matter would be, considered. — Received.

The Under-secretary, Lands and Survey, Wellington, wrote stating that with reference to the agreement made between the Minister and the council* re the expenditure of, the vote of £ ISO on the maintenance of the Waitati-

Wakari road, the Minister agreed that the council should not be required to contribute pound for pound, and provision would be made for dispensing with this condition when the Estimates were placed before the House. — Received. The' Chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council wrote asking the council's co-opera-tion in urging upon the Government the desirability of transferring to local administrative bodies the duty of carrying out the licensing elections, on the grounds that the cost at piesent is excessive. The council considered the proposed change wotild reduce the cost by at least 50 per cent., and as local bodies had to bear it, his council were of opinion that they should have control over the expenditure. — The council expressed their willingness to co-oper-ate in any action taken. The Town Clerk, West Harbour Borough Council, wrote calling attention to a nuisance existing on the boundary road between the county and the borough, through the spread of scrub, in reference to which complaints had been made. — The matter -was referred to the inspector to attend to. Mr A. S. Wilson, Evanadale, wrote tendering his resignation as poundkoeper of the Evansdale pound, on account of " age and health."' — The resignation was accepted. Mrs Jans Allen, Merlon, wrote drawing at-tei-tion to the state of the road adjoining her property, which she pointed out had never been formed, and as a consequence she suffered great inconvenience in carting to her place. — Refeired to tho inspector for a report. The Secretary Treasury, Wellington, intimated that g.oldfields revenue, amounting to £6 0s 6d, had been remitted to the credit of the county fund at the Bank of New Zc-aland. — Received. Mr J. Bayne, director of the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, forwarded report on experiments on last season's grain; also on the crossing of different breeds of sheep, with a view to finding out which gave the most profitable- fat lambs for freezing purposes. — Received, and -the director to bo thanked for his circular, which contained a large amount of valuable information. The Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington, forwarded declaration for subsidy on rates for year ending March 31, 1900. — Received. Mr T. Thomson, Waikouaiti, wrote drawing attention to the action of Mr C. Reid's trustees in refusing to allow any gravel to be taken off his property, in consequence of which he asked to be relieved of his contract for gravelling Hoaic's Hill. — Application granted. Mr George Sinclair, Mount Cargill, wrote stating that he was unable to proceed with his contract at Mount Cargill, and asking the council to consent to its transference to Mr F. Canning, who had agreed to take it up. — Request granted.

CONTRACTS.

The following tenders were accepted : — Contract 732— P. Collins, £88 6s 8d ; 741— C. King, £25 6a 8d; 743— T. Thomson, £72; 744— T. Hourston, £79 15s.

OTHEB MATTEBS,

Resolved — " That the chairman be empowered to take steps to get all the roads

recorded on the county map, and that the clerk

arrange with the surveyors who may survey 'the roads to have the above carried out if desirable"; "that the time has now arrived when th 9 Main North road from the boundary of the "Waihemo County requires gravelling and putting in repair, and that the necessary expenditure is far otitside the finance of the tiding, it is resolved that the clerk write to the members for the districts of Waikouaiti and Maheno, Messrs E. G-. Allen and T. MacKfenzie, and request them to usa their influence

with the Government to obtain an amount or

grant of JE2(% to subsidised by a similar amount from, the fimcla of the riding, or that the neces-' sary gravel be carried free of charge on the railway, so that this very necessary and important work can be put in hand at once " : " that the inspector be iastiucted to report at next meeting the probable cost of forming the worst portions of the road leading through Messrs Hallum and Borfcliwick's small grazing runs in. the Waikouaiti Survey district " ;

" that the inspector be instructed to havo 50yds of gravel spread on Mr A. Clark's road, near the railway, Waitati, during the month of September."

The couucil resolved to give the usual notice of their intention to make a general rate for the current year of f d in the pound, payable on the 17th September, 1900. INSPECTOBS OP SIiATJGHTEBEOUSES. Sergeant G-eerin and Constables Burrows and Drury forwarded returns of tho number of cattle slaughtered axtd the fees received in their respective districts for the period ending June 30, 1900.

Hon. jr. m'kekzie.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Orbell, the coiincil unanimously passed the following resolution: — "That this council regret the continued illness of the Hon. J. M'TCenzie, and desire to express their sympathy to him, and also to express their a]>preeiation of his great services in the past, both as a foiraer councillor of this council and member

of the House of Representatives, and also as Minister of Lands, and the council sincerely hope the hon. gentleman will be speedily convalescent; that a. copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Hon. J". M'Kenzie." The council then adjourned.