WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2443, 9 January 1901, Page 10

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of this County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Hawksbury, on Friday, 28th, at which there were present — - The chairman (Mr C. Duke), and Crs J. Foote, A. Graham, J. Porteous, A. S. Orbell, and W. Souter.

FINANCE.

Accounts for the month amounting to £437 Is lOd were passed for payment.

inspector's repoet,

The Inspector reported as under: —

J. Sutherland's application. — To widen that portion of the road leading to Mr J. Sutherland's property at Purakanui would require about 10 chains. This would greatly improve the road. — The inspector was authorised to widen the road to the extent of 12ft or 13ft.

Waitati Fords.— The fords in the Waitati River were in good order, and a large portion of the slips on the Waitati- Wakare road had been removed, and the road opened again for traffic. He suggested that tenders should be called for the removal of the remainder of the slips. — Received.

Long Beach. — The bridge at Long Beach referred to in Mr Golightly's application was very much decayed, especially the longitudinal beams; so much decayed, in fact, that the bridge was liable to fall at any time, and to render it fit for traffic wotild require a new bridge and approaches. — Mr Golightly to be informed that the council have no funds available for the work at present.

COBRESPONDENCS.

The Waihemo County Clerk wrote that, as requested by the Waikouaiti County Council, the Waihemo County chairman had presided at the meeting held on the 28th November for the election of a member of the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards, and that Mr James Green had been elected to represent the two counties on the two boards respectively. — Received.

Mr R. M'Leod, surfaceman in the Merton Biding, wrote applying for a rise of wages, pointing out that he could not employ a man under 6s per day, which he considered little enough, and ss, his present pay, too small. — The council resolved to call fcr applications for a surfaceman for the Merton Riding, also for two suifacomen for the Hawksbuiy Riding, applications to be lodged by next meeting of council.

Mr J. Mount, Heyward Point, on behalf of a number of settlers, wrote again drawing the attention of the council re metalling Michelson's deviation, and reminded them that in a previous petition the settleis had agreed to subscribe £14 between them towards the cost of the work. If the council could have the road metalled it would be a great benefit to the settlers interested. — Mr Mouat to be informed that when the money promised is paid tenders will be called for the work.

Mr W. Sallar, Waitati, wrote stating that he did not know of five gentlemen who would be willing to act a3 tiustees of the Blueskm Cemetery. He pointed out that the reason the present trustees resigred was his resignation of his appointment as clerk and treasurer, and also that of the death of the late sexton. Although the trustees called for applications for the position, they could get no one to take it ; and at the meeting at which he had tendered his resignation he had informed the trustees that ths interments were costing more than the fees came to, and he had great difficulty in getting anyone to dig the graves — Received.

From Mr J. Douglas, Mount Royal, Palnaerston, enclosing cheque for £13 15s, his proportion of contribution to defray the cost of the construction of the bridge acioss Pleasant River, on Stenhouse's road, on the boundary of the Waihemo County. — Received. Mr C. Gump, Waihemo County clerk, wrote stating that his council restricted themselves to an expenditure of £55, the estimated cost of the Pleasant River bridge, with stone abutments and timber superstructure, and intimating that the Waihemo Council v/r-re about to call for tendeis for the erection of the bridge, j iqse inspector would piepaie plans and speci-

fications and generally superintend the work, subject to the sanction of the Waikouaiti County Council. — The council decided to adhere to the conditions laid down in their letter of November 8, 1900.

Mrs Y. O'Sulhvan, Pine Hill, wrote drawing attention to the state of the road leading to section 53, which was represented to be in a very dangerous condition, caused by the late floods, and was not safe for a horse and cart to travel over. — Referred to the inspector. The Receiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin, wrote intimating that "thirds" and "fourths ' accrued during the period between July 2 and September 29, 1900, amounting to £261 2s Id, had been paid into the Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin, to the credit of the county fund. Received.

Sergeant Geerin, Port Chalmers, forwarded return for month ending November 30 of the number of cattle slaughtered m his district, within the jurisdiction of the county, with amount of fees collected. — Received.

The Surveyor-general, Wellington, forwarded agreement authorising the expenditure of £25 on the Corner Bush-Merton road, which the chairman was authorised to sign.

PETITIONS.

Mr J. Counts and eight other ratepayers in the Hawksbury Riding, Pleasant Valley, petitioned the council, diawing attention to the action of Mr J. Douglas, who intended woolscouring in Pleasant River again this season, near the Main road. The petitioners pointed out that two years ago, when Mr Douglas scoured wool there, the water was polluted to such an extent that stock would scarcely drink it, while for domestic purposes it was impossible to use the water. They hoped the council would see their way to put a stop to the nuisance, as they were milk suppliers to the G-oodwood creamery, and it was absolutely necessary to deliver their milk puie. This could not be done if the cows hid to drink polluted water; and added that the water killed trout from lib to 15lb weight — The council resolved — " That the petition re polluting the water in the Pleasant River be referred to Mr Douglas, and the council express a hope that he will not pollute the stream m the locality referred to "

Mrs E. M'Alrune and nine other residents in the TJnper 'Blueskm Riding petitioned the council, pointing out that they had petitioned the Poit Chalmers Borough "Council to improve the nath leading from Mount street past the Old Cemoterv to the upper road, which was in a most disgraceful state ; and, seeing that they had to use it every day. it became a necessity to have it improved while the weather was favourable The Port Chalmers Borough Council had admitted the necessity of havirg the path improved, pointing- out that the cost would be about £10, but if the residents would contribute £15 they would proceed with the work. The petitioners approached the county council to ask them to assist in raising the necessary amount The reply of the Port Chalmers town clerk was enclosed, in which he stated that the Works Committee were agreeable to recommend the Borough Council to lay '-down a substantial footpath 4ft wide the full length of Mount sftreet to the upper road, with a handrail on +hp steep part, provided the petitioners raised £15 towards the cost, which was estimated at JE4O — The council resolved, on the motion of Cr Souter, seconded by Cr Porteous—" That the petition of Mrs M'Alpine and nine others, with enclosed letter from the town clerk, "Port Chalmers Borough Council, re state of footpath from Mount «treet to Upper Blueskin road, be received, and the petitioners be informed that th*- council have no funds available for the purpose."

OTHER MATTERS

The council accepted the tender of Thomas Hourston for contract 763,. formation of O'Halloran's road, at £16 15s 6d.

The chairman and Cr Porteous were authoused to sign cheques.

On the motion of Cr Porteous, seconded by Cr "Foote, the council decided to invite fresh tenders for the contract let to T. Brown, and not completed, on Russell's road, and to forfeit his deposit.

Slaughterhouse licenses for the ensuing year were issued to J. Sutherland (Purakanui) A Whiteley (Nenthorn), T. J. Harrison (Deborah Bay), H. Carson (Waikouaiti), A. Kilpatrick (Wmtati), and G. E. Charlton (Seacliff). The dog legislation fee for the ensuing year vras fixed as follows:— Collie and sheep dogs, 2s Gd each; all other dogs, 5s each; and J. Eyrne was reappointed collector at the samo commission as last year. The_ chairman was authorised to sign the half-yearly balance sheet received from the Auditor-general, and duly certified to. The^ tender of James Moir, Dunedin, was accepted for the supply of dog collars at £2 4s 6d per 100. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Mr Jeffries having waited on the council in reference to the spread of gorse and noxious weeds on county roads, the council resolved— ' That having heard Mr Jeffries as a deputation in connection with the growth and spread of gorse and noxious weeds on the county roads, the council take steps to ascertain their powers in reference to the eradication of the same." On the motion of Ct Giaham, seconded by Cr Souter. it was resolved that the county offices be closed from date to January 7, 1901. The council then adjourned.

Pomahaka Downs School Matters. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — I saw in your issue of the sth December a letter from your Pomahaka Downs correspondent, in which he refers to school matters. I am a member of the committee that; he refers to. The truth of the matter is, I was accused of writing a letter to Mr Thomaa Mackenzie, M.H.R., by Mr Thomas Chapman at the meeting your correspondent refers to, wherein he said that my letter reflected on the teacher here. Ho also says that the offending member was hurled from his seat on the committee. I hope in future your correspondent! will confine himself to the truth, and writ© what he sees and hears, but not what he is told, as should he write such an untruth again. I shall certainly take extreme measures. I trust you will allow me space in your valuable paper, so that those who have seen one side of the question may see the other. I enclose Mr Mackenzie's letter for publication. — I am, etc.,

Edward Clement. Pomahaka Downs, December 27.

Education Office, Dunedin, December 19, 1900. Mr E. Clements, Pomahaka.

Dear Sir,— Yeurs duly to hand. Regarding the subject you mention, I may say that while Mr Chapman was in Wellington, and when. I was assisting him in his efforts to obtain reductions of rentals, I happened to remark to him that I hoped they were all moving along harmoniously with their school now. He replied, "We have done so all along.' To which I observed that from official correspondence to hand from Mr Clement I gathered there had been some little difficulty about keeping the school open, and the desire of the teacher to have it closed. That was all that occurred I never had a letter from you on the subiect of the school or teacher. You are at liberty to make any use you like of this.— ln great haste,

Thomas Mackenzie.