TAIEKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 4

TAIEKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Taieri Coun'y Council was held at Mosgiel on Friday ; present — Mr J. Miller (chairman), Crs Gibson, Samson, Blackie, Christie, Dow, Harrison, and M'Donald.

FINAXCE

The Finance Committee reported that the expenditure amounted for the month to £66? 9s 3d on the general account, £83 9s 3d on " thirds and fourths," and 12s Sd on account of the Government grant for Janefield settlement. The receipts for the month totalled £616 0s 4cb The committee recommended that 10 per cent, be charged on all rates unpaid on March 31. — Approved.

exgikeer's hepoet,

The Engineer (Mr B. B. Couston) reported as follows: — "The contracts completed during the month are: No. 137, road formation, Ross's Creek; jNTo. 140. metal, South Taieri; and No. 143, gravel, Mossburn. The contracts in progress Pie : JSTo. 133, timber pile bridge, B road; Ko. 138. gravel. Strath Taieri; No. 141, tarring Deep Stream bridge ; and No. 144, road formation, South Taieri. Tenders are called this meeting for the two bridges over Mill Creek and for re-formation of road opposite Berwick School. The bridge contracts have been prepared so that tenders may be dealt with either for labour and material or for labour only. Works: The works carried out by day labour are — The widening of approach road to Lee horse bridge ; formation of Higgins road and construction of masonry culverts, Cameron's road. Deep Stream Riding; erection of bridge near East Taieri Church; repairs Boat Harbour Creek bridge; repairs Stone Hut bridge; and gravelling approach to embankment on Henley-Berwick road. The chairman and the engineer attended the meeting of the Henley Eiver Boardi on the 13th. A scheme for the raising and metalling of the road along the Taieri River was considered- that the board pay cost of raising bank and road, and that the county subsidise the board pound for pound towards the metalling of the road. The estimated cost to the riding being £123. the matter was referred back to the council for instructions as to finance. d- Oibson and tlie engineer inspected the road lines through Gow's property, North Taieri, which were the subject of a communication from the Commissioner of Crown Lands. We recommend that the council protest against the closed road hue being transferred to Mr Gow unless the road as surveyed in 1873 is first vested in the county. Cr Harrison and the engineer waited on Messrs Matheson and Paterson regarding exchange of road lines through Matheson's property, Strath Taieri. An agreement has been prepared covering the requirements of both parties, and it is before the council to-day for consideration. Acting on the county j solicitor's adivice, no steps have been taken towards clearing the noxious weeds from bank of Taieri River through blocks IV and V, Mount Hyde. Cr Harrison and the engineer have the following recommendations to make regarding the riding roads of Strath Taieri : (1) That road to Jameson's be graded and formed, provided the settlers interested find horse work at county rates ; (2) that 200 yards gravel be allocated) for Gladbrook road/ provided the station provides 100 yards for same road ; (3) that road to GiHie3's be gravelled, Mr G-illies subsidising the work £5 ; (4) that road from Grant's corner to M'Rae's be gravelled for 20 chains. The schedule of allocation for period ending March 31, 1906, is in course of preparation, and copies will be forwarded to councillors during the month." With regard to the conference with Henley River Board it was diecided to subsidise the board to tile extent of £125, this amount to j be advanced from the general account, the i same to be a yearly charge of £31 fis Q. 4 J

Mauvgatua II diag for a period of four years. With leference to Cr Gibson's and the engincei's recommcnuaiion to protest against tiansfer of closed road, the couacil decided to agree. The agreement with reference to exchange of roads. Strath Taieri, was agreed to. The re^ornrnenditious regarding the riding

roads in Strath Taieri were adopted. On Cr Blackie's motion it was agreed to give effect to a previous motion relating to barbed wire cri fences adjoining county road c . It was also decided to appoint second surfacemen m Kaikorai and East Taieri Ridings.

SANITATION REPORT,

The Sanitary Inspector reported that the Kaikorai Stream had continued in fair order during the past month. A complaint had been received from the Health Officer regarding pollution of Dye Creek by discharge of fillby matter from the creamery on Mill road, and also discharge from Mosgiel Woollen Factory. He (tlie it. sector) had examined the creamery, and found the premises in a very clean and sanitary condition, and the only discharge was the washing water from the

separator, and that could not cause any

serious pollution. There was discharge from the woollen factory, causing pollution, but the factory being inside the borough he could not

interfere. He had communicated with the Health Officer, who was notifying the proper authorities. — Approved.

evngee's hepdht.

John Harper, ranger, reported having seized 51 head of cattle and 17 horses fotrid wandering on the roads in February. — The Rangsr appeared before the ccmncil and urged that he should be given power to summon owners of "straying cattle. — It was decided, after discussion, to giva a month's notice of termination of present arangernent, andi to instruct tl:e Finance Committee to bring forward a recommendation at next meeting as to the best manner in which to deal with straying cattle.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Mosgiel Borough Council wrote applying for permission to erect a bridge to carry water mains across the Silverstream on the road line leading from Duke's road to Mr Gow's hill. — The Mayor of Mosgiel waited on the council to urge it to consent to the bridge. — It was decided to agree to the request, the work to fee carried out \inder supervision of the county engineer. The Treasury Department forwarded £8 6s 9d, payable on account of goMfields revenue during January, and also £80. payable on account of Janefield Settlement.— Received.

The Mines Department wrote stating that the Minister had approved of the council's recommendation that the rent due on licensed holding No. 82, section 3, block I, Nenthorn, ghou'd be treated as not recoverable, and the receiver of gold revenue had been instructed ac oordingly. — Received.

Dr Ogston, district health officer, forwarded a letter received by him complaining of pollution of a creek by discharge from the woollen and dairy factories. — Dealt with in sanitation report.

His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin forwarded a copy of the draft constitution of the league bsing formed for the promotion of the commercial and general interests of the Province of Otago. — Eeceived and referred to the council's delegate (Cr Harrison}.

The Town Clerk; Dunedin, wrote", by direction Qf the" Caversham "Ward Works Committee, stating that the cost of formation work, which the committee proposed doing on the Boundary road at St. Clair Park, would be £15, and requesting the County Council to pay half cost.— The council decided to reply that there must bo some mistake, as the road it desired repaired was the one from opposite the Industrial. School towards Corstorphine. The Borough Council of Eoslyn wrote suggesting a conference between the local bodies interested in the drainage of Kaikorai Valley. Cr Samson said that if some proper drainage system were inaug-urated it might mean the establishment of certain works along the present Kaikorai Stream. On his motion it was decided to agrep to a conference, and he and the engmeer^were appointed to represent the council.

The Manager of the National Bank at MosSiel wrote notifying the council that the rate for advances was raised from 5 per cent-, to 5J per cent... the concession of collectingcheques on Dunedin and Outram branches lree of exchange to be continued as before — .Referred to ihe Finance Committee Mr John Roberts, C.M.G., wrote forwarding sketch of a road deviation he asked the council to sancuon. He would give the land for the new road and pay all costs, and his reason was that with the road in its present position shelter plantations he had planted at Gladbrook were of no avail for his purpose.— The council agreed to the request. Messrs Downie Stewart and Payne wrote by instruction from Peter Murdoch, with reference to the flooding of his farm from Mill Creek and adioining ditches. The writers wore instructed that the flooding occurred because of the ditches and culverts not being pioperJy cleaned out.— Crs Gibson and Blackie and the engineer were requested to report at next meeting. E. E Staik, B.Sc. electrical engineer, wrote slating lie was prepared to -undertake, independently, work peitaining to hydro-electric development and transmission af energy. Received.

D. Cameron, Middlemarch, wrote asking the council to effect repairs to the road at Mount Stoker woolshed.— lt was decided to expend £}0 in widening the embankment at the foot of the hiH.

W. Henry. Lower Kailtorai, wrote complaining; that «, -water table in front o/ his place had i:ot been derailed out. — Eeceived. W t "W. Reic^ Lee Stream;, wrote £oniplainjn£

cf ihe st^te of ihe TVaipori road, as being iniija=-ible n 1 wet weather. He cle^mb'-d it as 1 iio rtdst load in the county. — It v. as Rgieccl that the heaiy traffic ices be diveitcd tiom the fund to provide foi employment oi a ciiifacciiiin on the road for thiee months, the Ci ( _v Council pavlt g half cost.

O. Md^ornm, Lee Stieam Hotel, wicte saying lip ii.oi.irpr! the road tnrough to his hotel V.P*- going to cost a good deal more than wag l-ecessao , and he declined to ha%e anything to do v>ith it. Hl asked uji the return "of £25 he paid towards the ror.d. — Keicned to the Finance Comiiiittee foi teport.

Tho Otokia Diamage Board wrote stating that complaints had been macle le the culvert) on D. Miller's road, at the jxiuction with Kirk's load, being blocked and a dum put in the chain. The board asked the council to have the dam removed.— .Lie-it to the engineer to take action.

The Traffic Superintendent wrote giving a statement showing how often the traffic on the road was blocked by railway shunting at Mosgiel. It would" be seen that very little mcorvemence had been caused, but uiider the iew time-table the inconvenience wculd disappear al together. — luKieivecl.

Job;. M'Master, Saddle ±£il], wrote asking ihe council to effect repairs to the loads m ihe vicinity of his propeity. — Left over till the new avocations aie made.

Ibe Manager ot Kernpthorne, Prcsser, and Co.'s verier, wrote stating tiiat he hsd lec-eived a complaint about the accumulation of certain manure rnateiial on the Drug Company's land, r.iid a cuamioiis had been issued against him, in that connection. in futvre the rnateiial wculd bo co.lectcd, limed and cohered over and removed at the eaihest opportunity, and he a-i-kocl the council to stay proceedings on ■"lie ground thp.t the counci 's inspector, had previcuVy sanctioned the arrangement, had not given 2ioticp lor discontinuance, and that other means were now being adopted to rib'ave the so-ca'.led nuisance. — Hie council intpeci'or said seme time ago he had complained of the state of this manure heap, but the state of things had not been remedied. — The manager of the woiks appeared before the council to urge the withdrawal of proceedings. — Cr -Samton said if the farmers in tlie neighbourhood were progressive they would be g.ad to take auay the manure. But the farmcis m Green Island would not take manure v/lien they could get it for nothing unless they were paid to cart it away. — It was decided to withdiaw proceedings; co«ts to be paid bj- the company.

GESEEAL,

A special resolution re special rating district in connection with loan for roads m West Taieri district was referred to a special meeting, to be held a week hence

Araos M'Kegg, Henley, was granted permission to erect a fence and a wharf at Henley, opposite the hotel.

TEXDEES.

Tenders were accepted ss follows: — Contract Xo. 146 — timber, pile bridge, Ou train load (a. tentative tenders for material and labour or labour only)— P. A. Lyders, .£209 4s for labour end material ; contract 147 — timber, pile bridge M ear mineral springs — J. Henderson, £206; c-ontraot 14S — read formation aud gravel Ber-

wick — J. Cameron, £4i los. This concluded the business