WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 10

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting -of the Waikouaiti County Council was held at Waikouaiti on Friday; present — Mr A. Kilpatrick (chairman), and Crs Soater, Oxbell, Porteous, Duke, and Foote.

INSPECTOR S BEPOBT. The Inspector (Mr Rendall) repoited lliat the contra-ct on the Waitati-Wakare road was making fair progress, but it would be neces Isary to have the road rounded up before the metal was spread. He therefore requested permission to put a man on the worK, together with the surfaceman, for a fortnight. — Adopted. In No. 2 report, th-e Inspector stated that the high tides and strong winds irad done considerable damage to the wall on Lower Harbour road, and there weie several places where the water tables required cleaning out. He recommended that a man be put on the work for about a nionth. There was a portion of the same road, below Mr Anderson's, which would require 40 yards of maintenance metal before the winter. — The report was adopted, and the inspector was authorised to put a man on to the work mentioned and to call for tenders for the metal. Report No. 3 stated that during the month there had been a considerable subsidence on the Main road at Killing Hill. If would be necessary to have the load nut higher up the hill on the reef, as this was on the Main road and a necessary work. Perhaps the Government would assist. £100 was required. The road known as Pryde's road haa slipped m several places also, but Mr Pryde gave the stone to make up the slips, and the road was in fair order. — Consideration deferred. COBRESPONDENCE. The Receiver of Land Revenue wrote stating that he had paid in £45 9s lOd to the council's credit, being " thirds " and "fourths " of land revenue for period October 3 to December 31, 1904. — Received. L. Macdonald, Mansford Bay, wrote^ drawing attention to the state of the roa--t above his section, and stated that when heavy rain fell the culvert on the upper side of the road got Hocked, and the water flowed on to his property. — It was decided that if the Port Chalmers Borough Council would do the work at a total cost not exceeding £±, the County Council would pay half cost. George E. Charlton and seven other ratepayers in the Seacliff district petitioned the council to extend the metalling of the road' under the contract let to Mr Allan for one and a-haK chains so as to complete th« metalling of the formed portion.— The council decided to authorise the work, together witn" 2-0 yards of maintenance metal.lower down the road. < J. Rossiter, Mount Cargill, wrote requesting the council to spread the metal on his road before the approach of winter. — I/eft to the chairman to arrange. The Treasury Department wrote stating thaf i ss, goldfi&lds revenue during February, had. been paid to the council's credit. — Received. John Nelson and six other owners of property at Slant street, Mansfordtown, requested' tho council to continue the present asphalt path from its present termination to Mr T. Stevenson's house. — The inspector was instructed to report at next meeting. The Railway Department wrote remitting demurrage on trucks delayed at Tumai.—Received. The Secretary to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards wrote asking the council to remit £\Q due froan the council to the Charitable Aid Board, and £10 6s lOd due to the Hospital' Board.— Attended to. W. Man'son wrote informing the council tha£ Messrs A. M. Ross, C. Williams, and R. Horn, jun., had resigned their positions as trustees of Purakanui Cemetery, and recommending the appointment of Messrs C. C. Rawlinson, E. Catherwood, and D. Baird.— Received and attended to. Helen Meredith, Pine Hill, wrote asking the council to effect repairs to the road to her place, and stating the road had not been touched for nine years.— The letter was referred to the North-East Valley Council, it being stated that the County Council paid the Borough Council for the surfacing of this road. D. M'Lachlan wrote saying he was surprised to see that C. King was the successful tenderer for No. 902, when the writer's tender was lower. — The Chairman reported that the matter had been explained to Mr M'Lachlan, two contracts having been divided between Mr King and Mr M'Lachlan. I The Surveyor-general wrote acknowledging ; on behalf of the Minister of Lends, a letter ! from the council in reference to sections 16. 17, and 38, block IX, Waikouaiti township, and stating that, as desired, the papers in reference to the taking of the road through these sections between the Provincial Council and Mr John Duncan had been searched, and copies of the correspondence were forwarded, showing that in 1876 Mr John Duncan offered to agree to the Government taking the road through the three sections in .block IX if the Government would give him the right to choose other three sections in the^ same township before the next sale. To this, in the same year, the Government authorised Mr Duncan to purchase three sections, the Government paying the purchase money. — It was resolved to take the necessary steps to have the road-line registered. In reply to the inspector's statement at the previous meeting that there were three chains of road requiring rounding up because the material had been removed by Dr King, Dt King wrote saying there was no evidence as to what road this referred to, and lie was at a loss to understand the inspector's statement. In connection with the Domain Board a great deal was done last year in forming a, road from Sulliker street to Head street, and a good deal would still have to be done, but there were no funds available. The fact that the board had done a great deal towards making previously non-existent roads was scarcely a reason why the* efforts made should not be appreciated. — The letter was referred to the chairman of the Domain Board. W. Warren and 17 other ratepayers wrote calling attention to the roads throtigh what was known as Orokonui College property, which had recently been fenced in, and requesting that the council would take the necessary steps to have the fences removed from across these roads. — The members for the IJJuesMn Riding" were given full power to arrange with the Orokonui Home authorities in regard to erection of gates on roafl\iu9g rukmnji through tfce Home proper^jr.

On the motion of Cr Porteous, it was decided to instruct the" inspector to* report on the condition of the fence on the leserve at Steep Hill, and what new fencing was urgently required. Accounts totalling .£3lB 4s 7d were passed for payment. The tender of T. H. Hammond, at JE43 15s for 140 yards metal on Mountain track, Merton Riding, and that of Alexander Davidson, at £51 15s for 140 yards metal and formation, Hawksbury Bush road, Hawksbury, were accepted. A note was received from the Stratford County Council expressing the opinion that the additional rating powers conferred on local authorities by " The Counties Act Amendment Apt, 1903," could not be exercised without t cisastrous results to the majority of the i settlers; that the enacting of a. sysein of ! graduated subsidies, whereby those who rated themselves heavily would receive a correspondingly heavy subsidy and vice versa, would be more equitable than increased rating powers, and stating that this principle had been frequently approved at County Council conferences. — Received. | On the motion of Cr Foote, it was decided . that the property owners in blocks I and V, j North Harbour and Blueskin, be requested to i clear the gorse on the road-line 3 fencing their ' holdings. j It was reported by the Chairman that a traction engine had damaged Waitati bridge, i and the inspector was instructed to effect ' repairs. j