WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 10

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

An ordinary meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held at Palmerston on Saturday, when there were present — Mr J. Ross (chairman), Crs T. Muir, D. Ross, D. Philip R. Cameron, R. Matheson, W. E. Griffin, and M. Isbister. inspector's retort.

The Inspector (Mr G. Cruickshank) reported that in Goodwood Riding he had re-formed the road from T. Butlar's property to Mahoney's gate, a distance of 25 chains; and he had also trimmed up W. Smith's road. About 16 chains of road at the end of Village Settlement road required gravelling, and to this purpose Mr Kilgoiir offered very liberal terms. This work was therefore recommended as immediate. The men were burning the bush and re-forming the road near Kennard's. In Bushey Riding he had inspected Muddy Creek Crossing, and found that a bridge wotild be the best way of dealing with it, trat the bridge would require to be set in angular position. The length of the

bridge would be about 75ft, and about 200 or 250 tons of bluestane woiild be required. A culvert of stone "or timber could be made. — On Cr Cameron's motion, it was resolved to call tenders for 16 chains gravelling at Village Settlement road. — The Chairman said the traffic now all went round by the Muddy Creek Crossing, and the Horseshoe rough road was scarcely ever used. Under the circumstances the Government should assist in the erection of the bridge. — The report was approved, the matter of a bridge being left in abeyance.

CORRESPONDENCE.

William Chisholm, Goodwood, wrote draw-

ing attention to the very rough state of the road between his place and the foot of Mr W right's hill. — On the motion of the Chairman, the inspector was instructed to put the road in. repair and to call tenders for gravelling it. /

The Mayor of Dunedin wrote intimating "that the Otago League meeting fixed for Wednesday, April 29, had been postponed owing to unavoidable absence from town of the principal speakers. — Received.

The Rev. A. Don wrote stating that he had forwarded a parcel of clothing to the Chinese leper at Macraes, but the man still required a thick jersey. The writer also stated that he had received a letter from the leper. — This aroused some discussion. The Chairman wanted to know how it was that if the leper was confined and isolated he could forward letters through the public post office. So far as clothing was concerned, he (the chairman) would forward a quantity if Cr Griffin would take it up. — Cr Matheson said the opinion of people who knew what leprosy was, and had seen the patients at leper stations, was that the Chinaman at Macraes was not suffering from leprosy. The sores had healed, and such a thing was never known in leprosy. — The letter was received.

The Treasury Department forwarded intimation that £2 2s 6d, n-oldfields revenue for February, had been placed to the council's credit, and also £20 lls 3d for March. — Received.

The Receiver of La.nd Revenue wrote stating he had paid in £33 15s 4d to the council's credit, being " thirds" and " fourths" of land revenue for the period October 3 to December 31, 1904. — Received.

Tlie Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote stating it was not the custom to pupply the information to local bodies asked for by the council with reference to Crown lands that had changed ha<nds. The Valuation Department was furnished with periodical returns, and would "supply local bodies with all necessary information for valuation rolls as soon after March 31 as ■nossifr'e. With regard to section 5. block VII. Highlay. this was taken up by M'Lennan in February last. — The Clerk said Crown tenants sometimes wrote saying that they were not liable for rate*; as they had transferred their holdings. — The letter was received.

R. .a. Loughnan, secretary to the Land Commission, wrote to the chairman thanking the council for the use of fhe County Chambers for the meetin'- on March 29, and also expressing the commissioners' appreciation of the courtesy and consideration shown the commission <- by Mr W. 13. Gallaway, the county clerk. — Received.

With reference to a letter from the Rev. R. A. Robinson pointing out the necessity for a " danger to cyclists" notice board near Bushey Railway Station, and which letter the council had forwarded to the New Zealand Cyclists' Touring Club, J? . B. Wilkin, league consul, Wellington, wrote stating that the Touring Club was no longer in existence, and, as far as he knew, there were no " danger" boards obtainable. — The Chairman said he had instructed the inspector to erect a notice board. P. M'Leod, Islay Downs, wrote consenting t-> a road being taken through his small grazing run. — Received ; the Land Board to hs informed accordingly ; application to be made for the land fund. The Clerk presented a comparative statement of balances on March. 31, 1904, and March 31, 1905, showing that Blue Mountain •Riding in credit last year to £45 3s lOd was now .in credit to £ 68 35s 7d ; Meadowbank Riding, at debt £6 15s 9d last year, was now in credit ss ; Bushey Riding, in credit last year to £144 Is lid, was now in credit to £201 8s sd; Goodwood Riding, in debit to £81 3s 7d last year, was now in debit to £83 18s lOd; Dunback Riding, in credit £347 8s 3d last year, was now in credit to £360 16s 8d; Creen Valley Riding, debited last year to £551 16s 7d, was now debited to £530 19s lOd; and Macraes Riding, in credit last yeai to £393 19s 7d, was now in credit to £538 Bs. Received.

GENERAL.

It was decided, on the motion of Cr Matheson, to instruct the dog tax collector to take action against owners of dogs who had not paid the registration fees. No tender^ were reAived for contracts advertised since last meeting.

Accounts totalling £lii 3s Id were passed for payment.

On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to refer the matter of the Muddy Creek bridge to Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., with a view to getting a Government grant for the work.

The council decided to discontinue the purchase of birds' eggs and nests until further notice.

DOMAIN BOARD

The council then sat as the Waihemo Domain Board, and received a letter from the Under-secretary to the Department of Lands and Survey, who wrote stating that it was not necessary that a special bill should be introduced authorising the Waihemo Domain Board to expend its sumlus revenue in purchasing a piece of land adjoining the town of Palmerston South, as this was provided for in the Public Domains Act of 1881, and the trustees of the domain could treat for the purchase, exchange, or lease of auy land hi connection with "the domain. Particulars, however, would have to be submitted to the Minister. — A small committee was set up to inspect the domain, with, a view to seeing what land was under offer.

The Full Court at Perth on April 5 suspended a solicitor named James E. M 'ln tyre for 12 months for unprofessional conduct in dealing- with clients' niopcj.