WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 4

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council, held at th-e County Chambers, Hawksbury, on Friday, was attended by Messrs A. Kilpatrick (chairman), J. Foote, Charles Duke, John Porteous, A. S. Orbell, and William Souter.

BEPORTS.

The Inspector of Works (Mr William, Kendall) reported upon the application of Mr Nelson a.nd others in Man-ford Town that two chains of footpath required asphalting and three chains tarring and repairing; estimated cost £4 10s. — Inspector to attend to work. The Inspector reported that three and a-half miles of the Steephill reserve fence required straining up, and that about -20 ohiains of new feroe was necessary; estimated cost of new fence £16 ; repairing to be done by day labour. — Tenders to be called for new fence; repairs to be done by day labour. The Inspector further reported that metal vas required in several places on the School road, and that Puiakanui Station road required £>bout 25 yards of maintenance; estimated cost of metal _21. — Tenders to be called for supply, of metal.

The Inspector reported that to put Port Chalmers and Blueskin road in good order it lequired from 25 yards to 30 yards of metal, and he recommended that as the metal was at present supplied by Mr Harkness, his contiact be extended to include 30 yards at a cosrt of- £8 5s. — Agreed to.

COBBESPON-ENCE.

The Paymaster-general to the Tteasnajsr vToto stating that an amount of £122 11s S3. had been remitted to the credit of the council in connection with -works at Carey's road, mountain traak, Hummockside road, Waitati to Mount Cargill, North Harbour and Blu-e-skin. — Bee eived.

A requisition signed by Mr Thomas M'Connell and 11 ratepayers of Waitati was forwarded to the council asking that a footbridge should be erected over the Waifcati River at Erin stieet. The subscribers to th« requisition ■offered to contribute £2 8s 6d towards the cost of construction. — Resolved that the inspector be instructed to have the work carried out, provided the sum promised is deposited « John Lindsay and several other ratepayers m Hawlssbury Riding wrote asking that the road from Walker's down the ridge be gravelled and repaired.— Tenders to be called for next meeting.

Thomas Fitzgerald and Thomas J. Harrison wrote drawing the council's attention to the state of Murdering Beach road at Purakanui, and asking that the road be put in good condition before the winter sets in.— Letter reoeived, and inspector to attend to work. William Pullar was granted permission to take a f&w loads of rotten rook off the Main road at the gully opposite Mr M'Cracken's houso.

James Henry and five other ratepayers of Upper Waitati wrote drawing attention' to the impassable state of the track through Mount Cargill Estate, aoid they asked that about 40 chains of the old formation at Warren's to section 21 be formed as a dray track. — Inspector to report at next meeting. ____ The Otago Benevolent Institution Trustees foi warded names and amounts of weekly relief granted to persons in the county. — Received. F. M'Oallum, of Flag Swamp, wrote calling attention to the road leading through his property, and also to the District road leading from, his homestead to the Main ivxid. Inspector io attend tc work.

The District Eoad Engineer wrote stating that authority to include metalling on Carey's Bay road had been sanctioned. — Received.

The New Zealand Counties' A&sociation wrote forwarding legal opinions ro rales on forfeited lands, r.cxious weeds in river bods, and motor car by-laws . — Received. Uio Port Chalmers B<mmgi-fiMWgJfl|^

stating that fhe half cost of necessary repairs

to the cul v ert at the new cemetery would be

bi/me by that body, a,s suggested by the council, and that the Works Committee had been empowered to act in that direction. — Received ; arrangements re lighting Itacandrew road to be continued. George N. Mason, of Port Chalmers, wrote as-king that a few loads of nietal be placed on

the portion of the District road from its june-

tion with the beach t-o Deborah Bay. — Received ; previous offer of August. 1904, to repair road, provided those interested pay proportion of cost, to be renewed. The Secretary of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals .wrote forwarding a circular asking the council to in-

terest itself in the working of the society

in the district. It was pointed out that constant complaints were received by the society from country friends of cruelty practised on animais, but that the society could not afford

to send its inspector to distant parts to make

inquiries. It had been siiggested that subcommittees be established in various country centres, such committees to watch over the

welfare of the society, report all cases of cruelty coming under -their notice, and endeavour to add to the roll of membership. The council -was asked to take the matter in hand and start the movement in the Waikouaiti district, and to take steps to form such subcommittees. — Cr Orbell said he thought it. was. the duty of county councillofs, as public men, 1 if they saw animals being badly treated to report the matter to the society. He thought there was a disposition -sometimes on the part of the society to prosecute in cases where there was no intentional cruelty, such as in a

case where a- piece- of skin not more than the

size of a shilling had been accidentally knocked off. — .Received ; members of council to be asked

to interest themselves in the matter in tlieir • own ridings.

GENEBAL.

' James Pateruon, of Flag Swamp, waited on the council in reference to the condition of the

xosA leading to his property. — Inspector instructed to make the necessary repairs. It was resolved on the motion of Or Foot©, seconded by Cr Orbell—" That Dr King be written to, and that his attention be called to the counoil's letter of April 4 re removal of obstructions on road through Orakanui Home property, and that he be asked to reply within14 days, otherwise the council will be com-

' pelled-tc take action in the matter/ r Cr Duke, moved, Cr Sout.er seconded, and it j was carried—" That tendei-s be called for- 50

yards of metal in Sawyers' Bay, lhe metal to be broken and spread on the Public Hall and waterwoiks roads in plaoes where repairs, are needed.

The Clerk submitted the following -statement of liabilities of ridings as at 31st March, 1905: North-East Valley: Debit balance 1904, _v7O 12s 3d; 1905, 2s lid. Blueskin: Debit balance 1904. £51 5 15s 9d ; 1905, £414 19s 4<3. Merton: Debit balance 1904, £295 2s lid; 1905, £251 Is Id Ha-wksbury: Debit balance 1904, £299 7s 3d; 1905, £413 lGs Id. Total decrease of overdraft for j-ear, £329 16s sd.

TENDERS.

F. J. Harkness tendered at 6s 9d per yard for 40 yards of metal on Lower Harbour road. Accepted.

ACCOUNTS,

The Finance Committee recommended that accounts for April, amounting to .£241 l_s 9d, be passed foT payment. — Agreed to.