WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 38

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waikcmaiti County Council was lield m the Council Chambers, Hawksbury, on Friday; present — Tiie Chairman (Mr A. Kilpatrick, and Crs J. Foote, W. Souter, C. Duke, A. S. Orbell, and 0 . Portoous.

inspector's reports. Tha Inspect oi" reported that the road referred: to by J. Kemp at last meeting leads through tho Mount Cargi'll Estate, and that a man would be required for nine days to fill in tha ruts. — Work to be attended to. lii regard to the road applied for by G-. Wilson and others in M«rton Riding, the inspector reported that eight chains required rotton rock and two chains required forming, ertc. The cost was estimated at £16. — Tenders to be called for work. Re the road leading from. Warrington Church, applied for by P. Masterton and others, the inspector reported that 20 chains required grading and forming; estimated coat £10.— Tenders to bs called for the work. The Irspeotor reported that a portion of the Bhicher road was in a bad state, and required about 80 yards of gravel. It was also 1 reported that a portion of the Station road j near the river required raising in the centre; j eguimated cost 118. — Tendeis to be called for j tbe work

WORKS IN PROGRESS, ETC. The report of the inspector on works, etc., in progress was adopted as follows: — " I have the honour to report that two contracts have been completed, during the month — the metalling on the Sawyer Bay roads, and metalling and surfacing on the Purakanui road. Owing to the continuous rain during the month very slow progress has been made with the contracts, a list of which is herewith submitted. There have been several slips on the various roads through the county and culverts washed out. Hawksbury Hiding: The gravel has been washed off the Main road in two places, and a culvert fallen in on M'Alhim's road, which is being attended to. All the slips and culverts .through the Mount Royal Estate have been repaired — a culvert on Nankavill's road and a wash-out on the roads towards the river. There are several small slips on the Quarry and Hawksbury Bush roads, which will be attended to during the month. Merton Riding : The Blucher road has been repaired from the station to the wool shed; Hammockside road has been repaired from Scratchback to the station, and extra labour had to be employed to carry out this work. A slip on the Main road has been cleared off. There are indications of slips on the Kilmog Hill, and the road had to be repaired at different times during the month. The slips on Pryde's and Round Hill roads are very soft. A culvert on the Hound Hill road has been repaired, and the attention of the dayman has been given to Pryde's road. Blueskin Riding: There have been several slips in this riding — two on Waitati-Waikari road. One of these has been cleared off, so as not to interfere with the traffic. The two culverts on the Port Chalmers and Blueskin road have been recovered, and extra labour had to be employed to carry out this work. 1 There are several slips on the Lowsr Harbour road, but nothing to interfere with the traffic. The dayman is repairing the culverts and clearing slips. There is a slip on the Mihiw&ka road, which requires attention, also the water tcibles. The Heyward road is in good order, it having been nearly all well surfaced. North-East Valley Riding: There aie several slips in this riding, but nothing to interfere with the, traffic. There aie five slips on the Waitati-Waikari road, which will be attended to during the montli. There is a slip on the Port Chalmers and Sawyers' Bay road, which is being attended to. There is a portion of this road where the metal is worn through, and it requires about 10 chains of the pitchers taken up and broken. I estimate the cost at £3 per chain."

JSFPEIES AUD WILSON'S ROADS. A. S. Orbell and l W. Souter, members of the council, reported as follows: — " We have to report that, accompanied by the inspector, we examined the road known as Jeffries' road, also tbe creeks that cross Wilson's road. We now recommend that about half a dozen trucks of Wainakaroa gTavel be procured to repair the worst portions of Jeffries' road, a.nd that the inspector ha instructed to engage a man with a plough and team of horses k> clean out tho water tables, etc. Owing to the great inconvenience and ar_ncj-ano& settlers are put to through not being a'ole to cross the crook on "Wilson's road during wet weather, and who thereby are prevented from getting their milk to the factory, we aro of opinion that tho most urgently required work in the Hawksbury Riding at the present time is the erection of ono or niore light bridges over the creeks in question. We leiommend tliafc the inspector should furrni&h the council with, an estimate of probable "cost. We understand thai some of the necessary timber for building tho bridges can be procured from the settlers interested." It was decided to authorise the inspector to put graved on Jeffries' road, and do the oilier work? recommended, and also report on tho cost of .erecting the necessary bridges at per bridge..

GEXEEAL. Mrs A. Chisholni, of Wailcouaiti, wrote directing attention to the stole of the road leading to her property. — Inspector to report at nest in rating. Hugh Sullivan, on behalf of his wife (a daughter of the late Mr J. Green), wrote thanking the council for its letter of condolence re tb-e death of the late Mr J. Green. — Received. P. Mackie, of the Crescent Hotel, wrote calling attention to the condition of the culvert at the rear of bis premises, and stated thai during the iate heavy rains the kitchen of his premises was under water. — Inspector to report ait next meeting. The Secretary to the Land Board (Mr R. A. Johnstone) forwarded a statement of "tlui-ds" and " f ourths " for the period April 1 io August 5. — Received. F TVi bber, district road engineer, wrote asking to he supplied with a plan made by rai authorised surveyor showing the roacl proposed to bo legalised through sections 16, 17. and IS, bock IS, TVadkouaiti township. — A leply to be sent that the council understood the road leferred to was surveyed by Mr Adams for the Government. Charles Clark and seven ratepayers of Double Hill, Bluepkin district, petitioned the council to metal a few chains of the road on Sutherland's pinch, on the upper portion of Double Hill road. — A reply to be sent tiiat the financial position of the riding will not permit of tike necessary work: being done in the meantime. A. Gardiner, of Evansdiale, wrote asking permission to use a sledge on Porteoits's road, Warrington. — Resolved that former resolution of the council be strictly adhered to. Ellen Muddell and Mary Brown, of "Waitati, wrote racing attention to the condition of the road leading to- their respective farms. — Inspector to attend to the work. J. Abernethy, of Lower Harbour, wrote requesting the council to put a ctelvert or pipes in front of his property, and he offered to do the nceessniy carting fiom Port Chalmers, and also to put the pipes in if they were supplied. — Off 6i accepted. D. Malloch. of Hillgrove, wrote directing attention to the iin&atuiaetory state of the ioa'l leading to Beuderan. — Inspector to report at next nieetuu^

A. Pidgeon wroto calling attention to tha condition of the road from Sawyers' Bay to his residence. — Received.

J. A. Park, on behalf of representatives- of local bodies, landowners, and othere, forwarded! a circular setting out the steps that were being taken tq secure an amendment of Jhe> law on the subject of smbdivision of land's and the laying out of townships. The co-operation and assistance of the council were requested in, th<o matter. — The council resolved to express sympathy with the amendment suggested, and to co-operate -as far as possible. Charles Worre and three other ratepayers petitioned the Council to erect a small bridge over the Nenthome Creek, and the writer offered to give a site for the purpose on his loud.— Left to members of the riding to deal with.

C. and R. Russell, of Seacliff, wrote askingthat tlie worst portions of the Hill road! past Mrs White's property be metalled, as it was aimost impassable after rain. — Inspector to report at next meeting.

James M'Gill and seven other ratepayers petitioned for improvements on Steven's road, Merton riding; also that a bridge be erected, over the Dip Creek. — Inspector to report a/b next meeting.

Mr W. Harper, Karitane, wrote requesting that repairs should be made to road andi streets at Karitane. — Inspector to report at) next meeting. F. H. Stark, of Warrington, made application to have the channel cleaned out opposite his residence. — Inspector to attend to the work.

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., forwarded a telegram re votes on the Estimates for works in the county, and it was resolved to convey to the member for the district the thanks of the council for his efforts.

It was resolved to instruct the inspector to repoit on the cost of widening Mr Biickland's bridge, Merton Riding; also to report; on cost of keeping the ford open for traffic during the past five years. Accounts amounting to £294 0s 3d were prssed for payment, and it was resolved ia hold the next meeting of the council on October 27.

A SERSONAI. EXPLANATION

The Chairman mentioned that about three months ago lie opposed the letting of a. contract on Double road on the ground that tho amount 01 tho tender was in excess of tho inspector's estimate, and he advocated at the time that the work should be done by day lahour. He had. since learned tiiat someone had informed the peison who wished the. work dona that he had opposed the work. He wished it to be understood that he did not oppose the work; all he did was io advocate thai it should be doae by day labour. What hei (the chairman) complaino-d of was that incorrect statements had been made as to tiie position he took up, and while he neitkor know nor care-d who gave the information, Le thought if it was supplied by anyone present at the meeting it was an undesirable thing to do.