CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2707, 31 January 1906, Page 36

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tin? ordinary meeting of the Clutha County Council was held on Friday last; present — Mr Saunders (chairman), Crs Edwards, Hay. M'Lachlan; Clark, Grainger, Cumming, Milch ell, and NicoL SPECIAL MEETING. The resolution fixing Wednesday m each -,\ etk aa the day for observing the haUhohday was confirmed on the motion of Crs Edwaids an-d Clark. CHASITABI.E /ID. Cr Clark congratulated the chairman on making his voice heard at the meeting oi the Charitable Aid Board wheH the question of the difference m the amounts allotted to county cases in comparison to town cases came up for discussion. CIiESKEKICH-TAPANCn EO.VD. Cr Grainger mentioned the matter of the new road Tapanui to Glenkenich, which had been held over imtil authority for the Government grant of £300 had been received. The new road would cost ±'400. and be moved that the Tapanui Borough be written to in reference to the subsidy promised to be contributed to the work —The motion was seconded by Cr Cumming, and carried. CORBESPOIfDENCZ. Tlie Secretary to the Treasury advised the council that the special order making the ppecial rate for the loan of £3500 for work in Richardson Riding had been gazetted, and that the loan was available —Received. The Department of Roads, Invercargill, wrct-e respecting the permission given by the ccuncil for the construction of a tramway along Fleming road, Catlins, and that the same hid been laid along the centre of the load. As the department would be immediately re-formmg* aong such part of the read, the ei'gmeer asked the council to take steps for the removal of the tramway at an early date. The tramway should not in the frst" case have been cou-structed along the middle of the road but at the side.— ln this connection the clerk to the council lead the onsiiiii' application made on February 7, 191)3 by Mr G. Clarke, sawmiller, Tautuku. v, ho a«ked for permission to pnt the tramwar on the side of the road from section 19 to the old footbridge, Tautuku road, Mr Claike anked permission to put the line 4ft off the Ride of the formed road, as the water came over the flat when the tide was in, and the cc nncil could have the use of the tramway to repair the road at any time required. The reply of the council was to grant permission subject to the usual conditions, and to the approval oi the engineer. — The Chairman explained that the cleik had sent a cepv of the department's letter to Mi Fiaser, the lessee of the tramway. The Chief Engineer Department of Roads, Wellington, wrote re Conical Hi 1 bridge, and asking if any arrangement had been come to with the Tuapeka County Council ;n regard to the expenditure of £230 which, had been piovided by the Government towards the cost of the re-erection of the said bridge. — In regard to the foregoing, Mr John J. Woods, treasurer of the Tuapeka County Ccuncil, wrote enclosing resolution of his council as follows — Re Conical Hill bridge, that Chvtha County Council be informed that

the Tuapeka County Council is not prepared to go on with work on Government subsidy of £250. — Engineer to endeavour to get subsidy increased to £500 as understood was passed by the House. — After a long discussion it was resolved to refer the matter to the chairman end member of the riding to confer with the Minister re getting the ±000 voted for the work. The Department of Roads, Wellington, also wrote re authority asked for the grant of £-300 Tapanui-North" G-lenkenich road in block 111, Glenkenich survey district. The department asked if this referred to an item on the appropriations under name " Glenkenich." A later communication from the department showed that the neoessary authority had been issued for the expenditure oi £300 for forming the road on western side of Pomahaka River, between Tapanui Railway Station and North Glenkenich. — Received. The same department wrote re South Mo'ynenx Pilot Station to Kaka Point road, that the District Road Engineer, Dunedin, had been authorised to spend the grant for this work on December 8, and would do so as early as possible. — Received. A"n extract from an Order-in-Council was received including foxglove (digitalis purpurea) on the list of noxious weeds. J. S. Fleming, secretary to th« Clutha River Board, wrote re triennial election of a representative of the council on the River Board. — Cr J. R. Mitche'l was appointed. The Treasury wrote asking that £-252 0s Cd, being interest for half-year -ended January 31, 1906, on £13,G67 17s 2d. inscribed at the Treasury, bs paid into the Bank of New Zealand to the credit of the Public Account. — It was decided to pass the account for payment. G\ F. C. Campbell, chief Government valuer, Valuation of Lands Department, Wellington, wrote forwarding an account for £85, being the councils shaTe of the cost of valuations in South Molyneux and Richardson Ridings.— lt was resolved to refer the account^ back to the department for details as to the increase of the cost of the valuations. A. Hunter, Owaka, applied for the " job " <f road ranger in the Catlms district in place of J. Jones, -"ho was leaving tlio district. Ho would find the pound and do the work according to orders. He had done similar work m Takaka, Nelson.— lt was decided to appoint the writer. Thomas Bair, Owaka, wrote on behalf settlers using Hanning's road, asking the council to Teduce the grade on Hanning's Kill. To make a good job two new cuhvits were required —The engineer wa-> authorised to examine the road and report at next meeting as to the proba-bl© cost. John Herri ott, Pomaihaka Downs, wrote re metalling portion of Pomaliaka Downs Settlement road extending on from his place and asking that the council should not take U'jetal from the former quarry as it would damage his crops aaid grass, ajad stone could b-e got at another place equally as gooi — Received R. J. Smith, Port Molyneux, wrote asking that a road be formed- to his section, as- the one formerly used had been closed. — Cr Say and tlie engineer to inquire into the request. D-avid Dow (principal lighthouse-keeper. Nugget Point), Frederick J. Berry, and John H. Thomas (assistant keepers), wrote re state of load krown as " M'Kinley's track." The r.uts were very bad and dangerous to wheeled traffic. The road was used by the writers legularly for the purpose of getting stores up to the lighthouse. The writers asked the council to make the road a little more " navigable," otherwise they would have to , withdraw their custom from the local merchants to get supph«s by boat from Dunodin- Or Hay and the engineer to attend j to the matter. William Brown, Jamas Clark, R. Kerr, George Smith, A. Fahey, and A. Friend. Kaka Poirt. wrote asking the council to form Rala j street. Willsher Bay township. The writers estimated the cost at £4 10s per chain, and were willing to contribute £4 15s towards the cost. — The engineer wag instructed to report on the lequest. | A. S. Maloolm, M.H.R., wrote asking the council to advif-e him a1;a 1 ; to matters in the county on which he might be in a position to press their claims and wants on Ministers, etc —On the motion of Cr Clark, it was re- j solved to welcome Air Malcolm, and that the clerk inform him accordingly. C. R. Eason, jun., Katea, wrote re state of Cannibal Bay road Tlie v-rtier lvad the con ti act for the removal cf the Cannibal Bay School, and at present it was impossible to cr.rt it over the road. The writer would give the work of two men for two days to help t(. fill iiv> holes and the worst of the iula, and aslNt-d the council to give help in ih© i iriatter also. — Left with the engineer to put I 9 man on for a few clays. Jamei M. Thomson, Owaloa Vall«y. foiv.mrded a pe+ition signed by 22 residents in Owaka Valley, and addressed to th^ Hon. Mr Hall-Jones, diav.'mg attention to the ■us-eless-nes-s of spending the £200 now voted for the Hillside lead. The road did not lead to any •p-ottleuient. and would not be of auy benefit to any of the settlers. It was not used by a single person. The petitioners a r <ked that the money be &pent on the Owaka Valley road, which, for the greater part of the year, was in a very bad state — in fact, it was dangeioui to Qia.li and beast. If the money was diveitcd form tho HiHsidi? Toad to the Ow-aki Valley load about 150 settlers would Jeme dnect benefit therefrom.— lt was lesolved to forward the memioria.i with » strong re-commendation to transfer n he money to the Owaka Vall«y road. The receipts for the month were- — Deposits, £67 9s Gd : dog tax. £4 2s 6d : Ba!-c-lutha. bridge, £6 10s: rates. £930 lGs Bd,— total. £100S 18s 8d The expenditure was.— Land fund account, £46, general, £630 13s &d , —total, £72G 13= Bd. F.SGIXEER"S RF.PORT. The Engineci (Mr J. W. Johnston) reported for the niontii -ending Januaiy 26. 1906 — Coutiacts The only final pa\rnei>t made is contract No. 159, Swamp road, Murravvale The Waipahi contracts at date of visit had not baen started. In Glenkenich contiact for re-formation oi Kelso-Pukerau load: was making poor progress. The South Molyneux contracts are making satisfactory s piogress notably (1) maintenance metal. Auhuiri road, which will bs finished shortly, i (21 maintenance xneta 1 Port road — the stone for this is all quarried, and an arrangement v.-as made to lead the crusher to the contiactor on the usual conditions and for a reduction m the prico of 3d per yard, which will mean a saving to the riding of 9d a yard on the job, (3) claying Swamp load at Scott's in progress. In Clutha Riding Soper's load metalling is reported finished and the stone all caited to the Main road at Kaihiku. Tenders weie called during the month for a larg-a number of contracts, including thooe s.ndsr Richardson Riding loan There was a misunderstanding over a badly transcribed telegram from the Treasury in reference to vh« loan money, b-oi this fry 1 since 'been, rectified and tJi» tenders accepted. In connection -with, contract 163. Swamp road ditch, a verbal arrangement lias been made with Cameron and pa<rty to do tho v.'ork at 8s a chain. In connection with Government votes, specifications of expenditure have been prepared, approved by the District EfiaJ Engineer, and tenders called for all

the authorities io liand, with one exception-* namely, Glenkenich, iSOO. This is the work which requires the survey, purchase, and fencing of a new road. The authority came to hand during the mon.tih and the road has been partially located. I anticipate no difficulty with the- owners of land through which the new road passes In connection with the detail instructions of the month, the following is a detail ieport: — Re Finlayson request/. This has been attended to and a liflle grading done ou the Mound and Pueru* Toads. — Mr Begg, <rf Clinton, has been written to in terms of tha council's instructions, but so far no reply has come from Mr Begg. Re Alexander M'Gregor, Kalao: I examined the place to see if anything in reason could be done, but I consider it would cost more than the ford and land was worth. Re Todd Bros., Kelso: j 1 examined White's bridge and have decided ■ to call for tenders for reconstruction. I proj pose the building of two other bridges of small span, one on the Kelsc-Pukerau road opposite Brand's, and one on the Tapanui-G-lenkenieb. road opposite Quinn's, and ten- . tiers will be called for these three works in I ere coi.tr act. The decking of the Puerua bridge on the Main Port road is completely gone and I have ordered timber for an entirely new deck. I have communicated with ■ the Southland County Council, and Mr 1 Howarth has replied th«.t he has no objection -to tenders being called for the> bridges, ! reconstruction, on the usual arrangement of approval of tfhe plans. I have noticed that part of the road froni Roniahapa. to th>3 Puerua requires a considerable" amount of inaintgniance matai to make it in decent condition for the coming winter, and recommend j thnt 400 yards be jnit on. Another nvn-i-n road I — naroelv, the Waiw-ara-Clydevale road from . top of the hill at Telford's road to the block road at Sutherland'^, a distance of some 40 chains, requires at least 200 yards of maintenance metal, and T recommend that if funds «Te available tenders b* called for supply of same. Should the council favourably consider the matter tah© settlers would be pre- | pared to contribute £10 10s towards the cost. — Received. I hays examined «■ culvert on I the Kororo Creek road recently complained ' of. Considering the traffic -on the road and the state of the finance, I consider the present culveTt sufficiently good. It is an ordinary bush culvert, and will carry all the traffic safely. — The report -was adopted and instructions given to call for tenders for the work 3 mentioned. It was decided to call for tenders for iin^yds of maintenance metal for Mam rtiad between Te Houka and Baldutha- Borough boundary, and for tenders foT 15 chains of metal an , Clinton-Puerua road, near Wnrepa Bush, nuetal to be 10ft wide an-d to be paid out of loan money. It was also resolved to furnish the room •recently occupied by the River Bcaid, to be used as a *m«enibers' room, and call {or tenders for papering and doing up the other looms. Th# following tenders were accented for ccunty works : — No. 155 (CVtherwood's road), Jomes LandTeth, £18 ; No. 172 (Puerua, Valley j road). Louis Stewart. £40 10s: No. 176 (bridge , over Warwera Stream), W. M'Lachlan, £339 I 17a 63; No. 179 (Waiwera Gorge road), John ' Christie. Clinton, £40 15s: No. 180b (Koiaiku Middle road), Robert Bros., £63 10s 6d; No. 188 (Tobnie's road). R. J. Allison, £32 10s (accepted up io £40); No. 184 (Grant's road). Jonathan Sarginson, £16 5s (accepted up to £20) In other cases there wrc no tenders, or , tho<?e sent in were deemed too high, and freob j -fenders were onthorised to be invited.