CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2738, 5 September 1906, Page 24

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Clu+ha County Council was heid in the Council Chambers, Balclutha. on Friday afternoon ; present — • Cts A. C. Saunders (chairman), John Edwards, J. R. Mitchell, W. Nicol, W. Hay, D. A, M'Lachlan, John Clarke, W. Grainger, and J. dimming.

The Chairman reported that he had wired to tho Premier as follows: — "Sir J. G. Ward, Premier, Wellington: On behalf of this council I desire to # express congratulations to Ministry and self, and trust that you may long, be spared to guide the destines of our island home. — A. C. Saunders, chairman Clutha County." The Premier replied as follows: " Desire to heartily thank yourself and council for ■their congratulations and good wishes, which, I deeply appreciate.— J. G. Ward."

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Chief Engineer for Roads wrote that requests for grants for metalling portions of the Clinton- Wyndham, Clinton- Pomahaka, and Waipahi-Pomahaka roads would be casefully considered in the compilation of the Estimates. — Received.

The Chief Engineer for Roads forwarded co^-xs oi proclamation taking laud far toad

through sections 21 and 34, block 111, Glenomaru Survey District. — Received.

The Valuer-general and the Paymaster-general notified payment into the county fund account of £266 7s 9d, balance of subsidy on rates and goldfieldfl revenue, Jess contribution to Valuation Department (£BS). — Received.

T. W. Hisiop, Mayor of Wellington, wrote re proposed Seddon memorial, and asking council to co-operate ; aiso^asking opinion of the council as to which of the following forma it should tfcke; — (I) Scholarships somewhat on the lines of the Rhodes scholarship ; (2) establishment of a New Zealand Technical University with free tt&olaxships; or, in the event of the council" not agieeing with eitherof *he above, what other scheme it would recommend. — Cr Mitchell thought the council should circulate lists, and it was decided that the clerk should have subscription lists ready by next meeting.

The Man-ager of the Commercial Union Assurance Co. advised that contractors would be included in the accident policy on same conditions as mentioned by endorsement on Government Department's policy. Bate would be tha same as for the contractors or sub-con-tractors' workmen — namely, 13a per cent.— received.

The Acting District Agent Government Insurance Department forwaraed cheque for £7 10s compensation for workman (P. Russell) from July 2 to August 30 at the rate of £1 per -week. — Received. H. D. Atkinson, secretary to the New Zealand Counties Association, mote re proposed Local Government Bill, saying the Premier had promised to adTi&e the association at the earliest possibl* moment of any proposed local government legislation. It was impossible yet to fix date of conference. — Received.

The Secretary of the Otago Harbour Board forwarded report of public meeting held in Dunedin to protest against the taking of the board's land for railway and other purposes without adequate compensation, aud t u e c''-*'-"' "f t*»p 'treets to trie foreshore. He asked the council to give its earnest attention. u> the matter and a-11 asaistaace ia i±*

power.— Mr Hay: It seems to me that the people of Dunedin heve been very dilatory in this master. They have only now woke up fo the matter and are endeavouring to lock the stable when the horse has gone. — Tlie letter was received

A. Clulee, secretary Benevolent Institution, forwarded fox perusal and consideration of the council a letter from a woman at Clinton who wished to be supplied with furniture to enable her to keep a boarding-house. The trustees could not undertake to punnly her wrth this.— The letter, a lengthy one, from the applicant was read.— Cr M'Lachlan exp.ainea the position with regara to the case. There were three children, the eldest 11 and th» vourigeo* fo"r. H-» »r>oved **i»t fie council recommend an allowance of 15s a week. John G. Tuck, Owaka, drew attention to the fact that the owners of section 31, block IX, Glenomaru, were erecting a fence across the road, and asking the council to prevent its erection or have it removed. — Fence already removed.

George Smith, Kaka Point, wrote asking permission to plant about five chains of trees on south side of Rimu street, township of "VVairawaru. — Granted.

D. Fialayson, l^ochindorb, Piierua, drew attention to dangerous state of Little Puerua road. — Attended to.

Alex. Johnston, Puerua, wrcte in regard to Puerua-Owakiki road, especially between Clutha block road and Romahapa. That portion had not be-en siyfatsed for years, and waa completely out of order. He asked if the council could s*e its way to spend his year's rates in surfacing it. — To be atended to as soon as a man. could be got. Geo. Sheath, Owaka apr>li«»d for transfer of slaughter license to James Horan, butcher, Ow!»,t. a smi ar apDhcaticn "vas received from James Graham to J. and W. Paterson (Balclutha). — Transfers approved. The VeJruer-general wrote that the Clinton Town District had been included in the declaration ro subsidy. The Town BoaTd levied its own lates and recovered its own subsidy, so that nothing was payable to the county in respect of this area. An overpa.yme.nt ql £11 109 had conseaueiitii been

made, and it would be deducted from next payment of subsidy. — The Clerk: This ia> a new thing; it was always paid before. — Cr M'Lachlan said the Town Board only got subsidy on what it levied. If the county did not get this then the Town Board would net get it. It would be lost altogether. H« moved — " That the clerk write for further particulars on the matter and ask for the section of the act." — Carried.

Joseph Meek, Ratanui, Catlins, wrote that the money gianiea D> the (jrovernmeut iiatl now been spent and good work had been done with it. He had now a good track from Long Point road to his clearing, or rather to the river; but there hit trouble coiiiiuencea, as ut cou.o. vo v get across tne river till a bridge is erected. The banks were steep, and the river had a soft bottom. It would cost about £o0 to build a substantkty b-id c but he wou d leave the council and Government to decide th» kind of bridge, b u imu ne comu & et ijib iuijc and sxocJs over. He would give timber and all other assistance in his power, as the erection of a small bridge would open up communication with Long Pot^t ->-oad and Purakanui Bay, which was situated six miles from Catlin's lui . ttu j _.«.i_oi». j.. »*«- i. a^icu.u ujls »or f ii'is -n<- -p.e <i' i n«bi g ground — • there were two boats that intended to start fisnuig this season. As soon as the road* was properly opened to the bay there won.S be a fi=hing indu« Ty started. He intenuea to make hia living off his »ection, grazing ana i^itcn u6u 6 l«.»i.^, » a wantea io mm ms attention to milking cows, as he was withia reasonab.e distance of the Ratanui Factory. He had plenty of grass for 40 cows and plenty of strength to milk, as there were 12 of them in the family. It was 15 years on July S since he came on to the ground, being the first settler on the Long Point road, and took in the first cow that was ever taken in, and though many settlers had come and gone during his time, he was stilt there, and likely to stay. He" hoped the council would do all it cou.d to get th« bridge, as it would be a big help to him and to the public. — The Chairman moved — ' That the letter be sent to the Government with a strong recommendation for assistance." — Carried.

J. R. Mackenzie, Pomahaka, wrote acknowledging receipt of connci?» letter of May 30 (he had been awaj from New Zealand meantime) re accident to hra horse, and noted tha* the council admitted no liability; but unless the council took a different tone he would tak» steps to make it admit it. as there was no question of the damage or how it wae caused. Ho did net wish to be severe, but must hava at least an inquiry «a to how it happened, and the -east the council could have done was to have expressed regret at an accident happening through the bad, and, he might say, tincared for state of the county cu.verte and bridges in many places. Now, failing some satisfaction he would instruot the wmncil's solicitor to defend an action, or otherwise his would serve tho council with a summons. He hadt a host of witnesses to prove damage, and had ample pro^f of the accident. — Cr Cumming said he believed the horse did go through a. culvert, but the culver* was sound half ar» hour before. He moved that the engineer inquire and report. — Carried.

Mrs C\ii»]jlx>ll Waipahi, drew attention t« th--> wretched state of the footpath in the township, more particularly that part near the halL —Matter to be attended to as soon as suitab c.

T. Telfoid, Otanomomo, wrote thai, in con» nection with bis drainage scheme, the engineer cf railways required a letter from tha council to the effect that the council had no objections to the closing of the railway viaducts before proceeding with the work. H« asked the council U> kindly hare such a letter forwarded to. Messrs G. and J. A. Cook solicitors, Dunedin. — To be attended to. Grigor and Inglis, solicitors. Balclutha, wrote on behalf of Hector Cameron, enclosing statement of moneys due to him by the council. Cameron arranged verbally with the engineer to do the work on certain conditions and at prices quoted in the statement. He -vaa engaged on it from February to July, when *he engineer refund to make further prcgress payments, alleging that the work was not progressing satisfactorily. During the last sir months the drain had been partly silted up by the faulty action of a sluice-box put in at one end by the council and through the other end having been left open altogether. "Hia flooded stsite of the road also forced vehielea to us=e the bank made in cleaning out the drain. v.-ith the result that a great deal of material had bean redeposited in the drain. These were matters outside their client's control, and it wm an injustice to seek, as the engineej did. to make him responsible now. For th» information oi the council they mentioned that, having failed to receive satisfaction from the engineer when they approached him shortly after last meeting, they purDOsed issuing » summons for lasn court. After meeting +h» chairman and Mr Hay they had adoptnd their suggestion to d«l*y till the council had had an opportunity of discussing the position. The possibility of tbefr having yet, however, to bring the matter into court kept them from entering into full details of the treatment Cameron had received. The statement showed : " deajaing 34 l-10th chains drain at sa, £8 10a 6d; 270 do at Bs, £108 8s; filling in sides of the sluice as arranged, 14s ;— total, £117 12s 6d less payments to account £72 4s 6d, ba'ance oVing £45 8e. — The Engineer explained the matter »t some lenath. He valued the woTk done at £92 9s lid. of, which! £72 4s 6d had been paid, tba balance being retained as required by law. The engineer read the specifications for the work.— Cr Hay moved that this man ba asked *o finash *ha contract according to the specifications, when the council would settle and if the action were) taken, engineer tc- defend.— Seconded by Cr Nichol. and carried.

W. Griffith Riverside, wrote in regard to urgent need of something being done to assistf him in river bank protection. H« had beem paying rates ever since he came there, and up till now had had vexv little done for him. He had put a flood bank up twice before, and now he was forced to do tho same thing again to protect himself. He suggested t!hat tha council spend the amount cf his rates ia willow planting to protect the bank.— Engineer to inspect and report. John Johnston, puntman. South Molyncux^ asked for a few fathoms of line to haul in the punt. — Engineer to comply with request if reasonable.

W. Smith, Owaka, wrote asking the council to try and get the Charitable Aid Board to> grand 10s a week to a widow and threa children at Owaka. He enclosed certificate from Dr M'Kibben that the woman wa» under treatment and incapacitated fromwork, and required bodily oare and attention. Cr Hay moved that the board be requested to erant 15s u^til it heard further from the council. — Carried. George S. Sounness, Tahatika, called attention to eroding at creek on Caleb's rood, and asked to have same removed and a culvert put in. as there was about 3ft of stones jammed against his fence damming the water back on to his land.

Arthur StorWo-rt Tahakooft wrote +Wt th« Tahakopa road between the Ford and Lory's had got into a very bad state with ruts and holes, especially Wendow's hill, which

nearly impassable. There were two ruts 18in deep; the grade was one in seven, nd it was nearly impossible for a horse fo get tip with a load.' He asked, the council to be kind enough to have something done before there was an accident. — Engineer to •ttend to it at once. o -mes OiOiasr. - behalf of the Upper Catlins settlers, wrote that some time ago lie mentioned to the chairman that they had a grant of £50 from the Government to spend en. the Catlia's Valley road, between the «x and. seven-mile posts, in corduroying a peaty swamp. They had expended the vote in doing the work mentioned, and as tlwe were about fottr chains jiet to do, they* Asked the assistance of the council to get this done. -Cr Saunders moved — " That the •ngineer inspect and do what he considers best 'under the circumstances." — Seconded by Cr Hay, and carried. Ward Brothers, Ahuriri Flat, wrote that they would like the road surfaced leading to section* IS and 16, block V, Glenomaru, from MTjean Brothers to corner of section 15, as all the culverts were blocked, and the water ran down the midd c c-f roa-d ; also asking that something be done to road leading to sections 10 and 14, block IV, «3 it was almost impassable. If the council put ft few chains of metal on they would assist. — Surfaceman to attend to surfacing; Robert Grigor, ertrveyor, wrw&e. re Rosebank Eetate, submitting two plans for conaideratkm: (1) showing zoad as widened to one chain dedicated to Clutha County. The ehaisnonx would require to sign this plan, as ft was the intention of the trustees to deposit the plan under the I/and Transfer Act? (2) plan of section of road proposed to be Ist by public tender by tbV trustees, *ho«cmg grades marked hot pencil, and. -cross ■ectMXts on surface. — 17. Stewart antt Son wrote thai the property was now nearly all •old,, but the transfers were held bach mrfil the jnwifroa. eomDtied with the Tffovjsiama of the Public Works Act a« to formation of -•roads, etc.. and they suggested the council should consent to plan and take a written Undertaking form the trustees to comply with the council's specifications as to roads. — Cr Mitchell moved*—" That the chairman have Authority to- aign the plan on behalf of the council, en the trustees signing the indemnity that the -work would be earned out to the satisfaction of the engineer." Seconded by Cr Edwards, and carried. A petition was seceded from W. T. Lowe, John B. Hamilton, T. Telford, J. Dallas, R. Campbell, and IS other ratepayers in South libljnenx and Richardson Riding*, requesting tb» council .to xnei&l or gravel Balcrath*Part Molyneux road from present terminus of gravelling to- Otanomomo Siding. This road was practically the only outlet from theix propwtteo, and the ports asked to be metalled' ax gxareiled were this winter almost impassable to wheeled traffic, in part wholly so fox any quantity of grain-carting. If there were no funds •* present available, they asked that the whole of their rates be spent on these portion* of road until finished to the siding. — Joha Shields and eight others signed the petition with the- reservation that they were not m favour of spending all their ratee on tbea» io*ct work*.— Cr Nicol said there wete •bout two miles oi road. There were four of his ratepayers- names on ' the petition, but the«o had got snore than their share of expenditure.— Cr'Hsy mo*ed—"That two-thirds of petitioners' rates be expended on that zoad." Bui they must remember that if these ratepayers got '-their money spent there they could not get ' it spent anywhere else. — Cr NicoJ objected to -the Richardson Riding ratepayers' money being expended these. — On a vote being taken, only Crs Hay and M'Lachlon voted for the motion, which was lost, and the petition was received. Mr Alex, S. Malcolm, M.H.R., wired as follows: — "The Hon. W. Hall- Jones has expressed .a wish that he could see Conical Hills bridge and road sites-. Has council «ny objection to delaying building bridge till he sees the sites? I greatly prefer new site." Cr Gumming: There was a Government grant of £500 for this bridge; plans were prepared and' passed by the Roads Department, and authority issued to the Tuapeka County Council to carry out the work. Things went all xight till a few in Tapanui wanted a direct road to Tapanui, and got Mr Malcolm, to be their man of business. But this new road would cost £3000, and he (the speaker) would have nothing to- do with it. Mr Malcolm had seen the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, and the work hod been delayed. Hr (Cr Gumming) strongly objected to the authority being stopped. The Government would not pay the £3000 for the new road. The counties had agreed, and the engineers also, to proceed with the old bridge, and the decision should not have been interfered with. — Cr Grainger: Do you object to the new rood? — Cr Cumming: No, if they make it. But I strongly object to this bridge being delayed. The traffic also does not warrant the expenditure necessary for the new road and bridge, and the engineers were against it. Mr Malcolm had gone behind the two- councils and got the authority stopped. He moved— "That this council has very wbroag objections to delay building Conical Hilts bridge any longer ; neither of the two counties has any objection to the opening of the proposed road, but they decidedly object io the erection of the Conical Hills bridge being delayed any longer; likewise, this council asks Mr Malcohn to explain his- position' wish regard to the- action he has taken in delaying the erection of this bridge. That copies of this motion be sent to the Hon. W. Hall-Jones and Mr Bennet, M.H.R. for Tuapeka, who is also interested."— Cr Mitchell seconded the motion, which was carried. — Mr James Sim, of the Tuapeka County, who was present, on being asked, said he agreed with the original proposal going on. Tuapeka County did not object to it— not one of them. EVGTXEEIt's REPORT. The county engineer, Mr J. Walker Johnston, reported for the month ending August 31, as follows: — I have the *>:>nour to report as follows for the above period: " Two contracts have been completed during the month — viz., 190 Puerua road maintenance and 175 Clinton to Pomahaka maintenance. Final payments have been made. In regard to other contracts: Contract 200, fencing through Hewitt's has no» been started; contract 199, fencing through Cruickshanks, very nearly completed. The contractor requires an extension of time for M> fortnight, which I see no harm in granting, and so recommend. Several contracts from the Richardson Lean Fund have not yet been started, bnt the present drying weather should make the roads fit to receive the metal very shortly. Contract 194, WilBon's road, Glenomaru, a laige proportion of the stone has been quarried. Contract 189, Main South road, between ' 70 and 80 yards of crushed metal was put out during the month, but the supply has again run short from the borough quarry and there remains about 75 yards to complete the contract. Other contracts are about in the same etate &a reported last month. The usual ■.mount of work ha 3 been done by the surfacemen during the month, the most important of which has been repairs, water tabling, etc., fo main Owaka road, spreading msun+eiauce main Puerua road, ditto Main South road at Kailnku and neat Bal-

cUiiaa; water _ tabling from the Waiwera. to 'JHn 4 o- on -jifaiT> S uth road ' etc. During' the month the balance of Australian timber has come to h*nd for the GlenkemeQ bridges, and tfiese will be started very shortly. I personally have been very busy with several plans- of surveys " of various roads for the county fo- transfer and engineering purposes, notably Jones's road, Glenomaru, and the various parts of new road, Glenkenich. These ate not yet quite completed. With reference to Mr Campbell's request for the vacant land along the banks of the river near Balclutba: I saw Mr Campbell, and he tells the his application includes all the iand tfcn+ is fenced and under the control o f ihe council in the locality. The top half of this Has a-ready been granted to one of the surfacemen on condition that he keeps the noxious weeds, etc., down, and. subject to the pleasure of the council. I see uo objection to Mr Campbell getting the remaining portion of the land under the usual conditions. Sketch herewith. ' Cr Nico-l said the opinion he had formed" about this piece of land applied for by Mr R. Campbell was this: Th*t it wotild be much better let to the adjoining land owner, who would be more likely to better keep dovrti noxious weeds and rabbits. — Cr Hay moved — "' That tenders be called." Seconded . by Cr NicoT, and carried. j The balance of the report was adopted. The Clerk reported the receipts for the. month as £S4l lls Id. The expenditure was £811 13s lOd. — Approved, and pay sheet passed for payment. Cr. Cunrming. moved, and Cr Grainger seconded — " That the engineer call for tendpi- -or +be a"*rryrTTg Wt na-'df of metsl is Mr D. Clarke's homestead anarry, Waipahi."—Carried. ■• NY • • ed secondW) by Cr Ha-v— " Tb«t tiie errginer be instructed* to call for tenders far taetalKng several roads in Richardson •rms«.~ to be paid for out of loan money." — Carried fca-mman repor^d 1 +Tie result of a. meeting at Owaka on August t, at which a formal resolution was passed approving ot the proposal to close certain rotds, preliminary steps towards which hod already been^ taken.'' He moved"—-* 1 That the --decision of the ratepayers be confirmed, and the land <=n * \<» yt»mvrp j o vp qr»- d«T-o- »i»d Robert M'lntjTe when the road is closed, juid that a -n^nn of the said road Jbe prepared." — Carried 1 . Cr Nieol reported that a meeting of ratepayers at Mr Charles Russell's, Waitapekft, nT Austj"'* 1O r SF-«-'=ed - vftoo'u-'ion t* lie pffect that road between section 12; block XXX, and section 2. block XXXI, Clutha Survey District, be stopped. He moved — " That the decision oi the ratenavers be confirmed. an«T that the closed road be given in exchange for land already obtained from Mr W. Brown to form deviation on Port Molyneux road." — Seconded by Cr Hay, and carried. rr ' v -(» C»-!M-m->n r-«»no'-t*<? **«»♦ w «r«i]s John Gilmour had been appointed .office boy as from August 13, at 6s per week. — Approved. TV,.* '\,~ -,»-„„ ,«;» t\u^ cl*^''c I*^''1 *^'' c-ugTTpatvj that. as next meeting fell on the half-yearly balance day. it be hel<3 a week later.— Councillors generally assenting, a motion to that effect by the chairman was carried unanimously.