TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 9

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the _ Tua.peka County Council was held on Friday; present —Crs Stewart (chairman), Howatt, Rose, Knight, Keenan, Simpson, Bennetts, and Cockbunr. The Chairman apologised for the absence of Or Wood, whose young son they were aware had mot with a, serious accident. He was sure, under the circumstances, that Or Wood- had the sincere sympathy of all the members in the affliction that had befallen his family. The Chairman, before taking up the order paper, said he bad been over the whole of the county, with the exception of Waipori Riding, and had _ carefully noted the requirements of each inr regard to roads. In regard to the finances, members would note from the returns before them that few of the ridings had, after providing for their surfacing work, anything to spend in new work. In this connection he referred to the erroneous idea that prevailed among the ratepayers that their rates were not due till the 31st of March. The result of this w'as that urp to the present only £ISOO of the present year’s rate' bad come in, nearly £4OOO being still outstanding. Unless their rates came in promptly after demand they simply could not go on. with the work that should he carried out during the summer months. He thought the members should lose no opportunity of impressing on their ratepayers that it was no use making requests for work while their rates were unpaid. After the members had discussed the matter at some length, it was resolved to authorise the clerk to sue for all rates outstanding after the Ist February. ENGINEER’S HErOET. The bridge near Mr C. M’Donald’s has been completed. This is an. excellent job. The approaches to bridge are well under way. The large- wooden culvert on road between Mr Walker’s and Heriot schoolhouse is being- replaced by a concrete arched one. The river is still too high to go on with the work at Tuapeka Mouth bridge. In company with the chairman I made a visit of inspection through the Beaumont, Bonger, Teviot, Browns, and Waita.huna Ridings. There is nothing special to draw the county’s attention to. Expenditure on Works: —Teviot Riding— Day labour, £2O Bs. Berrger—Day labour, £32 16s; carting and grading, £34 7s Pd; —total, £67 3s Bd. Tapanui—Day labour, £4B 8s: carting and grading, £22 Is 9d ; material, timber, etc., £76 Cs 7d; blacksmith, 11s 3d ; —total. £147 la 7d. Beaumont —Day labour, £26; carting and grading, £26 7s 8d; —total, £52 7s Bd. Browns —Day labour, £4O 8s; carting and grading, £8; —total, £4B Bs. Crookston —Day labour, £49 4s: carting and grading. £26 19s 4d : material, timber, etc., £4 8s 7d ; total, £56 14s 7d. Gabriels —Dav labour, £45 2s: carting and grading, £66 Is : total, £sl 3s. Waipori—Day labour, £44 4s; blacksmith, 10s; —total. £44 14 s. Crookston Riding—Contract, £36 (Government vote). General Account—Teviot Riding, 9s 6d; Tapanui, £44 9s 6d (Health Department) ; Beaumont founts), £5 Pis lOd; Browns founts). £5 P-s lid 1 : Waitahun-a. £ls 9s 2d ;—total, £7l 5s ICd. The Engineer proposed the following expenditure out of Government votes: — E ievale to Moa Flat, £2O0 —Rubbling at Finlay’s. Roxburgh to Millers Flat, eastside of river, £ls0 —Gravelling above Dumbarton and opposite Bloxom’s. Bow-bell Flat to Lawrence, £2O0 —£100 on Bryant’s Hill and £I.OO in metalling near M’Clnsky’s. Bruce’s Hill, Lawrence to Tuapeka Mouth —To be used on the best deviation to be got. Tuapeka Mouth Bridge, pound for iionnd un to £250. Waitahuna-Grecnfiekl Bridge. £IOO. Ormaglade, £SO. Lee Flat Run, £4oo—The expenditure of this vote is being carried out. by Roads Department. Lawrence to Roxburgh, £loo—Gravelling near stone house. Raes Junction to Roxburgh, £250—£127 to be spent from Stewart's to- the stables and £125 fronting Harris and Eider’s properties. Roxburgh to Vincent County Boundary, £loo—To bo spent on Coal Creek Flat. Lawrence to Beaumont. £lO0 —Gravelling at Carson’s Flat. Wa-itahuna to Greenfield via river, £IOO. —(Ryan’s contract.). The report was adopted. The application of the Borough Council for half cost of reconstructing the bridge over Boundary street, w-hich in the absence of the member for Gabriels Riding at last meeting was deferred was brought forward, the Mayor and Cr Winn being present on behalf of the council. —Cr Simpson expressed sympathy with the borough, but pointed out that, even apart from the legal aspett of the question, he could not undertake to find the amount of money required.

His riding had been extended by the addition of a lot of country that produced little or no- revenue, but with plenty of roads to keep up, and he had therefore no revenue from his riding to spare.—Mr Robertson ;Mayor) pointed out that the work was urgent, and that in the ©vent of an accident happening the county, with the borough, would be equally liable.—The Chairman raid he held the opinion that the county was not liable for any expenditure in the upkeep or renewal of the bridge. It was over an artificial channel cut at the request of the Borough Council and was erected by the Government. The channel had been cut for the convenience of the borough and not for the county. He was not prepared to recommend any expenditure upon it. He suggested, however. that their solicitor’s opinion might ba taken on the question of their liability tc contribute, and a motion to that effect wai carried. A number of letters were read from Mi Janies-Allen, M.P., in reference to various matters brought under his notice; also expressing his pleasure at being able to serve the interests of the council in Parliament.—lt was resolved to thank Mi Allen and also Mr Malcolm for their assistance to the council. Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., wrote stating that he had supported the- council’s views in regard to the New Zealand State-guar-anteed Advances when the bill was in committee. It was resolved that Mr Thomas Hancox, of Dalvey, Tapanui, be appointed dog tax collector for the upper ridings. The Chairman undertook thao the following works in' Waipori Riding would receive immediate attention :—The bridge over Mitchell’s Creek to Canton Reef, the repair of lower crossing Waipori River, the repair of bridge on Bush Creek, and also of footbridge at lower crossing. The statement laid on the table showed that the revenue from all sources for the months of November and December wai £846 Os 3d. Accounts amounting to £953 5s lOd wew passed for payment Cr Bennetts asked for an expenditure oi £SO from general fund on Main road be< tween Watt’s Hill and Roxburgh.—The exi penditure asked for was sanctioned. Cr Simnson asked for a.n expenditure ol about £4O in repairing Wetherstones and Bluespur road, and received the assurance of the chairman that the work would be carried out when funds were available. On the motion of Cr Keenan an expenditure of £SO on road to Brown’s sawmill was sanctioned, the expenditure to be charged to Beaumont and Brown’s Ridings. The engineer was authorised to effect)' some repairs on the Terrace road, Beaumoat. The usual gratuity of £1 to each of the puntmon for working on Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day was passed. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Keenan to coll for tenders (to be in by next meeting) for 15 chains of gravelling on road from Hogg’s sheepyards to Franklin’s. Cr Keenan drew attention to the silting un of M'Millan’-s crossing on the Tuapeka River through the sludge gate on the Tarn aiti dam.—lt was pointed out that as the stream was a. sludge channel the local body had no redress.—The Engineer promised to look into the matter and see if anything eould be done.—(Abridged from Tuapeki Times.)