TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 10

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council, held on the 22nd, was attended by Grs Blaokic (chairman), Gow, Robinson, Freeman, Hay, Docherty, Allan, and Blair. EEPOBTS. The County Engineer (Mr B. B. Couston) reported as follows : “ Contracts and Works. —Contract No. 161 (supply and delivery metal, Maungatua Hill): The delivery of bluestone metal at Harvey’s Flat is completed, and the contractor is engaged quarrying schist spalls for the road near Traquair. Contract No. 162 (road formation, Whare Flat): I have completed the negotiations regarding the deviation road at Whare Flat, and have received back the plans of road duly approved. The grant was for the sum of £325, but the Public Works Department insists on £25 of this amount being set aside for expenditure on the road between Whare Flat Schoolhouse and the sanatorium. This leaves £3OO availbale for the deviation road. To meet the requirements of the Public Works Department the grade of the road has been altered from 1 in 8£ to 1 in 10, but the width of the formation has been decreased from 18ft to 16ft. M. Stevenson’s tender for the road as originally surveyed was £383, and he is agreeable to carry out the extra work in reducing gradient for the sum of £25. The County Council has to supply and lay the various pipe culverts, erect fencing, and pay for cost of cleaning work carried out by Mr Scott, which works I estimate to cost £l5O. The total cost of the road, from where it leaves the mountain road to the Big Flat, will therefore be £558, of which amount the Government will find £3OO and the county £258. The question for the council to decide is whether under these conditions it will proceed with the work. Taieri Mouth Bridge: The Public Works Department has asked that the plans prepared by the Taieri County for the bridge at Taieri Mouth be forwarded to Wellington for examination, and on the chairman’s instruc tions I have complied with the request. A copy of the correspondence is attached to this report. "Government Grant Flood Damage.—All works in connection with the vote for flood damage repair are now completed. I have made a detailed n port on the whole of the works for the department giving particulars of the expenditure on each road, and attach a copy of same to this report. As requested by the council at last meeting I submit a statement showing the amount charged to schedule reads and to each riding ; Schedule

** The lie are a numoer of matters to which I dee ire to call your attention: 1. North Taieri Hiding: Two water openings on Gordon road require to be renewed, one is 12ft and the other 10ft in width. I recommend water openings with concrete abutments and timber superstructure in each case. 2. The county nut at Meiklejohn’s was burnt down some time between the night of 30th March and the morning of the 31st. .1 have made inquiries but can get no information how the fire originated, and have placed the matter in the hands of the police. 3. Otokia Hiding culvert at Walker’s entrance: I have examined this culvert, and find that the rough timber covers are beginning to lose their hold on the walls. The culvert is 6ft x 3ft 9in at the opening, and is contracted to sft x 3ft at the lower end ; It has been built a piece at a time, and is of very inferior workmanship, and may collapse at any time. 4. Sand drift at Taieri Mouth; There are a number of complaints regarding the sand drift near Palmer’s house at Taieri Mouth. The quantity of sand that has accumulated is too great for removal, and I have given instructions that the sand be levelled and covered with clay. 5. Maungatua Riding: The culvert which crosses the Woodside road, opposite Fergusson’s house, is in a state of collapse and requires to be renewed. The culvert is 48ft x 3ft x 2ft, and I recommend a culvert with concrete walls and reinforced concrete cover. “ Tenders: Tenders are invited to-day for metalling of various roads in Outram Riding, and also for the regrading of Crawford’s Hill on the Green Island to Taieri Mouth road. It will be necessary to obtain written consent from the various land owners to throw the hatter of road on to their properties, and the tender that the council favourably considers must be accepted, subject to consent being obtained. I have already the verbal assurance of all parties that every facility will be afforded the council in carrying out the work.” The report was adopted. In connection with the clause relating to the Whare Flat road, it was resolved—- “ That it be scheduled as a riding road and that half the cost of the work be paid out of the general fund and the balance be a riding charge, in order that the grant may be taken up and the work proceeded with.” The Sanitary Inspector (Mr C. Mills) reported having visited the Kaikorai Stream, which he found in much.the same condition as usual. In regard to a case of scarlet fever at Fairfield everything was being done to prevent contagion.—Adopted. The Ranger renorted having visited the various ridings. The roads were fairly clear of stray cattle. During the month 13 cows and five horses had been found wandering; fees collected £1 15s.—Adopted. The Finance Committee recommended that accounts amounting to £Bl9 Os Id be passed for payment. Receipts for the past four weeks were shown at £4113 8s Id, and the bank book showed a credit balance _ of £4 12s 3d. The committee was of opinion that it was now advisable that a committee of the whole council be set un to consider the question of legal, engineering, and other expenses of the council. —Adonted. OOEKKSPONDENCn. The Minister of Public Works wrote refusing application for £SO to repair road cut up by the military on the occasion of

the recent manoeuvres during Lord Kitchener's visit. —Received. The District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, Dunedin, in reply to the council's letter, wrote stating that the-roads through Win-gatui Station would be iormed and metalled by the Railway Department. Also, the overbridge at the Wingatui road crossing would also be provided by the Railway Department.—Received. The Inspector of Factories, .Dunedin, wrote requesting the council to furnish his head office with a report as to the prospects of employment in the district during winter for tradesmen and unskilled workers in order to meet the unemployed difficulty.— Council proposes to carry out its work with ite own staff. The Engineer, Taieri Drainage Board, wrote stating that the board propose to cut a channel alongside Kirk's road and road in continuation' thereto. _to intersection of B drain road, and asking if the council would be willing to take the material from excavation to make a road formation, and, if so, at what price per cubic yard.—Chairman and engineer to procure legal advice. If such action would not county interests to purchase up to 1000 cubic yards of gravel at Is 3d a yard. Miss Allan. Green Island, wrote complaining of trees ovp-rshadowinig road at sections 1 and 2, Green Island Bush.—To be attended to. J. L. Callander. Snroggs Hill, wrote drawing attention to the need for repairs to road—Allanton to Scrogigs Hill—Being attended to. Wither Biros., Berwick, wrote complaining of the state of the road alongside sections 1 of 11 and 13, block ll.—Held over till next meeting. Sfl venal ratepayers wrote requesting o water trough teir horses to be put in at the corner of Joyce's section on the main road between Otokia and Henley.— acceded to. contract not to exceed £5. Catherine Fulton wrote claiming damages for accident to her horse, which had put its leg through a rotten culvert. —Declined. General. Or Freeman reported that he and the engineer had, according to instructions, applied for exem-rotaon in regard to the quarry, on the grounds that it belonged to a local body which was not sole owner. The Commissioner had intimated that it was imoossib'e to grant such an exemption. It apneared that the onlv exemption granted had been to the Harbour Board. Or Freeman did not know why. The following tenders were accented: — Contract 156 (delivery of 500 tons of metal at Outram bridge). Archibald Baxter. £sl; contract 163 (vjgrading and metalling 31 chains of road at Crawford's Hill). Edward O'Rourke, £279 5s

Riding road Charge. Charge North Taieri Riding £209 8 1 £943 3 11 East Taieri! Riding 173 3 0 162 14 1 Otokia Riding 79 9 4 156 18 ■11 Outram Riding . 388 11 1 279 3 9 Manngatua Riding 254 5 10 283 0 2 Deep Stream Riding 60 2 0 51 2 0 Strath-Taieri Riding 405 0 4 205 15 2