CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 13

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clutha County Council met at Baloiutha on Friday; present —Crs John Edwards (chairman), J. C. Bears:, John Clarke, J. R. Mitchell. J. Cummin*, W. H. Smith, W. Quin, W. Nicol, and W. Hay. engineer’s report. The Engineer (Mr J. Ramsay) reported, for the month ending April 26, as follows: “ Richardson Riding.—A new 18-inch culvert has been put in on Olinton-Puerua read near Mr Murray’s, Warepa. Gravel is now on the ground for concrete foundations for Cross’s and Cup road bridges. A new culvert has been put in on the Warepa School road, and water-tables cleaned out, and the worst holes filled with maintenance metal. Surfacing has been done on the Main South rood, Moa Hill road, Kaihiku, Waiwera, and Oaldervan roads. “ South Molyneux Riding.—The grading of Ward’s road has been completed. Maintenance metal on Port road has _ been broken, and raked into ruts. Repairs to culvert on Puerua Valley road have been carried out, and water-tables cleaned. The contractors have started to cart the gravel for the Swamp road, and about 11 chains have been done so far. “ Glenkenich Riding.—The contractor has finished the day work on Cleghoirn’s road. Surfacing has been carried out on Brownlie’s, Kirk’s, Seddon, Steel’s, and Fleming’s roads, and other small jobs are being attended to. The roads throughout, the riding are in good repair. ‘‘Clutha Riding. The maintenance metal for Te Hoaka Main road has been completed. The surfacemen are blinding the metal, and cleaning out water-tables. The total number of cubic yards of stone* taken from M'Kay’s quarry is 422 yards. “ Pomahaka Riding.—A stone crossing has been put in on Pomahaka River road, near Swan’s, and repairs effected to culvert near Jones’s. The surfacemen are putting extra culverts on the Taumata read. Culverts have been attended to, and watertables cleaned out on Hall’s, Popotunna. and Pomahaka River roads. “ Clydevale Riding.—Flynn’s road contract has been finished. Surfacing and repairs to culverts have been completed on Upper Clydevale, Benny's, and Tyson’s roads. “Waipahi Riding.—Repairs to approaches at Wairuna bridge, on the Waipahi-Poma-haka road, have been carried out One hundred and thirty-seven yards of maintenance metal have been carted out for repairs to Clinton, Waipahi, and Waipahi homestead roads. The approaches to Hocking’s Ford, Waipahi River, have been greatly improved by turning out a small creels and filling the bed of same with rock. “Oatlins Riding.—Repairs to Lakeside road, ncer the Big: Mill, are being carried out. The , ditch on Bryant’s road Is being cleaned out, and the holes in the road filled up. The contractor for metalling the Tahakopa Valley road has completed his contract The surfaceman has been instructed to fill all the worst holes on the Waikawa road from Ratunui to Papatowai. Repairs are being continued on the Kaler’e Saddle to Kahuika road. Levels have been taken for the formation of Judd’s road, and tenders will be called for at next meeting of the council. “Clinton Riding.— Surfacing on the Main South road, Owaka, and Clinton-Wyndha-n roads is being continued. “ General.—Priced's road is in a very bad condition, and the formation requires to be widened and metalled. I estimate the cost at £3OO. Woodrow’s road is in a similar condition, and would require about. £SO expended on it. The surfaceman could put the road at Turnbull’s, Waipahi, in passable crdc-r with a few day's’ work. I see no reason why the gates should not remain as at present. The contractors on Seddon ix>ad (Edgar) and Reid’s Hill (Dynes) have not started with their gravelling contracts, although requested to do so."—Report adopted. CORRESPONDENCE From J Hislop, Under-secretary Department of Internal Affairs, in re assigned distinctive letters and numerals under “The Motor Regulations Act, 1908,” requesting council to suggest such letters and numerals as are suitable, and enclosing list of other bodice’ letters and numerals. —Received. From same, asking what memorials had beon set up of the late King Edward VII.— The Clerk said he had sent a reply that, nothing had been done beyond the council passing a resolution of regret. V. C. Curtis, District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote that the vote for Hanning’s road was intended to bo used for formation opposite the northern boundary of sections 90 and 91, block VIII, Glenomaru. —Received. From W. S. Short, Assistant Under-secrc-tary Public Works Department, in re £SOO grant offered for M‘Leonan River-Oaber-feidh Railway Station road.—The department’s district engineer advised that in view of the urgency and tho repreeentations made, he hod instructed that the work

is to be carried out by the department Itself, and the offer made by the council wae to be regarded as cancelled. —Received. W. Fraser, Government Statistician, wrote asking for information under different heads for the last financial year.—To be attended to.' Dr J. S. Stenhouse, Owaka, wrote asking permission to construct a telephone lino from his house in Owaka to a house in the Village Settlement now occupied ae a private nursing home.—Granted. E. Schlaepfer, Fairlie, wrote acknowledging council’s .favour in re Owaka township subdivision. Before accepting the council’s offer he would consult Mr Williams, engineer, what the work could be done for, and asking council to hold his cheque in trust in the meantime. —Received 1 . D. Campbell, secretary Tarara Dairy Factory Company, wrote that it wo<uld be necessary for the factory’ to close_ down at an early date,’ owing to the Catlins-Papatowai road being in such a bad state. —Received. W. J., Burgess and 10 others at Tarara wrote drawing attention to the state of the roads in their district. —Referred to the engineer, who said the matter was already under consideration. Wm. Johnston, Owaka, applied for license for billiard saloon at Owaka. —Granted. J. H. Patrick, Waitahuna, wrote that he bad forwarded to the council in November last a cheque for £3 3s for protective work at Pounawoa, but the work had not been done, and there was no ‘ necessity for it, therefore he requested that £1 11s 6d bo refunded. —Cr Smith said the work had not been done in his time, but found that £l6 bad been expended, which had stopped the encroachment, and Mr Patrick benefited along with the ©there.—The Engineer said if the work had not been done the encroachment would have carried away the road, and eaten into Mr Pa kick’s land. —Mr Patrick to be notified accordingly, and repayment declined. Wm. Sutherland. Waiwera, wrote with regard to the state of road between Kuriwao siding and M'Gews.—Left with the engineer to carry out the work provided the carting is done by the settlers. J. D. S. Ncave, Wairuna Downs, wrote applying for £2O grant to make a side cutting to his place.—-Left with tbo engineer to have the work done as soon a-s convenient. T. Telford, Otanomomo, wrote enclosing cheque for £IOO. amount offered to council free of interest till next year’s ratca are in, provided the money is expended in continuing the metalling or gravelling of Swamp road, in front of Otanomomo. —Received with thanks. John Sandilands. Balclutha. asked permission to lay a crossing from the Main South road on to section 5, Toshvale.— Granted. , P. H. Martin, clerk Clinton Town Board, wrote that he had been instructed by his board to ask if the council would supply eight 18in pipes and junctions to complete the drain on the. Clinton-Tapanui road on side street. —Referred to the engineer. Wm. M K Cal’lum, Waipahi, wrote that in future no metal would be allowed to to taken from the quarry without the sanction of the council. —To be informed that the council now pays for the metal. Wm. Lawson, mail contractor, Papatowai, wrote in re the bad state of road between Tarara School and Burnt Flat road Received. . Joseph Reid, Houipapa, wrote reminding the council that the roads leading from sections 14 and 15, block VI, Woodlands (occupied by writer) were now impassable.--The matter to bo left with the mgiueer, with power to act. South Otago Freezing Co. applied for meat export slaughterhouse license for premises situated at Finegand. -Granted Wm. M‘Phee. Owaka, wrote in re some work he had asked to bo done two months ago, and which had requir'd to be done for 15 years.—Cr Smith said the engineer and himself wore to sea Mr M'Phee. but they had got no further. G. R. Kerr, Pomahaica wrote that he intended to fence the boundary of his section (acquired by ballo ) in Conical Hills, on Conical Hills road, and as part of tie rOad at present was in his section, ho wot,id like to hear from the council at its earliest ■convenience. —To be informed that according to a previous resolution passed, the council would have nothing to do with subdivision or settlement roads until rltoy had Ixen formed and the Public Works Act complied with. ’ . . W. F. Marsh, Commissioner of Crown Lands, wrote in connection with subdivision of roads in Conical Hills Settlement, that it had been necessary to lay out certain roads, and it was proposed to expend up to £I2OO or £I3OO on the formation of them. It might be to the mutual advantage if these works were carried out by the council at the cost of the Department of Lands and Survey to the maximum cost mentioned. A lithograph plan of roads was enclosed, and if the council approved of the suggestion details would be settled after- 1 wards. —On the motion of Cr Camming, the council decided to decline the application, and also decline to undertake the spending of the money, the engineer having plenty to do otherwise. TENDERS Tenders were dealt with ns follows: — Contract No. 474, metalling Swamp road, opposite Mr Telford’s homestead.—L. Stewart, £3 18s per chain up to £100); H. Hogg, £3 19s. Contract No. 475, 150 yards maintenance, near Warepa Church —L. Stewart, £43 10s (accepted). Contract No. 476, gravelling near freezing works — H. Hogg, 2s 6d per yard; H. H. Clarke, 5s per yard; John Dalles, 2s lOd per yard; Dippie and Plow, 2s 3d per yard (accepted up to £4O). Contract No. 476 a, clearing ditch. Swamp road —D. Cameron, 4s i>er chain; A. M’Kissook, 3s (accepted). Contract No. 477/250 yards maintenance metal, Glenornaru —Isaac Smith, 7s per yard ; \V. Spence, 6s per yard (accepted). There wore no tenders for Contract No. 473 j at Knhuika, Catlins. GENERAL. Moved by Cr Smith, seconded by Cr Gumming—“ That the engineer procure a grader for Catlins Riding, ana that a rough shed bo erected there to house county tools.” —Carried. Cr Quin gave notice to move at next meeting—” That all ratepayers throughout tho county who have live hedges encroaching on county roads get notice’ to remove same at once, and not to burn the cuttings on tho centre of roads; also thaifc ratepayers who have overlapping trees get similar notice.”

Cr Mitchell moved —“That the council object to the Land Board, giving anyone exclusive rights over the Barnego foreshore, 1 which' was the only place where gravel ! could be procured in the Balclutha district."—Seconded by Cr Quin, and carried. ! The receipts for the period ending 23rd April amounted to £293 3s. and the expenditure £663 2s 3d,

The Chaic,o.«n (Mr J. Edwards) moved a resolution expressive of the council’s sympathy In the loss of life caused by the wreck or the White Star liner Titanic. Bo moved—“ That this council deplores the enormous loss of life caused by the wreck of the Titanic, and wishes to express its sircerest sympathy with those bereavedt” The members rose and carried the motion in silence.