TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 23

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho usual monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council, held on July 25, was attended by Crs Freeman (in the chair), Doherty, Blackie, Christie, Elliott, Gow, Robinson. GREEN ISLAND QUARRY RESERVE. A deputation from the Green Island Borough Council, consisting of the Mayor (Mr W. Geddes), and Crs Kano and Samson, waited on the council in regard to the Green Island Quarry Reserve. Mr Geddes stated that the deputation was present in connection with the acquisition by the borough of the quarry. It had been under tho control of tho Taieri Council for a number of years, but the council had made no use of it. The quarrylay within eight or 10 chains of the borough boundary, and hi? council thought it could make use of it. The Taieri Council had been approached on the matter before, but tho result had boon futile. However, he trusted members were in a bettor frame of mind now, and as there were other quarries in the county they had decided to make another request to have the quarry handed over. Cr Samson also spoke in favour of tho application, and remarked that tho quarry would bo of considerable use for local purposes, but it could not be used for anything else. Cr Kane also supported the request, and stated that if tho quarry were handed over much of'tho borough’s time would bo saved, as at present a great deal of its metal had to be brought from Logan’s Point. In reply to a question by tho chairman, Mr Geddes stated that the Green Island Borough Council would supply tho Taieri Council with metal for the adjoining roads at current market rates. On the motion of tho chairman, seconded by Cr Christie, it was decided to hand over the quarry, provided that metal for the county roads within a radius of six miles bo provided at cost price. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr B. B. Couston) submitted tho following report : “ The Government grant contracts on Maungatua Hill and at. Whare Flat are completed with the exception of about 30 yards of metal at Whare Flat, which is being kept for finishing off the metal after the ruts have been raked in. The Mosgiol maintenance metal contract is also completed, and tho Kaikorai and Outrarn maintenance contracts arc in progress. Mr R. Spiers, whoso tender was accepted at last meeting for breaking metal at Flagstaff, lias written me that ho is not able to proceed with tho work, as ho cannot procure stone-breakers who will camp out for the contract. Tho Labour Department has sent a. number of men to my office i inquiring for work and I have offered to | let contracts for any- reasonable quantity — I say, 50yds or 100yds—to any breaker" or I gang of breakers at 3s 6d per cubic yard. Mr J. M’Ennis (Public Works Engineer) I inspected the site for the erection of the i bridge over Boat Harbour Greek, at j Brighton, and lias approved of the plans, but it will bo necessary to obtain authority from Wellington before the contract can be signed. 1 have written to Mr E. 11. Clark, M.P., asking him to try and expedite matters in Wellington. Tho stonoj crusher has worked at Mosgicl quarry durI ing 11 to month. Four hundred and twenty yards of metal have been delivered from tho quarry and 300yds stored at the depot. A number of minor bridge repairs have been effected, and your instructions regarding flood box on Ricearton road, repairs to Momenta roads, surfacing of Mount Stoker i oad. and gravelling Woodsidc road have received attention.” In connection with the metal contract at Flagstaff, the engineer stated that Mr Spiers had come to Dunedin and had tried I to get men to go up there and break I stones, but had been unable to do so. He i had also tried to got men to go to Flag- | staff, but had been unsuccessful. In the 1 circumstances he would recommend that tho I contractor’s deposit be refunded.— lids j course was agreed upon. I In regard to tho Boat Harbour bridge I at Brighton, the engineer stated that he 1 had forwarded the plans to the Marine 1 Department and tho Public Works DepartI rnent some three months ago. No acknowI lodgement had been received from the former, and he had found it necessary to cull on the latter every week. However, he did not blame the Dunedin office as much a# he did the department in Wellington. Mr M’Ennis had inspected the site chosen and had stated that it was the best one available. With a view to expediting matters he had communicated with Mr Clark, and he had taken up the matter. However, advice had been received that j day stating that tie- plans were held up in ; Wellington in regard to matters affecting navigation.—(Laughter. ) that was, of course, a farce, f >r the question of navi- | gat ion" did not enter into the matter at I all.—Cr Blackie remarked that some of the I Brighton residents seemed to be throwing I cold water on the scheme. —The Chairman said lie thought The council sh uld repair the old bridge, and not take any further trouble about a grant for the new bridge. —Cr Christie expressed the opinion that two residents of Brighton were hanging up tlie whole matter < with tho object of getting a more expensive bridge erected. —lt was decided, on the motion of Cr Blackie. seconded by Cr Christie, that the erection of the new bridge bo abandoned if authority to proceed with it does not come to hand before the next meeting of the council. In tho alternative the old bridge, which was not in a very safe condition, would be repaired. CORE KSPOX DKXCE. The District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, wrote applying for permission to put down a ,iu water pipe across the road at the stationmaster’s residence, Abbotsford.— Granted on the usual conditions. The Te Awatnutu Chamber of Commerce wrote asking for support to a motion to be forwarded to the Government petitioning that steps be taken to minimise the risks of accidents to human life at railway crossings, and also suggesting that competitive designs should be called for an apparatus that, would give not : co of an approaching train. —Cr Blackie stated that the council should support this resolution, as there were a number of very dangerous crossings in the country. —It was decided to support (lie resolution. The Green Island Borough Council wrote asking for a donation towards the cost of extending the boundaries of the cemetery.---it was resolved to a-k for a copy of the balance sheet for the past five years, when the matter would lx. l eonsdered. Allan Mann and two others wrote petitioning for grave! for the road leading to the

oatmeal mills at Woodeide, —To bo hold fiver until gravel is available from Fulton’s (’reek. The Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company wrote asking for a truck of metal to put down in front of its creamery at Otokia. —This letter had boon received during (he month, and the engineer had replied that a truck would bo forwarded if the company would do the carting.—The company had accepted on these terms. — Action approved. E. Hassell, Leo Stream, wrote, in reply to the council’s letter, stating that the ratepayers had no intention of allowing the “fourths” from their runs to bo expended on a bridge. The money was required for" roads. He had written in March last to the Land Board, objecting to the “fourths” from his run being spent on this work or anywhere else but on roads giving access to his property.—Received. T. W. Wise, Middlemarch, wrote applying for a pipe, to bo put in front of Irs shop to take away storm water; also, asking that a few loads of gravel be put on the road at the same place.—Os Rlackie and Elliott were given power to act in this matter. Mr Wise further wrote applying for permission to cart about 50 loads of river gravel for the erection of a Sunday school in Middlemarch. —Council to offer no objection. R. Walker, Middlemarch, wrote drawing attention to some necessary repairs to roads in Middlemarch, and pointing out the want of a surfaceman in that locality.—Engineer to act. J. E. Jones, Brighton, wrote asking the council to take over the stormwater drain leading the water from Sea view street to the beach. —Cr Christie stated that the drain was in a road over which the council had no jurisdiction. —It was decided not tc accede to the request. G. Paterson. Wineatui. wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the road u; front of his place, and asking that the matter be attended to. —Left in the hands of Cr (low and the engineer. IT. A. Christie (secretary Concord Proshy terian Church) wrote asking the council to take steps to prevent the overflow water from the road running on to the church property. —Cr Freeman and the engineer tc act. D. R. Grant, Middlemarch. wrote requesting permission to take a few loads of earth from a hank on the roads de near h:s pave on the Main road.—Permission granted, sub jiet to Inspector’s approval. W. Robertson wrote asking the council to blind the metal on the road between Willowbank and flic township as it was unsafe to drive on. —Engineer to act, W. I). Mason (chairman of the Arden and Middicimrch Drainage Committee] wrote ii-kuig the council to take over ihf plans and levels for the drainage of Mobilemarch and Arden townships, and enclosing a list of P 7 signatories who endorsed the proposal.—The Engineer stated that the plans had been handed to the committee when the matter was first introduced three years ago.—lt was decided to give furtlur consideration when the engineer’s plans were returned to the council. R. M. Johnstone, J. M Phee. and M M'Grafh (Sutton wrote askbur the council to devote some attention to flic road lead ing from their properties to the Sutton runway siding.—To Ik- attended to. FI.VANCK. The Finance Committee reported that recounts amounting to £B3l 15s Id hid been passed for payment. The receipts for the nast four weeks bad amounted to £?4 14-s 4d, and the bank book showed a debit balance of £5363 15s Id. —Adopted. OKN'KI! A 1,. Cr Christie suggested that the engineer should be sent to Wellington to endeavour to obta’n some of (he grants for the various works in the county, and he would move a resolution to that effect. —Several councillors expressed the opinion that not much good would result from (his course, and the chairman remarked that it was hardly fair to demite a servant of the council to perform a duty of that kind.—-1 he motion was Cr Christie stated that he bad received numerous complaints about the state of the water tables on the Brel'ton load between (he creamery and Tvuri Bush. He would suggest that they be cleaned out bv ploughing, and tint this method should bo

adopted throughout the county.—A motion was carried to this effect.