TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 23

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary meeting of the Taicri County Council, held on Friday, was attended by Crs J. Blair (chairman), Gow, Robinson, Freeman, Blackie. Christie, and Doherty. FINANCE. Tho Finance Committee reported having examined accounts and vouchers lor October amounting to £llß3 10s lid, and recommended that ■ they be passed for payment. The receipts for the past four weeks amounted to £766 10s 2d, and the bankbook showed a debit balance of £586 1 its 6d.—Approved.

engineer’s report. Tho Engineer reported as follows for the month of October: —“Contracts and Works; Contract No. 59, delivery 540 tons metal, Otokia and Outram Ridings, is completed, and tho me'tal has also been delivered at Scott’s for repairs to the Whare Flat road. Tho contractor for the Boat Harbour bridge has the bulk of the material ready for construction, and will make a start at the excavation for the foundations next week. 'lhe bridge will be closed to traffic on and after Tuesday, October 28. L resh tenders have been called for the Barewood Deviation road, and I have seen several contractors regarding the work, but they decline to make offers owing to the difficulty experienced in obtammg labour for a contract that necessitates camping cut. Tho crusher has worked at tho Mosgicl quarrv, supplying contract 69 and tho Whare Flat metal Half the men were sent to. Kaikorai Riding to quarry and spaul motal for Brinsdon s road and tho North Taicri road, and tho crusher was also shifted there this week. It ;s proposed to break 200 yards for Brinsdon s road. 100 yards at Al’ALllan’s for repaid to Al’Aloikan’s road, 100 yards at Lamg s for North Taieri road, and 200 yards at Green Island Bush for maintenance repairs. Day Eabour Works; North and East Taieri—The repairs to the groins at W’haro Flat, the removal of slips on the Deviation road, and the erection of a fence at Scott’s arc completed. The City Corporation is supplying teams for gravelling the lower part of Long Ridge road, between its gate and the ford, the county surfaceman taking delivery and spreading. Tho outlet to the large culvert at Riccarton, which was washed out during the August flood, has been repaired with stones sledged from the hillside. The Riccarton and Springbank watertables arc now receiving attention. Kaikorai and Otokia An extra hand has been employed in Kaikorai Riding, and tho slips on Ferhhill road and Al’Meikan’s road removed and protective measures taken. The stone wall at Alexander’s on the Brighton- road has boon rebuilt, and a new culvert inserted in place o£ the one that collapsed M Corstorphine. In the Otokia Riding six men have been employed, and the slips on Saddle Hill road, Christie’s Gully road, M‘Laron s Cully road, and' Jones’s road have been shifted. Concrete pipe culverts have been inserted where the road was washed out at Kuri Bush, and 18-inch pipes with a tidal outlet inserted across Alain South road opposite the slip that occurred at Reid’s. Louie's tidal outlet will be attended to as eotiji as tho river is low enough to permit of this work being carried out. Cr Christie and the engineer have injected the drains complained of bv the boarding-house keeper at Brighton. The water has been temporarity provided fo? by a drain and ditch, but in our opinion tho small pipes will slit up and the open ditch will become a nuisance in hot weather, and we have offered to provide *md lay a nine-inch pipe drain at an estimated cost of £SO, to servo for surface water from road and private property, if the owners pay half-ccst. With regard to drains and gravelling asked for by Air APKcgg at Henley, we are of ophiion that these works are for private benefit, and that 'the county should only undertake the spreading of gravel and Hying of drains across road, cost of all material and cartage to bfj, paid for by the applicant. Outram and Alauugatua—Surfaceman Low has been transferred to the Hindon Riding and a casual engaged in his place. The permanent position will be given to Air Little, who is at present working with the quarry hands, as soon as the Kaikorai metal is put through. In Alaungatua Riding the surfacemen, with assistance of casual labour, have made good the washouts on HcnleyBerwick road and Kirk’s road. Alann’s road and the approach to tho school at Woodside have been gravelled, and a surfaceman has been sent to finish up Berwick Township, and will insert culvert in Merse street, asked for at last meeting, before ho leaves. The washed-out portions of Alill Creek road have been made up with manuka fascines, wired and pegged down and covered with a layer of silt. Tho £SO allocated for this road is expended, and tho road is passable, but not much more. A permanent hand, with casual labour and teams, has commenced the work of reconstruction of the Lee Flat road, for which a Government grant of £75 was voted. 'lhe consent of tho Public Works Engineer has been obtained to carry out tho work by day labour. The present culverts will be lifted and repaired, a number of additional culverts inserted, and balance of money available expended in widening the formation. Deep Stream and Strath-Taicri —At StrathTaicri nine men have boon employed, and have worked in three squads. No. 1 squad is still employed on tho .Stoker road, a considerable amount of blasting being necessary between Elliott’s and tho old woolshed. They will work back to the Stoker Hill, and then shift to the Aloonlight road, and attend first to part of the road through block VII, complained of by M‘Rae Bros. No. 2 squad has worked on the Dry Ridge road, which has been thoroughly surfaced from the Boundary to Cottesbrook. No. 3 squad has surfaced tho Gladbrook Station road from Brown’s road to the Sutton, and is now working on Kirk’s road. The next road to receive attention will be the Switchbacks, particularly the work at Wandlo Creek, for which instructions were given at last meeting. Tho track through Mount Allan Run to Sweetwater Creek was inspected by my’ foreman during the month, and Mr Symons will be paid £8 for the work on its satisfactory completion. Aim Kerr and Air Henderson ask that a pinch on tho road to their properties be reduced and the culvert and embankment widened, and I recommend this work be carried out at a cost of £2O.

A discussion arose on the clause regarding the drains complained of at Brighton, Cr Blackic objecting to the council paying halfcost in tliis case. Cr Froemaji also cxpressed the opinion that the property owner concerned should drain his own property. The matter was referred back to the en-

gineer and Cr Christie for report. —The remainder of the report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The District Engineer of Railways wrote notifying that the council's right to the private siding at Mosgiel expired on September 30, and offering a renewal for a terra of five years.—The clerk reported that he had advised that the council desired the agreement renewed, and the documents had come to hand that morning.—Clerk’s action approved. The Engineer (Mr B. B. Couston) submitted a letter which he had received from the district engineer of public works asking if he knew ot any reason why the Taieri bridge to the Pukekura road, now impassable owing to slips, should not be put m repair by the Taieri County Council. The council had previously objected to maintain the road on the ground that it was not legalised, but that had since been done. —Mr Couston had replied that tire council had objected to having anything to do with the road, because its location was bad, the method of its construction was not satisfactory, its formation was too narrow, and, in short, it was a road tho council would never have constructed, and tho council objected to be burdened with it. Its construction was practically a (iovernment relief work, and the council had on occasions declined to accept a grant for expenditure on the road. —It was decided to approve of the engineer's I’cply. The Bruce County Clerk wrote with reference to the maintenance of the Taieri Mouth bridge, pointing out that the council had submitted no reason in support of the proposed apportionment of one-third cost to the Taieri County and two-tliirds to Bruce. His council could not accept that proposal, and ho asked the Taieri Council to again consider the question with a view to arriving at a settlement without the necessity for a commission being set up.— The chairman moved that the council adhere to its previous decision, and Cr Blackie moved as an amendment that consideration be deferred and a conference with representatives of the Bruce Council be arranged. His motion lapsed for want of a'seconder, and a further motion by Cr Blackie in favour of paying half-cost was ruled out of order, as the chairman’s motion had already been carried. The Tuapoka County Engineer wrote asking the council to agree to put up a bridge costing about £IOO instead of £4O across Lee stream at Lee Flat.—Cr Doherty said tho settlers wanted only a £4O bridge, but the council had offered to give £ for £ on a sum up to £6O. It was decided to grant a maximum of £3O towards the erection of a bridge to cost not less than £6O. The Secretary of the Dunedin Drainage Board applied for a copy of plans and description in connection with the application reported to have been made to the council from Mr A. M. Sidey “ in respect of a proposed transference of that portion of Mrs John Sidey’s property that was not subdivided from the city of Dunedin to the Taieri Council.” —Tho clerk was instructed to reply that the board could obtain a copy of the plans on application at the clerk’s office.

Mr E. R. Brinsdon, Halfway Bush, applied for a few loads ot metal Irom tlie council’s crusher.—Granted at cost price. Messrs Wm. Charters ' and John Imrie wrote regarding a proposal to do away with the two level crossings that at .present afforded access to their properties from Gladstone road across the Dunedin-Mosgiel railway, and to substitute in place thereof an overhead bridge. With a view to some day subdividing their properties they proposed laying olf a road 6oft wide parallel to the railway. As the bridge would have to be constructed to the council’s approval, they desired to know the requirements necessary before proceeding with plans and negotiations. —Cr Biackie said tlie council had nothing whatever to do with the bridge, and could not give the information. It was referred to the engineer and Cr Gow to define the council’s requirements as to the road and the bridge, and as to who would maintain the bridge.

Mr Allan Roxburgh, Allanton, wrote applying for a truck ot metal for the street opposite liis shop. In wet weather the road was much cut up by heavy trafnc.—Request declined.

Mr John M’Coll, Brighton, wrote drawing attention to an open drain in front of his house, and offering to assist in laying pipes if the council would provide them. —The council agreed to lay the pipes if the writerpaid for them. Mr Graham, Uindon, wrote stating, in answer to council’s decision to provide him with a new road in lieu of repairing present road, which had been badly damaged, provided ho would pay one-third of the cost, that lie had already formed more than 10 chains of the proposed new road, therefore to pay one-third of the coat was not reasonable.—lt was decided to have the road surveyed in three sections. If Mr Graham contracted to complete one, tenders to be called for the other two at next meeting.

Mr Duncan M'Phee. Sutton, wrote bringing under the notice of the council the bad state of the road between his gate at the woolshcd and the gate at the main road leading to th e Sutton siding, and asking the council to have it graded.'—Held over. Mr FI. Pocock, manager Glencairn Estate, applied for permission to erect a gate on road through section 1, block XVI, Maungatua, on the Outram-Hindon road, between the entrance gate to Glencairn Homestead and the first bridge, northward.—The clerk reported that the necessary conditions had been complied with.—Granted during pleasure of the council.

The town clerk, Green Island, wrote, in re Quarry Reserve, Green Island Bush. The offer of August 6 had been withdrawn, and the following resolution was passed to take its place;—“That the Green Island Borough Council agrees to accept the control of this quarry on condition that it supply metal to the Taieri County Council at cost price at the quarry, providing that the Green Island Borough Council has the metal on hand when wanted by the Taieri County Council.”—Cr Freeman advocated handing over the quarry to the Green Island Council on the conditions named, and a motion of his to this effect was carried.

The town clerk, Green Island, advised that his council had decided to erect a public pound at a cost of £SO, trusting that Taieri Council would see its way to pay half cost. —Gr Freeman moved that the letter be received, and that the council is of opinion that a much more economical arrangement could be made with the Dunedin Saleyards Company. This was carried, and also a further motion that the Taieri Council was willing to pay part of the maintenance of the pound. Mr* T. H. Pugh, Kgapuna, complained that the council did not understand the position of the water near his property. It was “artificial” water, and did not belong to

him. He would not remove the dam or help to cut the ditch.—Referred to member for the riding and Gr Blaokie to report. Mr John Steel, Middlemarch, wrote asking the council to deepen the water tables and clean out the culverts between his homestead and the corner of the Moonlight road. He also drew attention to the road at the corner of his porperty.—Referred to Crs Elliott and Blackie to report. Mr David R. Grant. Middlemarch, wrote asking permission to fence the two ends of the road between sections 2, 3. and 4, and 7 and 8 of the High Schools’ Board of Governors’ property, so that lie might keep the creek on this road banked and. clean. He also asked for a larger culvert or a small bridge in front of his house. —Referred to Crs Elliott and Blaokie to report. The acting ranger reported having found 20 cattle and 5 horses wandering on the county roads during the month.—-Received. . The Paymaster-general forwarded a voucher that £79 12s as a pound for pound subsidy on the metalling of the Garthmyl to Longford road and £IOO as a pound for pound subsidy on metalling Maungatua Hill had been forwarded to the credit. of the council’s account. —Received. The Collector of Customs’ declaration showed that 18oz of gold had been purchased from Taieri County during September.—Received.

Cr Doherty moved—“ That the resolution passed at last meeting, authorising the jiaymont of £8 to Messrs Beadc and Sons, by way of a refund for work done on road, bo rescinded.” Cr Doherty explained that paying this money meant taking over the road in question, and he did not wish the council to be saddled with that responsibility. He suggested that the engineer he sent to Wellington to urge on the Government the necessity of opening up roads.—Cr Blackie seconded the motion, but said he did not think there was any use sending the engineer to Wellington. The only way for the settlors who needed roads was to raise a special loan. —The motion was carried.

Cr Freeman drew attention to a d'tch causing trouble on Black Head road, and the engineer was instructed to' report. It was decided tp call the attention of tho Green Island Borough Council to the state of the Boundary road, near Sunnyvale, and on the way to Green Island. The industrial dispute at present ponding between local bodies and their labourers was considered in committee.