WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3145, 24 June 1914, Page 13

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the VVaihemo County Council was held on Saturday; oresem—Crs Cameron (chairman), Ross, O’Connell, Randell, O’Neill, Bailey, McLennan, Clark, Pilbrow. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr David Wright, Palmerston, wrote asking the council to deepen about 20 chains of water channel leading past the lower end of his property; also to provide an entrance to trie front of his residence. Jdett m the hands of the engineer to report a next meeting; engineer to have power to act in regard to the entrance. . *. Mr Trios. E. Roberts, deputy registrar, Supremo Court, forwarded an originating summons taken cut by Mr H. W. Bundle, on behalf of Mr George Clark, Moonlight, calling on the council and ratepayers to appear before the Supreme Court on July 3 for the hearing of an application to determine the following questions(a) .Whether the system adopted by the defendant in apport.omng tile gross estimated income of the Waihemo County for one year ending March 31, 1913, is in accordance with the provisions of section 128 of ‘‘lnc Counties Act, 1808,” and in particular whether under such system the several sidings of the county receive their correct proportion of the remainder of the estimated income calculated in manner provided by the said section; (b) if such system is not ■ in accordance with the said Act, what syf* tem should have been adopted ! (c) yv hat system, in view of section 20 of 1“ e Counties Amendment Act, 1913,” should bo now adopted by the defendant in apportioning the estimated income of the county among the several ridings? And for such further or other questions as iho court may see fit. —’Ihe matter is one that has agitated the council for a considerable time, the grievance really resting between the Macraes Riding and the council with regard to the apportionment of the goldfields revenue.—The council’s solicitor, Mr F. W. Lang, was in attendance and explained that the system adopted by the council at present, and that followed previously were both contrary to the provisions of the Act. W 7 hen the accounts were presented m proper form it would appear that there was no surplus from the items that formed the ground of the action, and he suggested tnat if he were supplied with the figures he could meet Messrs Reid and Bundle and explain matters. He was sure that this course would result in the present proceedings being dropped. The date fixed was only by way ot making a commencement, and the true date of the hearing of such a summons would have to be arrived at by arrangement. Messrs Reid and Bundle were not in possession of any figures that would enable them to proceed, and when they were given a true index of the real position they would find that there was no ground ox action. The whole thing was really a misunderstanding of the position.— The clerk was instructed to take out the pai’ticulars from the 1913 accounts asked for by Mr Lang; Mr Lang to confer with Messrs Reid and Bundle. Mr E. P. Lee, M.P., wrote, acknowledging copy of applications for Government grants, and stating that he would attend to the matter when the estimates were being prepared. Mr R. Scott, M.P., wrote to a similar effect.—The letters were received. The Clerk, Palmerston Borough Council, wrote stating that his council was favourably impressed with the suggestion of the Minister of Railways in regard to the erection of notice boards at railways crossings, and asking the co-opcration of the council, more especially with the . crossings at or nealr the borough boundary. The document from the Minister of Railways referring to the speed of motor wnen approaching crossings, and the keeping of a look-out, also the department s intentions in regard to the provision of notice boards 150 to 200 yards from crossings, provided councils undertook to maintain same, was also received. —It was resolved that the council fall in with the arrangement. inspector’s report.

The Inspector in h.s report stated that in the Bushey R.ding maintenance gravel had been put on the Main North road. Water tabling had also been attended to. On the road leading to Penny’s place similar work had been done. A culvert had been put in between Day’s and Bushey Bridge, and the timber for a large culvert near Wong’s had come to hand, and the -work had been completed. Some planks from this work could be utilised to repair a small bridge leading to Penny s through Millar’s. A bridge loading to Gilmore’s would require alteration before next harvest. Maintenance gravel was required on the IVlam North, road, towards Horse range, and some of the water tables needed to be ploughed out The Shag Point road was very bad. In the Blue Mountain Rid ng maintenance gravel was required on Mill road and Factory road. He would suggest that gravel bit wide be placed there, as it was only The centre of the road that required crowning. Several places in Young Town required gravel, also the steep places on the Switch Back road. Water tables required to be ploughed out in many places. The Shag River bridge would soon require an overhaul, the ma n stringer being rotten; also the suspension stringer and strut. In the Moadowbank Riding pipes had been put in a very bad place, leading to Taieri Peak. In company with Mr North, the Public Works inspector, he had visited the laien Peak road Mr Monk had expressed himself as ■well pleased with the way in which Mr Kitchen had completed his contract, line was a work that would require to be attended to, as owing to the nature of the earthwork' it was bound to settle down and be ,liable to slip. Mr Monk had also inspected Mr M'Cabe’s contract, and wished the contractor to p ush on w - th tho as it had been hanging for a long time According to Mr Butts estimate £2OO should complete the contract, but in the meantime there were two or three places which would not cost much' to do, which should be formed to give access to the part formed by Mr Kitchen. In the Goodwood riding the upper end o. the Goodwood Settlement road was very bad. Metal could be got at the upper end. In the Dunback Riding pipes were required in several places or. Stonoburn road. Messrs Cummin 0 ' Bros, had started their contract on the Dunback-Grcen Valley road.. In the Macraes riding 10 chains of metal had been carted on the contract for the supply of metal on Hyde road. The remamacr of the metal had been broken, but owing to the weather the contractor had been unable to complete the work. The metal was of good quality and excellently broken. Mr Kitchen’s contract had been completed as far as the metal would go. there being only 157 yards instead of 200. Mr D.

Finne's contract for formation had been almost completed as far as the earthwork was concerned. The contractor was making a satisfactory job, and metalling would soon be undertaken. Arrangement* had been made for the supply and cartage of metal for the repair of parts of the road in Macraes township, and other bad parts of the road on each side of the township.—The report was adopted. The shortage of metal in Mr Kitchen’s contract in the Macraes Riding led to much discussion. One problem was whether Mr Kitchen could bo expected to go back and put on the remaining 33 yards, were such broken, without some allowance from the council. He had contracted to cart 200 yards of metal (more or less) at a price per yard on the understanding that there would be' at least 200 yards to cart. The contract for breaking the metal had beer, let to Mr Lester at 5s 6d P er yard, Mr Lester to break 200 yards. When Mr Lester applied for payment he was paid R 55 for 2UO yards, but it turned out that there was a shortage of over 30 yards.—■ Mr Kitchen waited on the council and explained that he was willing to cart the rest of the metal provided for in the contract were it made available, but at the same time pointed out that he should receive an allowance. He would have to send a man and team back to the place, and that ■would mean two days’ going and two days’ returning for which ho would receive nothing.—Mr Kitchen having retired, the council took Mr Lester’s position into consideration. Eventually, the solicitor having expressed the opinion that Mr Lester could bo made to refund the extra £S 5s he had .been paid it was resolved to grant him the option of breaking the balance of the metal within two months, or of making a refund. bio action was taken in regard to Mr Kitchen, it being stated that the shortage of metal on the road rould be made up when another metalling contract was let. GENERAL. Notices of motion were given by the representatives of the various ridings- with regard to the striking of the rates for the forthcoming year. The amount is one penny in each case. The clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to collect ail outstanding rates. Tenders for the supply of 200 yards of gravel (contract No. 53), for the Goodwood road, resulted in three being received for the same price (2s 8d per yard). A ballot was. taken, and 'Messrs Cummings Bros, proved successful. The tender for the supply of 80 yards of gravel on Ritchie’s road, Dunback Riding (contract No. 54), was let to Mr M. Kitchen, at 3s per yard. It was resolved that the engineer bo authorised to fix the river crossing near the dairy factory at Dunback. The engineer was instructed to put in pipes across Fleming’s road to carry off surplus water. Or Clark reported that a culvert near Pearson’s, on the Moonlight road, was broken and needed to be repaired.—The engineer was instructed to report as to the best means to drain the water off the road. Cr Bay ley was granted permission to plough about 10 chains of road to eradicate the gorse adjoining his Green Valley property. Similar permission was granted to Mr J. Service.

The engineer was instructed to bring in a report dealing with the road near Spillano’s. Cr Rendal! requested that the engineer attend to repairs required on the old main road, between Isbister’s and Wayne’s town. —Agreed to. Cr Cameron asked that the engineer renort on the road between Cunningham’s and Sutherland’s, Goodwood Riding.—Agreed to. It was resolved that notice bo sent to all ratepayers with gorse growing on the road line to have same removed.