WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 23

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council, held at Palmerston on Saturday, was attended by Crs Cameron (chairman), Ross, O’Connell Randle, O’Neill, Bayly, M‘Lennan, Clark, and Pilbrow. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr W. F. Eggers, Wellington, wrote in reply to a demand from the council for payment of Mr E. Keene’s rates, amounting to £1 Us. He jointed out that in a previous communication the council had intimated that the rates on Air Keene s farm amounted to £1 6s 4d. —The clerk said that according to the books there was £1 11s outstanding for rates. —The matter was referred to the clerk and the member for the riding for a report. Mr F. M'Callum, Goodwood, wrote stating that the gate on the road at Brooklands had been removed as requested. He drew attention to the Brooklands crossing, which required attention. —The matter was referred to the inspector. A letter was received from the Bruce County Council enclosing a copy of a resolution passed by the council, as follows :—“That the various .surrounding local bodies be approached with a view to arranging a conference to discuss the best moans of deriving and apportioning revenue from owners of motor vehicles.” It "was understood that there was a probability that the Government would bring down legislation in connection with licensing motor traffic, and it was considered that any recommendation forwarded from a conference would be given every consideration.—A further letter from the council stated that the proposed conference would take place in the Early Settlers Hail, Dunedin, on the 23rd inst.—Th-e chairman remarked that he thought the time had arrived when something should be done. The roads were getting very much knocked about by the cars.—The chairman was appointed to represent the council at the conference. A letter was received from the Valuergeneral requesting a declaration and copy of the resolution levying the general rate, and also a copy of the balance sheet for the year 1913-14.—-The clerk was instructed to forward the necessary information. Mr E. P. Lee, M.P., wrote stating that he would be pleased to act as the council s delegate at the conference of county councils In Wellington, —Noted. The Clerk, Waikouaiti County Council, wrote stating that the council was willing to contribute two-thirds of the cost of making the requested deviation on Mr Phillip’s property at Stoneburn, provided that the Waihemo Council contributed the balance of the money required and supervised the work, the total cost not to exceed £SO. —The letter was referred to the member for the riding. inspector’s report. The following were the main clauses of the inspector’s report for the four weeks ended the 18th inst. ; Bushey Riding.—General Surface work, water tabling, etc., had been carried out during the month. With Cr Ross, the inspector inspected works requested by Mr D. Wright, and decided to make entrance as requested, the work to be done when the team was doing water-tabling work. In connection with the cleaning of the drain, he could not recommend the council to do the work, as it opened up a very large question, r lhe natural watercourse was through Mr Wright’s property, and the drains put in by the council were, he understood, to take away surplus water. After consultation with Cr Ross, he would recommend that a culvert of cement pipes 2 ft in diameter be put in about 80ft from the present culvert, which was too small to carry off the water. The pipes would cost, sav, £7. He believed it was the intention of Mr Cruickshanks to put in an extra culvert on that portion of road. At the Shag River bridge he found that a stringer, 45ft long, was rotten, and six suspension stringers, 30ft long, were also rotten, though in five of them there was some Tin or Bin of heartwood. To replace the 46ft stringer would entail a good deal of labour, and the cost of timber would be £8 ss. The suspension stringers would cost £5 7s 6d each. Goodwood Riding.—General _ surface work and repairs to culverts mentioned at previous meeting had been carried out during the month. As requested, he examined the road near Mr Cunningham’s and found that the gravel on 23 chains of road had been completely washed away in the centre. About 12 chains of this road was not in great need of gravel, but 11 chains at the top end were very greasy in wet weather. About 100 yards of gravel were required to effect the necessary repairs. A short portion of road from Sutherland’s corner to Anderson’s road was also in need of gravel. As instructed, he inspected the road leading to Mr M‘Callum’s property. He found that there were about 10 chains from the junction with the private road to the milking sheds. Three chains from the south junction required 15 yards of metal to the chain, at a cost of £5 12s 6d per chain. The other portion required 11 yards of metal to the chain, at a cost of £4 2s 6d per chain. Mr M'Callum’s suggestion to the council to tap the spring on the private road and bring it _ across to the open drain on the south side was a good one. It was this water which kept the road wet at the junction. An open drain could be taken across at an angle to the lagoon, and the present pipes at the junction could be taken out and put across the road further on. He suggested that about 15 or 20 loads of stones be put on the three chains at the junction before metalling was done. Meadow Bank Ruling.—Mr M‘Cabe had made a start with the contract on the Taieri Beak road. The upper portion of the road by Mr Hitchin’s embankment had slightly subsided, iaud the pipes were lotting water through. As this was likely to caiise a slip, he would act a surfaceman as soon as possible to lift the two end pipes and regrade them. A number of small slips on the sides of cuttings also required attention. Blue Mountain Riding.—General surface W qrk had been attended to, and water

tables and ditches cleaned, during the month. A team had been employed on the water tables and patching the road from Hanlon’s corner to Ritchie’s. The following was the quantity of gravel, and the estimated cost, required for the following roads : —From Main North road west to Pagan’s corner, 50 yards at Is 3d per yard; Factory road, 34-j chains (200 yards), at Is 3d per yard; street in Youngtown, 20 yards at Is 3d per ward. On the Switchback road, about 20 chains required gravelling on the steep grades on the shady side of the hill, and on soft parts of the road. About 16 chains of Mill road were in a very bad state. If this road were surfaced in dry weather there would be no necessity to use much maintenance gravel. Dunback Riding.—The surfacing ox Cunningham’s road had been completed _ and maintenance gravel put on where required. The crossing at the creamery had been attended to. Gumming Bros, had completed their gravelling contract. Mr Kitchen had started his contract on Ritchie’s road, but as the road was very soft, he thought it not desirable to go on with the work until the road was drier. Green Valley Riding.—General surface work had been done and crossings attended to. Everything was now in good order. Macraes Riding. —Mr Gilbert had completed his contract for the supply and delivery of metal on Deep Dell hill. Mr "Fannie had completed his contract on Butter and Egg road. The ford on the Taieri River had been attended to. As requested, the drains on the road near Mr Pearson’s, at Moonlight, had been inspected. Before anything can be done it will be necessary to take proper levels. The report was received. WORKS TO BE EFFECTED. ’ On the motion of Cr Ross it was decided that repairs be effected to the culverts near Wright’s. The clerk was instructed to apply to the Public Works Department for authority to use .the Government grant of £IOO, for the formation of the Taieri Peak road. It was decided" that on receipt of this amount tenders be called for 35 chains of formation of the road. Cr M’Lennan ‘pointed out that the Main road at Chapman’s Grange property was in a bad state of x'cpair.—The inspector was instructed to interview the owner in regard to paying half cost of repairs to the road. The inspector was instructed to put down 50 yards of gravel at the corner of Chinamen’s road. It was decided to effect repairs to the Shag River and Bushey bridges. GENERAL RATE. A general rate of Id in the pound was struck for the present year, on the rateable value on the valuation rolls of all rateable property in Blue Mountain, Tuslxey, Goodwood, Green Valley, Dunback, and Macraes Ridings. Permission was granted Cr O’Neill to withdraw his motion, that a rate of Id in the pound be struck in Meadow Bank Riding. Cr O’Neill gave notice that he would move at next meeting that the general rate in the riding be |d in the pound. He stated that this would be quite sufficient to meet the requirements of the riding. GENERAL. Cr O’Neill suggested that a report be submitted to next meeting in regard to surfacemen’s boundaries. After some discussion it was decided to give a month’s notice to the last surfaceman appointed. Mr A. A. M‘William was appointed mining valuer for the balance of the year, vice Mr E. Butt, late county clerk. The Ranger reported that during the past month four cattle and 12 horses had been impounded. The bank book showed a debit balance of £1617 10s lid. Accounts amounting to £345 15s wex-e passed for payment. PROPOSED ALTERATION OF BOUNDARIES. The clerk of the Maniototo County Council wrote stating that the council, at its last meeting, had passed the following resolution: —“That this council accedes to the wishes of the petitioning ratepayers in the Strath-Taieri Riding of the Taieri County ; also those portions of the Macraes Riding in Waihemo County and Hawkesbury Riding in Waikouaiti County, for alteration in the boundaries of Maniototo County so as to include within its boundaries the ridings and portions of ridings above named; that three months’ notice of the proposed alteration of boundaries be given to the Counties of Taieri, Waihemo, and Waikouaiti, in accordance with the provision of section 3 and sub-sections thereof of ‘ The Counties Amendment Act, 1913.’ ” This resolution was passed by the council as the outcome of petitions received by it from ratepayers in StrathTaieri Riding of the Taieri County, portions of Macraes Riding of the Waihemo County, and portion of Hawkesbury Riding in the Waikouaiti County. Information was requested as to what the council intended to do in the matter of the proposed alteration of boundaries embodied in the resolution, so far as Waihemo County is affected. After the county solicitor (Mr had given his opinion on this matter, an informal discussion took place. Finally the chairman called for a show of hands of those in favour of the proposal. Cr Bayly did not record his vote, and all the councillors, with the exception of Cr Clark, voted against the pi’oposal.