CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 12

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

The Clutha County Council met on Friday; present—Crs W. Nicol (chairman), Jas. Begg, J. Edwards, H. E. Steel, A. North. J. Camming, T. Maginness, J. Christie, A. MTntyre, and 0. F. Overton. The engineer’s report for the period ended May 28 showed that repairs had been effected to Heap’s, Abernethy’s, and Hogg’s bridges. The Lakeside road at Gatlins, the Glenomaru-Owaka road, and the KclsoGoro road had been repaired. The metalling contracts were being carried out satisfactorily.—The report was adopted. The following motions were carried: — (1) “That Southland County Council be asked to pay for the erection of a bridge at Waipahi, if the work is done by the Clutha County engineer”; (2) “That a Carlyle Junr. road grader be procured for Clinton Riding”; (3) “That the roads hr Kcatoa township, be taken over by the council”; (4) “That the Clydevale punt hours be as follows: —Week days, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m in summer (six months); 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in winter (six months); Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and half an hour before and after church in evening. A rise of 5s per week to bo allowed in puntman’s wages.” The financial statement showed that the receipts and expenditure for the. month ended May 25 totalled £1464 17s and £lßsl 5s 6d respectively, TENDERS. Tenders were dealt with as follows: Contract No. 595, metalling 25 chains (more or less) Sandford’s road, Waropa—0. I. Smith, £5 per chain; A. J. Allison, £3 19s per chain (accepted to £100); J. Braid, £4 10s per chain. Contract No 600, erection of swing footbridge. across Back Creek, at Tahakopa: No tenders, and work to bo done by day labour. Contract No. 594, metalling 12 chains (more or less) on M’Kenzio’s road, blocks IX and X, Glenomaru —W. Spence, £4 per chain (accepted up io £SO). CORRESPONDENCE. The District Engineer wrote that ho had approved of plans for the following works for which authorisations had been made; — Sandford road, £100; M’Kenzio’s road, blocks IX and X, Glcnomaru, £loo.—Received. The Public Works Department notified that £1207 3s 6d had been paid to the credit of the council’s account for work done under grants. The Minister of Public Works wrote that the steep grade at Glcnomaru where a siding for a quarry was desired was an unsurpassable obstacle, and he recommended that the council could obtain metal from a quarry at Romahapa or one at Houipapa lately used by his department for obtaining ballast.—Cr Begg moved that the Railway Department bo informed that a crew of four is carried on the mid-day train, and this should be sufficient to allow of one man being left at the siding to watch the trucks. All that was required would bo for the man to watch the trucks between

the tune they were loft there an the clown trip and when they were picked up on the return of the mid day train.—This motion was carried.

The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote; (1) That an item for the metalling of the road from Maclennan railway station to the school would be included when the Estimates were being prepared ; (2) that the. expenditure for grant for formation of Lakeside road would bo undertaken by the department as soon as a decision was arrived at as to what work should be done; (3) returning proposals submitted for Kororo Creek road. £SO for this work having been paid to the council on 4pril 29, and no new money had been voted since.—Received. The Secretary of the Southland League wrote asking if the sum of £l5O from the council, in addition to the Government grant and the amount asked from the Otago Expansion League, would be sufficient to complete the whole of the Waipahi-Pukerau' road.—The Otago Expansion League wrote that it had no funds available for the purpose of helping the council to complete this work. —Gr Cummings moved that the league bo informed of the position, which was that four miles and a-half of metalling was required to complete the work. The Government had given a £9OO subsidy for this work, and the county found £450, making £1350 altogether, but the total estimated amount requited was £1750, leaving £4OO still to be provided for. —Carried. Mr James Cooper. Tawanui, wrote that the cattle wandering nuisance on Gatlins Valley road had not abated, and ho did not sec any good in grading the roads if the cattle were not kept from straying on them. —Offenders to be warned to keep cattle off roads, and engineer to take action where he discovered cattle straying. Mr W. Canton and nine others, Nugget Point, petitioned that the council urge the matter of improving road between Campbell's Point and Mr James Murray’s place at Erlstoke.—Or North moved that the engineer have approaches attended to and the road surfaced, cost not to exceed £lo. Carried.

Messrs W. MTlardy, William Taylor. P. Murphy, William Sandford, and James Murray, county surfacemen, wrote requesting increase in wages on account of expense in keeping a horse and the high cost of living. Mr F. Wyndham made a similar application.—Cr Steel said that at the present price of horse feed he thought the surfacemen were not getting sufficient. He moved that the men bo allowed 6d a day more while the price of horse feed keeps up. —The motion was carried, it being agreed to make the increase all round, the terms of increase to be as from May 21 to January 31. 1916. Mr R. Shields, Piicrua, wrote asking tRe council to remove stock off roads, and also complained of rubbish in front of Puerua store and smithy.—On Mr Shields finding sufficient evidence, the engineer to take legal proceedings, and also to take steps to stop the depositing of rubbish on county roads.

Messrs M'Laohlan Bros., Tahakopa, applied for right to lay sawmill tramway across and alongside road at Tahakopa.— Granted during the pleasure of the council.

Mr A. G wyn, secretary Ta h aji ka-Pu rck i - roki Road League, wrote that at a meeting of the league held on the 22nd inst. great dissatisfaction was expressed at the progress of the Owaka Valley metalling, and he was instructed to point out to the council that in spite of the protest previously forwarded by the league, and which the council upheld, the contractor ceased work on the main road while the work on the' side road was being done, and the league onoo more asked that the work be pushed on to Purekireki with all speed, it having been reported that the work was to cease two miles and a-half from Purekireki. The league would be glad to hear a denial of this report at an early date.— Referred to the engineer and member for the riding. BRIDGE OVER KOAU RIVER. In connection with the proposed erection of a bridge over the Koau at the lower end of Inchclutlia, the committee from the council, in accordance with the resolution passed at' the recent conference of South Otago local bodies, recommended that a bridge be erected.—Cr North moved that the report be confirmed, and that application be made to the Government for a grant to assist in the erection of the bridge.—Cr Begg seconded the motion pro forma, and asked what would be Clutha’s proportion of the expense.—The Clerk said that Clutha’s proportion was estimator at £1250, unless Kaitangata contributed some assistance. —Cr Bcgg said that this would mean from £lO9 to £l5O from each riding, which would be rather heavy, particularly on those ridings far removed from the bridge.—Cr Overton moved as an amendment that the Government be asked for a straightout grant for the erection of the bridge. He thought the expense of building this bridge would fall too heavily on riding’s some distance away. The Government should build all the bridges over the Molyneux. —It was pointed out by the chairman that interest on the cost of the bridge would not be as heavy as annual upkeep of the punt. There was no seconder to Cr Overton’s proposal, and the amendment was carried.