WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 7

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held at Palmerston on Saturday, and was attended by Councillors T. M'Lay (chairman), T. H. Pilbrow, J. O'Connell,' Jas. Miller, F. M'Callum, R. Matheson, A. M'Lennan, G. Clark, and H. O'Neill. - ' Tho First Assistant Secretary • of the General Poist Office (Wellington) wrote replying to the council's request to have the re-opening of the Palmerston Post Office * from 7 to 8 p.m. restored, regretting that !._*. the department could not accede to it. He pointed out that tho opening of country offices in the evening necessitated the attendance of additional officers; that there was Uo staff to spare; and in the case 01 Palmerston tho business done in the evening did not warrant the attendance. —Received. Tho Local Deputy Public Trustee (Dnnedin) wrote objecting to the valuation of section 13, block I, Macraes (Powis Estate). Ho pointed out that the capital value was fixed at £l7O, whereas he was unable to find a purchaser at a price sufficient to oover the mortgage of £SO. He asked for a revaluation.—The County Clerk (Mr W. M'Gregor) stated that he had written to Mr Browne acquainting him of the position, and in a further communication Mr Browne stated that the estate was unable to pay the cost of a revaluation. Ho wished to know if there' was a possibility of his obtaining a rebate, on the rates, which amounted to 10s 8d. —Resolved that the action of the clerk be approved, and that a rebate of 50 per cent, bo allowed. Frank Campbell (Dunback) complained of the bad state of the road leading to his property at Cosy Dell. —Inspector instructed to report to next meeting. A. Maunder (Longbush, Southland) wrote objecting to pay six months' rates on property at Dunback, which he maintained was not now in his possession. There had evidently been some mistake in the adjustment. —Left- in hands of county clerk to attend to. The Receiver of Land Revenue (Dunback forwarded a statement showing "thirds" accrued from Crown lands to July 31 last, as follows: —Dunback riding, £9 16s; Waihemo, £1 8s Bd.—Received. The State Fire Insurance Department applied for the fire insurance of all property controlled by tho council. —Received. Tho Collector of Customs (Dunedin) forwarded a statement showing that 230 z of fold had been won in the Waihemo County uring July.—Received. In accordance with notice of motion Cr Pilbrow moved "that the goldficlds' revenue and publicans' licenses accrued for the past three years be allocated among the several ridings."—The mover said that according to the Auditor-general it was now laid down that goldfields' revenue must go into the general fund. He considered that any councillor who objected to the motion would be lacking in his duty to the ratepayers in his riding.—Cr Matheson, in seconding the motion, said the council were now coming round to his way of thinking. He had been ''battling" for this for 25 years. — Cr Clark objected to tho motion. He thought the council was putting a wrong construction on tho Auditor-general's letter. He (tho speaker) had written to tho Audi-tor-general, but had not yet received a reply. lie had also written to the Otago Witness on the subject, and the reply received did not coincide with what the council had decided on. —Cr Mathoscn said it was not fair to the council to have the reply from the editor of Notes and Queries read without having a copy of the question submitted to him.—Or Pilbrow suggested that the matter be held over until next meeting wdien a reply would probably be received from tho Auditor-general.—Cr M'Lennan said he questioned whether Cr Clark was in order in bringing forward his Objection at the present juncture. What was done at last meeting cotild only bo Undone by a notice to rescind, and this cad not been done. —Eventually it was de-

cided to hold tho question over until next meeting. , In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Clark moved:—"That the maintenance- of the following main roads and all bridges with a span exceeding 30ft bo charged to county fund account:—the Main road from tho Waikouaiti boundary at Flag Swamp, via Palmerston, to Waitaki County boundary at Shag Point; tho Mam road from Palmerston to the county boundary at Hyde and from Dunback to the county boundary at Pigroot."—Mr W. 0. Arkle (county solicitor), who was in attendance, advised that before Cr Clark oould bring forward his motion tho council would require, by special order, to declaro the roads specified to bo main roads, and this could only be done at a special meeting of the council Cr Pilbrow did not think any such procedure was necessary. If the council decided to spend monoy out of the gpneral fund on any particular road there was nothing in the Act to it.—Cr Clark agreed to withdraw his motion meantime, and was granted tho necessary leave. It was reported that no applications were received for the position of ranger.—Resolved that fresh applications be invited, the present ranger to bo asked to continue in the position for another month. . .Mr W. M'Gregor (county clerk) was appointed returning officer for the county. It was resolved that the county clerk consult with the audit inspector as to apj portioning the goldfields and publicans' licenses and revenue.

Tho Golden Point Gold Mining Company wrote repudiating the demand for rates amounting to £4 lis lOd, on the ground that they were not now the owners of the property. —Held over until next meeting. Tho Chairman moved that a light traffic bridge be constructed over the Shag River at Wilcocks's. He explained that the settlers in the district were prepared to give considerable financial support to the proposal and wanted the council to guarantee the remainder of the cost. _ The bridge would be sufficient for the district's requirements for a long time to come. As things wero at present the settlers in the vicinity were completely isolated when the stream was in flood. —Cr M'Lellan seconded the motion, which was carried. The county inspector's report on the different ridings was adopted. Accounts amounting to £167 Is 2d were passed for payment.