TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 14

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taierl County Council, held on Friday, was prosided over by Cr W. H. L. Christie (chairman). The sanitary inspector reported that the slaughter houses in the county were in a clean order. During the holiday season he had inspected the township of . Seaview and Brighton twice, and found them in fair condition. When in Middlemarch this week he found that there had been a pretty big flood in the township last week, caused by a waterspout on tho Rock and Pillar, and in consequence all the hollows and lagoons were now full of water, which was becoming stagnant, and smelling badly, tho weather being dry and hot; The drain at the Railway Hotel was filled with gravel by the flood, and the drainage was not getting away.—A short discussion ensued regarding the Middlemarch drainage, and it was resolved that the encrineer confer with.the Railway Department as to a better culvert, tho gravel in the meantime, to be cleaned out of the drain. The ranger reported having impounded 13 horses and 25 cattle. One horse was impounded in the Outram pound, and the feea collected were 295. The Finance Committee reported the expenditure for the month of January as £1252 Is 6d. Tho accounts and vouchers for the month of December had been duly examined by the chairman and Cr Blackle and ordered to he paid. The total amount was £BB4 14s 4d. The receipts for the past eight weeks had amounted to £2465 7s 3d. The bank book showed a credit balance of £7O 7s Bd. In a report tho chairman and engineer recommended with regard! to Mrs Turnbull's application to drain, that this be granted for clean water only, provided the connections to the pipes were approved By the sanitary inspector and _on_ undertaking given to remove the pipe if it was found that the drain was used for any other \purpose.—lt was resolved that the owner of a property on tho Brighton-Green Island road be asked to give attention to hia drain, which was becoming a nuisance and injuring the roadside. The District Engineer of Railways, wrote regarding hedges adjoining Duke's road, Church road, and Gordon road obstructing' the view on tho Outram line. —It was resolved to notify the owners to lower the SamG - . , 1 ■ '.x 1.1. In connection with a complaint at the previous meeting from Thomas Henderson, Abbotsford, that alterations to the Mam road had caused water to flow on to his property, a letter was read from 'the town clerk, Green Island, embodying a copy of a letter from the borough engineer to the effect that tho alterations referred to had not altered the course of the water in any wa y.—The letter was received. A. Watson, Brighton, wrote concerning the formation of the parade at Brighton. The interested parties would defray the cost of grading, provided 'the council gravelled the road and took it over.—lt was resolved to take tho road over and to proceed with tho work, provided grading and half-cost of the gravel are met by the interested parties. '. .. ~. \, ~ T. T. Davie, on behalf of the Committee 'of Management of the Middlemarch Presbyterian Church, applied for repairs to the manse bridge.—Tho Engineer pointed out the difficulty of obtaining carpenters and labour for this work. There was another bridge in the same district that was in need of repair.—The matter was left with the engineer and the member for the riding to attend to. GENEHAL. As an outcome of opposition by A.Hamilton to W. Grant's application for lease of portion of a street in Berwick, the council decided to open the street. On Cr Blackie's motion it was resolved to spread two trucks of metal on Circular beyond Kirkland's bridge. Cr Scott brought up the question of gorse on back roads in his riding. Although there was a cry-out about scarcity of labour, eomo of tho roade would soon be blocked altogether.—lt was resolved to take steps to enforce the clearing of the g Cr Scott asked if something could be done to improve the state of the Kaikorai road from the tunnel bridge towards the mills. There was considerable heavy traffic on it bv the engines belonging to the mills.—lt was resolved that the engineer interview the users of the road, and, if satisfactory arrangements can be made, 'to spread about 200 yards of metal. _ _ At the instance of the clerk it was decided to take any steps possible for the erection of the proposed telephone at Ngapuna. , , The dog registration fee was fixed at the same rate as last year. Thursday Avas again settled on as the half-holidav for the ensuing period for shops within the meaning of the Shops and Offices Act in the county. It was resolved to continue 'the purchase of birds' heads and eg«s until further notice A discussion took placo on the odvisabilitv of continuing the present methods or bird destruction; the results not coming up to expectations. After hearing councillors a 3 to the effectiveness of bird traps, Cr Blackie A'olunteered to procure a trap and report results to "next meeting. It was decided to accept the terms granted by Mr Dowdall, Maungatua, for the use of his property as a road, pending repairs to tho bridge in the locality.