CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 18

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council was held in the Council Chambers on Friday afternoon, and was attended by Crs North (chairman), Begg, Christie, Edwards, Gumming, Maginness, Cooper, and Overton. A motion of sympathy with Cr Miller**in his illness was carried, and the hope expressed for his speedy recovery. The County Engineer (Mr J. Ramsay) reported on the various works in hand. Tho following -resolutions were carried: That tho engineer be authorised to purchase a team of horses and camp outfit for Richardson Riding; that the engineer arrange to have Dunvegan's road metalled, the cost to be paid out of loan money; that alternative tenders be called for metal and gravel for about 15 chains on Mosley'siximbourne road, Clydevale; that the engineer get tho road beween Catlins and Clinton Ridings from. Purekireki upwards ploughed and gravelled. Cr Christie moved: That the yearly license fee of £2O at present charged for traction engines engaged in heavy trafho or hauling (according to by-law No. 3 of section 2) be suspended during tho currency of the war and for a period of two years thereafter, and in lieu thereof yearly permits to traction owners for hauling be granted, subject to such conditions as the council deems necessary. —Cr Begg said he would support the motion if the mover altered -it so that monthly permits be granted instead of yearly.—Cr dimming moved as an amendment, "That the matter bo referred to the Finance and Works Committee to report to next meeting."— Seconded by Cr Maginnes3 and carried. —Cr Begg moved as a further amendment, "That monthly permits be granted instead of yearly. —This was seconded by Cr Edwards and carried. —This amendment then became „the motion, and was agreed to by the council.' . • No tenders were received for. the -gravelling of Riverside road (Finegand) up to £IOO or for the gravelling of 10 to 12 chains on the Clinton-Clydevale* road near Mr Hunt's.—The former matter was left in the hands of the chairman and engineer,- and the latter in the hands of the member of tho riding and-the engineer. ,' The receipts during the month totalled £5298 2s lid, /and the expenditure £l9Bl lis 7d:

Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., forwarded letter from the Minister of Public Works in regard to the proposed grants to roads about Ka'tea, stating that the county must first send to the district engineer a list of the roads it desires to metal, particularising the amount proposed to be expended on each road. The writer would then state the total amount for which he was prepared to guarantee a subsidy of pound for pound on the condition', that the subsidy should not exceed a certain amount,- that it should be payable only when money is available, and that plans and specifications of_ proposed works be approved by the district engineer.—Cx Maginness moved—" That the engineer have plans and specifications prepared in connection with the proposed work.".; —Agreed to. Mr Ct J. M'Kenzie (district engineer) wrote in regard to council's request for pound for pound subsidy and a loan of £2OOO which the settlers proposed to raise for 'metalling portion of Horan's and Catherwood's roads and Hunt's road. The writer asked to be supplied with a list of roads to be dealt with, also particulars of proposed work, etc. —Received. Mr C J. M'Kenzie (district engineer) wrote 'giving authority to metal by day labour 16 chains, Burke's Ford to Tuapeka Mouth. —Received. Mr C. J. M'Kenzie (district engineer) wrote pointing out that the balance of authority held by the council in regard to Waipahi to Pukerau road was'only £B9 16s sd. He took it that the 'Minister's telegram referred to a promise of a new grant to be spent in conjunction with the grant by the Automobile Association. —Received. The District Engineer notified that the following small balances of authorities were held by the council: —Middle road (pound for pound). £7 16s 3d; Pomahaka S.D., west side, sections 48 and 49 (pound for pound), £5 6s lOd. The writer- wished to know if ihey were requricd for any special purpose, as, if not, it was proposed ; 'to cancel them to avoid carrying them forward at the end of the financial year. — The Clerk said it had been decided to spend the latter amount on a contract, and it was agreed to spend the former amount also* on road work. Mr A. J. Service (clerk, iSouthland County Council) wrote in reference to the Clutha Council's request that his council bear the cost of gravelling about four chains of Sandy Knowes road. The writer stated that there were no funds available at present. —Received.. The Clerk, Manawatu County Council, asked the Clutha Council's co-operation in urging the Minister of Railways to have race trains reinstated on account of the heavy, damage done to the roads by the increased motor traffic.—Cr Begg moved—- " That the council support the Manawatu Council in its resolution." The mover said that the Government evidently approved of racing, and, therefore, it was illogical to try to prevent people getting to the races. —Seconded by Cr Christie, and carried. The Executive xof/'the Y.M.C.A., Dunedin, _ wrote soliciting the council's assistance in the present campaign to raise funds for the association's war work.—Cr Christie moved —'""That the matter be referred to the public for their favourable consideration." —Agreed to. The district health officer (Dunedin) wrote in regard to a nuisance at Ratanui, stating that a complaint had been received from the Clutha Presbytery. The writer wished to know what the council intended to do in the matter. If the work were not expedited the department would cany i.t on at the council's expense.—Rev. S. W. Currie

wrote stating that the work was absolutely necessary.—Cr Maginncss moved, " That the Health Department be informed that the council's portion of the work was being attended to, but that nothing had been done by the church committee to have tho portion cleared out for which it was responsible.—Agreed to.—Or Maginncss further moved : That the church committee bo notified that it must not drain into this ditch, as it is not a ptfblic drain. —Agreed to. Wm. M'Pheo (Katca) wrote in regard to the proposed Katea district road loan, stating that when tho petition was taken round it was understood that tho loan would be subject to a pound for pound grant from I the Government, but up to tho present there appeared to be no prospect of tho subsidy being granted, and as tho settlers did not appear to favour a straightout grant it seemed a pity to go to any further expenso at present.—Cr Maginness said the matter was being attended to. —Received. Mr G. 'A. Wilson and four other ratepayers, Puerua, wrote asking that the rrad on .Wilson's Hill, also main Puerua V;«Jley road opposite, Brown's and Dent's b; attended to. Mr Wilson offered the use of his horses for the grader for one day.—Cr ! North moved, " That the engineer h«.ve the metal quarried provided the settlers do tho ■ carting."—Agreed to. I J. Junge (Houipapa) asked that die speed ■ of motor traffic be reduced on Tory Point I road to five or six v miles an hour, as tho road being so narrow was unsafe for motor traffic.—Referred to the engineer to attend to. Mr C. G. Martin (Tah'akopa) wrote asking the council to form a track on tho unformed road running through section io\ block XIII, Rimu survey district, from Tahakopa School to the ,riverbank, a distance ot 40 chains, the track to be made fit for t':e use of school children. As the settlers were anxious to have the work done quickly ihey were willing to donate £l6 and labour towards having it carried out. —Cr Cooper moved, that seeing that the settlers were willing to donate a substantial amount towards the "cost of the work the co' Ticil expend up to £3O ontlfe track.—Agreed to Mr William Leslie (Tawanui) wrote asking the council to support him in a request he %vas making to the Government for funds to enable him to make a road into his "sections, 5 and '6, block VII, Catlins survey district. — moved that the matter , be referred to the Land Board! and Publio Works Department for favourable consideration.—Seconded by Cr Maginness andf carried. —.- Mr Arthur Ombler (Puketiro) wrote asking the council to include the Catlins ValleyPuketiro road when making recommendations to the Minister of Public Works for a grant for Catlins Valley-Table Hill road.— Moved by Cr Cooper, that the request be granted if the council apply to have another £l5O placed on tho Estimates this year. —Seconded by Cr Maginness and carried. Messrs Cockburn Bros. (Te Houka) asked the council if it could not erect a traffic bridge over the Kaihiku, as the writers required some way of getting their stock arid mail away.—Cr Maginness said he thought it would be a mistake' to spend £9O on a footbridge. Messrs Cockburn had' a griev--and it was time something definite was done. He moved that the matter be referred to the Works and Finance Committees. —Agreed to. Mr W. Prentice (Paretai) wrote on behalf of the settlers interested in the road known as Prentice's road. Tho settlers were willing to_ cart the gravel at 17s 6d per day, the council to supply men to spread! the gravel. —The chairman moved that Mr Prentice be offered 15s perteam par day for carting tho gravel.—Agreed to. The Chairman moved that a penalty of 10 per cent, be levied on all rates outstanding on March 31 Agreed to. In connection with the registration of motor Cr Maginness stated that _he thought that the - member for each riding should be supplied with a list of those who have in order to prevent owners of oars driving without a license. —It was , decided that all those not registered will be prosecuted. : '