CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3455, 1 June 1920, Page 17

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Clucha County Council was held on Friday, when there were present—Crs A. MTntyre (chairman), H. E. Steel, J. Edward?, J. Gumming, H. Morrison, T. Maginnesr,, A. North, and A. Cooper.

engineer's report. The County Engineer (Mr J. Ramsay) reported as follows: Bridge Repairs.—The Purakauiti Sir-earn bridge is being replaced, and will probably be completed next month. Material hew basn forwarded and is now on the ground, for Capamagian's and M'Kinnon's Crojk bridges. Owing to the shortage of cement the Waipahi bridge will not be open for -trajffio for at least a fortnight. The timber for Abcrnethy's bridge is now on the ground, and the bridge men will commence work as soon as the weather takes up. The gravel for concrete bridge near I. Smith's, Port Romahapa road, is on the site, and the work will bo put in hand as soon as possible. The bridge over the Puerua at the Mound i-? now beyond repairing, and will require to be renewed. The bridge is 40ft span. Metalling.—The metalling on the Main South road between Te Houka road and Balclutha is nearly completed, and the metalling on Jack's and Pannett s road had to be stopped on account of wet weather. Purokirski-Owaka road is now completed, but the work has not bean passed; the total distance is 94£ chains. The metalling at Willowbum, Main South road, has been completed, and the work has been passed. The total distance is 36 chains. I have received word from the conti actor that he has finished his gravelling contract on the Gore'Koi road.

The back ropo on the Port Molyneux punt broke on- Saturday afternoon whilst the punt was crossing from Inchclutha side of tho river. The strong gale blowing caused the rope to break near the end next Paretai factory. Tho punt was driven above the landing stage, but no damage wa» done to it. A new wire rope will be required, as the old one is now unsafe. The report, was adopted. On tho motion of Cr North, it was agreed that the recommendations of the engineer be adopted, and that the bridge l over the Puerua near the Mound bo gone on with and a- new wire purchased. FINANCE. Tho Finance Committee reported as follows : Receipts for the period amounted to £lO5 193 Id, as follows: —Rates, £4l 6s 7d; dog registration,- £1 17s 6d; motor registration, £7 ss; drivers' licenses, £2 10s; annual licenses, £1; slaughtering and traction, £2; grant Walpahi Station road, £SO. The expenditure was ±'2890 23 3d, madia Tap as follows: —Bridges and ferries, £291 63 lid; Government grants, £330 3s lid; loan, £SO Is 3d; land fund, £42 18s sd; general, £2175 lis 9d. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr, A. S. Malcolm, M.P., wrote forwarding particulars of assisted passages to immigrants regulations.—Received. The Valuer-general, Dunedin, wrote asking the council to appoint a member to the Assessment Court to act on behalf of the council. was agreed that Mr E. J: Boyd be asked to aot as member for the Maclennan and Cc",t]iris Ridings on the Assessment Court. The Secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote notifying that the levy for tho year was £5233 3s 3d, and asked for payment.-—Received. The Town Clerk, Balclutha, forwarded resolutions passed at a meeting of delegates from looal bodies regarding hospital and charitable aid levy. —Cr North reported that he bad attended the conference as representing the council. If the council approved it was asked to appoint a delegate to -- to Wellington.—lt was previously agreed fnat if other bodies sent a delegate the county council should send one. —Cr Cirmraing said his district didl not wish to join in with Balclutha in the matter of separation.—The Chairman said his riding was in the same position. They wanted to have the Tapanui Hospital.— Cr Maginness said the rest of the ridings were in favour of separation.—Cr North said he understood the Cluiha Council as a body was in favour of separation, but was willing that the southern end members should be in favour of joining Southland.—Cr Cumming said he did not wish to raise any objection, but the southern end did not want to be represented and join in the separation movement nor incur any expense.—Cr Maginness pointed out that the southern ridings did not make any objection to pay the expense of the Otago Hospial Board in ©ending a delegate to Wellington to oppose the separation.—The Chairman moved that Cr North be appointed.—Cr North said if Cr Begg or any other councillor was in Wellington at the time he would prefer to stand down and allow him to act. He did not wish the council to be put to an,j- expense in the matter if it could be- avoided.—lt was decided that Cr North be appointed,- and that he be given power to relegate his power to any other councillor.

Aslin, Dawson, and Brown, solicitors, Dunedm, wrote, on behalf of W. Gwyn, asking- for a renewal of the agreement with the council for the construction of a tramway from his properly at Tautuku to Stuart's railway siding.—Cr Cooper moved that the opinion of the county solicitor bo obtained on the matter.—Seconded by Cr North and carried.

The _ Town Clerk, Balclutha Borough Council, wrote that the work of removing the earth on the left bank of the river above the bridge was being dome by direction _of the Publio Works Department.— Received.

Replies were received endorsing the council's protest against the proposed harbour rating area from Balclutha Borough Counpil, Xjawrence Borough Council, Maniototo County Council, and Clutha branch of the Farmers,' Union.—Received.

The Acting Manager of the South British Insurance Company wrote forwarding particulars of sickness and accident policies.— Referred to Finance Committee. The South Otago Freezing Company applied for the renewal of their slaughterhouse license.—To be recommended for granting by the Agricultural Department. W: Kirkland (Cbasland-?) forwarded copy of a letter sent to Mr Malcolm, M.P., asking for the return of the goods shed at Taut.uku bridge.—Received. William and M. Robertson (Puerua) wrote asking for a road to their property.—Left to the engineer and the member for the riding. John Ford (Owaka) wrote applying to have three culverts lowered about 18 inches so that he oould get the necessary fall for drainage. If the council supplied the pipes ho would put them in position.—On the motion of Cr Maginnes-3, the request was referred to the engineer to attend to. A. Anderson (Pounawea) wrote asking the council to have removed all fences and gates across road at each end of the Pounawea Domain. If the request was granted the ratepayers and others interested intended opening up the road to motor and other traffic before next summer, free of expense to the council.—Cr Maginness said he had been looking up the" records regarding these* gates and fences. The Domain Board had been granted permission to erect gates 11 years ago on condition that the place was properly improved. He did not think the board had spent anything on the place. Some of the inhabitants wished to improve the locality and have these slip-panel fence? and gates on the roadline removed. He would move that six months' notice be given to have them removed from the roadline. —Cr North seconded the motion. He thought the board deserved sympathy, as they had not been able to do anything for about 12 years.—Cr Edwards said when he had been chairman a visit of inspection had been paid to the place, and the gates ; wore allowed to be put up to keep out !• cattle.—Cr Miaginnes?: The domain is let ; for grazing l to a member of the board.—Cr Edwards said under those circumstances he would support the motion, which was oai> ried. John Ramsay, engineer, wrote tendering" his resignation, and asking to be relieved of his duties at the end of May.—Cr Gumming moved that consideration of the resignation be held over for a month. —Thi-3 was carried. —Mr Ramsay agreed to stay en provided the motor car was repaired.—Cr North moved that repairs be effected to the motor car.—Seconded by Cr Cooper and carried. GBNEBAX. Cr Morrison moved, and Cr Maginness seconded, that the engineer have repairs up to £3O carried out to ihe surfaceman's house at Clydevale.—Carried. On the motion of Cr Morrison, , it was decided that on receipt of a favourable reply from the Bruoe County Council regarding an engine for the Clydevale punt the engineer treat the matter as urgent and have if put in hand with the least possible delay.