TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 7

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly nv>eting, held on Friday, was presided over by Or Walter Blackie (chairman). An apology for absence was received from Cr Christie. The Finance Committee reported the receipts for the month to have been £2035 9s 3d, and recommended for payment acI counts totalling £1431 14s. The bank book showed a debit balance of £5892 15s. The engineer’s recommendations: —(1) That the surface of the Old North Taieri road be raked and dusted with clay; (2) that attention be given the potholes developing on the Halfway Bush to Muir’s road, were adopted. It was resolved to consider the advisability of securing a gravel pit at North laieri. On Or Scott’s motion it was decided to send two trucks of metal to Kaikorai Valley road. The Sanitary Inspector reported having inspected the various slaughterhouses in the county, and found all in a.clean state. He had to make a similar report regarding the fuggeries at Green Island. —Received. The Ranger reported having visited the various ridings during the month. He had impounded 33 cattle and two horses.—Received. The Acting Controller of Savings Bank and Accounts forwarded statement of the revenue and expenditure at the Mowhiti telephone office. The statement showed a deficiency on the year’s working of £lO 6s lid. As this completed the fifth year’s working of the line, the account was now closed.—Noted. The Secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote in connection with the establishment of a cottage hospital at Middlemarch. _ The writer asked that a meeting of residents be called with a view to the appointment of a local committee to take charge and run the hospital as was done in such cases in other centres. He asked that arrangements be made for members of the board to proceed to Middlemarch to address the residents in connection with the proposal.—Mr A. F. Quelch (chairman of the Finance Committee of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) was present, and explained the details necessary.—lt was resolved to meet at Middlemarch at an early date as suggested. " illiam Brown, Henley, asked the council to consider putting in a culvert across the road at the Native Hall, Henley, to drain away surface water. —Held over till Cr Christie w-as present. Duncan M'lntosh advised that as soon as the Government grant of £IOO was available for the improving of the road through Mr Jones’s leading to the writer’s place, he would put up the settlers’ share (£SO). As he was finding the settlers’ total himself lie would ask the council to consider a request, that this sum paid a few years’ rates, in advance, otherwise ho would be paying for others who would reap an equal benefit.-—Held over till next meeting. Letters were placed before the council concerning an alteration in the route of road leading to run 596, Gladbrook Settlement. This matter had been before the council at previous meetings.—Received. J. S. Horn, Middlemarch. asked that the road from the suspension bridge at Sutton, through to the Mount Stoker road, be put in order. It was badly washed out in places.—Engineer and Cr Matheson to inspect. J. and R. Lockhart, Berwick, who had purchased the Berwick property of the late Mrs Heenan, . Maungatua, asked that the road be put in good order before winter set in.—Engineer to inspect before next meeting. It was resolved that the customary 10 per cent, penalty be added to all outstanding rates on and after March 18. Air Lyders appeared before the council concerning roading to his property at tSfc. Clair.—The council pointed out that Mr Lyders should approach the Dunedin City Corporation—the controlling authority in the matter. Cr .Matheson moved—“ That the council examine, or, sav, review, all items of the council’s expenditure with the object of reducing same for next year, such reduction takino- effect from March 31. next.” A fairlv lengthy discussion ensued, in which councillors pointed out that no expenditure had been sanctioned that could have been done without, and the finances of the council were in as healthy a state as this time last year.—lt was decided (o let the matter stand until the time for the next allocations.