CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 13

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of the Clutlia County Council was held on Friday. Present—Crs. Cumming (chairman), Jack, M’lndoe, Thomson, Harris, M'lntyre, Morrison, Maginness, Lawson, and North. The tender of John Lay of 10s per yard for gravelling about 30 chains of tlie Wai-koikoi-Kelso road near Robertson’6 corner was accepted. The receipts for the period ended on January 24 totalled £2953 19s 7d, and the expenditure amounted to £1738 3s lid. —In moving that the accounts be passed for payment, Councillor Lawson said there would be an addition of £SOO to pay over to the S.O. Hospital Board.—With this addition, the motion was carried. The engineer’s report on work in progress and completed was adopted. Or North referred to the road from Lauder’s corner to Paretai, and moved that the engineer get the work done. —Carried. Cr Morrison moved that the bridge on Barr’s road lie repaired as soon as possible. —Agreed to. C( )RRESPONDENCE. The Public Works Department forwarded a proclamation taking land for a road and closing a road through blocks IV and VI, Clutlia, and I and 111, South Molyneux survey districts. —Received. The Hon. J. (I. Coates (Postmastergeneral), through Mr A. S. Malcolm, wrote with reference to representations made by the oouticil regarding rural mail delivery

fees proposed fo be elu rged from January 1, and stating that it bad been decided to reduce the fees by 50 per cent. —i.e., to 10s per annum for serving a box on the route of a delivery of a frequency not greater than thrice weekly, and '£l per annum for more than thrice weekly.—Cr M’lntyre moved that Air Malcolm be informed of the council’s appreciation of the Minister’s action.—Agreed to. Tlie secretary, South Island Motor Union, appealed in the interests of public safety to hav e all “grass islands” at the junction and intersection of roads removed. —Cr North said the majority of the roads in this county were too narrow to permit of “islands.” but lie would move that the letter be handed to the engineer, with instructions to make inquiries.—Carried. The Receiver of Gold Revenue notified that Walter Francis Knowles. Pomahaka, had been granted a miner’s right. John M’Lean, Owaka, applied for a billiard room license. —Granted. George Reid, secretary Waikoikoi-Merino Downs telephone party line, asked permission to carry the wire across the road at Spittle’s bridge and again at a point of road between M'Pherson’s and Spittle’s.— Received. Arthur Ombler, Puketiro, with reference to Carlins Valley to Table Hill, road, stated that, despite the Minister’s statement that a connecting road was not necessary, he considered the work should be done, and asked the council fo make further representations to this end. —Cr Lawsor. moved that the request be referred back to the Minister for favourable consideration.— Carried. Arthur S. Parks, enclosing rates, said it was a scandalous shame to have rates increased in these hard times.—Received. John Dnley, Owaka Valley, asked that fuchsia and scrub be cut on eight or nine chains of roadline at the back portion of section 52, block I, Catlins, and offering to do the work for £2. —It was decided to pay for the work done. Wm. Conn, secretary Waipahi Saleyards Company, asked permission to erect yards on sections 16 and 22, block IV, Waipahi township.—Referred to public health officer for a report. IX A. Falconer, Kelso, asked that the Telegraph road leading through his property to the river be attended to.—Received, Cr M’lntyre remarking that he had arranged with the engineer to inspect all roads. D. A. M’Lachlan, Clinton, called attention to the dangerous state of the culvert on block road leading from Tapanni road to Popotunoa bush.—Surfaceman to attend to the culvert. John Ross, Purakauiti, asked that the roads and water-tables in his district be attended to, as they were in a bad state of repair.—Left to the engineer and Cr Lawson to attend to. Alexander Tapp, Owaka, reminded the council that about 18 months ago it had decided to metal that portion of road known as Tuck’s Hill, in front of Mr A. Hime’s property.—Cr Maginness moved that applicant be notified that the work would be done before winter. —Agreed to. E. Clement and Son, Popotunoa, drew attention to the bad state of the roads between Rodger’s Ford and J. J. Milton’s.— Received. A. E. Russell, secretary Kaka Point Welfare Society, made the following requests to council:—(l) That the street from the Point to M’Kechnie’s store be widened to a chain width and a footpath formed for pedestrians; (2) that the main road to the Point at the corners of Messrs Anderson and Ilislop be widened ; (3) that the road in front, of Bates’s property be metalled; (4) that immediate steps be taken to compel owners of buildings and fences which encroach on public roadlines and streets to have the same removed forthwith.—Referred to the engineer for a report. ACCESS ROAD TO TAUMATA. The Engineer furnished a report detailing a conference held on the ground at Taumata re road to give access to Mr Houliston’s property. Those present were the member for the riding (Cr M'lndoe), the engineer, and Mr Houliston. Two routes were suggested, and the one recommended would run for 33 chains through Lot 2a (M’Donall) and the same distance through Lot 27 (Houliston). The formation

would be over dry spurs, and could be done fairly cheaply, and would not require metalling. The land actually required for the road through Mr M’Donall’s would be 3a acres, and about 25 acres of his section would be cut off. This road would largely take the place of the roads A and B, relieving the county of expenditure on those to that extent. The cost of formation in the first place would be £3OO. If the settlers concerned could make satisfactory arrangements with Mr M’Donall and Mr Houliston to obtain the necessary land the conference had no hesitation in recommending this v proposal. The portion of road running through Mr M’Donall’s section might be used for exchange purposes, and the fencing should be provided by the three settlers who are seeking to benefit by the new road.—Adopted. ROAD AT RATANUI. The committee appointed to meet Mr Goss at Ratanui in connection with damage done to road reported that, after discussion, it was agreed that the whole matter be deferred for a month; in the meantime Mr Goss to proceed to effect repairs to the portion of the road used by him in transporting timber to Catlins River railway siding; the metal for same to be taken from Jenk’s quarry; all metal to be broken to 21,-in gauge; the repairs to be carried out to the satisfaction of the engineer. —Report adopted. WANDERING CATTLE. A. C. Farquhar, Owaka, wrote drawing attention to the nuisance of cattle and horses wandering on the Owaka to Pounawea road. Stock were continually allowed to wander at large on this road to the detriment of fences ancl the danger to traffic generally, and 'writer asked council to take immediate steps to have the nuisance remedied.—Cr Maginness moved that the engineer attend to the matter. —Seconded by Or Lawson and carried. Cr North said it was a crying need all over the county to have a ranger. A number of people made a practice of grazing their stock cn the county roads. He would move that the services of a ranger for the whole county be procured.—Cr Maginness said this question should be a county matter, and not a riding matter. If one man were appointed to do the whole of the ranging and dog tax collecting it would be far more effective than having rangers in each riding.—Cr Harris said it was quite impossible for one man to do the lot, and with this view Cr M'lntyre agreed.—Cr Lawson supported the motion. —Cr Maginness: One man does it in Bruce, and it is very satisfactory, also in Tuapeka.—Cr M'lntyre moved as an amendment that Glenke nich and Waipahi Ridings be excluded.—Or Maginness said the council should go back to the road board system, as at present each member looked after his own riding, and did not look at matters from a county point of view.—The motion was lost, only three voting for it. GENERAL. Air Thos. Guyatt was appointed dog tax collector for Richardson and Clutha Ridings. Cr Maginness moved that notice boards requesting motorists to reduce speed to 15 miles an hour be placed at the throe roads leading into Owaka township.— Agreed to. In special meeting the council decided unanimously to adhere to Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday in the county.