TUAPEKA COUNTRY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 16

TUAPEKA COUNTRY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was held on Friday; present—Crs Rodger (chairman), Brown, MacDonald, M’Lennan, Simpson, Cotton, Revie, Leary, and Bennetts. RANGER’S REPORT. The Ranger reported that during the month of June he visited Tapanui and Cooks ton Ridings, and found roads fairly clear of stock. Two horses were impounded at Tapanui, and three head of cattle and one horse were found straying at Kelso. The report was received, and several complaints as to the continuance of the straying cattle nuisance from various parte of the county were brought under the ranger’s notice. From the Prime Minister, acknowledging receipt of the council’s resolution in repeal of the legislation authorising the subdivision of the Otago Hospital District, and stating that he would give the matter careful consideration.—Received. Prom J. H. Haughton, Roxburgh, stating that it was his intention to erect a fence along the road from Gave CreeM to Long Valley, and asking to have the correct boundary line defined, as he oould not find all the pegs.—lt was pointed out that tbe council had no responsibility in this matter. From Clerk, Taieri County, forwarding resolution passed by that body relating to levies on contributory local bodies for hospital maintenance. This was in the direction of making hospital maintenance a charge on the Consolidated Fund. —Received. A petition was received from S. O. Kempthom and nine other ratepayers at Park Hill asking for a deviation at Dillon’s. —Cr Revie moved that authority be given for the deviation to be put in, and that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman, inspector, and himself.—The motion was seconded by Cr M'Lennan and carried. From the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) in reply to council’s letter re sum of £6OO, which is stated to be a grant allowed to the Teviot Riding on account of the Government taking over large rateable area within that riding for returned soldiers’ settlement purposes. He advised that he had no knowledge of such a grant having been authorised. An expenditure of the sum of £6OO out of the loading of the Teviot block was authorised to the Public Works Department for the improvement of the Bridge Hut road, which gives an outlet for the Teviot settlement to Roxburgh and Millers’ Flat. —Cr M'Lennan admitted that he had practically been responsible for the action the council had taken in regard to this supposed vote. He had had it from Mr J. Horn, M.P., that the amount had been duly authorised for Teviot Riding, and that there were no conditions attached to it, and he (Mr Horn) had repeated the assurance at Beaumont on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Public Works, though that gentleman had said he knew nothing of it.— Cr MacDonald said he had quite a sheaf of letters from the Minister of Lands indicating that the grant had been placed on the Estimates.—Cr Bennetts thought it was clear that the Minister had gone back on them.—The Chairman said he was going to Dunedin next week, and if Cr MacDonald would send to him the letters he had received he would go into the matter with the Public Works Engineer. GENERAL. Accounts for the month, amounting to £lOBl 18s Bd, were passed for payment. The Chairman reported on his interview with tile Public Works Engineer at Beaumont in regard to the rood up the east side of the Clutha River. The Public Works Department, he said, had practically taken control of that road, and he was assured by the engineer that they would keep it in passable condition. In regard to the road from Miller’s Flat to the railhead, he suggested certain lines on which an arrangement might be come to with the Public Works Department for the maintenance o i this road during the period of railway construction and for its reinstatement on completion of railway operations.—lt was agreed to leave the arrangement of this matter in the chairman’s hands. Cr Bennht.ts reported that he had interviewed the Minister of Public Works re th« transfer and expenditure of £IOO free vote from above Roxburgh to the Main road near Evan’s Pinch. That gentleman had neither assented nor dissented from the proposal, and he (Cr Bennetts) thought if the matter was followed up the transfer would be acceded to.—Cr M'Lennan said he felt sure Cr Bennett's interview had not been in vain, for he had had a communication from the department, which indicated that a report was being made on the matter. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to Cr Bennetts for the disinterested action lie had taken in the matter. This was seconded by Cr Simpson and carried unanimously, and Cr Bennetts suitably acknowledged the compliment. On the motion of Crs Leary and Simpson the council formally agreed to the deviation through Messrs Hunt, Brook, and S. Watson’s properties, Evans Flat, and the seal of the council was duly affixed to the plans. On the motion of Cr Rcvie, the inspector was authorised to expend £3O in repairing road to Cullen’s, and also to put out up to 100 yards of metal cm road from Dimrobin to Heriot. It was agreed, oil the motion of Cr Bennetts, to proceed with the erection of bridge on Block Jack's Creek, the riding (earns to be used for haulage of gravel, etc.