CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3581, 31 October 1922, Page 16

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting was held at Balclutha on Friday, when there were present: Crs D. It. Jack. W. MTndoe, W. S. Thomson, A. T. Harris, Alex. MTntyre, Hy. Morrison, Tlios. Maginness, Wm. Lawson, and Jas. Gumming. .In the unavoidable absence of the chairman (Mr A. North) Cr Jack was voted to the chair. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr J. H. Lewis) reported for the period ended October 27 as folllows: Bridges and Culverts.—Mitchell’s bridge at ’Koi has been redecked, and two now beams put in. Robertson’s bridge (Waitepeka) lias been renewed. The brige on Middle road at Kaihiku Church needs urgent repairs, involving two new beams and new decking. This bridge is of 25ft span, and with the repairs proposed would last a long time. Over the same creek on the Church road the bridge has been repaired to its limit. It is not yet unsafe for light loads, but must soon be renewed. A concrete bridge to cost £2BO is required. In Glenkenieh Riding grading has been done on Merino Downs School road, and a culvert replaced at Lindsay’s. General surfacing has been done in Waipahi Riding, particularly on Main road and Conical Hills road. Stone has been quarried in Webb's and Ladwig’s quarries. In Pomahaka Riding stone lias been quarried in Black's and Roberts’s quarries for maintenance purposes. A new four-inch pipe has been put in on the Pomahaka River road, and two culverts repaired On Quartermain’s and M'Neur's roads. In Clinton Riding the principal work has been grading on Clinton-Owaka road. 'Hie contract for metalling on this road was well started by the contractors, but unfortunately the quarry opened up afforded stone of too soft a quality. Work therefore is in abeyance in the meantime, but stone has been found in the neighbourhood, which it is hoped will be satisfactory. In Clydevale Riding some surfacing lias been done near Upper Bridge, Pomahaka. Damage done to the factory bridge on Clydcvale-Tuapeka Mouth road by a lorry has been repaired. On the Main road, Clutha Riding, metal has been raked in and blinded, a culvert put ill on Pannett's road, aud repairs done on Te Houka road. Metal has been laid on Wilson’s road. In Richardson Riding general surfacing has been done. Logan’s Point metal has been laid for maintenance on the roads near Glenomaru, stone raked in and broken on Gienomaru-Ahtiriri mad. and stone carted from Bratta quarry and laid on Port Molyneux road. The bad corner leading from Glenomaru to Spence's load has been filled in to improve the grade. In Catlins Riding surfacing has been done on Cannibal Bay road, main Waikavva road, and Hanning's road. Metal lias been laid on Lake road and Hunt's road, the latter with the assistance of the settlers and carters interested. Metalling has been done in the Tawanui and Ilouipapa districts. Cr Thomson moved that the repairs to the bridge over the Kaihiku at Middle road bo effected, but that the question of repairing the other bridge over the Kaihiku be left in abeyance.—Agreed to, and the report was then adopted, FINANCE. Boceipts for period ending October 24: Rates. £572 4s 6d ; motor receipts, £5 15s; traction licenses, £2; slaughtering license, 10s; refund roads and works, £2: refund bridges and ferries, £294 15s Id; —lofal, £877 4s 7d. Expenditure.—Bridges and ferries, £ll4 4s 3d; general, £957 5s 2d; —total, £lO7l 9s sd. Cr Cumming moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report with the addition that 500 he paid fo the South Otago Hospital Board. —Agreed to. MEETING DAY CHANGED. Cr Harris, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that the standing orders bo suspended in order to enable the meetings to be held on the last Thursday in the month on account of the present train arrangements.—Cr MTndoe seconded. —Cr Maginness moved an amendment that, the notico of motion be held over in the meantime. There was a movement to have the train service altered so that connection be made with the Dunedin express on the Tuesday instead of the Thursday, and that would mean that the members from the Catlins district would only have the Friday train. Also the question of travelling expenses would have to be revised if members were going to occupy two days in attending the meetings.—Or MTndoe said southern members were greatly inconvenienced by the present train arrangements.— Cr Maginness said he was quite prepared to withdraw if it were understood that the alteration in the day of meeting would only be during the present train service.—The motion was then carried, the hour of meeting to be 1 p.m. in future. TENDERS. Contract No. 763, about 40 chains gravel ling Mokore-ta road.—D. J. Murphy, 6s 2d per yard (accepted). CORRESPONDENT E. D. M. Calder, Chief Surveyor, Lands Department, forwarded plan of road deviation in section 14s, Wairuna Sell lenient, for approval by council.—Approved of.

A. S. Malcolm, M.P., wrote that he would press for a vote of £SOO for metalling' the road Waipahi to Pomahaka Downs, though he was afraid it was now too late to secure the vote this year.—Received. L. B. Campbell, District Engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded authority for £l5O (pound for pound) for work on Kaka Point, to Nuggets road. —Cr Maginness moved that the engineer call for tenders for the formation up to £l5O. —Agreed to. Chas. Campbell, secretary Southland Electric Power Board, forwarded copy of by-law passed governing matters in connection with the board. Writer also wrote drawing attention to the amended Electric. Power Boards’ Act, which provided for the election of members to an Electric Power Board being held on the same day as the county elections. —Received. J. J. Woods, clerk Tuapeka County Council, forwarded resolution approving of the Clutha Council's recommendation re crossing stock at Tuapeka Mouth punt, also that Anderson and Roughan’s offer to do the necessary work for £53 be accepted.— Received. J. J. Woods, clerk Tuapeka County Council, forwarded debit note for £36 14s as council’s share of expenditure on road from Kelso-Pomaliaka bridge to dairy factory corner. As the road wag badly cut up bv extra grain traffic from Glenkenieh his council considered the charge a fair one against Clutha.—Cr MTntyre said he objected, as it had been done without this council’s consent. ns would move that the amount be not paid.—Seconded by Cr Cummings and carrieo. Wm. xioy, secretary S.O. Hospital Board, made application to have portion of Reid street, Owaka, closed. As the road ran through the board’s property it was desirable that it be closed. —Request granted on the motion of Cr Cumming. D. Stewart and Son forwarded advice on matters in connection with the poll on proposed bridge loan. —Received. E. S. Wilson (Gore) wrote asking for particulars of council's requirements in the matter of taking over a new street where a subdivision was made.- Cr Maginness said the conditions were that the, roads should first, be formed and metalled to the satisfaction of the engineer before being taken over by the council. —Applicant to be informed accordingly. Eatta Bros. (Stuarts) made application to ' construct a tramway along road running to Papatowai from their mil!.- —Cr Lawson moved that the application be granted, subject to the usual conditions. —Agreed to. . A. Hunter (Ivahuika) wrote offering his services as ranger and dog tax collector for Maclennan Riding.—Cr Lawson moved that the applicant be appointed dog; tax collector, and that he be offered the position of ranger for Maclennan and Catlins Ridings at a foe of £1 per week and poundage fees. — Seconded by Cr Maginness and carried. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister Public Works, wrote acknowledging receipt of petition from Wairuna and Pomahaka Downs settlers asking for metalling on the Waipahi to Pomahaka Downs road, and stating that representations would receive consideration.—Mr Malcolm, M.P., also wrote promising every assistance in getting a grant of £SOO for this work, but stating that ho thought the representations too late this year.—Received. G. A. Hutton (Ratanui) wrote asking that the road leading to his property be attended to. He was willing to give a week’s time with horse and plough work if council would pay him surfaceman's rates. —Left to the engineer to attend to. Robert T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown f-ands, suggested that council earmark the sum of £2O 19s Bd, being part of ‘thirds’ and 'fourths’ for future expenditure on a road to section 7, block VII, Woodland.— Consideration deferred. T. Morris (Pukerau) wrote drawing attention to the state of road leading from the bridge over the Waipahi to his homestead, and offering to put on a team at his own expense if council would find another team and a. gang for the _ quarry.—Cr Harris moved that the letter be held over.—Agreed to. L. B. Campbell, District Engineer, wrote with regard to the complaints regarding expenditure on roads in Maclennan riding. He would take the earliest opportunity of visiting the locality with the member for the riding and county engineer. He would advise council later as to the date.—Receiv&l. D. S. Mackenzie (Roma.ha.pa) wrote protesting against the negligence shown in leaving a culvert on the road between Kakapuaka and Waitepeka half open and without lights or protection on Saturday night, 21st inst,. with the result that while motoring home lie had narrowly escaped going into the gap. —Tire Engineer said a traction engine had gone through the culvert, and a barricade had been made and a light was put, on for the Friday night, but not on the Saturday night.—Decided to express regret, at the negligence disclosed, and that the surfaceman in charge be written to on the subject,. Wm. J. M’Kenzie and three other ratepayers of Waikoikoi wrote with reference to the Government grant of £2lO for road ’Koi lo Maitland that they were prepared to find £IOO to help council to get the work under way as soon as possible.—Cr MTntyre said the matter could stand over till they got the authority.—Agreed to. BRIDGE LOAN. George G. Kerr (Waipahi) wrole that at a meeting held at Conical Hills it was resolved to strongly protest against the county’s bridge loan allocation, particularly the cutting out of Captain’s bridge, Pomahaka River, and the bridge at Tweodic's Ford, seeing that the Captain’s bridge had been condemned for heavy traffic for the last 20 years and limited to 50cwt. — Cr Cumming said the objection was that these people were being put into the rating area, and yet were getting nothing from the £9OOO loan. Further, there was a possibility of this part of the riding separating and joining with Tuapeka or Southland Counties within the next few years. lie sympathised with the protest, and thought these ratepayers should be cut out of (lie special rating area for the loan.—Cr Maginness said ho thought- the whole thing had been settled when the committee decided not, to include any boundary bridges. He considered Waipahi and Glenkenieh were taking a very narrow and selfish view. These bridges were a county matter, and should lie paid for by the county as a whole. Neither of these ridings had any special rates, whereas in his (Cr Maginness’s) riding there were four special rales, and one of them was for a bridge across a river. He could not admire ratepayers who looked at things in so selfish a manner, and considered the council should not discuss it.—Cr Harris thought, these ratepayers had a perfect right to object.— Cr Cumming said the ‘‘boot was on the other foot,” and it was the county which was selfish in this matter. If these ridings

were not to get any benefit they should have been exempted. The ratepayers considered they were entitled to a share of the £9COO loan. The Glenkenieh Riding comprised one-ninth of the Clutha County, and would be called on to pay back £ICOO of this £9OOO loan. If the council did not alter its attitude the Glenkenieh Riding would break away very soon from Clutha, and go where it could get justice.—The Chairman: What effect will Glenkenich’s opposition to the loan poll have? —Cr Maginness : This captain’s bridge could be built out of revenue. —Cr MTntyre said the bridge at T’vveedie’s, in Glenkenieh Riding, was also cut out of the loan proposal.— Cr Gumming closed the discussion by moving that the correspondence be received.— Agreed to. ABATTOIR CHARGES INCREASED. R. A. Brewer, secretary South Otago Freezing Company, wrote that the abattoir agreement between the council and the company expired on the 31st., and an extension of the agreement and alteration of the fees and charges in the third schedule were necessary. The fees they proposed were:— Slaughtering charges: Cattle 6s 6d per head, feed per head per day 9d ; sheep and lambs Is Id, feed 3d; calves 2s 6d, feed 6d; pigs 3s, feed 3d. These charges were the same as the Dunedin abattoir with the exception of cattle, their charge being 6s; ihe Mataura charge for cattle was 7s per head.— Mr Brewer waited on the council to supply any further information that might, te required, and stated that the abattoir business, on account of the comparatively small number of stock slaughtered, was not remunerative to his company, who would just as soon be without it. r i he old agreement was made five years ago, and the charges had never been altered and were far too low, the charge for sheep being 7£d a head only.—Cr Maginness: It means an increase for the butchers, and they will try and pass it on to the public.—Cr Cumming moved that, the charges be approved, and the agreement be renewed for another term of five years. —-Seconded by Or Lawson and carried. CLY DEV A LF. - W AIW ERA ROAD. At the previous meeting a deputation of up-river settlers had waited on the council to ask that the road from the Pomahaka Bridge (Clydevale) to Waiwera be put in a state to carry motor lorry and other heavy traffic in consequence of the breakdown of the river steamer service, and to enable the settlers to get their produce to the railway.—The engineer, now reported that the cost of widening, filling in holes, etc., would be £I2OO. —Cr MTndoe considered the Clydevale settlers should assist handsomely in view of the benefit they would receive.—lt was decided, on the motion of Cr Cumming. to wire the Minister of Public Works for a straig'ht-out grant of £I2OO for the road. GENERAL. Permission was granted to erect telegraph poles from Mr W. Hunt’s to Mr Alex. Minty-re’s. Cr Maginness moved that the plans for the renewal of Horan’s bridge be submitted to the district engineer.—Agreed to. Cr Thomson referred to the nuisance caused by the heaps of rubbish deposited on the side of the Finegand road outside the borough boundary, and moved that anyone found depositing rubb’sh or tin cans there be prosecuted.—Agreed to. Cr Maginnes moved that, (he district engineer (Mr Campbell) be asked to inspect the Lakeside road, Catlins, when he visits the district. —Agreed to. The offer of Ilislop aiul Gibson to take the council’s old car in part, payment for a new Chevrolet two-seater car was accepted.