MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 76

MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Maniototo County Council was held on Wednesday last, a full council being present. The chairman (Mr T. Ramsay) presided. Prior to the business of the meeting the chairman referred to the Nation’s and Empire’s loss in the recent death of the Queen Mother, and moved a motion of sympathy, which was carried in silence. The chairman also referred to the loss sustained by the death of their late clerk, and moved that this council place on record its appreciation of the long and valuable service of the late Mr Hugh Wilson as clerk of the County Council since its first constitution, and also its deep sympathy with his widow and family in their loss. Mr Ramsay said that Mr Wilson had held the position of county clerk since 1676, and he believed it was a record of service. He spoke in glowing terms of Mr Wilson’s character, his courtesy, and generous disposition. Each councillor paid a tribute to the memory of the late clerk. The motion was carried in silence, and it was agreed that a copy should be forwarded to Mrs Wilson. A quantity of routine business was transacted. The engineer’s report was read and discussed. The ranger’s report showed that 81 head of cattle were impounded and 26 released before impounding during the month, the fees amounting to £lO 4s Bd. Both reports were received. Cr Morgan reported that he had brought the matter of St. Bathans road before the District Highways Council, again urging this to be declared a main highway. The council, however, was not in favour of considering the proposal unless the present portion was eliminated. In view of the amount of traffic now using the road he thought they would consider the matter of declaring it a main road as far as St. Bathans only.—Cr Nicolson moved that as the Distric Highways Council has refused to request the Main Highways Board to make the road from Blackstone Hill fingerpost to the junction of the Becks and Blackstone Hill roads a main highway. it should be asked to declare that portion of the road from Blackstone Hill fingerpost to St. Bathans a main highway.— Cr Bleach seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Morgan also reported that the District Highways Council was again asking the Main Highways Board to have a portion of the main highway through Kyeburn, between .Shag River and Shingly Creek declared a Government road. The district engineer wrote forwarding schedule of votes for this county for current year. A copy of the Main Highways annual report was received from the chairman of the District Highways Council, who also .wrote relative to plant purohases for highways work, that in future the board would not acknowledge any responsibility for orders for plant placed by local bodies, such plant must be purchased by and through the Highways Board. Tlie Department of Agriculture wrote informing the council that broom had not been declared a noxious weed in the county. In 1910 the council had declared gorse a noxious weed, and this had been gazetted. —lt was move by Cr Bleach and seconded by Cr Nicolson —“That this council hereby resolves by way of special order that the resolution of March, 1910, declaring gorse to be a noxious week within the county be rescinded, and that gorse be now declared not to be a noxious weed.”—Agreed to. Mr J. W. Reed, local agent for the South British Insurance Co., applied for the council’s business. Mr M. Hanrahan, agent for the Standard Insurance Co., also made a similar application.—The business was given to Mr Reed’s company, which had previously held the insurances. Complaints were received in regard to stock wandering on the roads.-O Davis also reported that he had received complaints from Gimmerbum that a mob of oattle was doing considerable damage, breaking fences and getting into crops.— Cr Bleach moved “That notice bo advertised that in future owners of stock wandering on the roads would be prosecuted under the Impounding Act.”—Cr Scott, in seconding, said that first offenders should not be prosecuted f and it was agreed that cases for prosecution should be laid before the council before proceedings were taken.— Councillors mentioned that they were aware of people who put stock on the roads every night and took them away in the morning or when the ranger was known to be about. Other councils were prosecuting, and this council would have to 'be more severe. The Naseby Welfare League asked permission to erect signposts at Weddarburn and Kyeburn, indicating distance to Naseby and that accommodation could be obtained. —The request was granted subject to the work being done to the approval of the engineer. Complaint was also made of landowners f lacing rubbish, tins, etc., upon the roads.— t was agreed by motion that warnings be advertised that offenders would be pro6eouted. Various works were authorised to be carried out by the engineer. Tenders for 1500 yards gravelling of Wilson’s road were considered, and that of Mr E. Dow for £225 was accepted. Four applications were received for position of ranger and pound-keeper, including the present holder of the position.—The matter was deferred, the present ranger to continue to act. Cr Scott moved, in accordance with previous notice, that the resolution that the driving fees for cattle be Is per mile per mob, be rescinded, and in support stated that the decisions of the meeting just previously passed showed the necessity of keeping the roads clear. Every county was finding it necessary to take strong action on account of increasing motor traffic. If the proper fees were charged it would make owners keep stock off the road and avoid tho necessity of prosecutions.—Cr Bleach and Cr Nicolson spoke against the motion, Crs Aitken and Lewis in favour.— Cr Nicolson pointed out the hardship on owners ft long way from a pound, but Cr Aitken stated that this could be overcome by making a radius for a maximum driving fee.—"On being put the motion was lost by five vote* to three, tho chairman not recording hig vote. Accounts totalling £690 3« 4d were passed for payment.