CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 18

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council was held at Ealclutha on Tuesday last, wS»en there were present: Cr* R. M‘lndoe (chairman), W. S. Thomilon. D. R. Jack, Wm. Lawson, Geo. Hay. W. J. M‘Kenzie, Thos. Maginness, Joseph Mosley, Jas. Cumming and A. T. Harms. The Engineer (Mr G. S. Gould) submitted a lengthy report, for the period end ing April 27. Cr Gumming moved that the engineer have the necessary work done to thei'Waif:ohi ford when the .slack time arrives.— Carried Cr Harris moved that the bridge oyer the Waipahi at Morris’s he rcdecked with New Zealand timber.—Seconded and carried. Cr Jack moved that the engineer carry out the work proposed on the Main Highway. also the VYaiwera-Clydevale road. —Seconded by the chairman and carried. The report was adopted. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. Receipts.—Rates, £1365 17s 9d; grants, £120; rent, £2 2s; doff registration, £57 17s 6d; donation, £ls; drivers’ licenses. £69; heavy traffic licenses, £44; contractors’ deposits £29 15s; Southland Power Board rate. £36 3s 3d; general receipts. 2s:— total, £1737 17s 6d. Expenditure.—Grants (Main Highways), £368 6s 3d; bridges and ferries. £295 19s 4d; grant (flood damage). £lO 10s; State forests fifths, £2B 15s Id; grants (roads). £276 13s 6d; loans, £22 9s; land fund, £lO 10s; general, £1532 14s Id;—total, £2545 19s 3d. The Finance Committee’s report was (adopted, and the paysheet passed for payment CORRESPONDENCE. John Kirk (Pukewhenua), forwarded a cheque for £IOO on behalf of Wm. Kirk and himself for Kelso-Maitland road s promised.—Received with thanks. James Cleghorn (Kelso) forwarded a cheque for £3O, being contribution towards road from his property. D. Finlayson (Lochindorb) forwarded a cheque for £IOO. being final contribution towards road metalling from his property. The Public Works Department forwarded authorities for the following works:—Koi to Maiiland, £46 15s (£ for £); Cannibal Bay road, £2OO (£2 for £1); Clydevale to Rongahere £56 (£ for £).—Received. Mr C. E. Bennett, assistant Undersecretary of the Public Works Department. forwarded a proclamation declaring land a 9 a road, and road closed in block X, Kuriwao Survey District.—Received. —J. R. Marks, district engineer, wrote that he had been advised by the Main Highways Board that the Audit Department was prepared to allow as a set-off for the year ended March 31, any amount of overdraft that was proved to have been incurred against moneys due and recoverable by subsidies from the Government at March 31 in connection with main highways expenditure.—Received. Mr B E. Basstinn, engineer Southland County Council, notified that it was his council’s intention to erect boundary signposts on M‘Nab-Ediovftl© Highway, and ■lso on Invercargill-Dunedin Highway, and asking if council would bear its share of the cost.—The Engineer said the cost would £6 10s.—Agreed to a6k the Southland

County Council to erect the posts, Clutha County to pay half cost. J. R. Marks, district engineer, forwarded drawings of proposed signposts for defining boundaries of counties on roads other than main highways, made from old plough coulters.—The Engineer said he did not agree with the use of old plough coulters. A post with an arm would be much better and less confusing.—Received, the engineer to submit a plan of his own. Wm. Roy, secretary South Otago Hospital Board, wrote stating that the levy on the council for 1926 would be practically the same as last year, although there was an increase of £ll9 15s 6d in the total of the proposed levy.—Received. W. A. M'Laren and Co. (Ltd.), Christchurch, forwarded details of “loadometer” used for weighing motor lorries.—Cr Maginness said it would be a good thing to prevent overloading. He moved that particulars and quotations be obtained.— Seconded by the Chairman, and carried John Wilkinson, solicitor, Dunedin, wrote drawing attention to the insanitary state of the drain in Saunders street, opposite the new rest-house at Owaka, and asked that the matter b e attended to.—Cr Maginness said there was no drainage in Owaka, and although there was a septic tank at the rest-teuse, something would have to be done.—Left to th e engineer to report. W. J. Harrington, Ratanui, vwale drawing attention to the bad state of the road leading to his property, and requesting that the matter receive immediate attention.— Agreed that the surfaceman attend to the water on the road R. Newman, mail contractor, Maitland, wrote drawing attention to the fact that his horse fell and was badly lamed through the • contractors on the road between M‘Noe’s and Brack’s ploughing up the road and leaving it in a bad state. He was holding the council responsible for any expense incurred as a result of the accident. —Received. T. W. Burgess. Tarara, wrote drawing attention to the bridge over the Purakauiti Stream. It was unfit for traffic and full of holes, and his horse fell as a result of the state of the structure. He asked that it be attended to.—Decided that the engineer attend to the matter as soon as possible. Moncur Bros, and Tobin, Caberfeidh, made application to lay a tramway across Burnt Flat road opposite their mill.—Decided that permission be granted. GENERAL BUSINESS. Aslin and Brown, solicitors, Dunedin, wrote applying for renewal of tramway rights on behalf of Russell and Williams.— Latta Bros, wrote objecting to a license being granted to Russell and Williams to erect a tramway over and along the road leading to Latta Bros.’ mill in section 16. block IV, Tautuku, across the Tahakopa River, and thence to Stuart’s Siding.—Latta Bros, applied for license to construct, use, and maintain a tramway over the same route. They had been the sole users of this route for the past six years, and were the only sawmiller? operating over it.—Cr Lawson said the position was somewhat complicated. The tramline had been laid down by Russell and Williams, and Latta Bros, had taken possession of it, and did not seem to be ante to come to an agreement with Russell anil Williams. The matter should be submitted to arbitration. However, Russell and Williams had not complied with the conditions regarding advertising. There had been only one insertion of the advertisement in the Free

Press, whereas it should have been advertised for three weeks. The council could not. do anything in the matter so far. It. was decided that both applicants should comply with the conditions in regard to advertising. Mr J. R. Marks, District Engineer, wrote in reference to the council’s request for a revaluation that the Valuation Department had decided that the movement in values in the county did not warrant a valuation in the meantime, but that the matter would be looked into in next year's programme of work.—Cr Maginness said the council should go further and approach the Minister. So far they were only being “fooled.” There must have been some difference in the actual values of land since they were last valued. The members of the Highways Board when in the district recognised that the county had i grievance. In his riding the values were, too high compared with others that had not been revalued for many years. He would move that the council approach the Minister in charge in Wellington during the Counties’ Conference in July.—Cr Hay seconded the motion, and said there were inequalities at present that should be righted.—Cr Camming referred, to the valuations in Conical Hill soldier settlement. where the Revaluation Board had reduced the capital values in some cases from £3 an acre to 30s but the rateable values remained the same, and the rates had to be paid on the original values, although the rents were reduced—Cr Maginness said that the present value should be considered, and he doubted it any farm in his district would bring within several pounds per acre of the Government values, which, had been made when prices were at the peak.—Cr Mosley doubted if the Government would agree to revaluations at present, in view of the revenue needed from land tax. It was x Dominion-wide question, and the Government could not afford to reduce values just now.—The motion was then put and carried. . Richard Campbell. Invertiel. wrote stating that in consideration of the council allowing him the piece of land under discussion, he would level the bank to the satisfaction of the engineer at his own expense.—The Chairman said a sub-com-mittee had inspected the land at last meet, ing, and they could not see any reason to alter the previous decision on the subject. It was not a .valid objection that the taking of the land would interfere with the ploughing.—Cr Jack these views, and said he was now offerintr to widen the road without interfering with his own land. —The engineer said Mr Campbell's proposal would cost £2OO. not £25 as stated by Mr Campbell Tt was not a practicable suggestion at nil.—Cr Thomson said that in view of whnt the engineer and the subcommittee had said he would move that Mr Campbell be thanked for his offer and informed that the council could rfiot depart from its original plan to take the land under the Public Works Act.. Thia matter had been hung up too long, and the engineer should hasten the proceedings as much as possible, and get on with the work.—Seconded by Cr Hay and carried." MAIN HIGHWAYS CLASSIFICATION. The Clerk reported that Leonard Bros, had written objecting to the classification of the main highways in the county as third-class, which only allowed for a maximum weight of six tons, including the

weight of the lorry.—J. I- Miller, of Clyde, vale, had also forwarded an objection.— The engineer said that under the Act the council could issue a special permit for existing lorries of greater weight, but that would not apply to the purchase of new lorries. The Act was not quite as rigid as these people seemed to think.—lt was decided that the recommendations in regard to classification be forwarded to the Main Highways Board, together with thq objections. The engineer reported in regard to the proposed Rosebank special rating area, to provide for the electric lighting of the streets, that he and Cr Jack had gone over the ground, and had decided upon the area. But cinere were no plans available to the boundaries owing to the oieTOiiS subdivisions that had place. He had written to lrt»TUl and Survey Department for plans, ana when these came to hand he could prepare the roll, and would have it for next meeting.—Held over till next meeting. < " The council proceeded to deal with remits for the counties’ conference, to be held in Wellington in July. Cr Maginness moved as a remit that 30c\vt be the minimum weight in place of two tons as at present. —Agreed to. Cr Lawson moved' that a petrol tax take the place of the present car tax. It was nonsence to say that such a tax would affect the dairy farmers, who could use kerosene iust as well* as petrol for their milking plants.—Carried. Cr Maginness said that the matter of pavment of county councillors would be inquired into with a view to amendment. The Act now allowed 8d per mile counted both ways. h cost of meals extra. Ap narently their services vere worth very little. Members of a Highways Board got five guineas a day when travelling through a county. He moved a 9 a remit to the conference that the matter be gone into with a view to getting the law altered to allow co"uri!lors a certain sum Dor day, with travelling allowance in addition.— Agreed to. N Cr Mosley moved that the Main Highwavs Board take over the upkeep of. the main roads. He stated that the business was beyond the local bodies. In Victoria the main roads were looked after by a bodv ar>art from the shire councils, and the State he noticed, last year had vote £s.o(X).ofio for the m.nin roads.— Seconded bv Cr Hav and carried. VALEDICTORY. Cr Lawson (the re; scntat.ive for Maclennan Riding, who had definitel- decided not to seek re-election, was presented with a pocket wallet from his fellow councillors as a token of apureciation and esteem The Chairman (Cr M‘lndoe) made the presentation in. a felicitous speech, and Crs Cumming and Maginness also paid high tribute to Cr Lawson’s worth and regretted that he was retiring.—Cr Lawson made suitable acknowledgment. The Chairman announced that this would be his last meeting as chairman, and stated that he had had a most pleasant time.— On the motion of Crs Cumming and Jack the retiring chairman wa9 voted an honorarium of £35. and the mover complimented him on the manner in which he h*d conducted the business of the council.