MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8131, 15 January 1895, Page 1

MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly hieeting of the Mackenzie County Council was held at Fairlie yesterday. Present—Messrs E. Richardson (chairman), J. S. Rutherford, J. McGregor, M. McLeod, and J, Ross. Mr Hope sent an apology for absence.

On the minutes coming up for confirmation, Mr Rutherford protested against the passing of a .bonus to the late chairman, forming a bad precedent. It was .pointed out that this question could not arise on the question of confirming the minutes, and the matter dropped. Mr McLeod objected to a record that he had dissented from a resolution respecting the acquisition of a road. He did not think it right that a member should be singled outfor; special mention in that, manner. The chairman himself ought rather to have had a note made of his inconsistency on that matter. —The chairman said that the record was made, he thought, to; comply with Mr McLCod’s own wishes, as he said he dissented from the resolution.— Mr McLeod said it was on another question that he wished to have his dissent recorded. He wished the record be referred to to be; deleted.—Other members said that it had been usual to record dissent expressed.—No action was taken. The chairman drew attention to two or three;matters.Of interest to the Council. A letter had been published—without signature and therefore he did not answer it —referring to a remark he made concerning .Mr McLeod’s nomination of Mr Ross for the chairmanship. He wished it understood that while chairman he would take no notice of newspaper correspondence. If any ratepayer wished for , any information he could.always obtain it from the .proper quarter,, and thenatepayers have a right to be present atthe Council’s meetings and hear.allthat was done. .As-to-the remark that Mr McLeod’s nomination of Mr Ross was a farce, die did not say that with.any sort of feeling, but because Mr Ross had promised to support him (the speaker). The Council’s business had grown so much that they must conduct the meetings more methodically, and he would ask lor permission to get forms printed for resolutions, and then let members write out their motions and amendments themselves, and so avoid disputes as to whether the clerk had taken down their motions correctly. Another point was that the rule-should be observed, that no important business should be brought 'forward without notice of motion, or at least mention of it to members at a previous meeting, so that the councillors and .ratepayers concerned could consider the matter. The rules also provided that petitions should be presented by a member of the riding whence the petition came. If this were done time would be saved;—lt was agreed that the motion slips should be printed. : Mr McLeodrepliedjustifyinghisnomination of Mr Ross, on the one ground he mentioned, a ground made- much of by the proposer of Mr Richardson, viz., proximity to. the office. Mr-Ross said lie thought nothing of the expression which someone had taken the trouble to write about. He had no ambition to be chairman.

The clerk and engineer’s report was read. ' The surfacemen had been . engaged separately in the three ridings. In Tekapo, on the main road Tekapo to Pukaki, and Mistake, road; they were now on the Lilybank road. The roads in this riding were generally in good' order, except between Burke’s Pass and the dog kennels, which was badly cut up by traction engines.travelling in wet weather. In Fairlie a number of small promised works had been carried out, and the Silverstream side track put in good repair. In Albury general surfacing had been done; a number of roads still need overhaul. The works at Burke’s Pass were .completed, a good service Available, and the agreements had'been signed by householders using the water. The Ashwick Flat races had been overhauled and were in satisfactory order. The Opihi diversion at McMillan’s was completed, and would be safe, unless a fresh comes before -the willows are rooted. Other small works attended to were mentioned. Ribbon netting was jnow being fixed on the Tekapo plantation fence, and 1 arrangements had been made for clearing the. plantation of rabbits once a month. It was npt advisable to accept the offer of J. . Keefe, surfaceman, to provide a horse for road work for an additional 2s a day, Two-thir ;of the . piles for the Pukaki bridge h mow been driven. The driving is hahut the bottom is suitable for bridge piles. With regard to the application by Mr 0. Boutcher, for a stock bridge over the Opihi, an examination of the site showed; that it would be impossible to erect a bridge at a small cost. The river could be confined to, say, four chains, by an embankment, but this, to he made secure, would he an expensive work, and the bridge itself would need to be of heavier type. The cost he esti- . mated roughly at £740. All outstanding rates for the past year exceeding ss, had - been collected, £728 Qs 5d had been collected since last meetingfor the current year. Cheques had been signed as arranged for December wages, £Bl7s 3d for Ashwick Flat face, £9 12s. Mr Rutherford complained that the Tekapo gang had not done the work they should have done on the , Mistake road, and said this, road had never had justice done to it. In the time of the late chairman the surfacemen did not go beyond his door.—The; chairman’ demanded that this remark be withdrawn as a grave eharge of self-seeking that should not he made hy one member against another. Mr McGregor said the .road beyond his place was better than on this 5 side of it. Mr McLeod urged, that the Council should do' something with the sand on the road at Tekapo, the state of the road was a disgrace to the Council. They sent up a scoop, and expected teamsters to clear the road themselves, without even having an example set them, or being shown how it could be done.—Mr Rutherford suggested that one deep dip which fills with sand can be advantageously filled up with shingle.—After a discussion it was resolved on the motion of Messrs McLeod and Rutherford that the road gang clear out the sand on

their return from the Lilybank road and again whenever they are passing the place,—The engineer stated that there was reason to expect that the heavy sand drift would presently be clear of the road. There had been some talk of planting sand-binding plants, but the sheep would prevent them from getting a footing. The clerk stated that the piles at the Pukald went down very well, with hard driving, till near the bottom, when rocks or big boulders appeared to be met with, which threw some ol the piles out of plumb, but they were very firm. On the question of the Opihi stock bridge it was agreed that the cost puts the work out of the Council’s reach. Tenders were dealt with as follows; — For supply of dog collars, in three sizes:—o. Dash, Waimate, sd, 4id, and' 4d (accepted); T. Caskey, 6d, sd, 4d; W. McKeown, also W. J, Hughes, 6d, sd, 4id; G. H. Brewer, 6id, 6d, sid; J. H. Price, 7d, 6d, sd. For collection of dog tax, separate commissions for 10s and for 2s 6d dogs: —H. Manaton (accepted) 6d and 5d ;G. Hazlehurst, B£d and 7id; D. McKenzie, Is and 6d; W. H. Smith, Is and 6d. A discussion took place upon the absence of check upon the return of 10s dogs as 2s 6d ones. The dog tax was fixed at the same rates as last year. • . Six tenders were received for trimming two plantations of 16 and 20 acres, and removing trimmings, to facilitate destruction of rabbits. The tenders were considered too high for the result to be attained, as the tenants are responsible for the rabbits; and it was resolved on Mr McLeod’s motion that no tender be accepted. Mr H. Welsh wrote (Sept. 7th) correcting a statement by Mr Rutherford that he had been misled by the engineer regarding the camp-hut contract.—Mr Rutherford said this was different from what Welsh said to him. A circular inquiry was received from the Colonial Secretary’s office regarding cost of two last local option polls and licensing elections. —A reply had been sent:—cost 1891, £5 15s; cost 1894, £l7 6s 7d. „ The Controller and Auditor-General returned the balance-sheet for the September half year, certified as- correct. Under date Dec. 20th, Mr Thompson, stock inspector, notified the Council to destroy rabbits on section 2586 (plantation reserve, Ashwick Flat).—Overseer to see that something is done. The Treasury forwarded voucher for £375, advance of 75 per cent, of the subsidy payable for 1894-5. Also advising payment of £BSO, the loan for the construction of the' Pukaki bridge. The overseer suggested that application should be made for the Government grant for the bridge. The Commissioner of Crown Lands acknowledged receipt of proposal-re road access to H. Kidd’s section, of which the Land Board would probably approve. Also approving of the proposal to borrow thirds accrued on other sections, for the purpose of acquiring road access to R. Guthrie’s section, provided that the other sections have good access, and the lessees giye their consent in writing to the borrowing, for such period as may be necessary for repayment from the thirds accruing on Guthrie’s section. — The clerk to ascertain from the books what sections have a substantial balance available for such purpose, obtain tlie consent of the lessees, and forward particulars to the Land Office, Mr O’Callaghan, of the .Lands Office, waited on the Council, and remarked that the loan would not be requiredlong, it could be repaid in three or four, years from th^thirds coming in. In reply to a question respecting Welsh’s road, Mr O’Callaghan said thirds must be spent only on roads for the sections providing the thirds, unless the lessees specially asked for some other disposal of the funds. Mr O’Callaghan was also consulted respecting other roads. Re that asked for by W. Fraser, he agreed that it would be wasteful to spend a large sum of money in acquiring a road, when the applicant has full permission to cross his neighbours’ lands. —It was agreed that a sum not exceeding £SO be, expended on Welsh’s road if it can be borrowed from other sections. The Timaru Harbour Board notified that an election of a member to represent the county on the Barbour Board must be held on February 11th.—As this date interferes with the Council’s meet-

ing, it was agreed that if a poll has to be * taken, the-meeting shall be postponed for a week. Mr G. F. Clulee, as attorney for L. A, McPherson, asked the Council to proceed with the necessary steps to carry out the proposed water supply for Melville Downs, In order to avoid the delay of following the statutory course exactly, he suggested that the Council should push on the work at once with their own funds, he paying the interest upon it. —It was agreed that this suggestion be acted upon, and tenders be called for the work, on an undertaking being given by Mr Clulee that the interest will be paid on the

amount advanced until the loan money is raised.

The N.Z. and A. Land Company gave a formal fencing notice re reserve, 1694, —The tenant to be notified that he must fence at once or lose the allowance of £5 made him for the purpose. ! Mrs M. Gormley asked for a few loads of shingle on road opposite Morgan’s store.—Overseer to attend to it. The Timaru Chamber of Commerce’s petition against reduced rates for railing frozen meat for long distances, sent by the Harbour Board, was according to the request of the latter, signed by the members of the Council.

Mr G. G. Tripp wrote that £9 14s 9d half cost of the Bill for the annexation of a portion of the Mount Peel district, would be forwarded.—The clerk said he

had received the amount. The clerk stated that as there had been several applications for leave to ‘cut cocksfoot on the road, he had therefore asked for tenders, and had accepted one at £1 for cutting on the main road. The Council adjourned for lunch, and on resuming, A notice of motion by Mr McLeod was brought up —“That as Mr Chaffey has entered into several contracts for wool carrying throughout the county, his permit to run his engines be extended to the end of the wool season, but not later-than 31st March, 1895.” 1 The chairman said he must rule this out of order, as it traversed a resolution passed at the previous meeting, that no further licenses be issued. The resolution must be rescinded before the motion could be taken, and notice must be given to rescind. Mr McGregor supported this view. The chairman said Mr Chaffey had sufficient notice, and referred to a resolution passed in 'March last that no further licenses would be granted to traction engines. Mr McLeod thought the chairmanhad found a mare’s nest. The licenses referred to were licenses for tracks; no licenses being issued for engines, but permits only. He had nothing to say about licenses but asked for an extension of the current permission to run the engines to the end of March. He had a private letter from a solicitor that what he desired could be done in some other way, but he preferred the straightforward course. They were all inclined to stop the traction engine traffic, and

the question simply was, it appeared, which member should have the privilege of gaining this end. As their solicitor said they could do what he wanted done, he would ask that the question be referred to him before being finally ruled out of order. Mr Tripp was accordingly sem for, and in the meantime Mr McGregor moved Ohaffey be given notice that the Council will proceed against him under section 138 of the Public Works Act, for any excessive damage done to the roads.” Mr McGregor quoted the section, which reads as follows: —“ 138. Where it appears to the authority which is liable or has undertaken to repair any road, whether a main road or not, that extraordinary expenses have been incurred by such authority in repairing such road by reason of the damage caused by excessive weight passing along the same, or extraordinary traffic thereon, such authority may recover in a summary manner, from any person by whose order such weight or traffic has been conducted, the amount of such expenses as may be proved to the satisfaction of the Court having cognisance of the case to have been incurred by such authority by reason of the damage arising from such weight or traffic as aforesaid.” A proviso to the clause ■'provides that any person liable thereunder may agree with the authority for the payment of a composition to save proceedings. Mr McGregor mentioned portions of the roads which had been badly damaged by the traction engines going over them in bad weather ; the shingle had been cut through, and the formation ploughed up. The section of the Act of course applied also to damage done by heavy horse wagons. This was a new Act, and members would do well to look into it. The chairman supposed that the Council did not wisli to spring a surprise upon Mr Ohaffey, and at his suggestion the mover added to his motion “after this date.” The latter said there was no need to give any notice at all; it was only a matter of courtesy. Mr Rutherford seconded the motion, yet defended the use of traction engines, as they had brought down the price of carting considerably. In that way they had been a great benefit to the district, and he did not see that they had done much barn) to the roads. In good weather they improved them; and as for frightening horses he did not think they were so bad as bicycles. There were, however, some of the councillors who had ‘been bitterly opposed to the engines all along. The chairman considered they were justified in condemning them when they saw what damage they were doing to the roads, at the cost of the ratepayers generally, for the benefit of only a few, who could defend them for selfish reasons. The ratepayers should not be called upon to pay-extra rates to help the engine owner and bolster up his industry. Mr McGregor’s motion was declared carried.

Mr Tripp was now present, and after seeing the two resolutions on the books, of March and November respectively, he was of opinion that a motion to rescind them must be carried before Mr McLeod’s motion under notice could be put. The chairman ruled that notice must be given to rescind, and the motion could therefore not be taken at this meeting. Mr McGregor remarked that the time would then be gone and the motion would be useless.

[The meeting was not concluded when the train left Fairlie.]