MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2956, 30 November 1900, Page 4

MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council was held on Wednesday. Present —Messrs F. ft Dillingham (chairman), A. H. McLean and W. Wreford. An apology was received from Mr F. Hamilton. Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. CLERK AND ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Clerk and Engineer’s report, was read as follows :—“ Since last meeting the Council’s men in Tekapo Riding have been at, work on the Pukaki, Rhoborough Downs, and Mount Cook roads; the creek cross- ‘ ings on the last-named road were considerably damaged by the heavy rains in October. The men are now at work on the road between Mount Cook Staition and Braemar. The other gang have been engaged in repairing flood damages in Fairlie and Albury Ridings, and have also repaired road at Opawa woolshed. Mr J. - Connor has now completed his contract for formation of part of Laverty s road, Albury Settlement. Mr J. Anniss is making good progress with his contract on new roads, Punaroa Settlement. The formation is now completed, and shingling is xK hand. Mr H. Struthers’ contract for formation of part of Arden’s road should be completed this week. Mr E. V. Scott has completed contract for the making oi •700 dog collars, for year 1901.' I have submitted specifications of shingling work on Limestone Valley road, Albury Settlement, to the Government, for approval, and asked for permission to have the,work done by contract in platee of by co-opera-tive labour as required by the conditions of the grant. I have inspected the road leading to Mr Albert Smith’s perpetual lease section at Coal Creek- This road has been formed, but in wet weather cuts up badly when firewood is being carted from the Levels Company’s bush. I would recommend that the formation be widened throughout, and drains cleaned out, and that 75 chains of the road be metalled with rotten rock, procurable near Mr Smith’s house. This would about absorb the thirds at the credit of Mr Smith’s •sections. As instructed, I have inspected the willow planting at Mr D. McMillan’s woolshed. I find that Mr M. McLeod has removed the whole of the fencing round the willows* with the exception of

tlie length across the Opihi River at the > lower, end. The fencing taken away was wholly on the) land purchased by Mr McLeod from Mr Fussell, with the exception of I 5 chains which ran across the old river-bed.. This was on Crown land. There are still a considerable number of unregistered dogs in the county _for the current year. Mr D. McKay’s lease of G.R. 1708 expires on 15th February next, and Mr H. G. Smith’s lease of Pound House, Fairlie, expires on 7th February next. ■ v. The up T countiy gang, will have finished about the new year. .. I would suggest that,the,formation of side-track, Fairlie to Silverstream, authorised some time ago, be deferred' until the grader is available.” It was . resolved that tenders be called for work recommended on Albert Smith’s road to his silall grazing run; .that tenders be called for, new lease of Pound House, Fairlie, and for reserve 1708, Coal Creek-; and that tenders be called for metalling upper end of Limestone Valley road as soon as specifications are returned. approved, from the Lands and Survey Department. _ CORRESPONDENCE. An opinion was received from the Council’s solicitor re illegal removal of certain fencing around willow protective works ,by Mr M. ’ McLeod, stating that the Council has its remedy against Mr McLeod, • and proceeded, to give reasons for that opinion. ’ . > ■ The 'chairman said that Mr McLeod was a member of the 1 Council when the work referred to was done, and reference to the minutes showed that it was. he that proposed the planting of the willows and fencing of the same, and whether Mr McLeod was within his rights or not in removing the fence he was bound in common courtesy to inform the Council of his intention to remove the fence. ■ It was resolved that Mr McLeod be directed to replace the fence in question in order to avoid further proceedings being taken.

From the Lands and Survey Department, saying that a grant of £l5O had been made for Camp Yalley and Limestone Valley roads, but of that sum only £96 may be expended before the 31st of March next. The chairman said that a further grant ‘of £IOO for the same purpose appeared in the Supplementary Estimates, but so far no official intimation had been received by the Council with reference thereto. From Mr Tasman W. Smith, asking that two gates be removed frojn the Mona Vale road. He explained ;hat the gates were only half a mile apart, and that the manager of the Australian and New Zealand Land Co.’s! estate had repeatedly promised to erect a fence and pbolisu the gates, but so far had done neither. From Mr Flatman, M.H.R., acknowledging letter conveying the Council’s thanks for his efforts in aid of works required in Albury Settlement. From Mr G. I. Hamilton, acknowledging receipt of the Council’s assurance re Opuha bridge, and thanking the Council for the same.

From the Railway District Engineer, m Tengawai stock bridge, requesting in .the event of repairs being effected that he may be furnished with particulars of work erquired.—No action to be taken as the main stream of the river has left the site of the bridge altogether. From the Receiver of Land Revenue, giving particulars of amounts accrued from the small grazing runs in the county, £74 17s lOd.

From the Treasury, forwarding vouchers for final payments of previous grant for road works on Albury Settlement. ■ From Messrs Donald Stewart, Albury; W. Bain, and James T. Andrews, Fairlie, applying for renewals of slaughtering licenses.

Constable Willoughby’s report upon the respective premises was read, and a copy ordered to be sent to the applicants, with an intimation that renewals will be granted

in each case. From Mr H. T. Robinson, water race ranger, reporting that a full supply of waler is being maintained in all the races, and that the overflow complained of at last meeting had been attended to. . Prom Mr John Mclntosh, referring to his previous complaint re stock on roads near his land, and adding that the ranger is still neglecting that locality as stock are continually seen grazing on the road. The chairman said that it was of no use tp go into the matter now as the ranger was not present, and Mr Mclntosh and he had threshed out the matter some time ago. From Mrs Cotterill, asking for repairs to be done to the road leading to her section, Ashwick Flat.—The work has already been ordered to be done. From Mr D. McEae, Grampians Station, asking the Council to form a short length of road leading to the new woolshed.—As the engineer said the work asked for is not on a public road the request could not be granted. A telegram was received from the Undersecretary, asking the Council to telegraph proportions of cost of maintenance of that portion of .he Clayton road which it considers should be borne by the several local bodies interested. It was resolved on the motion of Messrs McLean and Wreford, that the Mount Peel Eoad Board’s proportion of maintenance be three-fourths of the whole cost. The chairman thought that proportion too high. From the secretary of the High School Board, pointing out that a representative must be appointed by the Council to represent the Council upon the High School Board. A similar reminder was received from the secretary of the South Canterbury Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board.

TENDERS I Tenders for the position of poundkeeper and county ranger were opened as follows : —Mr John Bain offered to give £8 for Fairlie pound, £3 for Albury, and £1 for Burke’s Pass pound. Mr W. McLeod £lO 10s for all three .pounds. Mr H. P. Manaton offered £l3 for the three pounds, or £8 for Fairlie alone. Mr H. Bachelor offered £2 for Albury pound, and this was accepted upon the motion of Mr Wreford, who said it was desirable that a local man should be in charge. ’ Mr J. Bain s offer of £9 for Fairlie and Burke’s Pass pounds was accepted. Mr T. Foden’s tender of £45 15s for concrete culvert at Winscombe, Council to supply cement, was accepted; the only other tenderer being Mr H. Struthers at £47105. Mr H. P. Manaton’s tender for collection of dog-tax was accepted, the commission being 6d for dogs at 10s, and 4d for dogs at 2s 6d. J. Bain’s tender was 9d and 7d respectively. INTERVIEW.

Mr Cain, Albury Settlement, waited upon the Council to ask that something be done to the Opawa river crossing, near Bracken’s, as it was in bad order at present. He was informed that as the men are in the locality they will start the crossing in a few days. Mr Cain was authorised to provide two short footbridges upon the Camp Valley road and to make a ford across the catchwater drain at his gate, to be paid for his labour if the engineer approves of the job. ACCOUNTS. Tl}e pay sheet ampunting to £342 was passed for payment* and the ordinary meeting closed. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. At the conclusion of the ordinary business Mr Banks applied for leave of absence for a month or two, which was granted on the understanding that before leaving he should provide a satisfactory substitute for the work of the office. The chairman said that Mr Banks had served the Council well and faithfully for eleven years with no more than an occasional brief holiday, and he thought that he was now entitled^ to adong leave. The other members agreed, and the request was granted up to two months. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual statutory meeting of the Council was held at noon oh the same day, the same members being present. Mr Banks took the chair, and asked nominations for chairman for ensuing year. Mr Wreford proposed that Mr F. R. Gillingham be re-elected. Seconded by Mr Mc•Lean, and carried. j, Mr Gillingham again took the chair, and thanked them for their continued confidence, and hoped th'at he would be able to do his duty in the future as he had done m the Mr F. H. Smith was re-appointed to represent the Council upon the Timaru High School Board, and Mr F. R. Gillingham as representative upon the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.