COUNTY COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 3898, 17 December 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

. The ordinary monthly meeting of this body was held yesterday, all the members being present. Councillor Shanks brought the subject of the Wyndhani bridge before the Council. He had been informed that now that the deckiug had been remeved it was found that the piles were in a decayed condition, ancl he thought it was a matter for serious consideration whether, it would 1)3 wise to rebuild the superstructure without renewing the piers. The Engineer (Mi Geisow), who was in attendance, said that the sub-inspector had reported four of the piles as wanting removal, but that the rest of the piers would do with a coating of tar. On his assurance that power was reserved in the specifications to execute such further repairs as were found necessary, thc matter dropped. The Sub-inspector reported that he had inspected the gorse hedges on the East and North roads re the complaint of the Telegraph Inspector, and found that, seveial of them wore dangerous to the telegraph poles. It was agreed that notice should be given to the owners, and it' the matter was not remedied immediately the Council would put on men, and charge the cost of the work to the offenders. The request of the South Wyndhuifl School Committee that the Council should fence the road line through the school reserve was acceded to, Couovijlor Kjcliavd-

son explaining that the county road hnd been carried through it in error, and that it would bo limed cheaper to fence as requested than to remw tiie road on the proper line at a probable cost of £200. from tli. W-droa (North Island) County Council were read, wh'ch requested the co-op i -nion of the Council in an endeavor to secure an elective as well as nominative element in Waste Lands Boards— -the Council lev elt-et- oneTiieihber ,-^-qnd al-o to obt iin endowments for (»imtv Councils on the suinc footing' as the inunicipa itics. Receipt of these was ordered to b^^ckn^wl^dgcil.^^^ A numerously ;signedrppehtion was-pre-sented from settlers! in 1 the Winton district asjaiiHt the gravelling of 50 chains- of the Main North lload, as the roud.ljas quite sufficient, while other pnrt- of tltedistrict were destitute of roads of any kiiH. Councillor Thomson — after look ng over the petition — said it wa*%trtfsigned by a single individual near that road ; and if he had taken the trouble ho could have gfot twice as many signatures in favor of the work being done. This road had been neglected by all authorities, past and | present, and the portion he wanted made was the last gap iii: the gravelling from Dipton to Invercargill. He would move that the work 'oe proceeded with.. Councillor Cowan thought the Council would be wise not to place too much weight on this and similar petitions, which were in a sense an interference with it in the execution of its duty. The reason given was that the money was- wanted elsewhere, but these places might also have their roads made, although this particular piece of road waa made good. , The petition indicated a want of Confidence in tbe member whom the district had sent to the Council; if so, they should ask fon'. is removal. Councillor Smith considered the petition was ipiite justified by the proceedings of some members. He had fieanl trf men being accused of getting into, the Council merely for the purpose ol geti\tig their own roads made, which being accomplished they retired, and he began to think there was some truth in it. Districts like that with easy access by rail could well afford to wait. The outside people .should be studied by nieml>ers, as they, while getting no benefits neither of roads nor railways, had to help to make up the deficiency on the working of the lines. It was not th« first time this job had been opposed by the ratepayers, and he would vote against it.

Councillor MacGibbon said ithe, prjf that members looked after their own intei ests in road making was too common, ami he did not think there was much in it. Councillor Kinross said the petition did not allege that it was proposed to spend an undue amount on this road, and he could not agree with its prayer. Councillor Richardson could no^ngree with the previous speaker. If itioney spent where it was not required was not undue expenditure, he did not know what it whs. The matter had a more serious aspect to his way of thinking— it watf an nnwarrantable interference with the Council's officials,, .(No ! no report has" Jbcen made on the work.) TffisTJoufffiH Miad professional advisers, and they should say what roads should be made, and be held responsible for them.^ It, was time that this sort of work for?-vrf||pl> no one was responsible was put antle.J^lle objected, to Councillor Thomson's remarks on tfca standing of the petitioners, arid considered they were- very good names; y • . , • - * The Engineer said that the roadjileded gravelling, although not so much as other roads in the same district. Ha had not specially inspected it. Councillor Shanks said he held that the member for the riding was purely, responsible to bis constituents, and theyr-would soon have an opportunity of laying "what they thought of his action. If the member for a riding had £1600 at his credit and could not be trusted to expend £100 on a bit of road, he was not fit to ba there. He would seeond Councillor Thomson's motion. The motion waq then put and carried, the chairman and Councillor Smith; dissenting. At a liter stage the tender of J. Taylor, jun., ut £124 7s 6d r was accepted, for tba work. A grant of £20 was authorised to the Lindhurst Road Board for works on Titipua bridge to main Mataura road. A resident of Waikaia complained that while there were 220 Chinese on the gold-field there, only 47 had taken, out miners' rights. On the motion of Councillor McCaughan it was resolved that Mr Braithwaite should be appointed agent of thc Council to take the necessary steps against those who were at work without tho requisite right, his remuneration to be 1 o per cent. Mr D. Cameron's request for"£3o : to be expended on repairs to Lake to Nokomai road was held over in the absence of Councillor McCaughan. John Ford, contractor for a section of W'yndham-jblo^trbse^pad, wrote complaining that theXSapiJMJto^Jrould not pass his contract, fault beirig'found with the quality of the metal after the work was cojiipleted and he had received 75 per cent/bf its value. Mr Ford, who was in attendance, said that Mr Howarth, the recently appointed engineer, had condemned the metalling, which was of the same quality, as that used on the portion of his contract finished before, £he. winter set in.. He thought this rather )h if 4, ; ajfer > being i allowed to do so much without complaint ~ Councillor Shanks would leave the matter in the hands of the Engineer, whb was the proper judge of such work. ' : Councillor Smith sympathised with contractors in 6uch a case as this. For two or tliree years 'hey had been allowed to pnt this stuff on the roads for metal and it had been passed, and now that it had been decided that it was not sufficient, he thought contractors should be let down easy and not, iu a sense, trodden on.

Councillor MacGibbon presumed that the work must have been satisfactory or 75 per cent would not have been plaid on it. If the contract was the same as he supposed it to be.it was one of , two which thc committee which had lately inspected the road had approved. At the sarne time he would not set np their judgment ai'gainat the Engineer's. Councillor Shanks said that' during the wintir this contract had bean stopped, and in the interval the metal used , on tue road had been condemned ; yet in the face of tiis Ford had gone on with the remainder, using the same material. If the} had officers let them abide by their decisions and hold them responsible for the com* petency of the roads. Councillor Bichardson said the stone was wonderfully superior to what was laid down on other parts of the roa-i, and it was nothing extraordinary that the contractor had not looked forbetter;Mr Howarth said he had condemned the work because the stuff Ford was using was nothing but mullock and etrippihgs of the quarry. There were only eight inchf s of metal instead of twelve. If Ford put £>ur inches of good metal dyer itheiwould not object, but still thought the materialused was not so good as it ought to be. -Councillor Ittcbard§pn_moved tfiat the Engineer keep the contractor lip "to the specification on what had been done since 1 ist winter. '-•£. Members concurred in thinking it would be unfair to go back on the work .paid for The motion was carried unanimously. A ivque-st for road making from Wrey'4 bush defenvd-payment settlers was hel4 over. i A lengthy discussion followed.^ the state of forwardness of th© office work of the Engineer's. Departinont, and on a lettef s<eut by the En§igeer to C<?un,ciUcf

MacGibbon, which he characterised a disrespectful. A diversity of opinion wa expreased-a^ to the propriety or othei wise if Councillors applying privately t official" Oni Council business, and the matte fj3sSsSu^im MfeGanghan — the standinj hating- been suspended — move. tbit a road shonld be formed at a coe <$ P£3do in with the nev briaf Je at Riversdale, to be borne in equa yipnrby the Gore and Waikaia ridings TOfi%aß carried unanimously. f Wke motion of the chairman the sun of iiiO wad granted to .Waimatuku flai settler* tcf complete roads 1 in that district attdf £30,,f0r a similar purpose in Spai BuSh Block- ...a a"; . . Messrs Sband $et* granted permission fd£^nnii^:dtiieTr tramway across the Nom^Roa^rFße- Engineer's report being favorable. . The Council's solicitor advised that as the ratepayers had decided against the taking over of the New River lerry Bridge, the resolution of the Council submitted to him was ultra vire* and ot no effect A request for a list of ratepayers in the Tapanui Rabbit District from the secretary of the Rabbit Board was ordered to be acknowledged, and thc Council's inability to comply with the request intimated. Councillor MacGibbon presented a peti- -: tion- ! f rom 44 residents in East Gore district re a street Hue in the township, which was acceded to, the Engineer s repport having recommended the same col,rse - i ii * rami Councillor MacGibbon moved that £200 be expended on Otama to Pyramid luwd. Carried. , Permission was granted to the Argyie Water Race Company, Waikaia, to alter the road line if the work was done to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Tiie petition of 78 settlers for a dray traffic bridge over the Waikaka was referred to the Xmipdale and Otaria Road Boards, with intimation that if they agreed to it the Council would subsidise the amount. Accounts to the amount of £693 5s 4d .were passed for payment. Two hundred pounds were granted to the Tuturau Road Boacd to form and metal the roud-from schoolhouse to Sum's Grief, and a like sura to the Wyndhani Road Bonrd to aid in metalling the main district road, east of Wyndham township. J-Fbnders were ordered to be ealled for various road works in Oreti Riding, at a 'Xipb^b)e; cost t>f £1600/ on the motion of "C^tmcfflbr Cowan. ; ' Councillor Richardson's motion with reference to the practice of opening gravel pits in dangerous proximity to roads, and also another re certain badges in his subdivision were" Held over in his absence. Councillor Cowan was unanimously appointed chairman of the Finance Comm'ittee. Tflie Chairman and Councillor Cowan briefly st«ted the gist of the interview of the- recent deputation with the Minister of Pnblic Works, re the ForestHill TramMr Gcisow reported that he estimated the cost of the tramway via Wilson's crossing at £970 per mile. He had not reported on the upper route, as it would cost £120 to make the necessary survey. After some conversation it was resolved r ..that the leading men in the Forest Hill district should be informed that the Council -looked tothern to move in the matter. .There was only one tender for dogcollars and badges, and it being much \ abbve what had been paid elsewhere it was decided to re-advertise for tenders. The Council then adjourned till Friday, Uth January.