Southland County Council.

Southland Times, Issue 4485, 24 November 1882, Page 2

Southland County Council.

+. Wednesday, 22nd November, statutory and ordinary meetings. The Council met at noon for the election of a diainriiin for the year. Present — • Councillors Haldey, Cowan, Pater.son, Mac Gibbon, Dawson, Hast, and Richardson. Councillor Cowan, seconded by Councillor Paterson, moved that Councillor (x. F. Richardson be chairnian of the Southland County Council for the year, and, in doing so, the movsr reminded the Council that Councillor Richardson had bern a member of Council since the initiation of the Comity system. He thought that gentleman bad therefore earned a right to the honor of being their chairman, and felt sure that he would worthily occupy the chair. Councillors Patterson and Mac Gibbon, having spoken in support of the motion, it was carried unanimously. Councillor Baldey, in vacating the chair, said that it gave him much pleasure to do so to Councillor Richardson, who, he felt sure, would rill it worthily. Councillor Richardson having taken the chair, thanked the Council for the honor conferred upon him, and expressed the hope that they would hold the same complimentary opinions of him at the conclusion of his term of office as had been expressed in anticipation. A deputation from Woodlands, of which Mr Golil was spokesman, presented a petition against the granting of a right to extend the Mabel Bush tramway to Woodlands station. Mr Gohl, among other reasons for objecting, said that he had himself bought a piece of land facing the road and intended to cat it up and build on it. A tramway along its frontage was not likely to improve its value ; neither was it reasonable that such a work should be permitted to depreciate property. The petition therefore objected to the application made by Messrs Hayes and Conyers and Co. The deputation having been informed that the petition would be considered at a later stage, retired. Mr Walsh, settler at West Plains, again waited on the Council to ask that something should be done to give him egress from his farm with his crops. Last year he had lost his produce through want of a pas-able road, and would be in no better position this year if something was not done to the worst part of the road line. Councillor Dawson said that he could endorse Mr Walsh's statement. He therefore moved (Mr Walsh accepting the terms) that the applicant be permitted to do certain work to the road under the engineer's supervision, to be paid for at the end of 12 months. — This was agreed to. Ou the motion of Councillors Cowan and Paterson it was resolved that a special order re county, rates be made to the effect that the Council determine to make its own valuation. The Council confirmed a decision arrived at at a meeting of ratepayers held on July 31st, at Woodlands, to close certain roads. A petition was received from East Dipton, praying that a road might be constructed there at once. The petitioners considered it a great injustice that a road had not been constructed before this, and said it was a matter of absolute necessity, as all the sections were now broken up and taken. Action on the petition was deferred. A letter was road from Mr Thomas

Smith,* Mat-aura bridge, who asked that an I § order made by the county engineer for the t removal of the verandah attached to his f shop be annulled, aa it was no obstruction t to the traffic. ■ 1 Councillor Cowan moved that the application be held over till Mr Mac Gibbon's t application to the same purpose had; been ~t dealt with. He thought all these applica- i tions should be treated in the. same way. j The chairman pointed out that the ] standard drawings would soon be in operations when the whole question could ' be treated by the Council. The application was accordingly held ] over. i A letter was read from Messrs Smith, ( Anderson, and Co., in which the attention of the Council was called to the fact that, < if the Council wished to appeal against the I recent decision in the matter of the license j fee?, steps must be taken at once. Both \ Messrs Haggitt and Stout were of opinion that councils were entitled to the fees, and that the judgment was a wrong one. Councillor Baldey thought they had gone far enough in the matter. He was averse to appealing against the decision. Councillor Cowan coincided with the opinion of the last speaker. He had lead , the Judge's opinion very carefully, and it seemed to him a very sensible one. Councillor MacGibbou also agreed with the view taken by the Jndge. He fancied it had been the intention of the Legislature to confer upon the local bodies the power ef. raising fees. The construction of a bridge at Mandeville being mentioned, it was decided to bring the matter before the notice of the Minister for Public Works, and Councillor MacGribbon moved that the Minister be waited on, and requested to state in definite terms when the vote for Mandeville bridge would be available, or failing that, to give the necessary guarantee so that the Council might proceed with the work at once. Councillor Cowan suggested that the Chairman and Councillor Mac Gibbon form the deputation to wait on the Minister. This was added to the motion which was then carried. A deputation consisting of Messrs Conyers and 3rown, waited on the Council with reference to the construction of a tramway at Woodlands. The deputation applied for authority to construct the tramway, and for permission to extend it down to the railway from the existing point. Councillor Baldey saw no objection to the proposal. On the contrary, he thought it would do good to the district, as it would give employment to a large number of hands, and promote extra traffic. Councillor Cowan said a deputation had waited upon the Council that day to oppose the construction of the tramway on the ground of its being dangerous to the inhabitants. What had th« present deputation to say to that ? The deputation denied that there was any more danger connected with the proposed tramway than with any other. They were willing, it necessary, to guarantee that it would only lie a horse tramway. It was pioposed to run on it about twice a day. The application was ultimately granted. A petition was presented from the Winton Riding praying that the Council wonld take into consideration the state of the road leading to Makarewa, which was almost entirely useless for dray traffic. A deputation waited on the Council to hack up the petition, and after some discussion it was resolved to instruct the engineer to take step- to improve the road in question. The East Invevcargill Council asked for permission to construct a footpath from the end of Ritchie street to the eastern boundary of the municipality. — Permission was grantep. A letter was received from the Working Railways Department, Dnnedin, statiunrepairs to the bridge at Gore had been commenced, and that when the river was low the bridge would be closed against traffic. The General Manager of the Railway Department also wrote, in answer to an application for the construction of a level crossing-, to the effect that the Department would put in the crossing- provided the Council paid the expense. On receipt of a reply stating- that the Council would guarantee the cost, the work would ba proceeded with at once. Councillor Cowan took exception to this, as in his opinion the Government and not the Council ought to pay tho expense of these crossings, and he accordingly moved a resolution to the effect that the Council was of opinion that all level crossing's on main railways across district and other roads should be put in at the cost oL - the Government. Councillor Baldey thought they should consult the Act before passing- any such resolution ns it would not lie wise on their part to unnecessarily offend the Department. He was of opinion that the Government were not bound to put in level crossings surveyed after the construction of the railway. He concluded by moving in amendment that the matter beheld over for further information. The amendment was duly seconded and put to the vote, three voting- cither way, whereupon the chairman gave his castingvote in favor, and th* original motion was accordingly lost. On the motion of Councillor Cowan, seconded by Councillor MacGiMjon, it was resolved that a deputation wait on the Minister of Public Works relative to the access to the gravel pit at the " 28 mile Mataura railway, showing the necessity for a passenger platform there. On the motion of Councillor Baldey, seconded by Councillor Hast, a resolution was parsed to the effect that the Council hud no objection to the remainder of section G7, block 13, New River Hundred, being dealt with by the Land Board, provided that the right to enter such section and to take gravel therefrom bo reserved to the Council. The sum of £20 was voted to be expended on repairs to the boundary road between Wallacetown andAwarua Riding, to be charged generally to each riding. A petition was received from ratepayers on the West Plains praying the Council to grant £170 towards opening 100 chains of road via the cemetery for traffic, which would red i^e the length of the route to town by a mile and three-garters, besides making land in the vicinity much more saleable. They su«eested that a special rate should be levied for this purpose. Councillor Baldey said he had examined into the question, and it would be impossible for the Council to entertain the ap plication. On the motion of Councillor Dawson, s?conded by Councillor Baldey, it was resolved that the petition be not granted on the ground of ihc great expense necessary to carry out the work. 1 The same councillors also moved a re- ' solution in favor of a petition from ratepayers on the West Plains road, for a ' special rate to I">6 levied ior the improvement of roads in that district. — Carried. The Finance Committee recommended < the payment of accounts amounting to i £713 6s 3 1.— Carried. At the conclusion of the ordinary business the chairman pointed out that it would be necessary to send plans and ' specifications up to Wellington by January l for the works required by the Board, and this would involve an extra expenditure ' on account of the additional assistance required by the engineer. ( Councillor Baldey having spoken to the 1 absolute necessity of getting additional assistance if it was intended to get the -, work performed in time, the engineer was authorised to obtain the necessary assist- l ance, another inspector being also engaged c for not less than three months. l On the motion of Councillor Hast, seconded by Councillor Dawson, the en-

gineer, was instructed to prepare specifications, and tender for twenty chains of gravelling on road alreudy formed between the properties of Messrs Qray and Brown, New. River, Hundred. Councillor- Hast drew the attention of the CoufljtiiKto the (:fact tliat their leasV of ; ; "the premises they were .now in would-be" up in March, and they would then have no place to go to. . He suggested that the Minister of Public Works should be interviewed on the subject. — The suggestion was adopted. On the motion of Councillors Hast and Dawson it" was resolved to replace a bridge on the road leading to Waikaia by a box culvert. After appointing Councillor Mac Gibbon chairman, of committees, and Councillor Cowan chairman of the Finance Committee for the ensuing year, the Council adjourned till the 15th prox.