Southland County Council.

Southland Times, Issue 9542, 11 June 1887, Page 2

Southland County Council.

FBrDAY, 10TH JUNE. The monthly meeting of the Goufjcit was attended by the Chairman (Mr A. Baldey), and Council lore Haat, McCalluru, Dunlop, Black, Shand, Shanks and Man* Gibbon. The annual balance-sheet as certified to by the auditor was adopted and ordered to be published. The Miyor of Gore (Mr John Mao« Gibbon) and the chairman of the Gordon, Town Board^Mr J. D. Hunter) waited on the Council to ask what assistance would be given by the County towards erecting a traffic bridge over the Mataura river at* Gore. Mr MacGibboa said Mr Hcintor and be were deputed to wait ©a tbe Council to see if it would co-operate with the two bodies they reproeentedm getting the bridge I constructed. Of course a district would have to be defined and a special rate b truck. — Councillor Mac Gibbon said that to bring the matter proper!/ before the Council those who wished to have the bridge erected should have a petition signed in the proposed special rating district. If it were shown by this means that the people in the dietrtot were willing to be rated for the bridge, the Council would then have something definite before it, and could then deal, with the matter. — The Chairman concurred with Councillor MacGibboa'e suggestion, and the deputation agreed to prepare a petition, get it B'gned and forward it to the Council. — Mr Huatt>r aleo asked that the County Council should take over a road in Gordon, known as Ooiario street, but was advisid that hie BnrJ should pass a formal reßClution and forward it the Board for consideration. Tho Southland H- and C. Aid Board applied for the Council's first quarterly contribution for tha year, the amount being L 352 5s 91.— Passed for payment. Vt. F. Mackay forwarded his resignation as Returning Officer for the Awarua licensing d strict, the removal of the polling place having rendered it inconvenient for him to attend to the duties of the office. Resignation accepted. Archibald McKiy drew attention to tho fitiut that a contractor for work near the Dunsdale creek at Hodgehope bad taken gravel from the road line and left a dangerous and unsightly hole. — The Inspector ' said tho contractor had promised him to have the bole filled up, and it was decided to call upon him to do so. The Colonial Treasurer intimated that the South Hillecd special loan would be inscribed as from the Ist February last.— Received. W. G. Fox, County Valuer, wrote stating that a great deal of his time was occupied in searching in his books for particulars as to properties, and be suggested that solicitors or others applying lor Bach information bhould be charged a reasonable fee.— Referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. L. Matheson, harbourmaster at Fortroee, wrote asking the Council to continue his Bervic(-s it decided to take over the harbour from the Government — Held over till next meeting. Sixty-one ratepayers in the Waimuooit) subdivision of. tha Liatfhunt Road Board j

petitioned to have their district separated from that body, and a special board constituted. — Held over, "pending iaqniry as to the Council's power to grant the request. The Gordon Town Board again drew attention to the dangerous state of a culvert in Hamilton street, Gordon. — JRsferrod to the Engineer. The Goro Borough Council asbed that steps should be taken by the County for the removal of water which had accumulated on sections in their borough belonging to P. Daly. — Eagineer to report. The Tokonui Progress Committee asked that the Engineer meet a deputation to confer with them relative to the worst portions of the €rorge road. — Referred to the Engineer. John Morison asked for permission to ereot a gate on the County road near Dipton Bueh. — Granted. The OUrnaika Road Board asked the Council to take some steps towards abating the small birds nuisance. — -Road Board to be informed that they had power to deal with the matter under the Small Birds Nuisance Ac*. 1882. M. T. Imbs and others wrote drawing 1 attention to the had Btato of Calypso road, llakarewa. — Inferred to the Eagineer. Joseph W. White applied for the position of clerk to the Winton Licensing Committee. — Held over till next ingW. B. Scandrett, secretary to the Jubilee Comnmtep, applied for a donation of LlO towards celebrating the jubilee of Her Majesty's roign. — Rofused, the Chairman remarking that tho Council hid no power to vote money for such a purpose. A number of settlers at Waianiwa applied for permission to plant trees in Victoria Avenue, in commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee.. — Referred to the Chairman with power to act. Samuel B'illivan asked permission t 1 ? make a cutting acro3O the Bluff road near Greenhills, offering to make a bridge over it to the satisfaction of the County Engineer. — Referred to the Engineer for report. Patrick Deegau wrote offering to give land free of charge for a road exchange at section 325, Hokonui.— Received. R. H. Rattray and others wrote aßking that tbe culvert leading from Bay road to Stobo street, Grasmere, bo repaired, it being at preaont iv a dangerous state. — Inspector to report. George Conley complained that a level crossing had not been put in over the railway live at eactioae 606 and 607, Taricgatnra. —Minister of Public Works to be asked to have the crossing put down. The Engineer roported that the work asked for by P. and J. Lang to prevent water overflowing on their land was a most necossary one. The surfaceman would be able to attend to it in two or three weeks. — Adopted. On the recommendation of the Eagineer it was decided that the surfaceman should alao attend lo ajrequest made by J. and W. Coster and others that the waterway nnder the bridge, near tho Farmer's Best Hotel. Oroti Plains, ba enlarged. Duncan McPherson applied for perm'B eion to deepen tbo ditch on tbe West eido of section 6, block 5, Now River Hundred. — Granted, on condition that the applicant indemnify the Council against any damage caused by the increased size of the ditch. Richard Howarth having applied to have a road opened leading to his section at Lowther, the Engineer reported that if the Railway Department put in a level croising at the place any road work would be unnecessary. — Department to be asked to pot in a crossing. Richard Wilson applied for a small bridge over the creek at Dipton. — No deferred payment money available. Donald Mcßae complained of the state of the road at Hodge's Gully, Forest Hill, and offered to do the work for Ll2.— Hild over till the spring. Thomas Staunton and others applied for an extension of Victoria street, Richmond Grove. — No funds available at present ; work ht'ld over till spring. A petition was received from a number | of settlers at Fortroee, protesting against tbe high charges mads on timber landed at the jetty reserve, the rate being Is 6J per ton or 4a 61 per cord. — Petitioners to be informed that the Council had no power to alter the charges. Accoanta amounting to L 2203 8i were passed for payment. The Finance Committee recommended (1) that tho salaries of the clerk and treasurer, the engineer, the collector and valuer, and the Inspector, be reduced 10 per cent., tho reduction 'to take effect from the 31at July next ; (2) that Ganger McGowan's wages be reduced to 8a per day, the surfacemen now getting 8s per day to be reduced to 7s Qi and those getting 7s to 63 6J ; the reductions to take effect from the let September next ; and (3) that no clerical assistance be engaged unless tbe Chairman's consent in wriiing is obtained. — Adopted. The surfaceman was authorised to put a handrail on the footbridge over Dome creek and to pat a plank across the boun ■ dary creek at block 1, Wsndonside, Oa the motion, of Councillor Hast it waa resolved to ask the Argyle Water-race Company to stop tbe overflow of water from their flume at Dean's Gully, Waikaia. It was decided, on the motion of Councillor Hist, to apply *o the Otago School GommidsioQers for a vote of say L3OO for roid works in blocks 1 and 2, Wendonside. It waa agreed that the County's officers ebould be allowed three holidays and the surfacemen iwo on the occasion of the celebration o£ ihs Queen's Jubilee, The Council then adjourned.