Southland County Council.

Southland Times, Issue 11593, 27 November 1890, Page 2

Southland County Council.

Wednesday, 26th Nov. The annual statutory meeting was attended by Councillors Raymond, Baldey, Green, Hast, McCallurn, McQueen, Fleming, Ward, and Gerrard. Councillor Hast moved, seconded by Councillor Green, that Councillor Raymond be appointed chairman for the ensuing year. — Carried unanimously. Councillor Raymond, in taking the chair, thanked the Councillors for the honour they had conferred upon him. In taking' the position, he said, he was quite aware that it was a very responsible one, but he trusted and knew that the Councillors round the table would assist him in carrying out his duties. He could only say that if he followed in the footsteps of those who had occupied the chair during his term iD the Council he could not go far wrong. Councillor Hast moved, seconded by Councillor McCallum, " That a vote of thanks be accorded Councillor Baldey for the able manner in which he discharged the duties of chairman during the past year." — Carried unanimously. Councillor Baldley acknowledged the compliment and thanked the Councillors who had given him such able assistance during the year, an assistance without which he ■would have been unable to carry on the bußiness of the Council. Representatives of the Council were appointed as follows:— On the Southland H. and C.A. Board: Councillors Raymond, Baldey, and McCallum, and Mr T. MacGibbon. On the Wallace and Fiord Hospital Trust : Councillor Baldey. On the Southland Hospital Trust : Councillor Fleming. — In connection with the appointment to the Wallace and Fiord Trust Councillor Baldey proposed the name of the old representative, Mr John Walker, but deferred to the wish of the Council that its representative should be one of its own number. A number of settlers in the Makarewa district petitioned for a bridge over Tussock creek at the cross roads leading to Winton, Wilson's crossing, and Forest Hill. — Held over till next meeting to enable the member for the riding to inquire into the matter. John Coster and others drew attention to the impassable nature of the road from Wilson's crossing to Tussock creek and petitioned for works to make it fit for ordinary traffic. — Held over for same purpose as above. Nine settlers at Limehills petitioned for a ditch and formation on Pisa road, which they stated was almost impassable. — Held over. The Otaria Road Board requested the Council to take over that portion of road north from Pukerau to the Clutha County boundary. — The Engineer reported that the road had been mostly formea and culverted by the " unemployed " out of Government vote, but would require a large expenditure to make it fit for winter dray traffic. — Held over for inquiry. Wm. Keith wrote asking the Council to instruct a neighbour, Mr Andrews, to fill in a culvert and large ditch which he had formed and which was diverting a creek from its proper course on the Wreys Bush road. — The Engineer reported that Mr Andrews' attention had been drawn to the matter. — Referred to the Engineer and the member for the riding. Seventeen settlers atDipton drew attention to the dangerous state of the river below the cutting on the south of East Dipton township. The river was encroaching on the road, and if not stopped would ere long take a course right down the Main North road. — Referred to the Engineer to report. Robert Taylor wrote that he wished the whole of the L4O voted for the road leading from Benmore to Lora to be spent on the Lora Bide of the Otapiri stream. — The Engineer reported that the vote had been expended between Benmore and the Winton stream as directed by Councillor Shand. — Mr Taylor to be informed accordingly. The Engineer was instructed to carry out work asked for by Joseph Rogers near Athol. W. Russell having resigned his appointment as clerk to the Wallacetown Licensing Committee, the Department of Justice asked the Council to recommend a successor. — Held over. The Lindhurst Road Board applied for a subsidy of LlO for work on the road known as Butler's track in the Hokonui riding. — Work to be done by surfaceman. A. McNiel wrote advising that an unexpended portion of a vote for work on a road at Fire Bush, Forest Hill, should be spent on gravelling. — Request to be complied with. JohnShGa. wrote asking that something should be done to an impassable bit of road leading from Longridge to Ardlussa. — Held over. Margaret Robinson applied for seven chains of formation and a ditch on Acton road, Makarewa. — Engineer to report. The Knapdale Road Board intimated that they did not consider a bridge at Dickie's ford an absolute necessity but would contribute one-third of the cost if the settlers and the Count}' Council each did likewise. — Received, Councillor McQueen stating that the matter was under consideration. A. Findlayson asked to have L6O spent on a road at East Dipton from Bennett's northward. — Held over. Allan McLeod wrote relative to an application he had recently made for works on a road near the Wreys Bush bridge, and impressed upon the Council the importance of the work to the residents of the locality. — Referred to the Engineer and the member for the l-iding. An application for some work at a swamp near Limehills was also referred to the Engineer and the member for the riding. G. A. Dod wrote asking for some work on the road to his place at Waikawa. — Writer to be informed that the matter would be attended to shortly. Ferrier Bros, applied to have a culvert put in on the road at section 89, Forest Hill. — Held over. Councillor Baldey moved seconded by Councillor McQueen " That all collectors of dog tax be required to pay all moneys in hand to the County clerk every month r.nd that in any case of non-compliance therewith the clerk report the same to the Council at once. — Carried. Henry Templeton applied for permission to erect a verandah over his place of business at Fortrose and drew attention to two or three bad places on the side of the road there. — Permission granted to erect the verandah. The Hon. G. F. Richardson, Minister for Lands, notified that the following subsidies had been granted at the rate of £ for £ for works in the village settlements named : Lintley, L6O ; Longridge, LSO ; Woodfield, L25 ; Fernhills, L4O ; and Makarewa, LSO. — The chairman was authorised to sign the necessary agreements. A. R. Hay wrote agreeing to take L59 for road and fencing taken in block 1, Lothian, for road purposes. — Approved. Constable Ferguson was appointed Inspector of Slaughterhouses at Mataura. The Minister of Mines notified that LSO had been roted for the road to Waipapa and Six-Mile Beach. — Received. John McLeod applied on behalf of himsel f and six others for the use of the Council's boring rods to prospect for minerals at Round Hill. — Granted for one month on the usual conditions. The Inspector reported.that gorse was en« croaching on the Forest Hill trajiway road, and was instructed to give the usual notices to ihe occupiers of the land in the vicinity. T. G. Shand wrote stating that a number of planks were loose on the bridge at McLean's Crossing. — Surfacemen to do necessary work. Abram McKenzie wrote asking what he was to do with persons who would not pay their dog-tax. — Writer to be asked to submit i list of names. The Engineer reported that owing to the. large number of contracts which had been Let in the Hokomn and Mataura ridings sxtra inspection was necessary, and recommended that T. McGown, ganger, be allowed in extra shilling a day to do the work—Appointment made accordingly for the months of December and January.

Alexander Dawson drew attention to the dangerous state of bridges over Hillend creek.— Surfaceman to do necessary work. William Bowie wrote that the County Council had let a contract for a road through his section in block 13, Waikaka, and claimed compensation. — Referred to the Engineer for report. It was decided that the whole Council should form the Finance Committe, Councillor Green to be chairman. On the motion of Councillor Green tenders were ordered to be called for forming and gravelling on the road from Gore to Coutts 1 farm, and on Kingdon's road, Croydon to Mandeville. Tenders were ordered to be called for 500 yards of gravel on road from Pyramid bridge to Squire's corner, on the motion of Councillor Hast. Councillor McCallum moved, seconded by Councillor Green, "That the Minister of Lands be respectfully requested to grant the sum of LSO to open up Crown lands in block 10, Oteramika Hundred."— Carried. The sum of LIOO was voted to the chairman for the year to cover his travelling expenses. The Council then adjourned.