Southland County Council

Southland Times, Issue 11656, 10 February 1891, Page 3

Southland County Council

Monday, 9th February. The monthly meeting was attended by the Chairman (Mr I. W. Raymond; aud Councillors Hast, McQueen, Baldey, McCallum, Green, Ward, Gerrard, and Fleming. Councillor Baldey was unanimously reelected to represent the Council on the Bluff Harbour Board, and made suitable acknowledgment of the honour. Thomas Me William waited on the Council and presented a petition from himself and twelve others asking to have a road through South Winton opened up for a distance of five or six chains, about fifteen chains having been previously ma'ie available for traffic. — Referred to the Engineer for report. Dog-tax collectors for the various ridings were appointed as follows : — Winton and Oreti, L. Anderson ; Waihopai and Wallacetown, A. McKenzie ; Awarua, T. Welsh ; Hokonui and Mataura, J. C. Robinson ; Toi Tois, R. W. Robson. Wm. Anderson and others petitioned for road works near section 63, block, 20, Otatara. — Referred to Engineer and member for riding with power to act. R. VValdron wrote asking for repairs to Minerva street, Makarewa. — Referred to Engineer and memltet for riding with power to act. William Watt drew attention to the bad state of the road north of sections 555, 556, and 557, HokoouL— Held over till next meeting. The Gore Borough Council requested the Council to take over'Dundas street in their municipality and do certain works thereon in accordance with a promise made to the old Gordon Town Board. — Councillor McQueen said tke Jormatioii of the municipality of Gore put it out of the Council's power to take over the road. — Request refused. William Bowie wrote stating that he would accept L7O for- the land required on section 1, block 13, Waikaka for road purposes. — It was resolved to offer him LSO. An application from R. S. Mosan for road works at South Forest Hill waa referred to Engineer with. power to act. W. Judge wrote , offering to do about seven chains of formation and bush clearing at Makarewa at 30s per chain. — Declined. V. Almao requested the Council to close a ditch near bis property on the North road, it being very dangerous in its present state. Engineer to do what is necessary. The Engineer reported that in his opinion a deviation in a road in block 8, Wendon, asked for by Mark Miles was unnecessary, but stated that some cutting,<fec, was necessary to make the road passable. — Work authorised on the motion of Councillor Hast. M. Small and others asked for works on the road in Winton Bush alongside the Forest Hill tramway. — It was decided to apply to the Government for a grant of L2OO towards making the road so as to give access to the deferred payment sections and Crown lands. T. Suunton and M. Walsh, of West Plains, wrote asking that a bridge should be erected over the Waikiwi stream on the roadline between sections 125 and 126, as they had no means of access to their land on the south side of the river. — Held over till next meeting. An application from Organ and Co for the transfer of their slaughtering license from Waikiwi to section 17, block 2, Invercargill Hundred, was granted. The Lands Department intimated that the vote of LI SO applied for to assist in making the road east of Chatton village could not be granted because it did not appear that such an expenditure would benefit the village settlement. Sergeant Fleming, of Gore, and Constable Keaney, of Mataura, were appointed inspectors of slaughterhouses and abbatoirs within the county, Inspector Millar reported that a contractor for work at Oporo had left a dangerous hole in the road. — Referred to Engineer. A letter from Robert Troup relative to the dangerous state of a track at Waikawa was referred to the Engineer. The Otago School Commissioners intimated that they would agree to a proposed road deviation at the west end of the Oreti bridge on the Winton- Wreys Bush road, provided the Council would close the road line on the north-east boundary of section 35, Oreti Hundred, and exchange it for the land required. — It was decided to request the Commissioners to lease the land to the Council. J. F. Brunton requested that steps should be taken to survey a road line in block 13, Waikawa, as he wished to fence his land. — Held over till next meeting. Wm. Russell was appointed returning and presiding officer for the Winton Licensing Mrs Robinson wrote complaining of the action taken by James Gedney in cleaning out a ditch, &c, at Makarewa. — The Engineer said Mr Gedney had been granted permission to clean out the ditch, his request being a most reasonable one. R. McKenzie wrote complaining of the delay in carrying out necessary works on the Benmore-Lora road. — Surfaceman to attend to work as far as possible. John Mcßride was appointed Ranger on the county roads in the Lothian sub-division of the Oteramika Road District. Dr Stock well reported a case of diphtheria tX South Wyndham. — It was decided to appoint John Mcßride as Inspector under the Public Health Act for the Wyndham district. Thomas McGrath requested that an old ditch at Limehills should be cleaned out. — Left in the hands of the surfaceman. The Engineer recommended that the necessary formation, ditching and culverting be done on the road between sections 254 ana 255, Forest Hill Hundred.— Work authorised. John Maloney applied for permission to cut timber on Actcen road, Makarewa. — Engineer to report when in the district. V. Almao repeated a previous complaint as to the bad state of the road leading to sections 12, 13, and 14, block 10, New River Hundred. — Engineer to report when in the district. D. McGregor and others petitioned for a horse-bridge over the Waikaka stream at the west corner of section 9, block 9, Wendon. On the motion of Councillor Hast it was decided to inform the petitioners that the Council would erect a proper traffic bridge if the Otago School Commissioners would pay one-third of the oost. •■ Inspector Millar reported that Michael Casey had dog dangerous holes on the road at West Plains. — Engineer to take necessary steps to have holes refilled. The Inspector further reported that Cheyne and Ridland had neglected to comply with a notice from the Council to fill up holes oa the Bluff road. — Chairman ' to take action under the Public Works Act. I. S. Simson applied for permission to erect a swing gate across a road at Charlton, running through allotment 7, of block 1, N.Z.A. Co. 's survey, No. 11. — Granted. Joseph McLelland wrote asking for work on the road leading to his place near West Plains.— Engineer to report. D. Dundas wrote asking that the County should make some allowance to the Six -Mile Beach Dredging Co. for permanent improvements they had found it necessary to make on the Waikawa-Six Mile Beach road to enable them to convey their plant to the latter place. — Left in the hands of the chairman. The Engineer reported that the bridge over the Mararoa river on the main MatauraWyndham road was unsafe and unfit for traffic. —On the motion of Councillor McQueen tenders were ordered to be called for a new bridge. Accounts and salaries amounting to LI 985 19s Id were passed for payment. J. H. Perkins and G. H Macau were appointed Deputy Returning Officer and Presiding Officer for the licensing districts of Mataura and Wallacetown respectively. The Engineer was instructed to have the weather side of the Wallacetown public pound boarded up. The Collector was authorised to sue forthwith for all outstanding rates. Forming and gravelling six chains as an addition to a contract for work at Muddy orwk, Waikai*, wm Authorised.

On the motion of Councillor 10C i yards of maintenance gravel were ordered to be procured as an addition to the contract i for work on the road towards block 7, Wendon, cost to be divided between the Mataura and Waikaia ridings. The Engineer was instructed, on the motion of Councillor Ward, to call tenders for forming and gravelling the road round part of Ardlussa hill and to attend to the drainage at Balfour railway crossing. , Councillor Fleming moved — " That all the surfacemen in |the Awarua riding receive notice that their services will not be required after the present month." He said he regretted that such a course was necessary, but the Couacil were aware that his riding had no funds when he joined the Council and had continued in that state. The rates amounted to about LI 100 ; of this LSOO was swallowed up by the surfacemen and about LIOO by wor-ing expenses, leaving only about LSOO to make and maintain new works. At present the surfacemen were not much requited, and when they were they could be reappointed. — The motion was seconded by Councillor Gerrard and carried. It was decided, oa the motion of Councillor McCallum, to subsidise the Government vote of LSO for opening road through block 10, Oteramika, to the extent of L 25. Councillor Baldey moved, seconded by Councillor McQueen — " That as some person or persons have removed a portion of the guard fence at the iron bridge over the Oreti river, the Engineer be instructed to prosecute any person found bo doing in the future. " — Carried. The Council then adjomrned.