Southland County Council.

Southland Times, Issue 15171, 15 February 1902, Page 4

Southland County Council.

Friday,. 14th February. The ordinary meeting waa attended by Councillors C. Robeiteon (chairman), J. Lennie, Jno. Hamilton, I. W. Raymond, R. M. Me Callum, L. Fraser, Jno. MoQueen, T. Green, and Geo. Stuart. In regard to the petition to have the old suspension bridge, transferred from Glenary to near Hyde-Home station, the engineer reported that the bridge was 147 feet long, and as the most suitable place at the new site was 177 feet, the old bridge would be almost useless. A light suspension bridge at the new place would cost £75. — No money at present. Permission was granted to G. T. Queale to lay a tramway across the half-chain roads at the west end of sections 18 and 42, block 8, New River Hundred, and thence along the south aide of the Forest Hill road from part of section 68, block 8, to the Forest Hill railway station. ; In reference to the encroachment of the Waikaia ttver the engineer reported that as there was no rock near the place, a groin would be too expensive, and it would be cheaper to take fresh ground for the road as the river encroaches. A complaint from Waikaka that people were occupying Crown, lands and. paying neither rate's" nbrt&xes, was referred to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Alfred Cameron's request for removal of stumps and gravelling at Waimatuku Bush was refused for want of funds. The engineer said the clearing of the stumps was not required by the Council. Permission was; given to George Aitken, of Wendon Valley, to erect two swing gates on the dotted track running through sec. 8, block 9, Wendon. In regard toencroachment of river on road at reserve near see. 3, block % Otama, the engineer recommended the Board, under whose^jarisdiction the road was, to purchase about half an acre for making a new road as protective works were out of question owing to excessive cost. The repairing of. the road at Mabel Bush, as asked for by Garvey Bros. , was authorised as soon as grader is available. The application of F. J. Alley for the expenditure of the Vote of £150 on the new road at Oreti Plains was granted on condition that the applicants send in plans and pay all costs in connection with road, land, and fencing. - • Mr J. A. Hanan asked the Council, on behalf of A. D. Campbell, Winton, to order Mrs Butler to clear oat the ditches through her sections to let "the water an Campbell's land run off. Messrs T. M. Macdonald and Sons, referring to Curle'sfetter re fen«s& on the road at Wyndham, said W. Murray had no interest in the farm, and tfcey . asked the Council to enforce the notice' to Curie to remove the fence. — Copy of letter to be sent to Curie. A request from. M. E. .CapeL Mabel Bush, for a cutting at corner of sec. 18, block 5, as it was not safe to bring a dray down, was referred to the engineer. The question of purchasing poisoned grain was held over till next meeting, the Finance Committee in the meantime to investigate and report on the question of the Council manufacturing poisoned gram. In connection with the permission granted to the MacCharlton Co re dredging, their solicitor was informed that the applied to all the land included in the license. DrOgston said he had received a petition from the people of Wyndham complaining of a nuißance caused by a dirtily-kept piggery in connection with the local dairy factory. Attempts had been made to have it put in order, but had failed, «nd he was convinced 'that the piggery Was a nuisance and a menace to public health. — Copy of report to be sent to the factory and their attention drawn to the repeated complaints. A letter from Thos. Anderson, Otatara, calling attention to damage done through removal of gravel from the river bank at the north corner of section 42,: block 20, was referred to the engineer. - u * , The chairman was aufchaias«B^o sign the authority for expenditure of £250 on Minii-hau-Wairekiki road, the engineer to prepare plans in two contracts and«all for tenders. J. and D. Mcllwraith called attention to the silting up of Waimumu stream and applied for three outlets through the shingle road south of lots 49 and 50. — Received. Dr Ogston said that the creek running through Lumsden formed a lagoon in rear of the two principal hotels and was in a filthy condition, requiring immediate attention. — Chairman to see the sanitary inspector. The engineer was instructed to report on the encroachment of the river on the North road at Dipton as reported by R. I). MacLachlan. J. G.iHerdman asked the Council to do something to the approaches to the bridge on road between West Plains and Bay road. — No fnnds available. John Dennis, complaining of road opposite section 10, block 1, Waikaia, was informed that the work was provided for. J. D. Land, Centre Bush, was informed that £150 voted for Limehills would -be spent when available. The Council offered no objection to parts of section 13, block 5, Campbelltown, being brought under the Land Transfer Act. Acting on advice from the solicitor the Council resolved" "that G. T. Queale be asked what proportion of damage he i« prepared to pay in respect of the damage to the ertent of £200 caused by his excessive traffic on the Forest Hill Crossing road. " A petition from W. L Taylor and others for gravelling and trimming at Woodlands from the cemetery to section 44, was referred to the engineer for report. G. Pinkney'B request to have three culverts lowered on Glenary main road was referred to the engineer. "" The cycling trade of Invercargill were granted permission to hold a road/ace between Invercargill and Biverton' on 26th March. E. Butler and others strongly objected to a tramway being laid on Thomson's Crossing roadline, so near the centre, and were informed that the matter would be attended to. , The Council resolved to recommend G. Conley's application for a railway level crossing at Dipton. It was resolved that the Council after due consideration agree to bear half cost of repairs to the Mataura bridge. The Piano Flat GiM. Co. were permitted to sluice through the tussock track provided they made another. David Clark »nd others asked fora culvert inßyal Bush road.— Referred to the engineer. J. EL Jameson was granted permission to divert the NevisGarston road, provided he pay a deposit of TjBSQ ; money to be returned when the road is replaced. . Permission was granted to Henry Beckett to erect a fence and swing gate across road

line leading into section 29, Waimumu, removable at will of Council. A request from J. Williams, Wright's Bush, to have a culvert lowered "was rei ferred to the engineer. The surfaceman was instructed to attend to the approach to Girdler's road at Greenhills as complained of by E. Oirdler. The engineer was instructed to report on J. Casaerly's offer to do 21 chains of formation, SOft wide of stumping, and fill two gullies for £15, at Limehills. John Barber asked for four chains of cutting to grade the hill leading to Spring Bank school. — Referred to engineer. Permission was granted to A. Knight to cut the white pine on road-line west of sections 9 and 10, block 8, East Winton. K. Cameron reported danger to publio health through there being no proper means for the disposal of waste skim milk at the Winton dairy factory. — County inspector to see to the matter. A similar notification in regard to stagnant house drainage, etc., from the house of the Rev. J. A. Luxford was referred to the Boroagh Council. A complaint from J. Anderson, Glenham, re the inadequate manner in which Couser had shifted his gates was. referred to the engineer. J. E. Humphries and R. McGillivray said that the nuisance of the tram crossing the public road at Mataura had not oeen stopped. — Engineer to report. Robert Kilpatrick, drawing attention to the road running north from the Waimumu school, was informed that there were no funds available. Thomas Fleming offered to continue the cycling track on the west side of the North road to his own gate on condition that the county supplied pipes for Che drain.—Referred to the member and engineer with power to act. A largely signed petition from ratepayers in the Oteramika road district asked that the district be merged in the county. — Clerk to examine petition. In reply to the Council's letter the Engineer of Roads stated that the Minister of Lands did not see his way to authorise the commencement of the work at Menzies Ferry bridge at present, and that the matter must remain in abeyance for a while. The offer made by Jas. Taylor on behalf of certain Pine Bush settlers was accepted, and the engineer was asked to make an estimate of the cost of the gravelling and arrant^ for its being carried out. It was resolved to invite tenders for the collection of the dog tax in the several ridings, and that the tax be again 5s per dog and 2s 6d. for shepherds', drovers', and farmers' dogs. A. Tapper, Wallacetown, said W. J. Moffetthad not removed tho obstructions and it was resolved that the Council do the work and charge the registered proprietor. The following workfi were authorised in the Mataura riding : — Pukerau to Otaria, £70 ; Crawford and Andrews road, £36 ; J. 6. Reid's, £25 ; and Waikoikoi road at Pukerau, £50. The engineer was instructed to prepare specifications and invite tenders for the following works In the Waibopai riding : — Morton Mains-Gorge road, 96 chains of unformed road to be graded, £30 ; road along Wilson's bush ridge to cutting at Muddy creek, £40; gravelling on road eastward,; £30 ; Birch's road, Oteramika, gravel, £40 ; Uooley's road, gravel, £16 ; Neiderer's swamp block, ditchiner, £30 ; and gravelling and new culverts, Morton Mains road, £25. The N.M. and A- Co. were notified that owing to the blocking of the watercourse of Station creek, Waikaia, it was damaging the county road, and the company was required to clean out the creek. J. Hamlyn presented a report of all work done by the bridge gang during 1901. Draft bylaws regulating traction engine traffic were adopted and ordered to be advertised. The following matters».were held over : — Letter from Sydenham Borough Council asking co-operation in obtaining redress re completion of valuation rolls, as I'esolved by the conference of local bodies ; appointment of ranger from top of Caroline valley to the east end of Harrington's road ; complaint from J. J. Hynd re state of read between sections 3 aDd 5, Spar bush ; letter from W. "Clark, Croydon bush re road leading to the settlement ; complaint from D. McOallum in regard to the state of the creek through Grieve's property on New River Flat. Accounts and salaries amounting to £2980 178.4d were passed for payment. The Council then adjourned till Friday, 21st March.