SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 17734, 11 August 1917, Page 7

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland County Council, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs Colin Robertson (chair), G. Hunter, W. Norman, T. Eraser, C. Kerse, A. Stewart and J. White. CORRESPONDENCE. Vincent O'Connor and five other ratepayers of the Sandstone district requested that the Council take over a road, a fence and a ditch through sections 017, 610, 01S and 022, block 1, survey IS, the land to be given free of cost and the Council to bear cost of transfer. Petitioners would then grade the unformed parts free of cost. —Member ami enginer to visit and report. Jas. Redman, surfaceman, Mataura, forwarded his resignation.—Accepted. Permission to plough the roadline to destroy gorse was granted, under the usual conditions, to Duncan Baxter (Seaward Downs), Percy J. Cunningham (Ryal Bush), J. T. Martin (Gore), and Jas. Cockburn (Spar Bush). Robert Rose (Otapiri) forwarded his resignation as surfaceman.—Accepted. Similarly with J. Wiseman (Wintoni. in connection with forwarded copy of a resolution of the Manukau County Council it was decided : “That this Council is of opinion that County Councils should have [lower to compel owners to keep clear all creeks of willows or big obstructions.”

John Dunn and Fortune Bros. (Otamita) wrote with reference to encroachment of the Mataura river at the Otamita bridge. The stream wa< seriously threatening their properties and they offered £-50 apiece towards the cost of protective works.—Offers accepted and work will be put in hand as soon as possible. A, C. Thompson (Glenham) applied for permission to put a telegraph wire across the public road at Glenham.—Granted, under the usual conditions.

J. S. Fahy (Waimatuku) asked that the ditch on the Waimatuku bush road, section 12, block 10, be cleaned, as it was causing the water to overflow on to his property. —Member and engineer will visit when in the district. The resolution of the Mount Herbert County Council relative to the need for an amendment in the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act was received.

Henry \V. Spurrier and the Rev. J. S. Young wrote with reference to state of'a ditch at Waikiwi.—Matter is being attended to. Lawrence Bros (Maple Grove) wrote with reference to the state of the Oteramika road between the town and section 70.—Held over till next meeting. M. E, Capil (Grove Bush) asked that a further stretch of Capil’s road be gravelled. Held over until next meeting. Cl. H. Bushby (Makarewa) asked that certain people be stopped from carting posts over the clay portion of Orion road for three mouths as the road was in a very bad state.—-Held over till next meeting. 1). M. Sutherland (Edendale) called attention to the state of the road front Dacre into his property on the terrace. Its condition was such as to call for the hanging of one or till of those responsible for it being in such a state. —Held over till next meet-

The Mines Department tisked if the Council was prepared to take over the maintenance of the Charlton creek tail race, in which case the existing Board would be abolished. - Held over till next meeting. H. Findlay, Racecourse road, Invercargill, wrote stating that Mr Jas. Gregory had failed to clean out a drain as the Council had instructed over six months ago. -Mr Gregory to receive 14 days notice to clean drain. If work is not done at the expiry of that time the Council will do it at Mr Gregory’s expense. John Hav/kes (Wallaretown) drew attention to the blocked state of a .ditch in Clyde street south of Falkirk street,- Referred to member and engineer. A letter from Richard Jones (East Chat ton) with reference to a contract was re ferred to the member and the engineer. Burrell Bros. (Wyndhaml put forward the dalms of Davidson’s road for metalling Referred to member and engineer. Wm. Waddell (Waikaka Valley) called attention to wandering cattle on the road near the local school.-Matter will receive attention. With reference to the complaint of Thos. McKav (Mo.-'burn > to the river altering its course at the stock bridge the Inspectoi reported that it would be too expensive e job to turn the stream back to its forme; course. He recommended cutting a five chain channel in the present bed, at a cost of about -25, In any case something shoul; be done at one". Report adopted. The Inspector's report re the application of Jas. P. Hall (Tisburyi to have a swam; drained was held over till next meeting. The Southland Education Board applie; for sufficient pipes to enable the Board to erect a crossing to the school and teacher 1 ! residence at Motu-Rimu.— Referred to mem ber and engineer.

Thos. Milne (Lome) drew attention I the state of the road running past his pro perty. The trees on the opposite propert shaded and kept it wet and muddy. Coni not the Council do something to compel tie owner to cut the trees to a reasonubl; height ?—Referred to member and engineer. John Cox (North Makarewa) asked that a culvert opposite section 43, block 10, New

River Hundred, be lowered and increased in diameter.-Referred to member and engineer.

M. Maloney (Makarcwa) drew attention to the poo! of stagnant water in front of the Makarewa Post Office. He asked that the culvert be lowered so that it would drain the pool and that, the drain on his side of the road be piped, towards which work he offered to pay £2. —Referred to members anti engineer. Thos. S. Muirhead ( Waimatua) asked that the Council do something to better the impassable road leading from his farm. — Referred to member and engineer.

J. W. and T. Lee (Makarewa) approached the Council to write to Mr Gilmour re bringing up an outfall ditch so as to give them relief from surface water.- Referred to the member for riding and engineer.

J. R. Clarke (Mataura) wrote re the state of the ditch on Dun's coalpit road. With the exception of two the adjoining owners had cleaned it out. He asked that the remaining two he aproachcd in the matter. —Referred to member and engineer.

Jas. McNeil (Morton Mains) drew attention to the bad state of the road leading past his property.—Referred to member and engineer.

John Evans forwarder! £45, subscribed by various ratepayers for the purpose of assisting to bind the Balfour-St. Patrick’s road. —Work will be done as soon as possible. Jas. Gill (Winton) asked for an outfall to relieve him of the water which the surfaceman had drained from the road on to bis ground.—Referred to assistant engineer for report.

Wm. Snodgrass and five other Kennington ratepayers drew attention to the very bad state of Picrie’s and Gardner’s road and to the dangerous state of the bridge on same. They could not get the traction engine across to cut chaff and on occasions the children could not get to school, —Referred to member and engineer. Thos. Golden (Fortrosc) applied to have closed the roadline that runs through section 10, block 8, Toi Tois survey district. The road was of no use to anyone. —Refused.

Jas. Hislop Scott applied for permission to deepen a ditch on roaclline in front of his property. —Granted. GENERAL BUSINESS. The Inspector’s report of the work of the bridge gang was received. Resolved : “That a penny rate on the unimproved value within the Waimumu sludge channel drainage area be struck for the current year.” ’ Accounts amounting to £3922 9s Id were examined and passed for payment. DRAINAGE. Applications under the Southland Land Drainage Act were accepted from James Turtle (Dacre), Vrdetta G. Butler (Lochiel), and John Hewitson (Kennington) and set down for consideration at next meeting. The application of Alfred Harry Rose (South Invercargill) and Roderick McDonald (Clifton) was held over that the legal position may be ascertained. Concerning these drainage applications it was resolved ;—“That matters relating to the Southland Land Drainage Act, 1914, and Land Drainage Act, 1908, be dealt with on the fourth Friday in the mouth. A special meeting of the Council to be called when necessary to deal with the applications.”