WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13360, 8 March 1912, Page 4

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Waimea County Council was hold yesterday. Present: Crs. Best (chairman), Everett, Drummond, Hewetßon, Macmahon, Gorder and Hoult. 'FINANCE^ The., bank pass book allowed tho following balances.— I Dr.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr. G. S. Whiteside) reported that tho principal work of tho past month had been in connection with Government grants. All the grants accepted by the Council for expenditure (excepting Trass Valley) had been laid off. Specifications, etc., had been prepared in duplicate for the Public Works Department. All those had been approved by tho Resident Engineer at Nelson with the exception of three or four which had to be referred to Wellington. Twenty-eight grants had been dealt with, including tho preparation of 5G separate proposals. Fifteen authorities had been received to i date from the Government to put the works in hand, most of which had been acted iipon. In the Maitai riding 45 chains of gravelling had been don©.on the Wangamoa road. Further repairs' "jand asphalting had been done on the Rocks road. At Tatahi. great objection was being taken to tho proposal to fill up the ditch and remove the fence, without putting in larger pipes as it was contended that property would be damaged. The ditch acted as an overflow drain to carry off storm water. The pipes would cost between £15 and £20. As it was now a matter for the Stoke, Road Board lie suggested that tho matter of filling up the ditch and removing th<> fence should be left to them to deal with. Wai-iti riding: Tho drainage trouble at Spring Grove had beon caused by the choking up of the water channel, and an obstruction in tho shape of a hurdle which impeded the free flow of water during tho freshes. The proposed division at Andrews' (Wairoa Gorge) would cost about £10. Three settlers interested offered to contribute one third of the-cost. The work of expending the Trass Valley grant of £150 could not be proceeded with until the Council had an agreement with Messrs. Hoult Bros, regarding a necessary deviation of the "road. Motupiko riding: Tho machine was now working on tho Stanley Brook-Thorp road. Wangapeka riding: The "grant for the Tadmor to Wangapeka road was nearl.v expended. The Wangapeka river ford had been picked. Tho Dart suspension bridge was urgently in need j of repairs as tho pier supporting the ! central tower was being undermined. Motueka riding: Tho erection of the Peninsula bridge had been commenc- ■ cd. The approach to the Jubilee. , bridge required widening and gravel- : linp. Moijtere riding: The Moutere mudflat extension road contract was almost completed. The gang would start on Edwards' road grant next work. It was rosolvod that the matter of Hllmc- up tho ditch, etc., at Takuna | bo left in abeyance. j In was resolved that Mr. W. H. Knapn be requested to remove obstruction in creek at Spring Grovn. It was resolved on Cr. Hoult's ran+y>n that fchoi sottler.'< at) Wairoa Gorge be askod to contribute half the cost, estimated at £5, of the proposed road deviation. Cr. Corder referred to tho very sat- ' isfactory manner in which tho Engij::Wr had dealt with tho ■ Government | grants. Several other Councillors endorsed Cr. Cordor's remarks. Tho 1 grants dealt with by the Engineer total over £5000. The report was then adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The Minister for Public Works wroto cancelling the grant for tho Wangapeka bridge. Cr. Drummond said tho work was now being laid out by. the Resident Engineer of the Public Works Department. From the Public Works Department in reference to the Council's application of 10th July last for an Order-in-Council delegating to the Council the right to use water for the purpose of generating electricity for lighting and motive power in terms of the Public Works Act, 1908, informing th c Council that the- Minister was not aware of any authority vested in a county council to establish any schome of electrical lighting. The Minister pointed out the provisions in tho Act under which the Council could undertake such work. Tho Minister could not gee his way to grant the application. Tho Undcr-Sccretary also wrote in reference to the Council's correspondence, relating to application of Mr. Ellis for permission to erect poles on the road for tho purpose of carrying electrical wires for tho lighting of Brightwater. The Minister pointed out that.if a licenso was granted to Mr Ellis it must be a license both under section 5 of tho Public Works Amendment Act, 1908, and under section 2 of tho Public Works Amendment Act, 1911. The Crown law officers did not agree with tliri opinion expressed by Messrs Fell and Atkinson that Mr. Ellis was entitled to use water for electric lighting without a license. If any licenso was issued, tha express consent of the Council should be obtained, and Mr. Ellis would be required to obtain a license under the powers mentioned.

Or. Hoult thought that the Council should assist Mr. Ellis as far as possible in his scheme to light Brightwater by electricity. He moved that the matter be deferred for one month to enable Mr Ellis to make; application to tho Council.

From Mr. W. Wid^jwson, Residoof Engineer stating the beforo final payment could be made for tho Lower Moutere mudflat extension road, the work would require to be finished satisfactorily.—Referred to the Engineer Liout. B. G. Mali oner, secretary of tho Legion of Frontiersmen, asking the Council's co-operation in the mbvement and forwarding pamphlet. —Received.

A number of letters _were received from county, councils giving information in reference to the Motor Regulafion Act,-1903.—0n Cr. Hoult's motion it was resolved to constitute the Council a ro^ijtering authority under the Motor Regulation Act. From Mr. Godfrey Harley, Moutere asking to have road legalised.—lt was resolved that Mr Harley be granted permission to fence, and tho.Engineer to surrey tho road with a view-to legalisation.

From the secretary of the Stoke Progressive Association statins; that the price asked for by Mr. J. Taylor for land at head of Poor Man's Valley was £630, and suggesting that the land should bo obtained for a waterworks reserve. Also notifying that the public cemetery at Stoke would be closed shortly* and asking the CouneiLto take such action as it deemed fit.—Resolved that tho Council would make enquiries as to its powers in regard to the waterworks reserve and asking the Association to formulate a "scheme for tho Council's ■consideration; In regard to the cemetery the Council to make inquiries.*

From Mr. R. T. Sadd, Commissioner of Grown Lands, asking Council to attend to certain matters in connection with work done on the road through the Wangapeka settlement. Tli© Commissioner also requested the Council to attemd to drain alongside C. Gray's property at Wangapeka settlement.—Referred to the Engineer. . . From Mr. S. L. Moffitt, Tadmor, drawing attention to the state; of Or-

chard'creek'road loading to his own and Mr. Gainsford's property.—Resolved that two or three days' work be done. \ , « Three residents of Tadmor -asked the "Council to what amount they would be assisted in forming road to ■their properties, Fairhall road.—Hesolvod that the Council contribute hajf tlio ccstptta total expenditure not'to exceed £15.. From Mr Geo. Van Belle, manager Blue Creek Development Company, asking for refund of money spent on the Rolling river truck at Wangnpe-ka.—R-equest declined. From Messrs Pitt and Moore, on behalf of Roeske Bros., applying tor withdrawal of permission -to ««* Swing gate granted to Michael Brady at last meeting. It was pointed out that the road ran through • Messrs. lloesko Bros' property and was much used by them when transferring stock •from' one part of the property to the other, and if Mr. Brady's stock were running on thci road it would be a great nuisance.—Or Drumniond to reP°From H. Tunnic'.iff, asking for permission to run tram line across road on Siierry hill.—Granted.. From seven settlors of the Pear&e Valley requesting that the Government grant of £300 for oprming up the Crown lands in that district be expended on a track instead or a cart road.— The Commissioner of Grown Lands advised the Council that the grant was obtained on Ins. recommendation for a bridle track, but it was being utilised for a cart road.—The Engineer said a road 12 feet wide had been laid off, and the work was in hand. It was resolved that the reply be left in the hands of the Engineer. Four residents of Riwaka wroto for permission to erect a flood gate at the middle bridge on.the. Stony R-h'or; also to block an old culvert between the two bridges and open up the old ditch on the wast side of the road.—Permission granted, subject to the supervision of the Engineer. From Mr. A. H. Wylds, Motueka, asking for permission to cut away a bank near the 6-mile peg on the Mo-tueka-Takaka road.—Granted.

From Mr. R-. B. Witty, Lower Moutere, asking t» have a ditch cleaned out.—>G ranted;

From Mr. Arthur McKee, Motuoka, stating that .tho formation of two sub-divisional roads at Tasman had been completed and asking the Council to take- them over. A request was also made that two gaps in the road to Upper Tasman be. bridged, and a further extension made.—Engineer to report. It was resolved on Cr. Everett's motion that the clerk prepare a return, showing th© amount of money paid out of the general account on the new roads leading to Tasman, etc.

From Mr. T. B. Goodall, secretary Lower Moutero School Committee, asking that the approach to the teacher's residence be improved.—lt was proposed by Cr. Hoult, seconded by Cr. Everett, that permission be granted to tho School Committee to carry out the work o.t their own expanse. Cr. Howotson moved that the Overseer be instructed to carry out the work. Seconded by Cr. Macmahon. The amendment was lost on the following division : Noes: Crs Everett, Drummond, Hoiut and the chairman. Ayes: Crs. Hewetson, Macmahon and Corder. Tha motion was then put and carried.

From Mr. G. Brougham, Motucka. re the payment of an account. —Left to tho clerk.

From Messrs. F. and D. Edwards" on behalf of Mrs. Blwhynden, askin, that a road at Tophouse be improv er. Mr. J. It. Tomlinson made

similar request.—Resolved that the matter bo attended to by the Overseer.

From Messrs. Hagen Bros., Spring Grove, asking permission to erect a gate on Currin's lane. —Permission granted. From Mr. H. C. Beuke,. Neudorf. applying for a slaughtering license.--' Resolved to forward the application to the Stock Department for appro. val. GENERAL. It was resolved in accordance with notice given by Or. Everett, that the salary of tha ranger for the Wangam"a riding bo increased from £1 to The county ranger reported on tin. work dono during the montli, stating that there was little to find fault with.

Several other matters were don't with and tho Council rose at 415 p.m.

3oneral account 1 Land Fund thirds - Cr. ' Contractors' deposits [nt. Rocks road [nt. Ngatimoti bridge [nt. Baton brldgo. Int. Sherry briclgoi ... Int. Poninsula bridge Peninsula bridge loan ac. £ 8. d 8073 16 1( 2 3 5 21 21 75 7 11 12 la i: 13 4 - 1 10 II 2 10 I . 14 13 i: t.