TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1050, 14 June 1884, Page 3

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was held in Lawrence yesterday afternoon. The following members were in attendance— viz. , F. Oudaille, Esq. (Chairman), and Messrs Bennet, Buchanan, Cotton, Fraser, Herbert, Mervyn, M'Nab, and Sheath. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Thos. Featherstone offered to complete the approaches to contract No. 191 (Shingle Creek bridge) if he were allowed bank interest above the outlay 1 ; there were about five chains to complete. — Referred to the Engineer. Mr T. J. Collins requested his name to be placed on the electoral roll of James Riding. — Resolved on the motion of Mr Herbert : " That ithe request be complied with." The Chairman stated that it was too late to place Mr Collins's name on this year's roll. Mr G. F. Welch (Lee Stream) wrote that as nothing as yet had been done by the Council to make the road passable from the Eldorado to Broad Creek, he a3ked that a couple of surfacemen be instructed to perform the work, which was much needed.— On the motion of Mr Cotton, it was resolved to accede to Mr Welch's request. Messrs Arbuckle, Robertson and Co. (agents for Ah Yum and party) made application to mine for gold in a small portion of the old road-line on Wetherstones Flat, being a piece left vacant by the new road to Waipori via Bungtown, fronting Mr D. Hunter's ground. They were quite agreeable to deposit any reasonable sum to insure the filling in and leaving the ground in proper order after being worked.— Mr M'Nab moved : " That the matter be referred to the Engineer with power to act." — Carried. Mr P. Uren (clerk) wrote stating that the Lawrence Borough Council had found it necessary, in order to protect the drainage works, which are well nigh finished, to carry Gabriels Creek through a cut in a piece of land opposite Derwentstreet. To do this, it would be necessary to divert the present road slightly, and for that purpose the consent of the County Council was requested. — Mr M'Nab moved : " That the letter be referred to the Works Committee for consideration and report." He said it would affect Martin Joyce's property if the creek was diverted. — Mr Herbert seconded the motion. — Carried.

Messrs Mackay Bros, wrote at considerable length asking the Council to construct that portion of the road leading through, their property in block iv., Crookston. Although the road would benefit them more than any other settler in the neighborhood, yet it would not b 8 used exclusively by them, as it led through block xvn., Crookston, and would be of benefit to the Bettlers there. — Mr Bennet moved: "That the letter be referred to th 3 Engineer for report." Several side cuttings had to be made and culverts erected before the road could be used, and he considered it would be a great hardship if Messrs Mackay had to expend £50 on the road before the Council save any assistance. — Motion agreed to. MrG. S. Hall (Tuapeka Mouth) brought under the notice of the Council that since the boundaries of Clarks Riding had been altered, the Tuapeka Mouth portion of the former Waitahuna licensing district was now included in the Matau licensing district. He asked the Council to take steps to get the boundaries of Waitahuna licensing district made co-terminus with the County boundary. A letter was ako read from Sergeant Finnegan (clerk of the Matau Licensing Committee}, stating that an accommodation license had been granted to Mr Hall, and that the fee was £s.— Mr Fraser moved : "That the letter be received, and the clerk instructed to apply to get the boundary altered as recommended by Mr Hall." — Carried. MrM. E. Manuel wrote :— " The cattle which Bhould be depastured, and are paid for being depastured on Mount Benger commonage, are scattered in all directions through our district. The Ranger (Mr Robt. Kirkwood) says his duties do not embrace looking after the cattle. Only last week, several head of my cattle were brought iv from the commonage unknown to me, and against my wish. Our local Committee are powerless to act in this matter, and on their behalf I respectfully request to be informed by the Council what the Ranger's duties really are."— -Mr Mervyn said he was unaware of the duties of the Banger. He understood that the Ranger received a salary. Those parties complaining had a small account against the Council, and he thought it would be as well to pay it. The following letter was received from Messrs Herbert and Co., Lawrence: — " Having disposed of sections 37, 38, and 53, block xrv., Glenkenich, to Mr John Howat, and section 43, same block, to John and Duncan M'Coll, all of Tapanui, we have to request that the County rates on the said sections be charged to the above-named parties ; also, that the rates on 100 acres bush reserve and mill be deducted from Mr John Howat's valuation, as the bush reserve was given up over twelve months ago. The rates on sections 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60, block xiv., should charged to Herbert, Howat, and Co., r and not to Mr John Howat, as charged by you." — Mr Herbert thought such matters as these ought to be treated purely as departmental. He mo red: ''That Mr Woods be empowered to rectify the matter complained of." — Carried. Mr Thos. J. Collins (Heriot) drew the Council's attention to Che fact that on the day fixed. (viz., 7th June) for holding the annual meeting of the James Licensing Committee only one member of that body put in an appearance, and in consequence no business . was transacted. Ab he (Mr Collins) rendered himself liable if he carried ou business, iv his premises ou aud

after 30th June unless his license was renewed, he asked that steps be taken to remedy his complaint.— Mr Mervyn said that Mr Collins was in error, as at the present time no Licensing Committee for the James district was in existence. Some time ago, he (Mr Mervyn) was asked by Mr J. N. Wood to recommend five eligible persons to His Excellency the Governor as a Committee. The members of the old Committee were incompetent to act, as they had absented themselves from three meetings. In justice to himself, he said that he received no notice to attend a meeting, owing to the clerk being of opinion that the old Committee werenot'qualified to act. — Mr Herbert said it was a great hardship to the publicans. — Mr Mervyn said he would at once wait upon the Magistrate and get him to telegraph to the Governor to appoint a new Committee. Mr W. Hornier wrote :—": — " At the request of a number of settlers at Millers Flat, I draw your attention to the following : Some time ago application was made to your Council requesting that the road from the Menzion Creek to the punt at Millers Flat be formed and gravelled. Your Council referred the matter to the Works Committee, who recommended that a sum of money be expended, and the road put in order. As nothing further has been done in the matter, I may remind you that this is the fourth time that money has been voted for this particular work, but nothing has been done to carry it out. Though it has been ordered by resolution of the Council that all works be carried out in the order in which they are passed, yet this instruction has been totally ignored. This does not show a spirit of fair play, as .several other works have been attended to which were ordered at a much later date. , I trust your Council will see the matter attended to as soon as possible ; otherwise the said road will be impassable in winter, and all, traffic will be stopped, to the loss and inconvenience of the residents." — Mr Mervyn said every word in Mr Honner's letter was true. He thought sufficient funds were available for the completion of these works. Several needful works could be undertaken out of the deferred - payment moneys. So long as these moneys were expended, the settlers were not particular where they were spent. — The Chairman said that there were four works passed when this one was agreed to be done, and the others had not been proceeded with —Mr Mervyn moved : " That the work referred to in Mr Honner's letter be commenced without delay, and that Mr Honner be communicated with to that effect." — Carried. PROPOSED BOAD THBOTTGH LIVINGSTON'S PBOPEBTY. The sub-Committee appointed at last meeting reported that they had visited the land the subject of dispute between Mr Livingston and Messrs Sutherland and Cowan, and were pleased to state that an arrangement had been made between the parties by which Mr Livingston had consented that the road be taken through his property. After discussion, the report was adopted BRIDGE AT HOPKINS' CROSSING. Mr Jas. Hopkins (Evans Flat) drew attention to the fact that the bridge now being constructed over the Tuapeka creek, opposite his licensed premises, was unnecessarily high, and cut off the traffic from his door. He pointed out that the bridge could be lowered about 6ft., and would answer all practical purposes. After some discussion, it was decided to refer the letter to the Engineer. The Engineer reported that if the bridge were lowered 6ft. it would only leave 18in. for the waterway. He recommended that the levels shewn on drawing be adhered to. It was eventually decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Chairman and Engineer, with the object of relieving Mr Hopkins's complaint. Mr Tolcher preferred a claim of £44 6s 3d for extra work done on the new bridge at Docherty's crossing. — The Eugineer reported that Mr Tolcher had been paid for all work done in terms of his contract with the Council. —Referred to the Works Committee. IHE BEAUMONT BRIDGE CONTRACT. Mr W. R. Buchanan (contractor for the Beaumont bridge) wrote asking the Council to remove the present Inspector of the Beaumont bridge contract, and appoint some person in his stead, as it was found almost impossible to carry on the work under his superintendence. The consideration of this letter provoked a lengthy and animated debate, one or two of the Councillors being favorable to the removal of the Inspector. On the letter being referred to Mr Sraaill for report, that gentleman upheld the action of the Inspector, who, he said, was merely carrying out his instructions, and that it would be very wrong to dismiss him for doing so. If the Council censured the Inspector, it was tantamount to passing a vote of want of confidence in himself, which merely meant that he (the Engineer) must tender his resignation. The matter eventually wan allowed to drop. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted, on the recommendation of the the Engineer :—: — Contract No 197— Formation and metalling 29 chains road near Sheehan's in Block X~, Tuapeka West district?.— Charles Mullins. Contract No 202 — Gravelling 30 chains road situate on west side of Wetlierstones Flat, commencing near Railway Crossing, and terminating at Whelan's road.— Samuel Anderson. PUNT RETURNS. The following are the punt returni for the month of May :— Beaumont 'jrjjj™ Roxburgh. Passengers ... 5422 3778 6386 Vehicles ... 508 612 317 Horses ... 2426 2082 1006 Cattle ... 103 93 9 Sheep and pigs. 1756 56 48 The fees received for the month were as follows : — Beaumont, £4 08 9d ; Millers Flat, 3s 4d ; Roxburgh, 2s— total, £4 0s Id. GENERAL BUSINESS. The balance-sheets, duly audited, were placed on the table and adopted. Mr Fraser moved : " That the general rate for the current year be the same as last year — viz., three-farthings in the £," The accounts for the month of May, .amounting to £2176 6s sd, were passed for payment.