WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL

Western Star, Issue 805, 29 December 1883, Page 2

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL

The Counci' met yesterday morning, when tli re were present: Messrs Hirst (Chairman), Basstim, Johnston, Hamilton, Mackintosh, and S evens. The minutes were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from Messrs Gillies and Quaylc, Mossburn, intimating that they in'ended closing the old road leading to Mararoa, running through their ground,—Received, it being understood that the Inspect or woul t be in the vicinity shortly and would see about the matter. From the Southland County Council, acknowledging receipt of letter from Wallace Council offering to subsidise the construction of road from section 48, Oreti Hundred, to Winton road to the extent of one-third up to £SO; and in reply siatirg that die Council had held over consideration of the matt r for ■ he present on account of the low state of the funds of Winton riding. , , F'om J. H. Smith, Bayvwater, whh regard to Special Rating Di tdct, Oreti Hundred objecting to the Bayswater estate being included in said district , which it was to the extent of over £BOOO. Ih • object of the special rating district was, it appeared, to open up a road to the main Winton road, but the writer contended that the es'ate would in no way whatever be benefited by the road, and that even were it made it would not be used, as the Otautau railway station was much nearer than Winton.—Mr Mackintosh, while admitting that too large an area of Bayswater estate had been included in the district to be rated, held that the whole of the estate could not fairly escape being rateh There was no question but that the road would he a benefit to the estate, and ho thought Mr Smith’s objection ml. be met ly excluding the 1000-acre block.—The Chairman explained that an error had been made as to the manner in creating the special district, and that it would now he necessary to take a poll of the ratepayers before the matter was decided.— After Mr Smith had been heard and some discussion had taken place on the subject, it was finally resolved, on the motion of IBJtr Johnston, that consideration of the matter be delayed until next mee'ing. From Mr J. A, Hodge, Mavara, bri-ging £ before the Council the “ urgent necessity of K something being done to repair the bush track ‘ through the Mavara bush leading to the Greenstone and Martin’s Bay.” The writer added that “there are several runs in this direction which I have ao doubt before long will be taken up, as the rabbits have now been done away with to a certain extent.”—The letter was reeoived.

The Clerk, Aparima Road Board, forwarded copy of special Order approved by the Board, delegating to the Council the powers possessed by the Board.—The Chairman, in moving that consideration of the subject be held over until next meeting, said he had instructed the Clark to write to the solicitor to ascertain if the matter was in order, and a reply bad not yet been received.—The motion waa carried. Mr Johnston (Muraroa) wrote declining to undertake the duties of dog tax collector for Mararoa riding at less than 2< per head. — Held over.

From J. More, informing the Council that he intended fencing sections 14, 15 and 16, Jacob’s River Hund -orl, through which the corduroy track to Orepuki ran; also, enclosing a bill for £2O for timber taken off his land fjr corduroy track, &c.—The Chairman explained that at'the time the track was la’d down it was understood that it was on the railway reserve. The account, he said, could could stand over, but the threatened closing of the track would require to be attended to ini mediately.—lt was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman and Engineer to make the best arrangements they could with reference to keeping the track Open.

From Mr Handyside, manager Jiiightcaps Railway Co., objecting to the Council rating the railway, stating that it was illegal.—The Chairman explained that the rate was made out from the property tax rolls forwarded from Wellington, aud on considering the mat ter, lie believed the Council had no power to levy a rate on the railway.—On the motion of Mr Mackintosh, it was agreed that thera’e be remitted. .' ‘ .■ APPOINTMENTS. . fo Constable Sheehan was appointed Registrar of Dogs and Inspector of Slaughterhouses for Apar’ma riding ; and Constable Buchanan was appointed Registrar of Dogs for Wairio riding. PETITIONS. Mr Johnston presented a petition from six deferred payment settlers in Tarincatura district, praying that a small amount of money be expended on main road from Wrey’s Bush to Winton, commencing at the hundred line and bearing east towards Win l on about 20 chains.—Referred to the Engineer to report. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT As follows was laid upon the table : “ I have the honor to submit, the following report re Roads for your consideration : “Road lino betweei sections 205, 206, 233,5 234 and 235, Tarinaatura District.—l made a' careful inspection of this road on Tuesday last, and find, to make the road at all viable in the winter, it will be necessary to do some 83 chains gravelling and 2 box culverts, the cost of which I estimate at £174. I may state the road in question gets dreadfully cut up in winter time, and the settlers cannot get out their produce. As requested, I only took notes of the worst porlions.

“ Eoad line from Mr Mackintosh’s f o Waicola Bush.; —This road was reported on by me some time back, since; then the road has been repaired in sever%l places. “Eoad line between sections 41 and 46, thence north to school reserve, Wairio district —I would recommend that a sum of £IOO be expended in doing the worst portions. Little or no money has been spent upon this, and it is necessary that this should be done, or the settlers will not be able to get out in the winter.

“ Eoad line commencing at Hundred line ; thence north for 145 chains to N.W. corner section 110, Wairio district. —I would call the Chairman’s attention to the fact that nothing whatever has been spent on this road. The ground is all full of crabholes. The cost of this work I estimate to bo as under, viz., 5 pipe drains @£t ... £2O 0 0 145 chains forming @7s 50 15 0 100 yards filling @la ... 5 0 0 £75 15 0 “Road line commencing at S.W. corner section 151; thence west to section 159, d.p block, Wa'rio district.—This requires a frame culvert, Gx 4 ditching and forming. I estimate the cost. will be £4O. No money hitherto has been spent on this lino, and the work is necessary. “ Tramway from Colae railway statien to Bound Hi!l goldfield.—A sum of £490 was voted for this work. On inspection, I find (hat th s amount will be of no use whatever in constructing this work. The first 2 miles 10 chains is pretty level country, but very boigr ; the other mile and a half will entail l e.vy cuttings and filling in, the cost of which i's very considerable, and would recommend that the Government be applied to for a sum of money under the vote for Roads and Tracks on Goldfields.

“ Otautau township main street. —Tin Town Board have ma le considerable improvements in filling up boles &c., and it is necessary that the road should be widened, as the present gravelled way is too narrow for traffic, an I would recommend that an applies'ion be made to the Government for a sum of money to complete this work, as this is one of the roads coming under the Roads and Bridges Construe ion Act.

“ The various contracts already let, 1 may state, are progressing satisfactorily.” In connection with the Engineer’s report the Chairman intimate 1 that ho had, as requested, held a meeting at Pailn with respect to closing a road there, and that there were no objections to the proposal. He had also inspected the site of the proposed road to Ringway estate, and he recoin mended that the Engineer’s suggestion regarding game b©

carried out. deferring to tbe proposed tramway to Round Hill he said he had anticipated the up lication by asking the Government to subsidise I tie undertaking, and they had agreed to do »o to the extent if £SOO at the rate of £2 to £l. He did not think, however, that the means at the disposal of the Council would enable a tramway to he constructed, and he recommended that the construction of a road be undeitaken. Consideration of the latter matter was deferred. On the motion of the Chairman, the Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to complete the closing of roads at Paihi. t Mr Johnston referred to the Engineers report on Wairio riding, and stated that it the works recommended were not imdertaki n at once, harvest would be on and winter wound arrive befoio they c.uld tie completed, lie asked for the suspension of the Stamin a Orders to enable him to move the voting o certain sums for these works. The sums ru quired belonged to d.p. account, and s ' ou ' ho expended at once, so that the works would be well set before winter.—The suspension ot the Standing Orders was agreed to, and on the moli'D of Mr Johnston the following votes were passed £174, 84 cliams gravelling, culverts, &c., on road line between sections 205, 206, 233, 234 and 235, laringatura district; £l9O between seemns 41 and 4b. thence nortl. to school r eserve. Waino district; £75 on road line commencing at hundred line, thence north for 145 chains to north-west corner of sec ion 110, Wairio di trict; £4O on road line commencing at south-west corner ot section 151, thence west to section 159, d. p. block, Wairio disirict.-Mr Hamilton thought that, in the absence of the other member for Wairio ridiug, too mueh money should not be voted that day for works in that ruling, as thee might be some difference of opinion as to where the money should be expended. Mr Johnston replied that the expenditure. ot d.p. money was fixed by the Act, and -hut the other member for the riding haa agreed with the Engineer’s report. (Mr Ellis here entered). ORDER PAPKE. Mr Hamilton moved that all accounts and vouchers he submitted to and passed by the Finance Committee before payment. The mover thought it was time some change -was made in the mode of checking accounts, as the manner in which it was now done was very unsatisfactory.—The Chairman, Messrs Mackintosh and Johns! on (the latter seconding the motion pro forma) spoke against the motion, contending that, the present system was quite satisfactory —At the suggestion of the Chairman, Mr Hamilton, aftei hearing the explanations made,, agreed to withdraw the motion. . „ f Mr Hamilton moved, That the sura of £4l 2a 4d be voted to complete works tendered for on road north of sections 52 and 33, b'oek 7, Jacob’s River Hundred.—Seconded by Mr Johnston and carried. .. Mr Mackintosh, seconded by Mr Hamilton and carried, that a sum of £2OO be voted for repairs to road between Double Cabbage Tree Ford, Aparima river, and Trig W., such sum to stand against application te be made under the Roads ond Bridges Construction Mr Basslian, moved ard Mr Hamilton seconded, that a sum of £SO be voted for gravelling swamp on ruad line between sections 229 and 231, upper Taringatuia,—Carried. Moved by Mr Basslian, seconded by Mr Hamilton and carried, that a sum of £3O be Voted; for forming, ditching and culverts on road line between sections II and 4, block 2, Centre Hill district. . On the motion of Mr Johnston, it was agreed that £69 11s 8d be voted for contract Nm 215, Wairio district. . Capt. Stevens called attention to the state ot thb road Boundary Gate to Nightcaps, which he said would be impassable in winter unless something were done to it.—Tbe Engineer was appointed to inspect and report. Mr Hamilton suggested that notices should be put on bridge over Waimutuku at Baird s Hill, intimating that the bridge was dangerous to traffic. —Agreed to. The Council then adjourned till 18th Jan. next.