WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 859, 12 July 1884, Page 2

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met yesterday morning, when there were present: Messrs Basstian, Stevens, Johnston, Gardner, and 'Hamilton. Mr , Basstian. was voted to the chair in the absence of Mr Hirst.

The minutes were read and confirmed ; the outward correspondence was also approved of.. The inward correspondence was read and dealt with as under.

Watson Bros, wrote reqnesting permission to erect sawhiill tramway along road line at Paihi village settlement. —Tt was resolved that the application be granted if no objections are lodged within one month.

From F. Saunders, Taringatura, stating that in consequence of contractors having cut ditch iißo creek his ground was being flooded. He requested that the banks be repaired, and failing the Council doing so, he would himself have to d,o the work.— The matter was left with the Engineer and the member for the riding to deal with.

From M. J. Crow, pointing but the necessity for a culvert being placed on road line between section 52 and Swaney’s hind, Wairio- —Mr Gardner mentioned that he had spoken to the Engineer about the matter, and steps were being taken to have the work done. ■■■. . - ;; ,; : :

From A. McHaughton, requesting an extension o£ time to complete contract on Trig S. road. He mentioned that lie had been compelled to stop gravelling in consequence of there being six feet of water in the pit.— The Engineer recommended that the. work be stopped for, three months, which was agreed to on the motion of Messrs Stevens and Hamilton.

From the Railway Department, Dunedin, in reply to the Council’s request for a level crossing over railway to Ring way estate, objecting to a crossing lat the place- indicated as it was in a cutting, and being in a curve trains could not -be seen approaching. The letter was received, and on the motion of Mi* Hamilton a committee consiting of the Engineer, Mr Stevens and the mover was appointed to select, a new site near the old crossing. The mover deprecated the delay that had taken place in connection with the matter, but exonerated the Council from blame as they had done all they could to expedite the work,—The motion was seconded by Mr Stevens. Prom the Southland County Council, enclosing two letters from settlers in the .Taringatura distriqt in reference to' the state of a portion of the main road Wrey’s Bush to Winton, and offering to pay half the cost of putting same in repair if Wallace Council'would be at the expense of the other half.—Messrs Gardner and Johnston spoke as to the necessity of the work.—On the Engineer being appealed to, it transpired that this work was prodded for in the application forwarded to Government lastmonth under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act.

| From Messrs Brownell and Lloyd, I complaining of the impassable state of i the road through their property leading to Fairfax. Mr Hamilton said he brought the matter under the notice of the Engineer some six weeks ago, and that officer had promised that the work would be clone.—Capt. Stevens said this work formed part of that propose 1 to bo undertaken by the special rating district which hotried to get the Council to agree to, but failed. The E ngineer was not to blame as the Council distinctlystated that no money was to bo spent there. —Several members spoke as. to the necessity for this road being repaired, and on the motion of Mr Stevens the Engineer was instructed to got the road put in order at as small expense as possible. From Messrs Murray, Dalgleish, and Co., stating that the necessary ditching for outfall near James’ was being attended to.

From D. Frew, Wrev’s Bush, stating that .a larger culvert was required at sections 1-17 and 118.—It appeared tha*- the writer had diverted the crook 'rom its course.—The Engineer and Ihe members for tho riding wore authorised to inspect and report upon this matter.

The Secretary of the School Committee, Thornbury, wrote asking the Council to lay some gravel on road leading from main road to the school.

—Mr Hamilton explained that when the matter last came before the Council there were no funds, but he thought if the Council could now see its way clear to vote £5 it would bo a great benefit. He moved that £5 voted for the work. —Mr Gardner, in the present state of the Council’s finances, did not consider it right to vote even small sums. There were hundreds or other equally bad places in the county. The parents of the children, should themselves do something in the matter. He himself had employed two drays for some weeks repairing roads near his place. —Mr Hamilton remarked that he had offered to _ assist with horses and dray if the residents would do the work themselves. — The motion was not seconded, but it was agreed that the letter be acknowledged and that a reply be forwarded to the effect that the matter would be attended to as soon as possible. The application of Messrs TV’ hittingham Bros, and Instone, Thornburv, for permission to erect verandah over footpath in/ front of their .stores was granted ■ . ; Mr Lvle, sub-inspector of rabbits, wrote calling attention to worse growing on road line near Mr Officer’s, and suggesting' that that and the scrub near Messrs Johnston and Sheridan’s, Groper’s Bush, should be cleared away, as They afforded shelter to rabbits.— Received. | Mr Hamilton also called attention to gorse spreading on main road at jWairniituku. It was decided to instruct the inspector to serve the (requisite notices on owners of adjoining property to clear the gorse without delay. G-EKEEAL, I As < instructed, he Engineer reported upon the request of some residents in the Native reserve to have. some drainage done there. 32 chains of ditching would be required, at a cost of about £2O. —It,, was resolved that the question stand over until next meeting pending further inquiries: ■ The application of Philips and Co. for permission to cross the Bound Hill track with a tramway for the purpose of conveying firewood was granted. . _. .■ ... r Hodge wrote enclosing voucher for £36 for certain work done in the Mararoa riding, and stating the work had been done satisfactorily. The amount , voted by the Council (£25) was too small to do the work.—lt appeared that Mr Hodge had some time ago written to the Council requesting the;work to be done;- and stating that' if the .iCounciLAwould; vote £25 ahe would see that the money was properly expended. a Owing to the great distance (about 150 miles) the Engineer would have to travel to inspect the work, it was deemed advisable to leave the expenditure of the money in Mr Hodge’s, hands and pay same upon his certificate.—lt was decided only to pay the sum voted by the Council, the balance to remain in abeyance until the Engineer bad seen the. work. Mr Hamilton called attention to the large sum (£53) due for surfacing in Ota Utah riding last mouth.—ln reply the Engineer stated that surfacing in the Otantau and Orepnki ridings would always be a heavy item unless the Tires Act were brought into force, as the enormous loads' carried by waggons so cut up the roads there asrendered a heavy outlay for - surfacing necessary to keep the. roads open to traffic.—Capt. Stevens remarked that he brought that matter under the notice of the Council last year,—Mr Hamilton, hoped the Engineer would see his way to reduce expenditure upon surfacing in Otantau riding, as that-riding was heavily in debt. Mr Hamilton again referred to the advisability of ..all accounts, being passed by the Finance Committee before being submitted to the Council. He considered that under the present system the accounts were not scrutinised closely.—Mr Johnston was of opinion that so long as the accounts were checked by the. officers of the Council, there was no fear of. unjust claims being paid. ( , -; Eeferring to the return which he moved Tor at last meeting, and which was now laid upon the table, Mr Hamilton took exception to the item £227 9s for inspection of contracts last year If it were necessary that such a sum should be paid be considered that the Council should have a voice in the appointment of the inspectors, and; that such appointments should ’not.be left with the Chairman and the Engineer. The sum of £904 had been spent upon extra engineering and inspection last year over and above permanent engineer’s expenses.—lt appeared that the greater portion of the expense had been incurred for works under the Bonds and Bridges Construction Act, and it was pointed out that by a former resolution of the Council the Engineer was empowered to engage extra inspection and engineering assistance when necessary.— It was resolved on the motion of Mr Gardner, seconded by Mr Johnston, that in future all sub-inspectors be appointed by the Council.

On a motion to confirm motion passed at last meeting that a half-penny rate be stmek, Mr Johnston said he had intended to move an amendment that a three-farthing rate be struck over the Otniitau and Waiau Ridings, which were heavily in debt, and a half-penny rate over the others; but bo now thought that a three-farthing rate should be struck all over the county. The Council could not carry on with a halfpenny rate, and it would be better to strike a throc-farthing rate at .-nee, which « ould ho leas expensive than levying another rate of a farthing, aVid which they would be compelled to do.-—Mr Hamilton thought it would be better to stick to the halfpenny rate in the meantime, and make another rate of a farthing at a future time if necessarv. —C:\pt. St.wens hold that a halfpenny rate was sufficient, and that if more money were required let a special rate be struck for any ucces-ary work.—Mr Gardner thought (hat the ridings in debt should pay a tluvefar.hing rate. It would be unfair to the other ridings

to levy a three-farthing rate over them. —The Chairman was of opinion that a special rate should he struck over the ridings in debt. —As he could see the Council was against the proposal Mr Johnston withdrew his amendment that a three-farthing rate be struck, and the confirmation of the half-penny rate was aureed to.

Air Stevens agreed to hold over till next meeting the question of giving some assistance to W. Boniface, one of the Council’s employes, who had become incapacitated from w r ork by age and sickness. The Council then adjourned.