WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 1055, 12 June 1886, Page 2

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council held an ordinary meeting on Thursday. Present: fessrs W. Johnston (Chairman), Basstian, Mackinnon, Hamilton, Walker, Mcl'herson, Mclntyre. CORRESPONDENCE. From tho Engineer, Working Railways Department, Dunedin, in reply, stating that the matter of encroachment of Jacob's River at Fairfax, Ringway, &c, would bo taken into consideration ; also, that the question of planking the bridge at Hazlett's siding would be looked into.—Received. From Clufcha County Council, enclosing resolution passed by that Council, recommending that the servies of the present officers of the Sheep and Rabbit Department be dispensed with and that the money so saved should be expended iu the payment of bonuses for rabbit skins; also, that the Council was of opinion that sheep inspectors were only necessary in distiicts where scab exists. —The Chairman said he for ono would emphatically oppose tho motion. It, would simply mean the letting loose over tho country every ono who had a dog to hunt rabbits. In his opinion the rabbit inspectors had done good service in Wallace County.—Mr Mackinnon agreed. The free state of the county from the rabbit pest was mainly due to the inspectors, and also to the ferrets introduced by Government clearing Crown lands.—Mr Basstian could not understand how any public body having any experience of the rabbit nuisance could pass such nonsensical resolutions. A proposal to subsidise the skins would simply induce people to roam over the country. Besides it would not answer the put pose, as people would only go to places where rabbits were thick. The Clutha Council could not have hail any experience in eradicating the pest or they would not have proposed such, a remedy. He noticed that tho Chief Inspoctor had stated in his report recently presented to Parliament that tho pest had not decreased. tie (Mr Basstian) thought that it had been greatly lessened, and in support thereof he mentioned that a person sent by a Dunedin firm recently to report upon a run in the district, which was formerly infested with rabbits, stated that he saw only three rabbits That statement did not support the Inspector's report. Perhaps tho Inspector took his argument from the Clutha County Council.—Mr Walker considered the motion was a step in tho right direction. The settlers in the district were quite able to keep tho pest in check. The introduction of ferrets was a curse to the country. Ho did not altogether approvo of giving a bonus for the skins, but ho thought it was high time tho inspectors should be done away with.—Mr Mclntyro did not approve of the resolutions, and moved a motion to that effect. The suggestions for controlling the pest were the moat impracticable that had ever come before the Council.—Mr Mackinnon seconded the motion.—Mr Hamilton, said he saw nothing in the resolutions about people running over tho country after rabbits. At the same time he thought it would be much better if tho work of dealing with tho nuisance remained in the hands of Government. As for ferrets, he contended that they would prove a far greater curse than rabbits. It would bo far better for the country if Government would spend money on introducing the right class of immigrants instead of importing ferrets, stoats and weasels. Settlers would not bo ablo to keep fowls for these vermin. It might be said that that was a small matter, but he considered that the poor man had as much right to protection as the man who had cattle on a thousand hills. Ho saw in a Homo paper recently that the people there wondered what sort of folks there were in New Zealand that they introduced such vermin. They were increasing at an enormous rate, and would destroy lambs.—The Chairman explained the reason why he said that people would roam the country in search of rabbits was because he gathered that impression from the discussion that took place at Tuapeka and other places. It was all very well for farmers who did not livo near a village, but those who did do so would have their properties overrun by people hunting for rabbits if tho bonus system wero introduced.—Mr Hamilton was not afraid of that. With regard to the sheep tax, ho asked what was the use of that tax. They were rated under the Property Tax Act for their sheep and they also had to pay a sheep tax. He considered tho latter merely went to keep up an nunecessary staff of officials. —The motion was then put and carried. From Vincent County Council, enclosing a resolution passed by that Council regarding the suppression of the rabbit nuisance, and asking Wallace County to support same. The motion set forth that in consequence of tho low price of rabbit skins and produce of all kinds, it was impossible for occupiers of land to bear unaided tho entire cost of destroying the rabbits: that Government should therefore recommend Parliament to grant a bonus of one penny per skin on all rabbits exported from the colony; that in the event of this bonus being granted, the provisions of the Act should be enforced stringently against all occupiers of land who failed to kee ■ the pest in check; and that more efficient measures should be adopted for the future in regard to destroying rabbits on Crown lauds and reserves. —Tho Chairman said it seemed that the rabbit pest in central Otago had not been much abated, and that it was in the same position as far as rabbits were concerned as Southland was some years ago. If tho people there continued to work at tho nuisance they would no doubt, succeed in I roducing it as they had done in Southland, 1 where at one time there were millions of I rabbits and now but few.—Mr Hamilton J agreed that there was not one rabbit now in i Southland for hundreds that formerly exisI ted, and if they wero kept down in other J parts of the colony in the same way as they I had been done in Southland, they would be Ino pest. There were some things in the I motions that might require consideration, j and he moved that the letter lio over in the meantime.—Carried. From the Joint Committee of both houses of Parliament on the Rabbit Nuisance, forwarding a series of questious with regard to the method of dealing with the nuisance, to which they solicited answers.—Mr Mackinnon moved, That a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Mr Walker and the mover, be appointed to reply to the questions.—Carried. From Messrs Macdonald and Russell, re closing road in Waiau riding, stating that tho owners would require that tho oxchango be effected free of cost to them. —The Council agreed, as usual in such cases, to pay tho necessary charges. D. McKay requested permission to cut firewood on the county road from Oraki station to ballast pit, offering one shilling per cord for tho privilege. —Granted, the work to be done under the supervision of the Engineer and member for tho riding, so that traffic would not be interfered with.

From R.JSutherlaud, requesting that pari of the money accruing his d. p. section 139, Wairio, he expended on improving the road from Prper's section to Craig's corner.—The Engineer said ho reported upon the road somo two or three yoars ago. Properly spoaking a road should never have been laid off there. It would take £2OO or £3OO to open the road.—The Chairman remarked that Sutherland objected to the road being closed. —On the motion of Mr Hamilton, the Engineer and members for the riding were appointed to report as to whofchor the road should bo kept open or as to what should be done to it.

! From the H. and C. A. Uoarrl stating that 1 they had appointed the sum of £242 13s <S-.l as the contribution to be paid by Wallace County for the year ending 31st March. 1887, payable in quarterly instalments. Mr Walker thought such a demand was very bard upon the Council ; it was their duty, however to pay it; still ho did not approve of the cew Act. —The Chairman remarked that the only way was for the Council to pay the first instalment, and if they wore not able to pay the balance they could strike a rate to recover the amount. Mclnfcyre, who remarked that the demand was a heavy one, Mr Basatisin said Wallace County was rated in sumo proportion as other Iparts of the district: under the control of the Board. —Mr Mclutyre moved, and MiHamilton seconded, That the claim stand ovor till ho>J. mooting.,-—Mr Walker moved

in amendment, That the sum be paid at jncG. The Council was liable for the amount md delay in payment might entail more expense if the Board had toenforce the demand—Mr Basstianseconded. The money must bo paid, and delay would only injure tho Board. —Mr Mclntyre said the reason for asking payment to bo held over till next meeting was that the Council had already made a contributien to the Board. Tho vote should be put on the Order Paper like any other vote. The payment was demanded so quick that the Council had not had an opportunity of levying a rate if it so desired. If the Board was so ready to go to law to enforce payment let them do so. The Council had to borrow money from qthe bank to satisfy the demand and interest would have to be paid, whereas tho probability was that if paid at once to the Board the money would be lying idle to its credit in the bank.—The amendment was, by permission, withdrawn, and the motion was then put and carried. From Mr It. Mackinnon, who was appointed by tho Council to preside at a public meeting of ratepayers to determine whether certain roads should be closed and others opened in lieu thereof in Wairio and Waiau districts, reporting that said meeting -was unanimously in favor of the proposals.—On ] the motion of Mr Hamilton, seconded by Mr | Mackinnon, it was resolved that the roads be i declared closed. From P. Clifford, Otautau, stating that he had taken up section 46, block 2, Aparima, i and found that tho contractors who formed Waicola road encroached on tho section nearly half a chain and took stuff out of it to form tho road. He was about to fence and reques ted the Council to put back the stuff within a few days.—The Engineer stated that tho stuff was taken out of the ground long before tho section was taken up.—Received. From the Riverton Branch School of Mines, requesting a donation towards the equipment oil the sciiool.—-Mr McPhorson believed that it would be money well spent in giving a grant for the purpose asked, but as the Orepuki riding was short of funds at present, he [thought the application might be allowed to stand over for a time. He moved that the application stand over for a few months, when ho would bo prepared to move that the Council grant a subsidy. He had no doubt the I School would do a deal of good, as instead of sending specimens to Dunedin or Melbourne to be tested, they could be tested in Riverton. —Mr Basstian asked what sum the Council was expected to give, but there being no information on that point, he proceeded to say that he hardly liked to delay the matter for a few months, and he thought that a notice should be put on the Order Paper for next meeting. The matter was not one for the Orepuki riding solely to deal with, and the School was so useful that he would give it his support. Seeing there was some enthusiasm on the subject the Council should take the matter up and encourage it. There were two prominent industries in the district that should be encouraged, viz., mining and agriculture, and if instruction could be given in agricultural chemistry as well as scientific mining a great amount of good would be done, and it would be the means of saving an immense sum of money now thrown away through ignorance of the class of soil dealt with and the most suitable fertilisers to use. —Mr Mackinnon thought|tbe School of Mines was entitled to support. He moved that the request be referred to the Finance Committee to say what sum should be given.—Mr Basstian seconded.—Carried. From J. Ford, requesting that contract No. 333 should be allowed to stand over till favorable weather set in, it boing impossible for him to complete the work in the present state of the roads. —Agreed to. From the Riverton Cemetery Committee. staling that the culvert on road impeded the drainage in cemetery, .ind suggesting that, the euKert be connected with the cemetery main drain.—The Engineer was authorised to attend to tho matter. Re circular from the Colonial Secretary, held over from last meeting, requesting suggestions as to how to deal with the codlin moth pest, the Chairman said he had made nquiries, but so far as he could ascertain it md not been seen in this district.—Mr Hamilton made a similar remirk.—Held over. D. Mcintosh applied for permission to put gate on road opposite Smiths', Mount Pleasant, leading to the river, to eaablo him to pull down fence bank to get r d of the rabdta —Granted. Hie petition re merging Road Board having l"id on the tabid for two months, Mi Vlclru yre moved I hat a spackl meeting be held next ordinary meeting day to pass resolution •ompleting the merging Aparima Road Board —Carried. flan of proposed exchange of road to Morri vale Riggings was laid on the table.—Mi llackinnou moved that the plau be approved and that the necessary steps be taken to elo-" •oad and open another in lieu thereof ns show m said plau.—Curried. PETITION'S.

By Mr Johnston, from M. Or ean and other settlers in the Wairaki district, requesting that road leading from main Waiau road to old Beaumont road be made passable before winter.—The petition was received, and Mr Johnston intimated that he would place a sum ou the Order Paper for next meeting for the work. By Mr McPherson, from settlers at Pahin, risking that road from the sea beach to Ruahine railway station be made viable, —Mr vfcPherson moved that the Engineer visit and report on the expense necessary to put the road in order. The road required attending to, and any works agreed upon could be undertaken in spring.—Carried. By Mr Mackinnon, from T. Dods, and 14 other settlers at Eastern Bush, stating chat at a public meeting held there recently it was decided to ask the Council to get a road lino laid off from section 55 through section 57 and part of 63 to Grassy Creek from Wairaki river. As the sections were likely to be taken up soon the meeting considered that the present was the proper time to lay off the road. If the track wore closed through Otahu it would be a great inconvenience to settlers. They also requested that contracts Nos. 314 and 313 should be pushed on, as they were lot three months ago.—Mr Mackinnon moved that the petition be received and that the Engineer report as to the road.—Carried. By Mr A. McPhevson, from residents at Orepuki, requesting that with a view to limiting the number of horses and cattle grazing on the common lands, which should be open to the miners only within the goldiields area, the County Council be asked to appoint a ranger to look after all the cattle and horses running ou the goldfield, and also to collect fees for same. Mr McPherson moved that the petition be granted and that J. Kirkton be appointed ranger at a remuneration of 10 per cent, on the amount of fees collected. There were some 400 head of cattle and 200 horses running on the common, and if the fees were collected the rovenuo of the riding would be augmented by £7O or £BO per annum.—The motion was carried. i

THE ENGINEER'S REPORT as follows was laid on tho tabic : Since last meeting I am sorry to have to report that we have had most disastrous floods all over the county, causing an immense destruction of property, both public and private. From what I have seen personally and what has been reported to me the roads and bridges have suffered severely. I have enumerated the damage done, as fur as known, as follows:

Iliverton-Gummie's Bush Road.—The bridge own' Hie Jacob's River on this road lias been seriously damaged. The eastern end lias sunk some two feet from its proper position, the piles and bank being cut i-Y'V. P-MVrdi ;lr> ws- end it has been lifted and twisted from its original position. Som*; repairs are now being done to enable (lie traffic o keep open. 1 took the precaution to notify pnblieiv that tho bridge would be closed for (raffle to onaVij repairs to bo completed. These repairs 1 uviysti-'e \\ ill only be temporary, as a new bridge will "be i- - quived, the present, one having been eo!!s : :ue'e<" ■", years ago. In several places (on road leading to Ihe bridge) ike gravel and metal was washed awav. ;>; ~

a oul\^i't. Thorabury-Rivcrton Road. — The gravel was washed off in several places and has been replace'!. Thornbury-Groper's Bush Road.—This road at .• suffered in the same way but a larger Quantity of gravel was washed away. The bridge on this row! I am glad to say sustained no injury. Fairfax to Bridge.—This road suffered sever. Jv. Hit! gravel being completely swept awav for som '. cluiihs. Tho river av this place is encroaching e..,.sideiably on the west side and will have to be attended to promptly. I'airfax-Otautau Road.—On this road the damn::; has not been so serious. Some of the gravel w:is washed off, and a lot of debris accumulated, such as straw stacks, fences, &c„ all of which have been re-

moved. The road through the Otautau township was scoured out in several places. Otautau-Hodgkinson. Nearly the whole of the gravel was washed off on this. Otautau-Wrey's Bush.—On this road the damage, comparatively speaking, was not so heavy, one culvert being damaged and some of the gravel washed off. Being present at the time of the flood, I observed that the greatest quantity of water broke over at Mr Moffat's farm. Wrey's Bush-Mossburn Road.—Approaches to Breakdown Bridge were carried away, and the ford in Ktal Creek was completely shifted, leaving the banks with a drop of several feet on the roadline. Between Hamilton Burn and Mossburn the gravel was washed off in several places. Centre Hill-Manipori Road.—The fords on this road arc carried away, and from what has been reported to me it will take some time to repair the damage. I may also mention the bridges erected by Messrs Basstian and Thomas over the Jacob's and l Mararoa Rivers have been carried awav Wrey's Bush-Nightcaps-Waiau Road. —On this an embankment was partly carried away, and also approaches to bridge, Morley Village, were damaged. In conclusion I may state that the necessary repairs to the roads and bridges are now going on. I was to have reported on water, Heddon Bush d.p. block, and several other matters, but owing to press of work caused by the flood, have not been able to do so till next meeting.

ORDER PAPER. Before proceeding with the business on the Order Paper, Mr Mackinnon Chairman of tho Finance Committee, reported as to the position of the several ridwith respect to Mr Mclntyre's motion passed some time ago that each riding should reduce its expenditure during current ye:n- by £530. After making allowance for surfacing and other liabilities the position of tho ri ings was as follows: Apaiima (do. it), US ss : Oiautau (credit), £124 16a •-"'• ;:l il " ,;l ' (<•''<' ii). £177 16s 2d; Orepuki ( ( '°"'; ;> ; ' A '> l - : ' A "< • : Wairio (debit), £37 19s ad. There were only two ridings therefore that ha i money to spend up to October next, when the new rate would be struck, and tho indebtedness had gradually increased during the past two months. Owing to tho damage done by tho floods, the indebtedness would probably be increased to £4OO or £SOO. T.ie to .owing vufc-s vv-.re ear.ied without ds<ent the Fi.,a>ie». Commit! e.; luring recmnwiHel same:—"•** Waiko- m wed'that a sum of £ls 16s r>e vjted for ditches, outfall drain, fascininsr, &o , upp- v d.n. bh-ck. Oreti Hundre S-cndei by Mr Ha.ohion'. unci e-i-Tied. -!£<• Mokimon move I that the sum of £io b<- voied to construct bridge over Wiirray Creek, at section 92, Taringatura dutrio'—Seo >aded by Mr E*sstia % and carried.—Mr Walker moved th.it ti.e sum of £2O be voted to repai* culverts &,.., f ro m geetionl, I'aringLtuiM district to Lamiden. Mr B.issti.n s ended—C.rrie!.—Mr Ba*s'i aß moved tha. a sum of £l5O bopl.ced on the notice paper to build bridge over thn Aparima as recommended by Cjuncil at previous met' nig—cost to be charged to Mamroa and Warm ridings.—Mr Basstian reminded the Council that a petition was presented some time ago by the settlers in favour of this work Is the bridge would connect two portions of [ his property it might appear that he was personally interested in this matter, but it would prove a gte.jt convenience to the public I and avert danger to life. He had kept the ! bridge up at his own expense for tho last 18 or 20 years, and the flood had t-.fcen a bridge ■ that eo.t him £25 last year. He hoped the j Council would favourably entertain the motion, and that the members for Wairio ridin» would not object.—Mr Mackinnon said he would support the motion as far as Mararoa nding was concerned, if Wairio riding would bear half the cost, but the latter riding was ! not in funds.—Mr Walker supported the motion.—The Chairman said he was about to remark that £75 was rather more than Wairio ricung could afford ; still as Mr Basstian's rates in that riding alone amounted to £35 per annum, and that gentleman had never asked tor any expenditure in that vicinitv he would support the motion.—Mr Mclntyre said he was pleased at the Chairman supporting the motion.—The mo-ion was then put land carried, and it was resolved that tenders be called for the work forthwith.

J GENERAL. Vouchers to the amount of £693 lGs id aa I approved by the Finance Committee, were passed for payment. Mr'Mackinnon moved, That owing to the very heavy damage to the roads and bridges suffered by the several ridings in this County the member in the House of Representatives together with othor Southland members be requested to use his influence with the Government with a view to urging the necessity of granting £9OO towards part payment of such damage, and that a further sum be placed on the estimates as a subsidy to the Council towards renewing the bridges at Guanine's Bush, Ofcmtau and Orawia, the GumtniPS Bnsh bridge hcving been practically d.-sti-oyed. The mover said if the Council U.i I to pay for all the damage done Dv tun lloails, the Council's resources would be c.-ipjjlnti for some time, and they would be preveuted from going on with other urgent works, rhe floods were the heaviest that hart occurred within the memory of anyone m the district, lie was astonished at the damage th -t, had been done to roads, md it woul.i perh , P s cost several thousand pounds to repair rh-u». As for the bridges, the case was one m which Government should be called upon to contribute.—Mr Mclntyre seconded the motion. In similar cases Government had previously contributed, and he hoped they would do so in this instance.—Mr Hamilton supported the motion. Of late years Aparima riding had been handicapped by the large sum spent upon bridges. When the erection of these bridges was undertaken it was thought that Government would have rendered some assistance, but they did not I do so, and now the riding was threatened with other large expenditure on same account. It was simply impossible for Aparima riding to bear the expense. If Government would not grant a subsidy, he would suggeot that they give a loan for a number of years at a low rate of interest.—Mr Walker supported the motion, which on being put was carried unanimously. ' Mr Basstian (the Council's representative on the Charitable Aid Board) referred to the ■ case of the Chinese leper. Up till the pre. rviousday no reply had been received from the Hospital Trustees to the Board's request that the former should take charge of the patient, but he noticed from the local paper's report of last meeting of Trustees that thev had declined to look after the leper. He thanked Mr Mclntyre for the view he had taken of the case. He regretted that the irustecs had come to the decision that thev I J^ e B ,? rcl onl - v wished th *fc the lepor should be allowed to remain where he is. There were great difficulties in the case, and to remove the patient into fresh quarters would open up the case afresh. Unless the case was to be dealt with in a charitable way he did not know was to be done.—ln answerto a question, Mr Mclntyre (the lessee of the ground on which the lazarette stands), said the Chinaman could remain on the nre. mises for a further period of three mouths-The Chairman asked what steps the Board were taking to provide accommodation for such cases, to which Mr Basstian replied that even supposing they had a house to put the patient into, what would be the consequences J The Board could not put the man into the building, as there were aS strong prejudice against lepers that the premises would be tabooed, and if the patient were to die, the premises would have to bo Jftj ° PatioDt ShoUkl be leffc WIKW he is. Surely some one could be found to Itctf h T~ W*> *-thcr remarks? the Clerk, af.er explaining that the man was continuing to improve, offered to make aruhe eat Mr Basstian expressed his pleasure at b uch a peasant termination to the mat-

of •„ h • y ™ a rP inspector houses and registrar of do-s ■ a.i~toiieu to liircrcaro'iil. J ~ luroply U, Mr Uau.ilfcou, tho Clerk stated SSlfS' • aCCe ' ,tnd Ul ° Kims cXL , llam,1 1 t ? 1 J marked chafe l>ei a.iaigenwnts would have to be made lae mooting then adjourned.