Vincent County Council.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 370, 11 June 1903, Page 5

Vincent County Council.

Following is the conclusion of our report of the last meeting of the above Council:—

Resolved—That the engineer proceed with repairs to the Albertown punt. Resolved—That Leslie Arthur be granted two months extension of time in which to complete contract No. 479. Cr Pitches handed in a letter from residents in Castle-street, Clyde, asking that the water mains be taken along Newcastle-street as it is nearest their residences.

Cr Pitches supported the request. The engineer stated that the distance would be about 10 chains. Wilson's residence is nearer Sunder-land-street than Newcastle-street. The other names to the letter had really cause to ask for the concession, At the lowest estimate it would cost £ls. He would suggest that the council ran a pipe from the present mam to a distance equal to that at which the residences are situated from Newcastle-stree fc. In answer to Cr Kane tbe chairman said there was no such body as a Water Trust at Clyde. Resolved —That a |-inch pipe be laid between Holloway's and Mills' sections as suggested by the engineer. Mr Jeffery appeared before the council on behalf of the Dunstan Hospital Committee to urge the laying of water pipes to the Hospital grounds. Mr Jeffery stated that the buildings were quite substantial but the surroundings were not pleasing owing to want of water. The Hospital Committee would pay a rental for the water ; they could afford to do so as the presence of a pipeline would do away with the annual cost of cleaning out the water race. The committee thought the extenson might be done out of loan money.

The Chairman in reply stated that it would be eaten up in repairs to the head race. If there were a surplus after the completion of all necessary work in connection with the town scheme, then the council would certainly entertain the committee's request. He would not commit himself to a promise to this effect however. Mr Jeffery—The committee would be thankful for all possible assistance from the council. Resolved —That the work of regravelling the road at Hawea as suggested by the load inspector be done at a cbst of £2O. Resolved—That the owner of section 5, block v, Hawea, be written to requesting his immediate action in clearing gorse from the road ne*r his land. In reply to Or Pitches the road inspector Sdid there was one bad crossing on the main road at the foot of Waikerikeri yalley.

ROAD INSPECTOR'S REPORT. I have to report the roads within the County in a good state of repair. There is £lO required to finish the road through block I, Tiger Fill district, in order to give Mr Brown access to his grazing run. There is also a small contract of gravelling on Dry Gully road, and some 10 chains need re-gravelling at Hawea Flat.

The rest of the work on the roads can be done by the surfaceman, with a little assistance from casual labor. There has been a good track made into Timaru Creek, and the balance of the Government vote is being spent on the Rocky Point track. The Lindis road has been put in good order, but there is yet a little of the vote remaining over. Some £2O would do the work of widening the bends on the Hawksburn road. This sum is the subsidy of the Loch Lomond Gold Dredging 00., for road making. Work has been done over the Little Valley road, but it will require to have much more work done to this road early in spring. The road-line from Paul's to Tiger Hill, if it could be ploughed, might be formed by the grader. I would suggest that all roads requiring to be formed, be ploughed in spring to facilitate work by the grader in the dry summer months.

New staging has been put up at the Low burn Punt. A new headline will soon be required for this punt. The owner of section 5, block v, Hawea, should be compelled to clear the gorse from the roadline passing by the land. Engineer's Report. BRIDGES. Alexandra Bridge.—Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the Clyde Dredging Co. for completing the protection work on the east end of the bridge. O'Connell Bridge—The plans for the new bridge have now been fully ap proved by the Mines Department, and I can now prepare copies with a view to calling tenders for the work. Kinney's claim for damages—l consider this claim excessive. Messrs K'Knight Bros., who have charge of the bridge, inform me that they measured the hole in the planking, and in their opinion no horse could have put its hoof into the hole in the manner stated by Kinney. Albertown Punt—The puntsman considers it will take fully six weeks to give the boats a thorough overhaul, and renew the skids, etc. If this were done, the boats should last for a considerable time. Hawea Lake Jetty—Owing to the number of other contracts out, I have held this over in the meantime, as it is not pressing. Ophir Waterworks—Messrs Booth and M'Donald state that their expert is at present in the North Island, and

when he returns they will send him to report on the mill.

Road Grader—The grader arrived, ; and after being set up at;-Leask's, was i taken to Matakanui, where it was tried on a very stiff piece of read, and proved a complete success. Government Votes—The Districts Road Engineer, Dunedin. informs me that he has authority to pass payments for the contracts now let on the Rendigo-Matakanui road, and a small balance still due from last time. I have called tenders for practically the balance of the votes, with tbe exception of the work between Clyde and Alexandra, which can be done much more cheaply with the grader. Clyde Water race.—Beyond inspecting the race I have done nothing further towards the renewal of the flumiog. The work will take some time, and at present the race is quite capable of carrying the water. Once the dam is completed, the reservoir can be filled and the water turned off the race for a considerable time without inconvenience to any one. Deviation of Road at Lauder—l called on Mr Wilson, but as neither he nor the engineer were at home, I hold the matter over in the meantime.

Chair at Robertson's Crossing—l visited the site of the proposed chair, and saw the secretary of the Coronation Gold Dredging Company, who are the parties most concerned, and I understand they intend putting the matter before the council personally. CONTRACTS. Contract 471 (P Thomas)— This work has been satisfactorily completed. Contract No. 473 a (Elliott Bros.)— The contractors are pushing on with this work, and expect to be through about the specified time. Contract No. 473b (R M'Lean)— When I visited this work a week ago the contractor had done about onefifth of the distance, which is fair progress for the time the men have been working, but owing to the late start made, it will be impossible to finish the work up to time. The contractor has since written that he has put on four more men.

Contract No 477 (Leslie Arthur)— A start has lately been made with this work, and good progress is now being made. The time expired on the Bth inst. Contract No 478 (M'Oonnochie and Gye)—Good steady progress is being made with the work which is now nearing completion. Contract No. 479 (Atkins)— The contractor is pushing on with the concrete work, after some delay in getting the cement on the ground. The time expired on the 7th inst. Hontract No 480 (Wilkison)— Good progress is being made with this contract in spite of having experienced very rough.

Thursday'* Sitting. The Dog Registrar's report showed that 772 dogs were registered in the county for the year. The schedule of slaughtering licenses granted within the county for the year was read and approved. The county dayman stationed at Clyde, tendered his resignation as from July Ist, and asked that his salary be continued to the end of that month. Or Kane opposed granting the continuance of pay after the resignation was accppted. Crs Pitches, M'Whirter, Laidlaw, Rutherford, and the Chairman favored granting the extension of pay for the month. Resolved—That A Keith's resignation be accepted and that his wages be continued to the end of July. Resolved—That applications for the position of dayman at Clyde be advertised, and that selection of the man be left to the County Clerk and engineer. Resolved That the council adjourn to committee to deal with accounts and Charitable Aid matters. On resuming, the Chairman read the following, report of committee : Resolved—That accounts amounting to £2077 16s 9d be passed for payment. Resolved That the report be adopted. Or Butler moved—That the sum of £4O be spent in gravelling portion of the road at Dry Gully. Cr Butler explained the necpssity for the works. Holes were occasionally filled in, but general repairs were required.—Or Kane seconded the motion, and it was carried.

Or Pitches moved—That the sum of ,£2O be spent in the purchase and erection of street-lamps in the town of Clyde. Or Pitches stated that parts of the streets were very dark, and lights were very necessary during the winter months. Five lamps are necessary. Some of the existing lamps might be removed to places where they would be more suitable. The present lamp opposite the council buildings might be removed to the junction of the road leading to the bridge.—Or Laidlaw seconded the motion. Or Butler also supported the motion, which was declared carried. Or Laidlaw asked that the road at Tinkers be formed by the road grader The enginper stated, in reply to the Chairman, that the grader could do the work before the frosts set in.. The council was paying £4 per week for horses to draw the grader. The work of formation below Mutton town, could be done by the grader. Resolved—That the formation at Tinkers be done by the grader. Cr Pitches said that some residents of Olyde required the council to fence in a portion of the Clyde bridge reserve for the purpose of allowing the people to plant trees on the reserve. Resolved - That Or Pitches be authorised to consult with residents as to probable coßt of fencing in the area

required, and report to the council at its next meeting. The Ohairman explained the intentions of the Conference of delegates County Councils to be held at Milton, under the Bird Nuisance Act. As he (the Chairman) was appointed as delegate from this council, he would be pleased to hear any suggestions as to his actions at the proposed ConferenceHe would be pleased to act upon any suggestions.

Cr Kane, thought that in some districts the poisoning of birds and rabbits could be carried out at one and the same time. Cr Butler did not think oats made an effectual poison for birds. Cr Laidlaw considered it best to await the results of the Conference, Cr Rutherford moved—That this council take the necessary steps to have telephonic communication established between Poolburn and Ida Valley.—Cr L*idlaw seconded the motion. After some discussion it was resolved—That Cr Rutherford provide a petition from residents, and that the clerk take the necessary steps to approach the Postmaster-General about the matter.

DEPUTATION. Messrs Ryan and Buchanan, Alexandra, on behalf of the Alexandra Borough Council, waited on the council to ask that a portion of the vote for repairs to Clyde-Tuapeka boundary road be expended on that part of the road within the Borough. Mr Buchanan explained the necessity for the expenditure. The borough, he thought, was entitled to a part of the vote, as much of the traffic of the county passed over the borough roads. Mr Ryan spoke in a similar strain, and hoped the council would give them every consideration. Cr Kane said that he sympathised with the borough's request. It was only right that the boroughs received some consideration in the allocating of such votes. Cr M'Whirter saH it was only rigbt that the boroughs received portion of these votes.

The Chairman said it was a question he heard discussed with Sir Joseph Ward, who remarked that the Government did not vote money for repairs to streets within boroughs. It wae, however, possible that boroughs would receive grants from another source as is offered to the Borough Council of Cromwell. The deputation might secure a vote on similar lines to those now being adopted by the Cromwell Borough Council. The County Council cculd not expend money within a borough. The deputation thanked the council and withdrew.

Resolved That finger-posts be erected at the corners of roads on Cromwell Plat, to point the way to Wanaka and Bannockburn. The council then rose.