Vincent County Council.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 386, 1 October 1903, Page 5

Vincent County Council.

The ordinary bi-monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Clyde on Wednesday, 23rd ult. Present— Crs Horn (chairman), Pitches, Butler, Laidlaw, Kane, Heaney, M'Whirter, and Rutherford.

The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. The schedule of outward correspondence was read and approved. The engineer's reports were read as follows: — Engineer's Report.

Meg Bridge—This bridge has been completely renewed, the work having been done by Mr Wilkinson. The total cost was £303 6s Bd.

Nevis Bridge—l visited the Nevis and found part of the bridge at the crossing carried away by the break up of the ice. As a bridge of some sort is almost a necessity, after consulting with the chairman I have called tenders for a light suspension foot-bridge at the mouth of the gorge at the site of the old sheep bridge, to be erected from the material of what remains of the bridge at the crossing. It remains for the Council to decide whether the work will go on. The Government has been asked for a vote to erect a traffic bridge near the gorge. Devils Creek Bridge—Repairs have been effected to this bridge which I hope will keep it going for a considerable time, but as the bridge is coming away sideways it is a difficult matter to cope with, without going to a considerable expense, which I hope will be unnecessary.

Alexandra Bridge Protective Works —-The Moa dredge has been working for some time at the pier, but not with as good results as we hoped, the reason being that they got down on to the solid reef, and could not get sufficient tailings to make a substantial job of it. The dredgemaster, Mr Nicholson, did his best and the fault is in no way his, as the work did not prove at all remunerative to the Clyde Company,

Protective Works at Leask's—The wing-dams stood the late floods splendidly and have now formed a good beach which Mr Leask has planted with willows. The river, however, has taken a sudden bend into the bank higher up, and is eating into the road. As this would be a big matter to cope with, I would not advise doing anything to it in the meantime till we see whether the river will not resume its old course.

Ophir Waterworks —Messrs Booth and M'Donald's expert's report is now before you. He says that the plant has got so badly out of repair through neglect that it would take a considerable sum to put it right, and then it would require a man constantly in charge of it to keep it in working order.

Clyde Waterworks— The works are now fully completed and there is splendid pressure all over the town. I notice a good many people allowing a considerable amount of water run to waste, some taps running night and day without a stop. This waste causes the supply to get low at times, as while the men are engaged cleaning out the race the water is only turned on a certain time each day. The pipes are now in good working order and the contractor has been paid off, so any more services that may be wanted must be done independent of the county. There u considerable leakage under the dam, but that must be expected and will take time to silt up; in the meantime it does no harm. Ritchie's Chair—As instructed at last meeting I inspected this chair and bought it from Ritchie for £ls. The old wire ropes lying at the Cromwell bridge were sold to J L Scott for £lO.

Road deviation through Wilson's at! Lauder.—l visited the ground with Mr Wilson and agreed to the deviation as it will be much more convenient and much less costly to make. I have written to the Railway Surveyor about it, • Road deviation at Lowburn—l have made the necessary survey for taking the road through Kloogh's section and have forwarded the plans to the proper quarter. Albertown Punt Repairs—This work is now going on. Road Grader—Tenders have been called for this meeting, and the work will be started immediately. Footbridge in Ida Valley.—'These Toot'tatidfN over tht» Fwttram Wtt*

carried away, but the main one leading to the school has been repaired in the meantime. As some of the residents would not allow the timber from the others to be taken off their land they are evidently not greatly in need of a new bridge. Lowburn Punt headline—The man reports that the headline is getting worn and frayed in places, but unless it is subjected to some unusual strain I do not thiok it is dangerous. A new rope would cost about £3O.

Government Vote—There is still £270 available for expenditure between Clyde and the Lake County boundary. I would suggest that the gravelling in the Kawarau Gorge should be continued and tenders called for the work at once. CONTRACTS. Nos 485, 486, and 487—Robert Love, gravelling Clyde-Cromwell Road. No 485 is completed, and the others are progressing satisfactorily. No 488—Thomas M'Nulty, gravelling Clyde-Oromwell road. This has been finished and makes a good road. No 489—R Redhead, gravelling Kawarau Gorge road. This is nearly completed. No 490—Elliot Bros, gravelling Kawarau Gorge, Although four months have elapsed, nothing has been done to this, and the contractor has just sent in word that he does not intend to go on with it.

No 491—Thomas M'Nulty, gravelling Kawarau Gorge. Good progress is being made with this and it should be finished in a few weeks.

No 492—Elliott Bros, forming and gravelling near Lowburn. This has been well done, also some extra work to complete the vote. No 493—M'Connochie and Gye, foot-bridge at Lindis Crossing. No work so far has been done on the ground. The contractor complains of not being able to get his timber. The time expires on the 29th inst.

No 494—Pat M'Donald, gravelling Ida Valley, Nothing has been done to this yet. The contractor has been written to. Time expired on the 10th July,

No 495—Dan O'Rourke, gravelling below Alexandra. This is completed and is a first-rate job. No 496—M'Connochie and Gye, Dlyde Water Race. This work is going on satisfactorily. No 497—8E Tohill, gravelling Dry Gully. Good progress is being . made with this. Road Inspector's Report.

The main roads throughout the County are now in fair order. The surfacemen have had the assistance of one or two men to put things straight. Lindis Road will cost £IOO to repair damage done by the flood. It will take a month yet to do the work, five men employed. Nevis Roads—Clearing cutting of snow this week. If it does not come a burst of rain the slips in the gorge are not going to be bad. Traffic will get through to the county boundary next month.

Ida Valley end of Galloway road—l would suggest that 25 chains, starting from the main road should be formed and gravelled by contract.

Makarora roads have cost £2O to repair. There are about six chains that need forming and gravelling near the station at a cost of £2 5s Od per chain.

Little Valley Road badly needs repairing, and a short piece of the road altered to avoid the worst pinch. The vote asked by the member will about do the work.

The Rising Sun Gold Dredging Company were asking too much at last meeting. I agreed to give £l2 for work done on the county road and £lO subsidy on the private road. Owing to fencing being done on Moran's section, Lauder, the road will have to be put in its right place. It is mostly clearing tussock. [We regret being compelled to hold over our full report, owing to our reporter's manuscript having been miscarried. This only reached us by mail last evening, too late to be used for this issue]