Vincent County Councill.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 411, 31 March 1904, Page 5

Vincent County Councill.

The Council met on Wednesday, 23rd inst.. at Clyde, when the following councillors were in'attendance: — Ors Horn (chairman), Laidlaw; Heaney M'Whirter, Kane, Pitches, Butler, jj and Rutherford. The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. CORRBSPOHDBKCK. —From the Valuation Department (Invercargill office) r« values. George Fache wrote accepting the appointment of Inspector of hawker's licenses within the County.—Received —Departmental memorandums were read and received from the clerk of the Otago Acclimatisation Society r« tracks in the interior, and stating that when funds would permit such, huts would be erected in various parts of the deerstalking country.—Received. Reports rr outbreak of typhoid fever at OromweUwere read and received.

The health officer had stated his approval of the action taken by the Vincent County Council. The Bannockbum Oolleries Company wrote r« rating values. The clerk stated that this matter was now settled satisfactorily.—The letter was received, The Property Valuer wrote about change of title in some property in the estate of Welaford and Attfield.—Received. —Sir J. 6. Ward wrote informing the Council that he had authorised a subsidy of £ for £ up to ,£4O for expenditure on repairs to tracks for deerstalkers in the flawea country.—The counoil thought that a straightout vote of £SO should be given.—Letter re* ceived. Mr Herdman, MH R, wrote with regard to the Bendigo-Matakanuiroad. He thought that had the settlers done all they possibly could do, the road would have been further nearing completion. Resolved—That the clerk reply to Mr Herdman's communication, in-

forming him that this Council and the < people of Hawea have done all that | was possible to be done towards procuring votes for the Bendigo-Mataka- < nui road. ' —Charles Holden, clerk Cromwell Borough Council, wrote enclosing correspondence re appointment to the i Oromwell Cemetery Trust. ] Resolved—That <Mr J. Little be appoint«i as trustee on the Cromwell \ Cemetery Trust. —John Wilson wrote expressing a ' wish that the Council wou'd do something in bringing the proposed deviation of the Lauler road to some finality.—Received. > —J. Rhodes wrote on behalf of the Clyde Oolleries Ooy, asking the council to construct a crossing over a water race on E*rnscleugh Flat. The company would defray •half the cost of the undertaking. • Ore Butler and Pitches thought'that Mr Rhodes's request should be acceded to, —Resolution accordingly. —The Mines Department informed the council r« £l5O vote towards the Nevis bridge construction. —Received. —A request for payment under the Limited Districts Charitable Aid Board demand was acceded to, the amount to he paid forthwith, —Dredging Companies operating in the Alexandra Gorge wrote asking

payment as subsidy to expenditure on the construction of roads to dredging I claims in the Gorge. The writers claimed that a'subsidy of £SO was due by the council; , Or Butler supported the request made by the writers. The road was a very bad one indeed, Or Butler moved—That the Sailors' Bend Dredging Company be voted £%% and the. New t l B.endigo and Davis Bend Companies XlO eaqh as subsidy of J tar* on cost of forming £» road in Alexandra Seconded by Or Laidlaw and carried. J, Faulks, Makarora, wrote asking that the track at Boundary Oreek be put in a fit state of repair.—Consideration deterred. —The Mines Department wrote stating that there were no funds available for subsidising expenditure in repairing roads damaged by floods* The Department suggested that the council increase its rate so that those

I necessary expenditures should be met by county funds.—Received. —A Departmental letter informed the council that no sum of the subsidy given to the Clyde water scheme could be expended in purchasing a fire reel or hose—ReceiyeU, William Smith wrote, stating that owing to idness he was unable to complete bis contract, and he asked for two months' extension of time. Resolved—That the request be granted. Mr Bartholomew, solicitor, Alexandra, wrote, stating that a deputation of settlers from Waikerikeri Valley intended waiting on the council on Thursday.—Received. Messrs Gilkison and Hutton, solicitors, forwarded a list of names of defaulting ratepayers.—Received. 0. M'lntosh, Alexandra, wrote re« questing that the track down the east side of the Molyneux be put in a fit state of repair.—Or Pitches supported the request.—The Chairman: 'Who is this Mr M'lntosh 1' Or Pitches: 1 He is a resident of the borough of Alexandra.' - The Chairman: 'The council thinks it only proper that requests of this kind should come from ' county ratepayers.'—Cr Pitches:« The work is altogether necessary.' —The Chairman: ' The repairs c%&ic|trried out at your request, not fit the request of Mi* who is not a ratepayer.' '^sMiw^if Resolved—That two ment^^pi6 ployed to execute repairs to ttSKjl i J L Scott wrote, stating that a^pir • be erected at Deadman's Point, p^BSe Qlutha River, and pointing ouSiftfe

many conveniences that would accrue —Consideration was deferred. Or Pitches took up the petition o: settlers on Galloway Flat, praying foi the erection of a foot bridge over the Manuherikia River at Robertson 't £ crossing. Cr Pitches spoke in support of the subject matter of the petition. The engineer stated in reply to Or Pitches that it would take about .£2OO to erect a footbridge where mentioned, The banks are" low,'and the bridge, to be effective, would have to be half-a-mile wide. The river may change its course at any time, at this point. The Springvale bridge had been left htgh and dry owing to the river changing its course. A bridge at Robertson's crossing would be of no use in time of flood, and it would probably cost £3OO. Resolved—That the petition be al« lowed to stand over till next meeting and in the meantime Or Pitches to communicate with the petitioners pointing out the cost of a foot bridge as prayed for. The Chairman's report was read and agreed to. The report went to show that both the engineer and road inspector showed great energy in attending to the roads after the recent dam* age done by storm water. Dr Morris had reported the typhoid outbreak in due time and was very energetic in at> tending to the matter. GrM'Whirter stated that everything that could be done was not done to cope with the outbreak. The Health Department should have taken greater notice of this outbreak of typhoid. Had it occurred near the coast greater energy would have been displayed to trace the disease to its true source. Why was not this energy manifested on thepart of the Departs ment at the Oromwell outbreak of typhoid. The whole affair required an explanation on the part of the officers of the Department of Health, and he hoped steps would be taken to ask those officers for a full explanation. It was not correct to say that the disease was brought to Cromwell by shearers, who subsequently left Mt Pisa in a weak state of health. The outbreak at Oromwell had some other aource. Resolved—That the Olerk write to Dr Ogston, Health Officer, asking him to make a thorough investigation of the typhoid outbreak at Oromwell and Pembroke, as the disease was still menacing the public health of those localities, and showed small signs of abating in virulence. MINING VALUES. The following are the values of min-» ing properties within Vincent County for the year 1904 05, under the provisions of the Gold Duty Abolition and Mining Property Rating Act, 1890 : 1904-5 1903-4 Olutha £23,453 £28,882 Lindia ... ... 14.322 17,624 Oarrick .. 10,766 12,736 Dcmstan ... ... 37,740 45,550 Mabufierikia ... ..I 500 704 Matakariui ... ~.< 29,020 29,020 Earnspleugh ... ...,,21,096. 29,116 £136,896 £163,632 The deficiency means a loss of £lll Bs, at Id rate. The County Treasurer's Statement was read, and this showed a total debit balance at date of £llß4 3s 2d. The receipts of goldfields revenue for the two months dealt with were £164 17s, made up as follows:—'Rent and fees, £l4B 8s; fines, £l6 8s ; total, £164 16s. (Remainder of report held over,)