Vincent County Council.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 429, 11 August 1904, Page 5

Vincent County Council.

The following is the remainder of % 4ur report of the last meeting of the above Council: — Esocnaa's Report. CConnell Bridge—Tenders are now in for thia work. Nevis Bridge—Tenders are also called for the girders of this work. I suggest that the Council should have all the material on the ground and call tenders for erection only. Maungawera Punt—The boats bave been running sarisfactorily for some time. I have so far been unable to procure any second-hand witches. ApUcations have been called a for puntman to work both boats. Government Votes—The votes are now all expended with the exception of £l5O, which has just been authorised for the Bannockburn-Nevis road, and will be required to open up this road in the Spring. Application has been made to the Roads' Department for £422/loa, due for works completed. I append a list of votes required for next season, ..,.,_, Tenders. —As mentioned at last meeting, tenders were called for gravelling at-Bald Hill Flat and Conroy's, 0 n the Earnsc'eugh rood, and contracts were let to W McLean and H Tohill. The former wotk has since been completed. Rkpobi on Contracts.

Contract No. 505 (B Redhead). I have made out a progress payment of £SO. No. 507 (Webster and Betts) Maungawera Punt—This work was competed up to time, and is a very satisfactory job. The boats were put on immediately on competion, and are running well. No. 508 (Andrew Pitches)— Owing to the bad state of the road, caused chiefly by Government drays carting gravel, I have instructed the contractor to hold over the work till Spring. No. 509 (Robert Love)— Good prograss ia being made with this work. No. 510 (Robert Love)— This work has been satisfactorily completed. No, 511 (W McLean) —This work WiU 5 satisfactorily completed up to

'.wie, , , , No. 512 —A start has been made with this work. • The contract time expued on the 27th inst. ReAD Ihspectob's Repobt,

Owing to heavy rain in June, the roads got cut up, as did also the roads that were newly formed and not fit for heavy tramc Ida Valley roads, with the exception of a few water cats, are in good order, t A man is required foi a month on the new road through Galloway. There ia about half a mile at Lauder, extending from the mill bridge to where it joins the gravelling road that should be formed anoT gravelled, and the road from the Mitt to the top of Tiger Hid requires patching as there is a deal of traffic on it. The Council should secure • gravel pit at Tiger Hill, The crossing at Muddy Creek is now in a passable state, but it would be improved by a littlo gravelling when the ground is dry, as the work could be more easily done than at present. The roads in the north end of the County have been graded, and gravel jg required on them. The roads to the Bannockburn coal aits have been in a bad state. I had gome necessary gravelling done to the worst parts. . , The Qlacks obannel requires cleen- > Ing out, Jo take the water out of Leask's road wfll cost about £lO. Some five chains of gravelling should be done at the Lowburo Hotel, and »bout the same extent of work at the Ohatto Creek Hotel. I would suggest that what work is intended for the grader should be dirested for execution before summer. QaHflfljnra ok Reports. The engineer said he would enquire about the winches that were said to be

at Alexandra, In reply to Or Kane, the engineer Stated that he had told the puntman lo do necessary gravelling at the staging on the Maangiwera Ferry. He would see that the work was carried out isame* 3 lately. The question of repairs to the Clyde Bridge would have to stand over until toch time as it was sejen'what" votes + would be required from* Government by way of subsidies.. The Inspector was instructed to have the rood near tfee Ophir Mill put in reoiir when hetoought the road sufSeiently dry to enable the work being 4one thoroughly. The Inspector was authorised to do certain gravelling at Muddy Creek crossing. "Resolved —That the Blacks channel be cleaned out at a cost not to exceed 219. Resolved —That about five chains of the road, opposite the Lowburn Hotel, be gravelled. Keeolved—That the road opposite Chatto Creek-fiotel be gravelled ; also

II part of the road at a cost not exceed - " The'aqtion of the Inspector in having done at Manuherikia was approved. The reports were adopted. The coqncs weqt into committee to Aft* with accounts, tenders and charitable aid matters, On resuming in open board the Chairman read the following report of committee, which was adopted : Contract 513—Resolved—That the tender of Watson Rhodes for the sum of £1045 be accepted. Contract §l4—Resolved—That the tender of Joseph Sparrow for £177 be tfeepted. " Resolved —That Inspector Grierson |f traniforred from the position of

Inspector of Roads to that of puntman at at a galary of £3 per ' Resolved—That accounts amounting to £1499 2s Id be passed for payment. Resolved—That the clerk be inj strucfeed to send a voucher for the sum of £lO in connection with cost of erecting a public pound at Ilawea. Resolved—That the council provide a printed board for position at the Hawea pound. Or Laidlaw thought that the people of Hawea should have given better assistance towards the cost of erecting the pound. The Chairman referred to the state of the Nevis Crossing since the old structure was taken down to admit necessary excavations for the new bridge. A chair would be required there. The Engineer stated that the necessary material for a cbair could be had from portions of the old bridge. Reso ved—That the Engineer be instructed to have a chair put over the river at the Nevis Crossing. POISON FOB BIRDS.

Or M-Whirter said he had given the poison a most favorable test, but found it failed to kill the birda. It is remarkable that we cannot get such results from poisoned grain as those reported from other districts, The Southland poison was worthless. Cr Rutherford said that his experience with the Southland poison it went to prove its efficacy. When the birds ate the poison it certainly killed them The trouble was in getting the birds to feed on the poisoned gram. It was decided, after some further discussion, not to obtain a further supply of poisoned grain this season. Regarding plans of Lauder township, it was°resolved_That the plans be not agreed to by the council, and that the plans be returned to Mr Wilson for the necessary alteration suggested by the council. The question of charging waggoners and carriers within the county certain licensing fees was left over till next meeting, when it would be fully dealt with. . . Or Heaney referred to a machine that was locally constructed for the purpose of levelling roads and filling wheel ruts. Cr Heaney was asked to look into the machine referred to. The roadman might be able to make a trial of the machine. The machine should have certain repairs executed at Wishart's, Oromwell. M , ~ Or McWhirter asked if the council would not instruct its delegate at the County Conference to suggest to the Government the desirability of having some proportion of the rates on pastoral runs paid over to the local bodies. The chairman was instructed to discuss this question with members of the conference when he paid his intended visit to Wellington. Cr McWhirter gave notice that he intended to move the following motion at next meeting of the council—That at next meeting the council receive the whole question of-road maintenance within the county, and consider the advisableness of reverting to the system of maintenance by contract. The council then rose,