County Council.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 450, 1 December 1904, Page 5

County Council.

The annual statutory and U3ual limoothly ordinary meeting of thi council took place at Clyde, on the 22nd and 23rd when the following councillors were in attendance : Org Horn, Kane, Butler, Rutherford, Fitches, Heaney, Laidlaw, and M' Whirter. The clerk took the chair and asked for nominations for the position of chairman to the county council for the ensuing year, .as provided by section 78 part rv, of « The Counties Act, 1886.' Cr M'Whirter—Mr Chairman, as a junior member of this council, I would like to say that I was always of opinion that the position of chairman should be a rolling one. Of late I have had reasons to change my view* in this respect, and seeing that the council has carried on its business so ably under Or Horn's chairmanship, I have much pleasure iD moving—That Or Horn take the chair for the ensuing; year. j Or Butler seconded the motion. Ore Rutherford, Kane, Pitches, Laidlaw, Heaney supported the motion. In taking the chair, Cr Horn returned thanks for the honor conferred on him by this assurance of the continued confidence of the council in his efforts to fill his office to their satisfaction and in the interests of the general body of ratepayers. The minutes of the special meeting held on the 26th October were confirmed. The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting, were read and confirmed. Resolved—That the standing orders be suspended and the council proceed with appointments under ' The Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act.'

Resolved—That Mr T Coop, Roxburgh, be the delegate of this council at Roxburgh, and that he he authorised to exercise the four votes of this council in favor of Mr Hazlett, of Dunedin. Resolved—That James Hazlett be appointed the council's delegate on the Charitable Aid Board. Resolved That Messrs Fitches, Horn, and Laidlaw be appointed the council's repiesentatives on the Cen~ tral Otago Hospitals Board for 19041905. Resolved —That Messrs Moss (Naseby), M'Manus, (Dunstan), and Hea ney (Cromwell), be representatives of the council on the hospital trusts in the localities mentioned. Resolved —That the representative of this council on the Charitable Aid Board be authorised to support a motion for the supply of returns of Charitable Aid to various local governing bodies. The clerk, in reply to a question, jaid that such returns were always supplied the council. /* Cr LaiJlaw —We have frequently considered such return in committee. Ihe chairman —That is so. The firucY) County Council has evidently. made v.* mistake in referring to this matter: The ct*fk was instructed to write the Bruce County Council anent the question of returns of expenditure in Charitable Aid. The resolution was withdrawn. The Valuation Department nobbed alterations in the valuations of certain holdings. The Government. Insurance Department wrote re the council's liability as regards contractors and employees. The council is not liable for accidents to contractors, but is liable for accidents to contractor's employees where the contractor is unable to meet the demands for accident The secretary °* the Bannockburn Oolleries Go, wrote re valuation on properties. The Valuation Department had agreed to £SOO reduction.— Received, The letter was received. Dr Mason, Health Department, contiiened his series of unimportant reBorfc* on the outbreak of typhoid at Mt pjga Station. He concluded by informing the council that on any future visit to the district he would be posggeaea of* reliable time-keeper in the shape of a watch. The counca thought that Dr Mason had made a mirtake in tracing the outbreak to two shearers who were amongst the leading workmen on the station at shearing time.

Letter received, George Fache, Clyd 9, wrote re trespass on the mining reserve at Clyde. llr Fache having faileo to substantiate hi* complaints, the council could not take any action. Or Pitches— Mr Fache, as a member of the town trust, must have taken this matter in his own hands. He has not been authorised by the trust to write to this or any otter matter pertaining to trespass. Or Butler—There is no charge made. Oo on with the council's business. There may be ulterior motives for this complaint. Or Laidlaw—lt is a pity th »t shrubs and flowers should be allowed to be destroyed in this manner. Or Pitches —I hold a residence site on the bank of the river' and this area is not fenced. Moved by Cr Laidlaw, seconded by Or Rutherford—That Mr Fache be in'formed that portion of the reserve is aot fenced, and the council advises completing fence. Cr Pitches moved—That the letter be not received. Cr Butler seconded the amendment.

On being put the amendment was declared .carried. From Dr Gregg, Alexandra, complaining that the blood from the slaughter yards- at Alexandra was allowed to run over the read at Brace's Hill, and that horses frequently took fright a* the place.—Received, the

j local Inspector of Stock having pvoliry'sed to have the nuisance abolished. A. Gunn, Galloway Station, wrote r- repairs to Little Valley Road. Or Pitches said lie had received a I similar 1 tter from Mr Gunn. The engineer had the suggested lepairs attended to. The letter was received. Resolved—That it be left to the Department to appoint an assessor for Vincent County. C. F. Watkins, Tarras, wrote about

excess-ive valuation on Sections 5 and 7 Bock XIII, Tan as.—Received, the clerk to rep'y, sttting that the council did not conduct valuations, this being done by Government Officers. The engineer was instructed to attend to the request made by Jane Harvey, Hawea Flat, for permission to construct a water race on one side of the road near her residence. The Postal Department wrote enclosing statement showing that the Waitiri telephone had returned a surplus of £6 15s lid lor the current year.—Received. This concluded the inward correspondence. The clerk read the schedule of outward correspondence. The inward correspondence was received and the outward approved. The chairman's report went to show that a £ for £ subsidy was obtained for cost of the Fork's Punt.—The foundations of the Nevis bridge were being put down by Mr Leslie Arthur as contractor.—The Mungawera Punt cost £7OO. The road grader formed about 50 miles of road at a cost of 3s 6d per chain, including cost of pipes for culverts. The Nevis traffic bridge will cost £6OO. The cost of ordinary work would'amount to some £3534. for the year.—The council have at present a debit balance of £SOO. The report was adopted. Resolved—That the balance-sheet for the half year be adopted. ENGINEER'S GENERAL REPORT. The roads throughout the county are now in good order. The grader has : been at work on the place between Cromwell and the Bannockburn bridge and has now shifted up to Lindis Gorge road. The Nevis cutting has been cleared out, and the Upper Nevis road opened up at a compaiatively small cost this year. A considerable improvement has been made in the sharp bend near Grandview. I visited the bend complained of by Mr Kingan, on the Forks roads, and found it would not take much work to remedy the trouble, so as Mr Kingan offered to supply a horse and dray I ordered the roadman to do the work. The puntman recommends that a winch be purchased to replace the old capstan, and block and tackle, for working the stages at the lower punt. I think it would be saving time and expense to the country to have those recommendations attended to. He also suggests procuring a life buoy for the punt. I would like to point out in my opinion that if the dredge on the Lowburn Punt Olaim be allowed to work to its boundary on the upper side of the punt it will, in all probability, make the boats unworkable.. The mouth of the Lowburn creek, I should say, is as near as they could stack tailings without interfering with the punt. Re the part of the Rockb road, which Mr Clouston wishes to have closed, I visited the place with Cr Laidlaw, but unfortunately missed seeing Mr Clouston. I do not think it advisable to close the road, as- it is a good hard one, and there has been a lot of money spent on it. It would be a long time before the new toad, if opened, would be as good. Perhaps the matter could be left over in the meantime till I have had another opportunity of meeting Mr Clouston on the ground. The road to Lauder station, which Messrs Oorrigal, Duck, and others wish to have opened up is in a very unsuitable place, and would be expensive to make. If a strip of land could be procured on the other side of the j fence it could be opened at a small : cost.

■ .The plan of Mr Wilson's road to Lauder railway station has been returned from the Survey Office as not being in order. The Spottis creek bridge has been re-planked with three inch stuff laid longitudinally. I am glad to say the river has changed its course above Leask's, and is no longer cutting into the road: Re Government Votes. —I have written to the Minister for authority to spend the new votes, which are very small. The vote of £l5O for the Olyde-Alexandra-Ophir road is quite inadequate to put the road in good order for next wmter. I would support spending the amount in gravelling about 20 chains between Chappel's and Ophir, The Ida Valley-Galloway road extension I could report on for next meeting. I have been unable to come to any arrangements with Mr Whelan about bis road so have left it till I had an opportunity of visiting the locality. The engineer also reported on a drainage scheme for Hartley Street, Clyde, to connect with the river,

C'ONTBACTS. Fo 599 (A. Pitches)— This contract has been completed satisfactorily. No 516, Nevis bridge (Leslie Arthur) —When I was over some weeks ago the contractor was making good progress with the foundations- The floods had done some damage to the approaches on the Nevis side of the river. Resolved —That a winch and lifebuoy be procured for the Alberfcown pants.

The several recommendations in the Engineer's Reports were agreed to, and the reports were adopted. Reso'verl—That the council go into corntuittee to deal with tenders, On resuming, the committee reported as follows : I ROAD MAINTENANCE. The following tenders were accepted : Contract No. 1 (Ida Valley roads)— P. M'Dona'd, £BO. Contract No. 2 (Matakanui roads) — John G.Ryan, £l6l. Contract No. 3 (Omakau-Alexandra-Clyde roads)—W. Brown, £95. Contract No. 4 (bye-roads, Earnscleugh)—H, Tohill, £75. Contract No, 5 (Alexandra-Tuapeka boundary roads) —0- Docherty, £125. Contract No. 6 (Clyde-Cromwe 1 road) —Robert Robertson, £lls. Contract No. 7 (Rocky Point-Lindis road—E. Sanders, £95. Contract No, 8 (Bannockburn roan's) —R. Redhead, £95, Contract No. 9.—Resolved—That fresh tenders be called for this work: Contract No. 10 (Lowburn-Albert-town roads) —A. Campbell, £75. Contract No. 11 (Hawea-Lindis). — Resolved—That fresh tenders be called for this work. Contract No. 12 (Tarras-Lindis valley roads) —E. Gorge, £56. Contract No. 13 (Wanaka Lake roads) —James M'Kee, £4O. Contract No. 14 (Lake Hawea roads) —Resolved—That fresh tenders be called for this work. DOG TAX COLLECTOR. Resolved—That John TJickie, junr., be appointed, at a fee of Is per dog, over the whole county. The report was adopted. Resolved—That the council stand adjourned till 9 a.m. next morning. Thursday's Sitting. The adjourned meeting was resumed at 9 a.m., when the following councillors were present:—Crs Horn (chairman), M'Whirter, Rutherford, Laid-

law, Heaney and Pitches. On the motion of the chairman, the council, went into committee to deal with accounts. On resuming, the chairman read the following report of committee, which was adopted:— Resolved—That £IOO be spent in the purchase of birds' eggs. Resolved—That the schedule of ac* counts amounting to £1392 8s 7d be passed for payment. Charitable aid was granted to two i Chinese residents. Resolved—That the Charitable Aid | list be approved. \ The council then rose.