CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 169, 5 October 1877, Page 6

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Arneeting of the Clutha County Coun- i ;-'cil was held in the Courthouse, Balclutha,: "at noon "on Saturday last. There were, present : "Messrs J. M'Neil '(Chairman),. -Jo-ft'itt/Heiicl'erson, Scott, Dallas, Ayson,' Mackenzie, and Roberts. MINUTES. "The minutes of * previous meeting were iread and confirmed. NEW COUNTY, A 'letter was read from the Colonial • Secretary, enclosing a copy of a petition ; purporting to be signed by more than -tlireerfifths of the electors of Teviot and 1 Tapanui districts, praying' that the dis- " tricts therein described may be formed 'into a new County. The boundaries of I proposed new County are as follows : —

" Commencing at a point, tho centre of ■■the confluence of the Pomahaka and Wai.'palii rivers, in a liotth-easterry direction, •down' the centre of tho. Pomahaka river to 'its confluence with the Rankleburn stream ; "thence in a northerly direction up the • centre of the said Rankleburn to the source of the Black Cleugh ; thence to the junction of the said Black Cleugh with the ' Clutha River ; thence, , foUowing the Clutha River to the north boundary of run 163 ; thence, along said boundary to the • eastern boundary of the Tapanui Hundred ; thence, along the said boundary to the summit of the Spylaw ; thence by a straight line due east to the centre of the Clutha River to its junction with the Benger -Burn stream ; thence, in a westerly direction along the said stream to its source ; thence by a straight line to the summit of Mount Benger ; thence along the southern boundary of Benger commonage to the White Combe; thence by a dotted line - Bhown on the official map of Otago as being ' the boundary of goldfields to the centre of "the Mataura River near the Pyramid ; thence, down the centre of the said Ma;tam*a River to the Main South Trunk Railway Reserve (distant one and a half •chain from the centre of the railway line) "to the point of intersection of the same "•with the western boundary of the Wai- ' Wairuna Hundred ; thence in a northerly ' direction along the said western boundary •of the Wairuna Hundred to the Waipahi River ; thence along the centre of the said -Waipahi River to the starting point." On the motion of Capt. Mackenzie, 'seconded by Mr Henderson, it was agreed ' " That this Council does not disapprove of ■the action taken by the petitioners." RETURNS. A letter was read from the Colonial " Secretary, requesting the Council to supIply the information which is required in 'consequence of the notice of motion given f by Mr W. Wood, the member for Mataura, >in the House of Representatives — " That -in the opinion of this House steps should •be taken for the purpose of obtaining from the mayors of municipalities and chairmen of Counties full information on the following subjects : — lst. The rate of wages paid fco artizans, and the number of hours called a day in each calling within their "respective municipalities and Counties ; the rate of wages ruling for farm and -' domestic servants, both male and female ; -and the prices ruling for the chief articles •of food. That copies of such returns be forwarded to the Agent-General to be published in Great Britain in such manner ; and at such times as he may deem most -suitable." The Chairman and Clerk were asked to 'supply the required information. 'DISTRICT RAILWAYS. A letter was read from Mr Thomson, M.H.R., acknowledging receipt of letter •containing resolutions passed at the last : meeting of the Council re branch lines of "railways, and stating that, in accordance with the wish of the Council, he and Mr Bastings had waited upon the Hon. Mr Or•mond, who informed them that the construction of branch lines of railway was no jpart of the Government policy. The letter was received. A letter was also read from the Mm ister of Public Works intimating, in reply Ho the Council's resolution re branch lines 'of railway, that the District Railways /Bill was intended to meet such cases. j The letter was received. j RATE ON OUTLYING DISTRICTS. The following letter from E. H. Carew, Esq., Judge of the Assessment Court, was "'read : — ■ "I have the honour to acknowledge of your letter of the 16th inst. , in which you inform me that yoh have been '•instructed to communicate with me and •ascertain whether a rate can yet be made -and levied on the outlying districts of the Clutha County for the current year with•out being made for and levied over the "whole County. In reply, 1 beg to state "-■that, as Judge of the County Assessment 'Court, I have no jurisdiction to decide •the question, but with regard to assessment rate for the outlying district, I may f state, as none was prepared at the time appointed by the Act, owing to the whole *of the Counties Act not being then in force in the County of Clutha, no application being made to me, I can appoint a valuer 'or valuers to make a list, fix a day for holding an Assessment Court, and do such ■"■other tilings a3 may be necessary under sections 28 and 22 of the Rating Act, -1876." Letter was received. DOG TAX. A letter was read from the Inspector of Police, Lawrence, re collection of Dog 'Tax, intimating that the sum of L 147 10s lias been collected from tlmt source during "the year within the Clutha County by the •Police. The sum is made up yds follows:, r-r-South Molyneux, L 3 410 5; Pomahaka, ' AL2I ; 'Clinton, L3l ; Richardson, L31 10s ;

trough, L 4; and Waipahi, L 25 10s ;

-fedta!-} Jji4 l 7 ; ios.— The letter was received, . aaid & discussion followed upon the best

method- of collecting the money- -hi future j from this source, during which a 'tender j

from Mr B. Marr was opened signifying his Willingness to collect the' dog taxes** at the rate of 5s .per head. •

Mr Henderson suggested that Mr Marr had misunderstood the advertisement, and. intended to purchase all the dogs at 5s a head. — (Laughter) He (Mr Henderson) thought they should allow the police to finish the collecting of the tax for the present year. Captain M'Kenzie thought they should put the law into operation against, all those who did not voluntarily pay the dog tax. They were liable to. be fined L 5, and there was no necessity for appointing a person for its collection. He . advised that stated - places for receiving the taxes should be advertised. After some discussion it --was resolved tliat B. Marr's tender be not accepted, and that the police be also requested to collect the tax as usual ; that an advertisement be inserted in the local paper calling the attention of owners of dogs to the penalty which may be inflicted for the non-payment of the tax ROAD BOARD RETURNS. The following returns of moneys expended by Road Boards on belialf of the Council were laid upon the tabic :-—Pomahaka, L3O 17s ; Port Molyneux, L 74 5s ;. "Warepa, Ll3 14s lid j Clinton, L-406 14s 3d. -THE OLD LAKES ROAD. A letter was read from the Clinton Road "Board requesting to be informed as to whether that Board or the Pomahaka Board had. to attend to the old Lakes road, that being the boundary between the two Boards. The letter was received, and held over for consideration at next meeting. CLOSING ROAD LINES. A letter from the Clutha Hoad Board signifying its intention of closing certain road lines in the district, was held over for consideration until the necessary plans were forwarded to the Council. engineer's report. The following reports of the Engineer were read and adopted : — " Kaihiku, September 13, 1877. "I have the honour to report that I have retained the same number of surfacer men on the Main South Road as was previous to the County Act coining into force, as under .-—Two between Balclutha and Kaihiku ; one between Waiwera and Clinton ; two between Clinton and Waipahi. Between Kaihiku and "Waiwera I have only been employing a man for a few days occasionally. Up to this date the men have been almost wholly employed on the metalled portions. I think it will be advisable when the good weather sets in, to employ an extra man or two to get the ruts on the unmetalled portions filled and smoothed up as quickly as possible. I may state that parts of the oldest metalled portions have got badly cut up, especially during last month. Places referred to are at Carterhope, the approaches to Kaihiku bridge, and the east approach to Piawata bridge ; between Albert's Cap ancl Peat's smithy, and between Wallace's place and Clinton. It is not possible to keep these places in repair without a supply of maintenance metal.

" On the road Clinton to Mataura, I have employed a man a day or two occasionally to see that the culverts are kept clear, and to remove stones and earth that slip clown on to the road in the Popotunoa Gorge. The metalled portion of this road is hi very good repair. " Port Molyneux Road.— There are at present two surface-men employed on this road. The man at the Port end is chiefly engaged clearing out the water- tabling in cuttings that had got so full that the water was flowing on to the road. The metal below Brown's smithy and Downie's plaoe, and on Sornerville's flat, is worn through. These are the only places on this road that require maintenance metal. There were a few yards of metal lying here and there, and I instructed the surface-men to employ a dray and use them up. " Catlins River.— This road is metalled up to Glenomaru,. saw-mill, and as a part of it was lately done it will require attention until the good weather sets in, there being a good heavy timber traffic on. this road. I have put on a man to rut in the metal, and clear out some water-tabling. "I would beg to bring under your notice the matter of tools. I would also draw your attention to the fact ,of parties removing earth and stones from roadlines. It is not the value of the material removed that I particularly refer to, but the damage caused by the way it is done. For instance, parties in removing stones from the roaclline in Popotunoa Gorge have left at various times as much rubbish in the water channel . that took the surface-man days to remove. '

" I enclose herewith the surrace-men's accounts that are employed on the Main. South Road. The* men were paid > every month by the Road Boards. It is a matter for you to appoint how often and in what manner they are to be paid. ■ By giving me instructions on tho subject I will inform the men, so that they may understand arrangements for the future. Rate of wages 7s. per day. — I have, &c, '" Matthew Paterson."

11 Kaihiku, September 13, 1877. " According to instructions, I waited on Capt. Mackenzie, member for the' Waipahi Riding. He rode out with mo from his place along the old Teviot road to Greenvale, ! and from the ridges pointed out North Glenkenich and Greehvcale disr tricts. He did not consider it necessary that I Should go over the roadlines and make a specific report thereon until he ; had an opportunity of meeting with the settlers and learning more particularly, their WMits. [ ci FrOm the {amount of , settlement ih these districts., road-making must shortly be a necessity. It appears to hie that the best outlet will be to Taylor's; Creek Railway Station. y :r 'A : ''l^ -"'",'.' "''!'"'*

' " In passing along the: old Tevipt' road from GJenl-renich ;tcr Greenvale.; I observed that thatpart of the c i'b'ad leaclihgout from

j* Glenkenich -to the top': of the ■ ridge -is lip need; of -being - formed*,-" -and;. -also* where iti; leads from the ridge into Green vale jßktA! With th.c exception of these places, ancl 'a* •few small Culverts put in Avhere 'the rd'ad 1 is being ' fenced ' " on both ' sides'; ' ' arid '" the r .planldhg anew of a bridge near ' Greenvale s Station, there as -little required oh>4his. roach - **-* "--, , -'*.'.. .._ * .-- .. \ ,_; ,*," On road from. Waipahi to Gienkenic)>; | ; Ford,, it. will be necessary to. employ .a nian as soon as the fine weather, sets in _, to -nil in ruts and make other repairs. Iliad t# employ a man "a ! few days to f 6rm a pifccS of road where fencing had cut off the track I used. I may state further, with regard to* this road', that the embankment on the hill to the west of the Waipahi Hotel* has been- in > a bad state, during last .winter, and would require to be liietalled.'*. A A,/';'-- \

"The road on north side of Conical; Hill leading to Pomahaka bridge, has been, impassable,, except'- for light 'traffic, during the winter; -" The water channels on the side cuttings require to be cleared out and a few smallcul^erts put in ,to keep the water off the formation., - • , ...

, " I have to report that the. approaches to the Waipahi Pord, at the Railway., Sta-. tion, are .almost impassable; tliat unless , it is the intention of the Council to build' a bridge oyer the Waipahi river,' it : will be' necessary to make theni passable by reducing the gradient, and metalling them up to high water mark; ' The hand-railing, of the bridge at Waipahi Hotel requires to. be renewed, as part of it has already fallen ; away.

"I would also draw the attention of the .Council .to the bridge over the Pomahaka river at Kelso township. The hand-rail-ing has been for two years without paint, and is now in fit state to receive it. *

" There are numerous complaints about the state of the unmetalled poations of the Main South Road ;■ also the Mataura road ; but until such time as Aye have more settled weather, I -do. not deem it advisable to expend much labour on these parts. — I have, etc., ' " Matthew Paterson." electoral roll. It was agreed, on the motion of Capt. MacKenzie, seconded by. Mr Dallas that Mr.T. Paterson be appointed to prepare and forward to the County Clerk a list iii the form of the Sixth Schedule, of all persons in the outlying districts who, if such districts were included in a Road District, would be entitled to be placed on the Valuation Roll, and. assign to each person the number of votes to which he. is entitled. ] - , GREENVALE TO TAYLOR'S CREEK. On the motion of Capt. MacKenzie, the following resolution was passed after a long discussion : — "That the engineer be instructed to inspect and report upon the surveyed road from Greenvale bridge towards Taylor's Creek, past block XL, Glonkcnicii, and up Glenshoe valley, stating that the work urgently requires to be done.'" COUNTY SEAL. ' According to resolution of last meeting the Chairman submitted a number of designs for a County seal. After examination and discussion the same were referred to the Chairman and Messrs Ayson and Dallas, to decide upon and adopb a seal. . . .; payment to members. • . , Messrs Henderson and Jowitt* were allowed to postpone the moving of the motions standing in their names until next meeting. With reference to Mr Jo witt's notice of motion — "'That the members of the Council, should be paid a reasonable remuneration of their services," several members thought that if ; the motion was carried it would be illegal, as the Attorney- General has expressed himself to that effect. ■■-.-••:. Mr Jowitt held that the opinion", which had been given by the Attorney-General was but a privato one, and simply meant nothing. ACCOUNTS. Various accounts amounting in all to L6O 14s sd, were passed for payment. ' BYE-LAWS. The Chairman was requested to submit a code of County bye-laws, also a copy of standing orders, for consideration and adoption at next meeting. The meeting then adjourned. ' '.'■