CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 188, 15 February 1878, Page 7

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the County Council of Clutha was held in the Courthouse here on Thursday last. There were present : Messrs M'Neil (Chairman), Jowitt, Brugh, Capt. Mackenzie, Ayson, Dallas, and Scobie.

MINUTES.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. FINANCE. The following letters from the Treasury were read : —

Treasury, Wellington,

16th January, 1878. Sir,- 3 -! have the honour, by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th December calling attention to the fact that the Council of the County of Clutha had on the 2nd August passed a bringing the whole of the •Counties Act into force within that CJounty, and requesting that the moneys

at credit of the County "Fund might at once be paid to its account at the Bank. In reply, I am to express my regret I that the question on which the answer to both your letters depends should not have been decided at an earlier date. The point in question has, however, now been fully considered, and the Government is advised that, the whole of the. Act not being in force in the County of Clutha on the 31st March last, the Council can have no control over the County revenues accruing during the currency of the financial year commencing with the Ist July then next ensuing. Those revenues by the operation of section 31 of the Financial Arrangements Act became on that date the property of the road and outlying districts, and were divisible either by a resolution of fche Council or by the determination of a Commissioner amongst those districts in certain proportions, and it is held that no subsequent action of the County Council can deprive those districts of their interest in the revenues of the present year. It is fair to assume that the Road Boards, on whom during the abej'ance of ' the Counties Act the maintenance of the roads devolves, have entered into engagements for their improvement and repair in the belief that the accruing Oonntv Fund would provide the necessary means, and at all events in one instance the Government is aware that this is actually the case. By sub-section 1 of section 31 of the Act referred to the Council should have determined by resolution, on or before the 31st March last, in what proportions the moneys accruing to the County during the financial year commencing on the Ist July last were to be divided between the Road Boards and outlying districts of the County. No such resolution having been passed and forwarded to the Colonial Secretary on or before the 30th April following, as is required by sub-section 3 of the section above referred to, it is for his Excellency the Governor to appoint a Commissioner to determine the manner in which the moneys so accruing are to be distributed. By one or other of the modes laid down the revenues of the County for the present financial year are imperatively distributable under the Act, and the Council having failed to indicate by resolution it's wishes in the matter, his Excellency the Governor will be advised to appoint a Commissioner to determine in what proportions and to what districts the Fund shall be paid over. I am to request that any moneys which may have been paid into the County Fund Account since the 2nd August last may be paid to the Public Account for distribution amongst the Road Boards, the Council reserving out of such moneys such a sum as may be necessary (if any) to pay the salary of their Clerk to the 30th June next. I am to add that the Council having adopted the whole of the Act will assume entire possession and control of the County Fund on the Ist July, 1878. I am, &c, C. T. Batkin, Secretary to the Treasury. The Chairman, Clutha County. The Treasury, Wellington, January 31, 1878. Sir, — I have the honour to transmit for your information duplicate of a Treasury Voucher, the original of which, together with a cheque for the amount thereof, has this day been posted to the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Balclutha, for credit of the County Fund Account. I am, &c, - W. A. Thomas, For the Secretary to the Treasury. The Chairman, Clutha County. The New Zealand Government Dr. to the County of Clutha. Subsidy to the above Local Body for the halfyear ending 31st "December, 1877, ' under the provisions of the Financial Arrangements Act, IS7G. Receipts by general rates daring the year ended 31st March, 1877, as per return of the Chairman dated the 30th day of -April, 1877, £149(5 4s sd. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ b. d. Subsidy of 10a in the £ payable thereon for the halfyear above stated 748 2 2 being 5s in £ payable out of Land Fund 374 1 1 and 5s in the £ payable out Consolidated Fund 374 1 1 Deduct County's contribution towards maintenance of tho hospitals and charitable institutions of the district for the period ended Dec. 31, 1877, £137 lis od. Less amount deducted in excess for ditto for the period ended June 30, 1877, £29 18s lOd ... 107 12 7 266 8 6 Less amount payable to the County of Bruce, being a moiety of the cost of repairs to the Matau bridge, £50 216 8 6 590 9 7 I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foregoing account is true and correct. W. A. Thomas, Officer authorised to certify. The Chairman said the letter dated 16th January was just what the Council I mighfhave expected, seeing* they had determined to bring the Act into operation from the first. Capt Mackenzie said the Council could never submit to be deprived of their revenues in that manner. A discussion ensued, in the course' o'f which the Clerk explained that the resolution to adopt the whole Act was passed on the 2nd of Augiu-st, and t *,that a copy of the resolution wris\forwarhed to the Government same day ; alscUa , resolution deciding in what- proportions i the County funds were to be divided

amongst the several Road! Boards was passed ooxn x March' 3lst, ; and a copy forwarded to the Colonial Secretary on the 2nd April. *• It appeared to ; the Councillors, therefore, that as Mr Batkin was in error in regard to both of these matters, he was also in error in his conclusion that " the whole ofthe Act not being in force in the County of Clutha on the 3lst March last, the Council can have no control over the County revenues accruing during the currency of the financial year commencing on the Ist July then next ensuing." The second letter — "31st January, forwarding the proportion of subsidy due for the half year ending 31st December, 1877, confirmed the opinion, and the Clerk was instructed to reply and explain the matter. valuations. A letter was read from Mr W. H. S. Roberts, Waipahi, pointing out the in-, convenience ofthe valuations for Waipahi riding being exhibited at Balclutha, and suggesting that it should, be sent to some central place for inspection. It was resolved that copies be sent to Clinton and Waipahi, and that public notice of the same be gixen. CHAKGB OF MAIN ROAD. The following letter from the Clerk to the Clinton Road Board was read : — Kaihiku, January 29, 1878. Sir, — I am instructed by the Clinton Road Board to forward to you the following resolution, which was passed at a meeting of the Board held on the 19th inst.: — "That thi3 Board make application^ to the Olutha . County , Council to place the control of the road line between Clinton and Clutha Road Board Districts under the Clinton Road Board, ancl that the Council also declare the proportionate part of the cost of each district in constructing and keeping the said road line in repair." The road line referred to is between Blocks 102, 73, 74, section 2, Block 75, ancl Blocks 103, 81, 82, section 1, Block 83, Clutha Survey District. Matthew Paterson, Clerk to the Board. The Clerk was instructed to give the necessary notices in the matter preparatory to consideration at next meeting. ROAD TO SWITZERS The following letter from the Mayor of Tapanui and accompanying petition were read : — Tapanui, loth January, 1878. The Chairman and members of the Clutha County Council, — Gentlemen, —I have been requested to forward you the enclosed petition by the gentlemen whose names are attached thereto, and desire at the same time to draw your attention to the fact that the road, referred to in the petition lies in three Counties, namely, Clutha, Southland, and Tuapeka. The Southland and Tuapeka County Councils will be communicated with respecting the formation of that portion of the road lying within their respective boundaries. At present all communication by the road referred to is entirely stopped by the existence of a small rocky bluff below the junction of the Leithen creek with the Pomahaka river. If the road over this small bluff, and which I may add is in the Clutha County, was. formed as far as the junction of the abovenamed creek communication could then be opened up* with the Switzers and Waikaia main road, the cost of same* being a mere bagatelle. The formation of. this small piece of road being of- the utmost importance to this district, I trust you will have no hesitation in voting the necessai'y expenditure. R. C. "Ferouso-st, ■'; Mayof of Tapanui. . P.S. — One thing of importance tp the Olutha County in connection with, the road referred to above, is that such a road would be the means of diverting the traffic of Switzers, &c, via Tapanui. to. Clinton and Balclutha. R.C.%, „ - Tapanui, Bth January~riß7B. To the Chairman and members 'of the Clutha County Council, — Gentlemen, — We the undersigned, merchants and residents of Tapanui, humbly request that the road from this town to j Switzers, via the Pomahaka and Leithen Gorge be formed for general traffic. The I cost of constructing the said road will be very small, and the distance to Switzers by main road reduced from forty-five to twenty-eight miles. . The piece of road referred . to lies directly in the Pomahaka Gorge below the junction of the Leithen, thence to the said junction and up the Leithen creek to the Switzers main road. Trusting this matter- will .receive your earnest consideration, your petitioners beg humbly to remain, &c, [Here follow 45 signatures.] Cant. Mackenzie would, like to have an official report as to what was required before any action being taken in the matter. The whole of the signatures were those of residents in the township of Tapanui. He did not know that thesettlers ofthe Clutha County wanted the road; besides be believed that within two years a railway would be constructed to Switzers, after which the road referred to might not be required. After a discussion it was agreed to take no action in tbe matter until it is. ascertained what is to be done by the Southland and Tuapeka Councils. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts were passed for payments.. •.*.-. , .engineer's rrport. , The following report by the Engineer was read : — r . . ' Snt,—Accqrdirig, to instructions I beg , to submit the following report on motions past at last meeting of the Council - , also * on a motion passed at a previous meeting : 1. In regard to motion* instructing: me to lay off necessary- works upon road line leading from Main 1 South Road to Otaria- '' Railway sidirigl liaye made a survey of the road line, and prepared plans* of work Irequired, -between railway reserve and a pbint'in section 2, Block X. ; , this being part of the road line Mr Young informed

yy A"7ryyy..\. rA.'or^'^iu. '■ <*■* me was to be made first. I forwarded the plans on Monday 'la-it; ' My estimate of the cost of construction is L 69. . 2. Motion, " That the Engineer be instructed to inspect and report on the work necessary to be done on the County roads, and. the pi-obable cost thereof."— On Main South Road, between Balclutha aud Clinton, I beg to report on the following places as most necessary' to be attended to before the winter sets in : The places requiring maintenance metal only are the Ferry Mat, the hill at Carterhope, the approaches to Kaihiku and Railway bridges (where the ' road intersects Mr Wilson's property near Waiwera Hotel), arid where road intersects Mr Logan's property near to Clinton. The places most necessaiy to be foi'med and metalled are 11 chains on the Kaihiku Hill west of Piawata Bridge, and the unmetalled portion east of Clinton township. Between Clinton and Waipahi. — The place requiring maintenance metal only is between Clinton and Brickmakers', and from the end of the 'metal that was put on last year at Waipahi to Waipahi Hotel to be metalled. This includes fche cutting on the east side of the bridge, which last year was one of the worst places on the road. The Waipahi bridge requires Q xtensivo repairs ; if not the wood superstructure to be wholly renewed ; ' the platform and railing are certainly done. I have ordered planking for the platform, so that in the event of. any of the planks likely to give way a new one could be put in until I make another inspection, and report definitely, thereon. Waipahi to Tapanui. — The most necessary is formation and gravelling between the Waikoikoi bridge and the Pomhaka Ford. The road round the Conical Hill by Pomhaka bridge to Tapanui — I do not consider it to be advisable to do anything towards this road than keep it in the best possible repair by surface labour — it may be said to be only a provisional road. Switzer'sroad. — There does not appear that anything has been done to this road for years, consequently in many places the ruts have got very deep, especially on the Landslip Hill and towards the boundary' of. the County;* It will be necessary that the ruts be filled in, and the water turned off to prevent the road becoming impassable. Clinton to Waipahi-Mataura road.— From Kuiwaro Gorge, to Waipahi, the greater part of the vray, the traffic passes along a provisional road left until the proper road line be formed. One of the worst places is near Mr Stewart's place, where a creek crosses the road ; also near this place Mr Stewart has had to make a divei-gence in his fence to allow the traffic to get along. Port Molyneux road. — The places that require maintenance metal are Somerville's flat. and between Waitepeka smithy and Downie's place. The places that require to be metalled are on the hill south of Four Mile Creek, and between Puerua bridge and Wliytock's Hotel. 3. Motion re Catlins road. — I beg to suggest that the greater part of the money be expended in metalling on tho following portions of the road, namely, between the end of tho metal at Glenomaru and Ahuriri, at M'Donald's place, where road passes through swamp in the bush, and between Owake bridge and the schoolhouse. Also, that some of the sharp turns on the road in the bush be widened, so that . a team of horses may pass round in safety. 4. Motion, '' That the Engineer be in structed to- survey and prepare a plan showing the permanent levels on the main road through Clinton, and that the unmetalled portion of the ; same be metalled during the summer .months." — I regret that I have not as yet been able to complete the first part of the motion, but will do so at the earliest possible period. In * regard to the latter part of the motion, I have, made a' 'survey of the* unmetalled portion of "* the road, and prepared a plan showing the work required ; the plan also includes . the . unmetalled portion inter- ' secting suburban sections.... In regard to surface labour, I have to report that there are at present seven, men employed — three between Balclutha and Clinton, and ' two between Clinton and Pomahaka stream. One of those has been a few days on the Landslip Hill. There has not been any surface labour done on the. Port Molyneux road since the 10th of December. There are two men at surface work on Catlins road.. These, with the exception of a few days, have been en-gaged-since*; the*, month of November in carrying out special- works 'ordered by the Council until last week, when they began to fill in the ruts and clean out the watertabling through the, bush. Cost of special works ordered. I—Port1 — Port Molyneux Riding : Landing-place at Catlins, L 24 10s ; Owake road, L 8 16s , ditches at Port Molyneux, L 9 12s. ; The report was considered,.and it was agreed tp call for tenders for the several works recommended with the, exception of formation and metalling iq the township of Clinton, which it was decided to carry out by day labour. ADDITIONAL WORKS. , Capt. Mackenzie, moved that the Engineer be instructed to expend the sum of LlfJO on a. road from Kelso bridge in the direction of Glenkenich school. . Seconded by Mr Scobie, and carried. BOUNDARIES OF RIDINGS. Capt. Mackenzie, requested that the j motion cf which he had given notice re the boundaries of ridings be allowed Ito stand over till next meeting.— Granted. *'-..* After several unimportant "matters had been attended.to the meeting adjourned.