THE ESCORT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 780, 30 March 1877, Page 3

THE ESCORT.

— o — of gold forwarded by Escort to the Chief Gold Receiver Dunedin, from Clyde, 21st March, 1877, hy Mr Inspector Moore : ozs. dwts. grs. Queenstown 526 11 0 Arrow 310 13 0 Cardrnna 282 0 0 Cromwell 955 1 0 Civile 140 0 0 Blacks 466 4 0 Mount Ida 804 5 0 St. Bathans 703 8 0 Alexandra 146 0 0 Roxburgh 317 8 0 Lawrence 1,236 16 0 Waicahuna 96 12 0 Tokomairiro 185 0 0 Total ... 6,169 18 0 VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL. —o— A special meeting of the Council was held in the’Thttn Hall, Clyde on Wednesday the 28lh’uistaut Present)VincentPyke, Esq., Chairman, and Councillors Fraser, Davidson, Greenbank, Pitches and Mibchiuson. The Chairman said the special business was the adoption of Bye Laws Nos. 1 and 2, and the making of rate. After some slight discussion it was resolved on the motion of Cr. Fraser, seconded by Cr. Greenbank, — That Bye Laws Nos. 1 and 2as read, ■be adopted. Proposed by Cr. Davidson, seconded by Cr. Mitchmsen,—That arate of Sd. in the L. on all rateable property be made. This concluding the Special Meeting, the Council resolved itself into an Ordinary Meeting, and the business was proceeded with. Letter just handed in from Mr L. Botchjer, enclosing deposit on tenders for maintenance—Clyde and Cromwell Road—and naming sureties, was read. Cr. Fraser said he would mention that whendn Dunedin hesawMrThomas George, Lithographer, who had informed him that he found he could not mark on a half inch to the mile map all Sections, he therefore had extorted it to an inch, and would leave it for the Council to allow him what they thought proper for extra labor—Left to Executive Committee. Correspondence including the following, were read and dealt with : From the Government re Exraordinary Vacancies, staling that special rules had been gazetted to meet the case. From Mr Stewart, of Lake Wanaka, complaining of excessive valuation.—The Chairman said he had seen Mr Stewart, and had had a long conversation with him, ami had pointed out that it was impossible for Council to alter Assessment Book ; they, however, -could remit where an injustice was done, but had suggested that the rate for the present year be paid, and the Council would expend all monies received in local roads. Resolved—That Mr Stewart be informed that the Council cannot see its way clear to alter Assessment Book, lint that the Council is willing to expend all monies raised by Tates in the district on local roads. From Mr S. N. Brown, complaining of reduction in returning officer’s accounts. Resolved that 15s be allowed. From Mr C. D. Stock, deputy returning officer, Mannberikia Riding, asking that Rl Is, struck off his voucher be allowed. A creed to. The Council then adjourned till 2.30 p.m. On resumption of business,' Cr Fraser Opened a discussion on the dog tax, pointing out the very great hardship that would be inflicted on property owners if compelled to pav the tax on dogs kept specially for rabbit hunting. Crs Greenbank and Davidson could not fee whore the line should be drawn. Cr Fraser— There is a great deal of differQtween a station owner who hasd to keep a pack of lerriers and other do£.s that wore not intrinsically worth the tax. to kill rahits, and the man who kept his dogs for noting. Ho did not readily see his way to Rot over the difficulty, jot took the advnna l° of pointing out tho gross injustice on Property holders.

The Chairman said Couucil had no power to forego tax, and suggested that the law be carried out, and that station owners memorialize the Council to refund the amount of tax paid on all dogs kept for rabbit killing. The Chairman read a copy of a letter sent to Government relative to the revenue of the Commonage ; the reply to same, and a second letter to Government, inwhich ho in the plainest possible terms said that the commonages were granted, not for the use of the towns, hut of the district, and that a promise was given that the] revenuejshould be handed over to County. Mr Pyke referred to the want of management, or supervision over the Commonages, and said, that under existing arrangements the Commonages were of no use to the Government, being overrun by large mobs of sheep and cattle unassessed. Resolved—That this Council approves of the action of the Chairman, and of his letters. Prom Mr J. M‘Arthur, reporting on the had state of road in the Wai Keri Keri Valley, caused by the water races running over it, and offering, for the sum of L 5, to put it into repair. The Chairman said he had referred the matter to the Surveyor, who reported that the damages were caused by the water races, and that the Corporation’s water race, in one place where it crossed the road, required a large culvert. Resolved - That amount be granted ; and also resolved that the Surveyor draw the attention of race owners to the damage done to the road by their races, and to the necessity of their constructing a new culvert. From Mr B. Stewart, Hawksburn Station, being an offer to maintain road from Fraser’s Flat to Paroell’s Accommodation House, for L7O per year. Resolved—That offer be accepted, subject to question of serious damages being referred to Surveyor, whose decision to be final. From H. J. Cope, asking for services of Surveyor to survey claim. Resolved—That Surveyor he not allowed to go’outside the County. From Mr W. G. Rees, being an offer to maintain road from D. Robertson’s to Little Valley for L4O per year. Referred to Surveyor for report. Memorial from residents of Butcher's Point and Doctor's Point, asking for construction of pack track along East Bank of Molyneux to Doctor’s Point. Letter from Mr Coleman relating to same, and to necessity of pack-horse bridge across the Manuherikia, aVAlexandra. The Chairman said, the necessity of a bridge was apparent. Bot hCr Fraser and he had discussed the question with the Corporation of Alexandra, within whose boundary the Bridge would be. As the town of Alexandra would specially benefit by it he thought they should share in the expense. The Surveyor’s estimate for the bridge was L3CO, and LSO for approaches. Cr Davidson thought the Corporation of Alexandra should be)asked how much they would contribute. The Chairman thought this Council should vote a certain sum, the Corporation then might see their way clear to pay the balance. After some further discussion Cr Fraser proposed, and Cr Pitches seconded—That two-thirds of the cost of construction of the pack-horse bridge across the Manuherikia, at Alexandra, be paid out of the funds of the County, such sum not to exceed L 250. Carried. The Chairman said, whether the Bridge was gone on with or not the track to Doctor’s Point should be proceeded with. The Council did not know what was wanted ; he would suggest that the Council vote a maximum sum they would expend on it. Resolved—That a sura not exceeding L 23 be expended on track to Doctor’s Point from Alexandra. The Chairman explained that Messrs Grant and MacKellar had broken through the parapet wall of Cromwell Bridge for the purpose of easily disposing of debris caused by them quarrying alongside tbe road. So far as he understood no authority was ever granted to them to quarry, and as it was exceedingly danaerors he thought steps should be taken at the termination of Messrs Grant and MacKellar’s present contract to put a stop to quarrying alongside of the bridge approaches. He also stated that without authority MrM'Corniiek had taken away a crab winch, the property of the Council, and asked for an order to act. Resolved—That the Surveyor be empowered to take suck action as the Executive Committee may deem necessary. Tenders, as under, were then opened and read. Cromwell to Kirtlehurn—R. Maxwell, L4OO ; J. Emmerson, L 270 ; J. Dawkins, L 220 ; J. Cnekburn, Ll9O ; W. M'Kibbon, L 169 10s fid ; N. Campion, L 156 ; E. Barnard, LI 17. Cromwell to Newcastle—E. and S. Sargent, L 350 ; J. Robertson, L 325 ; J. Towan, L 265 ; T. Anderson, L 250 ; F. Trennosson, I. ;J. Oockburn* L 143. Cromwell boundary, main road to Shepherd’s Creek—J. Towan, L 170; A. Anderson, L 130; E. Barnard. LI 13. Lander Creek to Muddy Creek—J. Drurmny, L 1588; M'Connochie and Tohill, L 845. Dam and flood channel, Blacks—J. Drummy, L 152 5s ; D. M’Connochie and 11. Tohill, L 139 7s. Formation and gravelling 11 chains of road near Chatto Creek—J. Drummy, LB6 ; D. M‘Donald, LSI 3s fid; J, Holloway, L 74 ; D. M'Connochio and H. Tohill, L 69 13s fid ; H. Watson and Co., L 65. Clyde to Chatto Creek, maintenance— D. M‘Donald, L2Bl I4s ; J. C. Chappie, L2OO ; M. Murphy, L 175 ; H. Vercoe, L1GI); W. Williams, Ll2O ;J, Riley, LI 12; H. Watson, L7B; Motherwell and Sullivan, LSO. Chatto Creek to Blacks Upper Crossing, maintenance—J. U, Chappie, L 200; P. Lee L2UO; H. Vercoe, LI 36; Mother well and Sullivan, L50,.’

Blacks Upper Crossing to Lauder Creek— J. C, Chappie, L2OO ; Motherwell and Sullivan, LSO. 1 The Council now resolved itself into Committee to consider the tenders, after which it adjourned till 8 p.m. On resumption of business at 8 p.m., the following report of tho Public Works and Roads Committee was read and adopted : Contracts Accepted. Cromwell to Kirtlebnrn—E. Barnard, LI 17 ; ICrorawellqto Newcastle—J. <rCockburn, L 145 ; Cromwell to Shepherd’s Creek —A. Anderson, Ll3O ;80 chains at Lauder Crek— D.SM'Coimnchie and Tohill, L 845 ; II chains near Chatto Creek—H. Watson and,Co,,L63;Clydeto]ChattoCreek, do, L7B; dam and flood channel—referred back to Surveyor to modify specifications ; Chatto Creek (2 sections) to Laudorburn—Executive CommitteeJ empowered to arrange, if possible, with Messrs Motherwell and Sullivan. The] Chairman said in reference to contracts Clyde (2 sections) to Cromwell, Mr L. Botzer, the']successful tenderer, not having come forward in time with his sureties, in fact he having said that he could not obtain sureties, letters had been written to Mr Uren and Mr Carline, the next lowest tenderers, who bad agreed to adhere to their original tenders. The question now before the Council was, is it to be understood henceforthpthat tenderers had to adhere strictly to terms of their tender, or were they to be allowed a 1 sorts of time. A principle was involved, and ho should like the Council to act in this matter and lay down a'precefient. Resolved—That the tondersj’of .Messrs Uren and CarJine be accepted. Applications for the] office of Collector, on which'the duties would be performed, were read as follows : W. Faohe, 3.) per cent, on tbe gross amount of rates, as per assessment book ; A. A. Oliver, 4.) percent on the gross amount of rates ; J. C. Chappie, 5 per cent, on all monies collected, or L9O : C. P. Beck, 5 per cent, on rates paid, or L 8 0; 0. O’neill, whole county LIOO, Hawea andj-Nevis Riding L 36. Resolved —That Mr C. P. Beck be" appointed subject to conditions laid down by Committee. Returning Officers and’chief polling places appointed Matakanui, C. Wise, Matakanui School-house ; Manuherikia, W. Ricks, Oplrir; Earnsclengh, J. C. Chappie, Bald Hill Elat; Nevis, C. Richmond, Nevis Township; Hawea, G. Jenour, Lowburn ; Kawarau, W. P. Jones, Bannockburn. A schedule of works was now read, and the following orders made. Resolved—That tenders be called for tarring the Bridge and fixing extra rail. Resolved—That repairs to road, Drybrcad to Lauder Creek, he proceeded with at once by day labor. Resolved—That r tenders"be called for maintenance of road from Watson's farm to boundary of the County on the top of Rough Ridge (2 sections). The Executive Committee’were instructed to spend a sum not exceeding L2O, in building parapet walls, Clyde and Cromwell road. It was decided to postpone till spring calling for tenders for gravelling road {where required) Clyde to Lauder Creek. Accounts amounting to LSG 17s 4d were passed for {payment. Advertising account (Cromwell Argus) was referred back for an explanation of extra charges by tbe use of leads. Notices of motion were now dealt with. Cr Pitches’,: That members of tbe Council be allowed one guinea per day for each day’s sitting. Mr Pitches spoke strongly in favor of his motion, not, as he said, on his account, because he did not care whether be got’t or not, but because the non-payment deferred’ many good men from seeking a seat at the Council. Cr Fraser said an opinion had been given by the Solicitor for the Province that even discussing the question was illegal, leaving out the question paying. He was still averse'to the question, yet had little doubt that the time was not far distant when it would be carried ; until then, however, be would rather it rest. After discussion Cr Fraser proposed— That the previous question be now put. The previous question was carried. Proposed by Mr Pitches—That LIOO be expended in repairing the road, Blacks No. 1 to No. 3, and that the work be done by day labor.—Carried. Cr Pitches asked that the sum of LIOO be expended on roads in the agricultural block, Ida Valley, by Thomson’s and Glass’ farms.—Carried. Cr Pyke proposed—That the Survevor inspect and report on the road from Nevis Township to the Bush at the head of tbe Nevis, with the view of making it available for traffic. Mr Pyke urged that this mater be done. The residents, to get this work done, were willing to forego many other necessary works. With the road made and timber brought oh to tbe ground at something like a cbt-ap rate, a large area of very rich alluvial ground could be worked that otherwise never would. He hoped tbe Council would agree to his motion, by so doing they would be carrying out one of their principal duties, tho development of tho goldfields. The motion was carried Cr Pyke proposed—That the Executive Committee be empowered to ascertain terms on which they would be able to purchase tbe Kawarau Bridge, with the view of its being opened for traffic free. CarriodCr Fraser proposed—That tbe Executive Committee be empowered to make tbe necessary arrangements for establishing a public pound in Hawea Riding, near Cromwell. Carried. Cr Pitches proposed—That the Surveyor bo instructed to lay out work on the road Blacks No. 1 to No. 3.—Carried. Cr Groenbank proposed—That tho Surveyor be instiuotod to lay off roads. Tiger Hill to Tinkers and Matakanui, subjcct”to tho direction of the Executive Committee* - Carried,

Cr Davidson proposed—That the Chairman Ijo instructed to write to the Maniototo County Council, asking them to repair the road on their boundary from tho Hocks to Lauder Burn,—Carried. Tho meeting then closed.