Maniototo County Council.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 3 August 1917, Page 2

Maniototo County Council.

' SPECIAL MEETING. _ « A special meeting of tills council was held in .the Council Chambers, Naseby, on Wednesday, Ist August. Present Crs Mann' (chairman), Kinney, Morgan, Low is, Davis, Aitken Indefc and M'Atamney. Business. To declare certain roads main roads. The chairman (Cr Mann) in moving the motion, the consideration of which was deferred from lasi; special meetjj ing, said he would again introduce the question of reading the motion, viz:— That the following roads within the County of Maniototo ba declared'main roads namely:— 1. That road commencing at Shag River County boundary with Waihemo County, thence by way of Kyeburn, Ranfurly, Blackstone Hill and Becks, andrterminating at county boundary, Lauder Creak.

2. That road commencing at Rock and Pillar County boundary with Taieri County, thence to Hyde, Kokonga, and terminating at the junction of the main road at Kyeburn. That road commencing at bridge over Taieri River at County boundary with Waihemo County, and terminating at its junction with road leading to Hyde. 3: That road commencing at finger post, Idaburn, thence to Oturehua, and terminating at county, boundary; at Ida Valley. [-■ And that a special order embodying the foregoing resolution b2 made. This, motion was seconded bv Cr Kinney at last meeting. For the motion, Crs Mann and Kinney; against, Crs Inder, . Davis, Lowis, Aitken, M'Atamney and, Morgan.

ORDIJVAEY MEETING. '§ig The ordinary meeting was held at the conclusion of- the business of the special meeting. The sam'e councillors were* present. Minutes;. The minutes of last'special and' ordinary meeting 3 were, read, and confirmed on the motion of Cr Lowis, seconded by Cr Morgan, Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association. . " The hon.. secretary of the above association wrote:—"l have to thank you for yours of the 7th and note that your: council is in full sympathy, with our movement and will do its utmost to assist Ua in raising tne £IOO,OOO w 3 are aiming a). Under separate cover 1 am sending you three copies of the annual report and balance-sheet of tne Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, which 1 trust w.ill be of use to you."—Held over-- for further consideration" N.Z. Counties' Association. The Secretary to the H.Z. Counties' Association forwarded legal opinions by Mr T. F. Martin, counsel to N.Z.C.A.-viz:— / (1) Material stacked on road (horse shying);. (2) driving stock at night—(damage to motor car); (3) chairman's travelling expenses.—Received. • Hospital- and Charitable Aid Boards. The clfrk, Mount Herbert County Council, forwarded copy of resolution passe.i at its meeting on 2nd July—viz: "That owing to the large annual sums required by Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards for the. purpose of replacing old buildings and for tending institutions to meet the demands of an. increasing population, 1 this County Gouricil desires .to represent to the Hon. the Minister for Internal Affairs, the need of an amendment to tne Hospital and Charitable institutions Act enabling Boards to borrow money for capital expenditure; due safeguards being provided against over-borrowing. And that a copy of the foregoing be forwarded to County Councils and other local bodies' throughout the Dominion with a request that should they endorse it, representations be made to the variouß Members of Parliament asking them to urge upon the Honorable trie Minister the need for such amendment to the\Aet under notice." ' ,

Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr Lowis -—That legislation has been provided to meet applications of this nature. —Carried. Blackstone Hill Cemetery.

A letter was received from Mr W. M. Wade, secretary to the above trusty recommending the'- appointment of David McKnight, and Herbert L. Inder as trustees-, —vice, J. L. Farquhar and Henry Armitage, resigned. Moved by Cr Lowis and seconded by . Cr Morgan—That D. M'Knight and. H. L Inner be appointed trustees of (he Blackstone Hill eemstery, vies J. L. Farquhar and Henc£ Armitage, resigned.—Carried. Expenditure of Thirds and Fourths. * The Commissioner of Crown' Lands wrote as follows:—I enclose herewith a copy of a petition in regard to the disposal of "Thirds" "Fourths" accrued from land in your district, and should be obliged if you would nrake any comments necessary* in order tint the whole matter may be submitted to the Land Board. It is noted that in the proposals for expenditure submitted by your council, the locality of proposed operations is generally described as "road fronting I run" or "road through ruD," etc. The Land Board has no means of telling whether the proposed works have bs tn carried out or not. It has, of course, to be taken into consideration that the money is available "For or towards the construction and maintenance of roads and-bridges leading to or opening up the land disposed of," and settlers who do not actually see work being carried out in thejmmediate' vicinity of their hold-,, ings are often ignorant of the faf.!£ that, provided the expenditure takes? place in accordance with for construction and .maintenance quoted, the expenditure would be perfectly.legitimate, notwithstanding that it does not take place on the road immediately fronting their holdings. The following ia a copy of the p

tition referred to and signed by 19 ratepayers within the Idabnrn riding Maniototo County: We beg to apply for the recovery of the amount of "Thirds" and "Fourths" derived from the lands- as undermentioned and marked on enclosed lithograph, and which we believe has not been expended for the benefit of the lands for * which it was intended, in accordance with the terms of the Act. We desire to point out to you the fact that the amount spent on the roads leading to the majority of those lands has, m proportion to the amount provided for the purpose, been practically nil. And any application to the local body for a grant for this purpose has been met by the expendi- .?«=£ an amou nt altogether trivial I bhoold you favor your petitioners by having the facts laid before you we would respectfully suggest to you the appointment of some disinterested person to examine tha locality which has been neglected, and we feel sure knowing as you do the vast amount which bas been provided for the purposes of roading, that something can be done to bring about that improvement to which your petitioners feel justly entitled. We therefore humbly pray that you will favoraKly consider the wishes of your petitioners." Moved by Cr Lowis, and seconded by Cr Morgan Tnat the letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands and 19 petitioners be rtceived, and that the Commissioner be informed that the council always submit proposals of where the Land Fund is to be spent, and has, as far as possible, carried out the work.—Carried. Ida Valley Road. Mr Georgo Roberts wrote asking for 450 yards of gravel to be spread from his gate towards James M'Naughton's residence. This part of the road is in a very bad condition, especially in wet weather. Inferior gravel could be obtained near by, but good gravel could be had in the pit in Scott's paddock. Moved by Cr Lowis, and seconded by CrM'Atamney— That the letter fiom Mr Roberts be received, and that it be left in the hands of the engineer to deal with.—Carried.

Third Anniversary of the War. The following is a copy of circular sent to the chairman of all local bodies, calling on all the centres of population within the Dominion to express their opinion by carrying a resolution to continue the war to a victorious conclusion, viz:—

Prims Minister's Office, Wellington, 20th July, 1917. Sir, —On behalf of the Government of this Dominion, I have the honour to request that on Saturday, 4th August Dext, thf> third anniversary of the Declaration of War with Germany, you will call a meeting of the citizens" of your county and suhmit to that meeting tbe attached resolution of determination to continue tbe war to a victorious end. The same resolution will be submitted to public meetings throughout the rest of the Empire. When, last year, the people of this Dominion gathered to celebrate the second anniversary, oar feelings were divided between our belief that the war was then approaching its crisis, our sober realisation of what that meant, our hopes that the struggle would terminate long before the end of this third year, and our profound satisfaction that our sons had proved their right to and had been given the opportunity of taking their place with the Allies on the \\ estern Front.

f- This year we shall meet (our hopes of peace not yet realised) with the knowledge that sacrifices have yet to be faced, and oar hearts filled with honourable pride at the thought of how nobly our sons, by their endurance and valour, on the Somme, at Messines, and in Palestine, have sustained the glory of Anzac.

> With the memory of what they have done and our deepened knowledge of what we are fighting for and'what German victory would mean, the carrying of the resolution is this year more than our 3acred daty. Largely by the manner in which we celebrate tbis third anniversary will be judged our determination to maintain those ideals of liberty and justice which, as the resolution . truly states, are the common and sacred cause of the Allies. I shall be glad if on the 6th August, yon will telegraph to me the fact of the meeting having been held and of the'resolution having been carried. I have the honour to be Sir,

Your obedient servant, W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, v Chairman, Maniototo County Council, Naseby. Resolution. "That, on this the third anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens of Maniototo County records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals of Liberty and Justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies."

The chairman suggested that all councillors should act, and call meetings in the ridings they represent in the county and wire the clerk the result of the meeting, so that he can notify the Prime Minister.

Flood Damages. The District Engineer (Mr M'Kenzte) wrote —ln reference to flood damage, and your request for £SOO , towards cost of repairing, I have to advise that the Minister is agreeable to authorise £350, as hia contribution towards same. Will you please submit a list of the works you propose to do witiKthis. In case where you desire a motor bridge in place of a sheep bridge, we can only allow the cost of the latter, and would require a written undertaking that your council would find the balance of the cost. McWecLby Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr ffl'Atamney That the letter from the; District Engineer be received, and tbpt the engineer be instructed to supply the information asked for re list of works, and that the chairman be Jmthorised to act on behalf of tins Council in arranging for the addition!.! rrfoney required to reinstate any sheepbridge by a motor bridge.—Carried. K Overbridge at Idsburn. / The District Engineer, Government Kaitways wrote—ln accordance with

your verbal request, I have pleasure in enclosing herewith elevation and sections, etc, of ground at Oturehua overbridge.

Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Cr Lowis That the letter from the District Engineer of Railways be received, and that-the engineer be instructed to report as to the coat of the present route of road, and if a more suitable line of road is available.— Carried.

Tenders. Contract No. 162.—Gravelling on Wilson's Road, Puketoi Riding. Accepted, M'K. Marshall, £ll4 2s. Contract No. 163.—Gravelling on White Sow Valley main road and Reed's road. Accepted, M'K. Marshall, £7l. Contract No. 164.—Gravelling on Lt-uder Lane road. Left in the hands „of the chairman and engineer. * ' Other contracts will be called for next meeting. Contract No. 166.—Supply of Two Men, Six Horses, Plough and Scoop to work Large Grader. Accepted, H. L. Inder, £2 10b per day. • Riding Balances.

The council agreed to appoint the Finance Committee with the engineer to fix up balances of ridings'and to report to next meeting. Insurance. The clerk was instructed to renew in same office. Ida Valley Sheep Dip. Mr Thos. Lowis forwarded a letter from Mr Jas. Scott drawing the attention of the council to the state of the bridges leading to their dip; also the company is badly in need of another bridge at dip end of road. The flood waters have shifted all the planks.—Left in the hands of the engineer. Pig Nuisance. The council agreed that all persons allowing pigs to wander on roads will be prosecuted.—Carried. Water Race, Patsaroa. Cr f Inder stated that Mr M'Laren informed him that the recent flood had washed away the lift at the head of his race, and before renewing he would like the engineer to visit the locality. Engineer's Report. Becks Bridge. Repairs to the wing wall are being carried out by the two surfacemen of the adjoining districts, as no other labour was procurable. The water of both the Manuherikia and the Dunstan Creek are confined under the bridge, and instructions have been given to continue the work and raise the new part of the wall to a higher level than the un- I broken part of the old wall. j

Tenders for the rebuilding of approach to the Becks bridge being considered high, the work was carried out by day labour, under the supervision of Surfaceman , Hamilton. Three scoops were employed, and a good job wbs made of the work, which was completed on the 23rd. Since that date, the mam road and bridge have been open for traffic, and motorists need not now take the longer road via St. Bathans.

Capburn.—The waßhout at Gapburn has been repaired, and the crossing .is now a great deal better than it was before the flopd. A channel has been opened above the railway, to direct the flow of the creak under the north span of bridge, and the foot track on bo£h sides of ttse creek has been put in order. Credit is due to the surfaceman, Wisnesky, for the good work he put in at this place.

Contracts.—F. Hore completed his gravelling contract on the Waipiata read on the 13th, and since that time be has been engaged on his contract at Paiearoa station.

Dny Work.—Teams were engaged in the various ridings, chiefly in the repair of damage done by the recent flood snd gravelling the worst pitches of roads. Owing to the mild soft weather a number of places are very soft and dirty, and a considerable amount of patch gravelling is necessary to maKe these passable.

On the Kyeburn-Waipiata road a stretch of about seventy chains has not been- gravelled, and about fifty chains of this is very soft and should be gravelled. The fifty chains would require about 400 cubic yards, but I would recommend that the full Btretch ba gravelled with 550 cubic yards. Lower Gimmerburn.—The surfaceman has been instructed to engage a team if possible, and do patch gravelling where required on roads from Gimmerburn school towards Sharkey's corner and in other directions where the work is required On the road past Mr J. Weir's there are two short stretches that spoil an otherwise good road, the one near Mr Weir's and the other at M'llroy's hill. Ida Valley.—Some weeks ago the surfaceman was authorised to go on with gravelling where required on the back road, and the roads connecting that road with the main road, but his time has been fully occupied at Becks bridge and other urgent works. So far as I can learn there is no labour available, but as soon as he can get to th» work, Beck will take it in hand.

Blackball.—At Blackball aplatfoim wide enough for motor cars could be easily erected by the surfacemen. Thf timber required would be 450 superficial feet, which would cost about nine pounds exclusive of cartage. On the Blackball Hill about 14 chains is badly in need of improvement, while another 10 chains from the foot of the hill towards Blackball is not much better.

On the Linn burn side of Birthday Creek about 12 chains require gravel. These places could be let in one contract, but it is doubtful if contractors can be got to take on this work.

About 350 cubic yards would be required for these places. Flood Damage.—The Public Works Department have notified the council that a sum of £350 will be placed on the estimates, and asks for proposals for the expenditure of this amount. As the Minister has stated that where the damage is of a small amount, the Government money will not be available, I recommend that a claim be put in. for work at Beck's bridge and Capbam, and Uißt proposals for, the refaction of bridges at Patearoa and

ILoganburn be submitted. It is pro- ' bable that assistance will be granted \ either to replace the old bridges or to ' erect motor bridges. , Linnburn Bridge.—There is no word |of timber for this bridge, but it is ad- .' visable that the building of approaches : should be commenced in time to be completed at the same time as the bridge is finished. The approaches can be done either by contract or by day labour.- The work will be similar to what was done at Becks bridge, and Surfaceman Hamilton has been in- | structed as to the work to be done, bo I j that it can be done under his super- I viaion.-' i rJecks Bridge Decking.—A great number of the planks of this bridge are showing signs of decay, and to eave the expense of renewing the four inch planks, I would recommend that two inch loogitudinal planks be ordered, to be put on when they can be procured. Kyeburn-Waipiata Road. Moved by Cr Mann, and seconded by Cr Inder—That 550 yards of gravel be spread on the above road.—Carried.

Gimmerburn. Moved by Cr Inder, and seconded by Davis—That Mr Armour be' granted the use of grader and surfaceman to grade road at Highfield on condition that he supplies the necessary horses. —Carried.

Becks Bridge. Moved by Cr Morgan, and seconded by Cr Lowis —That the engineer be instructed to order the decking as mentioned in his report for Becks bridge, and that the work be gone on with as soon as it can be procured.—Carried. Linnburn Bridge. Moved by Cr Aitken, and seconded by Cr M'Atamney—That the engineer be instructed to call tenders, to be dealt with at next meeting, for the building of approaches leading to Linnburn bridge.—Carried.

Blackball. Moved by Cr Aitken, and seconded by Cr Morgan—That the engineer be instructed to call for tenders for 350 cubic yards at Blackball and procure timber for stock bridge across Blackball Creek.—Carried.

Ranger and Poundkeeper's Report. I beg to report to your council that since last meeting the following districts have been patrolled:—Blackstone Hill, Oturehua. Gimmerburn, Patearoa, Kyeburn, Waipiata. Twenty head of cattle and 12 horses were found wandering on the roads. 12 cattle and 3 horses were impounded, 8 cattle and 9 horses were released before reaching the pound, driving expenses being paid. Pound fees amounting to £3 13s 6d were collected.

I have taken proceedings against Ah ad Box Mallock for hawking and selling goods without a license in the Hyde riding.

I have cautioned Mr C. M'Erlane, Ranfurly, to refrain from herding hia cattle on public road near Ranfurly.— Received.

Motor Car for Engineer. Resolved—That the council procure a 3-seater Buick motor car for the sum of £330. /

Finance. Accounts amounting to £432 4s ltd were passed for payment.