TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume I, Issue 51, 20 April 1881, Page 6

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

EVENING SITTING. Mr Erown moved and Mr Herbert s3(umded-"That the Engineer be requested to report at next meeting of the Council the probable cost of completing the road to Waipori via Bungtown."— Carried. On the motion of Mr Tubman, it was agreed- " That the Engineer be requested to report as to the necessity of making main road passable near Herbert's sectione xlso bridge across Swift Creek, to enable [ the setters to get their grain to the railway station at Kelso." On the motion of Mr Buchanan, ; seconded by Mr Brown, it was resolved—--44 That to enable the settlers of Tuapeka West to convey their grain to market, the R«veral sharp curves on the road near Boundary Creek (Dalhousieto Lawrence) be forthwith widened at an expense not exceeding £50." 4> Mr Bennet proposed, and Mr Herbert spconded—" That the Treasurer prepare , a statement by next Council meeting of i the amount received on account of de- |l ferred-paymerit lands, also the amount [i expended" in the various districts, and the I amount still available."—Carried. On the motion of Mr Tubman, it was resolved —" That the worst parts of the road between Kelso and Swift Creek be gravelled before the winter sets iu." Mr Tubman proposed, and Mr Bennet seconded —" That the worst parts of the road between Edie's and Dunrobin be put in a passable state of repair."— Carried. On the mQtion qf Mr Herbert, seconded by Mr Brown, it was agreed— 44 Tbat the Engineer be requested to report the necessary repairs (if any) wanted to the Scrubby Flat new settlement ; s*id report to be made to next meeting." On the motion of Mr Buchanan, it was resolved —"That the sum of £SO passed for road Fitzgerald's to Hogg's some time peat, be expended immediately."—Mr Brown seconded. —Carried It was agreed—" That in future no application for the expenditure of money on public works will be considered by this Council till a report on said works be received from the Engineer."

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Mervyn —"That the portion of the Tua* peka Connty not included in any Rabbit district, comprising theridings of Waipori, Clarks, Gabriels, Browns, Waitahuna, and a portion of the Teviot on the eist side of the Clutha. be declared a Rabbit District in terms of the Rabbit Nuisance Aot, and that his Excellency the Governor be requested to assent to the same, and that the following gentlemen be gazetted to act as Trustees: —Francis Oudail'e, Pavid Hunter Mervyn, John Francis Herbert, James Clark Brown, James Puohanan, Alex. Fraser, Alex. M'Nab, ami Edward Tubman." It was resolved —" That Messrs Bonnet, Mervvn, Tubman, and Herbert be a Committee to bring up a report at next Council meeting » 9 to the desirability of railway extension through the interior, and of devising means as to railway communication, and that the co-operation of Southland and Wallace Comities be secured." Mr Mervyn moved, and Mr Buchanan seconded —"That in the opinion of this Council the Trusteas of that portion of thfi Tuapeka County situate in Tapanui Rabbit District have failed to take proper action to secure the destruction of rabbits, rod accordingly assume the duties of said Trustees, and that said Trustees be informed accordingly." y The circular received from the Waiwu County Council, in reference to thejionstitution of Land Boards, etc, war repeated to a Committee, consisting o/Messrs Oudaille, Brown, M'Nab, Fraser, and Buchanan, for report at next Council meeting. The subjoined approximate statement of the uncier and lower Ridings and land j fund account was laid on the table: — Upper Ridings: By balance March 11, | 1881, £2865 18s; revenue to 4th April, I inclusive, less ten per cent. £23 L 10s 3d -total, £3097 8s 3d To expenditure, including April accounts, £330 14s 2d ; credit balance, £2760 14s Id—total £3097 j 8s 3d.—Lower Ridings: By balance March* 11, -£836 18s; revenue to 4th April, less ten per cent, £558 lis 9d— ; total, £1295 9s 9d. To expenditure, ; including April accounts, £262 os ; credit balance, £1033 4s 9d—total, £1295 9s 9d. By balance March 11,1881 £1628 lCa Bd. To expenditure for months of February j and March, 1881, £790 19s Id ; credit j bnlance. including deferred payment, I £837 17s 7d-total, £1628 16s Bd. The following monthly punt returns j were laid on the table: — Beaumont Millers Roxburgh Flat Passengers - 4.796 3 nl s 6262 Vehicles - 325 54* 332 Horses - IS7O 145° 999 Cattle 222 135 59 * J Sheep - 21 7 ™ 7*>7

Mr Brown moved—" That in the opinion of this Council, the Beaumont bridge should be re-erected ; also a light traffic bridge across the Clutha at Roxburgh, and that conditional tenders be called for said works." In speaking to the motion, Mr Brown referred to the importance and desirability of proceeding with the erection of a b'idge at Beaumont. The sura of £2OOO was already available by Government vote and the balance necessary for the con struction of the work could s*aud over for a term of years. That was his object in calling for conditional tenders, By erecting a light traffic bridge over the Clutha at Roxburgh, a great boon would be conferred upon the inhabitants of the district. The cost would be trifling, and the saving effected in a few years bv dispenfiag with the present punt would more than compensate the County for the outlay. He trusted the Council would give effect to his motion. Mervyn seconded the motion. I Mr Bennet disapproved of the motion. Tt was ridiculous to speak of erecting a bridge at Roxburgh only capable of carrying one ton weight. The member for /Teviot certainly could not have considered I the motion, otherwise it would not have received his support. If MrMorvynhad occasion to cross a couple of fat bullocks, he would require to take them one at a time, or it was just possible he might find bullocks and bridge floating down the stream together. As far as the Beaumont bridge was concerned, the speaker thought it better to wait until Parliament reassembled. It was just possible Government might give them considerable assistance. As it was, he thought it highly improper that conditional tenders should be called for the construction of the bridge. If the bridge again pass into private hands, it would do more harm than the Council imagine. There was no one more anxious thau he to see the bridge re-erected ; bot their finances would not warrant the work being undertaken at present. Mr Brown replied to the member for Beaumont. The proposed light traffic bridge for Roxburgh would be capable of carrying one ton in weight, and there was no likelihood of its being carried away by a couple of bullocks. On being put to a division, thp motion 1 j_ -i j j _ _i. i__ .i .. i

was declared lost; only the proposer and seconder voting in favor of it. Mr F. Hiscock (Dog-tax Collector for Teviot Biding) forwarded the sum of £5 17s 6d being revenue collected by hjnrfor.' month of March. -^*-< The Engineer's report, re maximum j weight to be carried on main road by tenmsters. received at laßt meeting, provoked a large amount of discussion.— I Eventually, it was resolved to defer con- j sideration of the report till next meeting. A circular was received containing the resolutions adopted by the Manawa f u County Council re the necessity of bring- 1 ing pressure to bear to compel Govern* ment to assist bodies in opening the country by subsidy, land fund, or endowment as may be most applicable to each ' special case. The resolutions (eight in number) have already appeared in our columns, having been received by the Borough Council at its meeting on the 28th alt. It was resolved to refer the circu'ar to a sub-Committee, consisting of the ; members representing the lower Ridings, to bring up a report thereon at next meetingr of the Council. The Council then adjourned—" Tua- ; peka Times." I .