WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1035, 14 August 1879, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the County Council was held to-day, when there were present—Messrs. Duncan (in the chair), Johnston, Murcott, Todd, and Falconer. The Engineer and the Inspector were also present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The following petition signed by fifteen residents of Duntroon was read :—" We, the undersigned inhabitants of Duntroon, respectfully call your attention to the necessity for the formation of certain parts of the roads which are greatly required, viz.—Cutting through the embankment from Rees-street to Campbell street, which at the present cannot bt used, through which there would be considerable traffic if this work were done ; also, the levelling of a steep place at Orrstreefc, and the same at Middleton-street ; aud the further forming of Campbellstreet to the Waitaki; the whole of which may be done at a small cost, much to the benefit of residents here." The Inspector, in reply to a question, said that one part of the work was necessary, that of the formation of the street near the Terminus Hotel. It was resolved that the Engineer should inspect the places referred to, and report at the next meeting, and that should the work not cost more than L3O. the Engineer should have power to employ labor to carry out (he work. The Clerk of the Ashburton County Council wrote, asking if the Wai.aU Council had done anything in (he way of issuing licenses to pedlars and hawkers, and, if so, requesting to be favored with a CO!ill Wio o;~e-!;*«.. . _ J . I mai ion relating thereto.—The Clerk reported that he had replied, stating that the Council had taken no action in the matter as yet, and saying that if vhe Ashburtou Council took any action, he would he glad to be furnished with a copy of the bye-laws. The Town Clerk wrote, stating that the question of discharge of water from the water-race into the Awamoko Creek had been referred to the Engineer. On this subject, Mr. Johnston presented the followiug petition, signed by eleven persons " We. the undersigned settlers iu the Awamoko District, beg respectfully to bring before your notice the want of a footbridge over the Awamoko Creek, not only for the convenience of travellers, but for a number of children who have to cross it to attend school. 1 ' Mi. Johnston said that the creek had previously been impassable during a few months in the year, but it had been rendered much worse than it had been. The number of settlers on the other side of the creek had greatly iucreased in number, and the necessity for a bridge was much more urgent. He would suggest that the Council should erect the bridge, and ask the Municipal Council to contribute a share of the cost. Some discussion then took place, during which it was pointed out that another bridge was necessary at Black Point, and ihat this necessity had arisen solely through the overflow from the waterrace. Mr. Murcott moved, " That the Engineer be instructed to report at next meeting as to the cost of erecting light footbridges at the Awamoko aud Black Point, and that the Chairman aud the mover interview the Municipal Council on the matter." This was secouded by Mr. Falconer. Mr. Johnston moved an amendment to the effect that tenders should be called for by next meeting, and embodying the remainder of Mr. Murcott's motion. Mr. Todd seconded this. On the question being put, the amendment was negatived. aud the motion carried. Mr. Jonas Hartley wrote, applying for a slaughtering license for section 32, block 1., Moeraki District. The application was granted. The Chairman of the Maerewhenua Mining Association (Mr. C. F. Roberts) wrote, forwarding a copy of the report of Professor TJlrich upon the Maerewhenua Goldfield (published some months since), and stating that " the Professor, when inspecting the various auriferous deposits of which the field is composed, expressed himself as being strongly of opinion that rhe nearer to the matrix the quartz pebble drift is tested, the richer is it likely to be found." The writer continued that the Association had desired him to submit io the Council the advisability of voting a sum, say L2OO, for the purpose of prospecting the goldfield, especially the upper part of the drift. The writer concluded :—" I may point out for your consideration ihat you will thus be assisting (as other counties in goldSeld districts are doing) to develop the resources of the County, affording help to 'the unemployed, which will probably be reproductive in eventually adding considerably to the revenue of the County." Some discussion took place, after which the following resolution, moved by Mr. Todd and seconded by Mr. Johnston, was carried :—" That it is not expedient that the CouDoil vote any money for prospecting purposes at Maerewhenua." [Left sitting.]