TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12482, 13 October 1902, Page 8

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

. I The usual meeting of the Xuapeka County ' Council was held in. the Council Chambers on Friday afternoon, when there were presentMr Simpson (chairman), Crs Bennet, Bennetts, . Cotton, Osborne, Ottrey, Oudaille, Sim, and Walker. \ CORRESPONDENCE. J Prom the Happy Valley Dredging Company, for permission to dredge across the Waipori road.—To be dealt with at next meeting. From W. M'Millan, Waitahuna West, drawing attention to the state of the bridge over the Tuapeka River known as M'Millan's.—To be j attended to by the surfacemen. _ I From George H. Welsh, Beaumont, asking for the formation of eight or 10 chains of road leading to his premises that had been impassable during the winter. He undertook, m the event of the council agreeing to form it, to do the ploughing necessary.—The work to be done on the conditions offered. j From Margaret Thomas, requesting that the i road from Kelso to her property (sections 24 and 31, block I, Greenvale district) be properly' defined, and thai the bridge be made capable of carrying stock. She also stated that the ford on the Crookston Burn was at present not fit to take a load over.—Cr Sim explained that the road in question was closed in IS7B. —To be informed that the council could take no action ; in the matter. • From the Secretary .Waitahuna Farmers ; Club, applying for the usual subsidy on money ; spent by the club in the purchase of small birds' eggs.—The statement showed that £10 had been paid by the club, and they asked for £5 as subsidy thereon. —Granted. From W. E. Richardson, requesting, on behalf of the Waipori Falls Electric Bower Company, the assistance of the council in making a 'slight deviation in the present Toad from Berwick to head of Waipori Bush, as the road was at present impassable for vehicles. Ho estimated the cost at about £20.—Granted, the cost not to exceed £10. From Dr Wm. Robertson, Tapanui, notifying a case of typhoid fever in the Tapanui district. —Received. From Thomas Darton, drawing attention to the inadequacy of the culvert below his residence to carry off the storm water. —Work to be attended to. The County Engineer (Mr R. Hay) reported that Fitzgerald's bridge was now completed, and. that contract amount, less 25 per cent. (£122), could now be paid over. The work had, he stated, been exceedingly well carried out, and when the approaches were completed could be opened for traffic.—Received. From James Hewitt, puntman, Kongaherc, reminding the council of its promise to supply a small boat for the punt, and pointing out that, in the event of an accident, he would be under great disadvantage.—Resolved' that a boat be procured as requested. From Henry Galbraith, Claries Riding, asking the council to reduce the steep pinches on the road leading to his place, or give him a deviation. —The inspector to report as to the , practicability of reducing the grade or providing a deviation. From Messrs W. T. Hanley, R. J. Allan, G. Larking, and seven others, drawing attention to the bad state of the '.road to the dredges down the flat, and asking that when weather permits a considerable length of the road should be gravelled.—To be attended to. From W. M'Cormick and others, drawing attention to the state of Penstier street, Havelock, and asking that something be done in the matter—To be attended to by the surfacemen. Adam Gibson, dredgemaster New Britannia Company, wrote asking that the bridge.over the Tallaburn be made passable for waggons delivering coal to his dredge.—The inspector stated that the bridge was in a very bad state, and the council had already posted notices warning those using it against taking heavy traffic across it. It required stripping and strengthening with iron rails and replanking. It would, roughly speaking, require about 51 tons of timber to effect the necessary repairs.— The repairs to be proceeded with at once, and traffic- stopped while these are in hand. AN ENGINEER. The question of appointing an engineer was considered in committee. On resuming in open council it was proposed by Cr Ottrey, seconded by Cr Walker, that Mr Cunningham be appointed engineer. On the motion being put four membel-s voted in favour and five against, and the motion was therefore declared lost. REPORTS. The Inspector reported that the pontoons of the Tuapeka Mouth . punt were completely done, and not safe for liea-vy traffic.—lt was resolved to repair the punt temporarily at a cost not to exceed £20. The following return shows the expenditure on the various county works for the months of August and September, 1902:—Browne Bros, (timbor and sundries), £46 0s 4d; M'Kechnio

. and Fleming (timber), £21 Gs 6d; Southland I Sawmilling Company (timber), £3 6s 8d; punts, !day labour, carting, and grading, £602 10s lOd. The Teport of the inspector on the state of the roads was read and received. I GENERAL. I Resolved—"That the consent of the Governor, by Order-in-Comicil gazetted, be requested to the stopping-of that part of the road between ■ sections i and 5, block XI, Teviot survey dis- , trict. ' It was resolved, on themotion of Cr Bennetts and Ottrey—" That the contractors for contract No. 584 (gravelling at Miller's Plat) bo notified that if the work is not commenced within one month their contract will be determined and the deposit forfeited." Cr Ottrey moved—" That contract Wo. 582, which had not yet been started, be determined, and the deposit returned, and that fresh tenders be called for the same work in stone."—Cr Sim seconded the motion, whioh was carried. Or Bennetts moved—" That tenders be called for laying planks on the Roxburgh bridge as recommended by • the inspector.—Cr Bennet seconded the motion, suggesting that the replanking of Beaumont bridge should be included in the motioii.—This was agreed to, and tho- motion in its amended form was carried unanimously.—Cr Bennetts reminded the council that a motion had been carried over a year ago in regard to the painting of the Roxburgh bridge, and he urged that this sljAuld be put in hand at once, as it was shameful to see so valuable a structure going to wreck for want of a little paint.—Members generally agreed that the work was urgent, but decided to allow the matter to lie in abeyance till next meeting, when the painting of the Beaumont bridge (which was also in a bad state) would also be considered. Cr Ottrey drew the attention of the council to the fact that the manager of the Moa Flat station had fenced in his run, and that the fences crossed the roads in places. This would necessitate the council putting m a few culverts on the road through the run so that the wool waggons coming down could get through in safety. . He moved that tho inspector visit the locality and have the necessary work put in hand at once.—This was carried with an addition that the cost should not exceed £20. On the motion of Crs Cotton and Sim it was resolved that a general rate of |d in the pound on the rateable value of property within the i district be struck for the year ending 31st March, 1903. It was resolved that the Commissioner of. Police be asked to allow the police to collect carriers' and traction engine-drivers' licenses. On the motion of Crs Cotton and Oudaille it was resolved that the inspector arrange to have the sharp turn in the road leading from the Waipori bush reduced at a cost not to excced £10. It was resolved that the secretary apply for all Government votes, and that the works on which they are to bo expended be put in hand with the least possible delay. i The accounts as certified to were passed for ' payment. ' It was resolved that the necessary legal steps ■ be token to effect the exchange of the road given | for the Crookston road, also for the closing of ■ the road in block VI, Tuapeka West. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Walker, I that the Break-neck road be graded whenever : the grader was available. i On the motion of Cr Sim, seconded by Cr ' Bennetts, it was resolved that tenders be called j for gravelling 10 or 15 chains opposite Mr j Carroll's,' Tapanui Bush, deferred-payment ; land. Resolved, that the Government vote of £80 i for block IX, Rankleburn road, be expended j at once, and that tenders be for next I meeting. | It was resolved, on the motion of Crs Sim and Ottrey, that the necessary repairs to the road between Brooksdale and Flodden bridge be carried out during the summer months. _ Resolved, that the contractor for cutting : gorse on the Rariklebum road be notified that unl.ess he proceeds with the work at once the j usual penalties would be enforced.—[Abridged | from the Tuapeka Times.] A WARNING. TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —Some few days ago I saw a letter ] signed "Disgust" with the above heading, ! and have been waiting • patiently for some- ] one to send a reply, as I am sure there are a great many parents who have been treated in. the same way as "Disgust." I can quite believe every word stated by "Disgust," for I have a boy w,ho was treated 1 muoh tho I same way by a firm of Christian (?) mer- ! olutnte in this town, and it is quite time ! the matter of indenturing boys in such businesses-'- 1 ' as drapery, grocery, and ironmongery was taken in hand by our members of Parliament. Now is a chance for Mr R. Chisholm. There would be more to thank him for if he should cause a law to be passed making the above necessary than for , any patriotism he may wish to bring before ' the notice of the electors. Many parents . would vote for a man who could promise • to pass such a law, as numbers of them in this town have had their lads ruined by ! j the greed of employers throwing them out of employment as soon as they begin to l>e worth more than 10s to 12s 6d per week. It iB a wonder to me that this matter has not been brought more prominently before the public long ere this. To keep the mean, contemptible employer in check, a proper system of indentureship should be insisted upon.-' I could give numbers of instances of the wickedness of employers who have treated ' lads as "Disgust" describes, but am afraid i I have already made this note too long.— I am, etc., October 10. Suffering Mother. " TWO BLACKS MAKE ONE WHITE." TO TilE EDITOJR. Sik,—l crave the indulgence of your space for noticing Mr Maude's challenge regarding the above phrase in my last letter. I have not Mr Maude's letter at hand to quote verbatim from, but Deut. xxi, 18-21, 1 was one text ho desired me to read. In this passage a " drunkard " and a " glutton " are alike recommended to be stoned. Now what other 1 inference could I take of MiMaude's meaning, in referring one to these i and other verses in which other sins are denounced as well as drunkenness, but that he deemed, because these other sins are thus condemned in the Bible, it is wrong to quote the Bible in its condemnation of | drunkenness? Is not this mode of reasoning the idea that is ridiouled in the above proverb? What other view had Mr Maude in quoting against me verses in which drunkenness is so severely denounced?' I cheerfully leave to the decision of the gentlemen named by Mr Maude whether I'have done Mr Maude injustice or not by my interpretation of his idea in his quotation of 1 these texts. Mr Maude says he intends to expose my bogus figures, etc. What figures have I quoted? Absolutely none. I did assert that in former days the majority of the working class spent their earnings in drink, and that in thesfc days large percentages of them still do so. The swaggers' on the highways are proof of the justice of this assertion. The two and three hotels in the various petty townships throughout the country give proof ,of it. Mr Maude shows that in comparison with " Rational" lamas an infant to a prizefighter. What a mighty expression! But j I would let Mr Maude know that I am little likely to be intimidated by a writer who cannot reason forcibly without arguing falsely, as did this same " Rational" when he asserted that in my first letter I meant i that all paupers had been "drinkers," which my clear statement in that letter showed I I did not mean. Why needs Mr Maude to. back up so mighty a writer? Mr Maude lias, ifi fact, quite enough to do in guarding ■ his own loose style of argument, when he lias twice asserted that I have garbled texts of Scripture. In my dictionary the meaning of " garble" is "to pick out such parts as may serve a purpose"; another, "to mutilate," etc. I will suppose _Mr : Maude meant the first of these renderings, I and I desire to know how I oan be charged | with garbling in that sense by the texts I quoted. Do not even the texts he himself : quoted sustain my position? In conclusion. I would say that MiMaude's affectation of lofty contempt for my style of writing may to his own eyes lio proof of a most logioal method of exi fcinguishing me; to mine such affeotation is liimply ridiculous.—l am, etc., Good Templab.