CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 37

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the above body was held on Friday, when there were present—Crs J. R. Mitchell (chairman), J. Cum. jawag, -W. Grainger, A. C. Saunders, D. A. MTLachlan, W. Hay, Walter Nicol, John Clarke, and John Edwards.

COBBEBPONDENCE.

The Secretary Otego District Hospital Board wrote forwarding copy of recommendation adopted by board, that it be ascertained whether local authorities were willing to undertake the supervision end isolation of any indigent persons suffering from infectious diseases. — Cr Clarke moved and the Chairman seconded, that the council fall in with* the board's suggestion. — Carried. The Chief Engineer, Wellington, wrote forwarding authority for the vote of £100 for Puerua bridge, and stating that the balance (£250) of the subsidy would be Authorised after 81st March. — Received. The Valuer-general wrote asking as to whom council would appoint to revalue Richardson and South Molyneux Ridings wi *h the department.— Mr Grigor appointed. The Valuer-general also wrote enclosing account for £68 15s, share of cost of revising valuation rolls. — " Not «a heavy as usual but quite heavy enough," was the remark which greeted this letter.— Amount to be paid. Alex. Brock, Glencairn, Merino Downs, wrote forwarding names of number of settlers who were willing to do horse work in connection with proposed road between section 22, block V, Glenkenich and Russell's road.— Hugh Shanks, Merino Downs, wrote on the same subject, objecting to the road up his property.— After Mr Shanks had been heard on the subject, it was agreed to let the engineer find out the quantity of land required. J. R. Mackenzie, Popotunoa Stud Farm, Clinton, wrote asking council to repair road leading from his residence to Clinton, and informing the council that one of his best mares had been hurt on it.— Cr Clarke said he greatly sympathised with Mr Mackenzie, but the road was in fair order. He moved that while the council regretted the accident to the mare, it would admit no liability. — Seconded and carried. Cr Saunders moved— "That the engineer inspect, and have power to act. with respect to road at Mrs Harrington's, Purekireki." — Seconded by Cr Nicol and carried. Cr Saunders moved—" That the matter of the road near section -27, block VIII, Gatlins. be left in the hands of the engineer to attend to." — Seconded and carried. Cr Hay moved—" That Mr Murray "be appointed ranger at Port Molyneux at £7 10s a year."— r Seconded by Cr Nicol and carried. Several complaints as to roads were dealt with. W. E. Gladstone, district health inspector, wrote enclosing report of his inspection of Owaka, made in Jamiary, 1906. — The man moved that the clerk write to persons whose places were oomplained of. — Seconded by- Cr Edwards and carried. engineer's bepost. The Engineer (Mr W. R. Leeder) reported for the period ending February 28:— "Re M'Neur's road dosing, etc., I have to report having visited the locality, and called on Mr M"Neur, • who informed me he wished the matter to remain in abeyance in the meantime. New road at Merino Downs: I have inspected this road, and my estimate for buying the necessary land, fencing, and forming the road if taken through Mr Shanks's property, would be £210. Punt at Tuapeka Mouths During the 'month. I have conferred with the Tuapeka County engineer. We found parts of the punt very rotten, and 'l recommend you to agree to the punt being repaired at once. If the -work is carried out on the lines agreed to the total cost will not exceed £100. Murray's road, Kaihiku Creek: I have inspected the route of this road that Mr Murraj wants opened. The road is through some very rough country, with heavy rock cuttings. My estimate' to open this road ■'Would be £750. Fences on roadline to Owaka Domain : In company with Mr Hey,- I have inspected the road round the domain. We find the fence erected across the road in two places, but as there is no traffic on the road we recommend the fence remain as it now stands on the road during the pleasure of the council on the following conditions: — That awing gates be erected on the road to the approval of the engineer, and also a turnstile above highwater mark at the top corner of the domain, gates and turnstile to be kept in good order. We further wish to suggest to the Domain Board that the barlvwire fence running out into the Owaka River be removed, and if necessary a light rail fence, erected in its place, top rail to be above high-water level. B'oal line on Pomahaka River: In company with the chairman (Mr J. R. Mitchell) I inspected this road, and €nd that very fair ground has been left for road purposes. One or two minor alterations were suggested to the surveyor, who readily agreed to them. Roads end works: On the 'Koi-Pomahaka road two small wooden bridges are very rotten, and I recommend the old woodwork be removed, and large pipe culverts substituted. On Smith's road, Glenkenich Riding, a Steep grade has bs*n reduced, and on Cleghorn's road upwards of a mile of road has been repaired by raising the read through the swamp. The new concrete bridge on the Clinton-Tapanui road has been completed. On Moffat's road, South Waipahi, another small bridge has been rebuilt. Ninety-six yards maintenance metal has been driven out, spread, and broken on the Waiwera Gorge road, and a few loads on the township River road. Two bridges on the Puerua Valley xoad have TSeen re-decked, and the culverts at Lochindorb repaired. Rimu street. Kaka Point, has been ■ ploughed and formed, and a pipe culvert put in fit intersection with Main road. On Wright s road the ecrub has been all cut back, and theformation work is now in progress. Surfacing on various other roads has a.so been attended to in this locality. Formation work | on the Catlins Valley road is progressing satisfactorily. On the Upper Catlins Valley road two new box culverts have been put down. Removing trees on various roads has been a heavy order in the Outline Riding during the past m*>nth| Contracts: No. 290. metalling Waikawa road, Batanui, is progressing satisfactorily; 258 and 259 are under way; 265, Anderson's road, metalling, has been completed; 271. formation on WaiweraKaihiku road, is finished in * workmanlike mmnner; S9S, formation on Xlili TOftd. completed to approval; on tHe Popotunoa-Clin-ton road some big stones require breaking, and olher minor repairs might be effected. The bridge on Back Creek, Main South xt&A,

is very rotten, and will have to be rebuilt et an early date. The two big bridges on the Clinton Gorge road are unsafe for traction traffic; some of the beams are already broken. I recommend that repairs to these bridges be put in hand at once." Cr Clarke asked what the Gorge bridges would cost, and the Engineer said £80 would make a fair job, he considered. — Cr Nicol said, the council could do nothing in the matter of road at Kaihiku, which would cost JBBOO. Anyway it would only benefit one man, and he's not there yet. We haven's the money. — Cr Hay: If you had would you spend it on that road? — Mr Nicol: No, I wouldn't. — (Laughter.) — The report was adopted on the motion of Crs Clarke and Edwards. Re that portion of the report embodying ths views of the commission-era appointed to visit the Owaka Domain, Cr Saiinders asked: Do we understand that the ooimmissioners recommend 1 that bhe fences be removed and fresh fences put in? — Cr Bay: Remove the barb wire. — Mr Leeder: All the wires would be better removed. To ccc barb wire there seems out of place altogether. Already one boat has been in difficulties through being caught in the wire. Barb wire of all things is out of place. Think of the danger to bathers. But of course this is only a suggestion.—Cr Bay : It will be better to have it removed. — Some discussion took place as to whether the motion for the adoption of the engineer's report included the special report on the Owaka Domain.— To settle the maitt«r Cr M'Lauohlan moved — " That the special re-" port on the Owaka Domain be approved of." — Seoondted by the chairman, and carried without dissent. TXNDZRS. Tenders were accepted as follows; — Contract No. 284, Alexander Mill, £70; contract .No. 295, Henry Hogg, £25; contract No. 300 William Spence, £32; contract No. 301, Andrew Moffat, £57 15s; contract No. 303, Jonathan S*rginson, £21 17» 6d (accepted up to £20). It was resolved to call for fresh tendexs for all contracts not let, FINANCIAL. The Finance Committee recommended payment of the monthly pay sheet, amounting to £741 3s 3d, made up of land fund £13, j Richardson loan £54 14s 6d, and general fund i £673 8s 9d. The Clerk said that at this meeting the council generally wrote off a portion of uncollectab'.e rates. The* amount for' 1904-5 was £56 19a lid, made up of general rate £16 7s 7d, H. and C. £2 18s 7d, South Molyneux special £36 6s Id, Richasdson special 4s 4d, , Clinton special £1 8s 4d. — Resolved that this amount be written off. The Clerk reported receipts for" the month ending February 27:— Rates. £1690 8a 9d; deposits, £22 Is; rents Port Molyneux reserve, £13; dog tax receipts, 15s; refunds road works, £3; 'subsidy (advance), £628 2s 6d;— total, £2357 7s 3d. GENERAL. Or Edwards reported that he had arranged with James Peterson to collect the dog tax in Clutha Riding. — Approved. The Engineer suggested that he be empowered to call for tenders for the Pueruabridge as soon as the plans came back from j Dunedin. — Cr Saunders moved that the engineer be empowered to advertise the work, and that the acceptance of tenders be left to the chairman, engineer, and the member for the riding. — Cr Clarke objected that the. whole council was interested in the> bridge. — Cr M'Lachlan suggested that any member interested be invited to attend the meeting to deal with the tenders. — Cr Clarke said he merely objected on principle. — Ultimately It was decided that the matter of dealing with tenders be deferred till the next meeting of the council. In accordance with the usual practice, it was decided not to meet in March, and the next meeting was fixed for Friday, April 8.