CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 9

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

ANOTHER ESTATE PURCHASED. NAPIER, September 1. The Government has purchased for closer settlement purposes Messrs Duff Bros. 1 Clyde Bank Estate at Wbiroa. The property comprises 9000 acres within four miles of the town of Wairoa, on the Fraeertown road. It is admirably adapted for cutting up.

waikotiaiti couirrT couircrt.^ The ordinary monthly meeting of th» Waikouaiti County Council, held on August 31, was attended by Crs Oharltoa (chairman), Orbell, Foote, M'Gill, and Laky. BEBOBT3. • Randall (inspector) reported: — " lS T orJn-East Valley Riding.— Hall road, Sawyers' Bavj in good order. Metal blinded on Mount CurgM road. <md fair progress made with formation on Rossiters road. Blueskin Riding. — Road leading to Mr Teviotdale's property required the summer to prepare it to receive metal. Metal contract on the Station road, Waitati, was complete, and metal contract on Lower darbour road would be finished this week. A' spring at Purakanui township kept the road soft; a culvert was required. . Merton Riding. — Gravel contract on-M'Grath's road completed, aijd that on Russell's road making fair progress. The metal contract on the Warrington-Seaoliff road was to be commenced this week. Hawkesbury Riding. — Main Flag Swamp road in need of gravel in several places at estimated cost of £84. Similar repairs necessary to/ MAuleys road at £38. Walker's and ftalbraith's road had been cut up and damaged by a traction engine with clamp wheels. The attention- of the council was drawn to *he by-law re traction enginea."— <Jopy of the by-law to b& Sent to- owner of traction engine, together with a bill for the amount of aamasre done. — The report was adobted. The "Finance Committee reported having examined accounts for the month of August amounting to £295 4s 2d, and recommended that the same be passed for -payment; afeo that fresh tenders' be called for contract 42 (80 yards " metal Jdt Snell's road, Hawks* bury Riding). — Approved and; adopted' COBBESPONDENCE. William Ames wrote asking for* a sledge track to his property at Waitati. — The council cannot at present see its way to compliance. William Warren wrote requesting the council to repair the Pigeon Flat road. — Received. The Town Clerk, West Harbour, .vrote requesting to be informed when the council's surfaceman worked on that road, so that he might work jointly with 'the Borough Council's men. — To be informed that the county inspector has always arranged with former town olerks when work was to be done jointly, but in this particular casa the W est Harbour surfaceman failed to turn up, and the county surfaceman worked three days by himself. Mrs S. Peden wrote asking permission to lay drain pipes ' from section 2, v blook XIII, Waikouait\. to. river bank. — Permission granted, subject to work being carried out at her own risk and expense, and subject to* inspector's approval. John C. Quill wrote asking the council to notify Mr A. Campbell to remove his fence to its proper boundary. — Received. T. M'Kinley and four others wrote petitioning the council to repair and metal Stead's road. — Received; inspector to report giving estimate of cost. The council then went into committee to consider a communication from the solicitor.

An unusual - reason for asking- to be excused from service was given by a juryman summoned to attend at the Wellington Supreme Court. He *old the judge that he had been out of work for some time, and had at last obtained employment, in Sydney. As ha desired to leave the same evening,- he was jidt required to attend f urjthar,