The Reporter.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 May 1893, Page 9

The Reporter.

■ * Scutliiand County Council Fuidat, May 12. The monthly meeting was held at 11 a.m. Present : —Crs. Raymond (who was voted to the chair in the unavoidable absence of Mr. T. Green) Hast, Baldey, McQueen, McCallum, Ward, Gerrard, and Fleming. On the motion of Cr. Fleming, seconded by Or. Ward, the special order passed in March, last, merging the Lindhurst road district in the County, was confirmed—to come into force on 12th May, 1893. A letter from the N. M. & A. Co. offering to buy a road line in Seaward Downs was

left in the hands of the Chair us ui and Engineer for .enquiry. J. -Stevenson-and other residents o; Aaianawa offered AC towards the cost of . tell, which was required to give them an .nvfall from their properties. —Offer apce-i.i>. -.1 md Engineer, instructed to carry out the w- ■ ■ , , Ah application from the Knapd■.•'■•jad Board as to the terms on which tin oad grader would bo hired out to them w-s i, r. to the member for Mataura Ruling an , the Chairman. T. Patterson and 17 other settlers in the Forest Hill District petitioned the Council to allow of the deviation of the road running through section i -d, Forest Hill Hundred the present road ‘ o be closed and another and more suitable one opened in bcu thereof, Mr Hamilton, owner of section 129, undertaking to bear cost of v. o de and fencing in consideration of his receiving the land included the old road line.— : After hearing Mr Hamilton in support of tit*; petition the Council.hcld the matter over till next meeting. A request from Mr A. G-. Earle and E. Horrell to have the dotted track runningthrough sections (5 -and 7, block 8, Weudon, • closed, was held over for consideration.The Eerndale Library Committee asked for a donation to supplement- the sum of £l2 raised locally for a circulating library .—it ap-' peared that the Act gave the Council power to assist in such eases, but the Chairman said he would vote against the request. Applica- - tions of this kind had frequently been made and refused. Tf they were. recognised a special rate would probably bo required.— After discussion a motion that the committee be asked how much aid they required was put and lost, the committee to be informed that there were no funds available for subsidising nublic libraries. The Trade and Labour Council, Wellington, invited co-operation in raising funds for a memorial to the late late Premier of Hew Zealand. — Subscription list to lie on the table. J. McMenamin, surfaceman, applied for an increase of one shilling per day in his wages. —Left with the member for the riding, Cr. Fleming. An application was received for works from J. Cassin, West Dipton.—Copy of Engineer’s report to he sent to applicant. The Eev. E. Thornton called attention to fact that an accident had occurred through two heaps of unspread metal being left in the middle of the North Eoad, near the Waikiwi bridge.—A report was read from the Engineer to the effect that the surfaceman stated that no metal was left unspread at the place mentioned after working hours.—The member for the riding (Cr. Fleming) to inquire into the matter. A. E. Hay offered to repair culverts, and plough and drain the road from Dacre to his place for 3s 6d per chain, provided the Council supplied a man and a grader.—Held over in, the absence of the Chairman. D. McDermid, surfaceman, Waianiwa, notified that MoCrostie’s traction-engine had broken some planks in crossing a bridge, and that he had repaired it, Mr McCrostie supplying the timber.—Left to the member for the riding. F. L. Whitmore applied for leave to lay a tramway in block 22, Invercargill Hundred. —Engineer to report. A. A. Howell complained that the Council had unaccountably neglected the Tisbury (Seaward Bush) district, and stated that his business (bacon - curing) had been partly ruined from that cause. He suggested that the Council should co-operate with the other pubic bodies interested so as to secure the carrying out of the necessary road-works. — Cr. Fleming said that nothing could be done at present, and moved that the matter be held over till the spring.—Carried. A letter from J. J. Meikle in reference to the remisssion of part of the rates due by his sons was referred to the Finance Committee, with power to act. J. Harvey, solicitor, on behalf of settlers at Seaward Downs, wrote that the contractor for the removal of nightsoil was not observing the hours fixed for its conveyance over the country roads. He also suggested that a proper depot should be provided. —Cr. Fleming stated the contractor, Treloar, had expressed his willingness to deposit the nightsoil on a section that he owned at Duck Creek.—lt was stated that the distance traversed at present was nine miles. —It was resolved, to inform the contractor that the permission given by the Council to cart nightsoil would be withdrawn if the proper hours were not, observed.

An offer from W. Erskine, Otatara, to clear a roadline for 5s per chain was accepted—cost not to exceed £lO. A sum of £5 was granted towards cutting a track to give D. Scott, Wallacetown Extension, access to section 2, block 43. Motions were passed confirming the resolutions passed by ratepayers re closing certain roads in the Hokonui and Chatton districts. With reference to the application of certain ratepayers in the Heddon Bush section of the Wallace County to be brought into the Southland County, Mr R. McNab, solicitor, advised the Council that a special Act of Parliament would be required to give effect to the wish o£ the petitioners. Referred to the Finance Committee and the member for Wynton riding (Cr. Gerrard) —the committee to bring up a recommendation at next meeting. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee claims for extra work' by Thomas M'Math and S. M'Dowell, and for'the return of a deposit by Casey and Holmes were declined. • Accounts totalling £2496 8s 6d were passed and the Council adjourned to the second Friday in June.