The Reporter.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 16, 15 July 1893, Page 9

The Reporter.

* SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL. Fiuuay, July 14. The monthly meeting was held at 11 a.m. Present —Mr T. Green (Chairman), and Crs. Hast, JBaldey, Raymond, McCallum, Floming, and Gcrrard. Subsidies on amounts raised for the destruction of small birds were granted to local bodies in the following districts—Waikawa, Pine Hush, Waikaia, Tuturau, One Tree Point, Wallacetown, Hokonui, Waimumu, Winton, and Wyndham, the total voted being £sl ss. J. Hamilton appeared before the Council in reference to the deviation of tire road through section 129, Forest Hill Hundred. A petition in support was also read, in which it was stated that Mr Hamilton would give the land tor the road free of cost, and pay Mr Evans £25 as compensation for the extra fencing involved, provided the roads to be closed are conveyed to him. It was pointed out that the new route would be a great convenience to the settlors. —Mr T. W. Allan objected to the deviation at present on the ground that some of the other settlers in the neighbourhood had no other outlet. If the other roads were made passable ho would have no objection to the change —-Engineer to report. ’ The same course was followed in the case of an application by T. W. Allan, Forest Hill, to have a road deviated through his property. A. Dawson and C. Henderson appeared as a deputation on behalf of the settlers in the Heddon Bush section of Wallace County, and enquired if the Council would merge part of the Otautau riding in that of Winton. They understood that before the merging could be carried out the indebtedness of the area would have to be reduced to the same ratio as' that of Winton riding, and if the ratepayers knew how much that was they would probably take steps to reduce their dobt by means of voluntary contributions. The deputation stated that a great deal of the traffic of the portion of Otautau riding which they wished merged passed over the Southland County roads, and owing to the extension of settlement the traffic would be increased by about 100 per cent. —Referred to the Finance Committee and Cr. Gcrrard. E. W. Tanner, Winton Hundred, asked the Council to give him and several other settlers access to their properties. —£10 of accrued d.p. money was voted for the work. T. McMath appeared in support of his claim for £27 for extras in connection with bridge work in the Waikawa district.—lt appeared that the inspector (Mr Rennie) stated that there were no extras, the masonry not going beyond the specified depth. —Mr McMath submitted a document signed by several persons to the opposite effect. —The Chairman said the Council acknowledged no liability, the work having been carried out for the Government.—Cr Raymond thought inquiries should be made as to the extras, and if it proved that the work had been done, then a strong recommendation should be made to the Government in favour of the amount. —The Engineer stated that as the work had not been carried out under his

supervision, he could not state from his own knowledge that the extra work had beeu ,done. The inspector, who : had been present during the progress of the contract,; stated that extra work had not been done. The contractor had not been penalised, although six months behind with the work.—-It was decided to .refer Mr McMath to the previous decision of the Council, to the'effect that they could noe recognise the claim; the inspector not having per tided to the work. The Chairman was authorised to sign the annual balance sheet and have it published. D. Morrison, E. Buchanan, and F. W. Ward, applied for the closure of a road running parallel to the railway, near Gore, on the eastern side.—-Bequest to be complied with, petitioners paying costs and purchasing closed road at valuation. J. Harvey, instructed by settlers In Seaward Moss, called the council’s attention to the fact that the x>etitioners in favour of Mr Treloar being allowed to use the roads in connection with his nightsoil contract did not live near thedepot, and further that Mr Treloar was not complying with the terms of his permit.—To be informed that Mr Treloar has been notified that he must comply with the terms of his permit. A. Agnew, Winton, applied for leave to lay a tramway between sections 2 and 3, East Wintoh.—Granted, subject to the engineer’s approval. The Engineer reported that the Railway Commissioners had granted half-a-chain of the reserve along the line, which would give a continuous road to Waimatua, with the exception of the area at Tishury siding, over which they would grant a right-of-way. He added that it might be as well for the Council to make sure that the area in question would not be resumed at any time by the Commissioners in the event of the road being made. T. Jeffcoate applied to purchase section 107, block 2, Gteramika, set apart as a gravel reserve, for which purpose it was unsuitable. — Steps to be taken to obtain the section from the Land Board, and to have the ground thoroughly prospected for gravel before finally dealing with the application. E. Hamilton and A. Reid, Wendon, objected to the closure of the dotted track asked for by Messrs Earle and Horrel until the road along the Switzers line be made passable. —It was decided to refuse Earl and Horrel’s application in view of the objections raised. Petitions for and against the appointment of a ranger at Wallacetown were read, and action deferred for the present. Geo. R. Humphrey asked for the intervention of the Council in the matter of the division of wages in connection with the contract originally taken up by F. Mangan, in Otapiri Gorge. —The Council decided to inform the writer that he must take- the necessary legal stops to have the money impounded. A discussion, initiated by Or. Raymond, took place on the Isoxious Weeds Bill. Strong exception was taken to clause 17, which provides for half the cost of clearing Crown lands being borne by local bodies. Several other clauses were also taken exception to. After discussion it was resolved to inform the Government and the local members of Parliament that the- Council objects to the bill in its present form, and will offer suggestions in about a month. The Hokonui dog-tax collector asked for instructions re suing defaulters. —Left in the hands of tbe chairman. r J lie engineer reported that a number of culverts in block 10, Invercargill Hundred (late Lindlmrst Road district), were unsafe for traffic.—To be attended to. In connection with the application of W. Robertson, Wyndbam, to have access to his section, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Raymond, that on payment of LSO the necessary steps will be taken to acquire the land required for the road and making the same passable for wheeled traffic. Bucholz and Leahy applied for a remission of penalties for delay in connection with contract 1537. —Referred to Finance Committee. It was decided to ask the Government for a void of £4O to make a road to G. Goodwin’s land at- Waikawa. An offer from D. Strauchan to lease four acres at Wallacetown was referred to tbe Engineer. J. Cowie and others asked the Council to widen the road between Heddon Bush and Winton. —Held over for Engineer’s report. T. Parratt, Otara, offered to carry out certain road work for £7 14-s. —Accepted Accounts amounting to £1330 11s lOd were passed for payment. The following rates were ordered to be levied: —General, fd in the £ ; hospitals and charitable aid, i of a penny ; and f of a penny on all mining property in the county. For remainder of Reporter see page 12.