The Reporter.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 46, 10 February 1894, Page 9

The Reporter .

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL. Ekidat, Feb. 9. The monthly meeting was attended by Mr T. Green (the Chairman), and Crs. Hast, Ward, McQueen, Dunlop, Fraser, McCallura and Hamilton. The Auditor-General approved of the reduction made by the Council in the special rate leviable in the districts of West Plains and South Hillend. J, Welsh gave several reasons why he should not accede to the request of a number of settlers to remove a fence on the roadline at section o, block 7, Invercargill Hundred, and was referred to the Oteramika Hoad Board. He stated that there were nine fences belonging to other people on the roadline. Section 50, block 2, Oteramika, a gravel reserve, was leased to H. 11. Perriam at Is an acre per annum. The Chief Commissioner of Lands, Invercargill, forwarded a circular which he had received from the Surveyor-General in reply to representations from the Council as to the difficulty of complying with the wishes of the Department re the accounts in connection with the expenditure of d.p. and p.l. thirds and fourths. The circular pointed out that the information was essential to enable the Land Board to exercise proper supervision of the funds. — Deceived. McPherson and Mcßae applied for a reduction in the charge made for allowing their tramway to pass over the Hillend bridge.—Request ,declined, Cr. Hamilton stating that the settlers objected to the charge being altered. P. Deegan, Limehills, urged the immediate carrying out of the contract for work, on the Boggieburn road.—Engineer to report H. Gcrken. secretary of the Balfour |town hall company, applied to have a culvert aud approach formed in front of the building —Held over till next meeting. The Hon. J, G. Ward advised the Council to have work on Springhill road, Corbett’s crossing, carried out, and the Government contribution of £IOO (£ for £ subsidy) would be forwarded when required. G. Crow was appointed ranger on County roads in the Waimumu road district. A letter was read from 15 settlers occupy ing land in block 22, Seaward Bush, in which they pointed out that they were greatly inconvenienced by the want of a road, and complained that A. A. Howell had warned them against using the only track available. —To be informed that the Govt, had promised a vote for the work next session, and that Mr Howell had [received no authority to close the track. A report was read from the Engineer re works on the Garston-Nevis road, which, he said, had been formed for the benefit of Tincent County miners, and should be kept in order by them or by the Mines Department. —Held over till the spring, Cr. Hast remarking thattheroad -was a “political ” one, and that, so far as Waikaia Riding was concerned he did not intend to sanction any expenditure upon it. J. Hay, Waikaka, reported that he had tried the poisoned grain supplied by the Council for small birds, with good effect, and he believed that if the Council could make it compulsory for farmers to take united action, say in December, when feed is scarce, the birds, if not exterminated, would at least be reduced to reasonable numbers. Messrs C. J. Hinton and W. Russell were appointed returning officers for the licensing districts of Mataura and Awarua, respectively; and it was resolved that deputyreturning ofiicers be paid one guinea as a fee and all necessary expenses—poll clerks not to be employed, and that the Education Board be asked to grant the use of schoolrooms, and to authorise the head teachers of country schools to act as deputy-returning officers if required. It was decided to ask the N.Z. Pine Co. to clear the gorse between their Spar Bush tramway and the fence. Accounts amounting to £2334 14s 3d were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned to a day to be fixed by the Chairman.