Waimate County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 6, 2 July 1898, Page 1

Waimate County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above "was held on Wednesday; present Mesirs El<■worthy (chair), Milne, Douglas, Walker, Murphy, Rhodes, Studholme und Lyall. The minutesjrf the previous meeting were read' and confirmed, Some discussion took place re conference of delegates in regard to the small birds ques» tion, and it was resolved that the resolution passed at the meeting be adhered to by this Counoil and'that the rates mentioned be paid for eggs and heads. • Correspondence was read as follows : — From Mr W. J. Hardie, asking for leave ol absence No specific time was mentioned. Mr Walker objected to granting leave of absence. • He did not lose sight of Mr Har dies services, but it was not fair to the ratepayers. ' He had spoken to some of them and they were *verse to.granting it. -Leave of absence was granted, Mr Walker alone dissenting, .■From the New Zealand Counties Association, asking if Council had any business to .bring' forward. , -, Held 'over "till next meeting. jJPioni Mr T. Kennard, asking -thai road,

between 4 and 1, Eeserve 143, Deep Creek, be opened. He would be content if a gate were put through, as at present he had to drive his stock two miles to water. Overseer to act. From Timaru Harbour Board, asking for rateable valne of Waimate County compassed in the Timaru Harbour Board district. From Clutha County Council "asking for method of poisoning grain. Letter had been replied to. From Railway Department, asking for Council's opinion on subject of erection of blacksmith's shop on triangular piece of land near Luck's crossing* In the opinion of the Council this would be the cause of accidents. They would protest in the interest of the settlers. From the Eailway Department re the reraoval and substitution of cattle-yards at south r end of Studholme station yard. The matter would stand over till Council contribute' £35 (half). Council would not sanction any paymentv * ' From C. A. Wilson, proprietor of " Tfiß Waimate Advertiser," asking for a share of the Council's advertising and job printing/ Printing 'to be divided between the two local J papers,

From Alfred Davis, drawing j attention to gorse growing on Kedchff reserve. ,"*' »* . Tenant to be given notice to, clear gorse. From Waihao Water Race Committee re* porting that a meeting had been held. They expressed the opinion that members of the riding were lax in not supplying names of Europeans occupying Native lands* Also disapproving of removal of bond from water-race contractor. The races were running freely*. Clerk to explain that information could not have been supplied sooner, as the rolls had not come to hand. From J. Long, water-race ranger, Pareora» saying that he expected the races to be running on Thursday. It was resolved to call a public meeting at St Andrews on July 18th, andat Glenavy on July Bth, From M. Leonard and Son, asking for a pair of gum boots. - Request not entertained. From same asking for a hut On theTJpper Waihao. - Would pay rent for same. Held over* , * A note was here put in ,by th6< reporter of the. Waimate Times staging ,, that "his paper had hitherto received the advertising iknd

printing and had deducted five per cent As ~ this agreement was now to be broken, the five • per cent would not be deducted in the future. Received. From Messrs Parker, Hams and Burbury, - asking ihafr the main road between stone wall, EedcEffjind the Hakateramea, township be putin-order, starting from Station Peak homestead and' working towards stonewall. Mr Douglas had inspected the road, which -was covered with large stones'and full of holei.' " The road wanted reforming. Finally it was moved by Messrs Douglas -and Murphy — "That tenders be called for forming two miles of road -asked Jor by .Mr ' Parker and others." Bejected on the casting rote of the chairman. With regard to the estimates for the current year. The chairman said last year the revenue was £7055, 8s 9d and the expenditure :i6S?B4 I>s., He^thought * § rate and Jd for the Harbour Board •ufficient. It had Been a *bad season for farmers and nothing higher : should be struck. Mr Ehode« laid £ would give £8260. The absolute expenditure for last year was £8784. He did not think it would be any less this year,_and § would not be enough. He would suggest-* rate of 11-lfiths, which would produce £8534. If they treated the county fairly they could not do with" less ihan last year. Mr Walker thought the Council was getting in a worse position every year. They found they vreve -£1700 to the bad against their revenue. Their revenue from all sources to March 31, 1898 at 9-16ths was £7055 ; their expenditure £8784, or. equal to £1729 above .revenue. A § rate would bring £6201, other .sources £2001 ; total £8202. A f rate would "bring £7447, other sources £2312, equal "to _£9759 or £1400 more tha» last year, so that .they would have that dBI4OO for the next year with rates paid up. He agreed with Mr Ithodes that the expenditure would be more *han in the past. It was clearly shown that itadxt of the roadi and bridges were getting out

of repairs. If they did not increase the rates gradually it would have to be done at tome future time, and when a big rate would have to be struck it would crush some of the ratepayers. They had a large sum to pay for borrowed money every year, and no honest .aitenipt had been made to reduce the liability. The only way to do thi s was to strike a sufficient rate to reduce their overdiaft. He was -in favour-pf a f d rate. The chairman said these complaints had always been brought up by certain sections of the community : that they were drifting back, but they managed to pull up at the end of the year. ~Mr Lyall favoured the 11-16ths rate. Mr Douglas said there had been uncommonly fine weather last year. The weather had n.ow broken; it would get worse and the expenses would be greater. He did not think a 5-8 ths rate would meet the case, but favoured the 11-I6ths. Finallylt was resolved to strike a rate of 11-16ths on the rateable value of the Waimate county and £d for the Harbour Board rate. From Mr Elworthy, offering £1 per year for piece of road reserve near Otaio riverbed. — Granted. From the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, enclosing their solicitor's opinion of the legality of the Waimate Hospital Trustees appointment. An opinion was read from Mr Hamilton upholding the appointment of the Trustees. It was resolved to send both to Mr Bell (of Wellington) and get his opinion on the subject Messrs Btudholme and Walker reported that they thought the '6o chain drain alongside road in Makikihi swamp .should be gone on with, the other was not desirable. Tenders were opened for the drain as •follow* :— M. Foley £24 (accepted), G. Bean L 27 9s Bd, Hicks L3O, M. Keogh L3O sb, C. Wilson L 33.

. Mr Walker said there was a drain at the bask of Hannaton settlement which wanted cleaning. The water ran into two sections. The chairman thought the men could well do it themselves if it was to their own interest. Mr Walker said the same might apply to the Drainage Board in regard to the work now before the Council. It was the Council's drain and they should keep it clear. The chairman said he had misunderstood Mr Wa'ker as to the drain belonging to the Council. — Overseer to attend to matter. The Oveerseer's report showed that a great many roads required metalling. A number of culverts were to be i«placed with concrete pipes. A large quantity of poisoned grain had been distributed in the county. Had inspected road Mr W. Grant, Waihaorunga, wished metalled, and would advise that work be done. — Tenders to be called for woik. Messrs Walker and Studholme were appointed to sign the rate books. Accounts amounting to L 563 18s 7d were passed and the meeting rose.

Shopping by post. — Ladies though living in the most distant country district!, can have, by means of the parcel post, the advantage of purchasing from Messrs Arthur Jones and Co. brought to their very doors. Their other order department is under the personal management of the head of th«. firm, and is one of the special features of their extending business, and the promptness and reliability with which orderg *re executed are fully appreciated by those who have given them a trial. Another very strong feature which touches the pocket is that they pay postage and railage on all parcels to any station in South Canterbury, or Otago and we strongly advise ladies in want of fust class drapery at a reasonable price, to send their orders to them at onoe.