County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 63, 25 October 1900, Page 3

County Council.

The special and ordinary monthly meeting was "held yesterday morniug. Present — Messrs J. F. Douglas.(chairman), Ross, Lyall, Hardio and Walker." The minutes of the previous meeting were read arid confirmed. The Chairman apologised for Mr Rhodes, ,who was in the North Island. -

COERgSFONpENCH. From the Department of Lands and Survey, respecting new road in Pareora No. -2 Settlement, and that Government would grant £193 109 as £ for £ subsidy for completion, of'work. pouncil ha"d declined to contribute, and this to be reiterated. Mr A. Carter and seven other ratepayers of Makikihi Biding asked that,, road leading from main -road past Mr T. Rodgers towards Mr Tiffens 1 be shingled, total length 60 chains. Work to be done. Mr G. H. Mansfield, Waimate, asked that rates on a property leased by him st&nd over for the present, as he had sustained financial losses. - Bequest granted. I Mr B. Q. Baxter, surveyor, I Wafeaate, forwarded a report orr the Lower Pareora W&fcer Supply District. A report by Mr W. M. Hamilton read as follows : — "la referents© to the question whether ratepayers have power to destroy unused water-races, and also whether the Water- race Committee had power to destroy fluining, etc., in connection with: water-races, he advised jthat if races had been cut- off and had been abandoned by the council, that body has power to dispose, in any way, of the races and all matter appertaining" thereto, after not less than 60 days' notice being "given of intended sale. Before this was done it would be advisable to - get sanction of all ratepayers who might be affected, so that Ocuncil might be clear in case anyone should object afterwards." It was decided to send Mr Baxter's report to the Water-race Committee. ' Mr A. 'McCulloch, Gienavy, complained of a promise : tb put a 'race' through his property not being fulfilled. Under the circumstances, ho asked that the 'maintenance rates 'paid be refunded. - > Mr Boss said there was plenty water ta supply the race, and the man was, willing fco do the work if it were laid,' off. Mr Walker thought it would be advisable to draw the attention of the Water-race Committee to the .matter;* If necessary they could get an outside engineer to do the work. Mr Bos? said they ought to spendfche money in hand, about c£ll9, in; surveying races for those who had none. They would do the work themselves. * Mr "^Walker was in favour, of the money being spent. It was highly desirable that the chairman of the Water-race Committee should enquire if there were any others of a similar case, and the money could be divided between the works. Mr Boss said a number bf township settlers were paying interest rates and would be willing So pay maintenance rates -if they received water. Mr Walker's suggestion was adopted. Mr F. Lane, Waimate, asked that a few pipes be put down at crossing leading to bis section, to carry, off surface water. Mr Walker explained the necessity and the Overseer was instructed to attend to work. The Chairman of > Morven 'Water - race Committee asked : (1) Whether it was necessary to give Mr McNaughton further notice of the unsatisfactory state of his race ; (2) Could anything be done till after the 10th November as per advertisement ; (8) If not, would further notice after that date be necessary, and what would bo the form utsecl. The committee also wished to know whether last year's outstanding Ifratos had been paid. The races were flooded with water above Redcliff, and at the headworka the water was shut off in the meantime. It was decided that the action could not be tetken before November lOfch. Mr Walker 'thought the letter unnecessary. The committee 'could ha-ve exercised its judgment on these matters. The council concurre3. From Mr Sbttery, Morven, applying for a water race. He had already paid over JEI4 in maintenance rates and had-received nothing^ PARBORA WATER DISTRICT. Mr W. Traveß, ranger, reported thai all races had been well supplied during the past month, and no complam W hae beonmades Several small slips ha< oceurrcd but had been attended to. - Mr A. B. Wake, Soufchbum, aske< that the road from Mr Davidson* house to Ihe top of the hill be^itxak passable. Mr John Meehon, Willow Bridge *drew attention to flaoaag

sustained to his land by eaeroachmen of Waihao Biver, at}d , teguestin, . council to assist him in protecting it - Part of the timber of Waihao bridg would be of assistance to him ii prococtive works if it were given hinf " He asked that the Overseer inspect tin 'damage. Mr Walker said Mr fifeeban should be informed that council oould nob deal with the protection of private property. It was stated thai the' t>ld bridge was sold. " • \ Mr Hardie said he had explained to Mr Meehan that he was under a misapprehension in supposing that council could protect private property unless roads were threatened. It was decided that the Overseer ascertain if any of the bridge wfeffe 1 unsold, and Bell it if there were. , Mr i. McNeill, feedcliff, drew" ! I attentiou to the state of a flood ohannel. * near his entrance gfate on the RedoliftGlenavy road. It had been bo bad , that after the late rains tradesmen's i oarta could not reach his place, A • creek Tat the * buck of his house was . impassable and also needed attention/ ( Mr Ross explained that Mr McNeill had no other entrance and it was ' decided that the overseer report on the j suitability of old timber in locality, for t bridging the creek. - *

WAIHAO WATER EACH DISTRICT. A petition, signed by Mr J. McNeilland 60 other ratepayers, asked the. council touppoint their engineer super visor of ' the 'district ~tbe 'committee having proved a failure, and its^ members being unequally_divided over the; district. The continuance of the committee meant an expenditure of from MO -to £50 per annum. TMY might be given, as extra remuneration, to the overseer if v he undertook the work. Mr Hardte said there was a resolution on the minutes stating that the Overseer Was not to undertake water raoe worit. He had to get assistance for his own svork and the speaker was strongly against his taking; - up the-pro-poseti work. Sir Walker also spoke in the same, strain. Mr Ross said the ratepayers wanted some one, not necessarily the engineer, to do the work and do away with the" committee. The Chairman asked "why did the ratepayers elect a committee. Why did not they protest at the annual meeting. Mr Boss said some of them wanted « committee for one - corner, the rest could go to Jericho. \ It was deoided that the Engineer could not attend to any water race work, the pefitionera to be informed that the Council atl vised them ~tfc> hold a public meeting and send theii"resolutions to the Council. Mr Dduglas reported, having seen Mr Foster re recovering J62 for gorse grabbing Mr Tfosfcer said arrangements had been made originally for grubbing the gorse, "but the section had' been ; sold meanwhile anS he informed Bryson J that he need not bother about i about thVgorse. The matter now stood that they - had paid £2 and could not recover it. . Mr Walker sail "th'tt there were great -patches of gorsb ' all bv,er 'the county. H the previous Engineer had bBGh mote 'stringent, hajf 'the "trdtible wofeld not now be experienced. In many cases, "instead orbeibg grubbed .it -Was simply chopped .otf at the ground. He hoped their new Engineer" would be very strict in this matter. smamj Bißbb. The question of buying small birds' eggs and heads was brought up. Mr Boss -objected'to this as a great waste of public rhone.v. , People should use more poisoned grain. Mr Lyall said they ought t{) do every thing in their power to keep down the pest. In 3pite of all they could do the bird 9 increased. Mr Walker agreed with the last speaker. Mr Hardie made the remark that he 'thought that the birds should be' left alone foi? a trial. There were not so mauy sparrows irr his district this year. He did not think sparrows took 1 poisoned grain. i Mr Walker said this was a flattering , testimonial to the system adopted -in the county, - The Overseer said numbers of people : tools the poisoned grain. They wereI uojv preparing r,ape ,as an experiment. On the motion of Messrs Hardie and 3 Lyall ib was decided to purchase smali birds' heads and eggs this year as' usual, the price to be 2s per hundred, y to be delivered from November Ist till j March Ist, from 8 a.m. till noon on .Saturdays, and at members* resi- * cleuces. ' Mr Walker thought that adjoining connties should be written to asking them to fall in with this 'Gounoirs '" arrangements. q It was stated that only 'the Waitaki d Council had not; ma.de arrangements, fl and the clerk was instructed to com1 municato with them. hlv Boss had received a 'letter from <1< Mr S. Smart,' asking tfcfat -something r s bo v i3one*with the water race near Bedi e clifrbridge. « . Messrs Lyall and Walker thought that the water race committee should ®i deal with the matter and this course »c wtts decided on.

Accounts amounting to iC3IO 183 5d %'ore passed to<* paymant. It being now 12 o'cbclc a special nesting w»»s held, c.nd the foUo-.vinsj -solution paused. : — That section 3o bt he Water Supply Act, 1801, By-Uw Number 6, of by-laws" dated 25ih*May v 1802, foy regulutiou 'of watpr Mot<«, ba' •npealed, an 3 the fol]b\ting take effect 'roni Ist January» -1991 : That the Raid rates and eliargea be paid at the Wai mate County Council office on Ist May each year. -In derfrns notice 'of motion given last meeting, Mr Walker moved that the t Council rescind its motion declining fcbF have Batcher's Lane reported on with reference t&tho Borough Council's proposal to widen same. 'This was seconded by Mr Hafilie, and carried, and the Overseer was instructed to report on the necessity of the work.

No. £63. Waitaki Valfdy Eon^ "80 chaina reforming and rrietallng s A Nicol (ffcoepted), .6141 8s; T. W. Cr*oh*3i-6« 17s tt*s B. White, £159 17s Bd. No. 358b, Elder's Road, 88 ohains, refornaiug and metalling. ,J. Hardy (accepted), 8s Id ; "J. H. Gibson, £232 9s 4d. No. 86Qa, 8 chains, formiug and metalling, Nidholaoa's Road. No tender received. The council went into committee on; the question of Sandy Ford. Affce'r a,' protracted discussion, it was decided that the clerk iafor n Mr Copeland that they are unable £o raise the road levels as applied for by him. Mr Bremner waB instructed to obtain a solicitor's opinion as to the council's right to ferce Mr Smith to remove the obstruction from the Esk Creek, above^ Sandy Ford. . -^ On the motion of liteagrs Walker and Boss, it was decided that as Mr Bremner holds the necessary "qualification of an engineer, heshill in future be styled engineer, to the "cd'ancil.