Waimate County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 165, 20 June 1901, Page 2

Waimate County Council.

o a The usual monthly meeting wrJ held yesterday ; present—Messrs J. Fl Douglas (chair), Milne, Studholnit Rhodes, Ross, Elworthy, Walket Hardie and Lyall. The minutes of the previous meetioj wen read. Mr Rhodes asked for a correction it regard to his criticism of Mr Made tosh’s remarks at the Levels .County Council meeting. He had objected H Mr Macintosh’s statement that tb Waimate County Council had object® to the Otaio river being made th boundary between the two countie* because, as far as he knew, it ha never been before the Council. The Chairman said he bad neve heard it discussed. In his reply Mi Macintosh burked the question, as tt usu dly did. Mr Duke (Morven) waited on tb Council and asked that the Cound allow the shifting of a fence betwee* the gravel reserve and bis land, H allow him to more easily work hi land. Daring discussion it was said thi the reserve (five acres) was used t run contractors’ horses, but Mr Dub bad guaranteed a paddock for bora* of any contractor who required it. Alter several questions bad b asked him, Mr Duke thanked Hi Council and withdrew. It was decided to grant permissifl! to make the exchange of land requests!

all costs to be defrayed by Mr Duke,

The Hon. W. J. Steward drew attention to the state of settlers at Kupua, where at least one settler had been ruined by the flood water. He asked that the Engineer be instructed to report and give an estimate. The Council then might state what proportion it would be prepared to contribute, and he would ask the Government to contribute the real vinder.

During discussion it was stated that the Government Engineer had been at the settlement three times.

It was decided to accede to Major Steward’s request, but that the Council could not see its' way to contribute, as it had calls from the whole district.

It was proposed that a Finance Committee be appointed consisting of the chairman and Messrs Hardie, Walker, Studholme and Ross, to meet at 3.30 the afternoon previous to the usual Council meeting, Mr Studholme thought that the whole Council should be a Finance Committee.

Mr Walker supported this. Mr Studholme proposed an amend jncmt to that effect.

Only the mover and seconder voted for the amendment, and the motion was carried.

Two proposals were received for poisoned grain. It was decided to ask the vendors to have the grain tested hv the Government.

From the Harbour Board, fixing the eoirtribution of Waimate County for the current year at J 31875 9s Bd. fj'oi; total amount of the levy on tla- Harbour district was £o7C> 10s 2d. equal to a rate of a farthing in the £. The Board also wrote stating that it was decided to introduce an empower]ji!l, to allow a Commission to enquire into the question of including \Vaimale borough in the Harbour Board district, ' and asking the Council to ndite a motion in favour of this course. Mr Studholme said be had attended the meeting of borough ratepayers, and thought they brought some very g.aid arguments forward against in-chi-don. He thought with thorn that it was too late now to include the borough.

Mi' Walker said the borough should be included. It might be to a certain c;i?m true that there were work' s to which they had not consented. The borough should be called on to pay for the nilc-s which it hod escaped in the past Ratepayers, all round, who r -ap• oi nothing like the benefit the v -ngii did, were contributing, and i l not sue why the borough should

Mr Milne agreed with those ro marks.

Mr Havdie said there had been underhand work in Waimate’s incluand lie thought they should not be brought in so hue in the day. Mr Rosa did not see why the borough should escape. In reply to Mr Rhodes, the chairman said they would he entitled to more than one member. Mr "Walker moved, and Mr Lyall seconded —•“ That as Waimato borough d-rlves considerable benefit from tho lai! hour, this Council considers it mould bo included in the harbour di-urict.”

"'iii- was carried. Mr Hardio alone agU-:.-t. l-Voni the South Canterbury Hos-j'i-.i! and Charitable Aid Board, stating th > amount required from the Council was ,Mu7-S Gs 8d ; half payable in June and half in December.

Fmm Mackenzie County Council, n-king particular;’, of tho proposed Gouary Council’;? Union. [IMu over till word bed been recs ve 1 from the others.

From the Laud and Survey Departra ':ir. staling that they considered it premature to alter the mimes of ere ‘ks in the Kohika settlement, as asked. .Ur Rhodes said that no time c mid be heton- than the present for changing tire mines before they were known, and also, that giving a place a name o: nineteen letters would not bo likely to n mutilate it.

Fmm the Department of Public Health, asking the number of rats d-stroyed by the Council.

R ’died to, that none had been ■killed. From the Timaru Harbour Board, sending a subscription list fora memorial from South Canterbury to those maimers of New Zealand Contingents who had lost iheir lives in South Africa.

h was decide! to allow the list to if-u in the offi •<?, and also to suggest tin- forwarding of another list to the lord Uuivpiion Committee.

From Mr T. Marshall, 3fc. Andrews, ik ■i niue to buy closed road near his pr pmty.

l. f; Uer received.

From Levels Council, stating that th ■ Council did not hold itself re- ?.■ i.i-ible for iho expressions of inchv'd i-Ime ub u - s, and enclosing a copy o' M i ning Post, containing Mr M ; osh’- explanation. R i Lve!.

Fr-..m ■,u secretary of the Counties’ As-maihu. acknowledging appointing u of Air Rhodes as delegate. R -ceiv.’d.

I in Mr H.B. Crawford (Oamaru), re iii!c* of land sunt, asking that docuin - - !if returned.

Clerk bid epliorl, and his letter was It Mi'ow-d.

I nun Mr M. A. Hay, enclosing bill i m-tructing thirty-five chains of w ■ and asking for thirty-five fee; ui -ix inch pining for crossings, R guest declined. From Mr Arch. McCulloch, declining in act as a member of the Waihao W;.mr race Committee without pay. lu'c iveil.

Applications for slaughter licenses were received from Messrs D. A, Buckingham, J. Meehan (Mahikiki), and A. Menzies (Hakataramoa). 'lt was decided to forward them to the 1); parhuent, recommending that they he granted. Mr Walker asked, was there any limit to the distance of a slaughterhouse from the borough boundary and Was told there was none.

Mr Milne reported that he had seen Messrs Campbell and Sutton, in regard to the proposed bridge over the Maitaki, and he asked that the Engineer report.

Agreed toIt was decided to write to the Land Board and ask permission to place accrued thirds to the Council’s funds, and also to write to the Health Department, asking who had been appointed Health Officer in Waimate. l Dr. Cruiekshank reported a case of infectious disease in the borough. From Mr Geo, Winter, Oannington, asking that the Council put a bridge over the Pareora and White Rock rivers.

Mr Elworthy urged that it be dealt with at once.

Held over pending the consideration of the estimates. Mr Walker said there was a very narrow road-line leading to Hannaton Settlement, and there were large atones

on it. He asked that the work be done.

The Chairman said there were accrued thirds, and the work could bo done out of this. Mr Walker asked Council’s attention in regard to the upper portion of the Hook river, several objections had been made to the erection of fences across the river bed. It was dangerous to the crossing of stock in flood time and a nuisance to those travelling on the river-bed for picnics, shooting, or fishing. These people should be compelled to remove their unauthorised obstructions.

Mr Rhodes said the Crown reserved the right to lease tho river-beds. Mr Walker said oven so, the public rights should not he infringed upon for a paltry few shillings year received as rent.

Mr Hurdle thought it was not in the province of the Council. Mr Walker said ho wanted to know the Council's position in regard to tho river-beds.

The Clerk was instructed to obtain this information.

Accounts amounting to £652 5s Id were passed. Mr Rhodes asked the approximate amount of the rate, and was told that it would he a penny on the unimproved value and a harbour rate of three-fifths.

In reply to a question, the Clerk said the capital value of the county was £2.716,415; and one the unimproved values, £2,267,682. Last year r,ho capital value was £2,474,535. The gross income of the Council this year was £12,000. Last year it was £10,347, with an expenditure of £9069.

From the Council’s solicitor re the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board rate, advising that the Council could either pay its contribution out of its ordinary funds or levy a special rate. Received,

The Chairman gave notice _ of motion that a motion at last meeting. “ That the accounts be readjusted and allocated to ridings,” be revoked. The Chairman said that since last meeting there lud been movements to cut off parts of the county, and in the meantime it would be better left as at present. If the Paroora Riding succeeded, a commission would likely be set up to readjust the accounts of the county.

Mr Rhodes seconded the motion, which was put and carried. The estimates were then taken in hand.

Mr Breraner having completed twelve months in the Council’s employ, asked for an increase of salary. He was not able to pay travelling expenses and keep horses on the salary. The Council considered the matter in commbtee.

It was decided to grant Mr Breraner an increase of £SO per year, the Council expressing its appreciation of the Engineer’s work. Mr Lyall brought up the case of contractors at St. Andrews who, through some misunderstanding, had had to go over their work tsvice. After the matter had been discussed and the circumstances explained, it was decided to grant dll, this to form no precedent. Mr Rhodes considered that they could not abide by the estimates put in by the Engineer, and there would always be items cropping up. Mr Walker thought the estimates would be a valuable aid in carrying out the works. It was decided to consider the estimates seriatim. In regard to Upper Pareora and Lower Pareora ridings and Otaiobridge, members thought no action should bo taken in regard to them until the agitation for severance was settled.

Mr El worthy would like to see the White Rock bridges done at once. It was decided that no action bo taken at present. It was stated that the rate on the county, unimproved value, was £d, b.inging in £10,731, and the harbour rate 8-sths. Notice was given that at the Council meeting onJJuly 31st a g naral rate of and 3-lOchs of a penny on the Harbour Board district would be struck. TINDERS. Tenders for carting and blacksmithing work were left to the Engineer to accept the lowest tender. In reply to Mr Studholme, the Engineer said the plans for the extension of Skovington’s road bad not yet been prepared.

OVERSEERS REPORT,

The Overseer's report was read as follows :

Upper Pareora Riding.—Pending the Council dealing with tho estimates, no fresh contracts had been prepared. Lower Pareora Riding.—The middle road metalling had beep carried through quickly, and the defective drainage main south road had been rectified. The obstruction to D. Beil’s frontage had not, a week ago, been removed.

It was decided to send notice to Mr Bell to clear obstructions.

Otaio Ruling. The improvements to the road formation on this line had been finished, and the team was metalling the cutting. It was proposed to shift the men to the Esk Valley road, and other lines in that locality, and it was hoped during the next month to attend to Mr Martin’s application. Makikihi Riding.—Steffen’s and O’Brien’s roads had been satisfactory. Tho boulder stone fords, constructed in the waterways of tho Makikihi river crossing were finished, and considerable lengths of the main south road were surface drained, including the Makikihi township, while the teams were in tho locality. Estimates were prepared of the r iad improvements asked for by Mr P. Quinn. This could not be done at present until the fences, now in tho centre of the road reserve, had been shifted to proper position. It was decided to write to Mr Philips to remove fences on tho Makikihi back road.

Deep Creek Riding. Parker’s bush road was completed, and Clarke’s joad almost finished. The estimates of Messrs Costello and Cromins’application were put in. Labour would shortly bo engaged in cleaning out and deepening the creek near Hannatoa settlement, in accordance with Mr Hopkins’ appliiatiun. ■Through fcho partial failure of the old beams of the Wairnate creek bridge, on the main south road-, it was necessaryto close it against heavy traffic. this goes along Kuottingly park road line. The defect on O’Brien’s road —alluded to by Mr Walker—had received attention, and the other matter he referred to (drainage of Timaru road) would be attended to when the obstructing gorse had been cleared. Waihao Riding.—Works at Buchanan’s, Serpentine Valley, Mount Harris, and Pike’s Point roads were almost finished. Through some misunderstanding, the gravelling of Waitaki main road was started at the wrong point, but the error was rectified shortly after. Hentridgo’s complaint bad been examined, and beyond the unfinished state of the new railway crossing at Glenavy there was nothing the Railway Department had done to which the Council could reasonably take objection. Metcalf’s objection had been attended to, and the contractor for Delacgy’s road would only proceed conditionally on his receiving double his tender. The work would be let privately. Mr H. R. Parker jasked for certain improvements to the road leading to his house. There were accrued thirds to his credit.

Left in the hands of the Engineer to write to the Railway Department re its crossing.

||Mr Parker’s application was granted. Hakatararaea Riding.—The middle road metalling was not far ahead, progress being hindered by want of suitable appliances for working the gravel-pit. These were supplied from Council's plant o further the work. He reminded the Council of the necessary orders for dealing with gorse cases. He attached a list of properties from which trees overshadowed the roads.

It was decided to draw the

attention of owners of overshadowing trees to the Act. Mr Douglas asked for two months’ leave of absence, as he was going to Australia on July sth, The request was granted unanimously. It was decided to send to the Lands Department an estimate prepared by the Engineer of works rendered necessary by the close settlement at Waikakahi, asking the Government to provide two-thirds oft he cost.