County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 183, 1 August 1901, Page 3

County Council.

The usual monthly meeting ■took place yesterday * present— Messrs R. H. Rhodes (acting •chairman), in the chair, and Lyall, Hardie, Ross, Studholme Milne. The "minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were ■read and confirmed; CORRESPONDENCE. Major Steward, M.H.R., wrote enclosing a letter from the; Minister of Lands, who, in reference to an application for money; ■towards improving roads and, bridges in the Waikakahi and; Pareora settlements, stated that! Jthe Government did not see its | way -to provide on the 'estimates this year more than sufficient to •cover -a subsidy of £1 for £1 towards cost of repairing and; strengthening the bridges which : •the County Engineer estimated would cost £2BOO. As regards 3Cipna drain, the mat • "4 under negotiation with the Railway Department, who, it was ■feared, would object to more water being concentrated in their •drain unless expensive works wore made to secure the railway. Major Steward advised that the ‘OouncU should accept this offer. He hud protested against no provision being made for road works •except for Skevington’s, for which « re-vote of £250 would probably ib, made. Ho asked that the most ’urgent of the road works should be picked out, and he would endeavour to get provision ■made for them. From the Lands and Survey Department, re names of streams "objected to by the Council, stating ithat the names were the original ■native ones and could not be •changed. The Waikakahi Settlers Association asked for plans of Dogkennel Greek read, and grade of proposed alteration, and also what •the council intended to do with regard to expense of the road deviations. The chairman wanted to know lho*v the association was constituted. Mr Ross said they were the settlers of the district. He would suggest -that the association be Written to stating that plans were £u the office, bntconld not be sent away from it. It was decided to inform them •that plans and full particulars: were already in the hands of the Crown Lands Department. Prom the {Geraldine -County approving of the movement te form a Counties’ Union.: —Held over.

Prom the Mackenzie County ’Council, asking for rates collected mu Black Forest, Holdon and Grampian stations, on the grounds that the greater part of these raua 'was in Mackenzie county, which •rec ived nearly all the traffic, -It was decided to offer half the rates and half the Government ■•subsidy. From the Department of Agriculture, asking for list of applica for slaughtering licenses. List had be;n» sent.

From the Health Department, •Stating that health officers had Hut yet been appointed, on ■account of pressure of other work, but this and an inspection •of the district would be done n.

It was decided to write .-to Major Steward, asking him to *trv and get a health officer Appointed at once. From the District Surveyor, '•asking leave to shift a race which was flooding the Dog-kennel Creek road.

Permission granted,. From Mr T, Hanley, Glenavy, •declining to pay part cost of, ■draining Whitney’s creek, al-, though being prepared to drain his own portion. A resolution previously pissed stated that the work would ty>t he gone on/with until eight men had paid their proportion of onethird of the cost. Mr Bess gave notice of motion that the work begone on with on payment by eix settlers above the dam* _ From the &dlway Department, that they intended to build a

telephone-box at the ■ back of the St. Andrews station, and asking leave to encroach four feet ou the toad.

Request granted. 1 From the New Zealand Conn* ties Association, acknowledging the Council's suggested alterations in the Local Autuorities Bill. _ _ , , „ From. Mr John Ford, Hedcliff, asking permission to lead the race into his section and back again. Mr Rosa was of opinion that a pipe and tap would he sufficient. Supervisor to report. Prom .Mr G. A. Morris* St. Andrews, asking the Council to lower pipes across, the roaddine hp-i- his property. - /U-wed under conditions dra\s a up by the Engineer. From the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, askiug for the Council’s contribution to the Board. .. It was decided to call tenders for insuring the OondcU'e employees under the .workmens Compensation tot' Accidents Act. Fr.;m several residents on the toad between Shearer's Hill and

Elephant Hill, asking that it be formed.—Engineer to report, From Major Steward, M.H.R, asking that a report on Kapua drain be forwarded as soon as possible. . .

From Mr 0. McLachlan, asking for repairs to road past Parker’s Bush, To be done when available. Accounts amounting to £2655 6s 2d were passed. It was resolved that the county rate be |d in the £, and the Harbour rate 3-10 d in the £. SHALL BIRDS. Mr Rhodes’ notice of motion was then taken, ** That the resolution of May 29th, re buying old birds' heads be rescinded, and that poisoned grain be distributed free on application." Speaking to the motion, Mr Rhodes said that since passing the resolution only one do&en heads had come in. They should revert to their ’ practice of buying eggs and heads in the season only. ,

Mr Stadholme said the’ birds were worse now than ever, and some decisive steps should ■be taken, while the cold Weather lasted. They might send round a man to distribute the poison at the places where the birds wore most numerous. This course had formerly been followed, but of late had been discontinued.

Mr Hyall supported this view. Something must be done to check the, past. The chairman said it would take an army bf men to systematically lay poison over the country. He thought it enough to distribute the grain f«»e of cost. It then rested with the farmer to take fall advantage of its use. It Was decided that the Connell officials do ail necessary to distribute poisoned grain through the county, and that it be obtainable from the County clerk, Waimate. The hour of meeting of the Finance Committee was changed to 9.30. a.m. on the day before the meeting. Mr Hamilton, County solicitor, gave his opinion on the right of access o! the public to riverbeds, as asked for at last meeting. He said that by sections 241 and 242 of the Public Works Act, 1894, every natural water course. Stream and river not navigable, is placed, for purposes connected with drainage, under the control of the Council of the county in which it is. The Council has the powers contained in section 246. including amongst, those power to keep drain (which includes every passage or channel, through which water flows) clean or in good repair, and to remove obstructions to the flow of water therein. The ownership of the watercourse, however, remains vested i« the Crown, and its powers in respect thereto, subject to the right of the County Council, Will still remain. He Understood that the CroWn does in fact lease the riverbeds. The water-courses are not thoroughfares like roads, and the vesting of their control for drainage purposes in the County Council will not have the effect of giving the public right of thoroughfare, OOKSIS ON ROADS. After the luncheon adjournment, the question of clearing gorse from roads was taken. It was decided to take action against several persons, under a form approved by the Council's solicitor. The committee appointed to draw up duties of Waihao water* race district supervisor presented their schedule.

It was resolved to call applications for a supervisor for the Waihao Water-race district, Mr St ad hoi me asked to have a few chains of metalling done on road east of D j ep Greek station. Engineer to be instructed to try and procure a suitable gravel reserve, between the Waihao and the Hook, whence work could.be done,

It was decided to have obstructions to road near - -Mr D. Bell’s, St. Andrews, removed. The engineer was instructed to privately let. part of the road repairing hear Mr Deakin’s, Glarkeafleld, as no tenders had been received, ’ , ovkrs wan'd aepca'ft, ’ Upper and. Lower Paremra Bidjbgq,-r-Small works in these tidings are proceeding astisfsotorily. j Otaip Biding—Caasie'e toad was almost finished. Estimates *er« given of Martin’s application, vhioh meant acquiring a new connection between Thompson’s boundary through Skinrtef's to a junotioo at Hamilton’s. The work Would be difficult and expensive. A sub committee was loaned to Visit and report.

Makikihi Riding—Th« draining and other improvements on tteddes’ road were&aiahed. Re Quinn’s application, the Survey Inspector said the fence would soon be removed. Metalling repairs near Merry V and Child** Would be put in band next week. Deep Creak Riding—During the month Clarke’s toad, OremiUin’s formation and cleaning and deepening on the drain at Han -aton had been completed. A email oontraot Wonld be arranged for making necessary repairs to the Waimate Creek bridge on south ro<d. RatimatSs Were given of the Coat of repairs on the Hannaton branoh road. . Waibao Riding—Pike’s Point back line and the contract, on the main road were almost completed. MoIVoU railway station road was in band, although retarded by the rain*, and the damage resulting from heavy grain traffic on narrow tiled oart*. Hhe Railway Department had promised to give Itoutridgo’s complaint their early attention. * The grader had been used daring the month, and bad been of g-e*t fcMitlanoo in Uveurabls ground.

Hakataramea Ri sing—The heavy frost* had interrupted ebme of the road works, and they would be held oter till Spring, The Middle Road con tract was completed. Estimates had been made of cost of bridging the Waitaki river at the altema*iive sites suggested by the settlers.' Bepresentation* tor a abort road- deviation had since, received the sanction of the Chief Surveyor.- These works Would bs put in hand before the wool carting. It was decided to forward estimates fpr bridging the Waitaki to various settlers.