County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 236, 31 July 1902, Page 3

County Council.

The monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present—Messrs J. F. Dougl»s (chair), and Milne, Rhodes, Ross, Hardie and Lyall. Apologies were received from Mes?rs Studholme and Walker. The minutes of the last special and ordinary meetings were read. Mr Rhodes objected that the minutes were not quite correct- He had not been nreaent when the Harbour Board late waß struck, and there was no note of his retiring from the room. This should always be done. The minutes were confirmed. Mr Isaac Adams waited on the Council . and complained that the drainage of a \ cnispool was going into his well (Main \ South Road), and asking that something be done. _ . . It was decided to ask Dr. Barclay to inspect and report. The following was the Enginmr's Repobt. Upper Pareora riding. The surfaoew\n, with two extra teams, had finished milling in Pareora Gorge, Cragmore and Little River roads, and was now engaged between Pareora homestead and the fonekiln. having to go from thence lo Gordon's Valley. , .. Lower P%i*ora. In the matter of Mr Holder's comjlaint that traffic along the roadside width. wa« damaging his fencing, permission was given him to alter the trauk so aa h clear rt of the fence line. He also asktd the Council to metal thirty chains of roa4 leading to Kinross farm. This would be expensi.e unless metal were procurable nearer than the Council's reserve, three miles off. There *a* svidenoe of gravel in low terraces about a quarter of a mile from the proposed work, but it was on private property and would first have to be examined as to quality aad quantity available. Authority had wen issued bv the Department of Roadb to spend £lO in urgent repairs on Pareora No. 2 Road, near Mr Hmithson's propwty, and arrangements had been made to put the work in band. . , Otaio Riding. The committee appointed to visit Sandy Ford went over the ground on the 16th inst., and carefuUy Lamined the locality and ditvamdthe robieofc with the settlers appointed to St them. Their were embodied in ft separate report Repairs were being made to the ford was beS Riven effect to. The fencing oU Swa 3 ; along the Makikihi river, on Mr Harris s frontage was finished, and the gone and other rubbish cleared off between theMroadjnd railway bridge. SubsUntial protective works were Icing built £ ™"°™ lower crossings of the H?ok river, to prevent the current paging the road fines approaching the different fords. The crossing on the Main South Road had been extended, and an apron b tit to receive the overflow of the, flood wate in the South Channel. Th. Oonnpil teams were remodelling the Sherwo-d ro.d, and extra lab w wo-ild Deep Creek. During the month the

i contracts on S irtilnn J > ••'ion ro-d----and Waimate ssoutli ltwi w..iv >■. •■■ pleted. A contract, f r thd ex- usioii of the footpath on Timaru Koa.l ha i been called lor. The drains connected with Hannaton settlement roads had been finished, and other works sanctioned would be put in hand as soon as possible. Th" supplies of metal lodged at H-mnaton bridge had been utilised* for urgent repairs, but the quantity was insufficient -to complete much important work, th« material for which would need to be hauled a distance at considerable expense. The drainage about Bishop's land in Painstown and improvements to Page's property braßch road had been attended to, and both lines materially improved by the work done. He suggested that the dilapidated cart bridge on Knottingly Park road be dismantled and an open ford substituted. Waihao. The contract for Dog Kennel Creek road would be finished in August. Mettaling at Pentland Hills (Gardner's application) was oompleted, a* were repairs and improvements to Mr Harris road (Orbell's application). The teams were transferred to the Gorge to do necessary repairs. Estimates were handed in for works applied for by Messrs J. Ryan, Alex. Brown, J. Foster, and Tavendale. Mr Gaarder, through whose land the proposed alterations to give access to Mr Wain's run wou'd be made, had offerel to onc-de the necessary land subject to all c>st3 b ing l>.>rne by the Council. A cursory examination of the ground about the Morven railw iy station, which was flooded las- m>nh, was made. A natural escape for th« flood waters had been clo-ed by the construction of the railway. If representations were made to the Railway Department something might be dune. Mr Meehan's application for gravelling the footpath had been attended to. Hakataramea. The surfaceman with teams and men had been engaged during the month constructing protective works I about the Htki Downs b idge and co-npleted a 3 far as possible. In sunnier it was proposed to further strengthen them with netting and boulders. The sale of the Council's engine was effected last month to Mr Ruddenklau at the pric<: fixed by th". Council. Plans were forwarded to the Department of Roids for the expenditure of the following Government grants, and further communication made to the district regarding the Otaio Riding and other important workß—Hook Bridge repairs, Pareora middle road ; Waihao Bridge repairs, Waihao Bridge. The revised road maintenance estimates and other items of provided expaneituie for the current ye»r were, submitted. The Engineer's report was adopted. The Engineer was granted a week's holiday to allow him to go to Wellington. CORKESAONDENCE. An application by W Donoghue to be allowed to out down half a dozen pine trees on the Paeora Estate road, near his property, was not entertained. An application from Mr R. Allen for metallir g from Waihao River bridge was held over in she absence of Mr Walker, i

Mrs Thomas Smith asked tor repairs to the Swamp Road, Makikihi, and also to the Hook Valley Road.—Engineer to report. The South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid 13oard wrote asking for statement of capital value of ndingo. The Clerk had replied, and his action was approved. The Clerk of the Ger-ildine County Council forwarded a resolution passed by that body in the direction of repealing that portion of the tublic Works Act dealing with converging traffic as causing unnecessary friction and expense out of proportion to tho pro Qt. They asked that the Waimate Council support an appeal to Parliament. It was decided that in the opinion of this Council section 8 of the Public Works Act should be repealed without delay, as being unnecessary, mischievous, and calculated to increase irritation and litigation between public bodies without any commensurate advantage. Copies of this resolution to be forwarded to members of the House and all County Councils. Also, that this Council declines to recognise the claims of the Levels County in respect to converging traffic, on the grounds that they are both inequitable and illegal, and it will contest them further at the proper time. The Department of Land . and Survey, Christehurch, asked if the Council had agreed to the position of gravel reserve on Mr Duke's property, Morven, or would they require acre for acre.—Left to Mr Bremner to enquire and reply. The Waimate Technical Classes Association asked that a member of the Council be appointed to the B .ad.—To be brought up next meeting. The Department of Roads, Wellington, declined to allow any grant towards maintaining the road to the Hakataramea fish hatchery.—Received. Several ratepayers' rates were remitted on aocount of poverty. The Timaru Harbour Board stated that the levy in this county tor current yeir shou'd have been based on the statement of values supplied, and asking that the difference be included.—Legal opinion to be obtained and the Harbour Board advised accordingly. Mr R 6. Baxter, lessee of Knottir.gly Park, wrote forwarding cheque for £4 8* 3d under protest. He was charged o> the whole park, whereas he had only the occupation of a portion of it, and he asked the Council to see justice done to him. . , It was stated that the Domain Board was held t-> be not liable for the rates. It was felt that the rates were too high, and it was decided to obtain legal opinion as to whether the amount could be refunded. Mr John Morris and others asked for a footbridge over the road near his property.—Two planks to ba supplied. The Railway Department wrote agreeing to allow drainage of Mr Buckingham's property through railway line if the work was done under supervision of the railway ganger and no nuisance created by sewage.—Conditions accspted. Mr Harold Studholme asked to have the road to Mr Beckett's proparty repaired, and itated that he would hold the Council responsible for any accidents through the bad state of the road.— Clerk to advertise that the road is unsife for traffic. , Messrs C F. and P. Lundon applied for renewal of their slaughter licenses.—Approved. The auditor's report snowel that i certain vouchers for small birds' eggs nad not been rtceived from councillors He asked that it be impressed on councillors the necessity of handing in all vouchers.—Received. ' The Sanitary Inspector's report showed everything to be satisfactory. A circular from the Veterans' Home Committee was received. The North Otago Dairy Company asked that a oulvert be put across the road at Studholme oreamery.— Engineer to report. ~ It was decided that an application from Mr Aroh. Shearer for a road line from Brick Kiln Road, Waihao Downs, and Shearer's Hill could not be attended ta unless a Government grant waa j obtained. The Hon W J Steward wrote that he would see Mr Duncan on the subject of re-soheduling the appropriation of the grant of £ISOO tor bridges and advise results. Mr J Carroll, Glenavy, wrot9 asking for repairs to road near his house and a culvert over gully. Engineer to report. Mr Jiß Kennedy asked that a plant be placed across tho creek at Mr Cleal's on road from Morven to Gienavy Agreed The Hqu W J Steward enclosed explanation of Takitu road grant. This, from Mr Hursthouse, showed that £250

was paid over ami ' e road smveyor had 11 -en instructed to confer with the Waimate County as to what work hoald be done with the gr nt. Received. The Land* D:>p*rtment wrote agreeing to theexpenlritu . of fourths am •untnig to £366 on a bridge to Mr Macf.uline's run, Hakataramea. The Da.)artmdntof Roads, Wellington, asked if the Council, in asking authority to expend money on repairs to Otaio bridge, had overlooked the agreement of April, which sanctioned this. It was decided to write and ask if fresh agreements could be provided for at the earliest possible moment.

The Department of Roads and Survey, Chriitchurch, wrots that the Minister of Lands could not see his way to grant the Council's request that the amount already expended by it before receiving the Government grant on Waihao bridge to Morven, be paid to Council.

The Waibaki Settlement School applied for permission to use the gravel reserve as a play ground and also drew attention to the state of the culvert on the Ferry road, which in web weather prevented the children going to school. The first request was granted, the Engineer to inspect the culvert. Thß Treasury Department notified that the balance of Takitu road grant was passed. Mr H B Bell, St Andrews, asked for repairs to road from Gjrdon's Gully. Being attended to. Mr Rhodes sail that some tirre ago a petition htd been sent round and signatures obtained asking that a telephone service be ini iated between Fimaru and Oimaru and Waimate. This was sent to Major Steward and since then nothing had been he ird of it. He would move that a letter be sent to Major Steward asking him for an explanation of this.

Mr Rhodes' suggestion was adopted. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Douglas " That this Council wishes to pl>ce on recDrd its high appreciation of th-) eminent military services rendered to the Empire by General Lord Kitchener in Sout.h Afric* and its admiration of the firm and humane conduct of the war by him under exceptionally trying and irksome circumstances, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrß Henry Parker, Lord Kitchener's sister, with the Councils congratulations upon the successful issue of the war under her distinguished brother's direction." A general rate of seven-eighths of 1 penny in the £ and a Harbour Board rate of in the £ were struck. Accounts am mnting to £I3OO 15a 5d were parsed for payment. TENDERS. Tontract No. 33, R Campbell £47 6i 101 (accepted), R White £55 15s 6d. Small goods carting, H V Chatterton (accepted) Blacksmithing, F. J. Maindonald. WAIMATE HOSPITAL. Mr Douglas said the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and Waimate Hospital Trustees met on Monday to discuss the question of separating, and the Board decidsd t? accept nothing further north thin Makikihi River? This would mean a considerably increased rate and he would like to hiV'j the Council's opinion on the mittar.

Mr Rhodes said it vm impossibe to speak on the matter without figures, The Waimate Hospital Trustees said that Waimate sent mire to Timvru thin it eent back, proving tint Waimate Hospital was run cheaper than Timaru Hospital. The County should stick to the Waimate Hospi'al. Mr Htidie did not believe conferences did mujh, but would ra'her rely on the returns of both hospitals, showing the patients came from This would require a Commission. It was carried, on the motion of Mr Douglas " That the Hospital Board be advised to oppose the boundary being made tho Makikihi River.

The following tenders were received for the posit ion of ranger and dog tax collector :—Hakataramea, Rugh Cameron, £1 per mon'h and 6J per collar ; Otaio, J Dodd, £3 per month »nd 6d per collar ; Duep (Jraek, E. T. George, £2 17s 6d per month and 6d per collar. All were r'coept'd. A letter was receivad from Mr M. Leonard, in regard to the refund of £ll 5* labour and £5 deposit forfeited some three years ago when ne threw up the contract of cleaning the races. Mr Leonard waited on the Council in Biipport of his application. He had with his son worked morning and night clearing the as best he could. The committee then not, being satisfied put on men at his own expense, cut the subsoil, and there was no water available for six months. Mr Rhodes had advised him to resign and he had had the monay deducted from his pay. Mr Ross said the nvin had not received fair treatment. Mr Rhodes said it was three years asjo and he could not remember the circumstances, and he might have advised the man that his best plan was to resign, but no further. Mr R>ss said the man was wanted everywhere at once to gat him flustered. The committee put on frien Is of their own at Leonard's expense. He gave notice of motion for next meeting that Leonard's depostt be returned. DEPUTATION. A deputat'on consisting of Messrs Barnett, Callaghan and Brown waited on the Oounoil to point out certain anomalies in the rating on Waikakohi. They offered to supply each member with a copy of their arguments and figures. Mr Callaghan a9ked that if the rating on capital value could not bi given that the land be classified, as was done in other places. Some 16 or 17 of them paid one-third of the rates, and if they let the races as one contraot they would have to piy one-third of thW. He asked that they be charged per chain, or allowed to clean out their own raoea. H<j thought there were 110 miles of races on Waikakahi. The chairman thanked the deputation tor thbir information and promised that every attention would be given their oase. This was all the busineas, and the Council adjourned.