Waimate County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 248, 28 August 1902, Page 3

Waimate County Council.

The monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present Messrs J. F. Douglas (chair), Lyall, Hardie, Walker, Ross, Rhod-s, Studholme and Milne. The minutes of previous meeting were real and confirmed.

Before commencing the business the chairman said that owing to the alteration in the railway time table they had great difficulty in gutting through their work. He suggested that a committee be form* d to g» through the correspondence on the previous day and only their endorsement be read. This would enable them to have a great deal more time to devote to the more important correspondence. The suggestion was adopted, the looal members to compose the committee and deal with all correspondence in before 2 p.m. on the day before the meeting. engineer's report. The Engineer's report wai read as follows : Upper Pareora—An inspection of the roads leading to Sqnire's run was made and particulars of the estimated cost of opening up the line with an Bft. cutting was givenJ Subjtantial surface repairs had been! made on the station and Gordon's Valley roads and similar work was being* done along the main back line. |

Lower Hareora Riding -Surface repairs had been made on the middle, Kinross' and Davidson's toads, a total length of chains! being dealt with since last meeting. \

Ouio Riding—A further authority has been issued for £5 to complete the urgent repairs to Brodericks cutting. Instructions had been given to make the necessary road connection over the Otaio river bed between the two pieces of fermafcion reoently completed. A good permanent ford had been made and metalled on the Tavistock creek crossing of the main South Ro»d. Stone had been laid to make a breastwork to preserve the level of the oreek bed and men were to start at once building it. Daledew's road was completed. Proper provision had been made for discharging the creek crossing the main back line north of the Hunter. This would prevent the scouring of the approaoh to Peter's creek forde, which always sustained castly damages duriog flood time.

Makikihi Riding—Permission obtained from the manager of Johnston's estate to drain the road through the property was cancelled after the work was well in hand, and the expenditure wai therefor* wasted. It now only remained for the Council to await the subsidence of the water, make culvert provision, and bank across ihe hollows, leaving the adjacent owners to deal with the flooding as they may decide best in their own interest!. Estimates were supplied of the cost of works applied for on the Hook school branch road, asked for by Mr 1. Smith. Before the draining on the former could ba undertaken it would be necessary for Mr Smith to have the gor«e, etc., deared a'ong the road width. The protective works on the Hook river reported on at last meeting were completed and the approaches to the various river crossings rendered secure against further flood damage. Similar works were in progress en the upper crossing near Ooosetree's. Tbe draining of Sherwood road was completed. Deep Creek Biding—Mr Qeo. Manchester's application for repairs on road near Meyers* and Jones' glaughteryards had been estimated. The question of draining the stagnant water at rear of Studhoime creamery would have to stand over till next month, when levels would be taken and terms arranged for taking the water through the lands south of the road if practicable Provisions for draining road near Bradshaw's had been given effect to. and the roads and adjoining lands relieved of the drainage. Mr J. McQimpsey'a application for road works at Kapua had received attention. During the month considerable surface repairs had been made on Hayes' Buih road, Waimate, Waihao Forks and Willowbridge roads.. The dismantling of Knottingly Park road bridge was now finished and a suitable ford area would be conducted as soon as a team was available.

Waihao Biding There had been attended to footbridges at Morrison and Hart's, also frontage at deal's, and outlet opened on Ferry road, as applied for by Waitaki School Committee. Plans bad been obtained from ihe Chief Surveyor of the survey of gravel reserve on Duke's property. An estimate was attached of works applied for by Mr J. Carroll, Glenavy. The contract at Whitney's Creek was finished and application would need to be made to the Government for a contribution towards the cost of the work. Pentland Hills and Dog Kennel roads were finished. The latter work was creditably performed and the rednotion of gradients would be appreciated by settlers. The intermediate spaces in the flooring of the Elephant Hill bridge were filled in, and small stock wer* not now liable to be caught and damaged. He had visited and examined the Waihao river bed with Mr C. Faulkner, who pointed out the bonndariei of the properties abutting it. The encroachment made during the March floods is entirely through private lands. Mr Faulkner's property was at present receiving the full force of the river and was suffering much injury. Mr Reynolds' ground, which is lower lying and of inferior quality, had been cut in two by the river bed. He advised Mr Faulkner on the subject ofthe proposed protective works a»d dirootid him where these should be placed to the greatest ad > antage. The former channel

wis entirely shoaled up and was raised five feat above the floor of the present course. To divert the water iuto the former course would be a precarious and costly undertaking, involving risks of failure and possible claim tor damage* from adjacent occupiers if successful. He estimated the probable expense of the preliminary work at £IOOO, but these works were extremely difficult to estimate, much depending on the character and exteat of the floods until the work becomes firmly established. Hakataramea Riding—The roadman in charge reported damage through grain traffio, and asked for extra assistance. A team and men'would be sent up at the beginning of next week. Qorse.—The appeal against the decision of the Magistrate's Court in the case of Mr H. Dunne was upheld in the Supreme Court, the Judge holding that under all circumstances owners are responsible for keeping their road frontages clear of gorse and other plants. A list oi Government grants was give i as follows :—Otaio briJge £530, Pareora middle ro%d £450, Hook bridge £IOO, Waihao bridge £SOO, Waihao bridge £245 ; a total of £1825. The balance of £ISOO had been re-sheduled and approved as follows by the Minister of Lands : Waimate, Waihao forks and Kapia roads £470, Skevington's road £250, Pareora No. 2 roads £250. The thanks of the Council were due to the memb r f„r the district, whose courtesy and assistance contributed largely to the success of the negotiations with t<«e Government in connection with these matters. The report was dealt with as read. CORRESPONDENCE. Mrs H. C. Parker wrote, thanking the Council for it* resolution appreciative of the work of her brother, Lord Kitchener, in South Africa.

I Mr McFarlane, Hakataramea, asked I to have the accrued fourths on S.G. runs 36389-90 expended in clearing the scrub off the roadline from Hakataramea river to these runs.—Agreed. The Department of Lands and Surrey I wrote re Waikakahi drains that complainants were making much out of very little. The only people in any way affected were Hay, Conden, and Barnett, any of whom would be able to relieve himself with a few hours' work, and with tha exoeption of Barnett, who has only a few acres affected, if any, they oreated the difficulty ycu describe them■elves, and could remove itf, though there was little to complain of. Mr J. Manchester, secretary of a meeting held at Morven to form a rivar board, forwarded a resolution "That the Waimate Council be asked if they are willing to adopt their power as a river board, and if so, on what terms, or to exerciße the powers they have now vestad in them in regard to clearing obstractiona in Waihao riverbed, and that Mesirs Faulknar, Allan, Dale, Meehan, and Bradahaw form a deputation to wait on the Council in the matter." It was decided to hold over the matter till the deputation arrived; Mr Donald McPherson, Waihao Forka, asked for a culvert opposite hit I ouse.—To be done.

j Dr Barclay reported four eases of enteric fever and one of tuberculosis at Waihao. The Hon. W. J. Steward wrote that he wa« acting with Mr Flatman in trying to gat aoction Bof the Public Werks Act, 1900, repealed—Received. Mr Flatman, M.H.R., wrote that he had placed a question on the Order Paper on the subject. Mr W. J. Black wrote that when Overseer of Waimate County he had instructed Mrs Philips to put lime in her well and fill it in about ten leet. This was done, and he was under the impression that Mr Adams was satisfied. Dr Symes had written to Dr Barclay stating that the samples of water from Mr Adam*' well would be reported on M soon as possible. The Hon. W. J. Steward wrote re the proposed Waimate-Oamaru-TimaTU telephone exchanges; He personally canvaased Oamaru and Morven, but only succeeded in obtaining four guarantors, making eighteen in all. Mr Besley, of St Andrews, said he could get others, so he had put it in Mr Besley's hands, ard had not heard since from him. If seven more guarantors were obtained the conditions required by the Department would be fulfilled.—Received. The Chief Veterinarian, Wellington, sent slaughter licenses for C. H. Besley, F. J. Lundon and Son, Meyers and Jones, R. and J. Cameron, W. Ford, J. Meehan, and D. A. Buckingham. An application frorr A. Menzies for renewal of licenee was received. From the Timaru Harbour Board, stating that the year's levy was £1867 3s lOd, and requesting prompt payment.— To be paid. Mr 0. Hobhs, Health Officer, reported that a horse insufficiently buried at Kapua had been attended to. Mr T. S. Medlicott asked that repairs be done to the water tables on the road near his property.—Overseer to report. Mr A. Martin, Otaio, asked that the side channels in the road leading from the Main South Road to his property ("The Grange") be cleaned, and that 'the embankment on the road between hil place and Mr Mollwriok's bo repaired.— Engineer to report. The South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board wrote that the levy required for the year ending March 31st was £1393 0s 4d, and that the portion now unpaid (£853 17s) be paid on December Ist. The Auditor-General sent the audited balance-sheet.

Mr D. Middleton asked for repairs to the stone wall five miles above Redcliff, and also that steps be taken to keep cattle from straying on the road.— Bangers to be asked to arrange for the cattle impounding, and the repairs to be done. The Lands and Survey Department asked for proposals re expenditure of "thirds" and "fourths." The rangers' reports Bhowed that 26 head of cattle had been impounded at Pareora and Otaio during tha month, 38 at Hakataramsa, and 21 in Waimate County, Mr A. Robinson, Mill Road, called attention to the straying of cattle on the road near his property.—Banger to be informed. ... Mr At Shirley wrote, asking that the drainage near his property, Painstown, be attended to.—Engineer to report. Messrs Mills and others, Hannaton, asked for road repair* near their property.—To" be done out of accrued thirds. : - ', Accounts* amounting to £IB3B 19s 4d were pasßed. Mr O. Studhoime was appointed to reprssent the Counoil on the Board of Managers of the Waimate Technical Classes Association. Mr Benjamin Low, Willowbridge, thanked the Counoil for the work already done on the road near his property, and asked that two low flaoes be shingled.— Engineer to report. < A long discussion took'place on a letter from Mr G. Sullivan, contractor for the Daledewroad. He had made a mistake in the plans, and had done more than was specified. After taking the whole matter into consideration, it was decided to give Mr Sullivan an additional £l7 fer the work done. _ .

On the motion of Mr Walker, seconded by Mr Boss, it wae resolved that a return be prepared for next meeting of the thirds and fourths in hand for the Government reserves and Crown lands in the Waimate County. Mr Walker asked if the Engineer would report on the cost of giving access to Mr Lindsay's property, Willowbridge. Mr Walker reported that there were very bad footpaths on the Parsonage

Paddook roada and ho a<ked that something should be done. —Engineer to report. The "brecz-j" between the chairman of the Timaru Harbour Board wa« drawn attention to. Some me nbers desired to pais a vote of approbation with Mr Manchester*

Mr Walker thought they should go further aud say that they had the fullest confidence in him as their representative.

Mr Rhodes said there were two representatives of Wainute. lb was generally thought that Mr Manchester was well able to look after himaaU, and the matter dropped. The estimates for the year were then considere 1 and adopted. The allocations for road maintenance and other works wer,e ;—Upper Pareora, £795; Lower P*r*ora, £748 ; Otaio riding, £1079; Makikihi, £721; Deep Creek, £1383 Ok lOd; Waihao, £2BBB 2i 8i ; £Uka tasammea, £587 sa; Mun South Road (general account), £1304 la—a* total of £9425 8s 61.

Mr P. Stndholme applied for leave to put a ditch along the unformed road leiding t.o Wainono lagoon.— Overseer to inspect and report. Mi Ross' motion to t evoke the reiolu ion. declining to refund Mr M. Leonard's depbiit'when determining his contract as water-race caretaker was pat and carded, and a further motion th*t the dep isit b<*. rammed w*s also carriel.

Su'-ject to leg*l opinion, E. B itt, Glen*vy, asked thu a road b'» constructed through lots 7. and 8, section'lll, Block B, Ulenavy.—Mr Ross to report. Mr A. M)Naug iton, Moryen, asked to \>b oxempted from paying maintenance rati"* on 200 acres at Waitaki, as he had a windmill there

Mr Ross said the race could not reach reach Mr McNaughton'a, and his request was granted. Messrs A. S. Williams and A. Nicol objected to payiug maintenance and interest rates, as they had only water three days in two years, and secondly, that they were turning the creek from its natural .course when it would have supplied their properties.—Mr Boss to report. Messrs A. W. Barnett, J. C. Callaghan and A. Brown, Morven, asked that each ratepayer clean out his own races or be charged at the contract price par chain, and that the land be classified, »o that they should pay only their own fair Bhare of rates. They sent figures in support of their claims, and thase it was decided to hold over till the clerk hid gone through them.

Mr D, Ross reported that Connell had oomple'ed the water-race through Mr MeCullooh's proparty and constructed 29 chains through Mr Andre**' property. He asked approval of this.—Approved.' It Was reiolvod tha,t~ work on the Gorge road be stopped till ihe Government grant was obtained. It was decided to advertne for a waterrace contractor for the Waihao distriot.