Waimate County Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 288, 27 November 1902, Page 2

Waimate County Council.

The monthly meeting of the Waimate County Council was held yesterday, Messrs R. H. Rhodes, W. J. Hardie, G. Lyall, A. Walker, D. Macfarlane, P. Studholme and J. Breen being present. Mr Rhodes was voted to the chair until the annual meeting at midday. Correspondence was read : From J. F. Douglas, resigning his position as member of the Council, owing to dissatisfaction having been expressed at the small majority he had at the recent election.

ENGINEER’S REPORP. The Engineer reported cn the work of the past month as follows : Upper Pareora Riding—Negotiations were being made for prices and patterns of bridges suitable for Cannington, and if funds were available these could be gone on with shortly Lower Pareora—The old Bluecliffs tSfkd contract had been alt red as ordered 0) the Council, but the quantity of metal Jwas inadequate for the length of The work on the Pareora Middle Road had been delayed in the start. Otaio—The temporary shortage of materials at the Otaio Bridge for a few days allowed of four other small bridges being renewed. The material for these came from the old Hook and Otaio bridges. The piles for the protection of the southern piers of the Otaio Bridge could not he got in the colony, so shorter ones were used, protected by boulder and netting work. The Tavistock stock bridge had been completed. Makikihi—Hat tray’s Road contract waa finished, and the drainage works near Mrs Smith’s would be done in a fortnight. The Seafield Farm Road would be open in a week. There proved to be another side to P. Quinn’s story re the drainage, and the Engineer asked time tclook into tho matter before any action was taken.

Deep Creek—Estimates fcr repairs on Parker’s Bush Road and for b-.idging the Willowbridge Creek. The contractor for the North Bush Road bridge found he had made a mistake and the contract was cancelled. A temporary platform had been erected. The Commissioner for Crown Lands would not agree to the proposed road deviation at Eapua and the Council should consider the expediency of taking the land under the Public Works Act or of abandoning the proposal. The Engineer had made a cursory examination of the boundaries of the settlement in connection with the settlers’ petition to divert the drainage of the flats along the reserve. The assumption that the Councils drainage system unduly injured their land by discharging drainage thereon which otherwise would flow along the road was quite incorrect. The road drainage wag not calculated to divert any water from its natural channel. The flooding of the settlement was solely due to its natural position in relation to the surrounding 'ands. Some amelioration might be given by a scheme of intercepting drainage along the base of the hills diverting a large proportion of water through the properties of Messrs Wall and Perry. This, of course, was outside the Council’s jurisdiction.

Waihao—McCulloch’s Road contract was finished. The work cn the Waihao bridge to Morven road was proceeding slowly. A tender had been accepted for Wain’s road fencing and the work commenced. The Waihao crossing leading to McCulloch’s house had been attended to temporarily and estimates were submitted for a permanent crossing there.

Hakataramea—The Council’s team were making metal repairs on the main line to Deep Creek corner and had remodelled the road formation to the rabbit gate. They would later proceed to Dalgety's. The permanent men were working on the main and C iff roads during the month. A supply of ironbark timber was required. A number of hod owners were allowing gorse to grow on their road frontages.

The Engineer’s report was considered in detail.

Mr Walker urged the metalling of Parker’s Bush road as it was

impassable now. It was decide to do the work. The Willow Bridge Creek bridge was discussed. Mr Walker said tie ford was excellent and no bridge was necessary, The proposed deviation of the road to allow of doing away with the steep pinch going up from the Gorge towards Waihao Forks was not agreed to by the Lands Department, who did not wish to take away the only piece of high land Mr Thyne had. Mr Walker pointed out that thare was a good road there now and no one had applied for this work. It would be a waste of money to go on with it. Messrs Walker, Hardie and Studholme were appointed a committee to look into this matter and report at next meeting. It was decided to carry out the work asked for by Mr J. McCulloch. Mr Scales’ application for work

Mr Scales’ application for work on the Maori Settlement road was supported by Mr Walker and the work is to be done.

The Engineer was authorised to get the ironbark timber required. The offenders against the gorse on roads by-law are to be proceeded against. The report was adopted.

The matter of Quinn’s application to lift a culvert on the swamp road was held over, the Engineer to look into the matter.

From Mr Bruce and others asking that a road be opened from Bradshaw’s road to the Waihao river. Mr Walker said the road asked for would be expensive and as it was subject to flood it would be liable to be washed away. The river bed offered a road for stock for the bulk of the year and very little advantage was to be gained by this road. The application should be forwarded to the Public Works Department. The application was not acceded to.

From Mr Douglas, suggesting that the Borough Sanitary Inspector should be retained by the Council for a radius of a mile and a half round the borough. The Health Officer had advised this, and he had appointed J. Ravenhall temporarily. J. Ravenhall reported all the places visited clean. He had fumigated several houses. He reported a cess-pit near the Tiraaru Road. Mr Rhodes said he did not understand the exact duties of the Council in health matters.

E, George wrote accepting the position of Inspector of Nuisances for Deep Creek. He reported that the distiict was in good sanitary order.

Mr Cochrane stated that there were some 25 to 30 cases of scarletina in the county, mostly near town. A long discussion took place on the sanitary question and it was finally decided that the thn e rangers should be sanitary inspectors. The members of the ridings in which any infectious cases occurred are to instruct the inspectors what steps are to be taken, and the latter are to bo paid extra for the time occupied in the special work. TENDERS. The following tenders were re-c ceived : Contract 431, Fox’s Beach Road —R. White, £32 10s (accepted); R. Campbell, £4l 2s 6d. Contract 432, Pleasant Valley Road—R. White, £133 12s 3d (accepted). Contract 433, Ryan’s Road R. Campbell, £l3O 14s lOd (accepted). Contract 431, Willowbridge Road —R. White, £39 18s 4d (accepte)d. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows. From G. Duke, stating that the .boundaries of the gravel pit in his place were not in accordance with his proposal. —The former decision of the Council was adhered to. From J. M. Ritchie, asking tor repairs to the AVhite Rock-Canning ton road.— Engineer to report. From Studholme Junction I Creamery Co., asking the Council . to let off the stagnant water near! the creamery. —The Engineer! thought filling up was the only! method of dealing with the matter, I but he would look into it. I From the Receiver of Land Rev-1 enue, enclosing £409 accrued thirds I and fourths. I From Messrs Washburn and Garner, asking for the closing of Clement’s Road. —It was decided that Messrs Studholme, Breen and the other member for Waihao I should be a committee to look into j the matter. The rangers reported as follows: — E. T. George had impounded 75 head horses and cattle during the month; H. Cameron, 5 cattle; he wished to know if he could impoundl cattle in Kurow pound ; H. Dodd, 23 head. I Mr Lyall said that the ranger for Pareora was not doing his work well. A great number of cattle and horses were on the roads near St Andrews. . From R. Cameron, asking tor work to be done on Skevington’s road.—This will be gone on with as soon as the Government grant, which has been applied for, comes to hand. , From 7j. T. Cousins, asking foil the water tables on Princes street! to be cleaned out, the up! and the big stones to be Broken.—j The Engineer is to report. General accounts arnountmg tffl £2002 4s were passed for payment and £2O to Messrs Tobin and Dillon for water race work.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual making of fcl

Council was then held, Mr G. V Cochrane presiding. Mr Rhodes was elected chairman on the motion of Messrs ? Hardie and Lyall. Mr Rhodes returned thanks for J his election. He hoped the good i feeling of the past would be co,n- ---! tinned. He welcomed Messrs Me--1 Farlane, Breen and Studholme, the • new members of the Council. ! The Rev G. Barclay was reelected the Council’s representative on the Tirnaru High School Board. Messrs Walker, Studholme, Hardie, Breen and the member) who is elected for Waihao, were) appointed to represent the Council on the Waimate Hospital Board. Mr P. Studholme was elected along with Mr Coltnmn,the Borough nominee, to represent Waimate on the South Canterbury Hospital Board. i The last Wednesday in the (j I month was fixed as the meeting 1 day. The next meeting will be on j December 17. I The ordinary meeeting was then { resumed. | The small birds question was discussed and the same payments for heads and eggs is to be made as paid last year. Mr Rhodes stated that lie recently saw a bird-catching machine which cost £l. Ho thought they should get one to see if it was any good or not. It was decided to get one as an experiment. Mr Walker offered to take the bird net the Council got several years ago, and make experiments with it. A letter was read from P. Connell informing them that he had met with a serious accident while in the Council’s employ. He had been in the Dunedin hospital for eight weeks and he asked for compensation.

Mr Walker said that notice of the accident had not been sent in soon enough to recover any compensation. The Council should find some employment, as they could not pay him compensation. Mr Breen urged that Connell should be given employment.

Mr Connell waited on the Council with reference to this matter.

Mr McFarlane was of opinion that they should not pay any com pensation as it would establish a bad precedent.—lt was decided to find Mr Connell permanent employment if the Engineer found him suitable. It was decided to ask Mr Ross to take charge of the water races until next meeting, when applications will be called for a paid supervisor.