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MILLMERRAN SHIRE COUNCIL
BIONTIILY MEETING.
The Millmerran Shire Council held
the firat meeting this year on Tuesday
the 9th inst. There were present:
Councillors A. 11. Lomas, It. Crocker, A.
C. V. Bligh, R.Grieye, J. Murphy, F.
C. Golder, R. Golden, J. Coffin and G.
Mabbet, and Messrs. G. II. Simpson
(clerk) and G. Murray (foreman).
The returning oflicer submitted his
report, which was adopted.
The olerk (Mr. Simpson) taking the
chair, called for nominations for the
position of chairman.
On the motion of Councillor G. Mab
bet and it. Golden, Councillor Richard
Crocker was unanimously elected.
Councillor Crocker thanked the coun
cillors for the honor they had conferred
on him by electing him unanimously.
He would do his best and on their as
sistance and co-operation. He was
pleased* to welcote 'new councillors,
John Murphy, James Coilin and F. C.
. Golder.
. On the- motion of. Councillor. R.
" Grieve, seconded by. Councillor Bligh,
3the returning officer’s feoof 5/5/ was
.‘.recommended for. payment.: . 1
A The council then went into committee
on the .appointment of officers.The.
clerk (Mr Simpson), was re-oppointedt
za salury,of 200-per annum. It was
decided todispenso.with: the foreman’s
services, with a month’s pay, in lieu of
• notice.1 It was decided to immediately
‘purchase heroes, and complete plant for
sluro itse. Councillor Crocker was ap- .
pointed to act with Councillors Lomax
and Golden in attending' to selection
and purchase of same. It was. also de
cided to call application for n working
oversees at' a salary, of .£150 per an-2
Councillors Bligh, Golden and the .
chairman were unanimously .'appointed
a finance committee.
‘ Tho anual balance sheet showed:—
No. 1 Division/ credit, £110/2)7: No, 2
Division, debit, 489/18/4; No. 3 Divi
sion, credit, 58/10/4; leaving a total
debit of 311/17/5.’ Adopted.
Firance committee statement showing
account passed for payment to the No,
J -Division, 277/8/8; No. 2,-£189/11/3;
No. 3, £13/1/11; total,. £279/1/10/.
Adopted. - • >
It mas unanimously agreed to leave
the matter of arreatin rates- in the
. hands of the chairman and clerk.
Inward correspondence: read and dealt
with us follows:—* 63" ag
• From Toowoomba hospital,, acknow
ledging receipt-, of donation of £5/5/,
and returning thanks for same.
From Lands’ Department/ re G. Sim
. ihons’ hind exchange.—Received. •
From Lands Department, re:atreserva-.
‘ tian' of 39 acres on Mr. T. W. Caldi
cott’s property, formerly /Smith Es
tate, -for sanitary purposes.—Resolved
to expediato matter and furnish de
partment with further, iuforiatiou re
lative tlereto; .
From, the .returning officer, drawing,
attention to three ballot papers altered,
by one of tho candidates-in recent shire
elections,' this being an irregularity un
dor the Locil Authorities Act.—Council
lor F. C. Golder explained that ho" was
.. theyeandidate, and' had acted as stated
in ignoranee of the act. He hadcom
muniented. with the Home Secretary on
the matter explaining; the" position.
On the motion of Councillors Lomax
and Gohlen,it was decided to write the
Home Secretary not t'o press the matter
• on ciremmstanees, .
From Messrs, Chambers, M"Nab and.
M’Nab, solicitors, Brisbane, demanding
£5/15/ compensntion on behalf of the
Postal Department for repairs to the
telephone Hue near Kooroongarra,. dam
aged by employers of the council whilst
repairing a road.—After discussion, it
was decided to pay amount claimed.
From the Carnarvon Rabbit Board, .
re charges of neglect and desrepair of |
the rabbit fence, made by* Councillors
R. Golden and K C. Butler last year,,
and from the. Department of Lands, en
closing a report from Inspector Alex
ander Donaldson, who had inspected the
fence.—This report stated that the fence
was in good order and repair and rab
bit proof. This applied also to the
gates.' The inspector considered that
those who had complained should have
something good and substantial to sup
port them when out for fault finding.
The gates were well erected. It was
to the credit of those responsible for
the repair of the habbit fence that they
had not attempted to touch the fence
front time of complaint until time of
his inspection, was to their credit. The
complaint was absolutely, without foun
dution, and charges could not be ’ sub:
stuhtiuted. . -0*7
The: Rabbit‘Boari, referring to In
spector Donaldson's‘report inn fur
ther letter, expressed surprise that the’
councillors should have' brought such
unfounded' charges,’ and domanding pub
lic apologies for having done‘s0.
Councillor R: Golden expressed 2 as
totishment that such a report had been
received. He would not apologise and
was prepnred-tolprovo all he had said
in regard to the disrepair of said fence.
.To his knowledge, tools had been re
questioned to put the fence and gates
in order after the complaint had been
made in.this shire's interests. Inspec
tor Barrett was present at an inspec
tion, and admitted that the gates were
not rabbit proof. The fence had been
'repaired since the complaint. inspector
Donaldson‘s report will not bear inves
tigntion. Other councillors present stat
ed that they. had heard complaints from
ratepayers of disrepair.
Councillor Gohlen stated further that
not. only rabbits but dogs could pass
through the gates before the complaint
was made. :
The council decided to stand by what
has been .-written re fence, and still,
maintain that state of disrepair can bo.
proved. An apology' was thereupon out
of question. •*
Trom the Carnarvon .Rabbit Board,
asking if the’council would permit 11
feet or 12 foot gates instead of 16feet
gatesonmain roads.—The proposal was
rejected, it being considered that for
the passage of modern agricultural ma
chinery, nothing less than a 16 foot pas
sage- was advisable.
Darling Downs Rabbit Board offering
no objection to erection of a gate on
the fence providing the usual condi
tions are complied . with.—Councillor
Golden moved Unit the gate which would
onyenienee a number of selectors on No.
3 side of the fence, be erected. Coun
cillor Mabbet supported the proposal,
provided the settlers benefited defrayed
one-third cost of gate. After discus
sion, Councillor Gohlen guaranteed pay
ment of one-third, Nos. 1 and 3 Divi
sions to supply the balance required.
This was agreed to.
. From W. J. Castles, sour., stating that
he had cut and packed pear on road
enclosed in his property, and would burn
same, when advisable.—Decided to.
acknowledge receipt.
From II. W. Davis, drawing attention
to damage to his fence in portion 66,
parish, of Domville, caused by fallen
timber and fire, on F. Smith’s road con
tract.—The clerk was directed to rfe
quest Contractor Smith to, repair fence.
Permission was granted L. L. Taylor
to poison pear on road at Kooroon
An application from J. Stafford for
permission to fall timber on Scrub road,
half width, 40 chain.—Garnted, provid
ed usual conditions were adhered to.
I From T. Smith, suggesting clearing
out of M'Loughian's and Sizer’s dams,
and intimating that he was pureliasing
a plant and was prepared to carry out
the work if council so desired.—It was
decided to ask Smith for quotation for
cleaning M' Loughlan’s dam. Arrange
ments in the matter was left in the
ehairman and Councillor F. C. Golder's
hands. It was stated that Sizer’s dam j
was now well supplied with waters since I
recent rain. |
Prom C. K. A. Stephson (Clontarf),
asking.for n new pump on M' Loughlan ‘s
dain.—lo receive attention. I
From Ivy M‘Connell, C. II. A.!
Stophsn and Tom Smith, requesting
council to clear pear on ronds adjoin;
ingtheirproperties,—Decided to inform ,
complainants that the pear problem |
would receive attention at the next !
meeting of the council.
From R. Mitchell (l’inewood), com
plaining of state of Fltilcy^ dnm.
Councillor Gohlen moved that steps be.
taken immediately to clean out the dam
and erect'a fence. Councillor Mabbet
seconded. Tenders 'to bo called.
From Robert O'Toole, stating that
he had permitted a large number of
settlers to water stock oft his property
during the prevailing drought, offering
to continue permitting settlers the use.
of said water at a rental of E2 per week
or £25 for three months; also claiming
£2 per week from February 19.—It was
stated' that 17 to 25 selectors were
utilising this water.
It wits pointed out that rain had fallen
and relieved the water faminc’in parts
of the Scrub. However, the couneil,de
elded to authorise Councillor Golder to
make some arrangement with Mr.
O'Toole in the matter. .
A request from the Royal Agricultural
Society that Wednesday and Thursday,
April 14 and 13 be declared holidays for
the annual show was acceded to.
A special- meeting of the. council was
held to deal with the following resolu
tion:;"That according to the provisions
contained in the Railways Act of 10144, a
rate of 4d. in the 4 of the reliable value
of all properties situated in, the bene
fited area of the Pittsworth to Mill-,,
merran railway be struck and demanded.
—Carried' unanimously. Authority was
given to arrange overdraft with 9N.
The ordinary business was then pro
ceeded with. ‘
Petitions presented by the. chairman 1
from M. Radcliffe, M. Hegarty, J. Dever
and others asking for 30 chains of for- '
motion along Conway’s new roud, Pam
pas.—Decided to attend when council's
new plant available.
Presented by Councillor F. C. Golden
from J. M' Lough lin, H. W. Davis and
others drawing attention to scarcity of
water in'Clontarf district, and reeom
mending that arrangements be made with
Mr. R. O’Toole to , supply water.—
Dealt with earlier.
' Presented by Councillor J. Coffin from
I Jas. E. Carrie. Frank Steavens, TI. Bell
and others, asking that a road between
Punch’s Creek Rabbit fence. on the'
.Kooroongarra-Millmorran.rond be clenr
i cd.—Decided to let this work stand over
I until finances allow attention to go'
j given. .
I FOREMAN'S REPORT."
Contractor .‘Brow completed work
I from rabbit gate along fence, 50 chains,
work Antisfactory. Cost, £18 15s.
I French, Bros. completed extra 10 chains
of clearing at Kooroongarra; cost, £2
"2s. Gd. The. road at Lindenmen's had
| been attended to by Contractor Li. E.
' Taylor at a.cost of 10s. Work at Borah
'Creek had been completed by I. Philp,
cost of which was 30s. Had attended
to installation of new pump at Turallin,
grubbing trees on Kooroongarra road,
and clearing. of noogoom burr at
M’Leyhlan’s dnm. Cleared trees off
road near O'Tooles and Culdicott’s pro
perties on Clontarf, road and same on
scrub around near Grey’s. 'Ilie clear
ing of the road between Taylor's and.
Coffin'd, Kooroongarra, 17 chains, had
been carried out by Contractor L..E.
Taylor eatisfactorily, the cost of the J
'work totalling .£3 JGs. od.; clearing of
near 'and timber an additional dll had I
been expended: Contractor Dabblestein I
had completed the clearing of rand from I
Punch’s Creek, rabbit gate to M’Culloche I
(194 chains! at 6/ per chain; work satis
factory. J. B. Dover’s contract fencing I
at Pampas was finished and satisfactory
cost of £15. A report of maintenance ■
men work was also submitted. * The fore
man recommended the following works:
Repairing Yandilla bridge; an open
drain at Simmon's. south-east corner
for 17 chains distunce ; 29 chain of form
! inz on new road with an invirt. A zig
' zag mad to be cleared along logging at
west side of Yandilla; cutting a strong
I pinch 'near Gray’s gate. which is verv
I dangerous: clearing one side of road
| from Gray’s gate towards Kooroongarra
for distnro of 80 chain, with hreaks
every 4 chain. Repirs to road from
No. 2 boundary! to Kooroongarra. Re
commended that a man be engaged to
attend all bridges and keep in- repair
hv day labor, and that all scrub roads
where traffic warrants, be filled full
* with" of road on one side, and that
Commodore read. be cleared half width
from Uoider’s rabbit gate east for 73
chain. The report was adopted.
Bo Water hole ' near Kooroongarra
cheese factory.—Councillors Mubbet and
Coflin to have work attended to.
In the matter of Yandilla bridge. it'
was decided to defer dealing with same
yntil another inspection is made of the
structure. .
Bo clearing timber Yandilla-road,
maintenance men to'attend.
Striking of. general rate was held over
until next, meeting. .
Notice of motion, moved by Council
lor R. Crocker,—" That immediate steps.
i be taken by this council to have the
I shire or portions thereof brought under
the provisions of the Prickly PeurAct
for the purpose of eradicating pear and
gaining the Government-subsidy of £1
Bo valuation of properties' ‘win also
•be brought forward for discussion..
The clerk was instructed to notify
land owners in’the township that pear
must be cleared from their properties
within one month, failing which, tho
council .would do so at their expense. •
It was decided- to purchase 3 ton ar
sonic par poison for sale to . rate-’
■ payers. ' -
I Councillor Mabbetmade, a request, on
bzhalf of Cunning Creek residents for
attention to a road, postponed until
further information available.
Councillor Bligh requested that an in
speetion and report be made on a pro
posed road' giving him: passage to
Brookstend or Pampas.—Granted.
By-laws: The chairman stated that
if passible same would be submitted at
next meeting of the council
Councillor Golden urged that atten
tion be given Duncan's dam, nearly all'
residents in Pinewood district, were
watering there, the pump now in use
was in disrepair and out of date. It
was decided to instal a .semi-rotary pump
at once. :
• Councillor Golder submitted an offer
from Air. E. B. Crosby (Taraba), to al
low piping from his bore to the public
road for use. of settlers in-the scrub, it
would be necessary to erect atank and
install 200 yards of piping. Cost was
estimated at not less than £50. After
consideration, it was decided'to take no
steps in the’-matter at present. The
council expressed thanks lor the offer.
On tho motion of Councillors Golder
and Grieve, an allowance of .£30 per
annum was voted the chairman.
Conneillor -Bligh drew attention to
burr at St. Ronan’s bridge.—Decided to
clean sane: . • a
Couneillorl Mabbet and Coflin recom
mended metalling road from Kooroon
garni cheese factory to Shearer’s. It
wan decided to call tenders.
Tho renovation of road near Presby
terian church, Kooroongarra, was 'left
to Ur. Mabbet to have actended to.
A request from’ Chas. Simmons to
ereek a pump at Clay waterholes, ad.
joining his property’, was granted. =
A complaint re pear along rabbit
fence joining Perry’s West lige pro
perty was received, and the removal
authorised. . *
In regard to overpayment, of rates by
Catherine D. Ruchile, it was decided to
writ Rosenthal Shiro Council for in
formation. .
Permission' was given Councillor Bligh
to deur timber orf, road near his gate.
The chairman was appointed as .the
shire’s reprsontativsto accompany the
Larlianientury" party, to inspect “prickly
pear destruction experiments is Dulaceu,
. TDNDEIS.
Clearing road from R. Golden’s to
A. Stirling’s properties, Pinewood.
Three tenders were received.—W. 1.
Ily’nn’s tender: 3/ to school, and 4/4
thereon to Stirling's, was necepted. '
Clearing 73 chianil" 1 road width along
rabbit fence, from Golder’s gate. ’ Tho.
tender of C. ’Brown, 6/ per chain, was
accented. •*""** . . • .
Repairing Sizer’ Dam; only one ten
der: J. Gray, 10, was accepted.
Tho next meeting of the council was
arranged to take place on Tuesday, 30th
$