WATHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17033, 18 June 1917, Page 7

WATHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

.The usual meeting of tho "Waihemo County Council was held on Saturday; preaent—tho Chairman (Mr T. M'Lay), and Crs Miller, O'Connell, Pilbrow, M'Callura, Matheson, M'Lennan, Clark, and O'NoilU Tho Manakau County Council (Auckland) forwarded a resolution passed at a recent meeting of that body relativo to the securing of powers by county councils to compel owners of proporty to clour willows from creeks.—lt was decided to support the resolution. Tho following resolution was forwarded by the Timaru Borough Council for an expression of approval:—"That tlie Government bo urged to amend! tho law so as to malfo it compulsory for all motor registering authorities to examine drivers and issuo yearly licenses to competent drivers of motor oars and motor cyclcs; that tho foarly license fee be fixed at 5s for drivers of motor cars and 2s 6d for drivers of motor cyclcs; that • such drivers shall bo licensed in tho district in which they reBides and that any license so issued_ shall, during its currency, entitle the liconsco to drive in any other district in tho dominion; that the front and rear identification marks be made compulsory; that all registering authorities be requested to support this council in tho direction indicated. —Tho council unanimously agreed to support the clause in the motion relativo to identification discs. The Hastings Borough Council submitted the following resolution in conncction with, the Nat. Beamish National Development Schemo. That this council is in earnest sympathy with the scheme as_ propounded and outlined by Mr Beamish in respect to national development,, and considers that the scheme contains many good points and valuable information necessary to the foundation of success, and pledges itself to diligently assist in bringing tho schemo more prominently to tho notice of the authorities, by asking other public bodies to co-operate, and also by writing to Sir John Fmdlay, M.P., to use his influence. — On the motion of tho chairman, it was decided unanimously to support tho resolution. Mr L. It. Morris, on behalf of tho Palmerston School Committee, wrote complaining of gorso growing on tho paddock adjoining the rectory grounds. Ho asked that the ground be grubbed.—lt was agreed ! to inform tho school that the matter did not come under tho jurisdiction of tho council.—lt was decided to forward a copy of the communication to tho owner of the paddock in question. Mr A. Arthur, of Tiroite, wrote informing tho council that there were sft of silt at the ford in his district, which rendered the road impassable. Another road in tho vicinity ako required attention. —Received. An application was received from the Maniototo Council for £5 2s 3d, which amount represented the local county's proportion of expenses in connection with the provisions of the Licensing Act, 1908.— Amount to be remitted. A complaint relative to tho condition of the road leadincr to the Shag Point Coal mines was received from the manager at the Shag Point Coal Proprietary (Mr C. E. Twining). Owing to the bad state of the road the mine had been idle for a week.— The communication asked that the condition . of the road be rectified. —In connection with this matter, Mr Twining and Mr A. Hunt, of Hunt and Son, waited on tho council to emphasise the necessity of _ the council taking action. Tho road, as it now was, impeded tho egress of coal from the mines. —After some discussion it was decided that the council's inspector should view tho road and report at. next meetincr. The inspector (Mr A. M'William) reported on the various ridings as under:— Bushey RidinGr.—General surface work and gravelling of Bushev-Pulmerston roa<l has been done. The Slhag Point road is in bad order and requires metal. Tenders have been called for gravelling further portions of Bushey-Palmerston road. Goodwood Riding.—General surface work, also quarrying, cartacre. and 'spreading of metal on Goodwood-Palmerston road has been arranged with Mr Bethune. Meadowbank Riding.—General surface •work and gravelling of Sutherland's road havo been completed. Tho culvert on Ross's road collapsed, but the necessary repairs have been effected, while new covers have been ordered for this. culvert. B!ue_ Mountain Ridinar.—-General surface work in this riding has suffered most throueh . the last rains. The planks of tho footbridges have all been replaced New nln.nks are required for the footbridge at M'Lpw's. The Switchback road requires repairing and maintenance gravel. Dunbnck Ridinfr. —General surface work is required, while tho crossing near Mr J. Stanley's, which was washed out.-has been repaired. Other crossings are in fair order. Arrangements have been made to get a team to enrt maintenanco gravel on the Pi<root road.

Gropn "Valley Hidincr.—General surface ■work has been done, and crossings repaired. Some damage was done by the last floods to • crossings. Macracs Hidinsr.—General surface work and repairs ■were effected to Yaxious roads. A complaint was received regarding trees obr ■ structing the view in Main street, and the insnoctor has been asked to report on same. The report was received, and: the inspector authorised to put in hand the work recommended.

Notices of motion with reference to the rates to be struck in. tho various ridings for the year 1917-18 were given as follows: Moadowbnnk (Cr O'Neill). 3d; Blue Mountain (Cr Pilbrow), Id; Goodwood (Or M'Callum), 1(J: Di'nback (Cr M'Lennon). 3d* Macraes (Cr Clark). 3d : Bushey (Ch- Millar). Id- Green Valley (Cr Matheson), Id. The tendnr of J. Si)illano for the suooly of gravel for road' work was accepted. By resolution it was apreed to purchase an' addditional irrader and scoop for road work in tho county.

Accounts amounting to £192 16s 5d were passed for payment.