VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1693, 3 July 1929, Page 5

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above council was held at Clyde last Thursday -when there were present:— Crs Jas. Ritchie (chair), C. Weaver, D. Urquhart, A. C. Scoular, F. Partridge, E. Butcher and W. D. Naylor. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The inward correspondence was received and the outward approved. Mr John Adie wrote regarding road to his property at Bannoekburn. The chairman thought the matter could lje adjusted. Cr Scoular moved that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman. This was seconded by Cr Naylor and carried. The audited balance sheet was received from the audit office. Correct and no tags. A motion was carried that the balance-sheet be printed and distributed in the usual manner." . The Town Clerk, Alexandra, wrote asking permission to erect a new pipe line across the bridge over the Molyneux at Alexandra. —Permission given, subject to consent of Highways Board. Mr P. W. Holdom, Clyde, wrote asking permission to occupy an area of one acre of land in Block X, Town of Clyde.—Held over. Mr G. Scott was granted permission to put in a Sin pipe across the road near his property at Mauuhcrikia. Mr Stewart Wright, secretary of the Upper Clutlia League, CromwelJ, asked that the road through the sand to Bannockburn be made, and that notice restricting motor speed on the road from Cromwell Railway Station to Cromwell be erected. —The chairman pointed out that they had applied for a grant for the road mentioned. The trouble was that the road in question got covered with sand. The road round by the hospital was a splendid one but it was two miles further by that route. —The road from the station, to Cromwell was certainly a dangerous one and bethought the request to restrict the traffic should be complied with.—lt was decided to have two danger signs erected.

The Department of Lands and Survey wrote regarding Muddy Creek Channel stating that the 13 odd acres had been offered to Mr John Wilson at £1 jier acre. The chairman pointed out that they were exchanging 44 acres of land with Mr Wilson. The matter of completing the business was left in the hands of Cr Scoular.

A departmental communication was received intimating that heavy traffic licenses could now be paid quarterty if desired.

The Transport Commissioner wrote regarding supplying compulsory "Stop signs" at all railway crossings. The Tuapeka County Council wrote on the same subject pointing out that in its county 70 signs costing £250 would be necessary. The chairman said that these signs should be up, and the en-gineer-clerk was instructed to secure the necessary signs for Vincent. Where they had to erect these signs was on roads where a branch road ran off at right angles. The engineer thought that Tuapeka was under the misapprehension as they would not require to remove the present standard signs.

The chairman mentioned that he had received a telegram stating that he and the engineer were required to attend a meeting of the Main, Highways Board at Duuediu on Wednesday next when the estimates would be considered.

Cr Stevens wrote apologising for un avoidable absence in Dunedin. He asked that repairs be done to Jopp's road and at Little Valley—The inspector was instructed to attend to both works.

The sanitary inspector's report was read and received.

The county ranger reported that since last meeting he Jiad impounded four head of stock found wandering on the road..

The dog registrar reported that he had registered to date 111 C dogs at 2s (id, 209 at 5s and 24 at 10s. The ferry traffic returns were laid on the table.

Tliq treasurer's statement, showing a credit of £IO2O was read and adopted. A motion that outstanding rates he written oft' the books as non-recover-able was carried. On Cr Urquhart's motion all defaulting ratepayers arc to be publicly notified that unless payment was made the county solicitor would be instructed to take action to recover same. The chairman reported having attended the conference at the Hermitage. He was accompanied by Cr C. Weaver and the engineer and the road through tlie Lindis Gorge was in a fairly good state and it was a pleasure to get on to the piece from their boundary done two years ago. The lower gorge was a narrow one an,d when it was wet it was certainly dangerous for "the big cars. Mr Ball had stated that he hoped to have unemployment on the road during the next 12 months. If this happened it would relieve the county greatly. Cr Weaver thought it would take Vincent County all its time to attend to its own roads. He thought in time that the powers that be should be asked to make the road a national oh«. -With regard to the meeting at Bulled iu regarding estimates the chairman pointed out that they were asking for £30,000 while their allocation was only half that figure. They could, only hope for the best. The road inspector's report was read and dealt'with as under:The inspector stated that he had arranged with Mrs Kane for an acre of' gravel reserve at Haivea.—Action approved. *. , '".; j'

Some patch gravelling at Hawea riding was authorised. Ci" Partridge asked that the grader be put on Macpherson's road for a day or two.—Agreed to. Cr Partridge asked that two electric lights be put on. at the punt at Lowbum. —E.Btiinaten to be procured. Cr Naylor said the grader was doing good work in his riding but there was some patch gravelling wanted near Mr L. Jolly's.—Agreed to. The sum of £lO was voted to repair water tables on road to Little Valley. Gr Butcher mentioned that there was some trouble with a contractor at Ida Valley. The contractor had got permission to use gravel off a leasehold but this had been withdrawn. It was poor, gravelly unfenced land, and he suggested that tlicy should apply to the Land Board for a gravel reserve.—lt was decided to make application for two acres. Cr Butcher asked that some repairs be made to a corner near the church, where the water came down. —The inspector to have a pipe put in. Cr Scoular asked that £75 (out of £150) be spent in gravelling repairs to Disputed Spur road. It was the worst road in the county.—The worst portions to be attended to. Cr Scoular asked that some beams belonging to the county be sent out to make a temporary bridge at Mr T. Rgad's corner over Thomson's Creek. —Agreed to. Cr Weaver asked that some repairs be made to road at Dry Gully; and also that something be done at Chapman's Gully to Mr Taylor's.—Work to be done. . The chairman moved that the en-gineer-clerk's salary be increased by £25 per year. In doing so he stated that Mr George had been Svith them four years; and he had'been both faithful and diligent. —Cr Weaver seconded the motion, remarking that he was- a better man than when he arrived as he had since had four year's experience. He had been a good officer.—The en-gineer-clerk returned thanks for. their expression of appreciation. His relation witli the chairman and councillors had always been most pleasant. In reply to Cr Weaver the inspector said the grader, would be put on the Clyde-Barnscleugh road to-morrow, June 28.