WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIII, Issue 6498, 10 January 1939, Page 3

WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL

SUPPORT FOR NOXIOUS WEEDS SURVEY Representatives Appointed for Centennial Conference The monthly meeting of the Wairewa County CounHl was held yesterday at the council chambers, Little River, when there wera present Councillors F. Coop (chairman), W. H. Montgomery, E. J. Keenan, J. 0. Coop, W. F. Parkinson. N. Wright and T. Feather. Water Supply Proposals Councillor J. 0. Coop reported that the water supply committee had been unable to take any further action in regard to the water supply proposals owing to the holidays. The committee would present a report to next meeting of the council. Temporary Loan The chairman reported that the Clerk had ascertained that the council could accept a temporary loan from the Banks Peninsula Agricultural and Pastoral Association, but there were periods in the year when the council was not working on overdraft . It was decided to accept this temporary loan at three per cent on call if the Association were agreeable to this rate of interest. The sum to be deposited was in the vicinity of £200, Cocksfoot on Roads Mr Renner reported the letting of the right to cut cocksfoot on several roads in the county. County Cricket Match The chairman reported the annual county cricket match had been held at Akaroa on December 31 and had been very enjoyable. The Wairewa and Mt. Herbert County team were able to win by 15 runs and the team had been most hospitably entertained by the Akaroa County and Borough. In reply to Councillor Wright the chairman said he was in favour of the Councillors themselves and staff and other members of local bodies in the district playing in the match them-c-fcives and this would probably be arranged next year.

Finance Report Councillor W. H. Montgomery, chairman of the Finance committee, reported as follows :— "The Finance committee met on Saturday last, 7th instant. "The vouchers for the December meeting were examined with the Paysheet and found correct. "The Paysheet for amounts totalling £440 7ri Gd was approved and is recommended for payment. "The Fiuai.cial statement for the 1 crioa ended 31st December, 1938 shows the cash balance of the County i'und to be debit £3351 155." Councillor Montgomery said he considered the position satisfactory when compared with last year's tigu>o,. The report was adopted and the i aysheet passed for payment. Monthly Works Report Mr A. C. Renner, county engineer and overseer, reported as follows :— Kinloch Riding "General maintenance work was carried out on Gap road, patch-met-alling and clearing of channels being carried out." Kaituna Riding "Attention was given to a blocked culvert near Dailey's, a section of the pipe line being lifted for the purpose of clearing the culvert. Patch-metal-ling was also carried out in this locality and cleaning of drains dealt with." Little River Riding "The work of repairing and improving Bachelor's Road was completed. In the course of carrying out the work an old wooden culvert collapsed. The structure being unfit for repair it was dismantled and the culvert rebuilt. The total cost of the work on this road was, approximately £40. Patch metalling and clay blinding work was carried out on the section of upper Western Valley road below Lewt'nwaite's and also on Puaha road. Maintenance wai'k was carried out on White's road in the vicinity of Stackhouse's. Price's Valley road from the top bridge to the main road was graded, the work being carried out by the power grader. The grass growing alone the edges of the footpath through the township was cut." Christchurch-Akaroa Main Highway "General maintenance grading was carried out on the section from Motukarara to the foot of the hill. Cutting cf trees affecting road visibility on Hill Top road received attention. The section along Price's Valley road was scarified and reformed. The section from the small bridge near A. Birdling's to the incline opposite the shingle pit was scarified, large surface metal removed, and the section metalled and blinded with clay. The new road deviations in the vicinity of the water trough and at Harmon's Bay were prepared and opened for traffic, the former being first metalled and a few leads of metal put on where required on the latter and the full length of these section shing-

led. Patch metalling was carried out on the Kaituna-Motukarara section. A total of 171 yards of metal and s'hingle and 121 yards of clay was used in carrying out the above works. Repairs to the decking on one of Price's Valley bridges were effected." Motukarara-Teddington Main Highway "Part section of a blocked culvert was lifted and cleared, minor patch metalling carried out and attention given to water channels." Port Levy-Little River Main Highway "Erection of the protection groyne at Western Valley stream, opposite Ferguson's was completed, repairs effected to a broken culvert on the first steep cutting on the hill section and water channels in this locality attended to. Te Oka-Little River Main Highway "The section from the junction at Church corner to Kinloch was graded and the willow tree limbs endangering the road at the small bridge near Kinloch were cut out." Motor Truck "The truck was operated during the month of December on a total of 20 days, the mileage travelled being 944 and the days used apportioned as follows: Main Highways 14£ days. Little River Riding 53 days." Power Grader "The power grader was operated during the month of December on a total of 191 days—llh days on Main Highways, Little River Riding 11 days and sundry 5 hours. A total of 58 miles was dealt with in general maintenance grading and about 42 'chains of road scarified and reformed." General j "Work under the Employment Department's scheme 13 included flood protection Western Valley stream and road deviation Cemetery road." The report was adopted. Power Grader "The chairman reported the power grader required an overhaul and while the operator took his holidays it would be repaired. Councillor Montgomery moved it be left in the hands of the chairman to enquire in regard to trading in the council's truck and it be exchanged if thought advisable. Noxious Weeds Councillor Montgomery reported that noxious weeds had not been dealt with in Western Valley, blackberry in particular. There was gorse also on the road at Peraki.

It was decided the adjoining owners be approached to have these weeds grubbed. Puaha Road Councillor Montgomery reported also the cocksfoot round Western Valley post box should be cut as on a \\vt day it was impossible to approach it wiMiout getting wet. He also drew attention to the condition of tin Fuj'.ia road and the painting of bridges on Western Valley icaa and in other parts of the county. Road Signs Councillor Feather said he would like the council to ask the Automobile Association to put a notice on the turn going down to Tumble Down Bay that it was dangerous. He would like to see this bad bend improved. Councillor Kcenan expressed the opinion that there were not sufficient warning notices on Banks Peninsula roads. On the West Coast there were many more notices on the roads. It was decided application be made to the Automobile Association for notice boards. Council Kbenan sufpporteti Councillor Montgomery in his opinion that Puaha road should be scarified and metalled with crushed metal. He considered the road should be widened at Patten's slip as it was very narrow and dangerous. The engineer said the Puaha road would be dealt with in carrying out maintenance work. Members Reports Councillor Keenan reported that Mr S. Le Comte stated , the council had borrowed three chains and a bottle jack which had not been returned. It was decided the engineer see Mr Le Comte about this matter. Councillor' Keenan also drew attention to the necessity for a groyne near Mr Curry's residence in Okuti Valley and it was decided this matter be investigated. Councillor Feather drew attention to the state of Gap road and it was decided this work be attended to when the men went to Kinloch before the winter. Tar Sealing Main Highway The chairman said the Main Highway at Birdling's Flat had gone through for about two chains. The staff were repairing it and broken metal was being used. Councillor N. Wright asked when the road would be tar sealed. The traffic during the holidays had been very heavy and gravel roads would not carry it. The chairman said the tar-sealing of the Main road to Kaituna and through Little River had been promised this summer. It was decided the chairman interview Mr Langbein and ask when the tar sealing would be carried out. Ranger's Report The ranger's report was read and adopted. Labour for Cocksfoot The Akaroa Cocksfoot Seed Growers' Association wrote asking the council to release men for reaping* cocksfoot as there was a decided shortage of labour. The council decided they could not let any of their regular men off, but three temporary men could be released if necessary. Centennial Conference The chairman and councillor W. H. Montgomery were appointed to attend the conference of Banks Peninsula local bodies to consider the Akaroa centennial celebrations. m Visit of Highways Board The Maiii Highways Board report

Ed that the Board members would visit the district on February 9. It was decided the council hold their regular meeting for February on that date and that the council discuss the sealing of the Main Highway and highway improvement through the county. It was decided also* that a report be prepared by the council for presentation to the Board and that their attention be especially called to the dust nuisance in Little River township. Noxious Weeds Survey The Canterbury Progress League wrote proposing a survey of the noxious weeds on Banks Peninsula so that this problem could be formulated and a proposal put before the Government. The survey would cost £20. The council decided to contribute their share of the cost of the survey.