WAIPARA COUNTY COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21630, 14 November 1935, Page 11

WAIPARA COUNTY COUNCIL

At the monthly meeting of the Waipara County Council, held at Waikan on Monday, there were present. Crs W. K. McAlpine (chairman), K. I Black, A. Cowie, D. S. Mackenzie, J. Quigley, and J. G. Whyte. Cr Whyte reported having inspected Symonds road at Waipara, and that, in accordance with authority given him at the previous meeting, he had authorised certain repairs. The financial report showed that during the month since the previous meeting £1347 7s 4d had been collected and paid into the bank, reducing the overdraft to the low level of £626 lis lOd. Accounts before members for payment totalled £9BO 6s, and when these had been met the overdraft would stand at £1606 18s 3d, the corresponding figure at the same date of last year being £4384 17s 4d, but for comparative purposes it should be noted that the amount of outstanding Government subsidies was then approximately £IOOO greater than at present. A supplementary statement, showing in detail the expenditure during the financial year to date on roads other than main and secondary highways, indicated that the total under this heading was £2656. The report further stated that the council's loan indebtedness had been converted at a cost of £l4O 7s Cd. The clerk reported that the formation and metalling of Costello's road had been the subject of a deputation to the Prime Minister, it being advanced that, owing to shearing and harvesting, the settlers could not undertake their share of the work as suggested at the last meeting of the council, and a grant toward the cost of the work was asked for. As the matter cculd only be considered if brought forward by the council, it was decided to submit estimates of the cost, which would amount to approximately £2OO. The Main Highways Board stated that arrangements had been made with the Railways Department for the taking over of maintenance of level crossings, the work to be done by local authorities under the usual £3 for £1 subsidy basis. It was decided to have a street light installed at the intersection of the Main road and School road at Waipara. . The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) wrote advising that a grant of £2OO had been authorised toward the cost of erecting a bridge on the Blythe road, provided the council and interested settlers found the balance of £l5O. He also stated that in response to representations made by the council recently, the Main Highways Board were conducting an extensive survey of the Weka Pass,, with a view to finding a better location of the road at certain dangerous corners. Investigation was also being made with a view to improving Friday's cutting, on the Christchurch-Blenheim main highway.