HIGHWAYS BUSINESS

Evening Star, Issue 19708, 8 November 1927, Page 5

HIGHWAYS BUSINESS

MEETING OF DISTRICT COUNCIL The Otago District Highways Council (No, 16) held its fourteenth meeting at the Public Works Office th; morning. Mr J- 11. Marks, the district engineer, was in the chair. Also present were Messrs J. Ritchie (Vincent), IS, Morgan (Maniototo), ,W. S. Reid (Lake), and J. Preston (Waikouaiti). Messrs Preston, Ritchie, and the chairman were appointed an executive lor the council to go into tho matter of the allowance payable to members of the executive bodies of distn t highways councils. A circular was received from the chairman of the Gisborne District Council requesting consideration of a resolution passed at its last meeting in connection with the collection and distribution of heavy traffic license fees, the present method being regarded as unsatisfactory.—lt was decided, on the motion of Mr Ritchie, that this resolution be supported. The Secretary of the Main Highways Board wrote regretting that the board was unable to adopt the recommendation for a £2 for £1 subsidy to the Lake County Council for redccking the Lower Shotover bridge.—The council wrote to the Highways Board rising that the bridge had been inspected by an officer of tho Public Works Department, and that the original estimate of £1.050 for rcdecking could he considerably reduced.—lt was stated that the hoard had issued authority for the delivery of timber at the bridge to season, the rcdecking to be carried out in about six months’ time.

The council advised, the Main Highways Board that until the Kawarau Gorge section had been properly surfaced it would be impossible for the Lake County Council to take it over and maintain it satisfactorily.—Approved. A memo, was received from the hoard agreeing to authorise an additional £1.200 for work at the Kawarau Gorge. Tho council wrote to the Lake County Council advising that £3.200 was being spent by the Public Works Department for the purpose of bringing the Kawarau Gorge section up to a satisfactory condition, and that on completion of the work tho section would be handed over to the council for future maintenance, towards which the hoard had agreed to subsidise on a £2 for £1 basis.—Approved. The Main Highways Board returned the approved proposals for the construction of Idaburn bridge, Maniototo. A copy of these proposals was forwarded to the county engineer.—Approved. The Engineer of the Maniototo County Council wrote advising that the estimate for the erection of the Kycburn bridge had been increased from £550 to £6so.—Received. CROMWELL-PEMBROKE HIG HWAY. In connection with the proposed Cromwell-Pembroko main highway, the Main Highways Board wrote regretting its inability to declare any additional mileage of highway in No. 16 district, but agreeing to accept tho recommendation for tho substitution of tho road from Cromwell to Pembroke in lieu of the present main highway on the left bank of the Clutha River. A further letter stated that the Minister had approved of the substitution of the road up tho right bank of the Clutha in place of tho existing main highway, and requesting suitable descriptions of gazetting tho former and declaring tho latter revoked. A misunderstanding hod arisen with reference to the matter. _ The board had not intended any additional length beyond Hawca. but agreed to alter the route only. Tho council advised tho chairman of the Vincent County Council of the correspondence.— Approved. The Main Highways Board forwarded ‘ Gazette ’ notices in connection with the alteration of tho route of the CromwellHawea Flat main highway.—Received. A copy was sent to Vincent County. Rlaiis and for the construction of the Lower Lindis bridge were forwarded for approval to the Main Highways Board. It was stated that the matter was in tho hands of Messrs Vickcrman' and Lancaster (Wellington), and that the bridge would cost in all £3,715.— Approved. (The meeting is proceeding.)