IN PENINSULA INTERESTS

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 3

IN PENINSULA INTERESTS

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Peninsula County Council was held at Portobcllo yesterday, Cr H. Mncandrew being in the chair. The following were also present:—Crs J. J. Malcolm, It. Brunton, D. J. Robertson, R. Morrison, J. T. Irvine, W; J. Lewis, and J. W. Miller. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £604 17s 3d were passed for payment. NOXIOUS WEEDS. On the motion of Cr Lewis, seconded by Cr .Irvine, it was decided that hemlock, burdock, gorse, and broom be declared noxious weeds within the county, and that the ban of “ noxious ” bo removed from Californian thistle. A proposal by Cr Robertson that broom be excluded from tho list lapsed for want of a seconder. REPAIRS TO A ROAD. Mr James D. Harwood wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the road known as Harwood’s road, from Gill’s, corner to his own property. Ho hoped that something would be done soon in tho way of metalling and other improvements Letters on the subject were also received from Mr Joseph P. Wilson and Mrs Kenneth Macdonald. Mrs Macdonald stated that it was about twelve years since the road was formed and clayed on the surface, no metal ever having been put on and very little money ever having been spent on it. During tho adjournment for lunch the members of tho council made a personal inspection of the road in question. After the council .had resumed Mr Irvine moved that improvements to the road bo carried out to tho value of £l5O, provided tho settlers in that locality paid £25 of the £75 required from the funds_ of tho council, the Government subsidy of £75 to complete tho sum. As an amendment Mr Morrison moved that tho ratepayers of tho locality pay 50 per cent, of the £75 towards tlie cost of repairs. Tho amendment was carried. EURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. On receipt ot a letter from the Tomahawk Ratepayers’ Association concerning the state of Glen street it was decided that the matter in the meantime bo left in the hands of the inspector. A letter was received from Mr J. R. Marks, the district engineer for the Public Works Department, stating that in connection with the tour of the Main Highways Hoard throughout tho district the board would meet the council’s representatives at ,9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, at the Otago Motor Club’s rooms Matters relating to main highways would be discussed.— It was resolved that as many members of the council as possible should attend.

A circular was received from the Department of Labor stating tljftt the council was called upon to hold a special meeting this month for the purpose of deciding what working day in the week should bo the statutory half-holiday for shops. The day decided upon for the meeting to be intimated to the department.—lt was decided to leave the matter as it stood at present. Mr J. R. Marks wrote stating that it was proposed to hold the third examination for certificates of competency, under the Main Highways Board in February next. Candidates were requested to forward their entries to the Main Highways Board, Wellington, before January 31.—Received.

The Waikouaiti County Council wrote asking that it be allowed to retain the crusher hired from the Peninsula Council until matters in connection with the Main Highway were settled. It was still necessary to crush a quantity of metal on the Kilmog.—lt was decided that the Waikouaiti Council be requested to return the crusher not later than February 1, the place of, delivery to be Portobello. Messrs Ramsay, Barraclough, aim Haggitt wrote enclosing a copy of its letter to Mr H. Forsyth concerning the making of roads in the Otakau Native reserve. It was understood that the Otago Heads Road Board had now gone out of existence, and consequently was unable to proceed further in this matter. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Morrison, seconded by Mr Lewis, to instruct Messrs Ramsay, Barraclough, and Haggit to complete the legalisation of the road on receipt of a slight amendment of the survey, which would bo supplied to them at an early date. After that the formation of the road was to be proceeded with and the Government grant of £75 to be spent on it. DATE OF MEETINGS. It was decided that all future meetings be held at Portobello on the lirst Thursday of every month, at 11 a.m. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector (Mr S. G. Paterson) reported as follows; “ Pending the council’s decision as to reconstruction work on the highways in the county I recommend that the following work be done:— “ Beach road from Waverley to Portobello : That the water tables and culverts be cleaned and additional culverts laid where necessary. in several cases culvert outlets have been built over at the sea wall. Where potholes have developed they should be filled with good quality rotten rock and blinded with chips from the same quarries. In places where the road crown has entirely disappeared, the road should be lightly cambered with rotten rock and the wheel tracks filled by raking from, the sides' to maintain the camber. The road shoulders should be taken down to permit of free drainage from the crown into the water tables. In several places definite ridges prevent the escape of water from the road top. ‘'Upper road; From Anderson’s Bay to Pukehiki the road surface is in fair condition, but the water tables require cleaning, and the shoulders need cutting down. From Pukehiki to Portobello, particularly on that' portion where the Public Works gangs have been working, the road crown has generally been worn down, and requires a temporary running track cambered up in the centre, with the provision of side drainage as in the former portion. “Portobello to Kaik road: This road is at present in fair order, and with light cambering in parts with rotten rock will stand until the completion of the projected work by the Public Works Department. On this length the water tables and shoulders require a considerable amount of attention if the surface is to bo given a chance to stand.

“Too much stress cannot be laid on the keeping clean of the water tables and the provision generally of the escape for water from the running tops of roads, and I suggest the purchase of one of the several forms of ditch-cut-ting and cleaning machinery, to facilitate the more expeditious and economical carrying out of this work.’’ The report was adopted.