PENINSULA AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 3

PENINSULA AFFAIRS

COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Peninsula County Council was held at Portohello yesterday, when there were present: Crs H, Macandrew _(chairman). Miller, Cross, Stewart, Irvine, Hellyer, Allan, Brunton, and Robertson. NEW MEMBER WELCOMED.

The Chairman introduced Mr D. Allan, the new member for the Heads Riding, and congratulated him on ms election and the council on getting a man of Air Allan’s calibre to join it. Ho could assure members that Air Allan would uphold the traditions of his ancestors, who were men of standing, and who gave of their time liberally and freely for the good of the country and their fellowmcn. CREEK DEVIATION. The Chairman reported that, in company with Cr Hellyer. he had interviewed the owners of property, and they were quite agreeable to allow the culvert to pass through their property, and he further- said that the engineer (Air S. G. Paterson) had interviewed them with a view to safeguarding the council’s interests in getting the portion of the property through which the culvert would pass, transferred to the council. He thought that as soon as they could see their way to finance the expenditure, the council should ask the Highways Board to go on with the work. Alessrs W. Rowland and J. G. Woodhouse wrote that if the council granted the use of a site at the junction of the New road and the Beach road for the purpose' of erecting kerbside pumps, they would agree to the right of way for the culvert going through their properties.—Received. . Air Brookman, referring to the deviation, wrote stating that with a view to relieving unemployment, the Ratepayers’ Association suggested that the £IOO donated by it be expended in wages as far as possible, and that the council approach the Government for a £2 for £1 subsidy on the amount so expended in wages. Unemployment in tlie district was very acute. —Received. A PROTEST. Air J. G. Woodhouse _ wrote protesting against the permission which had been given to Mr Riddell to erect a building at the Kaik, as ho had been put to a good deal of expense in procuring a lease of property in the vicinity for the purpose of supplying visitors with hot water, etc. Air George Karetai said that he was part owner of the property in front of which Air Riddell had been given permission to build his < shed; and he asked the council to give Mr Riddell notice to remove the shed,’ as he strongly objected to it being in front of the property. Lt was decided that the matter be deferred until the position of the council was defined and until a legal opinion was obtained

CORRESPONDENCE. Mr W. V. Stunner wrote stating that portion of Abbotsford road. Wavcrley, from Hardy’s corner to M'Donald’s, was a very serious source of danger to motor traffic owing to the slippery surface and its close proximity to the steep bank.—To be attended to by the engineer, i Mr D. B, Lyons, Macandrew Bay, wrote stating that some improvement was necessary in the road giving access to his house, as it was dangerous, especially in wet weather. He also asked that a road be formed to the boundary of section No. 1, on which he wished to build,—Referred to members for the riding. Mr T; M. Ball, Highway Board’s representative on No. 17 Highways Council, forwarded the highway estimates for the year 1930-31. Included in these was a free grant of £5,000 for surfacing the, Dunedin-Porto-bello lower road.—Received.

Mr D. Sutherland, Broad Bay, asked permission to fence off. and occupy about 60ft of the end of the road running up through the township of Margate. It was unlikely, he said, that the road would ever bo extended further owing to the steep and rough nature of the locality. That part of the road had been used as a rubbish dump, and was not in a very sanitary condition, ft was also covered with gorse. Should the request be granted, the writer would clean the place up and clear it of gorse, and would also remove a small shed which could easily bo removed if he was requested to do so by the council. Ho was willing to pay rental for the right asked.—Left to members for the riding to look into and report to next meeting. Mr W. Wilman, Broad Bay, drew attention to the state of Camp road through the trees at Larnach’s Castle. The metal required raking i>n in places and the remainder of the road required cleaning up, as the motor cars skidded in wet weather on the pine needles. The approach to the milk stand at Pnkehiki also required metalling.—The pine. needles to be raked off and the engineer to attend to the metalling. Messrs A. J. H'arbrow, I. Evans, and A. E. Richards drew attention to the bad state of the road at the top of Boss crescent. The road was used by live or six cars every week-end, and there had been more than one narrow escape from accident. The road was now impassable without chains.—Tho Engineer reported that he had left tho road to see if it. would dry to save scraping tho mud off, but it had not dried and a start in scraping off tho mud had been made.

Mr S. A, Skene wrote asking why Luss road had not been attended to in accordance with the council’s promise. After a day’s rain it was impossible to get over the unmetalled portion of Luss road (about 50yds).—Left to tho engineer to attend to. Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P., wrote thanking the council for kindly references to his services in obtaining a grant for the Portobello-Harrington Point road. As previously indicated, £750 had been placed on the Estimates, but tho Minister had given him to understand that more would bo available at a later date.—Received. Mr E. Fletcher Roberts wrote stating that ho had received instructions to negotiate with the council regarding the closing of roads that now intersect tho property of Alex. Smaill (deceased) at Tomahawk Valley. There were several, roads passing through the property which were not formed. Tiro present track from tho lower end of the Tomahawk Valley road to tho road on the top of the cliff was partly on a road which was surveyed in 1886 as an alternative to the original road, but which was never legalised.—Left to the chairman, Cr Brunton, and tho engineer. Mr W. Brookman. secretary of tho North-east Harbour Ratepayers’ Association, wrote stating that complaints had been received by his association that there was no turning place on the Marine Parade and that several accidents had occurred. Tho association was of opinion that the road should be carried right on as a one-way traffic street till it reached Collingswood road. He suggested that tho matter ho proceeded with as one of urgency.—Tho Chairman said as fur as making it a through road was concerned ho was very much opposed to it. It would not ho economic, and it would have a detrimental effect on tho amenities of tho place. It would mean felling some beautiful native bush, and tho road would bo so narrow that it would bo a source of clanger to motorists*, pedes-

trians, and school children who, on the instructions of their parents, used that road in preference to the main road.— It was decided to inform tile writer that the turning place had been provided and that the council did not recognise the necessity for any extension of the existing road; further, that the council was of opinion that the use of tho road as a one-way traffic road could not be enforced.

Mr Brookman also asked if there was sufficient money over and above the present cost of lighting in the district, for the installing of an additional light or lights.—The winter to be informed that there was enough money for two lights, and tho matter was left to the members for the riding. Mr Brookman asked when the next “clean-up day” would be .hold. He also brought under the notice of the council the dangerous state of tho blue gums near the steps at Miss Reynold’s property. The condition of Beach road in front of Mr Woodbouse’s property was very unsatisfactory, as also was the corner of Royal terrace and Macandrew street. —Referred to the members of the riding. Mr T. A. Armstrong, Secretary of the Portobcllo and Broad Bay Ratepayers’ Association, wrote drawing attention to tho fact that cattle were grassing in the Portobello cemetery on Sunday. October 19.—1 t was decided to write to the owner of the cattle' regarding the matter. SANITARY POSITION. The Sanitary Inspector (Mr R. W. Connor) reported that in most localities the sanitary condition was fairly good, but at Macandrew Bay a considerable number of complaints were being received regarding the disposal of household drainage. It was becoming increasingly difficult to know what to do to remedy matters until such time as a drainage scheme was in operation.— Received. RANGER’S REPORT. Tho Ranger (Mr A. H. Hall) reported that during the month he had found twenty-four head of cattle and four horses wandering in tho various ridings.—Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr S. G. Paterson) reported as follows on the work done:— Tomahawk Riding.—Patching odd pot holes has been done on Smaill’s road. Seventeen cubic yards of screeiiings have been spread on the Tomahawk main highway. The main highway has been graded in. Highcliff Riding.—Pot holes have been patched on Craigies road. Ten cubic yards of screenings have been spread on the High road. Tho easing of the turn at the Cafe has been commenced. _ - Sandymount Riding.—Tho resurfacing of the ■upper part of the Seal Point road has been completed. Tho repairing of the culvert on the main highway at Pnkehiki is nearing completion. Portobello Riding.—Tho widening at the top of Dickson’s Hill has been done, and requires metalling to complete the job. The contractor has commenced the widening of tho Portobello to Wickliffo Bay road. ' Broad Bay Riding.—Watertablos have been cleaned in Portobello township, and the spoil deposited in the lagoon. The formation of tho turning space at the Broad Bay Cemetery is complete, 1 and is being allowed to consolidate before metalling. A start has been made with tho easing of a sharp turn on M'Taggart’s road. Patching has been done on tho Beach road, and general maintenance work by tho grader on the same road. North-east Harbour Riding.—The turning area on tho Marino- Parade is complete, tho material being taken from the junction of Jane and Marion streets to improve tho turn. Slips have been cleaned on the Beach road, patching has been done, and the sur-, face maintained by tho grader. Tho report was received.

GENERAL. The Chairman and Crs Allan and Cross were appointed a committee to go into the matter of procuring .'a suitable site for a pound in, the vicinity of Portobello. It was decided that the work of clearing out water tables and tho draining of water off the road between Portobello and Harrington Point should be commenced. Accounts amounting to £632 were passed for payment. Cr Hellyer advocated that improvements be made to High street, Cosy Dell, at an estimated cost of £B3. On the motion of the chairman,_ it was decided that the work be put in hand.