COUNTY COUNCIL

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 61, 7 August 1944, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

AUGUST MEETING. The nifonthly meeting of the Kai koura County Council took place on Friday afternoon, those in attendance being Councillors F. J. Monk (chairman), .1. Armstrong, W. S. Bennett, D. AL Jack, A. Howard, I’. 8. Humm, and G. E. T. Shand. Apologies were received for the absence of Crs. H. J. Hewson, E. C. Latter and R. R. Laidlaw. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Air James Davidson, an ex-councillor. CORRESPONDENCE. The No. 13 District Highways Conn cil representative <F. D. Grant) wrote in reply lespocting the proposed construction of a bridge over the Humbug i Creek, stating that any proposal for • bridging the creek would have to be i submitted to the Main Highways • Board. i Airs Al. Wells (Alain South Road) i wrote drawing attention to an open I drain at the corner of Deal Street and .Main South Road, in front of her residence, which she stated constitutes a grave danger to the travelling public I and travelling stock. An accident to | one of hei relatives had occurred re- ■ cent Iv. The writer asked if the drain

could be filled in.—The Chairman said hi? had spoken to Airs AVells concerning the m ( atter, and said if she was prepared to buy the necessary pipes the Council would do the work. The ditch had been in existence for 50 years. He moved that the writer be advised that the \ bun oil could not see any danger from the ditch. It was not the Council’s responsibility, and it was not on the main road. —Cr Jack said he had visited the site and was of opinion the ditch was dangerous. —Cr Bennett said if the work was done the Council would be accepting liability.—Cr. Humm agreed with Ur. Bennett’s contention, biit thought the water should have gone down Deal Street. —The letter was received.

The Lands and Survey Department, Wellington, submitted a schedule of charges for aerial surveys, the prices varying from £2 for a 3in plan per square mile, to £9 for a 12in.

SANITARY INSPECTION. ALr O. D. Cruickshank, Sanitary Inspector), in his report, notified that for the period from April 1 to June 30, 1944, the following matters had been attended to: — Infectious Disease Cases Investigated: Scarlet fever 18, disinfection 1. Sanitary Inspections: Dwellings 19, drainage and plumbing 13, septic tanks installed -I, water supplies 2, food premises 4, nuisances 2, sightsoil disposal 1. Samples submitted to the Government Analyst for analysis: Alilk 4, water 1. 'finned meat was inspected and found satisfactory at four general stores. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Stock Inspector (E. B. Smythe) reported: “I have to advise that I have received advice from the Director through the District Supreintendent that the scheme whereby financial assistance m<ay be given to counties for the control of noxious weeds, particularly ragwert, will be made available again this year, in cases where applications for allocations arc approved. It is considered by the Department that counties carrying out work on selective private properties should be requested to obtain a larger proportionate refund for expenditure on both labour and material, or where the material is supplied in whole or in part, as may be arranged, for the farmer to supply the labour. The writer asked that the matter be brought before the Council and arrangements made for the writer to receive a decision at an early date.

'l’he Chairman explained that the Council had sodium chlorate. No action was taken. REHABILITATION WORKS.

The Acting-District Engineer (F. D. Grant), wrote: At the request of my Head Office, a schedule of works is being completed in the form of a fiveyear programme for rehabilitation purposes. The Hon. Alinistcr has asked that local bodies be invited to submit a list of suitable works-of a- major nature that they may have in view that could be included in the programme. Local bodies should indicate whether they desire to carry out the works themselves or whether the Public Works Department would be required to construct them. In estimating the labour requirements of the various jobs this should be shown in man year, and a factor to be used would be approximately £BOO of the estimated cost per man year. This should allow ample for materials, accommodation, holiday pay, and plant charges in most cases. Where works have a lesser duration than one year they should be grouped, thus two jobs lasting six months each should be shown with half the number of men, so that the results will be obtained by dividing the estimated cost by £BOO. The works should be submitted in a schedule, specimens for whifth is set out The return is requested for not later than August 20, and should be treated as an urgent matter.

The matter was left to the Engineer HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

The Chairman stated that he and the County Engineer had attended the conference held at Christchurch regarding the hydro-electric schemes, and were greatly disappointed what had been done so far as the Clarence proposal was concerned. The Cobbe shen.e, said Air Monk, was likely to be completed bv Christmas time. Asked whether the Cobbe could be connected with Hie Clarence and the line continued to Waipara, it appeared as if the idea was to < r o on with schemes that would bring in revenue, instead of supplying service to the community. Mr F. T. AL Kissel informed him that the scheme would cost between £3OOO and £4OOO a mile. If the Clarence schein,e did eventuate it would probably go round the West Coast. There did not appear to be any chance of the Clarence scheme being undertaken for some considerable time. That was the Departments’s opinion, and there did not appear to be much hope for Kaikoura from the Clarence

Cr Shand asked if there was any possibility of obtaining some of the existing machinery from Blenheiiq. On his motion it was decided to ask the Engineer to keep in touch with the Department concerning the matter. On the motion of Cr Humm a vote of thanks was passed to the County chairman for attending the conference meeting and for his report.

GENERAL. Ihe Chairman reported regarding the public meeting in connection with the 1944 Patriotic Appeal (already published in the Star). Cr. HumiDj asked if the big boulders at Fernleigh crossing could be removed and the road increased in width by about six feet, and the matter was left to the Engineer.

Cr Bennett asked that a plank be put across the Kekerangu Stream for the purpose of supplying a crossing for the school children, and the matter was left to the Engineer. Cr Shand asked if the Council could investigate the scheme for building small prefabricated houses on lines sim/ilar to that adopted by the Bkr heim Council.—The Chairman said the Kaikoura Council was already inviting applications for State rental houses. It was decided to m.ake enquiries regarding the Blenheim scheme. Cr Armstrong suggested that treeplanting should be undertaken, as trees would keep the gorse down, and w>jlg become a great asset in the future. Cr Bennett said under the Catchment area scheme, Marlborough would likely move in this direction.

Accounts were passed for payment— General account £B7B 14/6, electric light £3OO. The Kaikoura Basketball Club reported that their recent stall had resulted in £l7 being collected. A donatoion of £3 3/ was received fronij the Basketball Club towards the Domain Fund, for which the Club was accorded a vote of thanks. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Air T. O’Donnell (County and Electrical Engineer) reported as follows for the month of July:— Kaikoura-Waiau Main Highway: This highway has been graded with the power grader from Conway to Kaikoura. Water tables have been cleaned out and culverts opened. Robb’s Road: Maintenance grading has been carried out.

Suburban Riding Roads: Maintenance grading has been carried out and 328 cubic yards of metal carted out of the Waimangarara and Long Creek and spread on the roads. The decking on Ward’s Creek bridge has been renewed. A wooden culvert on the Grange Road has been replaced with a 21in concrete pipe.

Town-Area: General maintenance to channels and gardens has been carried out. The footpaths on the Esplanade have been cleared of grass and a portion metalled with riverbed metal, 38 cubic yards having been spread. Plant: An accident occurred to tin angledozer while operating on the Long Creek road. A portion of the road car ried away letting the over a 15ft bank. AA’ith the aid of Air V. L. Smith’s angledozer the machine was winched back on to the road and towed to where it could be loaded on the Council’s truck. As instructed by the insurance company, the machine has been forwarded to Christchurch for repairs. Wc are at present overhauling one of the Reo trucks. The report was adopted.