LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL

Lake County Mail, Issue 4, 18 June 1947, Page 1

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting The monthly meeting of the Lake County Council was held on Wednesday evening and Thursday last, when theic were present Crs 13. H. Cockhurn (chairman), D. C. Aubrey, T. E. Bryant, A. E. W. A. McLean, D. R. Rowe and W. H. Thompson. On Thursday the councillors, accompanied by the county clerk (Mr E. R. Hopwood), and the county engineer (Mr H. A. Vezey), made an inspection of the Kingston Riding. Annual Estimates The greater part of Wednesday evening Avas devoted to the consideration of the annual estimates, which were presented by the county treasurer together with a resume on the financial aspects of the council’s activities. It was revealed that the previous year closed with a credit balance of £sl. Each item of expenditure and revenue was fully considered with a view to providing the maximum services at the minimum of cost for the forthcoming year. The Council approved the estimates as submitted and resolved to give public notification of its intention to strike and levy a General Rate of 2§d in the £ and a Hospital Kate of fd in the £ at its next meeting. Centennial Celebrations The matter of a donation to the Otago Centennial Celebrations and Memorial projects was deferred until a later date. The Internal Affairs Department forwarded a circular dealing with the procedure to be adopted in making applications for subsidy on Avar memorial schemes. The clerk Avas instructed to apprise committees within the county of the position. Road Conditions The county engineer (Mr H. A. Vezey), presented his report on the works carried out during the previous month, stating that grading had been carried out on most of the highways in the county and gravel spread on the QueenstownWanaka Main Highway, Speargrass Flat and Mill roads. The Main Highways Board’s request that gravel-starved highways be substantially built-up in the future had been taken in hand, and a start had been made on the highway betAveen ArroAVtowu and Queenstown. The neAV Loader-Dozer had commenced work on the Coal Pit road at Gibbston, and also on the Branches and Skippers r in highways. The Crown Range sect’nj of the Queenstown-Wanaka main hifl-./ay had been closed for the Avinter months. The usual maintenance work and attention to watertables had been pursued during the month. The proposed works for the ensuing month provided for the usual grading programme, repairs to the Macetown road track, clearing of slips on Tobin’s track, gravelling of the Mount Judah road where scoured near the Battery at Glenorchv, the construction of the western ’ approach to the temporary bridge at Jackhall’s Creek, Wanaka, and l iver protection work at Ballantyne s Crossing. The engineer stated that the improvements and gravelling of the Skippers highAvay from Arthur’s Point to the Saddle would be commenced. Ca 1 l for Tenders It was decided to re-advertise for lenders in connection with the construction of the S T '0 + ts Creek Bridge at Cardrona. The engineer reminded the council of the extreme difficulty encountered in securing labour and materials for such works. It was resolved that the engineer survey report upon a proposal from rate-

payers in the area to deviate Faulks road, Wanaka. It Avas resolved to obtain quotations for a new grader for consideration at the next meeting. Part-time Surfaceman for Kingston During the inspection of the Kingston Riding opportunity was taken to meet settlers and discuss their problems on the ground. Arrangements Avere made to employ a part-time surfaceman in the riding. Financial Position The treasurer submitted his monthly statement which set out the council s financial position after meeting all current commitments as a debit balance of £3662 10s 3d. Accounts passed for payment amounted to £2455 14s 9d. Electoral Rolls The Internal Affairs Department advised that as a result of legislation passed last year, it Avas noAV the duty of the county clerk to search the electoral rolls of the Wallace and Central Otago electorates and take note of the names of residents in the county, not being ratepayers, in order that the residential rolls of the county can be compiled for the elections which take place in November next. —The county clerk stated that he expected the certified rolls, amended to date, to arrive within affeA r days after AA’hich the Avork would he commenced and the rolls compiled. Scheme Modified The Public Works Department’s district engineer at Dunedin Avrote in reply to the council’s enquiry stating that the original proposals for the reconstruction and sealing of Ardmore street, Wanaka, Avere being revised with a view to modifying the scheme in order that the work could he put in hand during the coming season. The county engineer stated that, in company Avith Cr D. C. Aubrey, he met the resident engineer from Alexandra on the site of the Avork and discussed the question of modification. He stated that plans Avere uoav being prepared for the new proposals. Shortage of Materials The Building Controller communicated Avith reference to the need for local authorities to make certain that material* required for construction work Avere available before commencing the preparation of detailed plans and specifications of proposed undertakings. the county engineer referred to the fact that much difficulty was experienced in obtaining supplies. —Received. Representatives Appointed The county chairman, Cr D. H. Cockburn, Avas appointed to represent the council at the Counties’ Conference to he held in Christchurch during the month of July, the chairman to be accompanied by the county clerk who Avill also attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of County Clerks, to be held earlier. The Southland Progress League Avrote requesting the council’s financial assistance and asking that a representative be appointed to the league’s executive. —lt Avas decided to subscribe the usual amount of £5. Cr D. H. Cockhurn was appointed as the council’s representative. Remits Well Received The chairman stated that the Progress League of Southland had recently f’onvened a meeting of all local body representatives Avith the Southland members of Parliament and that the council had forAvarded three remits for the consideration of the conference. He had arranged for Mr J. N. Armour, of Invercargill, to represent the council and present its remits. Mr Armour communicated stating that the remits which referred to the Queem town Glenorchy road, South Island Local Bodies’ Association’s activities, and the matter of

afforestation had been very well received and unanimously adopted. —A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Ar-

mour. (Note: A report of the conference is included in this issue of the Mail.)

Dangerous Bridge

The Upper Wakatipu Progress League wrote seeking information in reference to the repairs and shortening of the Rees bridge, which the league stated was in a very dangerous condition. — After considerable discussion members agreed that the county engineer, in company with the Public Works Department’s engineer, should inspect the bridge immediately with a view to closing the bridge, if necessary, otherwise the repairs to the bridge to become the first priority on the programme of works. The manager, Glenorchy Motors Ltd. (Mr L. I. Smith), communicated upon the same matter and stated, further, that the bridge, when shortened and repaired, should be widened to take tourist buses.—lt was decided to advise Mr Smith that widening the bridge was out of the question, as most of the bridge would have to be demolished for re-building, in addition to the fact that a 3-ton limit (gross load), would have to be imposed after the bridge had been reconstructed.

General

In reply to an enquiry, the matter of advertising the Cardrona Nursery plantation and road reserve plantation for sale was left to the engineer.—An

application for posts from the plantation was declined pending the sale of the timber to a miller.

Mr A. L. Groves, for the Earnslaw Station owners, wrote stating that the area on the station known as the Leap field would be available as a temporary landing ground for aircraft. —Mr Groves to be thanked for the offer.

A request to proceed with the building of the Kowhai Creek Bridge was received from Mr A. L. Groves. —It was decided to advise Mr Groves that the council was not in a position to proceed with the work at present. The county engineer was requested to carry out certain river work to protect the road frontage of Mr J. H. Forbes’s property at Glenorchy as soon as the dozer was available. The clerk was authorised to issue slaughterhouse licences to Messrs Davidson Bros, and Lakeside Butchery, of Queenstown, and to Messrs Sanders Bros., Waitiri.