LAKE COUNTY

Lake County Mail, Issue 17, 17 September 1947, Page 3

LAKE COUNTY

Monthly Council Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Lake County Council on Thursday was attended by the chairman, Cr I). H. Cockburn, Crs E. Bryant, W. H. Thompson, A. E. Butson, D. Aubrey, D. Rowe and W. A. McLean. The treasurer’s statement showed that the debit balance was £5380 19s Id, plus accounts to pay amounting to £289 3s sd. The current rates were estimated to produce £9934, less £742 12s lid paid during the month. The outstanding revenue from various sources, amounted to £3,234 10s sd. The increase in the rates due to new valuations was £950. Mr W. D. Sullivan, Glenorchy, advised that he was constructing a temporary truck rail over the Mount Judah road from Sinimon’s corner. Later on the writer would require to build the road up two feet to bring it up to the same height as his scheelite one. Permission to do the work was referred to the engineer. The Local Government Commission advised that the formation of Clutha Catchment district is at present under consideration by the Local Government Commission. The latter will hold a public inquiry into the matter at Dunedin on September 24. The Tuapeka County Council wrote stressing that every council should be represented at the meeting. The Council decided to associate itself with the project. The chairman of the Charter Common Fund Board forwarded circulars setting out •witftfhad been done in the “ Tell the People ” campaign in furthering “ The Battle of Britain.” Mr W. H. Maxwell, Mount Barker, reminded the council of a promise to do something to access to his property. The writer stated that he Avas unable to fulfil the council’s Avish to carry out any AVork owing to no labour being available. —Matter left to engineer to attend.

i SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD LEVY

The Southland Hospital Board advised that it. is prepared to levy, by way of contribution from local authorities in each year, an amount equal to .5d in every £ of the capital value of all the rateable property in the district of the board. In the council’s case the levy is £■ 1501 2s Id. The rate of levy for 1947-48 is ,5d in the £ as against 0.(i49d in the £ for 1940-47, a decrease of 23 per cent. In view of the efforts of Mr Alex. Burnett, Cecil Peak Station, to induce Government departments to assist with a road from the jetty to the homestead having failed, he asked if the council would consider forming half a dozen small culverts on the road. —Referred to the engineer. Messrs H. Mackenzie and Sons, Walter Peak, wrote pointing out the urgency of employing the grader on certain roads in the Walter Peak-Mount Nicholas area. —The engineer was instructed to carry out urgent works as soon as possible. The council gave permission to Mr J. P. McPherson, Fairlig'ht Station, Garston, to erect a swing gate and install a cattle stop on the Cainard Station road, a distance of about 30 chains westward from Pairlight Station. The Building Controller circularised the council re amendment of Building Emergency Regulations, with particular emphasis to the limited use of cement. Mr H. Emerson, Motatapu, Wanaka, drew the council’s attention to an un-cared-for section of road from Glendhu Station to the Motatapu, and the want of a reliable ford through the river.— Engineer to attend.. A request of Mr A. F. Sutherland, Birchdalc Station, Greenstone, to assist in making the road at the Greenstone Wharf more accessible was referred to the engineer.

ENGINEER’S REPORTS

The engineer's report for the month showed that grading had been carried out on the Arrowtown-Lake Hayes and Queenstown-Wanaka main highways and on other roads. Water tables , and ditches had been attended to on Cave farm road. In the Greenstone riding a culvert had been repaired on Mount Judah road and Ihe scoured section had been gravelled. Pot holes have been tilled in on Priory and Campbelltown roads. The Glenorchy-Paradise main highway was now in very good order. Potholes had been filled in on the Kingston Loop road. Owing to ill-health of the surfaceman a new appointment would have to be made. Grading and surfacing had been carried out on the main highway in Queenstown Riding and Skippers highway had received attention where necessary. The Upper Shotover road will not he fit for traffic until it is graded. In the Wanaka riding grading has been carried out where necessary and patch-gravelling done on sections of the Glendhu-Aspir-ing and West Wanaka roads and Queenstown-Wanaka highway. The river diversion below the Motatapu bridge was completed during the month. The protective work above Ballantvna's bridge has also been completed. The Deep Creek (Skippers) crossing proposal was discussed with the Public "Works engineer and is not recommended.

SOUTH ISLAND LOCAL BODIES’ ASSOCIATION

The chairman made a report on the business transacted at the conference of South Island Local Bodies, Association. It was decided to prepare remits for the next conference, to be held in Invercargill in December. These will include favourable consideration of the early prosecution of the Glen-orchy-Qucenstown road; internal air feeder routes via Otago Central at Cromwell at Frankton aerodromes. In reply to the Council, the engineer sad the lowering of the Rees River bridge would have to be undertaken in the future.' —Tt was decided that the new council visit the bridge after tin? election. The clerk was instructed to write to the Building Controller asking that ho expedite the erection of private buildings in the county