LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume 4185, Issue 4185, 20 November 1934, Page 3

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ordinary and special meetings' of the Lake County Council* were held in the- Public Hall, Pembroke, on Tuesday last, November 13. Present: Ors. L. Lee (chairman), Geo. Reid, W. A. Bovebt, W. Gordon, W. S. Reid and D. H. Coekburn. The minutes of last meeting, as circulated amongst members, were confirmed.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting was then held for the purpose of moving by .special order a resolution increasing the number of councillors to seven. The resolution, which was moved by Crs Geo. Reid and W. S. Reid, and carried, provides for the following riding representation: Queenstown and Arrow ridings, 2 members each; Wan.aba, Greenstone and Kingston ridings, 1 member each. The alteration comes into force in the month of May. ORDINARY MEETING.

The Public Works Department wiied as follows“ Main Highways Board have approved your Council constructing Gardnera Valley bridges by day labour, but subsidy limited to an expenditure not exceeding twelve bundled pounds.” The Public Works Department, Waitaki Hydro, wrote, stating that joists from 15 feet to 40 feet in length were available at £lO per ton f.o.b. Kurow—Ten pairs of available lengths between 23 and 25ft were ordered. The Chairman stated that the Lake County’s* share, of the cost of the bridges would be £4OO, making the full amount to be expended £I6OO. _ The District Highways* Council, Dunedin, circularised the Council in respect of subsidy for Local authorities towards cost of consulting engineers and Public Works Department service for bridge designing—Received. The Transport Department, Wellington, forwarded a copy of extract from N.Z. Gazette of 18th October, containing approval of the Minister of Transport of the classification* of roads in Lake County—Received. _ The Transport Department circa larised the Council concerning detailed results obtained regarding car brakes and lights check, and asked for any comments and suggestions the Council considered necessary for the. future enforcement of the regulations relating thereto. —It was decided that teste of brakes and lights could be carried out by any competent motor car mechanic as well as in the garage. The Department of Landis and Survey, Dunedin, wrote enclosing schedule showing list of forest reserves in Lake County, the reservation over which it was proposed to have uplifted If the Council desired, arrangements could be made to vest the areas in the Council for tree-planting purposes; and provided the Council could' have the preparation and planting work carried out with unemployed labour, the State Forest service would supply the tree stocks free of charge at the nursery. The reserve referred to comprises 829 acres 3 roods 27 poles in block 14, Lower Wanaka. —lt was resolved to allow Messrs Wylie Bros, and Weathered! to renew their lease over portion of the reserve and to plant the balance of the reserve when the reservation was ,upJlifted. The Valuation Department, Wellington, wrote, in reply to the Council, stating that the list of new buildings erected ini Lake County was being sent to Invercargill with instructions to have the larger buildings valued on occasions when there was other work in the locality warranting a visit of a valuer thereto. —Received. *

The Receiver of Gold Revenue, (Queenstown, advised that the Min is ter of Mines had approved of the Amalgamated "Kawaami G.M. Co. Ltd. being given until the 30th June, 1935, within which, to pay the rental on special dredging claim.—Re - ceived.

\V. A. Bodkin, M.P., forwarded for the Counoil's information copy of letter from the Minister of Landis reproposed addition to Sounds National Park of areas along new Te AniauMilford Sound noad. The effect of the clause w'as to include within the Park boundaries some 48,440 acres of provisional State forest reserves situated generally in the Eglinton and Upper Hollyfoid Valleys.—Received. \V r . A. Bodkin, M.P.j wrote asking for the Council’s views on the abolition of the £2500 limit on which a subsidy on rates collected is allowed. The Southland County Council had ashed the member to us© his efforts in the direction indicated and to obtain a straight out subsidy of 5e in the £ granted to all counties. Mr Biodkin also forwarded copy of letter sent by the Hon. Mr Coates to the Southland County Council regarding increased subsidy on rates, in which it was stated that it would be inadvisable to make any alteration until the matter of rural local administration had been enquired into. —Received.

W. A. Bodkin, M.P., wote re obtaining some assistance ior Messrs Kirkland and McLennan in the way of access to their runs in the Wilkin Valley. The writer was unsiucccstsflul in his applications to the Public Works and Lauds Departments and had taken the matter up with the Unemployment Board. The Council was asked if it would make application to the Minister of Public Works to have the work done. Mr Bodkin intimated he would then take up the matter with the departments named and see if lie could' get some men transferred on to the work immediately the Makai ora - Wanaka ioa 1 w a,- completed. —Deceived. The Inspector stated that no work had been done on the road for some time as the track had slipped away in several places. The engineer-clerk, Vincent County Council, wrote inviting a suggestion as to the amount that should be paid! by way of subsidy towards purchase of kea beaks. Uniformity was sought in the charge between Lake and Vincent Counties. A further letter, in reply to the Council, was received agreeing to subsidise the purchase of kea beaks at 2s each. The engineer-clerk, Vincent County Council, wrote asking for further information re Group Traffic Inspector. —Deceived. 1

The clerk, Taieri County Council, Mite isitatirug- that his Council was averse to making any voluntary change ini the present group traffio inspection scheme. Satisfaction was expressed* with the present arrangeracintsi for controlling motor traffic — Received.

The clerk, Bruce County Council, advised that Ms Council could rot (See its way to agree to the proposal to change the present group system of traffic inspection. The chairman told the Council that Mr R. K. Gardiner, engineer to the Waitaki County Council, had visited Queenstown since last meeting and during a conversation with him he pointed out that the object in proposing some change in. the present •group system was to arrive .at a more satisfactory arrangement. The chairman said he suggested that if an arrangement could be. made* to have group systems in 'North and South Otago the inspectors could* co-ordi-nate in working the two districts and thus ensure a more, satisfactory service. Mr Gardiner agreed with this point of view. He (the chairman) said that Hake County would, in any case, continue! to pay their quota of cost under the present group until the term expired at the end of February. They would also pay the first instalment on the car, on condition that if they withdrew from the group a refund would be made of a portion of the payment. If the, Council was dissatisfied with the service that was being given at the end' of February they could go into l the question of doing the work with their own inspector, which might not cost them any more than at present., The matter of loadameteais would be: the only difficulty.

After a short discussion it was resolved that the Council arrange its own traffic inspection when the present term expired. The Southland League wrote stating it was pleased to know that the wishes, of the Council in connection with a-survey of the GlenorchyQueenstown road were being given effect to. The Council was assured of the Leagucls cordial interest and support.—Received. The secretary, Mt. Cook Tourist Go, of N.Z., wrote enclosing official invitation for the chairman or a councillor to be present at the week-end gathering at the Hermitage from November 30tli to* December 3rd. —Clerk to write thanking the Mt. Go(ok Tourist Co. for their invitation and stating that the Inspector and Cr. Obckburn will be pleased to be present. CATTLE FLAT ROAD.

\V. B. Steel, secretary, Otago Expansion League, wax#© noting that a grant of £IOO had been mad© by the Government fo)r the Cattle Plat no ad. It was hoped l the Council would be able to doj domething towards its. improvement during the summer, parclularly the section firojm. the Leaping Burn "Bridge to the Niger Hut. Mr of Mt. Aspiring run, situated; a little over Wo miles further on from Niger Hut, waited on the Council and asked for some, means of access l to life run over the Matukituki river. When the river was high people were held 1 up two or three days. Proper access was much needed in cases of sickness. Mir Aepinall asked the Council if it would provide a cable in order to erect a chair across the west arm of the river. If the Council would do this he would assist with the anchorage. Mr Aspinall also asked that some of the creek crossings on Cattle Plat road he attended to'. They were impassable at times. He offered labour, cartage and horses, etc., by way of helping the Council. The Chairman stated that some money was available for the Cattle Plat road and the Council would be prepared to assist the settlors to bridge some Of the creeks. A number of settlers living in proximity to the Cattle Plat road then waited on the Council to put their case.

The chairman, in welcoming the deputation, stated that the Council decided to hol'd their ordinary meeting at Pembroke in older that the members could .make themselves acquainted with that part of the Cotunty, and give' the settlers, an opportunity to 1 meeting the Council in person. Mr Willis Scaife said the eeibtlem were pleased to welcome the Council. Pembroke, he considered, was really more correctly the county town than Queenstown. As an ex-cpuncillor, he could appreciate the financial difficulties through which they had' been passing. At the same time ho considered that the riding expenditure should be: increased. Npw that the County plant had been improved by the addition of another grader, they would like to) see more of the smaller grader on this 1 side pf the hill. Til© grading work, ini the past, was generally done at a time least suitable for this work. Mir Scaife then went on to stress the necessity ot giving more attention to the, reading oar Cattle Flat. Motor traffic was held up every year on account of the state of the creeks. A culvert was badly wanted at Glendhu Creek. Two small creeks near Mir Aubrey'ls place on Cattle Flat should also be bridged to give motor traffic better .aoceisis. Jack Hall’s Greek was also mentioned for attention. Ho assured the Council that the settlers would give all the assistance possible in these undertakings. ' . Messrs 1). C. Aubrey, Noel Scaile and H. Barker supported the remarks of Mr V'. Seaife. Mr J. Faulks drew the Council’s attention to the fact that dire bridge which crosses the Cardrona creek had been washed away, making it difficult for children attending school from Mt. Barker. He hoped the County Council would do something to relieve the present situation. In reply to Or. Boivett, the chairman said the inspector intended to have the bridge replaced. The chairman, replying to the deputation, stated that some years ago the Council recognised the necessity for more, modern equipment. It purchased machinery with which it could cope more expeditiously and effectively with road maintenance. Recently the plant was added to by | the purchase of another and more ! powerful grader and it was hoped now I to release the smaller grader for the

work outlined by Mr Soaife. This grader could be brought to Wanaka filter it had been in Greenstone .and Kingston ridings. The new Auto* patrol grader would .also be employed in the riding at a Later period. They appreciated the offer of assistance. and he assured the deputation that the Council would give their request sympathetic consideration. (Continued on page 5)