LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4671, 21 December 1944, Page 3

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL

The Take County Council met on Thursday last. Present: Mr D. H. Coekburn (chairman) Crs. T. E. Bryant, W. McLean, L. Lee, D. C. Aubrey, Jas. Reid. Leave of absence was grafted to Cr. A. E. Butson.

The chairman welcomed Mr J. Reid, the acting inspector, on taking up is position with Hie council. From the interest he had already evince;! in county affairs he (the chairman) felt that Mr Reid would fulfil his duties to the satisfaction of the council. Mr Reid returned thanks.

The Southland County Council wrote stating that advice had been received from the Hon. A. Hamilton, supported by the Hon. R. Semple, minister of works, indicating that the department have approved of the railway bridge at Garston being converted into a road and rail bridge. The estimated cost of converting the bridge is £923 and of constructing the approaches £4OO. The Southland County Council was ap plying to the Government for a £ for £ subsidy on the cost of converting the bridge and approaches, The Southland County Council would like to hear if the council is still prepared to contribute £2OO towards the proposed work. —Council decided to adhere to its original offer of £2OO towards cost of bridge,

The Dominion Trading Co. wrot< soliciting an order for flags for victory celebrations.—Received.

W. E. Barry, Minister in charge of Tourist and Publicity, advised lira! the Public Works Department had been requested to furnish a report on an application made by the council for a grant for the Kinloeh-Routeburn Valley road. The application would re ceivo favourable consideration. —Decided to telegraph Minister asking that work be undertaken in view of heavv tourist traffic.

The Department of Agriculture advised that the bonus on kea beaks had been increased to 5/- per beak, additional to, but not in lieu of the county bonus. In the case of keas killed on unoccupied Crown lands and so declared to the county by the claimant, the Government bonus of 5/- may be paid by the council and claimed for in the usual way.—lt was decided, after some discussion, to refer the matter back to the Department for clarification; also to ask Vincent County Council to sponsor a protest to the Government.

The District Highways Council advised that the representation made by the Main Highways Board re . peimit for the purchase of Famndl tractor was unsuccessful as all agricultural maclwioiy is imported under LendL ruse and tractors cannot be used for industrial purposes —Mr W Bodkdi. M.T - ., also wrote on the me M.sjed and t was decided to thank Mr Bodkin,

The organisation for National Development,- Wellington, circularised the council in reference to the matter of a satisfactory solution of the problems of post-war reconstruction and development. —The chairman was appointed to attend a meeting of the Regional Planning Council for both Otago and Southland. It was also resolved to write to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Director of the organisation, and the Counties’ Association asking what measures were being taken to authorise any expenses conned in attending meetings of the Regional councils or any other attendant expenses.

Acting upon a decision of a representative meeting of ratepayers of Wanaka and not having received any objections to a public notification of its intention to revoke the town planning scheme, the council resolved to take the necessary steps to revoke the scheme in its entirity. The Chief Postmaster, Dunedin,

wrote stating that vehicles were mounting the footpath in front of the Wanaka postoffice and marking the building. Writer asked the council’s views iu regard to the provision of an upright bicycle stand as suggested by the postmaster. —It was resolved to erect a three-post lliu. or 2is. pipe rail for a distance of 20 feet in front cf the post office. P. E. Smith, Cardrona, wrote complaining that road and bridge repairs promised by the inspector on certain conditions had not been mimed out. — Decided that a sub-committee investigate when visiting Wanaka. W. P. McDonald, Ben Lomond Stature Arthurs Point, wrote asking that when the Moonlight is at a iow level an experienced man with the nccessaiy material assist him iu destroying an abandoned dam which is meuaeng a sheep bridge between runs 10 and 12. The bridge also requires reconditioning.—lt was resolved that the inspector assist Air AlcDonaid in putting a charge in the dam and report to next meeting re state of bridge.

The monthly report of the Inspector of Health was received. The localities visited were Arthurs Point, Plankton, and Pembroke. The conditions generally were satisfactory.

R. H. Bryant, Kinloch, wrote asking the council that certain sharp bends in the Kinloch-Routoburn road be improved as he was shortly putting a new bus on the road. He offered to carry out the work for £G. —The council agreed to this arrangement.

The chairman made a report on tin Bouth Island Local Bodies’ conference which was held at Timaru am tabled the minutes of the proceedings He said there was little doubt the organisation would be definitely bone Jicial to the South Island. —It was re solved that the clerk give some of the salient points at next meeting. O Leo said that there was an entire ab scnce of parochialism at the meeting.

The chairman outlined the business of the Southland Catchment Board conference in Invercargill. He ' said the only portion affecting Lake county was at Parawa. There was little prospect of the rest of the county-being called on in connection with investi-

gations. The chairman was thankea for his

reports. The clerk submitted a report of private holdings in the area proposed to be reserved in Wauaka for recreational purposes and suggested that the owners be advised that the conn cil would not grant permits to build on these sections. —It was resolved that the owners of sections in blocks 1, 2, 5, 6, 13 and 18 be advised that

the council will not grant permis don to build in this area. Time was given to make enquiries regarding unknown

owners of sections in Wanaka town ship. The clerk was thanked for his report. INSPECTOR’S REPORT The acting county inspector reported that the surfaces of highways and roads throughout the county are in good ordt r with the e-ception of a three-mile section of No. 0 highway near Glenorehy whicn requires gravelling. An outline of work carried out in the respective ridings and proposed undertakings was submitted and approved.

The following programme of works was set ’out: Decking required on bridges on No. 3 highway at Coalmine Creek near Cardrona '111(1 at Crown

Terrace; inspector to approach Mr Re bertson in regard to putting in trees at Robertson’s bridge to protect the bridge; guide posts are required at culvert on Millers Flat near to .1. Reid’s entrance and D. 11. Coekourn’s road; the inspector to plant trees on the Macetown road for protection purposes; the inspector was authorised to commence work with the outside stuff on the Bth January instead of on the 15th January in order to da urgent highway work; the matter of the 'MI. Alfred road was deferred tilt nc:C

meting. The mechanic’s report was adopted

FINANCE STATC.M EN 1

The treasurer’s statement slum ml the debit balance at date to be £4SO!)/l!)/4. Current outstanding accounts amounted to £BIO/1/7. The

outstanding rates were £164 0/14/4. Other outstanding revenue was shown as £2788/6/5. The comparative position set out showed that the credit balance was £IBOB/1!)/10 as against £2073/12/5 at the same period last year. The report was adopted. The chairman extended the season’s greetings to the members of the council. He hoped there would be more prosperity and a better state • f things in the world during the next year. The greetings were reciprocated by tec council.