WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 5 March 1914, Page 6

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waimea County Council was held to-day. Present : "Crs. H. Everett (Chairman).' PBest, Drummond, E .S. Hoult, G. Macmahon, T. Hewetson, J. Corder, ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr G. S. "Whiteside) reported inter alia :—r.Maaai Riding: A new concrete and steel bridge at- Blade Bone, Collins Valley, is in course of erection. Since last meeting 200 cubic yards of shingle has been put on the Stoke road, at an approximate cost of 6s a yard. Wai-iti Riding : Two new stringers have been put in the Wai-iti bridge. At Belgrove the Pretty Bridge corner is being improved. Motupiko Riding : The road machine has finished Orinoco Valley and Rosedale Hill. Minor works have been attended to throughout the riding. Wangapeka Riding : The Australian hardwood timber had arrived for Donald's Creek bridge, and the work will be put in hand as soon as possible. In regard to Lublow's bridge, the Engineer reported that it was a private bridge constructed with the approval of the Council, which did not contribute anything towards the cost. It was too frail for a public stock bridge. As instructed by the Council, he had notiried the owner that it must not be obstructed for public use. However, if the Council insisted on this, it would be undertaking a responsibility and liability that it might not be aware of. By complying with the formalities governing private bridges the owner could charge persons for using it, or treat them as trespassers. Motueka Riding : No. 1 road machine is at- work on the Takaka Hill road, and a gang is also employed metal patching. Regarding iron bark for the Motueka bridge, he found that there would be considerable delay and cost in procuring a supply. He strongly urged that ferroconcrete piles be made on the spot. He would also suggest that the Council serir ously consider the advisableness of increasing the width of the eastern portion that is to be renewed. The Council •would no doubt bear in mind that it was preparing for traffic 30 or 40 - yeais. hence on an important provincial highway. * Moutere Riding: A start has been made with the construction of Horton's bridge, on the Tasman road. During the month 135 cubic, yards of metal had been put on the Moutere Hills road with the traction engine gang. The engine is undergoing slight repairs, and when these were completed the work would" be continued. Government grants: Thirteen plans and specifications have been approved, and the authorities issued for different grants. The work will be put in hand as soon as possible. FINANCE. Accounts were passed—Land Fund Thirds Account £9l 14s 4d; Genera! Account £B6B 17s 2d. The statement of bank "balances was : Dr.: General Account £6444 12s 4d. Cr: Contractors' Deposit Account £l6 17s: Interest Account No. 1 Rocks Road £9E 14s; Do. No. 2 Nsatimoti Bridge £l3 2s 7d; Do. No. 3, Baton Bridge £l3 59d •- Do. No. 4. Sherrv Bridge £l9 9 2d: Do. No. 5. Peninsula Bridge £2f 4s 3d; Land Fund Thirds Account £lsl 9s lid. The matter of widening he Motueks Bridge was deferred till next meeting. In reply to Cv. Macmahon the En gineer said that the cost of metallinp by the traction plant was costing more than was expected. Cr. Hoult commented strongly on the whole plant, and contended that it was useless. He had k always been opposed to the plant, and his opposition, according to results,* was justified. Cr. Macmahon also said the engine was not a sticcess. Cr. Drummond said the Council had given the engine a good trial, but it was not proving successful. Every month the engine required repairs. Cr. Best said it was stated that in a year's time the engine would be completely worn out. If that was correct, there "was radically wrong. The engine should be thoroughly spected by an expert. If it was'no good the Council should sell it for what i'could get—the first loss would be tht best. , ■ The Chairman .said the same type o. engine was being used in other parts, and new orders were being given. He was not prepared to condemn the engine at the present time. Cr. Hewetson said there was a lot of talk about repairs to the engine, but as a matter of fact there had been practi"callv no Tepairs. A few little things had had to be done . He. was quite satisfied that the engine was all right. Cr. Macmahon said there must be an alteration, and at once. He was abso lutely opposed to the present state of things "being allowed to continue. Cr. Hoult moved that the engine be put aside for a month, and that the driver be given -notice. Cr. Macmahon seconded the motion. Too much of the • ratepayers'- money wa; being spent on the Moutere Hill—in experimenting, -for it was nothing but that. ■ " Cr. Hewetson opposed the motion, ar this was the best time of the year fo* the work to be done. The Engineer said he was quite satis- j fied with the nature of the work being done. He heped the Council would not stop the work before the Hill was finish ed. . R . Cr. Best did no: think ifc w:se to lay up the engine. . The Chairman sa K l the E-d road must be kept open. The remainder of the country had not suffered because of the work on the Mcute-e Hills. There would not have been much difference between the cost of engine work and horse work. He could not support the motion. He moved as an amendment tha.t the driver be given a month's notice" in terms of his appointment, and that the matter be lift in-the hands of the Engineer. The amendment was put.—Ayes (4) Crs Best, Hewetsrn, Corder, and the Chairman. Noes (3K Crs. Drummond, Macmahon. and Hoult. The ' amendment, becoming the motion, was carried on the voices. The Engineer's report was then adoptThe chairman reported' having visited the road in Picreon Valley coirpbincd of bv Mr A. McPherson. He recommended certain work to cost about £ls, suggesting that the parties interested pay half thft cost and the Council the other half. Failing such an offer bv the parties he advised the Council to do new work, but to continue tne maintenance as in the past. Regarding the road near Mr Kei: yon's the chairman recommended the Council to erect a new fence m lieu of the one destroyed along, the lower eclgtvof the latter. As to the apnroach to Mr George Kinzetfs property at Awa the chairman recommended fb? Council to adhere to its previous resolution and not to accede to his request. Th* -whole of the f«r<-t- was adopted. Crs Macmahon and Hoult stvmcU- cppo3inz the recommendation in reg:>rd' to Mr Kinzetfs request*. In view of the adoption of the lepr-rt, a notice of motion bv Cr Mucivxh >n that the resolution passed bv the- f o>m-"l Bth January last declining to n> ant G. W. Kinzetfs request for apnroi-.-h be rescinded. wa= rot complied with CORRESPONDENCE . The City Council inquired whether tbe County Council-would eontr'bme towards the cor-t of improving the drc.-o.ng sh<-ds at the Sands. "The proposed work won id C r «t £2O of £3O, and it was printed cut fyat the sheds were larjply made use oi

by people from the Waime.is. -Rcs< ivid (Hewet-son —Macmahon) that the Council has no funds for rhe purport. Ratepayers iu She. rv Valley billed cttemiou to the bad sft.ite -.-i ;Ijp load' if Slippery Creek.—lle->iwd (Pi uminoi,-l Macmahon), that the ma-.hina ue put on the road. Mr J. A. Guy. Ngati.noii, api-l ed for permission to make an altera am in road leading to his house and for L'« uncil help.—Resolved (i'lirn-niM —Hewe:sou), that the Council assist with •vo days' work. The Town Clerk, JvK-liiekii, iir.unattd that his Council would p;.\ h.ilf the i ost of removing willows on tne seto:d island above the Motueka bridge. Messrs Snodgras's <ii.-.l .\ji'n>r f npvoJa-'n-ed that the road vi&i w-nking i-n the Moutere Hill Road ha-J :hv6w;i matiria: against their fencing, ooiug lome damage. The Council was n-quested to repair the damage.—Resolved (Ht wetson —Hoult), that ••r.y dap,ace be i good. Mr Lublow wrote etati.ig ;i at he had not attempted to stop t runic over the bridge. In regard o1: s private *hotp bridge he did not v 'on- tattle to c.-.-s it, as it was at pre3;:it out 5t i<-i)an ai.u had not been eonstrv.ct'M for cir'e. Tne Council could have the t:,i ulut it co*=: him. matter w.is ret'e-red tf: :o tiic Engineer's Teport.) The Chairman said.'hat if ! he foundations of the brid/e were en Council p:o----pei ty the Council musi :,'.j-:e ovr-r rre bridge, and make it heaver, to cany traffic. The Council had improper.y given Mr Lublow permission to ♦he bridge, no .inrho: ty to do so i.ivii.g be-m delegated to tne Cou.uil »>y tlie (>•->- vevtior ;u-Counc : l Either ;.ic i mi.st be s'i- : ,-thened <■■: •> :i list :n- ricinoi-.-li ;d 'r I. o'.Tt nsk.'.-. vho w .u'J 'e '-sprvr. sible if thexe was an accident - ' I '.«- v. hair man : I'll-* Ci hi.;-i! Cr Hoult moved that the bridge be removed at once. 1 !e n.r.uoii wes ;,;i-t i b-.i ■ j H.'ac.iiahors ■ n«ved :'ia;- tin < riuncil apply to the Governor-in-Coum il to i-.\v t.- necessa'» T a Ah -r::y. t.> r.ut 'I.matter in legal form. It would be a pity to demolish the bridge. If the Cotin-;-i; -.v t~ under at', - llu T'i' - t *.\ -t.l-' *:• t • > iionmond ;ec-oib?J Cr Mr.rniHhon's motion, agreeing that it would be too drastic an action to demolish the Cr Macmahon withdrew his motion and moved another one. that the opinion of Mr T. F. Martin, (solicitor to tbe County Councils Assuj ,ii.i-n) be <btained in connection with the matter.— Carried. A letter was received from Mr Charles Trower and others, Wakefield, objecting to sign any document indemnifying the Council against any action for da.niag'.s which might be taken again.-t the Council on account of the groin lately erected by Mr Trower and' others in the Waiiti River (on the Wakefield side), a short distance above the Wakefield-Pigeon Valley bridge; and suggesting that the matter could be settled by the erection of a groin on the opposite side of the river, and asking the Council to contribute towards the cost. It was resolved (Hoult —Corder), that the Council grants permission to tne persons interested to erect a groin on the western side of the river, and that the Council declines to contribute towards the cost. The Council further resolved to take no action regarding the piles of the bridge. .Mr D. Drummond, T.ower Moutere, Waited on the Council in regard to cerrain works.-—Resolved- that, the Chairman, Cr Hewetson, and the Engineer report on the matters referred to by Mr Drummond. A conversational discretion took place regarding.motor traffic, and it was eventually decided to seek the opinion of Mr T. F Martin as to whether it was competent to make an annual charge on motor cars andr motor bicycles. The Stoke waterworks loan proposal having been carried, it "was resolved to levy'a special rate of l-8d in the £ over the special rating area, and to call for tenders for the loam of £BOO. The Chairman was appointed to interview the Stoke Road Board in reference to matters connected with the cemetery. The "Engineer wa sinstructod to inspect- the Appleby Bridge, in view of, some complaints made.. The Chairman moved and Cr. Houltseconded. that tenders be called for gravelling Church Hill road, Wakefield. —Lost. . In reply to Cr. Drummond, the Engineer stated that the gravelling at the Sherry would be gone on with as ( soon" as possible. .The work was laid out ar.d the plans passed, and all that was re-' quired was to get a gan^. The Treasurer was instructed to pay to the various road boards the -amounts to' their credit to 31st, March. GOVERNMENT GRANTS. The Engineer reported that the following grants would be proceeded with it once : £ Motueka Vallev io "Wangapeka 100 Maitai Road, £ for £ 75 Quail Valkv. £ for £ 100 Alexander Bluff Road, £ for £ 65 Pearse to Baton I°o WaiToa Goitre Read IAS Sherrv to Tui 212 Pearse River- Bridge, £ for £ 160 Motueka Valley (Faulkner's) 200 Hippulite Bridge 150 Wangapeka to jTadmor River 200 Picreon Vallev Hill to Dovedale, £ for£ ' 250 Wangapeka Settlement to Dart River 200