WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 6 March 1925, Page 7

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Tiie 1110ntlit.y liieeUilg of the WaiulCA Comity Council was held .yesterday at tiie Council offices-. Nelson. .Present: Chairman (Mr P. Best). Gvs. H. Tuimicliffe, J. Cerder, Goo. Macmalinn. W. A. Kenyon. 0. C. Wilkiiiiion. 11. G. Berryman, A. Drummond, and T. llewef«u*u FIN ANCJ2

I Accounts amounting to £.1499 16s 4d I were passed for payment. | Replying to Cr. Colder, the secretary 1 said the general expenses for the month I amounted to about £IOOO. 1 MAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS i The expenditure on the main roads and $ highway?, including payments sth Feb- | mary 1925, were | Estimates. Expenditure. I £s. d. £ a. d. $ General, including

I The overseer's (.Mr Brough) report, was , read. 11 mentioned that in regard to the stone crusher at. Appleby, no trouble at all had been experienced with horse trn Hie. Arising out of the report it was resolved that provisions of the noxious weeds Act be enforced in certain instan.ees where owners have received notice to cleatX Cr Wilkinson moved that the Department be asked to move back telegraph poles, at packing shed corner, Itiwaka.— Carried. Cr Wilkinson referred to the dangerous state of the Motirekn bridge and the Engineer said that the matter of declaring same a public road was now ; before the Tiighwav Board. Cr Wilkinson moved that application lie made to have the Motueka Harbour road declared a main highway. Seconded by Cr Mncmnhoti and carried. CV 1 lewd.son moved a vote of thanks to Major Dagger and other residents for protecting the ratepayers' interests. Cr Macmalion congratulated the Engineer and the overseer on the success of the bitumen work. The overseer's report for the month of February was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT The County Engineer (Mr J. T. M. Brewster) reported inter alia for the month : Wangamoa Riding.—During the mouth there was a heavy flood at Wangamoa. Quite a number of the culverts were not large enough to carry the water, and the road, in places ,was considerably scoured. Scrub and noxious weeds nave been cut- on Shariand'si road between. IVlaitai road and first creek crossing. 1 would recommend that repair works be carried out on the Maitai road, commencing at the city boundary. Stoke Riding.—Work in connection with the bitumen work on the main Highway is proceeding satisfactorily, but 1 have been hindered to some extent by the weather conditions of late. The road between Poor Man's Valley road and the Turf Hotel has been closed to traffic. Unfortunately it was not possible to throw the road open for race traffic, and under the conditions tiie Police Department are to be congratulated on Hie manner in which they controlled t.ho traffic. The necessary plan for the carrying on of bitumen work lias been transported to Stoke, furnaces have been constructed, boilers installed, and gear erected for the rapid handling of the bitumen. Thanks are due to Major Dagger and others in protecting the bitumen road on Sundays, at no Jittle inconvenience to themselves.

Wai-iti Riding. —The cost of constructing the approacneo to the concrete bridge at. Bright water, was 2/1 per cubic yard, and the lowest tender lor the work was 3/1. in company with A. Tumncliff 1 inspected the river erosion at Mr Martin s, tiie culvert giving access to Mr Davis, and proposed access to Messrs Taylor and Baigent s properties. ivlotupiko Ruling.—The District Railway Engineer lias approached me with reference to gravel running over the railway line and road in Norris’ Gully. This matter can be discusoed during the Council’s tour oi the district. The cottage at Tapawera has been completed. Appleby Riding.—Flans of concrete bridge at Redwoods Valley stream have been completed and forwarded to the Highway Board for approval, and on receipt c.t same tenders will be called for constru etion.

Motueka Riding.—Permission has been granted Motueka Harbour Board to put clown track from the cool store to tiie wliari', provided they Keep the road levels. During their torn; of the country 1 would like the Council to inspect the damage done to Mr 0. C. Beat’s property.

General.-—During the month in (he presence of Mr Kav (representative of Booth McDonald) and Mr Skitrop, C.E., the bitunicnt sprayer was given a trial run and proved satisfactory. .Slight alterations were made to the" sprayer whereby the hose and nuzzle arc cleaned by pumping hot air through them in the place of oil of tar as originally designed. If the Council intend in the future to use bitumen on the roads, J. would recommend that they consider purchasing a pre-heater for heating the bitumen. By using one of these machines a considerable saving will be made, as it is possible lw heat the bitumen in under two hours and the barrel staves are practically all the firing material required. Under the present method by using tanks it lakes from 4 to 5 hours to beat the bitumen to the required temperature. During the month 60 motor drivers’ licenses have been issued. This is a very small percentage of the licenses to .be issued tin the County, and as all drivers of motor vehicles are to be licensed by the Ist April next, provision should bo made for some person to be iti attendance at the County offices during the whole of March to attend to this work.

Cr Hewetsoii emphasised that i,n respect to the concrete bridge at Brightwatcr. the Council had effected a having ot about. 3.5 per cent, which showed that the Council had the interests of the ratepayers at heart.

In reply to Or. Corder, the Engineer “ ,tJ . thc , ccat °/ the StokeKichmond road amounted to 4/2 D cr chain. (I.lns included depreciation on machinerv).

Unsolved that the Engineer confer with °r. Drummond in reference to fencing of cottage at Tapawera. ° That in the matter of R. q. Davies'

application for renewal of culver!; To give approach to lim property. the Loin missioner of Grown Lauds he informed that in the opinion of this Council if is a matter for Mr Davies to carry out at his own expense. The Engineer's report for the month of February was .adopted. The Health Inspector's (Mi' H. C-olt-nuui) report War fetid. Three cases of infantile paralysis for the month had occurred, one ending fatally. In compliance with the Department's regulations the cases hail been sent to the hospital. Cr Hewelsou itliivPii dial lliO Health Office- take nocbssiify steps to report non-complin nee with the regulations in legat'd to infantile paralysis. The Health Officer’s report for February was received. Application was read for tho position of dayman in the Dovedale Hiding, and L. M. Davies (Wakefield) was appointed. Three applications were received. * CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence was dealt with from the following:— Fell and Harley, solicitors, forwarding legal opinion re stone crusher at Appleby and Council’s liability. Fell and Harley, solicitors, forwarding legal opinion re hawkers’ licenses. The Council went- into committee to consider both t-iiese letters. On the Council resuming Cr. Corder moved that, the question of .hawkers’ license be considered by a committee, consisting of tho Chairman, Cr. Macmnfion, the Engineer, County Clerk, and the mover, same to report to next meeting of the Council. Fell and Harley, intimating that the drawing-up of the General .By-laws was almost completed, but they had been held up on the Heavy Traffic By-laws, anil would not be able to proceed further until the Government had Gazetted the Heavy Traffic By-laws, which, the writers understood, were being proceeded with. Minister of Internal Affairs, forwarding Gazette notice re drivers’ license.— Received.

Main Highways Board, Wellington, re claims for maintenance.

Cr. Drummond moved on behalf of Cr. Berryman (who had been called away)

(1) That in tiie opinion of this Council the Main Highways Act imposes unfair taxation upon the ratepayers, and that this is obviously the reason that prevents local bodies from submitting proposals for improving roads.—Seconded pro forma, by Or. Wilkinson. (2) That tliis Council respectfully urge flic Government to amend the Main Highways Act by making the Government contributions towards the cost of roads .more equitable, and in proportion to the use of roads by motor traffic.—. Seconded by Cr. Wilkinson. Councillors were of (lie opinion that the first resolution was covered by the second one, and on being put to the .meeting, the first one was negatived, and the second one carried. Highways District Council No. 11, forwarding skeleton specifications. Extract from Gazette ro statutory half-holiday.—Received. Waipawa County Council, re motor traffic on roads running parallel with railway lines, 1o support the* railways would save these roads and the public would he helping their own business, as the railways were public property.— The principle was endorsed. ■Stoke Road Board re maintenance of Back Road at Stoke.—lf Board asks Government for a grant, Council will endorse the application. R. W. Briekwell re bitumen sprayer. —To he informed Council has one. Highways Council No. 1.1 ro overhead bridge a(, Aiinesbrook Crossing.—-That Chairman and Clerk work out Council’s proportion of cost- and notify Highways Council.

Nelson Automobile Association on same matter. —Being attended to. Nelson Automobile Association re “warning posts” at Wangamoa, that same were not place to best- advantage, and asking Council to move them to better positions.

Cr. Corder had an idea that the Goodrich people bad erected the posts. He moved that the Association be empowered to move -tiie posts under the jurisdiction of the Engineer.-—Carried. Waimea Electric Supply Co., asking permission to niemove a gum tree in the Sfoke School ground.—Left to Engineer to deal with.

Major Elliott, Wakatu, re bad state of Bishopdale road, and suggesting that the Councillors travel over the road on a motor bike at might. It. was that the road -should l>n allowed to remain in such a. state. What did they get. for their rates?—Resolved, that the scarifier he used when the ma-'hme is available.

Edward Wratteu, Appleby, re stone crusher at Apleby Bridge, that putting a man on to warn horse traffic would not meet with the approval of himself or other objectors, and that it was a dea th trap.—Received. J. W. Hagen, Spring Grove, re bad state of McGowaniTs Valley road.— Left TVf Engineer.

I. 11. Faulkner, Wakefield, re ditch on road fronting property. —When the writer attends" to noxious weeds Council will clear the ditch.

Hodgson and Sons, Wakefield, objecting to being classed as “liawkers.”— Referred to Committee appointed to deal with definition of “hawkers.”

Wakefield Progressive Association, re proposed meeting between members of Council and ratepayers at Wakefield.— The Committee appointed to 1 meet the Association to notify writers that Wednesday week is a suitable date.

Nelson Automobile Asociation, ro sign post on Old Mill road, between Pigeon \ alley and Stanley Brook, and that if the road is not fit for traffic, the sign should bo removed.- —Left to overseer, as there appeared to be some confusion ou tho matter.

Jas. Pa gen, Kobatu, asking for permission to remove and re-erect a swing gate on the Kohatu-Goldeu Downs road. —Permission granted under usual conditions.

■Nelson Automobile Association ro Roundell-Lake Rotoiti road and completion of same. —Request acceded to, and Government to be written to and asked 1u expend the grant, of £1409 as soon as possible. Ed. L. Newport, Kororc, applying for telephone concession.—Granted. Pitt and Moore, on behalf of I'. \\ ■ Gibbs, re W. J. Robson’s application tor sluicing near Rolling River bridge, and objecting to same.—Left to Chairman and Engineer to make further inquiries. J. W. Win, Awa, re closing road through bis property. —No resolution. Public Works Department, Wellington. for'warding (1) Order-iii-Couueil declaring road in blk x Motueka S.D. to be a Government, read ; (2) Proclamation stopping the above .mentioned road; (3) Proclamation declaring the land contained in the stopped road to be Crown Land. —Received. Motueka, Borough Council, re agreement to contribute 1-Stli towards maintenance of High Street, and l-stb towards maintenance Motueka- Riwaka bridge.—The old agreement to be renew >.d on terms mentioned.

Motueka Cool Storage Co., asking permission to lay two concrete tracks} — Granted, subject to Engineer’s approval. Wm. Stratford., Ngatimoti, re flood

water at bridge war Wliile Pine Swmhp.—Oversee)' Inis matter in hand. Lyutpli ID. Rhodes. Mottieka, re grant for Kooky River Volley lload.—• No reconunetidatioi) to make. 11. Ibbitson. Upper Moutcre, re metalling l'oad betweim Pendray s and Mapun.—To be informed the work is to start at once. Mrs ID. F. Maslerson. Mape;*, re dealing Frontage.— No action by Council- r _ 11. H. Tliotnasen, lasntan. applying for position of traflie inspector. —Tiled for reference U, t.. Estconi't. Nelson, re "boulders oii Witkapiieka road.—That Mr be France. be notified I hat he must remove boulders from side of road. P. I. I’.cdger. forwarding plana of subdivisions at Woodstock and asking for exemption under sec. 117 of the JWV. Act.—Exemption granted. GENERAL It was resolved that the tour of inspection of the County by Councillors, start from Stoke at 8 o'clock on Manday morning, and that arrangements in connection therewith be left to the County Clerk and Engineer. The tour will occupy three days. Cr. Tunnicliff moved that provision be made on the next, estimates for road near Higgin’s property, Wairoti Gorge. —Carried. The same Councillor moved that the Overseer report at the next meeting on Cropp’s road, Hoult's Valley.—Carried. The Council rose at 3.30.

Ct\ £ 9. d. WitlnuM County Land Fund Thirds acct. 15 1.0 H Interest acct. No. 0 i) 0 5 Dr. £ d. Interest acct. No. 8 O 12 8 Cr. £ <5. d. Interest acct. No. 7 37 6 0 Interest Acct. No. 6 <6 15 10 Interest acct. No, 5 38 15 8 interest Acct. No. 4 18 4 0 Interest acct. No. 3 9 15 6 Contractors’ Deposits acct. 19 7 0 Bridges and Plant Loan Ac. 2830 7 11 Workers;’ Dwelling Loan' ac’cl 375 8 5 Dr. £ s. d. Waiinca County Fund acct.. 5407 0 9

Rocks? Road 75 0 0 413 0 10 Waiigamoa 500 0 0 704 5 11 Stoke 1000 0 0 1104 15 5 Apple!? v 540 0 0 538 7 3 YVai-iti 445 0 0 516 0 10 Motupiko 440 0 0 452 14 6 Wa ngn peka 580 0 0 958 8 7 Dovoda lo 590 0 0 399 6 10 Motneka 840 0 0 690 14 3 Moutcre 660 0 0 7'37 6 3

5770 0 0 6515 0 a deceived from Highways B<1. 745 0 6 6513 0 6 6515 0 8