WAIMEA COUNTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 December 1929, Page 6

WAIMEA COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING HELD BUSINESS DEALT WITH The monthly meeting of the Wairnea County Council was held to-day. There were present: —Councillors J. Cbvuer (chairman), T. Hewetson, 11. Everett, L. Higgins, F. Gibbs. A. Kenyoa, Lt. Manson, L. M. Palmer, and 11. Tunnicliff. FINANCE Following were the bank balances:— Dr. £ s. d. Waimea County Fund Ac. 6007 22 Cr.

"The total expenditure on main roads for the year to the end of the November meeting has been shown to be: —General £152 12s 5d ; Appleby £34 10s 10d ; Waiiti £33 17s Od; Motupiko £213 17s 9d; Wangapeka £438 3s 6d ; Dovedale £95 6s 9d; Motueka £76 7s 6d; Moutere £3l 17s 4d; total, £1076 13s Id. The total expenditure on main highways for the year to the end of the No- • veniber meeting has been:—Wangamoa £3i44' 5s 3d; Stoke £2427 15s 3d; Appleby £687 8s 4d; WJai-iti £959 13s Od; Motupiko £1069 13s Od; Wangapeka £915 7a 4d; Dovedale £1079 Is lid; Motueka £1334 17s Od; Moutere £1983 8s Id; total, £13,609 14s 4d. ENGINEER'S REPORT The report of the assistant-engineer (Mr C. Traill) stated inter alia: — Wahgftmoa riding:—The grader has worked over the- full length of the main highway. The recent heavy rain caused an old log culvert near the top of the Wangamoa Hill to collapse. Erection of a temporary bridge is in hand and heavy traffic should be able to get through by to-day. The work of installing a new culvert would be considerable, and it was recommended that the ' curve be made easier and the road widened. The total approximate cost, would be £2OO. StcJce. Riding: Delivery of metal for bitumen is nearly completed. General maintenance work has been carried out on the main and by-roads. Appleby Riding: The Appleby crusher has been engaged on metal tor bitumen work. The rise.in the river held up work for some days. General maintenance work has been carried aut. . Wai-iti Riding: The main highway has been graded throughout the riding. Metalling is being carried out on the main highway at Brightwater and between Wakefield and Foxhill. Footpaths at Brightwater are being cleaned up and a start will be made on the Wakefield footpaths next week. Hardwood timber has arrived for the Pitfure creek bridge and the contractor has recommenced work. Moutere Riding: The grader is at present cutting out and widening the main highway at Moutere. The cost of metalling the clay portion of Edwards' road, erecting a motor bridge, repairs to culvert, and putting the road into shape Would be approximately. £355. Provision would have to be made on tho next estimates if the work is to be undertaken. Hardwood timber for Braeburn suspension bridge has not yet arrived. Plans for Ching's road suspension bridge have been approved by the . Public Works Department. ~ Motueka Riding: The Rocky River to Shaggery Road has been inspected through Mr W. L. Inwood's property. It is evident that the Council arranged to fence the new road in places where tho owners did not receive the closed road as compensation. In this case further information is required before a decision can be arrived at. In regard to the Riwaka South branch road the most feasible proposition appears to be to shift the site of Mr O. C. Wilkinson's bridge about 15 chains further up tho river and to construct a pack track further up the river. This would cut out one bridge arid would serve all parties. The approximate cost would be: Suspension sheep bridge £35, track £3O. Arrangements have been made for work to be done on Mr T. L. Cooper's road at Saitdy Bay. Dovedale Riding: Grading has been carried out on the main highways and * on the by-roads throughout the riding. The grader is at present working in the riding. Motupiko Riding: The recent heavy rain caused considerable damage on the Korere-Tophouse road; three culverts were washed out, a motor bridge displaced, and the' road badly scoured in places. Mr Arthur Ken- has kindly allowed traffic to deviate through his property until the damage is repaired. Repair work is in hand. The road over Kerr's Hill was also badly damaged and is now impassable. Work on tho Koliatu bridge is proceeding and the permanent piles to the damaged pier driven. Mr W. Thorn, had agreed to forego all claims in connection with damage caused by fires lighted, by Council employees ; and satisfactory arrangements were made with Mr Burrows. If tho Council is going to be faced with claims of this sort it will have to be more strict in future in enforcing settlers to cut back noxious growths on roadways. Wangapeka Riding: Slips have been cleared and culverts repaired on the Tadmor-Glenhope road. Ropairs to Lamb Valley bridge have been completed. Instructions have been given to fence off one side of the approach to Korere bridge. The work of clearing water*off the main, road near Tadmor school is in hand. Repair work on Glen Rae road will be put in hand this week. Wairoa river bridge: Work is proceeding" satisfactorily. The recent flood filled in all excavations for two piers. Arising out of the report it was reeolved to defer consideration regarding the Rocky River to Shaggery road through Mr W. L. Inwood's property until Mr Menzies, a former County engineer, has been communicated with. It was further resolved that the matter of erecting a suspension bridge and the construction of a track on the Riwaka South branch road be left to the engineer and the member for the riding. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR The traffic inspector (Mr J. Brough) reported that 28 additional drivers' licenses had been issued. A number of applicants had been turned down for not being efficient. Three additional heavy traffic licenses had also been is-. sued. A number of lorries had changed ownership; the owners failed to notify the fact and in future proceedings would be taken if the regulations are not complied with. A generous response had been made by property owners to the request to cut back hedges and removing obstructions at dangerous corners. Attention, was drawn to a hedge on the Nelson side of the Stoke school which should be cut hack ; but at

preseiil then- was sonic doubl as to the ownership of (lie property. It. was decided that the engineer report on f In- hedge referred In : and also on another near the Freezing Works. LOWER MOUTERE DEVIATION The chairman reported thai t'he Couneil, after a visit of inspection, had decided to adhere to Us previous resolution thai the Main Highways Hoard he informed thai the Council cannot sec its way to contribute towards the cos! of the proposed deviation of the main highway at Lower Meniere. fatjLKNEiVs bridge Cr. Palmer moved according to notice "Thai the following resolution passed at the meeting of tiie Council held on 7th of November, namelv 'That in addition to (lie £275 already voted the Council agrees to pay one-quarter of (ho cost of any amount the proposed bridge leading to Faulkner's mav cost over £looo' be and the same is hereby rescinded." Councillor Palmer said his reason for wanting the motion rescinded was llt.it the Council had not fixed a stipulated sum as its share of any further contribution that mighl be necessary. In. answer to Councillor Everett, the mover said lie was prepared to move a subsequent motion stipulating that the Council would not incur any additional liability over £3OO. Councillor Higgins seconded the motion pro forma. Tn reply to Councillor TTiggins, (ho chairman said nothing had been, dono so far in making a start on the bridge. Councillor Hewetsbn opposed the motion. The bridge had been before the Council almost as long as he could remember, and in view of the high rates paid by Mr Faulkner the Council should strain a point if necessary. He did not think the Council would have to pay any more. In reply to Councillor Gibbs, the chairman said the District Engineer (ftl* May) had stated that the Works Department's experience of calling for tenders was not. always satisfactory, and that usually work was carried out cheaper by day labour. The District Engineer had intimated his willingness to favourably consider a proposal to purchase all material and that lenders be called for work only by the Council. Councillor Everett said the matter had been thoroughly discussed at the previous meeting, since when no further information against the resolution had been adduced. He hoped Councillors would stick to their previous decision. After some further discussion, the motion was put and carried. Councillors Everett, Hewitson, Gibbs and Kenyon opposing. Councillor Palmer moved, seconded by Councillor Manson, that the Council's offer to contribute towards the cost be increased from £275 to £3OO. " The motion was carried. Councillor Higgins moved, seconded bv Councillor Kenyon, that the Public Works Department be asked to call for tenders for the construction of the bridge. The motion was carried. Councillor Gibbs stressed that the work should be proceeded with as soon "as possible. TENDERS Two tenders were received for the erection of Godbaz's creek bridge (Foxhill) and that of R. Powrie at £4Ol 8s (the lowest), was accepted. Two tenders were also received for the erection of Watt's creek bridge, Ruby Bay, and that of R. Powrie, at £486 3s (the lowest), was also accepted. CORRESPONDENCE The following correspondence was among that dealt with:—■ As to a letter from the North Canterbury Hospital Board regarding cancer research, it was resolved to approve of the recommendations made and to support them as far as the Council's funds would permit.

The usual grant was made to the Technical School. Permission was granted to the Waimea Electric Power Hoard to hold meetings in the Council Chamber. Arising out of a letter from the Public Works Department as to further work on thi' Maitai Valley road, con sideration was deferred. The Superintendent of the Mental Hospital Stoke, drew attention to the slate of a bridge on the road leading to the institution. The assistant engineer reported that the matter had already been attended to. The Stoke Progressive Association asked thai electric lights be placed at certain crossroads in the district. An estimate, of cost is to be obtained. It was resolved to endorse a letter scut by the Richmond Borough Council to the Railway Department regarding a culvert under the railway line at Hope. The application of Mr E. C. Russ for the use of an old road at Appleby was deferred for consideration until the next meeting, Councillor Palmer to report. A letter from Mr J. 11. Evans, Brightwater, as to river erosion was referred to the Clerk to obtain certain information. The Brightwater School Committee is to be informed that the work on footpaths is in hand. Obstruction in the river bed at the junction of Jimmy Lee and Wai-iti rivers was the subject of a letter from Mr Percy Baigent, Wakefield, and it was resolved that the matter be left to the Engineer with power to act.

The Nelson Automobile Association offered to contribute £lO towards the cost of improving the Tophouse-Roundoll road provided the Council expended £2O. The oiler was accepted. Mr J. 11. Jordan notified that damage to the extent of £2 had been done to his fence by a scrub lire started by Council employees. A letter on the same subject was received from the District Public Trustee forwarding a claim of £25 7s 9d in connection with the estate of W. G. Burrows. Councillor Higgins said that in company with the assistant-en-gineer he had interviewed Mr Burrows, who had agreed to take £ll Is 9d in full consideration of his claim. It was resolved that this amount be offered to Mr Burrows; as to Mr Jordan's claim, the Engineer was authorised to report. The Minister of Public Works notified that a grant £2 for £1 for repairing Wangapeka road had been included in the Council's allocation for earthquake damage. Councillor Gibbs said the road was still blocked ill places; and it was resolved that the road bo cleared.

Arising out of a letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands regarding access to Mr Jas. Bunting's property in the Clark Valley, it was resolved to inform the writer'that at Mr Bunting's request the Council had granted £2 for the erection of a bridge. Mr E. H. Bromell, Baton, and Mr J. 11. Taylor, Wakefield, drew attention to the bad condition of Baton Saddle road. The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer. The request of Mr A. P. Griffith. Stanley Brook, to have a few days' work done on Cozens Valley road was referred to the Engineer and the member for the riding with power to act. A letter from Mr C. G. Durrant, Motueka, as to the Council's reserve at Motueka bridge, was referred to the C'ierk for report. (Proceeding)

Waimea County Fund An. No. 2 575 0 8 Bridges and Plant Loan Ac. 19 7 3 Contractors Deposit Ac. ... 37 17 0 Interest Accts •230 5 7 Land Fund Thirds Ac. ... 869 2 6 Workers' Dwelling Ac. ... Nil