WAIMEA COUNTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 March 1933, Page 2

WAIMEA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS The monthly meeting of the Waimea County Council was held to-day. There were "present : Councillors J., Corner (chairman), R. Teece, Horatio Everett, I>. Iliggins, K. Gibbs, A. Kenyon, G. Manson, L. M. Palmer, and Herbert Everett. BANK BALANCES The following bank balances were shown :—Waimea County Fund Account(Dr.), £3046 13s 4d ; Bridges Loan 1923 (Cr.), £3Bl Gs lOd; Bridges and Plant Loan Account (Cr.j, £329 7s 8d ; Contractors' Deposit Account (Cr.). £72 10s ; Imprest Account- (Cr.), £66 9s 6d; Interest Account (Cr.), £193 18s 3d; Land Fund Thirds Accounts (Cr.), £442 15s lid. The total expenditure on main roads, 1932-33, to the end of February has been: General £9O 8s 8u ; wire netting £275 14s 9d; Appleby, £122 7s 7d; Wai-iti, £8 2s 6d ; Motupiko, £174 12s lid; Wangapeka, £436 11s lid; Dovedale" £l6O Os 4d; Motneka, £167 15s ; Moutere, £143 18s Id. Total, £1579 11s 9d. . , . The total expenditure on mam highways, 1932-33, to the end of February, has been: Wangamoa, £2672 17s 8d ; Stoke, £l6B 6s 2d; Appleby, £975 13s 2d ; Wai-iti, £961 4s 2d; Motupiko, £663 17s • Wangapeka, £650 12s lOd ; Dovedale, £5Bl 9s 7d; Motueka, £IOOS 8s 2d ; Moutere, £1905 15s 6d. Total. £9590 4s 3d. Accounts, which included reserve interest payments, totalled £2289. ENGINEER’S REPORT ‘

The county engineer (Mr W. Bulli- 11 vant) reported inter alia: ! Wangamoa. Riding.—Widening on the ■ siding on the lower portion of the Wangamoa hill where the outer edge of the road has subsided is being continued. The heavy flood damage sustained -on the Maitai Valley road is being repaired to the. extent of the money available. Stoke Riding.—The Bishopdale section of the highway is showing signs of heavy wear, principally due to the fact that the road was only lightly metalled ! this year. It is a great pity that money has not been available for sealing this section as heavier metalling will be necessary this winter. Timber lias been 1 ordered 'for redecking a small bridge on the back road near Russell’s. With re gard to the application of Mr and Mrs Black' for exemption of Saxton’s road from section 128 of the Public Works Act the dedication of sufficient land : alone the whole frontage for the purposed a future footpath would be advantageous. As to a letter fiom the Stoke Progressive Association with re--1 gard to a culvert at the commencement of the footpath at Poorman’s Valleyroad corner, for present purposes instructions have been given to put in a temporary culvert. At a public meeting at Stoke a resolution was carried asking the Council to applv to the Bocal Bodies Loans Board for permission to raise a 1 loan for the purpose of carrying out a water supply scheme. Appleby "Riding.—As to Appleby bridge, in addition to a major scheme in dealing with the encroachment of the river, it is very necessary that some local protection should he done at the abutment or further erosion may be experienced at the next flood. As soon as the truck is available metalling will be done on Clover road and its continuation towards the hill. With regard to the choked stream on his property, Mr P. Busch would like to interview a committee ol the Council before any action is taken. Repairs to the left bank abutment at Stratford’s stock bridge have been autnorised. A little gravelling will have to be done near Mr H. .Johnston’s property. It will be remembered that when various unemployed relief works were closed down at the time the Rabbit Island camp was started, on the representations of Councillor Palmer it was decided to continue relief work in Aniseed Valley with the men available. Settlers had the benefit of this labour on the various tracks. However, the Roding Rivetroad itself, owing to the growth of gorse on the roadside is becoming worn below ' the level of the adjourning ground. Tf unemployed labour is available later in the year it should be concentrated on cutting down and watertabling the road edge; if unemployed labour is not available, any money allocated to this road should be devoted to ploughing off the existing ridge on the side of the road and watertabling, after the settlers have cut back the gorse. Wai-iti Riding.—Approval having been received to proposals to seal with one coat of road oil to a width of 18 feet a section of the Nelson-Westport main highway through Wakefield township, the work has been put in hand and will be completed as soon as possible. Tlie proprietor of the Wakefield garage is contributing the extra cost involved in sealing the full width of the roadway along the frontage. To provide access over a length of track of about 140 chains up the left branch of the Wairoa river the cost would be not less than £570. The Council of course could not do the work out of revenue, and Mr Baigent suggests that it should be done by unemployed relief labour. Possibly if Mr Baigent is in a position to do so the best plan would be for him to put up a definite commercial proposition to the Board offering a royalty on the timber or some similar return in exchange for the road. With regard to the deviation of the Wakefield-Woodstock man highway to avoid creek crossings, route A to the west of the existing road avoiding three splash crossings asked for. by the Dovedale Farmers’ Union would cost j approximately £7OO, excluding compenation. Route B to the east of the existing road avoiding two splash crossings and involving a short deviation of about 8 chains on the sidling through Mr C. White’s property, is estimated to cost £367, including of which sum £212 is absorbed in excavation work, I which could be carried out by unemI ployed labour, culverts, cartage, metalling, fencing, etc., making up the balance. I recommend that route B be adopted, and that provided unemployed labour is available in the vicinity this winter, the work be gone on with; also that, failing a satisfactory arrangement xvith Mr C. White to purchase the land within two months from this date, the land be taken under the Public Works Riding—Patching on ihe Wai-iti Valley road can be done as soon as the truck is available. The plans for tlie legalisation of the new Gordon Creek road to the closing of the old road appear to be in order and I recommend that the Council give its consent. Wangapeka Riding.—Clarke road river has been inspected, and I am unable to recommend any expenditure on watertabling asked "for by Mr 0. Sloss. I am unable to recommend strengthening the motor bridge, beyond the Kohatu bridge, to carry lorries, as providing an incentive for laden lorries to use motor bridges throughout the county. The proper remedy for the position is to clear tho creek bed through settlers’ properties below the road, which will bo rather an expensive undertaking for them to face. Ilovedale Riding.—Work on Brandy Creek bridge has been held up pending flood damage repairs to Appleby Bridge. The grader will be sent through the district as soon as possible. Satisfactory

arrangements have been made for Mr Kerr to construct a bridge over the Upper Pearse river. An arrangement in regard to the maintenance of the trackhas been signed. Culvert will be put in on the Big Pokorooro road as soon as pipes can be sent over. In the Motueka and Moutere Ridings various works carried out were detailed. Arising out of the report it was resolved that a committee consisting of the chairman, Councillor Palmer and the Engineer be given power to act in connection with a choked stream on Mr P. Busch’s property, Aniseed Valley.

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR The traffic inspector (Mr J. Brough) reported that 24 drivers’ licenses had been issued during the month, making a total of -1860. Up to date 45 heavy vehicles had been licensed. The inspector also reported on complaints made of the use of the Baton road. The report was adopted. RANGER’S REPORT The ranger (Mr W. Wills) reported that 32 head of stock had been impounded in various ridings during the month. It was resolved to back up the ranger in a certain case reported. TAR-SEALING AT WAKEFIELD Replying to a question, Councillor Herbert Everett said the whole job of tar-sealing at Wakefield could be done for a very great deal less than was expected when the estimates were prepared. As the plant was now on the scene residents had asked that the main street past the post office should also be done, and had promised a minimum contribution of £SO towards the cost. Councillor Higgins thought that settlers should contribute at least £75. He agreed, however, that while the plant was on jffie job it would be a good thing to go oh with the work. Councillors generally .supported the proposal. Councillor Teece said lie would like to see other experimental stretches put down. Councillor Herbert Everett then moved that the offer be accepted and the work be done for the full width of the road from the entrance of Mr Hooper’s to the foot of the school bank.

It was pointed out that the Highways Board would subsidise only up to 18 feet width. Councillor Herbert Everett doubted whether the settlers’ offer would hold good unless the whole width of the road was done. Councillor Gibbs said he would support the resolution if only 18 feet was done. Councillor Higgins moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Gibbs, that provided the settlers contributed one-sixth of the total cost, the full width of the road be done. In reply to a question the Engineer did not think the cost would be "much more than £75. The amendment was put and lost; and the motion on being put was carried.