STORM DAMAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 October 1941, Page 6

STORM DAMAGE

REPAIR OF WAINUI-TOTARANUI ROAD TAKAKA COUNCIL SEEKS GRANT FRO M GOV E K N M E NT ENGINEER’S REPORT Tlio severe damage which occurred to the Waimii-Tolaranui road as a result of the recent rough weather and the heavy expenditure involved in effecting repairs led some members at Tuesday's meeting of the Takaka County Council to express concern at the heavy strain on the county fund. The council decided to make application to the Government for a grant towards the cost of repairing storm damage and also for the construction of culverts. An indication of the extent of the storm damage is given in the report of the clerk-engineer (Mr G. E. Boyes) which stated that several slips occurred on the Wainui-Totaranui-Awaroa road and the road from Manson’s to MacShane’s, including six large slips on the Wainui and Pidgeon Saddle sections. The Pidgeon Saddle section had been blocked for traffic, but had been cleared by the bulldozer. A further slip again, blocked traffic last week-end near the top of Pidgeon Saddle and the road had since been opened sufficiently for traffic. Considerable surface scouring occurred to the Long Plain and Anntoki roads. Repairs were in hand. A further two days’ work with the bull dozer had been carried out in the Anatoki River above the bridge to prevent erosion to the right bank. A stop bank was erected on a portion of the Leaper’s section deviation to prevent serious scouring of the road. Clearing of a slip on the Springs road, near the bridge, was in hand. Repairs had been carried out to deck planks on Gorge Creek bridge and Dry River bridge on the Lindsay's-Clifton section of the main highway and repairs to the East Takaka section of this highway were in hand. Alterations to the creek crossing and patch metalling on Swamp road are in hand. Additional tilling at the sea erosion protection on the Takaka-Tarakohe section of highway had been attended to and the clearing of a slip on the Tarakohe section of the road was in hand. Those present at the meeting were Councillors A. 11. Rose (chairman), L. Manson, R. W. Sparrow, N. Walker, J. W. Page and P. V. Langford. The decision to approach the Government for a grant towards repairing storm damage arose out of a suggestion put forward by Councillor Sparrow, who mentioned the comparatively small amount of rates collected from the area in question and the serious drain repairs and maintenance were causing on the county fund. Councillors generally favoured the suggestion that Government assistance should be sought. Councillor Walker’s motion along the lines already indicated was seconded by Councillor Page and carried unanimously. Accounts totalling £487 5s Id were passed for payment. Mr F. G. I-ladfield, Awa-iti. wrote requesting repair of storm damage on the road from Totaranui Saddle to Little River. Repairs were also needed on the swampy portions from Little River to Big River. The engineer is to inspect Awaroa road with power to act. TASMAN MEMORIAL Correspondence in connection with the proposed Tasman memorial was read by the clerk, who stated that the matter had been referred to the chairman, and the council had been committed to giving its support to the, movement afoot to have the memorial placed at Pohara Beach. Dr Beaglehole, Government Historian attached to the Department of Internal Affairs, it was staled, had visited the district and inspected possible sites for the proposed memorial. The chairman said that after his tour of inspection. Dr Beaglehole had intimated that he understood any mem- , orial erected would be a national one. ! Dr Beaglehole had been inclined lo favour a site either near the band roI tunda at Pohara Beach or at Ligar Bay. ! However, he would be submitting a report to his department on the subject and the whole question would receive due consideration. It was considered likely that a copy of Dr Beaglehole s report would be ; made available to the council and other ' bodies interested. On the motion of Councillors Page and Manson, the action of the chairman and clerk in recommending Pohara Beach as the site for the proposed memorial was approved and it was decided to write to the Department of Internal Affairs asking that favourable consideration be given to the erection of the Tasman memorial at Pohara. RELIEF FOR RETURNED MEN The Nelson Provincial Patriotic Council forwarded a cheque for £SO as an imprest account to provide immediate relief for returned soldiers. The method of administering the fund was set out in an accompanying letter. In reply to a question, the chairman said that the Takaka County Council with the Takaka Town Board constituted a Patriotic Controlling Committee. He considered the time had arrived when a separate committee from these two bodies should be set up to deal with such patriotic matters as the fund for relief to returned men. It was resolved, on the motion of Councillors Sparrow and Walker, that the clerk make arrangements for a meeting between the County Council and the Town Board for the purpose; of setting up a Patriotic Controlling j Committee to operate on the returned ' soldiers’ relief fund. Councillors Manj son, Page and Langford to be the coun- j oil's representatives on the proposed I committee. RIVER CONTROL The clerk reported on the recent in- ; spection of the Takaka River at Bridger’s carried out by council, Town i Board and Public Works Department j representatives. The Town Board, he said, had agreed to contribute on a! j 50-50 basis with the council towards the i i cost of any protection work agreed j upon, provided a Government subsidy i was made available. After a brief discussion, it was dccid- | ed to ask the Public Works Department ' to undertake the urgent river erosion i repairs required at the point of the \ Takaka River adjoining Mr K. Page's I property (known as Bridger’s). ERADICATION OF RAGWORT The Department of Agriculture ad- | vised that it had been decided that I measures for the control of noxious i weeds, particularly ragwort, for the 1941-42 season would be carried out in a manner similar to that of. last [ season, and to enable the council toi undertake this work an allocation of i £l5O was made to the council. The council agreed to operate the ’ scheme, it being left to the engineer to j make the best possible arrangements for | having the work carried out. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES The Counties’ Association wrote asking that the council protest to the Min- j ister of Transport at the suggestion sponsored by transport operators in Otago that Heavy Traffic License Fees be ; [abolished and replaced by an additional [ tax on petrol consumed in vehicles covered by the Heavy Traffic Regulations. Commenting on the letter, the chair-

! man said that he, personally, was in favour of abolition of the pre out tern of heavy bailie licensing. He consul ered a tax on petrol would he a much I fairer method. j Councillor Walker agreed that a tax lon petrol would be more equitable than the collection of Heavy Trallic Fees, but pointed out that, if tin* pre I sent system were altered, local bodies •would have to be compensated by the ' Government for the loss of revenue . that would be involved. ; Councillor Sparrow spoke in favour |of the present .system being retained. I-We are receiving something like £(100 j a year from Heavy Trallic Fees,” he I said, -and the longer we can keep it I that way the better.” ! The chairman expressed the opinion i that local bodies would lose nothing if ! the system were altered. "What we ilo.se in one direction we will gain in I another,” he added. ! Councillor Sparrow said then; was a (danger that, if the present licensing I system were changed, local bodies j would not be adequately compensated j for loss of revenue. He moved that the council protest at the proposed abolition i of Heavy Traffic Fees. The motion was seconded by Councillor Page and carried without dissent. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT The Health Inspector, Nelson, in the course of his quarterly report, stated i that building operations in the county continued to be somewhat quiet, although the Takaka Cottage Hospital had | been completed. , Some difficulty had j been experienced regarding a suitable I water supply for the hospital. This j had been overcome by putting down a Gin steel-cased bore to a depth of 70 ! feet. After tapping the How, the I water rose slightly over 40ft in the tube, thus ensuring an adequate and efficient supply for all times. Only one I case of infectious disease had been • notified, though there had been numerous cases of mumps, measles and ringworm among school children in the district. Further samples of water had been taken from Richmond Creek wijh a view to obtaining a suitable water supply for the Pohara Domain. Chemical and bacteriological analysis of the latter samples were found to be satisfactory. Samples of water had also been taken from a recently driven tube well at the Kotinga School. The analysis of the water was satisfactory. The in ilk-in-schools scheme had recently been extended to the Pohara Valley School. Councillor Walker’s request for metalling of Hidden Treasure and Ward roads was referred to the engineer . Councillor Sparrow expressed his and his family’s appreciation of the council’s message of sympathy in the loss of his mother. Metalling of the worst places on Hailes’ road. Upper Takaka, was authorised.