WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19259, 25 August 1924, Page 11

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held at Waikouaiti on Friday when the following were present: Crs E.’Laloy (chairman), H. Box, J. Preston, 0. Gilmore, A. Heckler, and F. Briscoe. The Inspector (Mr T. Lang) submitted the following reports on work done during the month in the various ridings; Hawkeabury Biding.—About 30 chains of Fag Swamp and Galbraith's roads have been gravelled from Dempster’s gravel pit, and gravel is now being carted to Macaulay 0 road. Portions of Jeffries’ noad and Flag Swamp road have been graded, tussocks have been pared off the road between the woolshed and Mount Watkins, and the crossing at Eldorado, and the road surfaced where necessary. New decking and handrails have been put on the small bridge on River road, and dome of the old timber used to build a wingwall to the bridge. The scrub has been cleared from the approaches to the bridge across the river, and a commencement has been made in gravelling Inglis* road. Merton Biding: Surfacing work has been done on the roads in Warrington township, also on the road between Puketcraki and Seacliff, and on the Main road above Evansdale. Two culverts have been repaired on Kenyon’s road, above the railway crossing, and watertables ploughed out. A culvert on M’Grath’s road has been repaired. Blueskin Biding: About 50 yards of gravel have been carted from the bay at Waitati during the month for the Main road, and the lower end of the vVaitati-Wakari noad. This read and Waitati Flat road are badly cut up through the heavy loads of firewood which are being carted over them. The upper end of the road up the flat is very bad. It would take at least 400 yards of gravel or metal to put the road in fair order, but about 100 yanda would do the worst portions. Water-tables have been cleaned out from the Port Chalmers boundary on the Waitati road. This road also requires about 80 yards of metal on the road nearest Port Chalmers. The metal on Hayward Point road is being spread and blinded. A few yards more axe wanted to finish it. Thirty-three yards of metal have been broken on Purakanui road. The road near Purakanui School and the walling on the Bay road have been repaired. The Kawarika road is now gravelled right through ns the last few chains have boon r) o ne bv teams from Orokonui Home. North-East Val ley Biding; The decking and handrails have been put on the, new bridge on Reservoir road, and the creek on the Main road has been pitched under the bridge and grouted with concrete. On the Waitati-Wakari road the slip near Burn’s bridge has been covered with metal. Metal has been broken and spread on several portions of the road. Slips have been cleared and water-tables cleaned out on the road. A culvert has broken down on this road, and as the timber is rotten, it will have to be renewed with 15in pipes. A culvert on Manson’s road has been repaired.—The report was adopted, and the inspector was instructed to secure the required metal for the Waitati Flat noad. “ NOT DEASTIO ENOUGH.” The Minister of Interna] Affairs (the Hon. R. P. Bollard) wrote enclosing a copy of the Motor Vehicles Bill, 1924, and asked that any comments should be sent to the executive of the Counties’ Association. The Bill would be considered by a special committee of the House, and representatives of the Counties’ Association would have an opportunity of appearing before that committee if they so desired.—Cr Preston said the Bill was heading in the right direction, but in his opinion it was not drastic enough. Ho considered the only fair manner of taxation was the toll-bar system.—Members agreed with Cr Preston, and were of the opinion that nothing else could be done.—The letter was received. GOVERNMENT GRANTS. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) wrote stating that in regard to the council’s request for Government grants on this year’s Estimates, and the question of assistance with main road maintenance, he would give the application his careful consideration when the Estimates came before him,—The letter was received. In the same connection, Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., wrote stating that he wias placing the matter before the department, and would do what ho could to secure the grants the council had applied for.—This letter was also received. DECISION ADHERED TO. The Taieri County Council wrote stating that the formation work in connection -with the road to Mr J. Graham’s run, blocks 4 and 5, Silver Peaks Survey District, had been _ completed. The work hdd cost £209, and it asked that the council reconsider its previous decision and further increase the contribution promised.—Cr Heckler said they should have applied for a loan before.—Cr Briscoe said Mr Graham deserved a hearing. They had met the Taieri Council handsomely on a previous occasion, and it was up to them to reciprocate.—On the motion of Cr Box it was decided to reply that the council did not see its way clear to reconsider its decision owing to the fact that the., Waikouaiti Council received only a small share of the rates. "ALMOST IMPASSABLE." A letter drawing attention to the almost impassable state of the road from Waitati Plat to Waitati township was received from Mr Douglas Stewart. He stated that in places it was scarcely safe to drive over. In ‘tho event of the council requiring gravel he would be willing to give what gravel could be taken from the creek running through his property at a nominal cost.— Cr Briscoe said tliis was the road mentioned by the Inspector, and tho work was being done.—The letter was received. GENERAL. Mr D. C. Sharpe, Deborah Bay, wrote slating that he had been notified by the Presbyterian Church Board of Otago to repair his fences according to a lease he held. He could not do this until the council repaired the road which had been washed away by tho flood, and which had not been repaired. He asked that the matter bo given instant attention as it was both dangerous to life and cattle.—Cr Box said the work needed attention, as another flood would cause a great deal more damage.—The inspector was instructed to attend to the matter. The Inspector of Health (Mr W. M. Armour) forwarded his report on premises conducted as public eating-houses within the county, and he recommended that the following applications be granted:—William Rochfort (Evansdale), Henry Amper (Warrington), Mrs J. Jones (Seacliff), and J. M. Fyfo (Seacliff). —It was decided to grant the licenses in tho cases recommended. Copies of the memoranda in connection with matters relating to main highways forwarded by the chairman of the District Highways Council were received.