WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19282, 20 September 1924, Page 18

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, and was attended by Crs E. Laley (chairman), J. Preston, P. Briscoe, A. Heckler, G. Gilmore, and H. Box. The Inspector (Mr T. Long) reported as i follows on work done in the various ridings during tho month : ' Hawkesbnry Riding.—A total of 440 yards of gravel have been carted out during the 7 month to Flag Swamp, Macaulay’s, and Main road, covering about 62 chains of road. A few more days’ carting should f finish the most urgent work in this district. The metal for Mill road will probably bo ; put on next week. The newly-formed por--7 tion of Inglis road, about 23 chains in t length, has been gravelled throughout, Mr 7 Inglis supplying the team free of charge. The Main road will have to bo closed for a few days while repairs are being made to the bridge near Wnirunga station. Merton Riding.—Water-tables have been cleaned out on the road between SeaclifT and Pukctoraki, and metal raked into the ruls. Water-tables have also been cleaned j. out on the Main road, holes filled with metal, and the road blinded. Bluegum trees supplied by Mr Allan have been erected j as stringers for tho bridge across the creek t on the road to his place. [ Blueskin Riding.—A total of 165 yards of j stone and gravel have been carted from j tho creek to Waitali Flat road, and the most of it has been broken and spread; } 78 yards of gravel have been carted from 7 the bay and spread on the Main road_ and | 60 yards on the side Toads in Waitati. The metal on Hayward’s Point road has . been spread and blinded, also part of tho j metal on Purakanui road. Some repairs , are wanted to the walls on Lower Harbour I road, and a few days’ carting are required [ for the lower end of tho road near the cutting. North-East Valley Riding.—The only work done in this riding during the month has been in repairing a bridge on the Main road at Sawyers’ Bay and cleaning out some of the ditches on side roads. A start has now been made in breaking J metal and filling pot holes on the Main ’ road at Mount Cargill. Tim St. Kilda Borough Council wrote asking the council to support the following resolution to bo forwarded to the municipal conference, to bo held at Auckland in October: —“That sub-section 3 of section 8 of ‘The Hospital and Chairtablo Institutions Amendment Act, 1923,’ be amended so as to provide for the infliction of interest on unpaid instalments payable by a local authority, only if they remain unpaid after 14 days from date of infliction of the 10 per cent, penalty by the local ■ authority for non-payment of rates due six month? and 14 days after date of demand, but in all oases tho full amount of the board’s levy must be paid before March 31 in each year.”—The council decided to support tne remit and frame a siriiilar one to go to the Counties’ Association. A letter was received from the Taumarunui County Council stating that those counties which suffered loss of revenue through timber royalties had brought their claims before Parliament, and had now reached a stage where success was almost assured. An appeal for moral support was being made to all counties not intersted financially. The council was requested to pass a resolution in support of payment of half of all revenue derived from the sale of timber to counties from within the boundaries the revenue was derived, and to forward copies of the resolution to the member for the district, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Lands. —The letter was received. The Public Works Department wrote asking that the council forward a statement showing tho additional sum spent on the maintenance of the county" roads for three months before the late strike and three months afterwards. The letter followed on an application by the council to tho Minister of Public Works for a grant towards repairing the damage done to the roads by the heavy traffic during tho strike. —A reply in the terms required, sent by the clerk, wna approved The Secretary of the New Zealand Counties Association wrote enclosing suggestions brought down by the Executive Committee of the association dealing with various matters affecting the countiea —The council approved of'all the suggestions except one dealing with tho suggested tyre tax, tho council being of the opinion that toll gates should lie instituted to provide increased revenue.—lt was decided to forward a reply embodying that suggestion, Messrs A. Ross and J. Brensell, Waitati, wrote stating that they would clear the road at the back of their property of gorso and scrub, if tho council would allow them up to £lO for the work. At present #t was not passable for dray traffic, and its clearance would be of considerable benefit.— Or Briscoe said the men were new settlers, but he pointed out that there was another road.—lt was decided to serve property owners with notices to clear the gorse. and the inspector would then be requested to clear tho scrub. Mr Okas, Payne wrote asking that the council attend to the road out to Payne Bros.’ run, and also tho road through Halhim’a and up on Ward’s Flak —The matter was referred to the inspector with power to act A request was received from ’Mr H. C. Campbell asking that the road from Main • road to Mrs F. Driver’s residence be improved and metalled. He also suggested that the grade be improved, and said he was willing to pay interest on the cost of improvements.—The inspector said ho did not think the grade oould bo improved.— The inspector was instructed to inspect the road ajid report at the next meeting. The South Island Motor Union wrote asking the council to support the Motor Bill now before tho House.—Received. A Jotter was received from the Otago Harbour Board asking that the road to the Spit be improved, and that the council do something definite in the matter.—lt was decided to apply to the Government for a grant of £2OO. Hie Dunedin City Council wrote intimating that it was prepared to contribute onethird of the coat of putting tho Leith-Wai- * tati road in order, provided the balance of two-thirds could bo arranged for.—The Chairman said the cost of the work would be £3300.—1t was decided to apply to the Government for a £1 for £1 subsidy up to £3OOO. It was resolved that the dork take legal proceedings against those who had failed to comply with notices requesting the cutting of gorso.