DISTRICT HIGHWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19759, 9 April 1926, Page 2

DISTRICT HIGHWAYS.

MEETING OF COUNCIL No. 16 A meeting of the District Highways Council No. 16 was held yesterday in the Public Works offices, Mr J. R, Marks presiding. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES The . Waikouaiti County Council wrote advising that no arrangement had been made by local’ authorities in the heavy traffic district for the apportionment of motor lorry fees. However, at the end of the financial year the amount would be ascertained. The Waihemo Council also wrote stating that nothing had been done in the direction of the collection ol fees. Vincent County Council advised that it had begun to collect heavy traffic license ices in November last . The meeting expressed itsell in agree nient with the proposal made by the Waikouaiti Council for the amalgamation of the two highways districts north and south of Dunedin City for the collection of heavy traffic license fees. It was suggested and approved that the measure be made to apply since the commencement of the operation of the Act. The Main Highways Board forwarded details of motor registrations as at October 31, 1925, tor distribution among local authorities. The board wrote in reference to the collection of revenue from annual motor lorry license fees. The circular stated that reports indicated that many local bodies were not taking the fullest advantage of the provisions of the Public Works Amendment Act, 1924, under which they had power to collect fees from the owners ol heavy vehicles. Considering the revenue available to local bodies from this source, the board was surprised that more definite action had not been taken in the matter To give an indication ol the value of such revenue it was stated that, whereas the revenue collected in the Dominion previous to 1924 was about £40,000 under the 1924 regulations the amount should be about £250,000. This amount, it was expected, would increase considerably. The circular also requested that information be sent regarding the collection already made in the district. Representatives of local bodies present complained that they had experienced some difficulty in the collection of fees, and that they could get nowhere at all in regard to the mileage returns. The Chairman suggested that they should confer on this matter. It was not a Highways Council matter. REVIEW OF HIGHWAYS. It was decided, in answer to a request from the Mam Highways Board, to.recommend the following roads to be declared main highways: Lake County—from the Palmerston-Queenstown main highway to Pembroke; Vincent—Cromwell to Pembroke, via Lowburn; Queensbury; Maniototo —Hill’s Creek to St. Bathans; Waihemo —Middlemarch-Dunback road. It was decided not to advise that any roads at present highways should be revoked. DECLARATION OF HIGHWAYS. In’ reply to an application from the Vincent County Council for the declaration of the Butcher’s Gully—Clyde road as a main highway it was staged that the board had recommended this road as a highway and tue Minister of Public Works had been advised accordingly. This road will include the bridge over the Clutha River and the smaller bridge over the Fraser River, both of which will require reconstruction work The road runs from Alexandra to Clyde along the Earnsdeugh Flats. In connection with the Cromwell-Pem-broke road and the Cromwell-Hawera main highway the Highways Board considered the taking over of the roads, but deferred the matter. The whole thing depended on the construction of the Bendigo bridge, and until the location of this bridge was determined little could be done. The Chairman reported that he had recommended that the ultimate highway from Cromwell be changed to go on the west bank of the Clutha from Cromwell to Bendigo, crossing the Clutha on a new bridge at Bendigo, preceding on the east side to Hawea Flat; but that in the meantime fluexisting main highway on the past hank of the Clutha remain, and that a new highway be declared on the west bank from Cromwell to Pembroke, with the understanding that portions of it be revoked at some future time when the ultimate line is adopted.—The Council endorsed tho recommendation. The Board advised that it could nor favourably consider the requests from the Maniototo County that the road from its junction with the present highway at Hill a Creek to St. athans be declared a main highway and that the Dansey Pass road be treated similarly. It was also asked that the main highway from Outram to Middlemarch be extended, to Kveburn. Mr Morgan (Maniototo) said tho board was not treating his council fairly, and its constant refusals were “knocking the stuffing out of him.” They were not so keen on the last two roads, but he considered it essential that the board should take over the Hill s Creek to St. Bathans road as it was an important feeder to the railway. The Council was asked by the board to consider the application of the Lake County to have the road from the Crown Range to Cardrona taken over by the Government It was stated that the revenue from the land fed by the road was £23 and the estimated cost of maintenance £150; also a road of six miles from Victoria Bridge to Roaring Meg, the land revenue for which was £26 and the estimated cost of maintenance £l2O. The chairman considered the request not unreasonable. —It was decided to recommend these requests to the board as worthy of favourable consideration. A letter from the Minister of Public Works to the mayor of Arrow-town was read, in which it was advised that the board could not take over the main highway through the borough of Arrow-town.— Derided to advise the borough that it could make a claim as from the date of the declaration of the second highway for maintenance subsidy on the same scale as that paid for the highway outside the borough. GENERAL. Lithographs of a proposed boundary sign recommended by the board were forwarded for distribution among local bodies. i’lie chairman stilted that in the erection ot these, local bodies would be subsidised £ for £ by the Highways Board, and that it would have to be a matter of mutual arrangement between the counties. Another design submtted by the Tuapeka County Council” was recommended as cheaper and just as effective for marking county boundaries or roads other than re in highways. . A letter was received from tho board drawing attention to the fact that some local authorities were not sending regular claims for subsidies, and asking that these bodies be isked to do so in future. The need for making claims at regular intervals was stressed in the letter, as when belated claims were continually being made it was difficult to assess the board’s maintenance funds. The Highways Board ./rote suggesting the amalgamation of the Waihemo and Waikouaiti counties, expressing the opinion that better and cheaper maintenance of roads would result.—ln this connection Waikouaiti representatives said that in reply to a petition to the Governor-General a commission had been set up to go into the matter, and it was anticipated that it would be sitting in the course of a few weeks. The Vincent County Council’s request for assistance towards the reconstruction of brdgea on the main highways was acceded to a t the rate of a £2 for £ subsidy. When the council has carried its loan proposals the hoard will declare the necessary lengths of highways as Government roads to enable (lie subsidy to be paid. A report was submitted m the Bushey Creek bridge, it h mg stated that a new bridge was necessary, but until such new structure could be arranged for. substantial temporary repairs should be carried out. as in the event of a hi~h water level the approaches to the bruise became impassable. The Maniototo Council wrote advising I hot it had been resolved 'n move its grading plant to the Shag River, Swinhurn section, and inquiring whether an increased subaidv could be obtained for riropomd construction work in that district.—Tn reply to the request a letter from the Highways Board stated that it bad been decided to recommend the Shag River-Swinburn section to bo taken over as a Government road. The transfer of unexpended balance bv the Lake County Council from one section to another was approved.