WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 14

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held yesterday at Palmerston, and was attended by Crs W. Ritchie, A. S, Sheat, M. J. M‘Cabe, R. L. Smith, J. Chapman, H. O’Neill, J. O’Connell, and G. Clark. Cr O’Neill was appointed chairman pro tern., and welcomed members. He mentioned that half of the councillors were new members. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. E. Bodkin (Hyde) wrote stating that a road required 30 chains of gravel in the worst places from his boundary gate to the house. He would do the work for 25s per day, or at the usual price per chain paid by the county.—lt was decided that Mr Bodkin be offered 4s per yard to repair the road, up to 30 yards. Mr Andrew Harvie, Nenthorn, Moonlight, wrote asking that pipes be put in at the . entrance to his barn, stable, and woolshed. Sixteen yards of piping was required.—The council agreed to put the pipes in. The Chairman of the District Highways Council wrote that it was desirable to prepare the annual highways estimates, and asked for particulars. The following amounts had been recommended for approval by the council: —Pigroot bridge,, £200; maintenance Palmerston-Queens-town, £47 10s (£ for £). He asked for particulars as to the top end of the Pal-merston-Queenstpwn highway.—Received; attention to be drawn to the fact that there was an error in some of the figures. The £47 10s should have been £477 10s. The information asked for to be supplied. The District Engineer, Dunedin, forwarded a list of balances of authority and unauthorised money at March 31 last on roads in the district. —It was decided to apply for £ for £ up to £4OO for a bridge at Dunback, near M'Donald's. The Town Clerk, Dunedin, wrote that a conference of local authorities in the heavy traffic districts would be held on June 1, and invited the attendance of two delegates.—The chairman and Cr Ross were appointed delegates. The Hamilton Borough Council forwarded copies of resolutions passed by it as to the construction and maintenance of streets and roads, _ and motor traffic taxation. The resolutions were that the increased charges were due solely to damage by motor traffic, that it was totally inequitable to burden the ratepayers with the whole of these charges; and that the Government be strongly urged to introduce the necessary legislation to transfer an equitable proportion of the burden to the users of roads and streets. —Received. The Hyde Domain Board wrote making application to close the road running through the Hyde Domain.—The council had no objection to the road being closed. When advertised anyone desiring to do so could object. The Secretary of the Otago Expansion League wrote stating that the annual presessional meeting of the league would be held on June 4. Members of the council were invited to attend.—Received; invitation to be accepted by’any councillors who happened to be in town at the time. INSPECTOR’S REPORT, Following is a summary of the inspector’s report:—Bushy Riding: On Watts Hill and along the flat the main highway was in a bad state again, and to keep it in . order was Very ■ difficult Jwith’out _ a scarifier, or some jifapleplent. £|ome maintenance metal was required for potholes in the roads. Goodwood iding: The wet weather had disclosed some weak spots in the roads, which would require attention, but, generally, the roads : were in fair order. . Meadowbank Riding: The remainder of the road from Bowker’s to Glenpark was to have been graded, but the rain coming on had prevented the work being done. Blue Mountain Riding: The road near Mr G. McDonald’s-had been inspected. , Several complaints had been received regarding ’ the crossings. With regard to the-, old Grange bridge - a culvert would be required. There was a serious washout on the back road near M‘Donald’s. Dunback Riding:. A variety of work had been done in this riding. Green Valley Riding ; About five and a-half miles of the Pigroot road had been surfaced and was in good order. Owing to snow and rain the team had been shifted, and was now in Dunback Riding. It was exnected that the rain bad made a difference in some of the roads in this riding. The worst portion at present was between Hay’s and Macraes, and required maintenance of some kind. The inspector had seen Mr Bodkin, and had. pointed out to him that the council considered the road through the Hyde Domain was unnecessary.—The report was adopted; it being decided to pay a visit to Dunback to inspect a washout in a creek known as M'Donald’s. GENERAL. Cr Ross was appointed to represent the County Council on the Highways Council. The chairman. Crs Ross, M‘Cabe, and Clark were appointed a Finance- Committee. ' • ■ '■ ' ’ ■ i It was resolved to hand over to tne solicitor for collection all outstanding rates. It was decided to obtain the poison necessary for bird poisoning operations during the year. Accounts amounting to £3BO 18s 4d were passed for payment. ANNUAL MEETING.. The annual meeting was held at 12 o’clock, and Cr O’Neill was elected chairman for the ensuing year. In returning thanks for his election, Cr O’Neill said that, with the assistance of the council, he would carry out the business to the best of-his ability. Cr M'Callum had been chairman last year, and had conducted the affairs of the council very well, and he thought the council should accord him a vote of thanks. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Cr M’Calium.