WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 6

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The first monthly meeting of the newlyelected Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, and was attended by Cri G. Gilmore (chairman), A. Heckler, J. Preston, P. Briscoe E. Laley, and J. M'Lachlan. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN - . Formal business was aatried out till noon, and the annual meeting for the purpose of electing the new chairman was held. The only nomination was that of Or Heckler, and he was unanimously elected. The new chairman thanked the council for their confidence in him, and Cr Preston expressed a few remarks in appreciation of Cr Gilmour’s work. On behalf of the council the Chairman welcomed Cr M’Lachlan, the new member of the council. CORRESPONDENCE. The Acting Under-secretary of the Public Works Department (Wellington) forwarded a copy of the trade regulations relating to motor buses, and called attention to the election of one member of the Transport Appeal Board to represent the local bodies in No. 12 motor omnibus district.—Received; Cr Laley being appointed the council’s representative. The District Engineer of the Public Works Department wrote asking what the council would he prepared to contribute towards the cost of improving the railway crossing at Tumai. The necessary work in the elimination of dangerous crossings would cost about £4OOO or £sooo.—The council approved of the idea, but felt that it could not agree to contribute any fixed sum owing to the fact that its funds wars required tor road maintenance. In reply to a letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lauds, the council passed a motion agreeing to the taking of the road through the commonage reserve blocks near Evansdale. The Hamilton Borough Council forwarded a copy of a resolution suggesting that the Government he urged to introduce legislation transferring an equitable porportion of the cost of construction and maintenance of roads and streets from the ratepayer to the user of the roads and streets.—The council supported the Hamilton Boro-igh’s resolution.

The Acting Medical Superintendent of the Seacliff Mental Hospital wrote asking for permission to erect a fence and to plant shrubs on the roadside near the Seacliff railway station.—Permission was granted, a condition being that the shrub* should not be allowed to grow higher than three feet. The _ Warrington Amenities Society wrote inquiring on what terms the council would provide street lights for Warrington township; also asking the council to have the streets in Warrington township and the road from Evansdale to Warrington repaired.—The matter was left in the hands of Crs Gilmore and Briscoe to report to the next meeting. Mrs A. F. Easther wrote asking that the road at the back of her property at Kanlane be repaired.—The inspector was instructed to report. Similar letters were received from Mrs J. R. Jones, in regard to the road leading to her property at Seacliff, and from Mr B. J. Reid, who complained of the road leading to his property at Waitati.—The first letter was received and left in the hands of the inspector, and the second was merely “received.” The Waikouaifi Borough Council wrote asking the County Council to pay half the cost of the maintenance ol the road leading to Mr M _ Hallum’s property at Waikouaiti.—lt was agreed to pay cue third of the cost up to the total cost of £2O. GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £512 11s were passed for payment. Cr Preston was appointed the council'a delegate to the Highways Council. The ranger was instructed to take proceedings against those folk who grazed their cows on the roadside. A. Brocket was appointed surfaceman for the Mertou Riding out of about a dozen applicants. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector’s report was as follows Hawksbury Riding.—Eighty-seven yards of gravel from Shield’s gravel pit have been spread on the main road at various places between Waikouaiti and Flag Swamp. A few ioads cf Shag River gravel have also been carted to fill some bad holes in lie road at Pleasant Valley, and 30 yards or 40 yards more would cover the worst >f the pot-holes at present. The deviation f the creek at Flag Swamp is finished, and under runners have been filled in on Quarry road. Tbe main road is now being graded between Waikouaiti and Palmerston. Merton Riding.—Sixty yards of Shag River gravel have been carted from the trucks at Merton station to the main road during the month. Eighty-seven yard* of Waikouaiti River gravel and a few yards of rotten rock have been quarried and spread on the road near the quarry on Kilmog Hill. Good progress is being made with the quarrying contract, but there is no immediate prospect of getting the crusher to crush this stone. About 80 tons of Logan’s Point metal have been spread on the road between Puketeraki' and Seacliff, but as this road has got very bad during the wet weather, it will require another 100 tons. Water-tables have been cleaned out on the Seacliff-IVarrington road, and the road from Merton station to Karitane has been widened for a few chains. The road at the back of Merton station has been prepared for the graved but it is too soft at present to put on the gravel Blueskin Riding.—Pot-holes _ have been filled with metal on the main road between Waitati and Evansdale, and the scrub between the road and the railway has been cleared. A start has been made with crushing the stone from the Waitati River for the Waitati-Waksri road. About 80 yards of stone which is lying in heaps on the Waitati Flat road could also b* carted to the crusher and crushed for this road. Seventy-five tone of Logan’s Point metal have been spread on Lower Harbour road, and blinded, and water-tables have also been cleaned out on this road. The loose meta! has been raked in on Hayward Point road and blinded. Mr Reynolds offers £3 towards the cost of repairing the bridges on the railway footpath at Waitati. if the other residents using the track subscribe the balance of the cost. The bridges could be satisfactorily repaired for about £26. ... North-East Valley Riding.—The principal work done in this riding during the month has been on Pigeon Flat road, where metal has been blinded and water-tables have been cleaned out. The bridge on the main road at Sawver's Bay will probably be re-decked during the coming month