WAIKOUAITI COUNTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19958, 27 November 1926, Page 24

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, when there wore present Crs A. Heckler (chairman), G. Gilmore, P. Briscoe, E. Laley. J. Preston, and J. M'Lachlan. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the secretary of the Counties’ Association forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by the Nortn Island Motor Union regarding the danger to the public caused by wandering stock on the roads at night,—Received. A communication was received from the clerk of the Maniototo County Council forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by his council suggestion that an association of counties in Otago province be formed. It was pointed out that the formation oi such an association would further unite the councils and the benefits to be gained would be obvious to all. Briefly, such a body would discuss matters of vital interest and the difficulties peculiar to local government. It would also be able to bring increased recognition of the importance and dignity of local government in its relation to the general public and to make representations to the Government or the New Zealand Counties’ Association in the interests of counties within the province with increased power and strength.—Received. A letter was received from the Assistant Under-secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs acknowledging receipt of the recommendations forwarded by the county clerk in connection with the amalgamation of the Waikouaiti and Waihemo counties, and advising that the matter would receive further consideration on receipt of suggestions from the Waihemo County Council. — Received. Mr G. Louie, and 16 other residents of Merton riding forwarded a petition asking that the culvert over Deep Stream, Omimi, be made more safe for the travelling public.—lt was decided that the inspector bo instructed to put the necessary repairs in hand immediately. Mrs B. J. Reid wrote asking that repairs bo carried out to the road leading to her property at Waitati.— It was resolved that the inspector be authorised to effect such repairs as were possible. The Town Clerk, Dunedin, wrote intimating that his council had granted authority to pay to the local council £B2O 15s 7d as a progress payment on account of work done on the Waitati-Wakari road.—Received. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Inspector reported fis follows on the work done during the month in the various ridings . Hawkesbury Riding.—“ The mam road from Palmerston to Flag Swamp has been gone over with the little grader to rakoin the gravel. Some repairs have been done to the Quarry road, and a portion of Paynes’ road in the Hummock district has been surfaced. Ditches have been cleaned out on M'Callum’s road and tho gravel will be carted to concrete Bethune’s ford as soon as the river is lower. Tho planks for Mt. Royal bridge have arrived and will be put in shortly. Boundary sign posts have been erected at Palmerston cemetery and at each end of Waikouaiti borough. Morton Riding.—One hundred yards oi Shag River gravel have been carted out to tho main road during the month, and spread on some of the worst places on tho Hat, and tho grader has been over tho road from Waikouaiti River bridge to Scott's Hill. A narrow bend of the road near there has been widened with clay taken from a sharp bend near it. Apes’ road and Round Hill road have been graded and the grader is now on the road near Puketeraki. The new metal on various roads in Warrington and Soacliff districts has been raked in and blinded, and watertables are being cleaned out on Pryde s road. The new road at the back of Merton station is now being gravelled with Shag River gravel. When the clay road was too soft to cart over during the wet weather, five trucks of the gravel were carted to the Karitane road. This road requires about 60 yards more between Karitane and the main road- _ The timber wall has been erected at the slip above the 1-iver, and the road will now be widened by filling in with clay from tho cutting near it. A po ’-r., of tho road on tho hill past Kia-toa has bee - surfaced, and tho road to the wool-shed is now being attended to. Stone-crushing will probably be started next week at the quarry on Kilmog hill. Bluoskin Riding.—The metalling contract on Lower Harbour road is nearly completed, the road having been re-formed and two 6-inch pipe culverts put in. The greater part of the metalling of the Purakanui footpath is done, and the culvert and watertables complained of at Hayward Point are being attended to. The foot-bridges on tho railway track at Waitati have been repaired and work has been started on the Orokonui bridge contract. Two trucks of metal have been spread on Waitati station road and blinded, and four trucks have been carted out to the main road and potholes filled. The gravel has been cleared from tho lower ford and the channel widened, the finer gravel being used in blinding the metal, and the rough gravel spread on Leydon's road. North-East Valley Riding.—With the exception of some work on the Waitati-Wa-kari road, very little has been done in this riding during the month. At Burns’ creek bridge tho banks of the stream are being patched with stone and cemented. Regarding the proposed new road at Pigeon Flat, Mr Jack is agreeable to it standing over until tho men are finished with the work on Waitati-Wakari road. Tho report was adopted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £507 3s 9d were passed for payment. TENDERS. The District Engineer, Dunedin, wrote recommending that Mr J. T. Butler's amended tender of £892 17s for the erection of the bridge on the road from Waitati to Purakanui Cliffs be accepted.—Received. The tender of Messrs Miller., and M'Lnchlan for the supply of 160 yards of metal at 13s per yard was accepted.