WAIKOUAITI COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19980, 23 December 1926, Page 3

WAIKOUAITI COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, when there were present Couuciiiois A. Heckler (in the chair), P. Briscoe, G. Gilmore, E. Laley and J. M'Lachlan. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1204 10s lOd were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE, A letter was received Irom the provisional committee appointed to raise funds for the relief of the dependents of the victims of the Dobson mine disaster, enclosing a subscription list with a request that the council take such steps as it deemed advisable to obtain contributions towards the fund.—Received. Mr C. S. Matthews wrote asking permission to cut away the bank on the roadside near his property at Purakanui lor tne purpose of forming a parking place.—lt was resolved to instruct the inspector to visit the site and give the necessary authority, providing that the work bo done to his satisfaction. A communication was received from Air VV. H. Scott, drawing attention to the fact that a crib at Mihiwaka which was condemned 12 months ago, was again being used, and asking that, as it was riddled with borer, that it be removed in the interests of those who had built new houses in the vicinity.-—Received. It was decided that the owner bo instructed to have the building removed within'one month, failing which the council would remove it at tier expense. A lefter was received from Mrs C. M'Geprge, asking that she be allowed to proceed with the erection of a motor garage at Karitane, with second-hand timber brought from Dunedin.—The Inspector reported that the material was in very bad condition, and was mostly full of borer. It was therefore decided mat Mrs M'George bo required either to destroy it or have it removed from the district. It was pointed out that Mrs M'George was liable to a penalty fot bringing such timber into the district without first having obtained a permit from the Health Department, but it was agreed that under the special circumstances mentioned in her letter that no legal proceedings be taken under the Health Act. A request was . received from the Rev. G. F. Whittlestone that permission be granted lo erect a memorial cairn on the roadline at Karitane.—Permission granted, subject to a satisfactory report from the inspector and chairman after viewing the site. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Inspector reported as follows on the work done in the various ridings during the month: — Hawksbury Riding.—Eleven new planks have been put on the bridge on Mount Royal road, and half of a large culvert on the Flag Swamp-Mount Watkins road has been ro-oovored with planks. Surfacing work has been done on Mill road, Hosie’s road, and several roads at Hawksbury Bush. A portion of Bethune’s road has also been surfaced, and requires about 20 loads of gravel. Eight new planks are required for Ballingdon bridge besides a few for the sides. In the Nenthorn district, the Zig-zag road is badly rutted, but will probably be attended to immediately. Gravel is now being carted out from tbo Waikouaiti River and spread on the road near the bridge. Merton Riding.—The road from Puketeraki to ScaclifT has been graded, the superintendent of the mental hospital sending men to work after the grader end also to repair the road with metal, The read from Seacliff over the hill to the Main road v as also graded as far as the gorse would permit, also M'Kay’s and M'Grath’s roads, and a portion of the Main road. At Karitane the junction of the roads near the fishermen’s shed is being widened, and the clay used in filling between the road and the timber wall recently erected, in widening the road near the bridge, and in filling in the hollow in front of the store, where the culvert has been lengthened by 14ft with 9in jiipes. Portions of the, roads to Kiatoa vvoolshcd and to Dip Greek have been surfaced. The contract for forming and gravelling the road along the side of the railway near Merton Station is now finished. The crusher is at work in the quarry at Kilmog, and rotten rock has been quarried for blinding the metal. Authority was applied for metalling Apes’ road and Keyon’s road, but the district engineer advises that he cannot recommend the issue of authority at the present time. * Blueskin Riding.—The metalling contract on Lower Harbour road is completed, 21 chains of the rofgi being metalled, and a few loads used in filling holes in the metalled road. New covers have been put on a culvert on the School road. The metalling of the footpath at Purakanui is nearly finished, and the metalling contract on the Township road is started. A slip on Mihiwaka Station road has carried away the end of a pipe culvert. It will require about 12 loads of stone and clay to build it up again. On WaitatiWakari road the new metal both above and below Mitchell’s ford has been blinded with gravel and rotten rock. The metal from the crusher is being un out to the road between Evansdnlo and Waitati, and blinded with gravel. The Orokonui bridge contract is making good progress, the concrete pier being eerctcd and the piles driven. The old bridge is still passable for light traffic. North-East Valley Riding.—The Main road at Sawyer’s Bay, especially the boundary portion, is very much in need of metalling. One hundred tons at least are required for the Boundary road. The pitching of the banks of Burns’ Creek at the bridge is not yet finished, a« the men had to leave it in the meantime to go to other urgent work—The report was adopted.