HIGHWAYS MATTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 6

HIGHWAYS MATTERS

MEETING OF NO. 16 COUNCIL,

a mnotinir of No. 16 District Highways Cotndl wa S s held in the Public Works Office on Monday night, there being pro sent Messrs J. E Marks (in the chair, J. Ritchie. E. Morgan. G. Ross. Vi. b. Reid, a 'A circular was received from the Mam Highways Board advising that the wages of of works supervising construction works on main highways would bo subsidised on the usual basis.— Reccn cd A. circular was received from the Main Highways Board regarding tho issue of grazing ‘ rights by local bodies on mam highways at night, a nr! suggesting that the practice bo discontinued.—l he Chairman said that a copy, of the circular had been sent to the various local bodies, but it was a matter that did not concern them, for it was not a usual practice m their was received from the Main Highways Board forwarding report and estimate of cost of proposed chniination of level crossing near lumni, on tlio Duncdiii-Christchurch mam highway. A survey had been carried out, and tron * information obtained it was '■lmt the cost of an overbridge would be tho most economical, the estimated cost being £5730.—Th0 Chairman said that ho understood tho work would be put into operation shortly. Tho railway would first build the bridge, ami when it was far enough advanced the Public Works Department would get on with tho earth work; Advice was received from the Mam Hiaiiways Board approving of a grant of. £2OOO for the purpose of bringing the Victoria Bridge-Roaring Meg section up to a reasonable standard. - The Chairman reported that the Main Highways Board had been advised that tho work proposed for tho relief of unemployed on the Victoria Bridge-Roaring Men section differed in some resree*- fo- *"fk originally proposed, and that to complete t.io

! Mr Marks explained that the local Public Works Department had been asked to start a place whore men could be employed to relievo tho unemployment situation, and had recommended that some men could bo put on part of this road, widening the corners. This was approved by tho Public Works Department, and a sum of £1503 was granted. Tlio work that had been done had resulted in an improvement to tho corners, but not to tho surface of tho road. For gravelling purposes £I2OO was ; yet required, and all other work would bo done by men on relief works. So tar £1503 had been granted, and tho £SOO was approved. hut that would leave them £I2OO short. More than £IBOO should not be expended on relief work?, j A motion was carried that the Main - Highways Board he asked to give tlm matter further consideration, and pointing out that the Lake County could not bo expected to take over the maintenance q f tho road on a £2 for £l basis until it was put into a_ better state of repair. A recommendation to the Main Highj v .,.,., r-.... ~l .... rri-.p :n p - envha--'’" wit l ’ I a request from flic Lake County Council , for a special grant of £2 for £1 for rederk- ' ing the Lower Shotover Bridge, which was | th". er.nimeting link of Otago Centra! and Queenstown. The Main Highways Board advised that if was the intention of tho board to subsidise (he maintenance of the whole length of six mi Vs in Waihemo County between Shag River and the southern boundary of Block IV. Swinhurn, instead of hlng River to pierc'd, as rrevlmidr ndvisod.—Walhe’oo County Council to be vised accordingly.

The Main Highways Board wrote inquirVtr if there v,-s any reason why steps -houhl not he taken to revoke the declaration of th- DnnedV-Waitati section ns n Government road,—lt was recommended that the sect : on he not handed hack to Waikouniti County Ccnncil until two years "fter. completion of the tar sealing, the hoard to he fnrth-r ndvhed that the onestion would ho reconsidered at the end of next December.

U was decided to recommend to f'r> Main Highways P'-H tW th - D-n dmPort Chalmers road be declared a main highway.