SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 7

SOUTH OTAGO.

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL. ■' - - ’ (From Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, December £O. The ordinary monthly meeting was heicl to-da.y, when there were present: Crs 'v. S. Thomson (chairman), D. R. Jack, Kubt. M'lndoe, A. T. Harris, Thomas Magmiicss, J. R. Wilson, Joseph Mosley, George Hay, W. J. M’Konzie. Cr Jack apologised for the absence through illness of Cr James Gumming, who was granted a further mouths’ leave of absence. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr G. Gould) reported lor the period ended December 20: Clutba Riding.—About one mile and ahalf of highway between Kaihiku and Waiwera has been scarified and graded, and is now in good order. Further sections of the road near Kaihiku and Waiwera are now being repaired with broken metal. Only two men have been employed during tile period. Cut I ins Riding.—J have prepared specifications for metalling 36 chains of Hunt's road and 63.50 chains of Morris Saddle 1 road, and invited tenders to close at noon to-day. General maintenance work has been carried out on main highway, O’Con noil’s road, Newhaven, Cktpperton, How sons, Main Waikawa, and other roads. Tho Public Wtiks Department has apptovod of tho acceptance of Mr Isaac Smith s tender fti t completion of contract No. 793, Chlons Pass road, and also tho extension of the eniitract up to the full amount available [or this road. Clydevale Riding.—Tho conoeroto bridge on CHnton-Clydcvale road has been com pleted, and is now open for traffic. The, surfaceman has been chiefly employed m grading Cooksloy.’s road, Paisley's road, Cllydevale-Clinton, and Cltydevale-Rongu-herc road. All grading work has been completed. Clinton Riding.—Specifications for metalling 100 chains of Clinton to Wyndham road have been approved bv the Public Works Department , and tenders have been invited for the work, to close this day. The surfacemen have been engaged n grading and general repair work on Cbi--lon Wyndham road, and Main South road. Gletikcnich Ridiug.-Fair progress is being made with tho gravelling contract on Merino Downs road, and about 35 chains have been completed. ■ Specifications for gravelling 50 chains of Kclso-Maitlnnd road, and 33.40 chains of Hawke s load have been approved. Maclennan Riding.—Fair progress is being made with the metalling contract on Puketiro Railway Station road, and about 30 chains have been completed. Iho HuKi Huki Stream bridge has been completed and onenod to traffic. Pomnhaka Riding.—The surfacemen Have boon w-hollv employed m grading clay roads, and have completed M Norn- s road Lake road, Popotunoa Estate road, and arc now engaged on Clinton-Tnumata road. Richardson Riding-The work of plough ing and cleaning out water tables has been continued, and* Middle road and Sutherland’s road have been completed. Only one surfaceman is engaged at present. South Molyncux Riuiug.-General maintenance work has been carried out on Wright’s track, Jones’s road Kavoro < Lrcea road, and Romahnpa-Kaka I oint 1' road roller is now engaged on the Mam II i ch way between Romahapa and Elen omaru and is being assisted with a traction engine and the old independent scan‘“waipnhi Riding.—The gravelling contract on Reid’s Hill road has been completed, also tho (deviation and approaches to Waipahi Stream bridge, \\aipaln. Pati - and specifications of the Waipahi Stream bridge, at Artburton, have been appiovert %ib“; eh Sv”“ -Aii one pi... .s ceoting tho power winch and one section of P the most has boon burned at the site, also all hardwood and piles required, ana the bulk of the timber for hpppoi, eh. Tho concrete foundations for mast winch, and motor have been completed also hardwood foundation for. hopper. The earthwork in connection wuh the ra.iway «d r pi a n °i n' "w or ki n g order previous to your "The" 1 Engineer stated that the power winch mffi the rent of the gavel vatinc plant had arrived that daj, aim he expected to have the plant in ' vol .^ engineer make arrangements foi an ofl S‘ Chairman stated that he had been approached to have the dangerous approach to tho bridge over the Waitepcka canal on the road to Port Alolynoux ic-moved.-The Engineer intorma; tion showing that the Pub’ic Works He partment would be going on with the work before long. WAIPAHI BRIDGE. Tho Engineer suggested approaching the Highways Board with a request for a b -t ter subsidy on the Waipahi Stream bridge at Arthurton, for which plans had been approved by the Highways Board.—Cr Wilson said this bridge constituted a link in th~ main arterial roadwf V of the Sout h Island, and was deserving of a better subsidy. The counties further north were getting more from the board, and instanced tho Sehvyn bridge in Canterbury There the subsidy was £3 for the county s £l. He moved that the Highways Board be asked for a similar subsidy for the Waipahi bridge. Cr MoHey seconded and referred to the Balclutha-Tuapeka Mouth road, which, he said, had been undertaken by the board without the consent of the Bruce County Council. Money had boon spent there like water, and he anticipated revelations when the washinrr up f> cnino. —The motion was carried. Cr Jack (the council’s representative on the Highways District Council) said the Waipahi bridge did not come into the category of those bridges entitled to tho higher subsidy. Cr Maginness said it was meiely a matter of persistence on the part of the ' local bodies concerned. They had been much more persistent in the north. The receipts for the month totalled £2222 5s 7d and the expenditure £_oll 11s Id. , The Finance Committee's report was adopted and the pay sheet passed for payment. TENDERS. Tenders were dealt with as follows: Contract No. 911.—Sixteen chains formation Shaw’s road. Gatlins. —R. J. i ■ fer, £9O (accepted). , „ Contract 912. —Fifty chains Kelso-Alait-land road.—G. L. Brown 7s 3d yard. Sun and Sim 6s 6d (accepted), Finlayson Bros. 7s sd, Walker and Taylor 7s. Contract 913. —Metalling 36 chains Hunt’s road. —John Aitkenhead 6s yard, George Wright £144 (accepted), A. Eason and Son £144. Leslie M’Lay £lB5 12s. _ Contract 914.—Metalling 100 chains Cliiiton-Wviidham road. —Eason and Son £520, D. Murphy £640, George Ross £O9O, G L. Brown £SOO (accepted). Contract 915.— Metalling 16 chains Kororo Creek road.—George Balloch £ 103 6s 3d. John Aitkenhead £l3B 12s, Leslie M'Lay £IOO 16s (accepted). , Contract 916.—Metalling 60 chains Morris Saddle road. —Isaac Bates £457 16s, Herbert Goodsir 9s 3d yard, J. Pinnerty 8a 6d, Eason and Son 10s 6d.— Left to engineer and Cr Maginness. Contract 917.—Metalling 26 chains Warnock’s road.—lsaac Bates £232 14s. Eason and Son £155 (accepted), W. Abernethv £192 Bs, J. Finnerty 6s 6d yard. Contract 918—Metalling 18 chains Ratanui-Tahakopa Beach road.—lsaac Bates £ll6. W. Abernethy £lO7 2s, Eason and Son £IOO 16s (accepted, subject to the engineer’s approval). Contract 919—Thirty-four chains gravelling. Hawke’s road. G. L. Broun Od yard (accepted), Sim and Sim 6s yard. A. T. Elder 5s yard, Finlayson Bros. os, A. M'Kenzie 5s Cd. Contract 920— Metalling Dent's road.— John Aitkenhead £74 2s, Alex. Allison £56 14s (accepted). Contract 021.—Fourteen chains Morris Saddle road. —Eason and Son £72 16s. Isaac Bates £IOO 16s, J. Finnerty Ss fid yard.—Left to engineer and Cr Machines?. CORRESPONDENCE. J. R. Marks, chairman No. 17 District Highways Council, wrote stating that at the' meeting of the council complimentary reference was made to the enterprise of Clutha County Council in purchasing a Siniernian dragline for gravel-getting purposes, which it was considered would assist in furthering the real interests of the Main Highways Board. —Received. J. R. Marks, district engineer. Public Works Department, advised that the fid lowing votes for the county were on tin Supplementary Estimates:— fall in’s Rive: bridge f II ->n ipapa I. £2 for £l, £350. 'J h undermentioned votes were under tin now vote, "Access to outlying districts Haley's road.. £.50: Harvard, road, £100; Aurora Creek road. £150; Cannibal Bay l oad f £ 1 for £1). £100; Clutha to Owaka, £354; Gilfillan road. £l.so,—Received. J. R. .Marks, district engineer, wrote

requesting that notice be given the person erecting two gates on the Beresiora Creek road to remove them. —The Clerk said the council had not officially sanctioned the erection of these gates, although there had been a resolution on the subject —Cr Wilson moved that the department be informed that if it had received any objection to the gates the council would comply with the request.—Cr Maginness moved as an amendment that the matter be deferred till next meeting. —On a vote the amendment was carried on the casting vote of the chairman; J. H. Whitefield (Waikaka Valley) forwarded a cheque for £5, being subsidy for gravelling done on Reted’s Hill road. —To be thanked for contribution on motion of Cr M'Kenzie. David M'Call (Waikoikoi) again wrote requesting that gravelling be done on Cemetery road, and stating that the three settlers interested were willing to provide £IOO if the Council would give an equal amount. Held over till next meeting. James Tait (Conical Hills) -wrote asking that 25 to 30 chains of the road past his property be gravelled, and offering to do the grading free.—Held over till next meeting. Alexander M’lntyro and three other settlers wrote asking that the bridge over Waikoikoi Creek be renewed before threshing time, as it was completely done. —Cr M'Kenzie moved that the engineer get authorisation from the department for expenditure of grant before next meeting.—Agreed to. W. A. Morris (West Gore) wrote drawing attention to the state of the bridge across the Waipahi River, also to 12 chains of road opposite Mr T. Morris's homestead, and offering to contribute £lO towards cost of metalling same. —Cl Harris moved that the engineer inspect the bridge, with power to act. No funds were available for the road metalling,— Agreed to. GENERAL.

The dog tax was fixed at 2s 6d, and H. Chi Hock appointed collector. Cr M'Kenzie moved that the Highways Board be asked to declare the road over the Conical Hills to Tuapeka County a secondary highway, and- Cr Harris moved similarly in respect to the Clinton-Owaka road. —Agreed to. The terms of the Railways Department in regard to a railway siding at Balclutlia in connection with the gravel excavation plant were agreed to.

On the motion of Cr Harris, it was agreed that county foremen be encouraged to pass the examination for foreman and overseer under the Highways Board. It was decided to grant the staff the usual Christmas and New Year holidays. —An amendment by Crs MTndoe and Harris that permanent surfacemen get six days on full pay was defeated. The Chairman extended the season’s greetings to the council and staff.