TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 7

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was presided over by Cr J. W. Blair (chairman), and there were also present Crs A. Scott, F. Doherty, R. A. Kempshell, T. Carruthers. C. Findlay, and Walter Blackie. Before the meeting preceded with the ordinary business, a motion of condolence was passed with the widow and family of the late Mr George Nichol. The clerk was instructed to forward a letter of sympathy. REPORTS. The Finance Committee reported that the receipts for the past nine weeks were £3416 12s 3d; and recommended payment of accounts for the month totalling £1630 19s 7d. The accounts for December totalled £2102 15s 4d. The bank pass book showed a debit balance of £5901 2s 2d.—The report was adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector of Works reported as follows : East Taieri Riding. —241yds of gravel have been run out from the Silverstream dump at Kirklands for maintenance on the following roads:—Centre, Circular, and Riverside, 20yds of maintenance metal have been run out on Riccarton road on the section from the railway to the main road; 32yds of maintenance gravel from the Silverside dump have also been run out on this road on the section from Centre road to the railway. The break in the Silverstream at Douglas’s has been repaired, and block of gravel in the stream scooped so as to allow the stream to run in its usual course. The block at the junction of Silverstream and Mill Creek has also been scooped out. The bridge on the cemetery road at East Taieri School has been repaired. Cemetery and Gladstone roads have been surfaced. On the main highways, No. 1 has been surfaced from Cullen's to Saddle Hill, and 10yds of maintenance metal have been spread on Saddle Hill. On No. 2 Highway 96yds of maintenance gravel have been spread from West Taieri bridge to the Owhiro Gladfield road. North Taieri Riding.—ls7yds of maintenance gravel have been run out from the Silverstream dump and spread on Gladstone an dWingatui roads. The Half-way Bush at Muir’f and Half-way Bush to Whare Flat rr - v have been surfaced. Kaikorai It 1 '";. -Under contract No. 15 (Government gnu,;) the section of tfie Green Island to Taieri Month road from Crawford’s Hill to Kaikorai Lagoon bridge has been completed. On this road from Alexander’s comer to Thomson’s road 20yds of maintenance metal have been run out. The stone culvert which was broken down on Fernhill road, past the slip at Freeman’s, is being replaced by 18in concrete pipes. The slip on this road has also been giving trouble which will continue as long as the Railways Department keeps removing the spoil from the bottom of the bank. The main highway has been surfaced, and tho loose gravel graded in on the section from Green Island to Saddle Hill. Otokia Riding.—Under contract No. 15 (Government grant) the section on the Green Island to Taieri Mouth road from Kaikorai Lagoon bridge to Pettis gate has been completed ; 550yds of maintenance gravel has been run out from the Kuri pit, on to the section from Bruce’s Rocks to Mrs Meo’s. The surface of this road from Green Island to Taieri Mouth is in good order. The stone wall of the wateropening at the Kuri School has also been repaired. The main highway in this riding has been surfaced from Cullen’s to Taieri ferry. Allanton streets have been surfaced and the footpath of Mrs Stevens and Christfe’s property has been gravelled Outram Riding.—l67yds of maintenance gravel from Cameron’s durrtp at Outram have been run out on the Outram-Allan-ton road. The streets in Outram town have also been surfaced:—Bruce’s, Nicholl’s, Kirk’s, Bremner’s, D. Millar’s, and Outram to Hindon. Maungatua Riding.—The gravel from the dump at John Millar’s has been run out on the Outram to Berwick road. The teams being now engaged in carting out the gravel from Maungatua School creek to this road. The following roads have been surfaced. Henley to Berwick. On the hill the main highway has been surfaced from Whare Creek to Lee StreamDuring the month Councillor Kempshell and the inspector inspected the Lee Flat road from the Waipori road to the Tnapeka boundary, and arranged with Mr Scorgie to plough and disc this road. The council will then grade it with tho power grader. Under the heading of construction on the main highway, tho approved plan of the Whare Creek bridge is awaited meanwhile certain preparatory work is in hand. Deep Stream Riding.—The grading of the Pukerangi to Reefs and the Pukcrangi to Lewius roads has been completed, also the grading of tho road from Lee Stream to Boyd’s. The following roads have been surfaced:—Mount John, Hindon to Lee, Hindon railway, and Lamb Hill. The main highway has been surfaced from Lee, Stream to Sutton Stream. Surfaceman M‘Nab has resigned on this beat and John Ralston has been appointed in his place. Owing to the holidays, tho contractor for the road from Deep Stream to Walsh’s run has not made much progress with his contract. This contract should be finished by next meeting. On the main highway under the heading of construction, the plans of the Shannon bridge have been prepared and forward to tho Main Highways Board for approval. Strath-Taieri Riding.—The grading of the roads leading to Dalla’s Sairs, Mount Stoker, and Bray’s, has been completed, also the grading of the main highway from Sutton siding to Sutton Stream. The grading of the Gladbrook roads is in progress. Under Government grant specifications for the gravelling of these roads have been prepared and forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval. This work will he commenced as soon ns authority is obtained. I propose •to let this work by contract to tho settlers at schedule rates. Owing to tire heavy motor traffic during the holiday time the gravel and metal roads have suffered considerably. This is more noticeable in re-

gard to No. 1 Highway, and is principally caused by the excessive speed at which some motorists travel. I recommend that the following works be carried out: Deep Stream Riding; Mosgiel to Middlcmarch Main Highway No. 2—” That alternative tenders be called for the supply and delivery of 1920 cubic yards of schist spalls, to be spread on the section of this highway from Mount Gowrie to Peat Bog (about two miles); that 1600yds of gravel be carted from Deep Stream at Butler’s to the above section of highway,” Kaikorai Riding : “ That 80yds of maintenance metal be spread on the Kaikorai Valley road.” These recommendations were agreed to. MOTOR TRAFFIC. The Ranger reported having impounded 13 head of cattle and seven horses during (lie month. During tho Christmas season lie had controllled the motor traffic at the Brighton bridge. Most of the motorists bad observed the by-laws, but some few had been noted for speeding, includ- • ing two of the corporation buses. He had to complain about persons loitering on the bridge, watching the boats, and recommended that corrugated iron should be placed on the sides to block the view. In connection with the clause in the report regarding the control of motor traffic, a letter was read from the Brighton Domain Board acknowledging the services of Mr Williamson, the inspector. His tactful handling of a difficult problem had not only served th'e motorists 'veil but had prevented anything in the nature of an accident at the bridge. The report was received. CORRESPONDENCE. The following Treasury vouchers were received :—Government subsidy on rates, £1207 10s ; main highways, £291 18s Bd. —Received. The Public Works Department forwarded authority for a grant of £2OO (Graham’s road, Silverpeaks).—Received. Letters were read from the District Engineer, Public Works Department—(l) Showing schedule of amounts voted for this year’s Estimates; (2) enclosing resolution to be passed regarding road maintenance ; (5) regarding Taieri Mouth bridge timbers, showing mossy growths, and recommending scraping and tarring. —Received, and noted. Letters were read from the Chairman No. 17 District Highways Council—(l) Enclosing two copies of the annual report of the Alain Highways Board for the year ended March 31, 1927; and (2) enclosing a circular from the board regarding the distribution of the petrol tax. —Received. The Perpetual Trustees Company, on behalf of the Shand estate, wrote regarding the water lying on Centre road, East Taieri, near Aleadowbank.—Referred to the member for riding and the inspector, with power to act. F. F. Valpy, Green Island, wrote regarding drain near his gate. The water was flowing down his paddock, and the drain required cleaning.—Referred to the member for riding and inspector, with power to act. The Secretary of the Allanton Cemetery Committee wrote asking for a donation to wards clearing gorse on cemetery.—Held over till Cr AlTntosh was present. Mr John Carter, Saddle Hill, wrote asking that the road near his place should be repaired.—lnspector to attend to th* matter. Airs Lane, Allanton, applied for the use of an unusued piece of road at the back of her sections. 17-20, block Xli, Allanton. It was resolved that the council could not entertain the request as the road gave access to other lands. Alessrs Adams Bros., on behalf of Mr Hobbs, Brighton, forwarded plan cf subdivision, and asked if the county reco & - nised Alorse street as a public street as it was proposed to extend the subdivision. —Held oyer till Cr AlTntosh is present. The District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, in reply to the council, advised that he would attend to the wins fence at Sutton road and railway bridge ,f the county paid £4 towards the cost, estima\d at £l2.—Agreed to. S. E. Heffernan, Rock and Pillar, wrote regarding gravelling the road to his place. He offered to do it at 2s per yard, or supply teams free if the county men would do the filling.—The council agreed to lend a man in April to fill the gravel. The Under-secretary of Lands, in reply to the council’s letter, wrote statins the required to have the Town "Belt, Allanton, included in the Domain.—The clerk was authorised to take the necessary steps to have the transfer effected. Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. wrote on behalf of the executors of the late u - Jopp regarding the bad state of the roads through the Lambhill : - ns, and asking that the inspector look over these —lt was reported that the roads were m a satisfactory condition, and it was not considered necessary to expend any mo-e moiiey in surfacing in the meantime the Under-secretary of the Department of Interna] Affairs forwarded extract from Gazette redefining the boundaries of the borough of Green Island and Kaikorai Hiding at Lookout Point. Received. TAIERI AIOUTH ROAD. Air AI. Stevenson wrote regarding tho Green Island to Taieri Mouth road, and advised that a deputation would wait on tho council on the subiect of further •expenditure in gravel. He expected 'to bo able to offer financial assistance. Air Stevenson, in the deputation, was supported by Air Walls, representing the ! Taieri Alonth Domain Board an'd Amenities Society. He said that the deputation was present to make a suggestion re- | garding raising further funds to spend ; or. the gravelling of the Green Island to ' Taieri Month road. Good work had j been done with the grant just -pent on j the road, but the inspector must have ■ found the quantity short of what ho i would have liked to put on the portion : done. From Crawford’s Hill to the - Kaikorai Lagoon bridge had always been | a rough metal patch, and although good results had been attained with what was put on, unless a further coat was put on shortly all that had been put on would be Inst. They realised that i.he council was doing its best with the funds at its

disposal. It was with the object of trying to help to get more money for this road that they were there. He had gone over this road with Mr Ansell (president of the Otago Motor Club), and he had promised to try to get a grant of £SO from the club. The users of the road would endeavour to ’•aise £25. This would make £75. What he would like to know was, if he could find £75, would the council give a £ for £ grant, and make an application to the Highways Board for a further grant of £ for £, against his and the Taieri County's sums. In other words, the idea was to raise £3OO to spend on gravel, where the inspectors thought it was most needed. He complimented the inspector on the excellent work done on this particular road, and on the county roads in general. The Chairman, in reply, said the riding allocation had been far exceeded, and he could hold out little hope of a subsidy. He was confident that the road would come under the Highways scheme as a “ secondary road,” and this would ensure the expenditure of additional money. The council would be willing to •spend the £75 promised. The extraordinary upkeep of the road was due to outside traffic, not that of the riding. After the deputation had retired, the council decided to defer consideration until Cr MTntosh was present. GENERAL. The Chairman reported to the council the trend of the discussion with the Highways Board on its recent visit to the county. . The Sanitary Inspector reported favourably on the slaughter houses at Green Island, on the piggeries at Green Island Bush, and the boiling-iown works at Green Island. The question of motor car parking on roads near Wingatui Racecourse on race days and the consequent danger tc pedestrians leaving the course at the close of a meeting was raised, and the chairman and Or Findlay were deputed to interview the Dunedin Jockey Club. At a special meeting of the council held after the ordinary meeting, the weekly half-holiday was fixed for Saturday.