WEST HARBOUR BOROUGH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20789, 7 August 1929, Page 7

WEST HARBOUR BOROUGH.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The'monthly'meeting of the West Har-' hour Borough Council was held last evening, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr H. E. Moller). Crs A. Smith, J. M. Kay, T. F. Rodger, A. D. Asher, C. J. Hayward, W. Forgie, T. H. Hafridge, F. W. Venn, C. E. H. Wilson, and R. E. Gariieron. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Ravensbourne police in regard to the damage done to handrails at Burkes and St. Leonards. Inquiries had been, made, but there was no evidence of wilful damage having been done to the rails and uprights. Residents had expressed the opinion that the rail fence was sometimes damaged when cattle were taken through at night. Some of the rails at St. Leonards had been damaged when'a motor vehicle ran oyer the small wall, while soine of the rails had loose for oyer 12 months. The uprights were too far apart.to form a solid support for the rails. The handrails in some places were in a bad state and should be repaired.—The opinion was expressed that the damage was not done by children or cattle, but by some persons who had iio thought for the' safety of others!— The letter was received and the town clerk was instructed to have the'damaged rails replaced. - ; The secretary of the.: West Harbour-. Ratepayers’- Association' wrote requesting the council _to approach the Railways Department with a recommendation to run, a train from Dunedin about 3.15 p.m. or 3.30 pan. It-.was contended that, such a train would be ’veil patronised by residents. Complaints had been received concerning- the- late running of the 7.32 a.m. train, which had caused some inconvenience to workers.- Complaints had also been received regarding people standing on the carriage platforms, causing an obstruction to passengers.—After, a general discussion, the letter was re-’. , ferred to the Railways Committee with I a recommendation that all the matters imentioned receive every attention. , Mr M. Pryde wrote drawing attention to the state of the bank at the entrance to his property at Sawyers’ Bay, The main road had been widened and straightened, and the bank was slipping away as a result of the recent rain.—lt was decided to leave the matter in the : hands o£ the town ,clerk, , to take whatever steps he might consider necessary. The town clerk of Dunedin advised that the city electrical engineer had been - instructed to proceed with the work of erecting additional street lights in ■ the borough.—-The letter was received. ! - The Waikouaiti County Council wrote asking the council to contribute half the cost of laying about 12 yards of gravel on the footpath along Station road at Saw-' yers’. Bay.—rlt was agreed to bear half cost, the work to be carried but by the Waikouaiti Council. , '

Mr A. M. Thornicroft wrote drawing attention to the state of jthe embankment adjoining, his property in Stewart street. A portion of the embankment had washed away, and a section of the culvert had collapsed, and the. fence and a portion of the footpath had been carried away by heavy rains. Temporary" repairs had been made, but these had not proved beneficial. —The letter was referred to .the Works Committee for consideration. _,' Mr JV'Chalmers wrote.drawing attention to the state of the District road. He described . the road’ as a quagmire.—The letter was received, and then referred to the Works. Committee for consideration. . Mrs J. Hawcridge wrote stating; that the storm, -yrater dram running through her property in Montague street was In a very unsatisfactory condition.. The pipes had been damaged, and under normal co'nditiona little water found its Way‘into the pipes. Consequently, the course of the water had been diverted into an > old drain. —It was decided to inform Mrs Hawcridge that -the drain was a natural water course, and, consequently, did not come under the jurisdiction of the council. ■ln view of threatened legal proceedings because of water flowing _ through Mr Newsy’s property, .the council decided ’to place theVmatter in the hands of its solicitors for advice. , ’ y The district traffic manager for the Railways Department wrote stating that the possibility of running, a train at 11.17 p.m. on Tuesdays, as suggested by the council, had been ■ considered, but the arrangements for running such a train, on Tuesdays presented: some difficulties, and he suggested that this additional train be run on Mondays, which would permit of the present departure time, 11.17 pin., being adhered: tc, and thus avoid disturbance to regular passengers^—lt .was decided to agree to the traffic manager’s suggestion.- ’ • ■ . ‘ ■ . The District Engineer for the Railways Department forwarded a plan showing where the nfew station at Burkes would be built for the double line of rails. The plan showed, a footbridge with steps which would be . built at the north end of the new station to give access to the platform; Access';to the jetty could be provided, if desired; by the. .council, byextending the’ ’ fqotbridge antf ■ widening out the embankment tq.ifornt a path' 6ft wide from the bridge to the jetty. The cost of thia.extraiwork would have tob® borne by the council,—The letter was referred to the Railways Committee,which: will .meet the traffic manager to discuss the matter. ’ •

Mr F. J. Williams, civil engineer, advised that the adiount expended on -the’ Dunedin-Port Chalmers highway from February Ito June 30 was' £715-9s 6J. The' mam road being a secondary highway receiving a subsidy of £2 for £l, the; amount to;be contributed by the.several local 'authorities interested was , £231 4s' Id, distributed as follows: —Dunedin City Council, £l3O 12s; West Harbour Council, £97 19s Id; Port Chalmers Council, £32 13s.—The letter was received, i

A letter was received from Mr J., W. Amos, of St. Leonards, stating tbat owing to the bad state of the road the children could- not ! attend ■ schobl during wet .weather. He asked the council to supply two loads of metal, to be spread on' the road.—The matter was left in the hands of the inspector to deal with. ■ The representative for the -District Highways Council wrote stating that it had been the practice for men employed by several local bodies to place vegetable matter on the highway. Such a practice had a deleterious effect on the surface, and should be discontinued. The council was asked to take the. necessary action in this direction.—The letter wap received.' - - / ' REPORTS. ' .The, Works Committee recommended that two loads of screenings be spread on the footpath leading to Carter’s property, 'also* that two loads of metal be spread on: Castle street- below Silver’s property. It was also recommended that one load of metal be spread on the road in front of Miss Griffen’s property at Burkes, and that sufficient sand be procured to finish top-dressing the footpaths. —The report was approved. The borough inspector reported that a great deal of damage.had. again been done by, the recent heavy rains: . In', addition to several culverts being blocked and washed out. an extensive wash-out had occurred at Burkes. This was now being repaired. The footpaths had subsided in several places at Bifrkes, St. Leonards, and Ravensbourne. All, these fodtpaths had been repaired by the Public Works Department, and it had not proved satisfactory from the council’s point of view. There was a great deal of work still to be earned out in the 'borough. The inspector expressed the opinion that the two floods had put hack the borough work about two months.—The report was approved. .; :,• ■. - .The Finance • Committee reported that £430 10s lOd had been collected during the past month, and that accounts amountmg to £703 11s 7d had been passed for ?^ y kalance amounted to £998 3s Id,—The report was approved.