TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 10

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of. the _ Taieri County Council was held yesterday. Cr J. W. Blair (chairman) ! was absent through illness. Cr Findlay occupied the chair. Crs Walter Blackie, D. MTntosh, M. Stevenson, J. Gow, R. A. Kempshell were present. Cr Carruthers was unable to reach the meeting on account of a breakdown of his motor car on the road.

The Finance Committee reported that ,the receipts for the past month had been £1736 16s lOd, and recommended payment of accounts totalling £4217 9s 7d. The bank pass book showed a dr balance of £5842 10s 4d. —Adopted. Mr John Garrett (inspector of works) reported as follows: — Hast Taieri Riding.—Riverside and Fowler's roads had been graded with the power grader, and maintenance gravel had been run out on Duke’s road on the section from Peigh’s gate to Finlay’s corner, also on Centre, Fowler’s and Riverside roads, a total of 545 yards being run out. The block of willows brought down by the last flood in the Silverstfeam and deposited on the boundary between Douglas’s and Kirkland’s property had been cleared; the cut at that point was filled with gravel to the top of the bank, thus diverting the stream into the Mill Creek. A pilot channel would need to be scooped out to turn the water into its proper channel. He wished to draw the council’s attention to the actions of the gravel carters above the Gordon road bridge. They were in the habit of removing all the grave] along the banks instead of from the centre of the stream, thus endangering the work they had done in protecting the approach of the bridge. He drew their attention to that fact, but later on found one of thpir number offending again. North Taieri Riding.—The surfacemen had been engaged in repairing the damage to Whare Flat road caused by the flood in December. The road had been graded up with the power grader on the section from Leishman’s to the ford below the school; 320 yards of gravel had been carted out from the Silverstream and spread on that section.

Kaikorai Riding.—The following roads had been surfaced:—Freeman’s, Fernhill, and Ferguson’s. The slip on Fernhill road had been repaired. Matters referred to him for report at last meeting in connection with Green Island bush and Chain Hill road: (1) To fill up the potboles on Green, Island bush road, it required 60 yards of 14-inch metal—estimated cost £45; (2) M'Mann’s road, Chain Hill, to put a light coat of gravel on the road would require 180 yards, at an estimated cost of £6O.

Otokia Riding.—The following roads had been surfaced:—Otokia-Kuri Bush, Otokia Cemetery, M'Laren’s Gully, Saddle Hill to Scrogg’s Hill, Saddle Hill to Brighton. « Outram Riding.—The running out of the metal on Hickey’s and Hackett’s roads, Momona, had been completed. The metal on D. Miliar’s, Kirk’s drain, and Bruce’s road had been raked in and blinded. The section on the Outram-Hindon road from the Glen to Park’s homestead had been graded with the power grader. v Maungatua Riding.—The running out of the gravel on the soft portion of Munro’s and Heenan’s roads had been completed, 185 yards being spread on that section. The running out of the gravel on Lee Canal road was in progress. The following roads had been surfaced:—Henley to Berwick, Allanton to Berwick, C drain road, and Woodside streets. Mr J. D. Bell had been appointed surfaceman in this riding in place of Mr P. O. Brien, resigned. Deep Stream Riding.—The following roads had been surfaced:—Lee Stream to Boyd’s, Lamb Hill, Hindon Railway, and •gorse had been cut out on the reserve at Machine Creek. The power grader had shifted in that week to grade the roads in i that district.

Strath Taieri Riding.—The sheep bridge over the Nenthorn Creek had been completed, and the power grader had been working on the Stoker roads in the Strath Taieri and Deep Stream ridings. The surfacemen had been engaged demoving stones from the Robertslea road to enable that road to be graded with the power grader. The Middlemarch to Rock and Pillar road had been surfaced. Main Highways, No. 2. —Contract No. 28: Delivery of 2000 yards of gravel from Nichol’s to Lee Stream School (Foote and Co.) had been completed. Contract No. 32: Mr J. H. M‘Kay expected * to get started next week. Delivery of 2000 yards of gravel on the section from Lee Stream School to Traquair. Mr Head had made good progress with .the running out of schist spalls on the section from Shannon to Deep Stream, also with the running out of the gravel on the section from' Redgate to Sutton Stream, which would be finished that week. Ninety-two and a-half yar£s of Silverstream gravel had been run out on the section from Wylie’s Crossing to Mosgiel. The section of road from Mosgiel to West Taieri Church had been graded with the power grader. The section of road from Traquair to Lee Stream had been widened out. No. 4: 115 yards of maintenance gravel from M'Leod’s dump, Mnungatua, had been spread on the section from Eric Black’s road to the school. The road had been graded with the power grader from the West Taieri Church to Berwick Hill. No, S: General surfacing and grading had been carried out on that 'highway. No. 6: The boundary section of that highway between Waikouaiti and Taieri had been graded wifih the power grader* ( The quarry squad was engaged in getting out and spreading schist spalls on that section. Regarding the removal of gravel in the Silverstream, after discussion in committee, a sub-committee of the whole council shotild insupect the stream and bring forward a report at a future meeting. The ranger reported that he had visited all the ridings in the county since last meeting, and that ho had had no impouudings for the month. He was still attending to the motor traffic at Brighton, which continued to be heavy. The sanitary inspector reported favourably on the slaughter houses in the county, on the Green Island Bush piggeries, and the_ boiling-down works at Burnside. Seven building permits had been granted during the month.—Received.

The scheme for expenditure of “ thirds ” and “fourths” accrued to January 31, 1930, amounting to 5s 3d, were approved. The manager, Bank of New Zealand, Mosgiel, advised that the rate of interest on overdraft had been increased from 61 to 7 per cent, as from February 1, 1930. —Noted.

Cr Stevenson moved that the’ letter be received and that the Finance Committee consider the question of raising a sum at 5J per cent, for the council’s use.— Seconded by Cr Kempshell and carried. * Letters were read from the chairman, No. 17 District Highways Council;—(l) Re Taieri Ferry bridge, requiring repairs, painting, and attention to decking, estimated cost £2567 11s 6d, and asking for copy of resolution that the council would find its quota, viz., one-half of one-third of the cost (£427 18s 7d), payment could be extended over three years; (2) re danger signs on main highway, DunedinInvercargill; (3) re rates of hire for county plant.—lt was resolved as follows: month; (3) received, clerk to wait on Mr Ball and endeavour to have rates brought up to late standard.

The Under-secretary, Public Works Department, wrote enclosing a copy of proclamation, proclaiming land in Ocean Beach Survey District as a road, being portion (1 rood 37 poles) of sections 59 and 60, and portion (3 roods 30 poles) of sections 00, 01. 62, and 63.—Received.

Tlie secretary of the sub-committee appointed on the matter of group traffic inspectors wrote recommending one for the city area and one for the remainder

of Nos. 16 and 17 Highway Districts.— It was decided to inform the committee that the council was well served by its own inspector, but if there was a £ for £ subsidy available the council should get it. Mr F. J. Williams, surveyor, wrote on behalf of the estate of Mrs Beataon, submitting plan of subdivision of property at. Wingatui for approval.—Approved. Messrs Goughian Bros., North Taieri, asked permission to cross the road at M'Lean’s corner with a water supply pipe.—Granted. Mr James Fernie, Hindon, wrote regarding blinding metal on the road from the post office to the railway station, Hindon.—To be attended to.

J. B. Craigie (Brighton) asked permission to put in a watertable crossing at his entrance, Bedford parade,— Granted.

John East (Middlemarch) again wrote with reference to the silting of March Creek, and in consequence water flowing down on to his section. —The inspector detailed the result of his inspection. The bed of the stream was filled with gravel. If cleaned out, a flood would refill it.— Held over till Cr Carruthers was present. The secretary. Masonic Lodge, Middlemarch, asked for watertable crossing into the lodge’s property.—Granted under the usual conditions.

D’Arcy Hughes (Middlemarch) wrote regarding some attention being given to Cemetery road at Middlemarch.—The matter to be attended to.

F. H. Ward (Middlemarch) wrote regarding road into his property requiring attention and asking it be rounded up with grader.—To be attended to when the grader is in the district. The Mayoress of Dunedin wrote regaring the raising of funds for chair of obstetrics, Otago University.—Letter to lie on the table till nest meeting. Treasury and Public Works Department forwarded vouchers showing goldfields revenue 10s and main highways £227 6s 6d.—Received.

The secretary, Brighton Domain Board, wrote regarding conference at Town Hall, Dunedin, on Monday, February 24, with adjoining local bodies.—Cr Stevenson detailed what the board wished to do with the domain. He moved that the council accede to the request for one year,—Cr MTntosh seconded.—Cr Blackie moved that the matter stand over till a full meeting of the council.—Cr Kempshell seconded.—The motion to hold over the matter till next meeting was carried. The secretary, Otago Motor Club, wrote regarding iron oh boat harbour bridge.— This letter had been held over last meeting.—Received, the board to be thanked for its donation.

J. E. Jones and others wrote regarding gravelling Scrogg’s Hill road.—To be considered at the beginning of next financial year.

The Minister of Transport wrote relative to motor vehicle regulations, etc.— Held over pending a report from a conference sitting that day. A revision and. simplification of the regulations was desired.

The Brighton Lawn Tennis Club wrote asking that the price of gravel supplied be reduced to 3s per yard.—Request granted.

D. Thomson,’ Ings avenue, St. Clair, wrote regarding the removal of a bank in front of his property at Brighton by the surfaceman without his knowledge. He also asked that proper notices be erected regarding parking of cars, as the entrance to the property was often blocked.—To be referred to the Public Works Department. j

J. Blakeley, 68 George street, Dunedin, wrote relative to the parking area in front of his property at Brighton. Bathers dressed and undressed in cars in front of his house, and he objected to the cars parking there. Damage had also been done to the fence through cars bumping into’ it.—Cr Stevenson pointed out that the parking area was not in keeping with the regulations.—Cr MTntosb mentioned this particular parking area was intended for elderly people who visited Brighton in cars, but it was being abused, and the area would have to be changed.—lt was agreed that the actingchairman visit Brighton with a view to some improvement, Crs Stevenson and MTntosh to be in attendance. The resolution making this area a parking place to be rescinded.

The Middlemarch Motor Company asked permission to carry an elctric wire from the garage to a private house across the road.—Granted, subject to the Government regulations.

Messrs Hanlin and Sons wrote regarding gravel carting in Silverstream.— Dealt with in ispector’s report. | The inspector reported that he had received 34 applications for the position of surfaceman at Hindon.—J. Wcatherall was appointed.