PENINSULA COUNTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20969, 7 March 1930, Page 2

PENINSULA COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Peninsula County Council wan held at Portobello yesterday, and 'was attended by Crs Macandrew . (chairman). Miller, Cross, Stewart, Irvine, Morrison, Brunton, and Robertson. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from J. V. Fleming, who asked the council to place some rotten rock on his property in Helensburgh.—Referred to the member for the riding and engineer. Mr T. Edmonds, Otakou, wrote stating that he- was unable to accept the position of quarry ganger, to which he was appointed at the last meeting. A telegram was received from Mr T. M'Killop, of Limehills, notifying his acceptance of the position.—The appointment of Mr M'Killop was confirmed. The Mayoress o’f Dunedin (Mrs Black) and the hon. secretary of the Dunedin Obstetrical Fund campaign (Miss K. Gcorin) forwarded a communication with reference to the campaign now in progress, asking the co-operation and support of the council. It was suggested that a committee be formed in the district to initiate the scheme.—The chairman intimated his intention of forwarding subscription lists to members of the council.

Messrs F. H. M'Cluskey and A H. Davies wrote asking if anything could be done regarding the spreading of metal on the approaches to their properties in Glen street, Tomahawk. Owing to the peculiar formation of the road at this point they had formed the approaches themselves, and the spreading of a little metal on them would improve them considerably in wet weather.—lt was decided that the council could not do anything in the direction suggested. Mr W. Milman, Broad Bay, wrote drawing attention to the state of the Camp road through the trees at Larnach’s Castle. There was a bad part from Mr J. Nyhon’s gate to the end of the trees leading to the writer’s property. This portion required metalling. A culvert near the entrance to the writer’s property had sunk in.—Referred to the engineer. Mr .S, G. M'Donald. secretary of the committee set up in connection with the proposed appointment of group traffic inspectors in the main highways districts Nob. 16 and 17 had recommended that one inspector be appointed for the city area and one for the balance of the territory in the group, the inspectors to act in conjunction with each other.—A motion in favour of the appointment of traffic inspectors was carried unanimously. Mr R. N. Kinnaird, Portobello, wrote again drawing attention to the state of the road leading to his property. He stated that milk had to lie brought out every morning, and with the winter coming on it would be difficult to get out in the small space available. The writer expressed the opinion that he was not getting a fair deal, but was still hopeful that something would be done before the winter set in.—Referred to the member for the riding and the engineer, who were authorised to spend £3O on the road.

Mr P. H. Power wrote intimating that the Otago Motor Club had decided to make a donation of £2O to the council towards the cost of forming a parking place at Harrington Point on condition that the council undertook the work and carried it out as soon as possible. The object was to relieve the congestion at Harrington Point on Sundays and holidays.— The engineer stated that he estimated the cost of the work at £4O. It would be necessary to put down three inches or four inches of metal. It was decided to form a parking area at a cost not exceeding £4O, The Motor Club was thanked for its donation.

The Portobello and Broad Bay Ratepayers’ Association forwarded a communication relating to the control of traffic on the bituminised road. It suggested that the council might make inquiries as to the cost of having a white painted line on the centre line of the bitumen, and expressed the opinion that the adoption of such a course would help greatly in keeping vehicles on their proper side of the road, and would also avoid any dispute in the case of accidents, whether the vehicles concerned were on their proper sides. —It was decided to inform the association that the matter was receiving attention. Mr W. Brookman. secretary of Lodge Peninsula. Kilwinning, wrote requesting the council to do something in front of the Masonic Hall, Portobello. It was suggested that the open ditch in front of the hall be piped and filled in. It was intended to take the present wire fence back to the hall and thus give more room for motor cars and buses to turn and park. The lodge was prepared to pay for the pipes if the council would attend to having them put in. The lodge, would be pleased if the council could see' its way clear to fill up some of the potholes on the road leading to the hall.— Referred to the member for the riding and the engineer. Mrs Jane Dick, Wickcliff Bay, wrote i equesting the council to make some move on the continuation of Dick’s road, leading to her property. The grant for the work would lapse at the end of this month. The ground was now in perfect condition for the carrying on of the work. On the motion of Cr Morrison it was decided that the road be legalised to section 12. It was also decided that a. Government grant of £75 be utilised to complete the formation of the road to Te Mati Point, the balance, if any, to be expended on metalling. Mr J. Montgomery wrote on behalf of a number of ratepayers with reference to the foot track on the terrace above the Beach road from the foot of Nicholas street to the foot of Seatoun road. The writer stated that in August last the ratepayers in M'George street and other ratepayers petitioned the council to have the foot track formed and gravelled, and a reply had been received to the effect that the matter had been referred to the member for, the riding and the engineer. So far nothing had been done, and the writers feared that the matter had been shelved. The,writer added that in rough weather some of the residents in M'George street had to depend on the generosity of neighbours to get access to the Beach road, having to pass through their properties owing to the foot track being impassable.—Referred to tbe local members to have the work done. A letter was received from the Portobello and Board Bay Ratepayers’ Association drawing attention to the 'state of the roads round about Seatoun township from a pedestrian’s point of view. The association was satisfied that the council was doing its best to maintain good roads for motor traffic, and it complained about the rough metal which was being scattered over the sides, which were the only portions of the road that were safe for pedestrians. Particular reference was made to the portion of the main road trom the foot of Beaconsfield road round to the Portobello Post Office. It was almost impossible to walk on this portion of the road, and numerous complaints were heard about it. The opinion was expressed ihc.t the side of the road <*ould be improved at a little cost.—The local members of the council and the engineer to meet the association. ■ Deriera an d 24 other ratepayers in the tomahawk riding forwarded a communication asking why the City Council did not mamtain the Tahuna road from w . D ?n. Pal ' k to i th ° tO P R ate at the cemeThey wanted to know if the council collected any rates from the owners users ' or occupiers of property bordering on the Tahuna road from the cemetery gate to the bridge and if not why not? Another question was whether the council had made any effort to collect rates in respect ° f S 7v ch P r "Perty from the cemetery gate on the Tahuna road. The writers also r, ?, ht , thG Dunedin City Council had to pull down fences and put up ac ™f Peninsula County roads. They requested the County Council to remove these gates jit once and have the fences re-erected. The final question rjght the Dunedin City Coun cil had to take the profits from the Anderson s Bay Cemetery to maintain the and Southern Cemeteries as this money belonged to the ratepayers in Tomar a ' V TIv 1 U f Jn K-—Referrerl to the chairman. I Minton, and Cr Robertson. The secretary of the Peninsula Motor Service wrote intimating that the council’s request that buses No 20 end No be not used on the road from Portobello to Harrington Point would be given effect to as far as possible. With regard to the manipulation of the two largest klV™ Dunedin-Portobello road", ‘the stated that the manager of the company was most emphatic in stating that the drivers of these buses were the best m the service of the company, and were always particularly careful in the handling of their vehicles Tim directors would deem it a favour if in future complaints could be referred to the company before tlm I reports vent through the newspapers as j a report such as appeared recently could I not be anything hut detrimental to bus?-

ness.—The chairman stated that when he had referred to the handling of the big buses he had no intention of imputing carelessness on the part of the drivers. He thought that as the buses were so heavy they should adhere very strictly to the speed regulations. The North-East Harbour Ratepayers and _ Householders’ Association wrote inquiring if the council could supply any information as to what had been done in regard to the deviation of the creek in that district, and also with reference to electric light petitions. The association also asked if the council could bring forward a scheme for the removal of nightsoil, and supply an estimate of the cost. The question of speeding had been discussed, and the committee of the association was of the opinion that some person should be appointed. locally to act as inspector for the North-East Harbour. It was suggested that he he paid so much for every conviction recorded. The council was urged to make every endeavour to have the bitumenising of the Beach road proceeded with at once up to and through the township to Bowers Point and to secure the completion of the work before the winter set in. A letter was received from Sir Charles Statham regarding the deviation of the creek. He stated that he learned from the district engineer of the Public Works Department that everything was now in train for settling this matter. —Referred to the members for the riding and the engineer. RANGER’S REPORT. The ranger (Mr A. H. Hall) reported that during February he had found 19 cattle wandering in the different ridings. None of the number was impounded. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows on the work done during the period just ended: Tomahawk Riding.—Watertables have been cleaned on the main highway. The school approach road at Tainui has been formed and metalled. Material is being quarried for the building up of the intersection -.of the main highway with ’the Tomahawk to Anderson’s Bay road. Highcliff Riding.—Maintenance metal from Riddell’s quarry has been spread on the. rougher portions of the surface of the main highway. Surfacing has been done on the main highway and Highcliff road. North-East Harbour Riding.—Water tables have been cleaned on Abbotsford and Lnrnach roads, in Waverley township. Nine chains of Marion street, Macandrew Bay, have been reformed and metalled. Two chains of Princes street, Wharfdale, have been scarified. One culvert on the Beach road has been extended. The grading up of the Beach road has been continued, but this work has been somewhat hampered by the widening operations at present in progress. Broad Bay Riding.—Maintenance metal has been spread on three chains of Luss road, Helensburgh township. By arrangement with the Public Works Department, the approach of Luss road to the main highway is being built up with spoil. Watertables have been cleaned in Portobello and Broad Bay townships. Screenings have been spread on the Beach road to check the formation of potholes. The surfaces of Bcaconsfield road and Nicholas street, Portobello, are beginning to break, and require a top-dressing to protect them.

Portobello Riding.—The repairs to the sea wall on the Portobello-Lower Portobello road are nearly completed. Maintenance work has been done on the Porto-bello-Cape Saunders road. The patching the road from Grill’s Corner to Gravesend has been done to the beach. Sandymount Riding.—Approximately 12 chains of the Sandymount road have been reformed and watertables cleaned. The report was adopted. GENERAL.

Accounts amounting to £1044 13s lOd were passed for payment. The clerk was authorised to take legal action for the recovery of outstanding rates for the year 1929-30. It was decided to write off rates amounting to £B2 14s 3d. which had been in arrear since 1920-27.

On the motion of Cr Cross, it was decided to draw the attention of the Stock Department to the prevalence of ragwort on the Peninsula, with a request that the matter be regarded as urgent. The chairman complimented the county clerk (Mr. Noble) on the energy he had displayed in collecting such a large proportion of the county rates so early in the year. He stated that all the rates except £SOO had been collected, and he added that this had never happened before in the history of the council, and probably never in the history of the road boards.