TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21389, 17 July 1931, Page 12

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL

CENTRAL OTAGO

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was held at Lawrence bn Monday. There were present—Crs E. H. Murney (chairman), W. Cameron, J. K. Simpson, D. MTjennan, R. G. Cotton, I. D. Revie, R. MacDonald, and P. C. Hall. TEVIOT RIDINGRATES. Mr T Stockdill forwarded a petition signed by about 100 ratepayers, in the Teviot Riding, asking for a reconsideration of the proposed rate for 1931-32. They pointed out that it appeared inequitable that there should be no reduction in the proposed rate for the Teviot Riding while all other ridings whose positions > were practically no better had a substantial reduction. . ' , , , Before hearing the deputation, the chairman contrasted rate reduction made by the Tuapeka County with those of the Bruce, Clutha, and Taieri Counties to prove that the interests of the Tuapeka County ratepayers had not been overlooked. The position was that owing to the large amount of unpaid rates he considered it was impossible for Teviot Riding to carry on with a smaller rate than lid as proposed. , Cr Revie (ehairman of the Finance Committee) said that in, framing its estimates the committee saw no alternative to making the rate in Teviot Riding IJd and the position had not altered so materially us to justify altering the rate. He moved that the rates as adevrtised be confirmed.—Cr M'Lennan seconded the motion. Cr MacDonald (member for Teviot Riding) said that by reducing the Teviot rate to l,d they would, owing to the

increase in the valuations, receive just as much revenue as during the past 18 years. Under the conditions no new work would be''undertaken, and he was confident he could carry on without : leaning on the other ridings. He moved as an amendment that the rate be reduced to lid. —Cr Bennetts seconded the .amendment pro forma.

On being put to the meeting the amendment was lost, and the motion for confirmation of the rates struck was carried. Seventeen ratepayers in the Tuapeka Flat and Evans Flat districts asked the council to have the culvert on main Lawrence to Beaumont road, opposite the sheep dip, renewed so as to drain the water from the sheep dip yard.—The matter was referred to the chairman and members for Brown’s and Gabriel’s Ridings. CORRESPONDENCE. The Commissioner of Crown. Lands asked to be advised if the council still desired to retain -section 61,- block 11, Benger S.D. as a gravel reserve.—Resolved that the gravel reserve be retained. E. S.'Blair, secretary Waitahuna Cemetery Trustees, advised that owing to the resignation of some of the members, the committee had been re-arranged and be submitted the following names for the council’s approval:—Messrs John H. Auld, Thomas Corry, Robert M‘Caw, Robert M'Corkindale. William Cameron, Hugh B. Crozier, and W. M'Kenzie (chairman);—Approved. ■ * :• The secretary Otago Expansion League forwarded a copy of' letter received from Mr R. Skinner (Tuapeka Mouth), asking that the league should take up the matter of getting the' road between Tuapeka Mouth and Beaumont widened and gravelled. This road, said the writer, would tap the large State forest, open up the tourist traffic, and would be a convenience' to settlers in getting their , stock by ear to the freezing works at Finegand;—Cr McLennan said he thought the council should give this road its hearty support and moved accordingly.—Cr Revie seconded the motion, which was carried. The secretary of the Otago Electric Power Board forwarded a copy of a: resolution passed by his board in regard to collection of Power Board' rates by local authorities, and also advice of the rates struck in the various areas —Received.

Tre secretary of the Miller’s Elat Unemployment Committee wrote asking a small contribution, from the council towards defraying the sitting expenses ot the local Unemployment Committee. —A motion that £1 be granted was lost. The secretary of the Milton Unemployment Committee forwarded a copy of a circular objecting to the ■' recommendation of the Otago Expansion League that the Government should push on with the construction of the road from Otago to the West Coast via the Haast Pass and advocating that all unemployment labour should be concentrated on the improvement of district roads. If the Tuapeka County Council agreed it was asked to forward representations to the member for the district and to the Prime Minister.—lt was resolved to support the Milton Unemployment Committee’s protest. Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., wrote advising that he would do his best to obtain a £ for £ grant of £750 for renovating the Miller’s Flat bridge, and suggesting that, in the event of failing to obtain the amount, he would endeavour to arrange for £375 this year and a similar amount in the following year.—Resolved that Mr Bodkin be thanked for his letter. The secretary of the Lawrence branch of the Fanners’ Union forwarded a copy of a resolution passed at the last meeting asking the council to remedy the bad drainage which was damaging the county roads at various points, particularly citing the watering place near Matheson’s bridge. Forsyth, the creek at the end of the Clark’s Flat road, and the crepk opposite Mr Orchisfon’s residence, Beaumont road. —Received. , ; • • FINANCIAL.

The financial statement laid on the table showed that at July 13 there was a credit balance at the bank of £l2lß 5s Id.

The accounts for the month of June amounting to £132!) 15s 7d were passed for payment. RANGER’S REPORT. The ranger (Mr M’Neilly)' reported that since the last meeting he had. found 11 head of cattle and 1 horse on the county roads.—Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. ! The engineer (Mr F. D. Grant) re* Iported as follows: — , . Waitahuna Riding.—Water-tabling and surface work have been carried out on Mount Stuart road, and water cut off and minor repairs on other roads. Waipori Riding.—Potholes have been filled and surface repairs effected to the Lawrence-Waipori road near Waipori, and attention has been paid to water tables on Waipori-Lee Flat road. Gabriels Riding.—Unemployed have been engaged raising the main highway at the washout near Docherty’s bridge, clearing the channel, and on work on riding roads as weather conditions perBrown’s Riding.— Water-tabling and surface repairs have been carried out on portions of the Tuapeka Flat road, and culverts ovei’hnuled and relaid on portions of the Waitahuna West road, and •road repairs on Bellamy Settlement road. Beaumont Riding.—Main highways have graded and potholes filled, and repairs effected, and the county lorry moved to Allan’s Hill. Water tables and ditches have been cleaved on the Moa Flat road at Harris’s Flat, attention given to new ravel, and snow cleared where necessary. " Teviot Riding.—Contract No. 75, Three Brothers road: Gravelling, 1 mile 64 chains. —The contractor for this work has made slow progress with tins work but by putting on an additional lorry he should make better progress if weather conditions permit.—Contract No. 76, Wright’s road: Gravelling, 56$ chairs The ‘ contractor for this gravelling has made good progress, and has now completed the work. Tima Burn road; Fair progress has been made with formation and culverting work on this road, 12 men being employed. ' . • . Benger ' Riding.— Maintenance gravelling has been carried out on the highway from Allan’s Hill pit by the county lorry. Water tables and culverts have been cleared between Coal Creek and the county boundary. Crookston Riding.—Potholes have been filled and surface repairs effected on the highwavs, a water table cleared on bpylaw road, and also on Mill road, portion of Shanks’s road, and Fellmongcry road, and surface repairs have been expected on Moncur’s road. Tapanui Riding.—Surface repairs have been effected, potholes filled, and culverts attended to on the highways, and also water channel attended to on Victoria road The contractor for the rough rock for protection work at Kelso on the Waikaka-Matheson’s highway has completed delivery of the rock, and the protection works have been put in place and netted in. Johnson’s road bridge: Tins bridge over the Crookston Burn and its approaches has now been completed, replacing a ford which was frequently impassable. ______