WAIHEMO COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21446, 22 September 1931, Page 11

WAIHEMO COUNTY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held at Palmerston yesterday, and was attended by the chairman (Cr R. S. Smith), and Crs J. O’Connell, H. S. Sheat, A. Purvis, M. J. M'Cabe, J. Craig, H. O’Neill, W. Ritchie, and G. Clark. CORRESPONDENCE, In regard to the swing bridge over the Taieri River at Rock and Pillar, the engineer, Maniototo County Council, wrote stating that it was a private bridge used for crossing stock. It was not on a road line, but was in a handy position to the main road. The bridge was generally in a fair state of repair, but to put it in safe order for the purpose for which it was used would entail repairs estimated at £2O. —Received. H. J. Kirshaw, Glen Park, wrote requesting permission to plough the side of the road adjoining his property in order to destroy gorse.—Granted. A letter was received from T. O’Shea, solicitor, Dunedin, on behalf of a client, W. R. Omand, of Goodwood, protesting against a settler being allowed to erect a gate on a road which barred the farmer’s means of egress and ingress. The writer understood that the road was a public one, and requested that instructions be given for the gate to be removed.—The chairman said that it would cost the council a considerable amount of money to comply with the writer’s request, as the roadiine would have to be altered.—The letter was received. The Perpetual Trustees and Agency Company wrote, on behalf of a client. Mrs A. M'Rae, of Hyde, requesting that repairs be carried out to the road linking Mrs M'Rae’s property with the main road. —Received, the matter to be left in the hands of Crs O’Connell and Clark and the inspector to attend to. A i,circular was forwarded by the Main Highways Board stating that it had been decided to increase the standard rate of subsidy for maintenance work to £3 for £1 during the present financial year. The increase would date from April 1, 1931, and applied to secondary as well as primary highways, and also to main highways in boroughs.—Received. The Main Highways Board’s representative on Noa. 16 and 17 District Highways Councils (Mr T. M. Ball) forwarded a circular containing instructions regarding the replacement of bridge on main highways.—Received. The clerk of the Waimea County Council wrote enclosing a circular regarding rates on Crown lands. His council had passed a resolution declaring that when the Government ocquired land either through purchase or through it falling into its hands on account of the default of its mortgagors, the land should be liable for local rates on the same valuation as if the land was privately owned. The support of the Waihemo Council in the matter was requested.—lt was decided to support the Waimea Council in the matter. Mr J. A. Macpherson, M.P., wrote announcing that the Public Works Department had approved the following grants for the county:—Four-mile road, £l5O (£2 for £1); Fleming’s road, £l5O (£1 for £1); Hartfield road, £SO (£1 for £1); Horse Flat road, £SO (£1 for £1); M'Donald’s road, £IOO (£1 for £1); Mareburn road, £SO (£1 for £1); M'Clue’s bridge, £264 (£1 for £1); Pleasant River bridge, £SO (free) and £25 (£1 for £1); Pringle’s bridge, £IOO (£1 for £1); Shag River bridge. £IOO (£1 for £1); Stoneburn road, £IOO (£1 for £1); Swallow’s road, £BO (£1 for £1). The total amount of the grants was £1244. —It was decided to request the Public Works Department to withdraw the grants for Fleming’s road and M'Donald’s road, and to substitute a free grant of £IOO for the Nenthorn road. In regard to the Eden Chamber of Commerce’s contention that a reduction of at least 1* per cent, should be made in all internal interest on Government bonds, local body debentures, and private mortgages, Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., forwarded a copy of the Prime Minister’s reply. This stated that such a reduction would seriously prejudice the Government in obtaining at a reasonable cost its annual overseas loan. Moreover, a compulsory reduction in the rate of interest, by undermining confidence, would result in a flight of capital from the Dominion. It would also discourage saving, with the result that the amount deposited annually in the Post Office Savings Bank would be decreased, and thus the fund available for State Advances purpoees would be seriously diminished. —-The letter was received and the Eden Chamber of Commerce’s attitude approved.

Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., forwarded the reply of the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) to the representations of the South Island Motor Union protesting against his assertion that no tax should be earmarked for any special purpose. It had been feared by the union that money which should be expended on main highways would be diverted to some other purpose. In his reply, the Prime Minister quoted Sir Otto Niemeyer in support of his theories, and concluded by stating that the amount available this year for highways expenditure would not be less than in former years.—Received, Mr Bodkin to be thanked for his information. A letter was received from the Department of Health in regard to the council's application for a reduction in its contribution for the services of the health inspector, on account of the operation of the 10 per cent, cut in wages. The department was unable to make any reduction, as the council, along with others, was very liberally treated at present, and in a manner that did not recover the whole cost to the department. —Received. The health inspector notified that there was a case of scarlet fever in the county. —Received. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £386 were passed for payment. GOODWOOD ROAD. ' Cr Ritchie moved that the motion declaring the road in Goodwood Riding a main road be rescinded, allowing the road to become a charge on the riding account. —The motion was defeated. TENDERS. The tender of the Gilmore Oil Company to supply petrol to the council for three months at 15s 2d per case, less discount, was accepted. W. Fraser’s tender of 5s 3d per cubic yard was accepted for the carting of rock for the Golden Point road. The tender of Heffernan Bros, of £225 for work on the Moonlight road was accepted. WAIHEMO DOMAIN. The meeting then resolved itself into a meeting of the Waihemo Domain Board. A deputation, led by Mr W. H. Hopkins, waited on the board requesting that improvements be made to the domain in readiness for the coming athletic season. The running track required repairing, and the trees at one side of the track would need to be topped in order, to allow the ground to dry. It was also wished to have a length of 150 yards levelled-off in the centre of the ground.—lt was decided not to take any action in the matter at present.