CLUTHA COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21580, 27 February 1932, Page 9

CLUTHA COUNTY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council was held at Balclutha yesterday, and was attended by the chairman (Cr Maginness) and Crs King, MTndoe, Thomson, Wilson, M'Kenzie. Jack, and Gumming. BALCLUTHA BRIDGE. The Main Highways Board’s representative on No. 17 District Council (Mr T. M. Ball) wrote stating that, as the result of a joint inspection of the Balclutha bridge made by Mr Tyndall, of the Main Highways Board, the Clutha county engineer (Mr G. S. Gould), and himself, it had been decided that urgent structural repairs were necessary, under expert supervision. The county engineer had desired the board to undertake the work, and the board had agreed, requiring the contributing local bodies to find a quarter of the expenditure involved. The exteut of the repairs necessary had not yet been ascertained, but only urgent work that could not be delayed would be under-taken.-—Received. —The Assistant Undersecretary of the Public Works Department (Mr C. E. Bennett) forwarded a copy of the warrant authorising the Main Highways Board to construct the new bridge and apportioning the cost. In regard to the cost of the commission which had decided (he apportionment of the cost, it had been decided that its expenses should be paid by the three local bodies concerned, in equal proportion. The total cost to the Government was £22 9s sd. A copy of the commissioner’s report was also enclosed. —Received. UNEMPLOYMENT. A letter was received from the Unemployment Commissioner (Mr Malcolm Fraser) stating that the State Forest Service had informed the Unemployment Board that a considerable surplus of tree stocks might be available after the department’s winter planting programme had.been provided for, and that supplies of such stocks would be made available to local bodies ao the Unemployment Board directed. The only expense to the local bodies would be lifting, packing, and freight charges. The board was desirous that local bodies having suitable areas should avail themselves of the offer, and organise a programme for the utilisation of unemployed labour in preparing the ground and planting the trees. Such proposals should be submitted to the board for approval.—Left to the engineer and members of various ridings. A telegram -was received from the deputy chairman of the Unemployment Board (Mr J. L. Jessup) stating that the board would be considering placing unemployed men in groups on gold prospecting work in Otago and Southland under practical and experienced men. A request was made that the council should consult men in the district experienced in this work, with a view to suggesting suitable land for prospecting purposes.—Received. CORRESPONDENCE. The district telegraph engineer wrote advising that his department was reconstructing its pole line along the BalcluthaKaka Point route, and in about a fortnight’s time similar work would be carried out in the vicinity of Muolennan and Papatowai.—Received. The commissioner of Crown lands, Dunedin (Mr N. C. Kensington), wrote requesting the removal of cut scrub adjoining a reserve in the Woodland Survey District. —To be attended to. Mr T. M. Ball forwarded a copy of the New Zealand Gazette declaring the Clin-ton-Clydevale road to be a main highway. —Received. The secretary Southland Electric Power Board wrote requesting the council to collect the board’s rates for 1932-33 in its district on a reduced basis of 2J per cent., as was being done by the Southland County Council.—lt was explained that the council was at present being paid 5 per cent., but the opinion was expressed that the council could fall\ in with the Power Board’s wishes. —Ct Cummings moved that the council carry out the work on a 3 per cent, basis. —Carried. The secretary of the Otanomomo River Board wrote requesting the council to pay half cost, as usual, of the cleaning out of all road drains in its area, the esti-

mated cost of the work being £so. Agreed to. Permission was also sought to quarry about 1000 tons of stone at Batata Creek quarry for river protection work.—Granted. A letter was received from the clerkof the Waitemata County Council, stating that his council was appealing against an adverse decision in a recent case against the Waitemata Power Board regarding the liability of county councils for the removal of power poles. As the case was of interest to all county councils, the Clutha Council was requested to contribute to the cost of the appeal.—lt was decided to grant up to £5. J. M. Cooper, Hinahina, wrote drawing the council’s attention to a sand drift on the road leading to his property which made it practically impassable for traffic. As he was not in a position to pay his rates, he would like to work them out in repairing the road.—Left to the engineer and the chairman. A letter was received from G. B. Grant, Puerua, requesting that? the council proceed immediately with the repairing of an unmetalled section of the road giving access to his property.—lt was decided to carry out the work. J. K. Ross, Tarara, Ratanui, wrote offering the council £lO to metal about 14 chains of the road leading to his section.—Left to the engineer and the member of the riding. Peter Guenole, Nugget Bay, applied for permission to build a three-roomed house at the mouth of Campbell’s Creek, on the Nuggets road.—Granted, subject to the council’s requirements being satisfied. E. Baxter, Pomahaka, wrote drawing attention to the state of a culvert on the Edievale-M'Nab highway between the Pomahaka River bridge and the Black bridge.—Being attended to. An offer was received from J. Ross, Purakauiti, to perform work for the council in lieu of paying his rates.— Left to the member for the riding. A. similar offer was received from A. M'Lean, Maclennan.—Left to the engineer and the member for the riding. A request was received from H. Fisher, Kakapuaka, to repair the road leading to his property.—Left to the engineer and the member for the riding to inspect. A. Houliston, Kakapuaka, wrote requesting that a culvert be installed on the road leading to the property belonging to the trustees of the late A, Houliston. A footbridge was also required.— Referred to the engineer and the member for the riding. A letter was received from E. H. Wilson, Puerua, directing attention to the state of the road leading to his property.—Left to the engineer and the member for the riding. A. Pullar, Owaka, wrote pointing out the necessity for a culvert or a ditch on the Newhaven road.—lt was decided to grant permission for a drain to be cut along the road, provided the work was done to the satisfaction of the engineer. J. Parker, Tahakopa, applied for a slaughterman’s license.—Recommended for approval. Two ratepayers of the Clinton district— M'Callum and Wright— wrote drawing attention to the state of the road between the Waiwera Church and their property. —To be attended to. The district engineer. Public Works Department (Mr T. M. Ball), wrote stating that owing to the lack of finance h« was unable to approve of the plans and specifications for the gravelling of ' the Tawanui Railway Station road and the Tweedie’s Ford road. FINANCE. The Finance Committee recommended the payment of accounts amounting to £5397 Is 9d.—Adopted. The Main Highways Board forwarded a schedule showing balances of authorities available for highways in the Clutha County after January 20, 1932. These amounted to £2703 3s 4d, which, with the council’s subsidy of £9Ol Is id, made a total of £3604 4s 5d available for expenditure.—Received. TENDERS. The tenders of A. Melvin Vere accepted for the cartage of gravel for work on Reid’s Hill road’and the Cemetery road, at 7s per yard and 4s 2d per yard respectively.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr G. S. Gould) reported as follows on work done in, the various ridings during the month:— Main Highways.—Balclutha-Arthurton: Gravel surfacing, grading, and general repair work have been, carried on throughout, chiefly between Wairuna and Arthurton, and in the vicinity of Clinton. A total of 1450 c. yards of gravel has been used during the present month, and the work is being continued. This road is at present in fair order. BalcluthaPapatowai: The repair work on theHoui-papa-Papatowai section has been completed, and this', portion of the road is now in good order. _ From Balclutha to Owaka the surface is in fair order, but repairs with gravel are required in parts, and this work will be attended to shortly. About 600 yards of gravel have been used in surfacing between Puerua and Kakapuaka, and there is not more than one mile remaining to be surfaced between Balclutha and Houipapa. A 36in diameter concrete pipe is now being put in at the foot of Kakapuaka Hill. The road will also be raised from three to four feet, considerably improving the grade. Owaka-Purekireki: Gravel surfacing work is now in hand, and it is proposed to extend this Work at least one mile and a-half. Grading and light maintenance work have also been carried out, and this road is at present in fair order. Balclutha-Kaka Point: Grading work only has been undertaken during the month, but the surface is in fair order throughout, extensive repair work having been carried out during previous months. The improvement work on the BalcluthaFinegand section has been completed. The fencing will be adjusted when the fillings have consolidated. Waiwera-Clydedale: The work of preparing this road for gravelling is now in hand, and about three miles have been scarified, graded to shape, and rolled. Given fair weather, this work should be completed about the middle of next month. Waipahi-Poma-haka: Repair work with gravel is .now in hand, and the surface generally is m good order. M‘Nab-Edievale: The work of raising the road level adjacent to the Black bridge • should be completed this week. Grading and light maintenance work has also been carried out, and this road is at present in good order. _ Wal-kaka-Kelso: This road is also being repaired with gravel, and is in good order. Clutha Riding.—The surfacemen have been chiefly engaged in metalling £ourmile Creek road, and about 27 chains have been completed. Light maintenance work was also carried out on Hospital road and Rosebank streets. Repairs to Kaihiku-Waiwera road are now in hand. Gatlins Riding.—The new bridge m Owaka Valley has been commenced. Ihe surfacemen have been employed on main highways and in metalling about 40 chains of the Clinton-Owaka road with the assistance of unemployed and tne Clinton riding surfacemen. Clydevale Riding.—The surfaceman has been wholly employed on the WaiweraClydevale highway, and in putting in culverts and generally repairing Mouatt s road. ' , ~ Clinton Riding.—A wash-out on the main south road has been repaired, and the surfacemen have also been employed on the main highway and in metalling the Clinton-Owaka road. Glenkenich Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out on Hawks road, Williams road, Merino Downs, Bailey’s, Koi-Kelso, Koi-Maitland, Crump’s road, and others. The surfacemen are at present engaged on the KelsoWaikaka road. Maclennan Riding.—Extensive repair work is at present in hand on Mouatt s Saddle road. The road is being widened and surfaced with rotten rock, and about 30 chaina have been completed. General maintenance work has also been carried out on the Papatowai-Chaslands road, the Papatowai-Tahakopa, and the centre road. It is proposed to commence repair work on Long Point road next week. Pomnhaka Riding.—The surfacemen have been chiefly engaged in metalling Waipahi-Pomahaka Downs road and have completed about 20 chains. Repairs were also made to Whiteside’s road. Richardson Riding—The metalling work on Croydon road has been completed, and maintenance work carried out on Gunn's road, Kirk’s road, and_ Day’s Ford. Metal is now being quarried for repairs to Shaw's track and the Warepa-Kaihiku road.

South Molyneuz Riding—With the assistance of unemployed various short sections of road have been metallqd, including about 15 chains of Old Cheetwood road, seven chains on Shiel’s road, and seven chains on Mount Omaru road. Repairs have been made to Cheetwood road, Havard’s, Randall’s, Gwyn’s, Kaka Point to Nuggets, and Romahapa-Port Molyneux roads. A quantity of metal has also been quarried for metalling Cheetwood road, Romahapa end. I have made an engineering survey of Abernethy’s road, giving access to Mr Jackson’s section, and several unemployed are engaged in felling and clearing the bush in readiness for formation. Waipahi Riding.—The surfacemen have been chiefly engaged on main highways, and in maintenance work on Glenshee road, Waipahi-Pomahaka Downs road, Mason’s road, and Landslip road. Fair progress is being made with the metalling contract on Waipahi Station road and about 30 chains havevbeen completed. The report was adopted.