CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21646, 17 May 1932, Page 11

CENTRAL OTAGO

MANIOTOTO COUNTY *g»' MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Maniototo County Council was held at Naseby on May 4, there being present; Crs Robert Scott, M.L.C. (chairman), William Howell, H. W. Davis, Edward Morgan, Neil Nicolson, T. A. Lowis, W. M. Mathewson, Peter Aitken, and Thomas Hall. CORRESPONDENCE. L. Hore, Naseby, wrote applying for permission to cross the Back road to Deep Creek, with a line of pipes for mining purposes.—lt was resolved that the application be granted subject to the work being carried out to the satisfaction of the county engineer. The St. Bathans Unemployment Committee wrote asking the council to refund the sum of £1 3s, being expenses incurrred by the secretary to the committee during the period February, 1931, to January, 1932.—Granted.

Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., wrote enclosing a letter from the Minister of Public Works intimating that the Government would not be justified in fiancing any portion of the cost of effecting improvements to Reefs road, Oturehua, and suggesting that the improvements desired be carrier, out under the No. 5 scheme. —It was decided that the application to the Mines Department for a grant be renewed and that Mr Bodkin be asked to further the council’s interests in connection with this mattter.

The town clerk, Dunedin, wrote inviting the council to send one or more representatives to a conference to be held in the Town Hall, Dunedin, on Thursday, June 2, for the'■ purpose of reviewing the arrangements respecting the distribution of heavy traffic fees, in No. 10 heavy traffic district. —The chairman and clerk were appointed to represent the council. GENERAL. It was resolved that the deposit required on future contracts lie .reduced to 5 per cent, of the amount of tender. _ After consideration and a long discussion, it was resolved that final figures for the estimates be prepared for next meeting, the rates in each riding varying from 3d to |d, exclusive of hospital levy.—Cr Morgan moved and Cr Hall seconded — “That all salaries, travelling expenses, and wages be reduced by 10 per cent.’ Carried. . Accounts amounting to £/Sl 10s ilu were passed for payment. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr R. J. Black) reported as follows for the month of April:— Kyeburn Riding.—A culvert on White s road was repaired and patch gravelling carried out on the Naseby-Kyeburn Diggings road. In the chairman’s absence, Cr Mathewson arranged a meeting of settlers adjoining the Kyeburn River, and a letter was addressed to the commissioner of lands pointing out the suitability of protective river works for the No. 5 scheme. The proposals were in agreement with tho council’s previous discussions. Mount Ida Riding.—The WaipiataGimmerburn road was scarified and graded from Wiapiata to Young’s corner. The Ranfurly-Naseby road, Wet Gully road, and Charlemont street west. Ranfurly. were graded. Approximately 20 cubic yards of screened gravel were spread in Ranfurly and street intersection culverts cleared. The public drain from Waipiata Hotel was cleaned out to the sludge channel. Repairs were done at the East Eweburn crossings on the Naseby-Wedderburn .and Naseby-Gimmerburn roads. Gimmcrburn Riding.—The Eweburn crossing was improved and gravelling was done on the Ranfurly-Patearoa road, which was graded from Young’s corner to Creamery bridge. The Western end of Barney’s lane and portion of the Puketoi to Highfield road are in a fairly bad state and require lorry attention. Lauder Riding.—Gravelling and drainage were carried out on Fleming’s road, and on the Downs Manuherikia Hill. A complaint was received regarding dangerous holes at the small bridges on Becks School road, and these are being attended to. * St. Bathans Riding.—The Hawkdun runs road was graded. Surface Hill track was improved between the lake and Mountain Creek. Gravelling was carried out in St. Bathans township. _ A quantity of gravel was spread on Auripo road. Idaburn Riding.—A nine-inch culvert wsa placed in Nursery road. Grading on Oturehua-Blackstone Hill road is in progress. Repair work on the Highfield runs road is in hand. Hyde Riding.—Mr J. Hastie, who provided a team and gear, assisted to open a new pit on his property and gravelling was carried out on the Waipiata-Kokonga road. In conjunction with the sanatorium lorry, gravelling was carried out on the Hamiltons farm road. Gravelling on Christie’s Hill was extended and a corner widening near A, Bruhns’s property completed. Rock and Pillar to Kokonga: All creek crossings were improved and bridge approaches levelled. Gravelling w r as completed on the pinch near Annatts’s bridge, and gravelling done on Carey’s flat.

Serpentine Riding.—Approximately 40 cubic yards of gravel were spread on the Loganburn Ford road. The Linburn road requires attention from the lorry team. Puketoi Riding—The Ranfurly-Patea-roa road was graded. First gravelling was done on the Puketoi runs road and O’Neill’s road. The contractors for Puketoi runs road gravelling at Puketoi homestead will be prepared to start next week. No. 5 Scheme. —Fifteen men are employed this week. Word was received that the amended rates of pay and abolition of the “ blind ” week do not apply to Maniototo at present. Highways.—St. Bathans loop: The section between Hawkdun Runs road and No. 2 junction was graded Water tables were improved at the sludge channel bridge. Maintenance grave] was spread in St. Bathans township and patch gravelling carried out to Shag-Lauder junction. Palmerston-Queenstown: Grading and scarifying were carried out from the .West Eweburu, through Ranfurly town to Chapman’s junction. Repairs were done to the decking of Becks-Manuherikia bridge. Idaburn-Moa Creek: Contract No. 198, Spain’s bridge renewal, has been commenced. Loose stones were cleared between Oturehua and Idaburn. WaipiataStyx: Grading and scarifying were carried out from Waipiata to the Sanatorium road junction. The abutment of Wai-piata-Taieri bridge is nearly completed. Contract No. 199, Styx section, gravelling is nearing completion. Kyeburn River erosion, Kokonga. —Cr Matbewson reported that Mr M. A. Kinney, at the request of the commissioner of Crown lands, had been deputed to obtain particulars of works suitable for relief works. It was decided that the council recommend this work to the commissioner as suitable for relief work, provided the council received an assurance that the work would be proceeded with free of cost to the council.

Cr Howell, on behalf of Mr R. A. Patterson, applied to have a culvert constructed of second-hand pipes across the Hogburn channel, Waipiata.—The matter was left to the engineer to ascertain it any suitable pipes were available. The engineer was authorised to have repairs effected to Barney’s lane, Coa] Pit road, and portion of the Puketoi and Highfield roads. Cr Morgan requested that some small works required in Lauder Riding be authorised.—Granted. Cr Nicolson stated that he was not satisfied with the quality of the gravel spread on the footpaths in St. Bathans township.—The engineer stated that the weather conditions existing at the time this work was done precluded the better quality gravel being obtained. The engineer was instructed to report to the next meeting on the state of the decking of the sludge channel bridge. In regard to M’Erlane’s road, it was decided that improvements consisting ot grading and pipes not exceeding a cost ot £3O be authorised. , , ~ Cr Mathewson reported on beha t ot the council he had promised the Railways Board to contribute £5 5s towards the cost of improving the dangerous railway crossing near Kokonga. —Approved. , It waa decided that gravelling on the Linburn road be proceeded with. The report was adopted.