CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22607, 26 June 1935, Page 13

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council was held yesterday at Balclutha. The chairman (Mr A. V. King presided, and there were also present Crs Maginness, Jack,.Gumming, Harris, Brough, Brown. M'Kenzie, Wilson, and Thomson. CORRESPONDENCE. Advice was received from the telegraph engineer, Dunedin, that the cost to the council of the removal of a pole at the junction of the Kakapuaka road with the Alain road would be £ll. The writer pointed out that the*pole was on a safe grass margin clear of traffic, and if it was shifted the department's line structure would be adversely affected. Poles offering greater obstruction had in other cases been dealt with by the application of white paint bands, and the outlining of the road edge by raising it. —It was decided to adopt the suggestion concerning the painting of the post in preference to having it shifted, and also to recommend that in future poles should be erected nearer the fences. The secretary of the Otago Electric Power Board -advised that for 1935-36 there had been struck for the Clutha County area a general rate of l-20d in the £ and a separate rate of .15d in the k. The board asked that the council should not. charge a greater commission for collecting the rates than the 3 per cent, charged last year.—Received. The chief postmaster, Dunedin, wrote complaining of the state of a portion of the Ratanui-Purakauiti road. —It was decided to recommend the Post and Telegraph Department to communicate with the Public Works Department. The New Zealand Counties' Association advised that the annual conference of the association would be held at Wellington on August 28, 29, and 30.—The chairman was appointed to represent the council at the conference. In reply to a communication from the council, the district engineer, Public Works Department, recommended that a bridge with an 18ft span should be erected over the Purahua Stream on the Bal-clutha-Papatowai main highway.—Received. It was reported that the erection of the bridge had been provided for in the estimates. The district engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the estimated value of a span from the old Balclutha traffic bridge, dismantled and stacked, was £4OO. He asked for an estimate of the coet of the proposed bridge over the Kaihiku, on the Clifton Settlement road, for which it was suggested that the old timber should be used. —Referred to the engineer. A letter was received from Mr J. J. Campbell (Glenomaru), drawing attention to the unsafe conditions of the bridge leading to his property over the Glenomaru Stream. —Referred to the engineei and the member for the riding. Mr D. R. Wright (Houipapa) wrote complaining that the roads in the district had been flooded six times in three months. He suggested the erection of marked posts as a guide to the depth of the water on the roads. —It was decided to attend to the matter. Attention was drawn by Mr E. L. Randall and three other ratepayers of Karoro Creek, Otekura, to the dangerous condition of the bridge on Randall's road. They also asked that 25 chains of Randall's road should be metalled. —It was decided to repair the bridge. Mr W. J. Harrington, Ratanui, wrote requesting that culverts on the road leading to his property should receive attention.—lt was decided to attend to the culverts. A petition praying for the metalling of a mile of Greenfields road was received from Mr A. Farquharson and 15 other Chaslands settlers. —Cr Brough said the sawmillers should be asked to contribute something to the upkeep of the road. — It was left to Cr Brough and the engineer to come to some arrangement with the millers. Mrs E. R. Shaw, Ratanui, wrote seeking permission to close portion of the roadiine from section 15A, block 111 to the boundary.—Granted. Misses E. and M. M'Phee, Owaka, wrote asking for repairs to the Big Mill road. — To be attended to. A request was received from Mr W. Day, Warepa, that two planks should be placed across the Kaihiku Stream on the Mill road. —The matter was referred to the engineer with power to act. FINANCE. It was reported that the receipts during the past month had amounted to £1827 8s sd. and the expenditure had been £3232 19s 9d.—Received. RANGER'S REPORT. The ranger reported that during the month he had found 40 head of stock wandering on county roads. The report was adopted. FLOOD DAMAGE. The engineer reported as follows on flood damage within the county:— The recent heavy rains caused considerable flooding in local streams, and although causing very little material damage, heavy scouring of road surfaces was experienced throughout the county. In some cases culverts proved too small or were Dartly blocked, resulting in the streams overflowing the road and causing surface scour as already mentioned. I understand that the Pomahaka River reached its highest level since the year 1921, and that the Puerua River reached its highest for the past 30 years. Goldsmith's bridge, Puerua Valley road, was completely washed away, but with the exception that one or two other bridges were weakened by scour at the abutments, this was the only serious damage reported. This bridge was recently strengthened with three bluegum rickers and a new deck, and as this timber is recoverable a temporary bridge to suit present requirements can be built at a cost of approximately 50. Cr Wilson reported that several bridges in his district had been out of commission since the recent floods. He moved that Wilson's bridge, over the Glenomaru stream, should be re-erccted in the same place.—Carried. On the motion of Cr Maginness, it was decided to effect repairs to the Hina Hina bridge approaches, and also to the landing bridge. MAIN HIGHWAYS. Cr Jack reported that he had attended the annual meeting of the District Highways Council, when it had been decided to recommend for favourable consideration the County Council's application foi the Papatowai-Chaslands and RomahapaPort Molyneux roads to be declared main highways. Such applications were considered on the results of tallies taken on the roads for a period of one week, and if the applications were not granted they had to be renewed each year Cr Maginness objected to the manner in which the applications were dealt with. " If we let the roads go, they would soon be declared main highways," ho said. "We would have the support of the motorists then." RATES FIXED. It was decided that the following rates (general and hospital combined) should be levied. The separate rates as levied last vear are given in parentheses:— Catlins, 1.420 d (lid. 3-10 d) ; Maclennan. I.Bd (lid. 3-10 d); Clinton town, .8d (Jd, 3-10 d); Clinton outer, ] .3d (Id, 3-10 d); Clydevale, l.Ood ( ; Jd, 3-10 d) ; Clutha, I.OSd (|d, 3-10 d); Glenkenich, I.OSd (3d, 3-10 d); Pomahaka, 1.3 d (Id, 3-10 d); Richardson, 1.05 d (Jd, 3-10 d); South Molyneux, 1.3 d (Id, 3-10 d); Waipahi, l.Ood (|d, 3-10 d). With the exception of the Catlins and Maclennan Ridings, which show a slight decrease, the rates arc the same as last year. GENERAL. Consideration was given to a notice of motion given by the chairman that the council should revert to the committee system.—After some discussion, the motion was lost. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr G. S. Gould) submitted the following report on work done in the various ridings during the month: Main Highways.—Dunedin-Invcreargill: Considerable expenditure has recently been incurred in scarifying, metalling, gravelling, and generally repairing this road, and it is at present in fair order, although requiring surface grading in parts. Verv little damage was caused to this road during the recent floods'. Balclutha-Papatowai: Grading and general maintenance work has been continued, and this road was in good order previous to the flood, which caused considerable surface damage. A number of slips occurred, one near the Catlins Lake

being of large proportions, having slipped both from above and below the road. In this case it will be necessary to widen extensively on the batter line in addition to building a retaining wall in parts where the formation consists of clay pug. Long reaches in the Glenomaru Gorge have been swept clean of gravel, and to a lesser extent in the vicinity of the Catlins, MacLennan, and Puerua Rivers. The cost of repairs to surface damage will not be excessive as the bulk of the work will be confined to shovelling the material back on to the road, and the use of power graders. Owaka-Purekireki: The damage to this road was chiefly confined to a few blocked culverts and obstructions in water tables that have since been cleared, and with surface grading can be restored to its previous good condition. Balclutha-Kaka Point: With the exception of a large deposit of weed against the piers of the Puerua River bridge very little damage was done to this road, and little more than surface grading is necessary to place it in good running order. Waiwera-Clydevale: Grading and light maintenance work has been carried out, and this road is in better order than for some time. Extensive repairs will be made at a more favourable season. Clinton-Clydevale: This road has also been graded, and is now in fair order. The continued high level of the Pomahaka River has prevented gravel surfacing being undertaken, but the work will be commenced immediately conditions are favourable. All other highways have been graded and maintained as required, and as no extraordinary flood damage has been reported, they should be in reasonably good order. Clutha Riding.—The metalling of Four Mile Creek road has been completed, and the surfacemen have since been employed in general maintenance work on mam highways, Te Houka road, Kaihiku-Wai-wcra road, and Rosebank streets. The new metalling on Carterhope Estate road has been rolled preparatory to gravelling. Catlius Riding.—The metalling work on Maitland road has been completed, and similar work on Newhaven and Lakeside roads should be completed this week. The wing walls and sheeting at one end of the Landing bridge, Owaka-Newhaven voad, have badly decayed, and during the recent flood was partly washed away. It will be necessary to either rebuild this abutment or lengthen the span. As the length of the bridge was originally curtailed, and appears to be too short for the site, I would suggest that it be lengthened from. 18ft to 20ft at a cost of about £BS. This would eliminate the construction and maintenance of deep sheeting at abutment, and high wing walls. The cost in either case will be much the same. I must also report that exceptionally high tides and unfavourable winds have caused considerable erosion of the approaches to Hina Hina bridge, and the damage has reached such proportions that immediate attention is absolutely necessary. The metal previously used in the protection of the embankment was of poor quality, and has been reduced to small fragments, and offers little resistance to wave action. I have located a good deposit of suitable stone, of which about 450 cubic yards will be required. With the assistance of unemployed this stone could be placed at approximately 5s per cubic yard, or a total cost of £67 10s. This erosion also extends for a considerable distance along the Lakeside road, and I estimate the cost of repairs in that direction at approximately £250. Clinton Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out on ClintonKuriwao, Clinton-Owaka and Anise Hill roads. Hurst's road has been re-formed, and a quantity of metal has been quarried ready for surfacing. Materials for the Owaka Stream bridge, Purekireki Cemetery road, have been landed at the site, and I have arranged to commence the construction work not later than the beginning of next week. Clydevale Riding.—Repairs have been made to various roads, including Snushell's, Burke's Ford, Clydevale-Clinton, Ballahtyne's, Mowat's and Pennett's to Wharetoa. The timber for completion of the repairs to Clydevale Ferry pontoons has not seasoned sufficiently to allow the work to proceed, and I have been obliged to suspend operations for at least six weeks.

Glenkenich Riding.—General repair work has been carried out on Lawlor's, Telegraph. Kelso-Koi, Kelso-Maitland and various other roads. MacLennan Riding.—The forming and gravelling work on Harrington's road has been almost suspended, but I am advised that sufficient " fifths" to complete the work will soon be available. A short section of Stuart's Siding road has been metalled, and the surfacemen have more recently been employed in crushing metal for repairs to Long Point road. In regard to the proposed transfer of surplus funds from Maitland road to Long Point road I have to state that I have gone carefully into the matter and I estimate that the sum of £350 will be sufficient to carrw out the improvements at present required. All materials for the construction of M'Cullough's bridge are on order. Pomahaka Riding.—The surfacemen have been chiefly employed on main highways, but will now be available for the

carrying out of general maintenance work throughout the riding, and the completion of the metalling on Lake road. Richardson Riding.—About 70 chains of the Warepa-Croydon road have been scarified, graded and rolled, and since surfaced with gravel. The Warepa-Toiro road has also been repaired with gravel, and surfacing work carried out on Hillfoot, Shaw's track, Waitepeka-Hilljoot road, and Kaihiku School road. Very little flood damage occurred in this riding. South Molyneux Riding.—The materials for Jones's bridge, Ahuriri-Waiwera road, are on order, and I hope to be able to commence the erection within a few days. About 55 chains of metalling have been completed on this road, and it is expected the contract will be finished within the next three weeks. A. large wooden culvert on Cheetwood road has been replaced with concrete pipes, and repairs made to various roads including Romahapa-Port Molyneux, Kaka Point to Nuggets, Karoro Creek, Cannibal Bay and Ahuriri-Waiwera. Materials for repairs to Karoro Creek bridge, Wright's road are on order. Waipahi Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out on Shennan's road, Glenshee, and Conical Hills School road. Repairs to Waipahi Station road bridge have been completed, and similar work is now in hand at Beccard's Bridge. About 20 chains of Sutherland's road have been gravelled. On the motion ot Cr Maginness it was decided to approach the. Public Works Department for assistance in protecting the Lakeside road in the vicinity of the Hina Hina bridge. He urged the erection of groynes, which, he said, would be much more effective than the present system. The report was adopted.