WAIKOUAITI COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22610, 29 June 1935, Page 22

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, when there were present: Cra' C. T. M'Calluni (in the chair), H. Box, H. G. Gilmore, D. M'Millan, E. Laley and William Lee. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr T. M. Ball, the board's representative on the No. 10 District Highways Council, wrote stating that the bridge at the crossing of the Pleasant River, situated on the section of the highway that was a boundary road between the Waihemo and Waikouaiti Counties, was narrow and dangerous to traffic. The estimated cost of a modern bridge would be £2150. He asked whether the council, in conjunction with the other contributing council, was prepared to enter into an agreement to find its share of the cost. —It was decided to defer consideration of the matter until next meeting.

A letter was received from the secretary of the Otago Electric Power Board stating that the board had decided to levy a general rate of l-20d in the £1 and a separate rate of 3-20 d in the £1 on the capital value of all properties. —Received.

A letter was received from the Otago Hospital Board asking the council to pay the board's levy at the samp rate as fixed last year.—Received. The Otago and Southland division of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society wrote asking for a donation towards the society's funds.—lt was decided to make a donation of £3 3s.

Mr L. Grigg, Purakanui, wrote again asking the council to allow him to erect a fence on the top of the bank at the front of his property. —Received. Mr A. Pederson, Mount Cargill, wrote stating that the road at the outlet to his property was in a bad state and asking that something should be done to improve the situation. —It was decided to refer the writer to the Main Highways Board. The secretary of the Purakanui Progressive League wrote stating that his league considered that the roads in the vicinity of Purakanui were the worst in the district, and something should be done in the matter. —Received.

Mr F. S. O'Neill, Waftati, also wrote regarding the bad state of the road leading to hia property.—The matter was left in the hands of the inspector to be attended to.

Mrs A. Stevenson wrote stating that there was an overgrowth of gorse and broom on the road leading to her property.—lt was decided to inform the owners of the properties concerned that the gorse and broom must be cleared. A letter was received from Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P., asking that a suitable crossing for pedestrians be provided at Sheed's ford, as in flood time the present plank method of crossing was entirely inadequate. —The matter was left in the hands of the inspector to be attended to. The secretary of the Pedestrian Track Committee, Sawyers' Bay, wrote stating that the track along the waterfront between Sawyers' Bay and Port Chalmers was in need of maintenance, and asking for a donation to enable the work to be carried out. —It was decided to grant £2, chargeable to the North-East Valley Riding account. Mr E. Hodge wrote asking the council to attend to a culvert on the Purakanui road.—The matter was left to the inspector to make a temporary crossing. A letter was received, signed by 32 residents of the Sawyers' Bay district, asking that more lighting be provided on the Upper Hall road.—lt was decided that the applicants be advised that the council had no funds available for further lights in Sawyers' Bay in the meantime.

Mr James Kenyon, Merton, wrote drawing the council's attention to the bad state of the road leading from the main road to his property, as overhanging gorse and thorn hedges were causing an obstruction. —It was decided to notify the owner of the property concerned that the obstructions must be removed. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The *roup traffic inspector (Mr P. Laughton) reported that during the period the regular inspection of Waitaki, Waihemo and Waikouaiti Counties was carried out. Maniototo and Vincent Counties were visited between May 27 and June 2. During June several cases had come before tin magistrate at Palmerston and Oamaru. The checking of drivers' licenses had been commenced, and would be completed as soon as possible. Thirteen head of wandering cattle were removed from the highway in Waitaki County and three in Waihemo County. The report was adopted. INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The inspector (Mr T. Lang) reported as follows on the work done during the month:- —

Merton Riding.—The gravelling contract on M'Grath's road had been completed, 208 yards of river gravel having been spread over the whole length of the road. Shields'e road has been reformed for seven chains, and half of it metalled, the remainder of the road being too soft to put the metal on at present. Metal has been broken to repair Pryde's road, and water tables cleaned out on Porteous's road at Warrington and on M'Gillivray's road. The roads in Seacliff have been surfaced and a few chains of footpath formed, which require gravelling. Thirty yards of gravel would be necessary for the work, at a probable cost of £9. Some of the footpath.i at Karitane have been gravelled, and a protective fence is now being erected where the road is breaking away beside the river. The new metal has been raked in on the Puketeraki Bush road. A mile and a-half of metal on Apes's road also requires raking in, but this can be done by the horse grader. A.mile and a-half of the mountain track have been graded, but some parts had to be missed owing to the gorse not being cleared.

Hawksbury Riding.—The road from Mount Watkins to Eldorado and the road to the borough reserve have been graded, also parts of the gravelled road. Forty yards of river gravel have been spread on this road, about a mile from the bottom of the hill. The gravelling contract is finished, 280 yards having been put on the road between Waikouaiti and the top of River Hill, and 30 yards on Orbell's road. A damaged culvert on Snell's road has been replaced by six-inch pipes. Water tables have been cleaned out on Bethune's road, and part on Payne's road graded. Thirty-three yards of schist metal have been spread on the lower end of Zig-zag Hill at Mentborn, and 14 yards on Wilkinson's road. The estimated cost of putting the fences in Quarry Reserve in good order would be £O. Blueskin Riding.—Good progress is being made with the contract for quarrying and spalling the stone for the walls on° Lower Harbour road, and about GOO yards have been distributed along the road where required, and several portions of the wall have been built. One mile of the Waitati-Port Chalmers rond and the road on Donald's Hill to the Waitati-Leith Valley highway have been graded. A culvert has been repaired at Gilchrist's corner, and the roads in the township and the Waitati-Kawarika road repaired with gravel. North-East Valley Riding.—The Pine Hill road has been surfaced throughout, and metal broken for the worst parts of the road. Greer.slade's road is also being repaired. Mnnson's ford has been put In order after the Hood in the river last week. The new metal on the Reservoir and Hall roads has been raked in, footpaths cleaned, and water tables cleaned out. A culvert on Hall road has been renewed with nine-inch pipes.

Evansdale-Merton (via Seacliff) Main Highway. —The usual grading was done on this road, and screenings which had accumulated in hollows have been distributed over the barest parts of the road. Water tables have been cleaned out near Warrington and Karitane, and clay carted to repair the embankment near Morton station. Duncdin-Waitati (via Leith Valley) Main Highway. —A slip which came down on the road near Waitati two months ago was cleared, but the heavy rain last week caused another fall, which has been partly cleared. The upper ford was washed out, and the lower crossing covered with stone, but both of them were made fit for traffic as soon aa the river went down. The report was adopted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1302 18s 7d were passed for payment. The following rates were struck for the year ending March 31, 1930: Hawksbury Riding, Id in the £1; Merton 'Riding, l£d in the £1; North-East Valley Riding, ljd in the £1; Blucskin Riding, ljd in the £l.