WAIKOUAITI COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22712, 26 October 1935, Page 22

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, when there were present: Cre C. T. M’Callum (in the chair), H. H. Box, E. Laley, G. H. Gilmore, W. Lee and D. M'Millan. CORRESPONDENCE. The Highways Board’s representative on the No. 16 District Highways Council advised that the Waikouaiti Council’s share of the cost of the Pleasant River bridge be £IBO. The council would also have to pay one-sixth (£27) of the cost of preparing proposals and supervising the work. —It was decided to accept the proposals provided that the’ Waihemo County Council paid a corresponding amount. The board’s representative also advised that traffic inspectors employed by various groups and subsidised from the Highways Fund must carry out the enforcement of licences for goods and passenger services.—Received. The Valuer-general wrote stating that it would not be possible for his department to have a revaluation of the county completed in time for the 1936-37 rating year. —Received. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research forwarded a copy of the grassland map of the South Island. —Received. Mrs F. E. Lang wrote asking that improvements be made to the road leading to her property at Waitati, —It was decided that the work be done, providing the applicant paid half the cost. The engineer of the Otago Electric Power Board wrote asking for permission to lay water pipes along the roadline at Waitati and to pump water out of the Waitati Stream.—Permission was granted subject to the work being carried out to the satisfaction of the inspector. , The secretary of the Purakauui Progressive League wrote asking the council to carry out several improvements in his district. —Received. Mr W. Wilson wrote stating that, owing to a gorse fire on the deviation road, a hedge on his property at Flag Swamp bad been destroyed. He asked that the council provide posts and barbed wire for a fence to replace the hedge.— The matter was held over until next meeting. Mr J. H. Perry applied for permission to lay water pipes across Reservoir road at Sawyer’s Bay.—Granted. The Merton branch of the Women s Division of the Farmers’ Union wrote calling the council’s attention to the state of the main highway which was dangerdiis to horse traffic between Evansdale and the Merton Dairy FactoryReceived. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The group traffic inspector (Mr PLaughton) reported as follows: The regular inspection has been carried out fn Waitaki, Waihemo and Waikouaiti counties and Maniototo and Vincent counties have been visited from October 8 to 12. The testing of brakes and lights has been continued in various parts of the group. During the period four unregistered vehicles were found in use on main highways, two in Waitaki and one each in Vincent and Maniototo counties. Two cases were heard before the magistrate in Palmerston and two in Cromwell, convictions in each case being recorded, and a fine imposed in three cases. Two owners of wandering cattle in Vincent County and one in Maniototo were warned. The report was adopted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £332 10s 4d were passed for payment. The sum of 5s was received from the Treasury, Dunedin, for goldfields revenue. GENERAL. The tender of the Disabled Soldiers’ Products, Ltd., for the supply of dog collars was accepted. In reference to the provision of sections of the main highway in the county : for horse traffic, Mr Laley reported that 1 he had interviewed Mr Ball, who had stated that the matter had been reported to the Highways Board. Mr Ball had j said that the new surface material should I prove better suited to horse traffic, and j he thought ratepayers should give the j new formation a trial before taking the | matter further.

INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The county inspector (Mr T. Lang) reported as follows on the work carried out during the month: — Hawksbury Riding.—The upper end of Mount Watkins road and some parts of Quarry road have been surfaced, and Wilson’s road has been gradea and prepared for gravelling, but the contractor has not commenced the work yet. Galbraith’s road has been graded, and the water tables on Flag Swamp road cleaned out by the grader. Gorse and broom have been cleared from the plantation and from the roadline fronting the reserves on the road between Flag Swamp and Mount Derdon. Merton Riding. —The formation of the track to Steep hill had been completed, Allen’s road has been re-formed and stone is now being procured to metal the worst parts of the road. The footpaths at Seacliff have been surfaced, and 46 yards of screenings have been spread on them. The lower end of Pullar’s road has been surfaced, and Porteous’s road is now being attended to. Blueskin Riding.—A fetaining wall is now being built at a narrow part ■of the road at Pulling Point, on the Lower Harbour road. The most urgent of the protective walls on this road have now been built, but a few loads of stone are required near Mr Fountain’s property to stop erosion. Most of the footpath to Purakanui has been surfaced, and two chains of a protective wall built. Another chain of walling is required at the end nearest the station. A groyne has been built below the footbridge at Waitati. North-East Valley Riding.—The metal on Hall and Reservoir roads has been raked in and blinded, and stone has been taken from the creeks and broken to widen several portions of these roads. A culvert on Miller’s road has been repaired. MAIN HIGHWAYS. Evansdale-Merton Highway. —Water tables have been cleaned out between Seacliff and Omimi, and the whole of the road has been graded recently. Dunedin-Waitati (via Leith Valley) Highway.—Stone and gravel have been carted from the lowlr crossing to widen a narrow part of the road half a mile below the ford. Several parts of the road above Mitchell’s ford have been widened, and willows have been planted on the banks of Burns’s Creek below the bridge. The report was adopted, and it was decided that the work required near Mr Fountain’s property be carried out.