MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23001, 2 October 1936, Page 9

MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Maniototo County Council was held on Friday last at Ranfurly, when there were present:—Councillors P. Aitken (chairman), W. Howell, R. Scott, E. Morgan, N. Nicolson, T. A. Lewis, J. B, M'Gill, H. W. Davis, and T. Hall. Before proceeding with the business of the meeting, the chairman made reference to the recent bereavement suffered by Cr Davis in the loss of his wife, and a vote of sympathy was passed in the customary manner. CORRESPONDENCE Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) regarding Dansey’s Pass road—Received. The Commissioner of Transport, Wellington, wrote advising that the Minister of Transport would not be recommended to proceed to order an apportionment of the heavy traffic fees in No. 16 district until such time as every possible effort was made by the interested bodies to arrive at an amicable agreement.—The clerk was instructed to write to the Dunedin City Council, as distributing authority for No. 16 district, and place the council’s views regarding the present basis for the distribution of the fees before that body and to forward a copy of the letter to the Commissioner of Transport. The t secretary, Otago Expansion League, wrote asking the council favourably to consider the question of an annual grant being made to assist the league in its work of promoting the welfare of the province.—It was decided to defer consideration until next meeting.

The secretary, Department of Labour, Wellington, forwarded a circular dealing with scheme 5 and subsidised works, intimating that where the award rate of pay is higher than the public works standard rate of 2s per hour the higher rate will require to be paid.— Noted.

The Dunedin City Council wrote advising that the Government had decided that each provincial district should arrange its own commemorations and establish its own memorials in connection with the New Zealand Centennial, 1940. The council was further advised that the Otago Provincial Council had been duly constituted, and suggested that the local bodies in the Central Otago district organise so as to form sub-districts of the Otago province.—Noted.

Mr Philip J. Brown, Naseby, wrote asking that the council replace the boundary fence of his properly fronting the Hogburn sludge channel.—The request was held over to enable Cr Howell and the engineer to inspect and report to the next meeting of the council.

Messrs Fraser and Macdonald asked the council’s approval and acceptance of the dedication of a piece of land at the corner of Hospital avenue and Dungannon street, Ranfurly, as and for a part of a public road. —Accepted. REPORTS The ranger fMr Gordon Graham) reported that during the month four head of cattle had been released before reaching the pound and that the owner, having had a previous warning, would be prosecuted.—The clerk was instructed to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the impounding and subsequent release of horses owned by Mr W. D. Hore.

The health inspector reported that during the month of August 25 inspections had been made and one requisition bad been served. There was no

alteration in the number of T.B, cases in the district. The following localities had been visited:—Waipiata, Ranfurly, Oturehua, Ida Valley, Wedderburn and Blackstone Hill. The traffic inspector submitted the following report for the period ended September 24:—The usual regular inspection has been carried out jn Waitaki, Waihemo and Waikouaiti Counties. Maniototo and Vincent Counties were visited on two occasions during the month. In Vincent County one vehicle was found in use without a heavy traffic licence having been issued. The owner at once took steps to apply for a heavy traffic licence. One case of speeding was noted in Waitaki County, and two unregistered motor cycles were found in use on the Main Highway, one in Waitaki and one in Waihemo County. Twenty head of cattle were removed from the Main highway in Waitaki County. The reports were adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT

Mr R. J. Black, county engineer, presented the following report for the period ended September 22: — Main Highways

St. Bathans Loop—This highway was graded and an additional run made on newly gravelled sections. Maintenance gravelling was carried out between Dunstan Creek and Becks School. The sidling cutting at Enright’s Hill was delayed in favour of cut-offs and assistance to grader and water tables, etc. Shepherd's Creek bridge renewal has the more difficult abutment with wings completed and foundation ready to commence on the second. Gravelling on the Becks School section is in progress. Palmerston-Clyde.—A 9in diameter culvert was placed at Cross Eden Hill. Channel cuts were formed in preparation for a culvert at Hore’s Creek. Maintenance gravel was spread between Ranfurly and Kyeburn and at the Shag boundary and at Idaburn. tables were cleared near Lochart’s Creek. Thirty .miles were graded.

Kyeburn to Middlemarch.—A 12m diameter culvert was placed near Price’s Creek. Approach filling was added at Last Creek bridge and the creek flow centred. Rock benches are being removed to improve the bends near Annatt’s Hill. The grader is working north from Rock and Pil lar. Corners are being improved on Bruhn’s Hill. Idaburn to Moa Creek.—Maintenance gravel was spread between Idaburn and Oiurehua. The section, subject to flood overflow of the Idaburn near Ida Valley School, is being elevated and the road ditches given better fall. No. 5 grader is moving to this highway. Ridings Mount Ida.—Maintenance gravel was spread on the Waipiata-Gimmerburn road. A 9in diameter culvert was placed in the Waipiata Railway road, where formation will be completed as soon as possible. Ditching was done on the Waipiata Swamp'stock road, and the outlet culvert lowered. Ditches were formed and cleared on Cook's road, Naseby-Kyeburn Diggings, near Spec Creek, and are in hand on the Waipiata-Naseby road. The grader was used on the Waipiata-Naseby, Waipiata Railway and Cook’s roads. Kyeburn.—A. 2ft diameter culvert was placed at Meikle’s Flat gravel belt, and short lengths gravelled to the foot of Dansey’s Pass. A 9in diameter culvert was lengthened near Lillie Kyeburn bridge. Water tables were cleared and patch gravelling spread. Maintenance gravel was spread on the Kyeburn River road. A small diameter culvert is required on the Naseby-Kyeburn Ridge road above E. Strode’s. and one near A. Pearson's boundary, on the Swinburn Cemetery road.

Lauder.—A 3ft diameter culvert and .road formation were completed on Beattie’s road, and culvert renewals completed on Mee’s farm road. Paten gravelling was carried out on Hamilton’s road. The grader was employed on Shephard’s Flat, Vinegar Hill and J. Leask’s road.

St. Bathans. —Gravelling on Auripo boundary road is completed. Patch gravelling was carried out on the Blackstone Hill runs road. Surfacing repairs were carried out on the AuripoBecks road and a small culvert placed. A 9in diameter culvert was placed in Brown’s road and, planks placed for footways over three water courses towards the Idaburn. Surfacing repairs and cut-offs were carried out on the St. Bathans Downs road. The i’eport was adonted. GENERAL The clerk reported that the net cost to the council of the functions, afternoon tea and dance, held to mark the official opening of the new Ranfurly Chambers was £42 8s 9d.—Cr M’Gill congratulated the chairman and staff upon the admirable manner in which the functions had been organised. Three tenders were received for the lease of the Gimmerburn reserve for a term of five years, and that of Mr A. E. Hore, for £1 1 ° 15s, was accepted.