WAIHEMO COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23016, 20 October 1936, Page 16

WAIHEMO COUNTY

COUNCIL’S MONTHLY MEETING * The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held at Palmerston yesterday, when there were present: Crs D. J. Ireland (in the chair), J. O’Connell, W, Matheson, A. Purvis, G. Ross, D. Ross, W. Ritchie, G. A. Sutherland, and H. S. Sheat. MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY Motions of sympathy were passed in the customary manner with the relatives of Mr R. W. Capstick, Mrs D. Howie, and Mrs Pope. The clerk was also instructed to write to Mr W. Watt, of Dunback, sympathising with him in his illness. CORRESPONDENCE The Commissioner of Transport wrote forwarding the draft traffic regulations for the council’s perusal and comment.—Received. < The secretary of the New Zealand Counties’ Association wrote giving particulars of the Main Highways Amendment Bill and the views expressed by the deputation that waited on the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) .—Received. In reference to a dangerous corner at Mr Sloan’s property, Mr T. M. Ball, the Main Highway Board’s representative on the District Highways Council, advised that he had given instructions for a gorse hedge to be removed, but he did not consider it necessary to alter the alignment of the road.—Cr D. Ross reported that the hedge had been cut away.—The letter was received. The Valuation Department wrote forwarding notice of the payment into the county fund account of £SOO as a 1 subsidy on rates collected during the past year.—Received. The secretary of the Otago Education Board wrote asking that the traffic inspector carry out an inspection of all buses used for the conveyance of school children within the county.—lt was decided that Mr Laughton be asked to carry out the inspection. The Department of Labour wrote forwarding the new rates of pay and hours of work for relief workers under scheme 5, the hourly rate of pay to be 2s 3d.—The chairman pointed out that the council paid a subsidy on relief workers’ pay, and this cost the ratepayers £l2O a year. He mentioned that the council was under no obligation to pay the subsidy. With the increases in the wages of its regular employees, the council would be compelled to raise the rates in the near future.—After further discussion, in which it was pointed out that there would be considerable seasonal and farm work offering soon, it was decided that the council discontinue the subsidy.

The inspector of mines wrote asking the council if it could agree to Mr E. Guinan diverting the practically unformed road near the battery of the Galli Mining Company until he tested the reef on which he was working, or if it could come to other satisfactory terms to enable him to carry on his prospecting.—Cr O’Connell said that, if the council were going to open up the question again, it should have Mr Guinan present at the meeting. If it granted him the permission he was seeking there was no guarantee that he would put back the road in its original condition or keep the diverted road in good repair. He suggested that the applicant should pay a deposit or give a definite guarantee to the council.—After considerable discussion it was decided to ask Mr Guinan to attend the next council meeting. RANGER’S REPORT

The ranger (Mr B. Dyer) reported that he had removed two cows and two horses from country roads during the past month. The report was adopted. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S REPORT

The inspector (Mr P. Laughton) reported that he had carried out the regular monthly inspection in the Waitaki, Waihemo, and Waikouaiti Counties, and had also visited Maniototo and Vincent twice during the month. One unregistered motor cycle was found in use on the main highway in the Waihemo County. The mileage run was 1606. The report was adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT

The county inspector (Mr A. M’WilHam) reported as follows on work carried out during the past month:— , Blue Mountain Riding.—General surface work, raking in gravel, and cleaning outlets and inlets on Pagan’s. Limekiln, Craig’s and Matheson’s roads has been carried out. The Switchback road bridge was tar-sealed, and drainage wells were put in on the Switchback road. The rock cutting is being widened on the Old Back road, and the Humptucker rbad was surfaced, a further day with two men being required to finish this road. Meadowbank Riding.—The highway from O’Neill’s at Bowker’s has been graded and scarified, and maintenance gravel has been put oi where required. Tar-sealing has been repaired in Buckland township. Gravel has been graded in on the Taieri Peak road and pipes were put in and culverts repaired. General surface work and repairs to culverts were carried out on Hughes road. Gorse was grubbed out oLwater tables from Cummings’s corner to Elston’s. Maintenance gravel was placed on the Taieri Peak road near Jamieson’s.

Bushey Riding.—Fleming’s road and the Bushey highway were graded, and general surface work was carried out. Gravel was graded in on the Horse Range road, and ditches were cleaned out on North’s road. The culvert was lifted on the Goodwood road, and repairs to culverts were carried out on Walsh’s and Horse Range roads. Outlets and 'inlets were cleaned on Barron’s road.

Goodwood Riding.—Raking in of gravel on various riding roads and repairs to culverts and the raking in of maintenance gravel on Goodwood Settlement and Stenhouse’s roads were carried out. The culvert on Sutherland’s road requires repairs. Dunback Riding.—Gravel was graded in on the Stoneburn road from Bowker’s to Jamieson’s, and repairs to Coutts road as authorised are being carried out. The crossing at Pile’s has been giving trouble, and it is recommended that the present stock bridge be widened to six feet to take a light car. The main highway was graded from Bowker’s to Dunrobin.

Green Valley Riding.—Maintenance gravel was placed on the Shingly Creek road. The contractors are making satisfactory profress with gravelling the main highway. Macrae’s Riding.—General surface work has been carried out on the inain highway, Macrae’s road, and Moonlight road, and- maintenance gravel was worked in where required. Maintenance gravel was spread from Macrae’s to Hay’s, gravel graded in, the road scarified where rough, and the metal blinded. It is suggested that a protective fence be erected at Walker’s cutting. General surface work was carried out from Hyde to Macrae’s road, and repairs to culverts and general surface work were carried out on Hayes, Pearson’s. Clark’s, and Butter and Egg roads. Metal has been placed on the Nenthorn road. Repairs are required to the road near Bates’s and to the bridge. In Macrae’s township the footpath should be extended past the Athenaeum and past the hall on the other side. The corner at the entrance to Macrae's at the telephone pole requires to be raised and the road widened. The report was adopted, and it was decided that the stock bridge at Pile’s crossing in the Dunback Riding be widened as suggested by the inspector. FINANCE Accounts amounting to £219 10s 6d were passed for payment. The Finance Committee reported that the council had a credit balance at the bank of £1360 Os 7d. GENERAL Reference was made to the dangerous condition of the road at the corner of the main highway and the Goodwood road, and the chairman was appointed to wait on the Waikouaiti County Council in an effort to have the matter attended to. On the motion of Cr D. Ross, seconded by Cr O’Connell, it was decided that the rate of pay for county surfacemen be increased to 14s a day as from October 10.