WAIHEMO COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23201, 27 May 1937, Page 18

WAIHEMO COUNTY

ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNCIL NEW, CHAIRMAN ELECTED The combined annual and monthly meetings of the Waihemo County Council were held in the County Chambers, Palmerston, yesterday, when there were present: Crs D. Ross (chairman). J. O'Connell, W. Mathieson, H. S. Skeat. A, Purvis, G. Ross, D. J. Ireland, W. Ritchie, and G. A. Sutherland. RANGER'S REPORT The county ranger (Mr B. Dyer) reported that during the month there had been found on the roads 18 cows, four calves, and one horse.—The report was received. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN The election of a chairman for the ensuing year took place before the principal business of the meeting was dealt with. The retiring chairman (Mr A. Ireland) mentioned that the arrangement whereby the chairman received no travelling or other expenses other than his salary was unsatisfactory, if the salary remained at its present figure, which was considerably less than that obtaining in other counties.—The council approved an increase in the chairman's salarv to £lO per annum. Before vacating the chair. Mr Ireland said how pleasant it had been to work for the council during his term of office. He thanked the county clerk (Mr H.M'William) for the help he had given him, and he hoped that the council would give to his successor the same support it had given to him. Nominations for the position were then called, and Cr D. Ross was elected by a unanimous vote. Cr Ross thanked the council for the honour it had conferred upon him by electing him chairman. The councillors all spoke in appreciation of the services given by Cr Ireland, and welcomed the new chairman. CORRESPONDENCE The Otago Hospital Board wrote requesting the council's levy at the same rate as last year.—Received. H. Wilson and Son. carriers, Dunback, wrote drawing the council's attention to the Transport Department's concession in allowing the firm to do carrying business between Dunback and Dunedin. The Railways Department had appealed against this decision, and the firm solicited the council's support in the appeal, which was to be heard in "Wellington shortly.— The council strongly disapproved of the action of the Railways Department in seizing transport licences, and decided to give full support to this and any other appeal of a similar nature. The Makara County Council forwarded a copy of its resolution in regard to county amalgamation. The resolution recommended an amendment in the proposed legislation, by which the matter could be put to the vote of ratepayers. The council urged that, if favourable to the proposal, the Waihemo Council should communicate to that effect with its district parliamentary representative.—The council declared itself quite agreeable to the proposal, but it was stated that the matter should have come to its notice through the New Zealand Counties' Association. The No. 4 Licensing Authority wrote asking the council to endeavour in all future transport work to engage only men holding a transport licence and to accept tenders for contracts from those men only.—Received. The district engineer of the Public Works Department wrote asking the council for details of and the estimated cost of metalling every unmetalled road in the county which was in regular use and which provided access to genuine settlers.—lt was decided to forward the required information. The Palmerston Borough Council forwarded a statement of the expenses incurred through the local Coronation Day celebrations.—The council decided to contribute £2O as its share of the expenses. FINANCE Accounts amounting to £641 8s lOd were passed for payment. INSPECTOR'S REPORT The county inspector (Mr A. M'William) submitted the following report on the work carried out during the month:— Bushy Riding.—The Shag River bridge was repaired. The water tables were cleaned out, ditches cleared and spoil was carried off. He inspected the Puketapu road bridge and found that the beams had rotted at both ends, and some of the decking required renewing. Owing to the nature of the bottom of the creek, it would not be possible to put in piles. Advantage was taken of the school holidays to complete repairs. Maintenance gravel was spread on the Puketapu, Horse Range and Shag Point roads. Goodwood Riding.—General surfacing work was done on various roads, and water tables and the outlets and inlets of culverts were cleaned. Maintenance gravel was spread on Preston's, Wright's, Sutherland's and Goodwood roads on M'Laren's Flat. The culvert on Sutherland's road required a new cover, and the road up to the homestead required widening at the turn. Blue- Mountain Riding.—Maintenance gravel was spread on Craig's and Old Bach roads, Dunback. The Goring bridge in the Bach Valley was overhauled. Maintenance work was carried out on the Horse Range road. Green Valley Riding.—The power grader carried out scarifying and grading operations on the Pound road. Water tables were cleared, and gravel was spread on the Golden Point road. The Macrae's road was widened and footpaths were tarred. The work on Hartfield road was carried on. Cameron's and Mareburn roads were surfaced throughout. Some maintenance gravel was required on Cameron's road and on Four Mile road on Potts's Hill. General surface work had been carried out on the main highway on the Moonlight end and on the Macrae'sDunback road. Meadowbank Riding.—General surfacing work was carried out on the Taien Peak road, and water tables and gravelling operations were attended to. With Cr G. Ross, the engineer inspected the Taieri Peak road and he recommended that several portions of the road between Pine's yards and Hitchen's .Cutting be travelled, that the water tables on Hitchen's cutting be cleaned out, and that pipes be put in past the gate between Jamieson's and Pirie's runs. Scarifying and grading was done on the main highway from O'Neill's to Bowker's, and maintenance gravelling was put on. Dunback Riding—Repairs had been carried out to Coutts's road and pipes put in, and on the Stoneburn road repairs were completed and under-run - ners put in. Scarifying and grading operations were carried out by the power grader on the main highway. Maintenance gravel was required in several places on the Dunback-Mac-rae's road. The report was adopted.