TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 27

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN The annual meeting of the Taieri County Council was held in conjunction with the monthly meeting at Mosgiel yesterday. The chairman (Mr J. A. Gow) was re-elected for the ensuing 12 months. There were also present—Crs C. Findlay, F. I. Howell, W. K. Kirk, J. A. Wither, W. I. Nichol, G. Stevenson and G. F. Brinsdon. FINANCE Accounts amounting to £3498 17s 2d were passed for payment. GENERAL REPORT The county inspector (Mr J. Williamson) reported that during 1936-37 he had issued 1174 drivers' licences and 492 during the current month. He had also issued 210 heavy traffic licences last year and nine during the past month. —Received. As ranger, he had found 11 cattle and 2 horses wandering on the roads. —Received. CORRESPONDENCE

The district engineer, Public Works Department, wrote asking to be informed of the nature of the proposals for a water supply at Middlemarch. —The clerk reported that he had advised the engineer that the cost of bringing a supply from the Rock and Pillar Range would be £3500, according to an estimate made in 1934, and it was suggested that a special rate of one penny in the £ 1 would be necessary, with a charge to the Railways Department of about 4d per 1000 gallons.—The action of the clerk was approved. Mr P. Keller, district representative, Main Highways Board, wrote stating that the board's estimate of the Dunedin-Duke's road main highway work to provide an alternative route to the aerodrome was £ 12,000, and stating that it was prepared to find £9OOO if the city, the Aero Club and the county would find the remaining £3ooo.—The town clerk, Dunedin City Corporation, wrote advising that his council regarded the offer as a generous one and asking on what terms the council was willing to contribute.—A deputation was appointed to wait on the City Council to obtain further details of the proposal. The clerk of the Makara County Council wrote forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by his council that provision be made for a poll of ratepayers before the legislation for the amalgamation of local bodies was proceeded with. —Received. The clerk, Otago Electric Power Board, wrote asking the council to reconsider its attitude in the matter of making a donation to the cost of the canvass of the ratepayers in the Strath-Taieri and Maniototo districts.—The member for the StrathTaieri Riding said that the canvass was towards a worthy end, and in the long run would probably be of use to the whole riding.—On his motion, it was decided to ask the board if the rates recently collected from the riding for a power levy were to be credited to the ridings proportion of the levy and, if so, to offer to contribute the remaining sum. A M , ~ The secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago) wrote inviting the council to be represented at the annual conference on June 9.—The chairman and the clerk were appointed to represent the council. Mrs L. Grigg, Mosgiel Junction, wrote asking the council to gravel the footpath from the borough boundary to the main road. —The request was granted. Mr C. Ovens, Roslyn, wrote complaining of the amount of loose metal en the Kaikorai Valley road at the old tunnel bridge.—Cr Brinsdon remarked that the road was a difficult one to maintain and he thought that the condition of the road at present was fair.—The letter was received. Mr J. F. Mutch, East Taieri, wrote complaining that the road to his section was so overgrown with gorse that he could not get access to his property.—lt was decided to point out that the liability was on the property owners. . Mr W. J. Lukeman, Abbotshill, wrote drawing the attention of the council to the state of the track through Samson's farm to Green Island.—lt was decided to repair the main access road to the property. Residents and users of North Taieri road, Abbotsford, wrote petitioning the council to reconstruct the road. —It was considered that the road was being kept in a fair state of repair. Mr F. Knox, Green Island Bush, wrote applying to the council for some metal for Blackhead road.—lt 1 was decided to attend to the matter. The town clerk, Dunedin City Corporation, wrote stating that the estimated cost of clearing, grading and metalling Sanda street, a boundary road, was £2o2.—The matter was held over.

Mr D. L. M'Coll, Brighton, wrote drawing the council's attention to necessary work on the road to his property.—The request was left to the member for the riding and the inspector to deal with. Messrs Carter Bros., Brighton, wrote complaining of the state of the road past their property.—The inspector stated that the trouble was that the whole face of the hill was slowly slipping away.—lt was decided to reDly that the council could accept no responsibility. The secretary, Brighton Ratepayers' Association, wrote asking the council for an estimate of the cost per annum of 10 or 15 lamps for Brighton road.—The clerk reported that the reduction in the number of lamps meant very little difference in the annual cost, and it was decided to pass on the information. ' Mr H. J. Carmody, Berwick, wrote asking the council for several loads of gravel for the front of his store. — The request was referred to the inspector. Mr A. M'Kinnon, Middlemarch, wrote asking that the road through block V, Strath-Taieri, be graded.— The matter was.held over till the weather.was more favourable.

The district engineer, Public Works Department, wrote advising that Messrs Robinson, Graham and Paterson had applied to the Minister of Public Works for assistance towards the provision of suitable access, as at present their only entrance was a footbridge attached to the railway bridge, and asking what assistance the council would be prepared to give.—The chairman stated that the footbridge accommodated stock and the settlers were well served by the railway. It was quite out of the question to erect a bridge. —lt was decided to inform the department accordingly. Mr A. D. Murray and four other settlers wrote petitioning the council to erect a bridge on the road at Castle Creek.—The chairman said that a bridge was a necessity in this vicinity, and it was decided to draw the petition before the notice of the Public Works Department

The district engineer wrote asking the attitude of the council towards; the provision of better access to Mr B. Edwards, Walton Park.—lt was decided to reply that the road was on private property, and the council could do nothing. If the road was put in order, the council would be willing to take it over. Mr C. N. Paterson, Middlemarch, wrote complaining of the state in which the gravel on the road to the Hummock runs had been left. —It was decided to attend to the matter. INSPECTOR'S REPORT

The inspector of works (Mr J. Garrett) submitted the following report for the month: — East Taieri Riding.—Some 567 yards of maintenance gravel have been run out on the following roads: —Centre, Riccarton, Duke's and Owhiro-Gladfield. Centre, Riccarton, Gladstone and Owhiro-Glad-field roads have been graded. The bridge on the School road at Wylie's Crossing has been repaired. North Taieri Riding.—A 42-inch pipe culvert has been put in on the Gibson's to Muir's road. 'The Racecourse and Silversteam Valley roads have been surfaced. Silverstream Valley and Halfway Bush to Whare Flat roads have been graded. Kaikorai Riding.—Kaikorai Valley and Wilson's roads have been graded. M'Meekin's road has been surfaced. Maintenance metal has been run out on Freeman's road at Abbotsford.

Otokia Riding. Maintenance gravel was run out on the BrightonScrogg's Hill road. A slip at Jaffray's has been repaired. Christie's Gully, Allanton streets and Saddle Hill road have been surfaced.

Outram Riding.—The following roads have been graded:—Gray's, Allanton to Berwick, Nichol's and Beehive road. Maintenance metal was run out on the Allanton to Berwick road on the section from the school to the county hut. Hackett's, Church and Outram to Hindon roads have been surfaced.

Maungatua Riding.—Maintenance gravel was run out on Bell's road, Woodside, Henley to Berwick. Lee Canal and Maungatua clay road have been graded. Grainger's, Heenan's, B Drain and Otokia-Maungatua roads have been surfaced.

Deep Stream Riding.—A culvert has been repaired on the Butler's to Kinloch's road. The Hindon to Boyd's road has been surfaced, also Shannon to Rockland's, and Lamb Hill.

Strath-Taieri Riding.—Maintenance gravel was run out on Henderson's road, Mount Ross road and Top road. Kidd's and Top roads have been graded, and Burnett's and Cemetery roads have been surfaced.

MAIN HIGHWAYS No. 2.—Maintenance gravel was run out on the section from the Agricultural Hall to the Railway Station, Middlemarch. The section from Mosgiel to Outram has been graded. No. 3.—Maintenance metal was run out on the hill section to the city boundary. Grading and surface work has been carried out on No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7. No.\ B.—Maintenance gravel was run out on the Outram to Allanton section, and the road graded. The report was adopted.