WAIKOUAITI COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23436, 26 February 1938, Page 8

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY

COUNCIL'S MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday, there being present Crs G. Gilmore, E. Laley, W. Lee, C. T. McCallum. H. Bon and D. McMillan FINANCIAL Accounts amounting to £ 1524 7s 4d were passed for payment. KARITANE DRAINS The opinion that a Town Board should be formed at Karitane was expressed by Cr Lee when a number of requests from the district were dealt with in the correspondence. Prominence was given to the unsatisfactory state of drains fl&wing into the river fiat and on to the Karitane beach, the complaints being laid by Miss M. E. Given and the Karitane Amenities Society respectively. “What they really .need is a Town Board,” said Cr Lee. “They want someone down there with power to act in these matters." While agreeing that an unusual number of requests came from this district, Cr Laley remarked that the community was not large enough to warrant the formation of a Town Board. It was reported that certain of the drains complained of had been constructed under the supervision of the health authorities, and that the hot weather prevailing was probably responsible foi the nuisance Cr Gilmore and other councillors were of the opinion that the complaints should have been made to the Health Department, but in the meantime the matter was held in abeyance pending investigations by the health inspector (Mr A. E. Barrett ). 1 CORRESPONDENCE Mrs O. W Campbell. Dunedin, wrote asking that the council give consideration to the (finishing of the side road at Purakanui Bay. which leaves the main road at Lawrence’s Bay but comes only halfway down the hill instead of being taken farther south to the bay.—No funds were reported to be available and the letter was received. The district engineer, No. 16 District Highways Council (Mr P Kel ler) wrote informing the council that a complaint of the condition of the Purakanui road had been made by Mr A. McLachlan.—Received. The Purakanui Progressive League

wrote regarding the state of the road from the school to Warren’s and asking that the council open a polling booth in Dunedin for the county elections.—Received. The district engineer, -No. 16 District Highways Council (Mr P. Keller), wrote informing the council ■ that following upon a petition to the I Minister of Public Works (Mr R > Semple) of 25 Purakanui residents, ■ he had inspected Cemetery road and Watkins street in the/township and had found the grade to be , rather steep for general use. He ’ suggested certain alterations which could be carried out for about £230, and added that he would be ! willing to recommend a free money i grant of £IOO and a £1 for £1 subsidy on the balance of the work, provided that the council paid for the legal costs involved and for the fencing of the suggested deviation at the road junction.—After some discussion in which (.he opinion was expressed that an expenditure of £230 on this particular road would not be justified,. it was decided to hold the matter over until the next meeting' to give the council an opportunity to inspect the site. Mrs J. E. Bobsien, Mihiwaka, complained of two head of cattle which had been straying for some time on the county roads in her district —The matter was referred to the inspector with power to act. The Karitane Amenities Society wrote asking the council to take steps to prohibit camping on the public roads in and about Karitane, and to check the erosion on the river frontage where the footpath was becoming undermined.—lt was decided to erect a sign prohibiting camping on county roads, and the inspector was instructed to report on the condition of the footpath Mr W. Wilson, Flagswamp, wrote asking the council to clear the gorse on the county reserve adjoining his property.—lt was agreed that the matter be attended to immediately. Mr W. S. Pitt, Merton, wrote drawing the council’s attention to what he termed the shocking state of the road and bridges leading to his property.—Received. Thomas Crannitch, Palmerston, wrote requesting the council to have four gates on the road leading to his property removed. —Received. The Automobile Association (Otago) informed the council that it was unable to contribute towards the upkeep of the Port ChalmersAramoana highway, but promised to approach the Main Highways Board in an endeavour to get the subsidy increased. As the District Highways Council was waiting on the association’s decision before requiring a

: statement from the council regard- > ing its intentions to make improve* i ments to the highway, the matter i was held over until the results of the association’s representations to the Main Highways Board became known. The New Zealand Forestry League ! wrote asking for details, of - any areas of native bush in the county with a view to having such areas permanently preserved. Cr McMillan remarked that such areas of native bush as existed in the county were little more than sanctuaries for rabbits and other pests.— The letter was received. The proposed re-subdivision of property at Karitane at the request of the trustees of the estate of Elizabeth Muir, was approved, conditional on a copy being supplied to the council. ' The Transport Department wrote asking for details of all drivers’ licences issued by the council each month, with a view to keeping a tally to assist in dealing with the road. accident problem.—Received, the necessary information to be supplied. The board’s representative, No. 16 District Highways Council (Mr P Keller) wrote advising that his council had been petitioned to construct a footpath from the Waitati township to the Waitati School under the special subsidy scheme by which the council would bear only half the cost of £ 171). —It was stated that the road had been taken over u y the Government about 14 years ago, and that *the council had then been assured that it would not have to contribute anything further towards its upkeep. OVERDUE RATES It was decided to impose a 10 per cent, penalty on all rates for the current year remaining unpaid after March 1, 1938. INSPECTOR’S REPORT The inspector (Mr T. Lang) submitted the following report on work carried out during the month:— Hawksbury Riding.—Water tables have been graded out on Mill road, Orbell’s road, and on the road to the top of River Hill. The Zig-i -ig Hill at Nenthorn has been put into shape before metalling, and over 500 yards of metal have been spread on the road. The metalling contract will probably be finished next week. About 30 yards of metal are required to repair the road on Nenthorn Flat. Merton Riding. Water tables have been graded out on Gilchrist’s and McGrath’s roads. The road to

Warrington Beach has been widened and improved, and water tables cleaned out on Warrington roads. Blueskin Riding.—The upper end of Purakanui road has been surfaced, and a sharp curve widened. The bridge on the short road above Waitati School has been repaired. A few loads of gravel are required to repair this road near the bridge. Three days carting of gravel are also required for Waitati-Kawarika road. North-East Valley. Riding.—The footpaths on Hugh street have been t cleaned, and some of the new metal raked in. Repairs have been carried out on Pigeon Flat road, and gravel carted to repair Manson’s Ford, . Main Highways Evansdale-Merton (via Seaclift) Highway.—Two large culverts near Warrington have each been lengthened by 9ft, with concrete walls and hardwood covers, and *ire now being filled in. Water tables have been cleaned out at Warrington, and potholes filled near Seacliff. The road is' now being graded. ' Dunedin-Waitati (via Leith Valley) Highway.—Metal has been spread on several parts of the road between William’s and Bums’s r reeks, and water tables cleaned out on the same section of the road. Mitchell’s Ford has been put in order. Port Chalmers-Waitati Highway. —The only work done on this road has been in breaking some of the rough metal brought up by the scarifier. Port Chalmers-Aramoana Highway -» Water tables have been cleaned out between Grassy Point and Pulling Point, and gravel raked in . ■ ; v The report was adopted and recommendations were approved.