ROXBURGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23595, 3 September 1938, Page 21

ROXBURGH

The Weather

Although the barometer has been low, the weather has been fine and mild. On Thursday light rain set in, but very little fell during the day. The evening was showery, with snow on the hills. Twenty points of rain were registered. The glass is now high, and the weather promises to be fine. The district is badly in need of rain, as August was a very dry month, only 12 ncints of rain falling.

Borough Works The sewerage scheme is neanng completion, and at present the construction of the tunnel is being undertaken. This is proving a more difficult job than was anticipated, owing to the shingly nature of the ground. The tarsealing of the main street will be commenced early in October.

Public Meeting A public meeting was held on August 29 to consider a proposal to provide a children's playground and to beeutify the town. The Mayor, Mr F. A. Laloli, presided over a good attendance. The chairman outlined the proposals, which included a children's playground and garden plots, as well as the planting of trees, and suggested !he raising o" the necessary funds by means of a queen carnival. He explained that the beautifying of the main street by means of plots or trees had not yet been decided by the council, but his idea was that a beautifying committee should be set up to confer with' the council on the matter The variou<= proposals were discussed by the meeting, and it was finally decided that all efforts bo concentrated on the children's playgrounds, that part of the recreation reserve known as the pound paddock near the bowling green and lawn tennis, courts be the main playing area, others to be provided where suitable smaller areas are availfble. A committee consisting of Messrs Laloli. B M JefTcry, J H. Waigth J. George and B. Do Lautour was apnnointed to take this work in hand Tt was also decided to hold a aueen carnival 'o raise funds, and the follow'ng committee was appointed to organise it:—The Mayor and Messrs W J. Henderson. Webster. J H Waigth G. Jeffery H A. Tamblyn and G A De Lautour, Mesdames Riach and Strachan. and Misses M and A Kinaston. Capon, and Wilson. It was decided that the children's playground be adopted as the centennial memorial for Roxburgh. Since She meeting the committee in charge of the children's playground has made an inspection of the ground and has made arrangements to have it fenced immediately. Suitable trees are also being ordered, and will be planted this season.

Messrs Mason, Fleming, Rivers and Grenfell, representing the Downs Settlers, Becks, waited upon the council and requested it to consider the necessity, from their point of view, of the immediate erection of the bridge necessary to give them direct access to their property. Mr Fleming spoke at some length regarding the disability suffered by the settlers through not having direct access to rail and school. —The chairman (Cr Lowis) stated that proposals for a bridge loan would shortly be completed and provision therein would be made for meeting the council's proportion of the cost of erecting this bridge. It was decided that tenders, closing in time for the next meeting, be called for maintenance gravelling, on the Kyeburn-Middlemarch main highway, also that fresh tenders be invited for fencing the Ranfurly aerodrome. __ The clerk was instructed to take the steps necessary to make application to the Local Government Loans Board for its permission to take a poll of the ratepayers upon a proposal to borrow £3875 for the purpose of erecting 14 bridges in various parts of the county. ENGINEER'S REPORT

The county engineer (Mr R. J. Black) submitted the following report:—

The change to spring after seven weeks of hard frosts brought a rapid thaw, particularly on the plain within a ten-mile radius of Ranfurly. Th<? road crust here was frozen for a foot or more. The short June thaw caused a fair soakage movement Under this, and during the last fortnight the surface broke up rapidly in frost heave in several lengths of a chain near changes of grade on roads running with the fall of the land. These points are repaired and marked for deep drainage past the grade changes, particularly where land alongside is irrigated freely. Together with the delay caused in dealing with snow and frost heave, and thaw breaks in back roads and culverts, the maintenance instructions should keep us fully employed until October meeting. Snow clearing for prevention of ice surface was carried out. I regret to report an accident on August 11 to Driver G. Gamble, causing loss of fingers and facial injury through premature cap explosion while blasting a rock corner on the WaipiataKyeburn road. IDABURN RIDING After the severe weather change the following repairs were carried out:— Access gravelling on Athenseum road; surfacing and creek repairs on Nicolson's road. Flood damage repairs on McKnight's road and Woolshed road, the former being surfaced later by means of grader: surfacing in White Sow Valley. Palmerston-Clyde M.H.—Broken frost sections were repaired near Wedderburn and Hills Creek. Idaburn-Omakau M.H.—This highway was graded after gravelling and culvert repairs. A culvert outfall was extended at the back runs road junction. LAUDER RIDING Repairs were carried out on the Becks School-Matakanui and J. Hamilton's roads, also clearance on Vinegar Hill road. On the St. Bathans loop M.H., culverts were repaired on the Becks section. The contractor is again working on Two-mile channel and filling. Palmerston-Clyde M.H.—-This section is in fair order. Attention at water tables, cut offs, and general surfacing only were required. KYEBURN RIDING Gravelling repairs were carried out on W. Mann's section of Preston's road. The grader is working on the Houndburn road. Repairs were carried out at Durward's Kyeburn crossing and the Swinburn crossing on Cemetery road. Culvert repairs were done on the Kyeburn River road and the road drag used in surfacing. Palmerston-Clyde M.H. Short lengths were gravelled on the Kye-burn-Shag section. Proposals were sent on for large culvert renewal and formation at Crutchley's Creek. Sections showing frost heave on Douglas's ridge were repaired. MOUNT IDA RIDING

This riding suffered most of the damage in weather change, and the following urgent repairs were completed to clear all danger points and any chance of blocked road: Repairs to short sections under frost heave were continued on the Ranfurly-Patearoa, Ranfurly-Naseby, Waipiata-Naseby, Waipiata-Gimmerburn, and NasebyKyeburn Diggings roads. Short gravelling spreads were carried out on the Waipiata-Naseby and Waipiata-Rail-way Station roads. A small culvert on the Waipiata-Gimmerburn road was renewed by 2ft diameter, and many old small culverts repaired. The widening and canting of rock corner on Waipiata-Kyeburn road is nearly completed. The grader was used in surfacing the Ranfurly-Waipiata road, and three short access roads to Ranfurly railway. ST. BATHANS RIDING Surfacing repairs were carried out on Brown's Auripo and Huddlestone's roads. The contract gravelling on Becks-Auripo road has one layer completed and part of the second. This was delayed by winter conditions, but will be completed at an early date. The last half-mile of Blackstone Hill Runs road was given attention to make passable, and the Messrs Thurlow Bros, assisted on water tables. The contract carting above passes over this section, and irrigation drainage above the road reserve will be necessary in conjunction with three 12-inch culverts to complete the formation. The grader is being moved to this road. St. Bathans Loop M.H.—Flood damage above Station Creek bridge was repaired, and a short groin placed upstream to centre the flow. Ida Valley Railway M.H.—ldaburn protection at DundaVs woolshed is nearly completed. SERPENTINE Highway patrol only was carried out during the period. HYDE Maintenance gravelling was carried out on Hamilton's road and the Wai-piata-Kokonga road, and the road drag used in surfacing the latter. Surfacing was done on the Tiroiti. Hyde Railway and Hyde Macrae's section. Waipiata-Styx M.H.—Broken sections were gravelled near G. Mathias's and at the Waipiata bridge. Kyeburn-Middlemarch M.H.—This highway was graded over the full length, and weak and broken sections gravelled throughout. The road drags were used extensively in surfacing after thaw GIMMERBURN This riding suffered a good deal in the weather break, and much repair work remains to be done. A threefoot diameter culvert renewal is required on the Naseby-Gimmerburn road for the Eden Creek overflow and other drainage, and definite drainage cuts required to this for some 10 chains. The road drags were used after the thaw on the lateral roads, and on the Maniototo-Wedderburn Hill. A 12inch diameter culvert was placed in Barney's lane, and extensive patchgravelling carried out. Maintenance gravel wa? spread on Sharkey's, Naseby-Gimmerburn and Allison's lane, and repairs done on the Manio-toto-Patearoa road.

On the Palmerston-Clyde highway section several lengths broken in frost heave were given frequent attention PUKETOI RIDING

Maintenance gravelling was carried out on Devon's, Gibson's. Puketoi Runs and Duffy's lane. On the last-named extensive gravelling is required, and this was held over for drier conditions in favour of urgent repairs. A short length of gravel was spread at Patearoa Post Office and culvert work will be completed early. Bridging.—Light piles were driven in the Hogburn in preparation for the renewal of footbridges The contractors for the larger bridges are waiting steeJ shipments, but should commence on the superstructure this month.

Road Plant. —Advice is received from the district engineer to the effect that the Highways Board agrees to the proposed purchase as requested, and will later advise terms.

Employment.—Authority is arranged for seven men on full-time employment scheme as follows: —Two on Hogburn Channel protection, two on Waipiata-Kyeburn and Preston's road corners, two on Ranfurly Domain camp and improvements, and one on Maniototo golf links improvements.