CLUTHA COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24334, 26 June 1940, Page 5

CLUTHA COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council was held at Balclutha yesterday. Cr W. S. Thomson presided. i, Finance Receipts amounted to £1582 15s 3d and expenditure to £2828 16s 3d. The bank debit balance was ’942 16s 9d. Highway Estimates The clerk (Mr A. K. Baxter) reported that since the council had made the allocations for highway estimates, advice had been received that reductions ,of 50 per cent! must be made. on last year’s expenditure. thus placing the council in a difficult position, as a fair amount of expenditure had been incurred. Maintenance problems must, therefore, be severely reviewed. The probability of the reduction of Government grants had also to be faced.—lt was decided to reduce the former allocation by 30 per cent., and to interview the Highways Board with a view to Obtaining-some further assistance. • Correspondence Mr J. F. Berney, Hina Hina, wrote asking the council to improve the drainage from his property!—The work is to be done •: immediately. The 1 - district employment officer wrote offering an extension Of the subsidy on scheme 13 as follows: £4 per man per w.eek'for three married men on the roads around Tahakopa for 13 weeks, and £2 7s 6d per men per week for two men on roads around Owaka.—Approved. The . Woodlands Sawmilling Company, Owaka, wrote asking permission to lay a tramcrossing over a roadway.— Granted.' • ' A letter was received from the Southland County Council advising that the council was in agreement with the Clutha Council in declining the Highways Board’s proposal in connection with the TahakopaWyndham road.—Received. The secretary,. Clutha Women’s Rest House, wrote asking for a donation to the funds.—A donation of £7 was made.

Residents of Rosebank, Balclutha, wrote petitioning that the 30-mile speed limit area should be extended to the Kakapuaka corner.—This petition was supported by the Automobile Association (Otago).—The council approved the petition. The secretary, Te Houka Farmers' Union, wrote asking that repairs be carried out on the Clifton road.—The matter is being attended to. Mr G E. Dewar (Wairuna) wrote asking for repairs to the road to his property.—To be attended to. The secretary. South Otago District Patriotic Council, wrote asking that efforts be made to make a more effective canvass.—Received. Mr D. Finlayson (Lochlndorb) wrote asking that the Puerua Valley road be repaired.—Left to the member for the riding. Gravel Dragline After a discussion in committee, it was decided that, owing to the increased cost of operation, including the new royalty on . gravel, tenders be called for the sale of the gravel dragline, either on the spot or for removal, and to call tenders for the purchase of a portable compressor hammer crushing and screening plant, together with a hand drill and compressor. General The following applications for slaughter house licences were approved:—E. S. Moyle (Walpahi), L. J. Love (Papatowai). H. A. Brough (Owaka). S. V. Turnbull (Owaka). The county ranger (Mr V/. N. Taylor) reported that he had found seven cattle and two horses wandering on the roads. Mr Harris emphasised the necessity for the strictest economy, in the use of petrol and urged that the council, as a local bodv, should set an example. He teit that further restrictions would yet be imposed. There was too much overlapping between goods services, and particularly in bus services. On his suggestion, a motion was passed urging that all operators for the county should observe the strictest economy.