TUAPEKA COUNTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24606, 14 May 1941, Page 12

TUAPEKA COUNTY

THE YEAR'S ACTIVITIES

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT The operations of the Tuapeka County Council during the past year are surveyed in the annual report of the chairman (Mr R. S. Thompson). The report Commencing with a credit balance of £5328 in the County Fund and £ISOO in the bridges and plant renewal account, the year concluded with credit balances of £4561 and £2024 respectively. Although expenditure exceeded receipts in the two accounts by a total of £266. I wish to point out that £365 was donated to patriotic appeals, while stock not issued to works amounted to £4ll, against £137 the previous vear. The council is in the fortunate position of having no public j debt, whilst its assets actually total £13,335. The total amount collected in rates during the year was £11,019, and the actual expenditure on roads and bridges within the county amounted to £15,412. It is gratifying to be able to report that a sum greater than the amount collected in rates was spent on roads and bridges. The hospital levy, administration expenses, etc., were all paid for out of general receipts, licences, subsidies, etc. Although faced with ever-increasing costs, it was found possible to finance the council's operations on the same rates levied the previous year, viz., five ridings at Id in the £ and three ridings at lQd in the £. To-day, the roads and bridges throughout the county are in splendid order, consequently the council finds itself in an excellent position to meet the difficult times ahead. Uoad Improvements The total mileage of roads under the jurisdiction of the council is 1006, exclusive of 60 miles of State highway. There are 48 bridges with spans of over 20 feet with a total length of 682 feet. The major gravelling works carried out during the year were:—Read's-Rowlatt's road, 959 cubic yards; Cockleshell road, 1040 cubic yards; Old Switzers road, 386 cubic yards; Beaumont Station road, 600 cubic yards; Hunter's road, 891 cubic yards; Winter's (Haugh) road, 160 cubic yards; Harris's Flat road, 500 cubic yards; Matheson's road, 193 cubic yards; Gabriel's Gully road, 333 cubic yards; Parkhill road. 1035 cubic yards; Woods-Martin's road, 200 cubic yards; Heriot-Roxburgh road, 702 cubic yards; Rae's Junction-McNab main highway, 363 cubic yards; Roxburgh-Mil-ler's Flat main highway, 300 cubic yards: Willowbank-Matheson's main highway, 480 cubic yards; Roxburgh-Railway Station main highway, 600 cubic yards; LawrenceBalclutha main highway, 1260 cubic yards. Owing to the Government reducing the amount of money available for Government grants, several of the council's proposals had to be held in abeyance. Herbert's bridge (reinforced concrete), situated on Parkhill road, was erected at a total cost of £670, and the Fruidburn bridge (also reinforced concrete), costing £BSO. was completed. The following works are now in hand: — One hundred and five chains of road formation and supply and delivery of 2904 cubic yards of gravel for Chinaman Flat road; 240 cubic yards of screened gravel for the Rae's Junction-McNab main highway; 374 cubic yards of gravel for Knobbies road; 275 cubic yards of gravel for the Lee Flat-Black Rock Runs road; and 300 cubic yards for the Heriot-Rox-burgh road. Tenders have been called for the construction of a concrete ford on Haughs (Mill) road. • The council's high standard of road maintenance has been upheld. The Diesel grader operated 219 days, the petrol grader for 126 days, the Leyland lorry for 89 days, and the screening and crushing plant for 50 days during the year. Services Appreciated The council's thanks are due to Cr Bennetts for the close attention he' has given throughout the year to his duties as the council's representative on the District Highways Council. It gives me great pleasure to extend my thanks to the county clerk, Mr R. F. Batclrelor, and his staff for the willing and able assistance given to me as chairman during the past 12 months. The council is indeed fortunate in having such an efficient and capable business man as its chief executive officer. During the year the county engineer, Mr E. G. Finlayson, was granted leave of absence for the duration, to enable him to join the military forces. Mr Finlayson was granted a commission, and is now on active service overseas. Mr Frank Allen was appointed county inspector for the duration, and is carrying out his duties in a most efficient manner. Mr Fletcher Roberts is the council's consulting engineer. The healthy state of the council s finances must be particularly pleasing to Cr Revie, who has so ably held the position of chairman of the council's Finance Committee for several years. I also wish to thank members of the council for their assistance and co-operation during my term as chairman. It is indeed a pleasuie to be associated with councillors who take such a keen interest in the administration of their particular ridings and the county in general. > It is with deep regret that the council learns that continued ill-health prevents Cr Duncan McLennan from seeking reelection. Cr McLennan has served the Tuapeka County ratepayers well and faithfully for the past 27 years, and his genial presence and sound judgment will be'greatly missed.