Wallace County Council.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 983, 2 June 1924, Page 4

Wallace County Council.

STATUTORY M KET I NG

The statutory meeting of the above was held on Wednesday, all the Councillors being present. Cr F. J. Linscott, before vacating the chair, returned thanks to the Councillors for their help during the past year. A great deal of work had been done, and lee-way made up, due to the fine summer, (The Engineer gave details that 19 miles of body gravelling had been laid, 155 miles of gravel roads had been maintained, £24,000 had been spent, and at 3lst March, 1924-, the Account was £100 m credit, as compared with 1923). Continuing, t Mr Linscott specially mentioned. the work of the Treasurer for his monthly ; reports, the Engineer and staff for their work, and also a very special word of thanks to the Press for tbeir manner m reporting all matters m connection with the Council. Cr Dyer moved that a vote of thanks be pa. sed to Cr Linscott for his work during tho year. Cr Linscott moved, and Cr Cody seconded that Cr W. J. A. McGregor be elected Chairman for the ensuing year, and Cr McGregor was elected unopposed. Cr McGregor returned thanks for the honour, and trusted he would have the whole-hearted support of the Councillors m carrying out his duties. The usual expenses were voted to the Chairman. ■ _ Cr T. A. Buckingham was re-elected Chairman of the Finance Committee, and m returning thanks for his election, wished to point out that although the Wallace County Account was £100 m credit the Otautau Riding was £1000 m credit. It struck him very forcibly that this Riding must be keeping the ledger account buoyant.

Cr Linscott was appointed a Signing Officer m place of Cr McGregor.

Correspondence. S. J. Ranz, Tuatapere, drew attention to tbe bad state of Kaka road, most oi the water tables being filled up, and he asked Council to supply 2S feet of pipes. If Council supplied him with pipes, he would put m A culvert, and clean the water-tables if he was paid for it. He also asked that a £ for £> grant be applied for, to gravel part of the road.-— Request granted. G. E. Charlton, Tuatapere, requested tbat surfaceman be allowed to lower a culvert on Alton road, opposite Section 74, Alton S.D., Block 111., two feet to allow him outfall. — j Member and Engineer to attend to the matter* Williams and Birss, Fairfax, asked that Engineer inspect Fraser's road befora-they started to eea t timber on it.— Left m haads of Member and Engineer. J. C. Thomson wired tbat urgent representations were being made for expenditure of whole or part of the £ for £ grant for Stevens, and Robertson's road, Pourakino Bush, which was m a bad state*. He hoped Council would avail themselves of this grant. — Left m hands of Member and Engineer. Homer Bros., Heddon Bush re--quested permission to erect a swing gate on road leading to liver, known as Dip Ford. — Left m hands of Member and Engineer to report. John Hanley, surfaceman, Orawia, resigned his position, as' if he was maka trip home. — Accepted.

A. S. Gardner, Lilburn, Clifden, asked that Council secure the £200 grant foi gravelling Lilburn road, and do the work iv the summer. If they would do so he guaranteed to put £40 worth of gravel on this road at the same rate per yard as the contract is done for, free of alt cost to the Council. — Grant to be re-applied for on the .forthcoming estimates.

Waihoaka .Sawmilling Co., Pahia, applied for permission to put m a tramway crossing and cross road-line about li cbains cast of railway line on Brownridge's. road, Waihoaka. — Granted, subject to the usual conditions. E. A. F. Wilding, Ohai, wrote stating that the settlers of Manson's road requested Couucil to insist that all damage dove to the road by carting be made good by the contractor. He asked that one or two members and j tbe Engineer mako an inspection. — Matter had been attended to. F. J. Williams, Engineer to the Ohai Railway Board, submitted plan of proposed Township of Ohai Extension No, 0 for Council's approval and signature.— -Council endorsed Engineer's report and referred plan back with reeotiuut-ndations. A. Laurie, Ohai, asked permission to remove two huts half a mile, along a County road. — Granted under usua conditions. J, and 11. McKenzie,. Mossbank, Ohai, applied for permission to put a roadway into Mr Park's residence at Mossbuuk, Obai.--G ranted.

F. J. Williams, Engineer Ohai Railway Board, notified that a slip had oecuirui m tbe cutting through the ]S T igUtcaps-Birchwood road near the overhead bridge, and the Board had decided to add an additional span of twenty feet to clear theslip, tbe construction of which would be m conformity with the existing work. — Matter to be attended to.

Jolin Coekburn and Sons, Mararoa Station, asked that water tablo be cleaned out and wash-out caused by the recent liood be iilled m on side cutting approach tO Mararoa stock

bridge, and also that a culvert be put m on the road leading to the approach on the Burwood side of the bridge. Tliey stated that certain parts cf tbe Burwood road needed attention and a crossing at Burwood woolshed required a drain to let the water away. — Engineer to have authority to have matters attended to.

F. W. Turkert, Chairman Main Highways Board, forwarded a circular dealing with amounts to be paid by local bodies m respect to the maintenance and repair of roads which come under the Main Highways Scheme. — Recei ved.

J;. S. Dick, Secretary Southland Motor Association, wrote thanking the Council for its assistance m the erection of sign posts throughout the district, and conveyed the appreciation of the Association for the consideration and interest given by the Council to the Association. — Received.

j. S. Dick, Secretary Southland j League, made application to the ! Council for continued support this' year towards the League's funds ancl asked that the same sum (_>so) be contributed this year. — The usual grant of £50 was passed. Cr. W. J . .A. McGregor appointed delegate for the ensuing year. Nevill J. Ray, Clerk Piako County Council, forwarded a circular letter re Foot and Mouth Disease, which it was proposed to forward to the Minister of Agriculture, stressing the danger of this disease being introduced into New Zealand, and asked for Council's cooperation m tho introduction of fresh regulations being gazetted. — Council endorsed the circular. H. D. Atkinson, Secretary New Zealand Counties Association, asked that Council take steps to prohibit the unsightly practice of advertising on hoardings and other similar devices. — Received. Department of Health wrote m regard to a closing order for hut belong ing to the Southland Sawmilling Co. at the cross roads at Tuatapere. — Mr Kerr, Inspector, waited on the Council, and explained the whole position. — Council authorised Clerk to sign and Serve a closing order.

Crs. F» J. Dyer and Cody moved " That this Council object to the road from Mararoa Bridge to the Te Anau Lake being proclaimed a Main Highways under the Highways Act, ' as this is purely a tourist road." — To be forwarded through the District Chairman to Main Highways Board. Ors. Dyer and Cody moved : " That this Council make application to the Public Works Department for some assistance to repair the roads m the County being damaged through the extra traffic daring the Railway Strike.*' — Ail Councillors spoke to this motion, several glaring instances being mentioned. — Motion passed. The Finance Committee's report was adopted, and accounts amounting to __4*_4l 15s 3d Were passed for pay-" ment. Cn Cody, on behalf of the.inspeet*ing Committee, moved that report, re Mr W. Haywood being instructed to bring up fall and culvert, being handrailed to give outfall to Mr W. Ford's property at Ermedale be given effect 1 to. tNUlNfifift's HBPOItT. Although a few works are still carried on, road construction and maintenance work is now finished for this season, which, as far as weather is concerned, has been a record one, aud a large amount of work has been completed. The bridge gang has completed repairs to Mcintosh's Stock I Bridge, the work being almost a renewal of the superstructure. It is now proposed to employ the gang repairing hand-railing, etc.,, on various bridges, and next mouth some more willow planting is to be dope at Fair fax Bridge Protective Works. Regarding Mr J. T. Wilson's application under tbe Land Drainage Act to have deepened the 9 chains of creek straightening channel on Mr D. Dowling's property, Mr Dowling has now completed this work, having taken out extra depth averaging^ 15 inches, for which work he is being paid this meeting, and an account has been sent to Mr Wilson for his share of tbe cost as per arrangement with the Couucil. With reference to Mr A. H. Evan's Drainage Act application for drain cleaning on Mr A. Robson's property (Section 34, Block X, Aparima Hundred), tbe Council has now completed this work, and account for cost of same has been sent to Mr Robson, as per resolution at March Council meeting. ORDER PAPER. Cr. Garden moved that the [ollowing amounts be. authorised for expenditure m Orepuki Riding : j Main 'i^uatapere- Orepuki ro_d, niaiu- | teuance... ... ._. £8i) Keenao'a Creek road, maintenance (to ward e whiob - Meeare (Slither* laud aud Co. are contributhig£lo).., ... .„ &#) £100 Cr. Crawford moved that the following amount be voted tor expenditure m Pourakinc llidiuE* : . Fairfax-Thornbury road maintenance £75 Cr Linscott moved that the following amount bo authorised for expenditure m Waimatuku Riding : Thorn bury-Rive&ton road maintenance ... ... .... "616 Or, James moved that the following amount- be authorised for expenditure m Aparfma Ridjng -. Otautau-jFairfax road, majntm_an,ce £75 Cr. McGregor gave uotjee oi' motion ; '* That the sum of £5.0 be voted for repairs to the Linton cutting aud Morley Bridge, This amount to be oharged to the Power Board and adjusted m their account with the Couucil. Tbe Power Board ty be notified accordingly."