WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 13

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held on Saturday, at Palmerston; present —Crs R. Cameron, (chairman), T. Pelbrow, G. Clark, A. M’Lennan, H. Bay ley, H. O’Neill, J. O’Connell, and A Ross. EF.POBTS. The County Ranger reported that since the last meeting he had impounded 11 head of cattle and five horses. —The report was adopted. The Engineer submitted the following repart on the works in the various ridings : Blue Mountain Riding.—The contract for the supply and delivery of gravel to Main Dunback road has been satisfactorily completed and taken over by the council; also the contract for the supply and delivery of gravel to Pagan’s road. The traffic bridge on the eastern boundary road of the borough has been re-decked and generally strengthened throughout. Many chains of maintenance work have been carried out by the council’s team on the Main Dunback road, and a groin has been constructed in Pilbrow Creek, and protective works have been carried out to the Grange crossing, to prevent any further encroaching taking place. Meadowbank Riding.—The contract for rock cutting to Taieri Peak road has been signed and the work commenced. Repairs are being effected to the Alexandra road, and should be completed in a few days. Bushey Riding.—An examination has been made of the road from Wright’s Hill to the borough boundary, and notes were taken of the cost of constructing a largo culvert, and the supply and delivery of gravel. The amount of gravel required would bo 300 cubic yards, at a probable cost of 2s 5d per yard, making the cost for gravel £33 15s, and the cast of a culvert large enough to carry all storm-water would bo £7. The narrow embankment on the north end of the Bushey Hill road should be widened to a width of 18 feet, and the important maintenance work in close proximity should be carried out at an early date.

Goodwood Riding.—Concrete culverts have been constructed opposite Wright’s and Sutherland’s homesteads, which in time of heavy rains will prevent gutterings taking place in the roadside. The maintenance work to Sutherland’s road, which was discontinuncd owing to recent wet weather, will be again undertaken at an early date. The back road to Preston’s and Village Settlement roads had received general attention. Punback Riding.—As the road in the Dunback Township was in a rather bad state of repair, and as the gravel contractors wore about to leave the locality, it was thought advisable to put out an extra 100 yards of gravel to the portion of road already referred to. This, however, has been satisfactorily completed at a cost of 2s 9d per cubic yard, and has been taken over by the council. Willcock’s road has been repaired with gravel, a concrete culvert has been eonstrueted opposite Bowker’s residence, and the gravel on Sweetwater Creek road has been raked in.

Green Valley Riding.—This riding is in very fair order, but, owing to the increased motor traffic through to the Lakes, the council will be compelled to put on a team to carry out extra formation work from Shingly Creek to Pigroot. This work will occupy a team for at least three months. It should be commenced immediately the winter is over. Macrae’s Riding.—The contract for the supply and delivery of metal on the road opposite Mrs Tait’s residence has been satisfactorily completed and taken over by the council. The clay roads throughout are somewhat rough owing to the heavy carting to the mines; but nothing much could be done to improve them at this particular time of the year, with the exception of turning water off where possible. Culverts have been repaired on Arthur’s and Trotter’s roads, and the riding throughout has received general attention. The report was adopted.

C'r Bayley moved that the engineer be instructed to put on a team to do necessary formation work on Shingly Creek road. He pointed out that the council would have to maintain this road. The gravelling cost 18s per yard, delivered on the road, some years ago. If they did not get the needed work done at once, lie considered they would be adopting a “penny wise and pound foolish’’ policy.—Cr Clark seconded the motion.—Cr McLennan said it would be a big undertaking, and the riding was heavy in debt. He thought it high time they went into this matter and not go in for works which their finances would not jneet. He was opposed to the wo.rk being done.—The Engineer said that to do the work properly it would cost £75. Cr Bayley, in reply, said that this was practically the only work to be

put through, as the, other portions of the riding were in very fair order. If they delayed tho carrying out of this work it would prove more costly when they did put it in hand. The council could not abandon that road. He was watching the interests of the ratepayers, and he considered it would be an injustice to them if the road was neglected.—The motion was carried. In accordance with a resolution passed at the last meeting of the council, the Chairman and Cr Rendall reported on tho condition of the water-tables on the Alain road from Dunback to Waihemo. The Chairman said it was necessary that the water-tables should bo cleaned out, and, in his opinion, this would occupy a team for a week. In some places water had been running over the centre of the road, and unless this was prevented it would be an expensive matter to the riding.— Cr Rendall expressed the opinion that the expenditure of £lO would make all the difference in the world to the water-tables. The roads were in fair order. These reports were approved. CORRESPONDENCE. John MTvenzie wrote applying to have the Deep Hill road in the Green Valley Riding repaired and made suitable for wheel traffic. He pointed put that this road had been neglected for years. This matter was referred to the engineer for a report, to bo submitted to the next meeting. A MOTION RESCINDED. In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Bayley moved—“ That the motion passed at the last meeting of the council dispensing with the county team be rescinded.” He said that on the statements made at the council table it was necessary to have a team engaged. There was three months’ work authorised on the Pigroot road to be put through as soon as possible, and a team was required for about four months on the Dunback road. Air Alorrison, their present teamster, had gone to considerable expense to equip a team on the understanding that his was a permanent engagement, and it would be a distinct hardship upon him if he were dismissed two months after he had made all his arrangements. Cr O’Connell seconded the motion, and pointed but that the object in having a permanent team was in order that when work was required to be done in the backblocks—where it was not possible to get a team—the council could send its own team. It had experienced considerable difficulty in Alacraes Riding in getting work done, owing to being unable to get a team, and on one occasion it had to wait five or six months for a team. It was in order to overcome this difficulty that a team had been engaged permanently. There was plenty of work for the team to do. The Engineer enumerated the various works which urgently needed attention. He said he had endeavoured to study the ratepayers’ interests, and he intended doing eo in the future. The Chairman said it appeared to him that the team was necessary. He held, however, that when there was no work for the team it should be put off. The motion was carried, by six votes to three, Civs APLennan, Rindall, and Roes voting against it. AN UNDIVIDED COUNTY. Cr Pilbrow moved, in accordance with notice of motion—“ That all roads within the county be constituted main roads, and that the cost of the upkeep of same be borne out of the county' funds.”—The county solicitor was called in, in cor.ncvtion with this matter, and he gave it as his opinion that it would not be legal for the council to act as suggested by Cr Pilbrow. —The motion was therefore withdrawn. GENERAL. A general rate of Id in tho •£ was struck over the Blue Alountain, Bushev, Goodwood, Aleadowbank. Dunback, and Green Valley ridings, and a resolution that a rate of Jd in the pound be struck over Alacraes Riding was rejected. Cr APLennan gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that a general rate of Id in the £ be struck over this riding. The tender of Air APCabe was accepted fur the construction of a rock and day cutting on the Taieri Peak road, the price being £B3 19s lid. The engineer was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of gravelling the worst part of the Taieri Peak road between Cummings's and Pirie Bros’ properties. It was decided that the engineer and Cr APLennan inspect Ritchie’s road and that the necessary repairs be effected, the cost not to exceed £lO. Accounts amounting to £415 6s fkl were passed for payment. In reply to a question by Cr Ross as to who carted the material for the street bridge recently erected in Green ’.’alley Riding the Engineer state that some difficulty .had been experienced in getting a team to cart it, and that eventually the work was done by a Air APLeod.