WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 13

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council, held on July 22, was attended by Crs Orbed (in the chair), M'Gill, Kilpatrick, Laley, Foote. inspector’s report. The Inspector submitted the following reports on the progress of works iii t.ho various ridings:— Hawksbury Riding.—The surfacing on Trotter’s Crock road has been completed, and the surfacing and gravelling on Slaughterhouse road has been done. Maxwell’s road has been surfaced from the ra;l way crossing to the top of Maxwell s Hill. The culvert covers for M’Ailum’s road are at Tumai Railway Station, and will be pu C on as soon as the weather permits. The pipes for the Wairanga siding arc on the ground, and will bo put in during the month. The culvert covers on the Flag Swamp road show signs of decay and require renewing. There is also a willow growing at the lower end of this culvert which requires removing as it hinders the flow of the water. —Approved. Merton Riding.—The footpath at \Varrington lias been finished, and 26 yards of metal broken for Pryde’s road. This is ready to be put on, but it will require to bo done in the spring as the road is too soft at present. The spauls on this road have been broken, and a commencement has been made to put the protective planks along the embankment on the Merton Railway Station road. The metal contract on Donald’s road is making fair progress, and 80 yards of stone have been put on the road, and 60 yards of metal have been broken in the quarry ready to put on when the road is in a fit state to receive it. Povteous load has been formed and the scrub cut on Padget’s road. —Approved. North-East Valley Riding.—The water tables on Hall road have been cleaned out and the Reservoir road fffHaccd. The Main road from Sawyers’ Bay to Port Chalmers has boon repaired, and ashes will bo put on the footpaths as they are procurable. Malison’s fonl has been repaired, and the handrail on the footbridge at this ford has been repaired. The formation contract on Holmes’s Bush road is making fair progress. —Approved. Blueskin Riding.—The metal contract on M'Korror’s road lias been inspected by the Government engineer and passed as satisfactory. Owing to the soft state of the formation at the top end of the Quarry road the metalling of it had to he put off at present until the weather is more suitable. The handrail on Mitchell’s bridge has been repaired, and a portion of the decking renewed. Two groins hive been put in above the bridge, and will be a means of protection to the road. A commencement lias been made to put the stone on Heyward’s Point road. The V\ aitati-\\ akari road is rutted in several places, and requires 100 yards of maintenance metal to put it in order, at an estimated cost of £37 10s. The road on the flat from the. junction of roads at Downs to Wothcrstoncs also requires 70 yards of metal, at an estimated cost of £24 10s. The road li om AV etherstone’s to Stewart’s gate is in a bad state and requires a coat of eight yards of metal over six chains, at an estimated cost of £l6 16s. —Cr Kilpatrick stated that the latter part of this report optied up tho whole question of heavy tiaftic. lie had tried to come to some an angement with Mr Sime. and also with the North-East Valley, but had not boon able to do so. Cr Foote said that if public opinion in Waitati had not been against the council making a charge on Mr Sine they would have done so, but if he was going to Ite Jet off the council would have to pay it. Ho would suggest that the road on tho flat from the junction of the roads at Downs to Wcther.-tone'.s should be attended to. —Cr Kilpatrick raid he would ofler no objection to the reads being repaired if those responsible for tho heavy traffic would pay an equitable proportion of the cost.— It was finally decided to eall for tenders for this portion of the work, and also that tho chairman and the members for the riding (Crs Foote and Kilpatrick) should visit to Waitati-Wakari toad and report at the next meeting of the council as to its general condition. It was also decided that they should interview Mr Si mo and ascertain what he was' prepared to do to make good the damages he had caused by extraordinary traffic from his .sawmill.—The report was then adopted. (DHRESI'OXDF.XCE. The Public Works Department wrote giving the council authority for the expenditure of votes as follow Murdering Beach road, £SO; Wilson's road (£1 for £1), £SO; Karitane protective road, £SO; Island road (£1 for £1). £SO; Brightling road (£1 for £!),’ £SO; Waikouaiti Native reserve, from rail-' wav crossing to section 45. £3oo.—Received. The Department of Agriculture wrote forwarding slaughterhouse licenses for Messrs 11. Carson, Chesncy Bros., J. O’Connei!, A. W. Douglas. R. Holland, and G. J. Oarl’ing.—Received. 11. Macandrew, district railway engineer, wrote stating that it had been found that the drain pipes at the entrance to tho Waimnga station were somewhat small, and it had. therefore, been decided to replace them bv 9in pipes.—Received. J. R. Renton, inspector of noxious weeds, wrote drawing the council’s attention to the fact that sweetbriar. blackberry, ragwort. and Californian thistle were growing on the foreshore between Waikouaiti and Port Chalmers, and asking that the matter receive attention.—The Chairman expressed the opinion that tho council was not liable

for weeds growing on the foreshore, and it was decided to refer tho writer to the Marine Department. J. L. Stewart Wright, acting secretary of the Dunedin Expansion League, wrote with reference to the putting of the Leith Valley-Waitati road in repair. His league had written to Parliament asking for a grant, and felt that an application from tho council would lend weight to tho request. The report forwarded by Mr M'Ourdie (city engineer) stated that the cost of putting tho road in good order for motors would be £735 15s, and recommended that the Government should be asked for £IO6O. — Cr Kilpatrick said the council was very much interested in that road, and he would move that the league’s request for the grant be supported.-—Cr Laloy seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.—The Chairman said he would interview Messrs Clark and Lee, M.P.e, when in Wellington. J. G. Williamson (Nenthorn) wrote asking for permission to take some rotten rock from a road cutting near his property.— Granted, subject to approval of inspector. A. M’Dougull, secretary of the Otago Motor Club, wrote asking tho council to have the Main road placed in better order between the Junction School and Waitati, and offering a contribution of £5 towards tho work.—lnspector to report on cost of putting the road in order from tho southern boundary of tho county to Evansdale, after which the Motor Club will bo asked what portion of expenditure it will boar. J. 11. Rochfort and 27 other ratepayers wrote directing the council’s attention to the bad condition of the road leading from tho Main road to tho Evansdalo railway station. They asked that it be repaired as soon as possible, for it was a source of great inconvenience in its present condition. —lt is was decided to have the matter attended to at once. A circular letter was received from the To Awamutu Chamber of Commerce with regard to level crossings.—The Chairman expressed the opinion that the council should heartily support the resolutions, especially the portion relating to a signalling or blocking device, and a motion to this effect was carried unanimously. Mr B. 13. Couston, County Engineer, wrote forwarding the plan required' for preliminary purposes in connection with tho proposed deviation of the Murdering Bench road. —Tho Chairman remarked that the amount of land requiring to be closed was 2 acres 3 roods 21 polos, and the amount required from Mr Fitzgerald was 2 acres 1 rood 21 poles, tho difference being only about half an acre.—The plan was approved and it was decided to comply with the necessary formalities. GENERAL. Tho Finance Committee reported that accounts amounting to £441 16s 6d had been passed far payment. Cr Kilpatrick referred to the matter of valuation, and expressed the opinion that this should lie kept up to elate, as (he council was not getting its full revenue from that source. His remarks referred especially to the Merton Hiding, where a number of valuable new buildings had recently been erected.—Tho Chairman explained that tiic Valuation Department was extremely busy, and it would be rather difficult, to remedy the matter. He would, however, make represent at ions to tho Valuation Department when in Wellington. The Clerk reported that the rates in the various ridings had increased as follows during the year 1912-1913: North-East Valley, from £265 13s 2d to £274 18s 9d ; Blueskin, from £557 14s to £559 15s Id; M rton, from £617 8s 6d to £646 11s 2d ; Hawksbury. from £835 12s to £BB3 6s lOd; - making a total increase of ££B 4s 2d. The Chairman mentioned that a large number of individuals and public bodies had been cited for a dispute with the Otago General Labourers’ Union, to lie heard before the Conciliation Council on Saturday, July 26. He then proceeded to read the conditions of wages and labour that had Iteen drawn up by the union.—lt was decided to leave the matter of arranging for the council’s representation at the dispute in the hands of Cr Kilpatrick. On tho motion of Cr M’Gill, it was decided to erect on the new bridge at Evansdalo a tablet containing the date of its erection and the names of Mr Lee. M.P., the engineer, tho contractor, and the inspector.