TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 23

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Taien County Council, held on Friday, was attended by Cra J. W. Blair (in the chair), Doherty, Blackie, Freeman, Christie, Gow, and Elliott. engineer's report. The Engineer (Mr B. B. Couston) submitted the following report:— Contracts and Works. —The contract for the delivery of metal on Whare Flat deviation road is completed, the total quantity of metal obtained from the old stone wall being £67 cubic yards. The cartage of metal from depots cut up the flat portion of road in front of Scott's homestead, and I invited tenders for delivery of 80 yards of metal for necessary repairs, and accepted the lowest tender, that of Peter Hamlin, at 2s 9d per yard. The contract for the delivery of 710 tons of metal in the Maungatua and Outran! Ridings is in progress; 352 tons being delivered to date, principally on the Outram-Berwiek and Allanton-Outram roads. The contract for the delivery of 590 tons of metal in the Kaikorai Riding is in progress; 452 tons being delivered to date. There remains only the Kaikorai Valley allocation to complete this contract. The delivery of 540 tons of metal in the Otokia and Outrarn Ridings is not yet commenced. Mosgiel Quarry.—The crusher has worked at Mosgiel quarry during the month with the exception of those days when power was shut off from Waipori. The total quantity of metal delivered since last report is 774 tons. There are at present 100 yards of metal in the depot at the quarry and 200 yards of spalls quarried at the face. After completion of supply for contracts 64 and 65, which will take till the end of September, I propose to shift the crusher to Kaikorai Riding to break the stone for Brinsdon’s road. General. —A number of minor works inferred to me at lust meeting of the cooned have received attention; others have of necessity been deferred on account of the wet weather. The bridge over Dead Bullock Creek, at Strath-Taicn, which was in a dangerous condition, has been renewed so fur as the superstructure is concerned. Boat Harbour Bridge. —With regard to Boat Harbour bridge at Brighton, I have written every week to Mr Clark, M.P., who has pacsed cm the letters to tlie Minister of Marino, but the only reply forthcoming is that the matter will be attended to .ns’ toon as possible. It is now four months since the plans and specifications were forwarded for approval, and the matter :s still held ini pending inquiry by the Marine Department. The assistant engineer is at present boring at Brighton, and on completion of hi.s investigations I understand the council will receive a definite reply, but there is surely something remiss when it takes four months to investigate the conditions affecting navigation of this small creek. As a matter of fact the bridge might easily have l been constructed during the period that the council has been kept waiting for a reply. With regard to the temporary repair of the bridge, I have made an examination, and decided. if the work is held up any longer. to divert heavy traffic through the ford some chains below the road, allowing light traffic only to cross the present bridge, as the oond tion of the timbers is so bad that the bridge is not safe for loads exceeding 30cwt. If the department requires a more expensive bridge than the council can finance, I propose to abandon the present design in concrete and stool and submit plans for a light timber bridge. Floods. —The county was visited by a very heavy downpour of rain last week, and the low lands of both East and V cst Taicri wore flooded and a considerable number of roads were scoured, the hill roads also suffered from washouts and slips. In North Taieri the fords at Whare Flat were destroyed, and the crook left its bed below the schoolhouso and scoured out three chains of road and carried away about half the hank which was constructed seven years ago. There were also some dips on the main North Taieri road, but these are not serious, and the surfacemen w 11 have the debris removed in the course of a week or two. On the Main South road there were several slips more or less serious between Coach and Horses and Henley, and also washouts at several of the culverts. In East Taieri the tower part of the plain was flooded and metal and gravel scoured on the roads, and one or two washouts, but there was no serious damage. In Kaikorai the old slips at Fcrnbill encroached further on to the formation, and on M'Meikan’s road there was another bud slip. There was also a small slip on Blackhead road, and a I>ortion of the wall at Alexander’s on the Brighton road gave way, and the material behind has slipped, and this will have to be made good with rubble. In Otokia Riding the damage was principally confined to the coast side. A number of culverts near Taieri Mouth were damaged, and between Green Island and Brighton the abutments to several of the bridges have been undermined and one of the old slips at Brighton Cliffs has settled further. There are also slips on Jones’s new road and on by-roads at Saddle Hill. A culvert near Finnie’s at Allaiiton was washed out. Except for these matters the damage to the roads was not serious. In the Outrarn and Maungatua Ridings the lower portion of Hie plain was flooded by surface water, and ail the county round Berwick was flooded by the \\ aipori River. The Henley-Berwiek road was badly scoured and the road from Berwick to Mill Creek in places destroyed altogether, and it was found necessary to close the road to traffic between Withers’s upper and lower gates. I am afraid that any money spent in repairing this road will only ho money thrown away, and the road should be deviated round the foot of the hill. At Moodside the ford at Fulton’s Creek was completely gutted out. In Deep Stream and Strath Taieri Ridings the surfacemen have not yet reported to me any damage of con--1 sequence. The township of Middlernarch j was flooded, but with this exception the j roads do not appear to have suffered. All | the surfacemen are now engaged removing 1 slip material and making good the roads damaged by flood. With the exception of

the roads damaged by the Waipori River I ■do not think there is any matter that cannot be attended to by the permanent men with the assistance of a few casuals. In reference to the Boat Harbour Bridge the engineer said he would recommend the council to spend £l5O or £2OO on building a light bridge as a support to the present bridge.-—Cr Christie concurred in this view, and stated that the council should do something for the benefit of the majority of the ratepayers over there, as they had been waiting for a very long time. —It was decided, on the motion of Cr Blackie, seconded by Cr Freeman, that the engineer be instructed to repair the bridge so that it would carry light traffic for the next five years. —In reference to the floods the engineer said that men were now engaged remedying the sbps and washouts. The Berwick-Mill creek road had suffered very badly, and was in a very dangerous condition. As the road was lower than the level of the river ho did not think any money should be spent on repairs, and would advise that it should bo diverted round the foot, of the hill. He recommended that the council should visit the locality and see what should be done. The cost of a new road would probably be £3OO or. £4OO. —It was decided that a committee of the whole council should be set up to visit the road on August 30.—1 t was deckled to appoint additional permanent surfacemen for the Deep Stream and Otokia ridings.—The engineer also asked for authority'to appoint six temporary men to overhaul the roads in the Slrath-Taieri dstrict, and this was granted.—The report was then adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. John Gamble and C. Knudson, of Wyllio’s Crossing, wrote requesting the council to put a flood box on the Gl-adfield road at its Junction with the Mill Creek. —Left to Cr Blackie and the engineer. The clerk of the Green Island Borough Council wrote in re quarry reserve. The Green Island Council agreed to accept the control of the quarry on condition that it supply metal to the'Taieri County. Council at the quarry at market rates, providing that the Green Island Borough Council had the metal on hand when wanted by the Taieri County, Council.—Referred to Cr Freeman for further consideration. W. Thomson, Dunedin, wrote applying for uermission to make a roadway into section' No. 17, Seaview Township, Brighton.— Granted on the usual conditions. J. Thornlcy, Brighton, wrote asking for an outlet for water which formed a lake on the road in front of his property in wet weather; also asking for e : ght loads of "•ravel to renew the road which had been damaged, by the water. —Cr Christie to report at next meeting. The clerk of the Western Taieri Drainage Board wrote giving not : ce of the intention of tho board to carry out the following works ; —(1) To lower culvert across Allan-ton-Outram road, opposite section 4 of block 111, Maungutua- (2) Lower culvert across Allanton-Momona road, opposite boundary between river sections 9 and 10, Taieri. (3) Take out existing culvert across road running between sections 51 and 52, block 111, Maungatua, and put in larger culvert across road between sections 50 and 51, and put in larger culvert at lower level. (5) Erect outlet box on south side of road bridge over creek entering Lee Creek, opposite section 38, irregular block, Taieri.— Received. John Marshall, of Woodsidc, wrote complaining of the bad state of the road leading to his place, and attributing the cause to tho height of the hedges on both sides. —Hedges to be trimmed to a reasonable height Mrs E. Swan, Micldlemarch, wrote complaining of the amount of water that flooded her property in tho event of rain, and asking the'council to remedy the matter. —To bo attended to. W. H. Symons, Hindon, wrote offering to make a track from Sweetwater Creek up to bis place for tho sum of £B. Mr M'Kiulay badly wanted the work done. Engineer to report. Alexander Horn, E. W. Mcesent, F. W. Wise, D. ME. Fisher, Thomas M'Clintock, representing a majority of the shopkeepers in Strath-Taieri Riding, wrote requesting, under section 25 of tho Shop and Offices’ Act, to have shops in the district closed as under: —Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. ; and Saturdays, 10 p.m.—Clerk to attend to the matter.

R. N. Elliott, Micldlemarch, wrote asking that some repairs should be effected to the road bewcen his place and Mount Stoker, as it was in a very dangerous condition. — To be attended to.

J. Lawson, Pukerangi. and E. W. Ilocken wrote asking why the rates had been raised. They saw no reason for it, as tho roads wore neglected in their localities. —Received. The Public Works Department, Wellington, wrote asking if the council was agreeable- to the maintenance o L the Taieri Mouth bridge being adjusted—two-thirds to tlie Bruce County and one-third to Taieri County.—J {oco i vod.

W. G. Reid, Henley, wrote stating that the recent heavy rain had caused a largo slip, which was blocking tho water. lie asked that a culvert, with a valve, through tho road, should be put in opposite nis cattle yards, and efferent to assist with labour. —Request to bo granted. The Manager of Gladbrook Station wrote thanking the council for blinding tho metal written about some time ago. He regretted that the surfaceman had been taken off the road there, and that in consequence it was deteriorating rapidly. He detailed tho worst parts, and pointed out that the ford at the Drughboy wanted attention; the stones had been put in too level, on the low side instead of concave, and in consequence tho water had a tendency to wash out at the side's. It was also washing away (lie east side of the road, and forming an island in the middle. —To ho attended to.

H. P. Wilson, Otokia, wrote complaining that the Taukatau road was almost impasable, and asking tho council to do something in the matter. —Road to be remedied as soon as possible.

P. and D. Ford wrote stating that the pipes across the road from their property to Doull’s wore much too small for the amount of drainage, and they also required lowering.—Witness advised to apply to the Drainage Board. James Secular (Pukerangi) wrote asking the council to expend soma of the rates collected in the 13a re wood district on the roods in the riding. The track from his place to the sieiing was in a very bad state, while the Barowood road could also be vastly improved. The Fiat Stream culvert required attention, and in view of the increase in the rates the writer asked that something should be done.—-Tenders to be called for the road in September* if the writer would bear a proportion of. the cost between -the

Government grant end the price submitted by the contractor. A. M. Sidey wrote stating that he proposed taking the necessary steps to have all that portion of Mrs John Sidey’s property that was not at present subdivided excluded from the city of Dunedin, and included in tile county of Taieri. Before doing so, however, he wished to ascertain whether the proposed addition would be acceptable to the county. — Cr Freeman to report to next meeting. Mr Sidey further wrote forwarding the plan and specification of works to he carried cut iu connection with the formation of a new rood front Emerson street to Coretorphinc road.—Plans approved. W. E. M’Lean (secretary of the Taieri Agricultural Society) wrote stating that the following resoluFon had been carried at the last meeting of his committee: —“ That this committee recommends the Taieri County Council to resume collecting small birds’ eggs and heads, and that the society donate three prizes to the persons collecting the largest number.” The writer stated that a class had been included in the next show schedule for this purpose, and asked that the matter bo considered by the council. — The Chairman stated that the meeting of the society was very strongly of opinion that the council should resume the cojlection of birds’ heads and eggs.—Cr Freeman expressed the opinion that it would lie better for the society to buy a bird-net for each district. He believed the matter should be placed in the hands of the Agricultural Department as that would ensure, effective treatment of the pest.—lt was decided that birds’ eggs and brads should bo collected at Id per dozen. GENERAL. The Finance Committee reported that accounts amounting to £783 9s had been passed for payment. The receipts for the past four weeks had nmounted to £1372 2s 10». and the bank book showed a debit balance of £5296 16s Bd.—Adopted. The Electric Power Committee reported that an offer bad been received from the Dunedin City Corporation of the remaining one-fifth of the power generated by the third unit, at Waipori. Persons desirous of haviiit. power or light installed at their premises were requested to made application before September 5. —Adopted.