WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 30

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

- MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held at Palmerston on Saturday, and was attended by Crs O’Neill (chairman), O’Connell, Sheat, Smith, Ross, Ritchie, Chapman, and M’Cabe.' INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector (Mr M’William) submitted the following report: — Busny Riding. General surfacing, grading in gravel, attention to culverts, outlets and inlets, and work, mainly on highway nad been carried out. A 6-inch culvert was required across the road in front of J. M'Kenzie’s gate, and another at the end of Chisholm’s road required lifting. Goodwood Riding.—Various roads, in places, had been done, and attention given to culvert inlets and outlets. The team would Le in the riding at the beginning of the week.

Meadowbank Riding.—Grading and filling in pot holes had been done. A few loads of maintenance gravel were required for filling in pot holes. Blue Mountain Riding.—General surfacing and grading had been carried out on Back road, and replacing planks at M’Donald’s crossing done. Kelly’s road and the road to the bridge had been graded. Patching with gravel had been done on Terrace and Guffie’s, and other roads had boon done, and attention had been given to crossings. Dunback Riding.—General surfacing work on the Dunback-Macrae’s road, and raking in gravel, and attending to water taules had been carried out. Ruts had been filled in on the road to Golden Bar. A 9-inch pipe was required for this road. The Stoneburn road had been surfaced.

Green Valley Riding.—Grading and clearing of water tables had been done at M’Bride’s Hill. The road out to Mount Misery bad been inspected. About 10 days’ work was required past the Waihemo boundary, and Waitaki wanted the council to do the work. About a fortnight’s w<_ k was required on the Waihemo portion of the road. Macrae’s Riding.—Surface work and

breaking and blinding rock, had been done. Filling in ruts and chopping off tussocks had been carried out at Bodden’s road. A culvert at Clarke’s road had been repaired. He was arranging for some stone from Berry’s to put on the road past the Cemetery and near Mrs. Elstone’s The report was aproved, and it was decided that the works mentioned should be carried out. CORRESPONDENCE. The Main Highways Council wrote asking what the expenditure had been on the Pal-merston-Queenstown main highway on the section from Shag River to the southern boundary of block XIV, Swinburn S.D. for tho period October 1, 1926, to March 31 192 i. This was the section on which the council had been granted a subsidy of £2 for £1 for maintenance.—The clerk reported that a reply to this had been sent that in all £246 had been expended, and that the remaining two miles were nearly completed. The Distj ict Engineer (Dunedin) wrote that plans for the Uiag River bridgeSwit- "back road had been forwarded to the head office for approval.—Received. The Secretary of the Palmerston Hospital Committee vrote asking the council to appoint a representative for the committee.—Cr Ross was appointed.

The South Island Motor Union wrote at length as to the recent conference between the Highways Board, county council representatives, and representatives of the union, and stated that the union’s one desire was t help the counties in grappling with the transport problem. The union was striving for the right to have a representative at the board table, and help, as far as possiole, in all highway matters. —Received.

The Otago Hospital Board wrote reminding the council that the first payment of this year’s levy wa due on June 14. — It was decided that a cheque should be forwarded. The Waikouaiti County Council wrote drawing attention to the matter of the maintenance of the boundary road between the two counties. Waihemo had in the past contributed one-fourth and Waikouaiti three-fourths. The road was more used by Waihemo ratepayers than by the people of Waikouaiti, and it was suggested that the contribution of the two bodies should be equal. The Waikouaiti Council asked if the Waihemo Council was prepared to contribute on this basis.—lt was agreed to pay half cost of maintenance.—lt was further resolved that the Waihemo Council object to the Waikouaiti Council reconstructin the Waihemo portion of this road. • The Bruce County Council wrote in connection with the Main Highways Board, and invited suggestions from Waihemo. The Bruce Council suggested a conference between motorists and county councils might be held twice a year.—The letter was received and approved. The Waikouaiti County Council intimated that it had carried a resolution that Waikouaiti and Waihemo be united in order to form one county.—The Chairman said it was the same application and

on the same lines as they had received last year. The letter was received, and it was decided that the council was not in favour of amalgamation. GENERAL.

It was resolved that the council unite with the Borough Council in appointing a joint ranger, on the condition that the Borough Council increase the salary to £3O and installed a telephone, the County Council to call for applications. Accounts amounting to £642 were passed for payment.