TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 61

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. ’fhe monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council was held at Mosgiel on Friday. Cr Blair (chairman) presided, and Crs C. Findlay, Walter Blackie, D. MTntosh, R. A. Kempshell, and F. Doherty were present. REPORTS. The Finance Committee reported having examined the month’s accounts and recommended that these be paid to the amount of £1356 19s 4d. The bank book showed a debit balance of £3259 6s lid.—The report was adopted. The Inspector of Works reported for the month ended July 15, as follows: — East Taieri Riding.—Under Marshall’s contract the running out of the maintenance gravel on Ricearton and Dukes roads has been completed, also 267 yards of gravel from the S.ilverstream has been run out to the Silverside dump. The scooping of the gravel from the Silver-stream through Kirkland’s and Douglas’s property has also been completed, as has the gravelling of the section of the Owhiro-Gladfield road from Sil verstream to Mill Creek. On the Main Highway No. 1 85 yards of metal has been run out on the section from Owhiro to Saddle Hill. On Main Highway No. 2, 343 yards of maintenance gravel from Milner’s pit was run out on the section from Gordon road bridge to Wyllie’s Crossing. Als o 225 yards of river gravel has been run out on the section from Muirs to West Taieri bridge. North Taieri Riding.—Eighty-nine yards of maintenance gravel from Milner’s pit has been run out on the following roads — Craig’s, Halfway Bush to Muirs, and the Mossburn footpaths. The following roads have been surfaced : —Gladstone, Halfway Bush, and M’Dowall’s. The concrete work at Leishman’s ford has been completed. I recommend that this work be allowed to harden for at least three weeks nefoie opening it for traffic. Kaikorai Riding.— General surface has been carried out on the following roads: —Green Island to Kaikorai Lagoon bridge, Kirklands. The Main Highway has been surfaced from Saddle Hill to Green Island. Otokia Riding.—The following roads have been surfaced:—Coal road, Coach and Horses to Saddle Hili. Christie’s Gully. Allanton to Brighton, Allanton streets, and Green Island to Taieri Mouth. "Under M’Coll’s contract the gravel has been graded in with the small grader from Kaikorai Lagoon bridge to Taieri Mouth. The Main Highway No. 1 has been surfaced from Allanton to Otokia Outram Riding.—General surface work lias been carried out on tiie following roads: — D. Millar s, M'Leod s, Kirk’s, and Allanton to Berwick: A box culvert at Moynihan’s on the Allanton to Berwick road, which was broken down, has been replaced by a 33ft 9in pipe culvprt. A pipe crossing has been put in at Lawson’s on the usual terms, Mr Lawson providing the pipes and assisting with the work. The water-tables on the Main Highway have bed cleaned from Outram io West Taieri Church. Maungatua Riding: The following roads have been surfaced:—Allanton to Berwick, Otokia, Maungatua. Woodside township, Berwick towAship. Two box culverts that were broken down on the Outram to Berwick road have been replaced with 33ft 9in pipes. On the hill the Main Highway has been surfaced from Wliare Creek to Lee Stream. Deep Stream Riding.—The following roads have been surfaced: —Outram to Hindoo, Hindon to Lee, and Hindoo railway. The soft portions of the road from Pukerangi to Lewin’s has been repaired with schist spalls. This road will require to be graded with the small grader as soon as it drys up in spring. The Main Highway has been surfaced from the Lee to Sutton Stream. Strath Taieri Riding.—The following roads have been surfaced:—Mount Stoker, M’Raes, Thomson’s, Sare’s, and Top road to Milne’s. Two stone culverts have been put in on this road, Mr Milne carting the stone free of cost. A bridge has been repaired on Fahey’s road, Gladbrooke settlement. The Main Highway has been surfaced from Sutton siding to Sutton Stream Since last meeting we have had very severe frosts and rain. This has caused the roads to become very soft, especially in places where they are oveishadowed by high hedges. If the cutting of these were enforced, the cost of upkeep on the roads would Ire considerably lessened. CORRESPONDENCE.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Auckland, wrote in regard to the gradual reduction of protective Customs taxation now levied on British goods.—lt was resolved to give hearty support. A circular was received from the secretary of the Otago Education Board in regard to the election of technical school managers.—Received. The Chief Surveyor wrote concerning the road from Matarae to Sutton, formed through J. A. Roberts’s s.g. run. Mr Roberts asked that this road be proclaimed, but this could not be done without a survey of the road. —Survey to be made. In regard to the conference which was held in the Town Hall, Dunedin, on July 22, to consider joint by-laws, the stated that the set of by-laws was nearing completion. He asked that notice be taavu of bringing such areas as Wingatui, or where small townships existed, under the special regulations for building permits.— The matter was discussed, and it was resolved to make further inquiries as to the advisability of bringing certain areas within the county under the special regulations mentioned. The Secretary of the Pacific Harners applied for permision to hold a cycle road race through Taieri, via Allanton, Maungatua, Woodside, Outram, etc. —It was resolved to inform the club that no objection would be offered on this occasion; but in future road racing would be prohibited. J. S. Watt, on behalf of East Taieri Church, applied for a street light on Cemetery road, opposite the main entrance to the church, and to advise conditions and costs. —The member for the riding and the

clerk to confer with the applicants. The Secretary of the Henley Dairy Factory wrote concerning the drain on the Henlej-Berwick road, which is standing full of stagnant water; it smelt badly. He asked who was responsible. The River Trust disclaimed responsibility.—The council disclaimed any liability. Six ratepayers asked for repairs to the Middle road, i tokia.—Mr Norrish appeared in support of the application.—Cr MTntosh spoke in support of the applica* tion. The district roads were suffering at the expense of the motor roads. The

county could no longer pursue the policy of keeping up the motor roads while the* district roads were .starved. The Government should subsidise these roads. It was all proving a great disadvantage to settlers. When the next revalution came round it would be found there would be a big drop in these districts. He felt like moving that application be made for a subsidy for district roads. The riding funds were very low, but he would move that a report be obtained on the road for the next meeting. Mr J. R. Marks, district engineer, advised that the council's permissible authorisation and cash allocation for the current year out of the Public Works Fund was £l5OO and £1154 respectively. He asked that he be informed of the council's intentions in the matter of access to the S.G. run, 260 a, Lee Stream district, £4OO had already been applied for for this purpose. —Referred to the clerk to attend to.—Cr Doherty asked that the road to the run be attended to at the earliest possible date. ’Die Secretary, Brighton Advancement and Amenities 'Society, wrote about the encroachment of fences on streets. —It was resolved that the chairman should interview some of the property owners, and that the writer be informed of what the council had already clone in the matter. GENERAL. Cr MTntosh reported on the costs of deviation of Scrogg's Hill road. He recommended that the council provide £5O and the settlers the balance. —Agreed to. The Chairman reported on an application concerning the road near Mr Marshall's, Woodside.—The matter was referred to Cr Kempshell to interview Mr Marshall. The Chairman introduced the matter of an association for the county councils of Otago. It did not appeal to him veiy much, as the bulk of the work at present was ably transacted by the Dominion conference held in Wellington. However, he had promised to bring the matter before the council for discussion.— It was decided to hold the matter over till a later meeting. On Cr Blackie’s motion it was decided to widen the formation of Cemetery load, East Taieri, at the entrance gates to the cemetery.