WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 23

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Waitaki County Council was held on Friday; present— Crs Ncwlands (in the chair), Munro. Meek, M’lnnes, Clark, Ross, Rodman, and Smith.

Treasury vouchers were received as follows;—Hypothecated Land Fund, £lO9 6s 8d; ordinary land fund, £37 4s 8d; goldfields revenue, £1 10s. The Public Works Department at Dunedin wrote in reference to the grant made for the Lindis-Ohau road. The department explained that the difference in the subsidy between the Waitaki and Mackenzie Counties was due to the difference in rating. It was suggested that if on increased subsidy . was dcired. the Alnuiri Riding should increase its rate.—Cr Munro stated that his riding would prefer the present subsidy to an increase in rates. The Mackenzie County Council offered to purchase a second-hand road grader for the sum of £Bo.—The offer was accepted.

Mr Charles Grant, of Otekaike, wrote stating that he was entitled to a fairweather road, without waiting for a Government grant, in view of the large sum he was paying in rates. He stated that the road was impassable in wet weather. He appealed to the council for assistance.—Cr M’lnnes stated that Mr Grant had a good road right to his door. The road he desired metalled was an alternative road. —It was decided to inform Mr Grant that the road would be metalled as soon as the Government, vote was received.

The Main Highways Board forwarded a list of proposed secondary roads in trie district.—The Chairman stated that the list was very satisfactory. Mr I. Borton, solicitor, of Palmerston, wrote in reference to Mr Campbell’s claim for royalty.—On the recommendation of the council's solicitors, it was decided io recognise no claim. The Public Works Department asked for information in regard to the transport system, as desired by the Prime Minister — The Clerk and Engineer stated that the preparation of the information desired would involve enormous labour.—Cr Meek said he thought the request made was ridiculous.—The Engineer said that a con fercnce of local bodies was being held in Timarti to consider the question, and >n tn. motion of Cr Meek it was decided that the clerk and engineer should attend this conference.

Some discussion took place upon an application from a motion picture company for permission to exhibit a picture in a county hall on the evening of Good Friday.—lt was decided, on the motion of Cr Meek, that all applications, for permission to exhibit on Good Friday must be accompanied by a certificate from the Government Censer that the pictures are suit able for exhibition on that day. Messrs Appleby and Son (Kurow) asked that they should be granted a share of the work of issuing drivers’ licenses in the district.—After some discussion, it was decided that the existing arrangement for the issuing of licenses be continued. The question of the payment of council lot’s for attendances at meetings wag raised by the clerk, who stated that the auditor bad informed him that the expenses of some councillors had been reduced from £1 5s to £1 Is per day, and the expenses of others from £1 Is to 12s 6d per day.— Several councillors protested against the proposed reductions. One councillor stated that rather than accept 12s 6d per day he would take nothing at all. Another stated that when on a visit to Wellington on council business, he had to employ a man at 15s per day to look after his lambs. — It was eventually decided to consult Mr T. F. Martin inj regard to the interpretation of the clause c-f the Act dealing with members’ expenses. Accounts amounting to £3404 4s lOd were passed for payment. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer’s report was road as fol-

lows: — Moeraki Riding.—The contractor has completed the gravelling of the mam highway from Kartigi to Shag Point, and is putting some maintenance gravel cn the main road further south The Travelling of Wells’s road is also completed. Otepopo Riding.—The Government grant for Mount Misery road has been txptiuiccl I in forming about 80 chains of new road, < and a good job has been made. A bad | crossing on the Woodburn road has been concreted. Incholme Riding.—The men have been off for the harvest part of the month, but are now engaged in ordinary surfacing. The Government vote for gravelpng French’s road will not be available until after March 31. Kakanui Riding.—The work of nuttingNgapara gravel on the main road is progressing well, but is handicapped until we get the extension of the siding at Ngapa. a. Various by-roads have been reformed v ith the motor grader. Waiarcka Riding.—The contractor has just about completed the gravelling of the main road from Elderslie to Enfield, and the work makes a great improvement on the road.’The gravelling on the WestonAiredale road is completed. A considerable quantity of maintenance gravel was found necessary in addition to the contract. Maintenance gravel is being put on (he Five Forks road by the county lorry. Repairs to the county crusher have been effected, and. on a trial spin it did very satisfactory work. • Tenders could row he called for crushing metal from lhe council’s quarry for the Parson’s Creok ana Sale Yards roads. Papakaio .Riding.—Fair progress is being made with the gravelling on the PukeunWaitaki section of the main highway. The contractor has fitted a screen over the bin by which all oversize -.tone is rejected and crushed again. So.me maintenan’ee gravel is beinp put on the Devil's Bridge road before the contractor leaves the locality. A fair supply of water has been maintained in the Papakaio water race, but the caretaker is still caused a -lot of annoyance and waste of time by unauthorised 'persons interfering with the intakes of the distributing races. A bad portion of one of the small races has been concretefl at the bottom. Awamoko Riding.—Good, progress is being made with the gravelling ofe the main road between Bortons and Duntroon. Good work is being done with the motor grader in trimming up the roads in the riding. Otekaike Riding.—Plans and specifications for the Kurow Creek bridge have been forwarded to the Highways -Board for < approval, and- when approved tenders can

bo called for the work. The contractors for asphalting the main street in Kurow have given fhc footpaths another coat of tar and sand, but 1 have not seen the work since it was completed. * Ahuriri Riding.—The cut in the Ahuriri River to bring the main stream more under the bridge is completed, and prospective groynes are being put in variouj points along the bank. The report was adopted. . GENERAL.

It was decided that tenders be called for the metalling of the road near th® Waireka sale yards. Cr Rodman gave notice to meve at tho next meeting that the main highways of the county be included in the general account. Cr Rodman stated that he did not propose discussing the matter in th® meantime.

On the motion of Cr M’lnnes, it was decided that any person requiring metal from the Kurow quarry obtain permission, from Mr Ross, and that any person taking metal without permission be prosecuted. The engineer and Cr Clark were empowered to deal with the improvements: of an approach to a -bridge in Cr Clark’s riding.