COUNTY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 19256, 21 June 1921, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCIL

WALLACE. TTie monthly meeting of the Wallace County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Otautau, on Friday, when there were present: Councillors Buckingham (chairman), Dyer, Flynn, Horrell, Rodger, Linscott, Cody, Fowle and McGregor. The balance sheet of the New Zealand Counties Association was read and received. The receipts amounted to £729 Os 7d, and the expenditure to £619 13s Id, leaving a balance in hand of £lO9 7s 6d. The Director of Ordnance Supplies notified that two machine guns, one tripod and one mounting had been forwarded.—Clerk to acknowledge receipt. The secretary of the Southland Motor Association asked the Council to erect direction, danger and school signs, the Association guaranteeing to supply them.—Council to erect signs. The same writer thanked the Council for giving the repair of the Waimatuku bridge favourable consideration.—Received. John Thomson and John Ronan, Tuatapere, asked that pipes be lowered on Halfmile road.—Matter to be attended to. W. Valentine, Waimatuku, requested permission to plough roadline to eradicate gorse.—Request granted, subject to the usual conditions. The secretary of the South Island Motor Association forwarded a circular letter dealing with the danger caused by fences and trees at corners and suggested that there be a limit to the height (say 4ft) at corners considered dangerous. The circular also stated that the desirability of a tax on tyres for the purpose of raising money to construct and improve main roads was affirmed at a recent conference. He asked that the Council appoint a delegate to attend a conference at Christchurch to consider various questions, the conference to be held about Thursday, August 9.—Referred to the Finance Committee. Charles E. Flowers, Ruahine, drew attention to the bad state and approach to 1 crossing leading into his property, and asked that it be attended to.—Left in hands of member and engineer. Percy Scott, Feldwick, asked permission to erect a swing gate on the road leading over the hills at Feldwick, to prevent stock straying.—Usual steps to be taken. D. S. McLaren, Eastern Bush, asked permission to plough gorse on roadline along section 54, block 5, Waiau. —Granted under usual conditions. The Department of Tourist and Health Resorts acknowledged receipt of the Council’s letter with reference to the state of the Lumsden-Te Anau road, and asked if the proposed expenditure of £4OO, £ for £, was to be devoted to the road west of the Key.—Received. The Resident Engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded a communication stating that his Department could not see its way to recommend a grant of £5O, £ for £, for Davis and Frentz road.—Received. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand notified that the rate of interest on the current account Would be increased to 7 per cent.—Received. Macalister Bros., solicitors, Invercargill, notified that the bond had' been signed by Mr Stevenson. The date had been altered from March 15 to May 22, and referred to the time the condition of the road was to be looked at in order to fix the condition of repairs up to which Mr Stevenson was to keep the road. They asked if the alteration in date was acceptable to the Council. Mr Stevenson appeared before the Council, and stated that the date he took over the road was May 22, and he objected to the Council altering it. It was agreed to stand by the original date, March 15, on condition that £2O be spent on the road by the Council. Clode and Svinsson, sawmillers, Colac Bay, asked the Council’s assistance in making a road in their locality passable.—Left in hands of engineer. Henry W. Roberts and five others requested that the Government grant of £3OO be spent on the Wakapatu-Round Hill road. —The writer to be informed that the contract had been let, but the grant had been cancelled. Mrs Sheddan, Nightcaps, requested that a culvert be put in and that the footpaths; receive attention.—Matter left in hands of the member and engineer to attend to. Wm. Smjth and Co., Invercargill, notified that as their mill had been shifted, they desired to abandon their tramway right.— Left in hands of member and engineer to report. L. Ward, Hekeia, asked that a quantity of gravel be put on Ward’s road to repair the damage done by contracts. —Left in hands of member and engineer to attend to. C. A. Jeffery, acting Clerk of the Executive Council, forwarded an extract from the N.Z. Gazette, dealing with the registration of premises under the Health Act, 1920.—Received. Counsel’s opinions on various subjects were tabled. Rangers' reports for the various ridings were received. Macalister Bros., solicitors, Invercargill, forwarded agreement between the Council and the Southland Electric Power Board, regarding the upkeep of Tuatapere to Sunnyside road, for signature.—Chairman to sign. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr J. G. C. Baker) reported as follows:—Since last meeting I have very little to report upon. Practically all work not completed is held up until next summer. The Waiau surfaceman reports that a Government bridge over Kowhai creek on Kowhai road, Alton, is dangerous, and I think it would be advisable to apply for a £ for £ grant for a new structure. The bridge gang will finish very shortly the repairs to Te Anau jetty, and will then proceed to Linwood, where the piles (twelve in number) will be driven for a motor bridge over the Whitestone at this place. With the exception of the labour of pile-driving, the whole of the cost of this bridge is being borne by the local people, and as the general public will no doubt have the unrestricted use of the bridge, the Council may become responsible for its condition and upkeep. It will be necessary, therefore, for the Council to ascertain its position in the matter, and if involved take any necessary steps to see that the bridge is reasonably safe. The Public Works Department has notified me that the Council may go on with the expenditure of the vote for the widening of the Mararoa stock bridge. This work will be commenced after the works at Linwood are completed. ORDER PAPER. The following sums were authorised for expenditure:—Orepuki riding: Main Tuata-pere-Orepuki road, maintenance, and Rowley road, £185; Waimatuku riding: Main Thornbury road, maintenance, £3O; Otaitai Bush deviation road, maintenance, £25; total £55; Wairio riding: Etal stream bridge approaches (portion) £3O.