COUNTY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 19098, 16 November 1923, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. Th monthly meeting of the Southland County Council was held last night those present being Messrs E. Bowmar (chairman), T. Fraser, F. Trapski, M. Norman, C. Robertson, T. Golden and G. Wryatt. The foreman of the council’s bridge gang reported that during the month the gang had been engaged in erecting a new bridge over the Rapuka. A new concrete deck had been put on the Rocky Point bridge at Dipton and a concrete bridge had been erected on the Waimea-Balfour road near Balfour. The gang 'was at present’engaged in putting a new superstructure on the Oreti bridge. On the motion of Messrs Robertson and Golden it was decided to make a donation of £lO from the funds of the Waikiwi Riding towards the clearing of gorse in the Waikiwi cemetery. It was decided to accept the Wyndham Town Board’s proposal to pay one-fourth of the cost of recent repairs to the Menzies Ferry bridge, but the council declined to pledge itself in regard to future maintenance. The Hibernian Band wrote asking for a subscription to their funds. The council decided that it could not see its way to do so. The Controller and Auditor-General wrote maintaining his objection to the council’s procedure in raising money for the Te Peka-Fortification road, but stating that on this occasion no further action would be taken. On the motion of Councillors Robertson and Norman it was decided to approve of a draft of a joint heavy traffic by-law submitted by the council’s solicitor, and to make the same effective in conjunction with the Wallace County Council. It was decided that the chairman and Councillor Fraser should be the delegates to meet the Wallace County Council. The secretary of the Southland Motor Association wrote asking the council whether they would be prepared to erect road signs at the Edendale crossing at what was known as the junction of the Five roads in the Lumsden district and on the hill near the Otahuti dairy factory. The Motor Association was prepared to supply the signs. It was decided to agree to the proposal. The Under-Secretary for Public Works wrote approving of the expenditure of £2OO grant on the Chasland’s road. It was decided to grant the application of the Fortrose Library Committee for the right for 14 years of that portion of the Fortrose Ferry Reserve on which was erected the social hall.

J. Healey, Dipton wrote saying that a neighbour was throwing rubbish on the road near his gate, and asking the council to have it stopped. The matter was referred to the Inspector with power to act. Thomas Ayson, Wyndham, wrote applying for a grant of £5O towards making improvements to Ross Road. The application was referred to the member for the riding and the county engineer. The Rev. J. O’Neill, Waikiwi, wrote calling the attention of the Council to the state of the footpath between the tram terminus and the Catholic Church. It was decided to attend to the matter.

The Clerk of the Mataura Borough wrote asking for permission to have a pipe line laid along the county road from the south end of the Ferndale property to the north end of the Borough boundary.—Permission granted subject to the approval of the county engineer.

R. C. Kerr, Waikaia, wrote asking for permission to co-operate with the council in the construction of a culvert across a read near his property. —Request granted.

John H. Miller, Waimumu, wrote advising that he had finished grading the road near his property and asking the council to grant him 4s a yard for the gravelling.— Referred to the member for the riding and the county engineer. P. Auld, Riversdale, wrote with reference to a complaint from James O’Neill to the effect that his fences were being damaged by wandering cattle, stating that he had investigated the case and found no cause for complaint. W. B. Sampson, Kennington, applied for a reassessment of rates on his farm of 51 acres.—Referred to the Valuation Department.

Mr P. de la Perrelle, M.P., wrote enclosing a letter from the Minister of Public Works with reference to an application from Mary S. Hamilton for the repair of part of the Hedgehope road. The Minister regretted that he was unable to renew the £5O grant previously given. Edward Quaker, Wendon Valley, wrote saying he had been informed that there was a Government grant for the repairing of the road near his property, and asking that this should be expended. He also said that as far as he could see, the road was out of alignment.—lt was decided to reply to the effect that there was no Government grant available and that the road was on the proper surveyed line. Traill Bros., sawmillers, wrote asking for permission to construct a tramway alongside the county road near the Te Peka railway station.—Referred for consideration to the member for the riding and the county engineer.

A. Petersen, Croydon Bush, complained about the state of Petersen’s road.—The engineer to make an inspection. John C. Begg, Mokoreta, wrote asking that the bridge over the Titri Creek on the upper Mokoreta road be repaired.—Referred to- the member for the riding and the county engineer.

The Murihiku Sawmilling Company wrote offering to come to a reasonable arrangement for the upkeep of the road from their mill at Hokonui to the Hokonui siding.— Left in the hands of the member for the riding and the county engineer.

The Minister of Public Works wrote agreeing to authorise a vote of £3OO towards the cost of erecting the Dipton channel bridge.—Received.

Mr P. de la Perrelle, M.P., wrote forwarding a letter from the Minister of Public Works authorising a grant of £lOO (£1 for £1) to be exepnded on Marshall’s road, Spar Bush.—Received. The Wallace County Council wrote requesting the council to repair the road from Josephville siding to the Oreti river. —lnspector to report.

E. L. Norrish and C. W. Harvey, Greenvale, wrote asking the council to effect repairs to the road approaching their properties.—Referred to the member for the riding and the county engineer. Harry Cromil, Balfour, wrote objecting to flood water being diverted from the Longridge-Ardlussa road on to his property.—lnspector to report. P. Whyte, Otama, wrote complaining about the condition of the road near his property. —Matter to be attended to as soon as authority was received for expenditure of a Government grant.

A petition from 50 ratepayers of Richmond Grove was received objecting to the proposed amalgamation of Richmond Grove with the Invercargill Borough.—Petition to lie on the table.

Robert Y’oun, Waianiwa, wrote apply ing for drainage outfall on his property. - Application to be made under the South land Land Drainage Act.

A. Mclntyre, Wendon Valley, wrote asking that the road leading into his property be repaired.—To be informed that no funds are available this season.

William Mackay, Otama, wrote asking the council to erect danger signs on part of the road between Otama and Riversdale.—Granted.

F. J. Saunders, Kam ahi, wrote asking the council to clean out their ditch along a road near his property.—Referred to the member for the riding and the county engineer. R. S. Charters, Waikaia, wrote asking the council to grade the road leading in to his property.—To be advised that no funds were available for this purpose. Butt and Company, Garage Proprietors, Waikiwi, wrote asking to have the taxistand in front of their garage moved elsewhere. —Referred to Inspector with power to act.

Mrs A. Henry, Collingwood, wrote complaining that one of her fences had been damaged by wandering cattle owned by M. Sheriff. —Sheriff to be informed that if the nuisance continued he would be prosecuted.

Paterson Bros., East Charlton, wrote complaining about the state of Prydes’s road near their property.—Matter to be attended to as soon as Government grant was available. ♦

Mr J. C. Thompson, M.P., wrote enclosing a letter from the Minister of Public Works, acknowledging a petition from ratepayers for a grant of £BOO (£1 for £1) for expenditure on the Lomogalak bridge. The Minister promised to give the representations full consideration.—Received.

A petition was received from the ratepayers of Otama, asking that McKay’s road be repaired.—To be attended to when Government grant was available. Jas. Holland, Timpany’s made calling the council's attention to the state of the culverts and ditches in front of his property. —Referred to the member for the riding and the county engineer. H. Howie, Waikiwi, wrote complaining that rubbish was being deposited on the West Plains road near Mr W. D. Hunt’s property. —Referred to the Inspector with power to act.

The district railway engineer reported that the hedge near the Moore’s road level mossing had been cut and the view at the crossing considerably improved. He requested that the landowner on the north east side of the crossing should be requested to follow suit and cut his hedges.—Referred to the Inspector with power to act. Trail Bros., Greenhills, wrote complaining about the state of Girdler’s road.—To be informed that the Department had a £2OO grant for the purpose of repairing the road.

James W. Buddle, Awarua Bay, wrote advising that he had constructed a road through his property to the Bay and asking that the council value the work and spend the balance on the Bay front.— Referred to the member for the riding and the engineer.

E. W. Connell, Springhills, wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the Springhills-Grove Bush road.—Surfaceman to attend to the matter.