WALLACE COUNTY

Southland Times, Issue 20002, 16 October 1926, Page 10

WALLACE COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Wallace County Council held yesterday was attended by Councillors L. Cody (Chairman), W. J. A. McGregor, W. T. James, H. T. Blatch, S. Fowle, W. B. Hopcroft, F. J. Linscott, T. A. Buckingham and H. Garden. The 'Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, wrote in regard to “Forestry Fifths” and that he would be pleased to see the sub-committee appointed and reach finality in the matter.—The chairman, the member for Pourakino Riding and engineer confer with Commissioner on October 22. D. W. McKay, President, “Rocks Association,” drew attention to the road at the “Rocks” Settlement and trusted same would be attended to before the summer traffic commenced.—Writer to be informed that the road will be attended to. G. O. Cassels, secretary of the Aparima Dairy Factory, Riverton, applied to the council to have the culvert at the intersection of the Gummies Bush-Wild Bush road lowered and larger pipes put in. Also that the culvert constructed some time ago to the north of the junction be sealed up.— In reference to first part the application is granted, the latter to be left in abeyance. Mrs. E. Watson. Riverton, wrote protesting against the proposal to shift the level crossing near Longwood railway station as without it the best part of her land would be made inaccessible.—Petitioners to be informed of the objections to the shifting of the crossing. K. H. Trail, Caversham, wrote objecting to the proposal to shift the level crossing at Longwood as it was the only outlet to his property.—The‘crossing to be left as it is in the meantime. Messrs R. Pirie and J. T. Smith, Isla Bank, wrote requesting that the road to their properties be gravelled.—Member and engineer will inspect the road on Thursday, 21st inst. J. Beck, aicola Homestead, wrote requesting that the blockage in channel below the bridge on the road leading to his property be cleaned out. During the last flood the channel was further blocked and the water flows over the writer’s paddocks and into the old creek bed. —This council accepts no liability for cleaning channel. G. Gorton, Otautau, applied for compensation for “time lost” by being stopped and harassed by the Otautau River and Domain Board from getting gravel supplies to carry out his contracts. The writer estimated he had lost one week’s work valued at £3O and applied for compensation.—Held over till contract is finished.

The Rev. Mr. Ayrton, Otautau, applied for a crossing to the Methodist Parsonage on Yellow Bluff Road.—Referred to Otautau Town Board for favourable consideration. Messrs G. Harrington and J. Palmer applied to have road leading to their property off the Merrivale Road gravelled and repaired as it was in bad order.—Government grant to be applied for. J. Gibson, Scott’s Gap, drew attention to the culvert on road leading to his property and said that the banks had fallen in and blocked the same, necessitating attention.— Matter to be left to engineer to attend to. Kilkelly Bros. Ltd., Invercargill, applied for permission to put in a heart of totara culvert across road about nine chains east of their Tuatapere mill to give water supply for a pump.—Granted subject to the engineer’s approval; R. T. Horner, Tuatapere, asked that the whole amount available for Merrivale-Te Tua Road be expended.—Writer to be informed that money will be spent on work as laid out by the engineer unless the Commissioner agrees to a deviation at once. J. and M. Flynn, Orawia executors in the estate of the late John Glynn, applied for permission to erect a temporary fence on the roadline fronting Section 15, Block VIII for the purpose of ploughing gorse down.—Permission granted under usual conditions. H. A. Holmes, Nightcaps, applied for permission to erect a bowser petrol pump at bis garage at Ohai.—Granted during the 'pleasure of the council. W. Lowrie, Ohai, applied to have the ditch in front of Section 14, Block 1, Extension No. 1, deepened to take surplus and waste w’ater. —Matter to be left to member and engineer to attend to. H. Ferguson. Nightcaps, applied for a culvert to give access to Sec. 15, Plan 2309, Ohai.—Request granted, provided there is no, already one culvert. K. Frood, clerk, Nightcaps Town Board, advised the council that the Board was grading, forming and gravelling footpath in Evan street, Nightcaps, and gravelling footpath on Clifford’s Road. As both are boundary roads the council to pay half cost. —Left to member and engineer to look into. M. McCorkingdale, Nightcaps, wrote requesting that gorse be cleared off road from Greer’s to Nobbie’s Road and a big hole at the bridge be attended to. —Owners to be informed that gorse has to be cleared off roads opposite properties. M. Hoare, Wairio, applied for an outfall from his property over the Wairio— Wrey’s Bush Road.—Left to surfaceman to report. C. L. Beer, Te Anau Downs Station, applied for a further grant of £25 to maintain the 20-mile track to the foot of the lake.— Moved that a grant of £25 be given to complete this work. J. W. Porter. Te Anau, asked what the council was going to do about giving him access to his property as he had to trespass meantime to get on or off his section.— Matter to be left to member to look into. H. J. Farrant, chairman, Southland Provincial Court, N.Z. and South Seas Exhibition, wrote asking the council to send representatives to a meeting to be held in the Town Hall, Invercargill, on Friday, October 22, at 10.30 a.m.—The chairman was appointed delegate. C. R. Smith, Assistant Under-Secretary, Public Work Department, forwarded a circular letter in regard to the handing over of control of roads to local bodies.—Received.

The chairman reported in regard to the Health Inspector’s letter in regard to the Birchwood Hunt kennels that he had inspected same and found them in very good condition. •-

Mr V. E. Page interviewed the council in regard to the publication of “The Dominion of New Zealand,” when ithe council decided not to contribute. The application of Mr E. G. Luzmoor regarding hut, was referred to the engineer to reply to. The Otautau Town Board’s account for the erection of electric street lights on liemen street was received.—The council accepts no liability. Accounts amounting to £2,209 12/5 were passed for payment. Councillor Linscott, representative to the Highways District Council, reported that the Highways Board were increasing their subsidy from £1 for £1 to 30/- main highways to £1 f - ni the council.

It was decided owing to the Otautau River Board’s drastic regulations with regard to the removal of gravel from Aparima River, and the consequent hold up of urgent country work, that the council was compelled to ignore those restrictions and instruct its engineer to direct contractors to take gravel from wherever he considers there is no immediate danger of damage being done thereby, and that the River Board be advised that all reasonable precautions will be taken to allay the board’s apprehension in the matter.

The Engineer reported: “Since last meeting there has been some exceptionally rough weather and, therefore, very little outside work has been done. Some contractors have already started on last year’s uncompleted works but others are so far making no shape. In connection with the letter read at the June meeting from Mr W. S. Hunter, on behalf of Mrs Emily Watson and others, asking for a new railway level crossing in the vicinity of Pourakino township (Riverton —Orepuki Railway), the main condition under which this crossing would be put in, viz. the removal of an- . other crossing ntar Longwood siding, which

gives access across railway to two proper’ties, cannot be agreed to owing to the objections from the two interested parties as per letters read at this meeting. In connection with Mr Dillon’s application of June for road repairs at Pahia, Councillor Garden inspected and it has been decided to re-form 8 chains of the unmetalled road onwards from Mr Dillon’s house. This work should be done in the early summer. In connection with the grave! supplies at Yellow Bluff Bridge; on the 9th inst. the council on payment of a royalty of 4d. made arrangements with Mr. W. Fraser that will insure a supply of gravel for some time to come. With reference to Mr Ogren’s request that the council clear out road ditches on Colac-Round Hill at Oraka, Councillor Garden inspected and it was decided that the matter was not one for the council but was more for the land owners themselves. Regarding Mr. H. Spear’s complaint in com nection with the state of Riverton-Colac Road, arrangements have been made to have the worst holes filled at once. In connection with Mrs Fletcher’s request for road widening on Brownridge road, Councillor Hopcroft has instructed me to communicate with the P.W. engineer regarding spending .balance of old grant on this work. Regarding Mr Buick s application for repairs to lower end of Boyle’s road, GladfieM, Councillor Buckingham inspected and decided to maintain existing gravel and also extend same as far as Mr Buick’s gate Regarding Mr. E. A. Wilding's application for metalling on Manson Road, Councillor McGregor inspected and the new Government grant has been laid off for the metalling and specifications sent to the Public Works Department. Regarding Messrs Thomas McKay and Son’s advice that they have given up uncompleted portion of maintenance contract on Mossburn-Lumsden section of the Gore-Te Anau main highway, with Councillor, Blatch’s permission I have cancelled the contract and re-advertised the new and old votes for this length. A large number of specifications ‘(both Government grants and Main Highways) has been prepared and sent away and in receipt of authority the works will be put in hand. The bridge gang is at present doing some repairs to willow protective works adjoining Mr May’s at Double Cabbage Tree and will start on the Kowhai bridges as soon as authority arrives.”