WALLACE COUNTY

Southland Times, Issue 20675, 22 December 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

WALLACE COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the above held yesterday was attended by Councillors H. Garden (chairman), L. Uody, W. T. James, H. T. Blatch, S. Fowle, W. B. Hopcroft, T. J. Linscott, W. J. A. McGregor and T. A. Buckingham. Mr C. J. Officer, Thornbury, asked that the outfall ditch through Mr Brown’s be straightened and deepened, and offered to do the work at a reasonable cost.—Left to member and engineer to inspect. Mrs J. G. Evans, Waipango, applied for a crossing over More’s tramline to give access to section 58.—Messrs More’s be requested to provide the necessary access crossing. Mr J. W. Dickson, Colac, asked that nine chains of loose gravel on Ward’s Lake road be binded with clay.—Matter to be attended to with yards clay to the chain. Mr George Howell, Riverton, applied to have the footpath in front of sections 8 and 10 formed and gravelled.—Left to member and engineer to inspect. Mr N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands, wrote in reference to section 52, block IV, Aparima hundred, stating that the Department was not prepared to take it over and the council was responsible for its state. —W’riter to be informed tenders for clearing of gorse have been called. Mr J. Ramsay, Otautau, applied that balance of grant plus a county subsidy be expended in gravelling on his road.—All money available for this road has beem spent. Engineer to look into complaint as to spreading of gravel. Mr W. M. Barker, Kapuka, applied to have the Government grant for Barker and Bradley road, Orawia, spent this summer.— The grant will be expended as soon as possible. ■'

Messrs Kilkelly Bros. (Invercargill) wrote in reference to the road leading to their Motu mill, stating that they had already expended £135 on it and asked the council to spend some of the fourths and fifths accrued.—No money available at present for this road. Mr W. D. Mackenzie, Nightcaps, asked that the watertable which carries drainage from Section 15, block 6, Morley village is given attention. —Left to engineer to have matter attended to. The Southland County Council wrote in regard to the protective work at the Oreti bridge, Mossburn, stating that their repre- ! sentatives understood at the conference the trees from the county plantation would not be charged for and as no cost was taken on the estimates asked that it be waived by the Wallace Council. —Southland County to be charged half cost of tree.s and this council considers further steps should be taken to protect the bridge. Mr Allan F. Speight, Redcliff, asked that the road between Redcliff and Whare Creek be attended to. —Wairaki and Mararoa ridings to spend £5O between them on the road. Mr J. B. C. Dore, Mossburn, complained of the council cutting a plantation of trees on his boundary, trespassing on his land in removing same and breaking his fence in several places and asked if it was the council’s intention to replant or pay the expense the writer had been put to. —The trees were on the roadline and belonged to the council. In regard to the damage to fencing the writer to be referred to the > Southland County Council. J The Piahio Countv Council wrote in reI ference to the conference of local body representatives in regard to heavy traffic fees and asked the council to support, a resolution against the proposal to abolish the fees. —This council endorsed the motion. It was resolved that a wire be sent to the Minister of Public Works to the effect that this council is insistent that an overhead bridge be put in on the Ohai Railway Board’s new line at the Mount Linton crossing. It was resolved tenders be called for the position of ranger for the Orepuki riding. It. was resolved that Mr Pearce, No. 18 District Highways Council, be wired to urging the necessity of approving of the specifications for the re-building of the Thornbury bridge.

Engineer’s Report. The engineer reported as follows: Since last meeting the weather has been excellent for road work, but very little progress has been made in connection with last year’s uncompleted works. Some of these will now not be finished this season. In connection with the letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, re clearing of creek on Messrs William Hamlins and Thomas Molloy’s properties at Gummies Bush and in which the Commissioner expresses the opinion that the willows do not interfere with the free flow of the water. On the 13th inst. Cr. Hopcroft and myself inspected the creek where it runs through the above-mentioned properties and it appeared to us that the willows do obstruct the free run of the water, especially so in that portion of the creek in Mr Molloy’s property known as the lagoon. The removal of the willows from the lagoon portion of the creek would be a costly matter and probably the cheapest and most effective way to lower the water at this place would be to construct a ditch starting where the creek joins the lagoon (where section line 33-34 strikes same) thence in a south-easterly direction across ahd down the east side of the lagoon for about 44- chains to join up the top end of the old channel cut some years ago through the lower portion of the lagoon. If the rest of the creek between the Aparima river and Mr F. McKay’s boundary were then dragged and a few odd willows removed from this portion of the creek in Mr Hamlin’s property, I think Mr McKay would get the relief he asks for. It might be advisable to ask the Commissioner if he would care to make an inspection with a representative of the council so that a unanimous decision could be arrived at. In connection with Mr J. T. Wilson’s letter advising the council that outfall drain on Mr. Dowling’s property is blocked and asking that steps be taken to have same cleaned. This is the outfall about which I reported at the September meeting, of 1924, and starts at the road between the two properties and about 3 chains north of bridge over creek. Cr. James met Messrs Wilson and Dowling on the ground and inspected the outfall, which is in a bad state. Mr Dowling refused to clean this outfall and states that it is not his job to c(o so. The only thing to be done, therefore is to advise Mr Wilson that he should make formal application under the Land Drainage Act and let the law take its course. The Waimatuku River Board having had occasion to remove the superstructure of the small bridge over the Waimatuku stream at Lindsay Bros, road near Drummond, Cr. Buckingham decided that the; council would undertake the replacement work and at the same time effect any necessary repairs. The plans and specifications in connection with the Waicoe creek bridge and approach roads have been sent on to the Public Works Department and when approved and authority issued the work will be advertised. It would be advisable when this work is being done to arrange for three new piles to be driven at south abutment of Taylor’s creek bridge. The bridge over the Waiau river at Tuatapere is now due for overhaul. The report was adopted.