WALLACE COUNTY

Southland Times, Issue 21732, 18 June 1932, Page 9

WALLACE COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

(From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Wallace County Council was held at Otautau yesterday, when the following councillors were present: Messrs W. J. A. McGregor (chairman), G. Stroud, W. B. Hopcroft, F. J. Linscott, D. Teviotdale, H. F. Blatch, J. Horrell, W. T. James and J. H. Smith. Mrs R. H. Scott, Castlerock, Lumsden, requested that 17 claims on Sutherland road be gravelled to make it passable. It was decided that when the weather was suitable the wheel ruts would be gravelled, as the Government grant was not available. The Highways Board representative advised as to the possibilities of sealing portion of the Argyle-Tuatapere main highway through Tuatapere township. He stated that owing to the scarcity of main highway funds no new sealing work would be authorized during the current financial year. Under the existing rates of subsidies the subsidy for such a work would not exceed £2 for £l. Mr P. Weenink, secretary of the Southland Unemployment Executive Committee, wrote stating that the Riverton Borough Council had made application for authority to employ No. 5 Scheme men on certain jobs in the borough, and it had been suggested that with a view to the provision of further work during the winter months, the roadway in South Riverton, leading to the corporation reserve, be opened up and the work in connection with it be done under the No. 5 Scheme. He was advised by the council that there were several difficulties that prevent the immediate prosecution of the Taunamau channel cut at Waimatuku. He asked to be advised whether the road to the reserve in South Riverton could be opened up by the Wallace Council as suggested. It was resolved that permission be granted to carry out the work. Messrs A. Cloughley and N. Hankin, the Rocks, Riverton, applied for drainage work to be done. The council approved of the request, and it was decided to forward it to the Southland Unemployment Executive for approval. Mr S. J. Rocz, Tuatapere, notified that the flooding of the Kowhai creek had washed the gravel off Kaka road for about 10 chains, and deposited it on the roadside, making the road impassable. He requested that the surfaceman be directed to repair the damage, and if necessary they would assist him. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer to attend to. Mr W. Raffle, secretary of the Ohai Public Hall Committee, requested that a ditch running from the railway past the hall in Richmond street be piped and filled in, as complaints were always being received about someone falling in. The matter was left in the hands of the member and engineer with power to act. Mr J. W. Harding, Ohai, asked that something be done to the sewerage drain running through his section, as it was a menace to health. He stated it could be piped and filled in by unemployed labour. It was resolved that the council was prepared to do the work provided applicant paid for the pipes. Messrs T. J. Duggan, P. and M. Murphy, T. J. Curtin, J. J. Johns, John Curtin, J. and P. Curtin, M. P. Egan and R. F. Lyon, Wairio, requested to have the main ditch through their properties deepened and widened under the No. 5 Scheme. It was resolved to recommend it to the Southland Unemployment executive for approval. Rev. Father Fenton and Mrs Jane Kaveney, Wreys Bush, drew attention to the fact that a new ditch had been dug through the Convent property, under the unemployment scheme, to give drainage fall to neighbouring farms. The ditch came to a sudden end at the road culvert. On the other side of the road it was not so deep and was narrow, with the result that the Water was backed up, flooding the road and causing damage to their properties. Petitioners requested that the ditch be deepened and widened to correspond with the new ditch in order to give sufficient fall, the work to be carried out under the same scheme. The request was referred to the Southland executive for the outfall to be brought up. Mr J. S. Dick, secretary of the Southland Motor Association, drew the council’s attention to the two or three culverts across the main road in front of the Castlerock homestead on the Inver-cargill-Mossburn road, and requested that white posts be placed on the sides to minimize the risk of accident. The matter is to be attended to. Councillor Linscott moved that the' motion passed at last meeting declining Mr Bradshaw’s request to run his bus be rescinded, and that Mr Bradshaw be allowed to run. The motion was carried. Order Paper. Councillor Hopcroft moved that the following amount be voted for expenditure in Pourakino riding: M.H. Gropers Bush-Waimatuku, maintenance, £1 for £3, £lB. Councillor Smith moved that the following amounts be voted for expenditure in Waiau riding: Mouat’s Woodlands Homestead road, £l2 10/-; M.H. Tuatapere-Clifden, maintenance, £1 for £3, £6; main Papatotara road, maintenance, £3O; total, £4B 10/-. Councillor McGregor moved that the following amount be voted for expenditure in Wairaki riding; Whare Creek—

Redcliff, formation and gravelling, £3O. Engineer’s Report. The engineer- (Mr J. G. C. Baker), submitted the following report: Since last meeting the weather has been good, and outside work has been carried on as usual. The work in connection with Mr J. Plunkett’s application for an outfall drain at South Hillend for section 240, Taringatura Survey District, was completed in May. The lower owners constructed the necessary outfall drain, and a new culveii has been put across South Hillend School road to connect with Mr Plunkett’s drain in section 240. In connection with Mr G. Watkinson’s application for two culverts to be lowered on the old Ermedale main road, Councillor Hopcroft made an inspection and is arranging with the adjoining owners for the necessary depth to be brought up, after which the culverts will be lowered. All the No. 5 -Unemployment Scheme applications before last council meeting were approved at the last meeting of the Southland Unemployment Executive Committee subject in some cases to inspection and report. Those works under way at last meeting are being continued, except the mid-channel work at Waimatuku, which has been stopped on account of water. The men who were on this work are now working in Riverton, but Councillor Hopcroft has arranged with the Riverton Committee to have the men put on Centre road, block XVIL, Jacob’s River Hundred, where bush felling will be proceeded with preparatory to the road being formed. The plans for the first section of this work have been sent to Riverton. This road when completed will connect up Ward road, Longwood, with Stephen and Robinson’s road (Moa creek), coming out at Buchanan’s sawmill. The plans and specifications in connection with the sea outfall for the Taunamau stream have been completed and sent on to the Riverton committee which has decided that there is too much water to allow this work to be started at the present time. Work has been commenced on G. G. Pearce’s road at Wakapatu. The plans in connection with the outfall for J. J. Donaldson and others at Alton have been sent to the local committee, and the necessary money having been paid in this work will be started straight away. The Riverton Unemployment Committee has asked that a new road be made in the vicinity of section 14, block 2, Jacob’s River Hundred, to give access to the Riverton borough endowment at this place, and Councillor Hopcroft has decided that the work be done at once, being suitable winter work. The report was adopted. Rates Struck. Notice of motion to strike the following rates was given by Cr. F. J. Linscott and seconded by Mr W. J. A. McGregor: Ofepuki riding, |d; Pourakino riding |d; Waimatuku riding, gd; Aparima riding, |d; Otautau riding, 516d; Waiau riding, 11-16 d; Wairaki riding, 7-16 d; Wairio riding, 7-16 d; and Mararoa riding, 7-16 d. A Hospital and Charitable Aid. rate of id in the £ on the capital value, and a general rate of id per hundred feet board measure in respect of standing trees cut in the county and converted from the log into sawn timber. Notice of motion was given by Cr. McGregor, seconded by Cr. Horrell, that a special rate of gd of a penny in the £ be levied on the capital value of all properties in the Ohai township for the purpose of defraying the cost of street lighting. Salary Reductions. The council regretted that owing to the difficult times it was facing and an unpromising outlook ahead as to the collecting of rates, the following salary reductions must be put into effect from July 1: The salaries of the county engineer, clerk and cadet to receive 10 per 'cent, reduction; the assistant engineer and inspector’s salary to be £3OO per annum; the assistant clerk’s to be reduced 71 per cent.; first-class surfacemen who handle lorries or graders to be paid 12/- per dav; second class or casual men 11/- per day; and the foreman of Mararoa riding to receive 12/6 per day. Tenders. The following tenders were let:— Maintenance gravelling, M.H. Gropers Bush-Waimatuku (Gropers Bush to Thombury Bridge section). —Mr F. Sheridan, 2/8. Maintenance gravelling, main Papatotara road.—Mr W. Herrick, 2/10. Maintenance gravelling, M.H. Tuata-pere-Clifden (Half Mile road section). —Mr G. Gorton, gravel 2/6, grit 7/-. Maintenance gravelling, Otahu road. —Mr J. Doherty, 5/6.