WALLACE COUNTY

Southland Times, Issue 25342, 22 July 1935, Page 5

WALLACE COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Wallace County Council was held at Otautau on Friday, when the following councillors were present: Messrs W. T. James (chairman), G. Stroud, F. J. Linscott, James H. Smith, H. F, Blatch, B. C. Horrell, W. B. Hopcroft and D. Teviotdale. The following rates were struck for the ensuing year at a special meeting: A general rate of one halfpenny in the £ in Orepuki riding; one-sixteenth of a penny in Aparima and Waimatuku ridings; one farthing in Otautau riding; three-eighths of a penny in Pourakino, Waiau, Wairaki, Wairio and Mararoa ridings; a charitable aid rate of three-sixteenths of penny; a Southland Electric Power Board general rate of three-fifths of a penny; and a general rate of three-sixteenths of a penny per hundred feet board measure on timber so converted from the log into sawn timber; also a special rate of three-eighths of a penny in the £ to provide lighting for the Ohai township. Correspondence. Mr G. H. Stancombe, Tuatapere, wrote stating that a deputation would be waiting on the council to discuss the matter of the council taking over and maintaining the street lights. Messrs Stancombe and McLeod waited on the council in regard to the matter, it being finally resolved to grant £lO towards the cost (£5 from Orepuki and £5 from Waiau ridings), and to declare Tuatapere township a special rating area on receipt of a requisition from the ratepayers. Mr H. Spear and eight others, Colac Bay, asked for the assistance of the council in obtaining completion of the work on the Colac Bay-Round Hill road under the No. 5 scheme, which was recently cancelled by Mr Horrell. Unless this work was completed, six of the ratepayers would derive no benefit from the work already done, and they felt they were being penalized through the work being stopped at this stage. A number of petitioners had large areas which could not be drained until this particular work was finished and their neighbours had considerable benefit from the scheme. It was resolved that the matter be held over to allow the member and engineer to make an inspection. Mr B. C. McCabe, Commissioner of Crown Lands, asked the council to repair the road along the shore fronting the Colac native reserve, as a scheme for the establishment of the natives as farmers had been undertaker: and considerable progress had been made. The increased traffic following the development and sub-division of the Colac block had demonstrated the need for some improvement of the access road, and he understood the principal requirement was the construction of efficient water tables. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the member and engineer. Mr T. Henderson, Lumsden, wrote stating that the road through the bottom of his farm was again blocked by the floods washing it away and asked that either a roadway be made to the farm or that something be done to make the creek safe for traffic. He had shifted his fence on two occasions, and unless council took action he asked that the road be closed. Councillor Blatch said he sympathized with the writer as when the flood came he had very little access. He had paid his rates for a number of years, and the council could give him very little assistance. It was finally decided that the member and engineer inspect the locality. Mr G. Clearwater, Lumsden, on behalf of the Castlerock School Committee, drew attention to the flooding of the school grounds and the road in front of the school whenever Murray Creek was above normal. In view of the fact that it affected the attendance and also the health of the children through damp surroundings, he asked that the matter be attended to as soon as possible. It was decided that the member and engineer inspect the locality. Mr H. Mackenzie, Walter Peak station, wrote regarding Mararoa road, stating that Councillor Blatch required more money from the Government to enable him to put the road in order now that the bridge had been erected, and asking the council to apply for a further grant. It was resolved that the writer be informed that council would apply to the Government for a further grant of £3OO, £2 for £l. Messrs J. S. and W. E. Hazlett, Burwood station, wrote complaining of the state of the road into Centre Hill homestead caused through heavy lor- j

ries carting posts from the Burwood bush.

In moving that the contractors be asked to repair the road, Councillor Blatch said it was not fair that ratepayers should have their roads destroyed by heavy traffic. Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr J. G. C. Baker) reported as follows: Since last meeting the weather has been of the normal winter type, and road surfaces have in places deteriorated somewhat, but it is hoped that with the approach of spring and the use of fresh topping gravel the usual road surface conditions will be restored and improved. Further damage has been done to bridge-side rails. On the evening of June 24 part of that at Fairfax bridge was broken down by a motor car. The accident unfortunately terminated fatally, as the car went over the side of the bridge and falling into deep water caused its two occupants . > be drowned. The report was adopted. Other Business. Councillor Hopcroft moved that the following amount be authorized for expenditure in Pourakino ridig: Wild Bush school to Pourakino bridge, £2O. Messrs Macalistei Bros., solicitors for the Council, wrote stating that they had

attended the inquest on the victims of the Fairfax accident on behalf of the council, and no fault had been found with the bridge planking.

Mr G. B. Saxelby, the county inspector, was granted leave of absence to enable him to visit Australia. Mr J. Brighton was appointed ranger for Wairio riding. The tender of Mr F. Brunton for maintenance gravelling on the Wild Bush road at 3/- a yard was accepted.