OHAI RAILWAY

Southland Times, Issue 22770, 21 December 1935, Page 24

OHAI RAILWAY

MEETING OF BOARD OFFICERS’ REPORTS (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Ohai Railway Board was held at Wairio on Wednesday. Mr D. D. McDonald presided over the following members: Messrs W. Excell, G. Tinker, W. Crawford, G. Edie, E. Davis and L. S. Edmond. The general manager, Mr A. W. Rodger, and the traffic manager, Mr R. Donnelly, were also present. The traffic manager reported as follows: The permanent way gang has surfaced and cleared the track between Ohai and Wairio. A number of faulty soft wood sleepers on No. 1 Section were removed and replaced with hardwoods. The gang is at present working on the extension restoring the condition of the track there and destroying gorse and broom growing along the line. One of the wheels of the Leyland engine was found to be moving on its axle on the 9th inst and had to be sent to Invercargill for attention. The Leyland resumed running on the 13th inst. During the holiday period the board’s offices at Wairio and Ohai will be closed on Saturday, the 21sf inst, and will reopen on Monday, January 6. In his report the general manager stated: The aggregate quantity of coal hauled over the railway between April 1 and December 14 shows an increase of 1509 tons when compared with the corresponding period of last year. This result has been attained notwithstanding the fact that the quantity of coal consigned to consumers in the Southland area shows a considerable decrease due to the very marked increase in road transport. Immediately after the last meeting of the board steps were taken to arrange a conference of all the coal owners making use fo the board’s railway at which members of the board could be present with the object of adopting an agreement regarding the road transport of coal. It was found to be impracticable to get all the coal owners together within a reasonable time and it, was decided that the Coal Owners’ Association, with the board’s solicitors, should finalize the agreement and have it submitted to each coal company individually for approval and execution, then to the board. Such agreement has been executed by all the coal companies. It was also submitted to the chairman and four members of the. board whose authority was obtained to execute the deed on its behalf and a resolution confirming this action will be submitted to the meeting to-day. The necessity for haste arose out of the desire of the coal owners to put the agreement into force on January 1 and at the same time to give the owners of the lorries timely notice by advertisement of their intention to do so, and this has been done. The existing contract for the supply of coal for the board’s use expires on December 31. It is desirable that these contracts should coincide with the board’s financial year, i.e., April 1 to March 31. I would recommend, therefore, that commencing immediately after the holidays further tests of the different coals should be made and later tenders called for supplies, the new contract to date from April 1 next. The electors’ rolls for the. subdivisions of Ohai, Waiau and Wairaki and the coal owners’ roll have been open for inspection since the 3rd inst. Certain amendments to these rolls will be submitted to the board for consideration. The reports were adopted. Prior to the conclusion of the meeting the chairman extended to board members and staff seasonal greetings. .■ These were reciprocated by Mr ExcelT on behalf of board members and Mr Rodger on behalf of executive officers and the board’s staff.