Winton COUNCIL MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 23000, 21 September 1936, Page 4

Winton COUNCIL MEETING

Construction Of Highways

At the three-weekly meeting of the Winton Borough Council the Mayor, Mr T. Walker, presided over Crs W. D. McArthur, N. Metzger, F. Tilley, R. C. Stenhouse and T. N. Eastlake. The Mayor extended a welcome to Cr Eastlake, who had been elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Cr Watson. Mr Walker said that Cr Eastlake had shown confidence in the town, and, as a young member, considered he would be an energetic worker in the interests of the borough. Cr Eastlake returned thanks and said that he would do his best at all times and work harmoniously as a councillor.

Lorne-Castlcrock Road.

A letter was received from the District Highways Council approving of a copy of the proposals in connection with the reconstruction of the Winton Borough section of the Lorne-Castle-rock main highway. An authority to cover the Main Highways Board’s portion of the cost, amounting to £849 6/9, being a £3 for £1 subsidy, was also received. The borough surveyor, Mr G. St. V. Keddell, forwarded plans, specifications, estimates and general conditions of the contract for the reconstruction of the Great North Road and sought the council’s permission to call for tenders. Cr Metzger said that on the occasion of a recent visit of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to Southland, it had been promised that when the Government took over the highways, Winton and Bluff roads were to be the first attended to. Since that time, however, the council had had proposals for attention to the main thoroughfare. The amount allowed on the estimates was not sufficient to meet the estimated cost of the work, according to the contract prices to complete the work in a year. Approximately the cost to the borough would be £7OO, while the council had only allowed for the scarifying of the road, which was half the job. If the road were scarified in readiness for sealing, it would mean that an ordinary mettle _ dusty road would have to be put up with for about twelve months. The council had not, however, made provision for the completion of the work by way of cost.

It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the works committee to submit a report at the next meeting. Mr P. A. Blyth, Winton, applied for something to be done to the roadway in front of his premises, this portion being in a bad state. The letter also drew attention to the broken electric bulbs on the south road. The letter was referred to the works committee with power to act. Mr John Stenhouse, owing to health reasons, tendered his resignation as caretaker of the rose gardens and for other borough work which he had been carrying out. The resignation was accepted and it was decided tc call applications later for a caretaker for the various reserves and the cemetery. Unsatisfactory Lighting Reference to the unsatisfactory state of the lighting system at present was made by several members and it was decided that the Power Board be written to inquiring when the council’s new scheme was likely to be completed. The Reserves Committee reported on the request for removal of the trees on the Great North Road. The associate members had not been willing to express an opinion on the removal of the trees and considered it was a matter for the council to decide. Cr McArthur was of the opinion that the Council should prepare for the replacement of the trees in another year. Cr Tilley, a member of the Reserves Committee, moved that the gum tree nearest Mrs Walsh’s residence be removed. He said that he had considered the.matter from all viewpoints and felt that it was the duty of the council to remove certain of the trees in the interests of the ratepayers. The motion lapsed for the want of a seconder and Cr McArthur’s suggestion was adopted.