COUNTY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 21

COUNTY COUNCIL

PROPOSED TOURIST ROUTE ROAD TO CENTRAL OTAGO A meeting of the Southland County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs F. F. Trapski (chairman), W. M. Norman, G. W. Whittingham, A. S. McNaught, J. Dennis, G. Wraytt, J. McNeill and T. Golden. The following tenders for road maintenance were accepted:— Toetoes riding.—Pascoe road (Tokanui) metalling: J. W. Hagen, £75. Awarua and Wallacetown ridings.— Wrights Bush-Myross Bush district roads (maintenance gravel): J. Crooks' and Sons, £620 3/9. Wallacetown riding.—Otatara-West Plains, Collingwood district roads (gravel): J. Moylan, £341 2/1. A letter was received from the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) advising that he would investigate a request for a subsidy towards the cost of making improvements to the Parawa-Nokomai road with a view to ascertaining whether it were possible to assist at the present time. He promised a further reply as soon as he had secured additional information. At the request of the Southland Automobile Association, it was decided to erect flood level posts on that section of the Gorge-Waimahaka road which flooded badly. The association offered to paint and mark the posts. Advice of the visit to Southland of the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) was received and it was decided to meet the Minister on Tuesday evening and place matters before him. A deputation from the Tuapeka County Council, consisting of Messrs J. Bennetts (chairman), and R. F. Batchelor (clerk) waited on the council and sought support for a proposed tourist route from the northern end of Southland through Central Otago to Shingle Creek. Mr Bennetts said the proposal was to extend the Piano Flat road to the top of the Old Man Range and link up a road which had been constructed by the Tuapeka County Council. If the gap were bridged by road, it would open up big mining areas and bush reserves, besides making an ideal tourist road. Cr Dennis said he knew the country and considered that the work of putting a road through should be carried out without much difficulty. It was decided to bring the matter before the Minister of Lands during his visit to Invercargill. On the recommendation of the county engineer (Mr G. R. Milward) it was decided to clear the lower reaches of the Waimumu channel of gorse, willows and shingle.