MATAURA

Southland Times, Issue 23388, 21 December 1937, Page 15

MATAURA

TENDERS FOR BRIDGE STEEL TO BE ORDERED The reply of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to a letter from the council about the Mataura bridge was received at the monthly meeting of the Mataura Borough Council. The Minister expressed regret that more favourable tenders had not been received for the work but it had been decided to place an order for the steel. It took from four to five months to have steel delivered, however, and even then the position was somewhat uncertain. It was proposed to call tenders again, with the closing date coinciding as nearly as possible with the delivery of the steel. On the basis of the lowest tender, the total cost of the bridge would be about £12,060. This amount covered the cost of demolishing the old bridge and also the cost of the approaches of the proposed new bridge. The Main Highways Board’s share of this would be £2 for £1 on £lO,OOO and £3 for £1 on £2060. This would leave £3,848 to be found by the local bodies concerned. It was asked whether the council could arrange for money to meet the cost. The Mayor said that the original estimate was £BOOO. Cr Hutton: I think we could lower the arches and reduce the cost. Cr Clark: You can’t dictate to the engineer. Cr Hargest: This business has been going on for a long time, and now we are asked to pay our share of the increase. The position is ridiculous. Why did they not accept the lowest tender. “The Mihister of Public Works stated that if tenders were too high, the department would carry on with the job,” said Cr McKelvie. “I think we should demand an inspection of the bridge. The dry wood is soft and the whole bridge is a menace to life. Cr McKelvie then moved that the town clerk write to the Minister asking for an immediate inspection of the bridge, and at the same time informing the Minister that finance for the new bridge could be arrangd and this was carried. There were present: The Mayor (Mr J. Buchanan) and Crs J. P. McErlean, C. H. Hargest, R. Hutton, A. Bradley, M. Walker, L. McKelvie. J. McAlister, D. Coster and J. H. Clark.

Shifting of Fence

The resident engineer of the Public Works Department, Invercargill, wrote stating that it had been decided to proceed with the shifting of the fence between the freezing works crossing and the borough boundary on the Gore-Invercargill highway. It was proposed to call tenders for the actual shifting of the fence at an early date, but it was suggested that it would be advisable to have the borough staff carry out the work of grading the new area of roadway and also the. laying of the culvert extensions. Provided a satisfactory price was obtained and approved by the department, the borough contractor could do the necessary fillings, which would amount to about 500 cubic yards, but a suitable tally should be kept. The pipes for the culverts would be railed to Mataura. Cr Clark Objected to the letter and enclosed plan not being put before the works committee. The same thing had happened with the repairing of the bridge, he said. It was not a fair th The Town Clerk explained that the repairs to the bridge hanger had taken place after the last meeting of the works committee. Cr Clark: I’m always about. Its happening too often. The report of the foreman stated: “The flanks of all the highways in the borough have been graded and the •sealed surface of Main street, between Dover and Bristol streets, has been widened, 400 sp. yds of two-coat sea l” ing being put down. Forty-five and a-half chains of new footpaths have been sealed, the total area sealed being 2213 sq. yds, and 92 chains of old footpaths have been top-dressed, the total area being 6000 sq. yds. The work of widening McQueen avenue is proceeding satisfactorily. The drainage connection to the dairy factory from the Blampied street sewer has been completed. “The water reservoir has been inspected frequently during the month to take readings of the depth of water, and the reservoir has been cleaned out. A leaking valve in Waimumu road was repaired and the main in Scott street was blown off at the dead-end. A water meter has been installed in various extraordinary service lines to test the consumption of water on these supply lines. A concrete basin has been made for the fountain in the Forth street reserve, and a sump-hole dug and filled, with rock and drains cut, in the adjoining part of the reserve.” Cr McKelvie said he was of the opinion that the arranging of the foreman’s work was not satisfactory and as chairman of the water and drainage committee he would like to see an improvement. Water and drainage would have to receive more attention from the foreman than at present. He was not criticizing the foreman’s work, but the arranging of it. After further discussion the report was adopted. Rail Connection

Cr Hargest raised the question of a direct rail connection with the Lakes district. At present passengers could not connect with the Queenstown train unless they travelled to Gore in the 9 a.m. train. He moved that the town clerk write to the Railway Department pointing out the position and asking for a remedy. The motion was carried. Discussing the appointment of an engineer, Cr McKelvie suggested that it might be possible to amalgamate with the Gore borough and have one engineer. Cr Bradley moved that a committee consisting of Crs McKelvie, Hutton and Clark meet the Gore Borough Council to see if an agreement could be reached. This was seconded by Cr McKelvie and carried.

It was decided that the street lights would remain on longer during the holiday period. A letter from the certifying officer, Gore, advised that the Department of Labour had approved of the work of widening the roadway in McQueen avenue and constructing footpaths in Oakland and Lorn streets being done under scheme No. 5 conditions.

BOY SCOUT PARADE

The Mataura Boy Scout Troop under Captain Pauling held a demonstration parade recently to which the parents were invited. General scout work, including signalling, knot-tying, first aid. ground demonstration of life-saving and so on, was shown and was enthusiastically applauded by those present. A feature of the evening’s entertainment was a display of mat tumbling and parallel bar work given by the boys. Several speakers expressed the appreciation of the parents, who realized, it was stated, that the work of Captain Pauling and his assistants was of inestimable value in helping the boys

to form good habits. During the evening, Patrol Leader Poskitt, on behalf of the scouts, presented Captain Pauling with a clock on the occasion of his approaching marriage. The troop journeyed to Invercargill during “Learn to Swim” week and tile knowledge gained should be of great value to the members. TENNIS A match between St. Patrick’s (Gore) and Mataura A played at Mataura on Saturday, was full of interest and was undecided until the last doubles were played. St. Patrick’s won by nine sets, 94 games to seven sets, 96 games. Results, St. Patrick’s names first, were:— Women’s Singles.—Miss B. Collins lost to Miss Knowles, 1-7; Miss M. Hoffman lost to Miss P. Calder, 1-7; Miss J. Taylor lost to Mrs R. Calder, 0-7;' Miss D. Schultz beat Miss A. Adam, 7-3.

Men’s Singles.—R. Hensley beat V. Alderson, 9-4; B. Brownlie beat J. Davies, 9-8; J. Walders beat E. Newman, 9-4; L. Giles beat W. Norton, 9-6. Women’s Doubles.—Misses Collins and Hoffman lost to Misses I. Knowles and P. Calder, 5-7; Misses Taylor and Schultz lost to Mrs R. Calder and Miss Adam, 3-7. Men’s Doubles.—Hensley and Brownlie beat Alderson and Davies, 9-6; Walders and Giles lost to Newman and Norton, 5-9. Mixed Doubles.—Miss Collins and Hensley beat V. Alderson and I. Knowles, 7-5; Miss Hoffman and Brownlie beat Davies and Miss Calder, 7-3; Miss Taylor and Walders beat Newman and Mrs Calder, 7-6; Miss Schultz and Giles lost to Norton and Miss Adam, 6-7.