WALLACE COUNTY RATES

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 18

WALLACE COUNTY RATES

Amounts For Current Year ROAD TOP-DRESSING IN AREA The following rates were struck for the current year at a special meeting of the Wallace County Council yesterday at Otautau: — .... A general rate of three-farthings in the £1 in Orepuki, Pourakmo, Waino and Waiau ridings. . Five-eighths of a penny in Apanma riding. , ... One half-penny in Otautau riding. Fifteen-sixteenths of a penny in Wairaki riding. . Seven-eighths of a penny in Mararoa riding. - ... One farthing, in Waimatuku riding. 'Charitable aid rate of three-eighths of a penny on the capital value of all rateable property. . . , Mrs Dryden, Colac Bay, inquired when the council was going to gravel her road as it was in a very bad state. It was decided that the writer be informed that a contract had been let for the work. Mr A. E. J. Reece, Colac Bay, wrote objecting to putting the culvert under the road if in any way it interfered with the working of his claim. It was decided that the writer' be informed that the culvert be put in subject to the solicitor’s approval. Mr F. Shepherd, secretary of the Orepuki Progressive League, wrote that the following matters required attention, and asked that the member for the riding and the engineer make an inspection: (1) The gorse and broom growing on the roads in and around the township; (2) the wretched condition of the footpaths; (3) the unfinished work of the grader in several streets; (4) the poor drainage of surplus water; (5) the unsafe access to the beach by way of the steps and others. It was decided that the member and engineer confer with the league. The secretary of the Southland Education Board wrote that Mr J. J. Gough, the architect, would interview Murphy Bros, and make the necessary arrangements about outfall drainage for the Pahia school glebe. Mr P. Blakie, Colac Bay, wrote stating that the fall had been brought up and requested that the culvert be lowered at his property, section 23, block 17, Jacobs River Hundred. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the member and engineer. Mrs J. Laing, The Rocks, Riverton, wrote that the ditch down the. side of her property required deepening and asked that the matter be investigated. She also drew attention to. the fact that there was a rubbish tip at the side of her door' on Cloughley’s property, and asked if anything could be done to prevent this. It was decided that the member and engineer inspect the locality. Mr Gordon L. Patrick, Riverton, drew attention to the fact that a Power Board pole had been placed in a position which obstructed his entrance from the road, and he asked that the council arrange with the authorities to have the pole replaced in another position. It was decided that the member and engineer inspect and report, j Mr J. F. Weir, secretary of the Thornbury branch of ’the New Zealand Fanners’ Union, wrote requesting that three safety zones be erected on each side of the bridge over the Aparima river at Thornbury. It was decided that the members and engineer look into the matter. Mr J. Allison, Drummond, wrote asking that an inspection be made of an outlet along the boundary between his property and Kennedy’s, as he had drains to put in in this locality. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the member and engineer. CONCRETE BRIDGES Mr H. C. Gimblett, clerk of the Southland County Council, wrote stating that his council considered that the Public Works policy in the construction of bridges in concrete was sound. His council realized that county councils had considerable difficulty in financing new bridges or reconstructed bridges in concrete in lieu of timber, but it felt that the wooden bridges with their limited life and costly upkeep were not an economical proposition.

The Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, wrote stating that the experience of his department was that concrete bridges could usually be constructed at about the same cost as timber bridges and in some cases had proved cheaper. Another important point was that all the materials for concrete bridges, except the steel reinforcement, were available in this pountry, whereas for timber bridges for the most part suitable material had to be imported from Australia. Taking all things into consideration, he considered that a change in the department’s policy was not justified where it could clearly be shown that it was a great deal more economical to erect in timber in any particular case, and where there was very little traffic consideration would be given to a proposal for a timber bridge. The chairman said that Cr McGregor was interviewing the Minister of Public Works and it was decided to hold over consideration until next meeting.

The resident engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr W. G. Pearce) wrote about the Orawia stream bridge, Feldwick, and said that before submitting any further proposals to the Minister the council should make a final decision on the requirements and submit this with a supporting report on the subject. As he saw the position, the completion of Edginton and Minty roads gave all the northern settlers access to rail and bus at Birchwood and the southern settlers could go to Orawia or Otautau, so that the provision of foot-bridges at each crossing for school children might serve requirements. It was possible, however, that the northern settlers used Orawia or Otautau as their centre, in which case one road bridge at the north and a foot-bridge at the south would suffice. He asked that the council make a decision as early' as possible. It was resolved that the matter be held over until next meeting.

The secretary of the Southland Education Board wrote that representations had been made to the board by Feldwick residents about the erection of a bridge over the Orawia stream at Feldwick. At the last meeting it was resolved that the architect confer with the county engineer and he asked that the conference take place when the engineer was ready. It was resolved that the request be granted. The Defence Department advised that the lease of the drill hall at Colac Bay expired in October. The clerk explained that a local committee had paid all dues on the hall and it was decided to write asking if the members wanted to renew the lease. A letter was received from the Post and Telegraph Department asking that the native bush on Korrell’s road be either removed or cut back.

Members expressed the opinion that the council should not be responsible for the clearing of native bush. Mr W. J. Cassidy, Orawia, requested that the culvert at Mr James Chamber-

lain’s corner be lowered, as the water was backing up and blocking his outfall. The member and engineer were delegated to inspect the locality. Mr E. J. McLauchlan, Invercargill, wrote suggesting that the growth on the roadside between Piko Piko and Tuatapere be cut away where there was a danger, and said it could be cut six feet back from the gravel. Like others he had admired the remnants of native bush on the flanks of the road between Pukemaori and Tuatapere. Cr Sim said that this would not meet with the requirements of the drivers of stock, who would want the growth cut back to the fence. From a scenic point of view it was good and it was eventually decided not to interfere with it unless it was necessary. Mr Stewart L. Fairhall, registered surveyor, Invercargill, forwarded a plan of the proposed Nightcaps extension No. 2, on the main metalled road to Wairio, and asked that the council give its consent. It was decided to grant the request MOSSBURN-KEY HIGHWAY Mr W. G. Pearce, the Main Highways Board’s representative on the No. 18 District Highways Council, wrote that the contractors were again working on the Mossburn-Key main highway and it was hoped it would be in fair order in the near future. Mr A. F. Speight, Redcliff station, Lumsden, drew attention to a piece of ungravelled road between Manapouri station and Whare creek, and asked that it be attended to. He had been assured by the Public Works Department that it would support a £2 for £1 grant for this work if it was sought. He also asked that a light dressing of gravel be put on the road to his sections at The Rocks to give him access. It was resolved that the request for gravelling be agreed to conditional on a grant being obtained and that the request for gravelling at The Rocks be granted. . The Hon. P. Fraser, Minister ■ of Health, acknowledged receipt of a letter conveying a resolution asking that ratepayers be relieved of the burden of hospital rates which had increased. He said it was anticipated that the provisions of the Social Security Bill when they came into operation, particularly those provisions about hospital board benefits, would have an important bearing on the amount of local body contributions and hospital board finances generally. He had been informed that the comparison between this year and last year was not correctly stated. According to a return received by the department the Hospital Board levy on the council for 1937-38 was £4562 11/8, and for 193839 £5762 3/- and it was realized that the increase was a very material one. Mr J. S. Dick, secretary of the Southland Progress League, forwarded the following letter from the Minister of Public Works about the BlackmountManapouri road: “The survey of this road has been completed, but because of pressure of urgent work in the department it has not been possible yet to assemble the survey information in proper form. In view of the fact that the Estimates for the financial year have been finalized and did not contain any provision for the construction of this road I regret that it is not possible to give a favourable reply to the request for an early commencement of this work.” The writer asked if the council would give favourable consideration to the matter of making this road passable for motor traffic during the summer months. Cr Roy said he had formed the opinion that it was not intended to complete this road, and it was decided that the Southland League be written to asking it to support the council in an endeavour to get something done. It was resolved that the expenses incurred by the inspector of noxious weeds in fumigating the rabbits at the Wreys Bush cemetery be paid. It was decided that the chairman, Cr McGregor, and the engineer be appointed delegates from the Wallace County Council to consider and, if thought fit, enact the new joint by-laws with the Southland County Council, the meeting to be held on September 16 at Invercargill. LAND IMPROVEMENT VOTE ( The Public Works Department, about the Land Improvement Vote, advised that the. following items appeared and proposals might be prepared and forwarded for approval: Papatotara ditch, £1 for £l, £5O; Pourakino river, clearing, £3 for £l, £360. It was resolved that the proposals be sent forward.

Tire chairman, clerk and engineer were appointed to attend a meeting of the Otago Counties Association in the Automobile Association (Otago) rooms. Mr Fairbrother, secretary of the Riverton Rocks Association, wrote about the section of the Riverton Rocks road which lay between the corner on the flat where “one way traffic” out began, and Howell’s Point, and asked that some improvement be carried out in the interests of public safety. His association would support the council in an application for a public grant. It was left in the hands of the member and engineer to inspect the locality. Cr Roy said that a tally of the traffic had been taken in the Lorne-Castle-rock road, which was hardly fair, as it should have been taken in the tourist season, and it was felt that they were at a disadvantage because of this being done. The engineer, Mr J. G. C. Baker, said that Cr Roy’s contention was that the tally should not be used to decide the fate of this road and he considered it ! was an unfair means of arriving at a | decision. ENGINEER’S REPORT The engineer (Mr J. G. C. Baker) submitted the following report: “Since last meeting the weather has been mild and dry, in fact, so dry that the year’s rainfall to the end of August is only half of what it I was for the same period last year, and j is considerably below the average for the first eight months of the year. Main roads are in fair condition, but others are not so good. In places the surfaces are rough and in others the metal crust is very thin. More attention and topdressing is, therefore, required on other roads than main highways. Serious river erosion is taking place along 20 chains of the west bank of the Oreti river at Josephville, and the new flood bank at this place is threatened and remedial measures Being urgent, Cr Roy, with the consent of the main highways engineer, has arranged for pine tree and willow protection work along the river bank at this place, and the work is now under way. About the request from the committee of the Riverton District High School for repairs to the county portion of the footpath leading to the school, Cr Pinckney has arranged for the necessary work to be done. In connection with the request of Mrs M. Muirhead, a Riverton Harbour Board Endowment lessee, for one mile of metalling along one chain right-of-way, being the continuation of the county road that stops I at the south-west corner of section 13, block 24, Jacobs River Hundred,. Cr Pinckney advises that if the Riverton Harbour Board, the owner of the endowment, will convert the right-of-way into a public road, the council will do what it can in the way of formation and metalling. Regarding Mr Davis’s ap- J plication that the ditch fronting the: Wreys Bush hotel be filled in and the creek diverted above the hotel to the east side of the road, Cr Macdonald inspected and decided that because of the amount of extra piping required he I could not do the work if the council had to be responsible for the whole of the cost. In connection with Hamilton and Company’s request for repairs to the metalled portion of Waimotu road

south of Mr Dean’s place, Cr Sim inspected and arranged for the repairs to be done. The preparatory work in connection with the various small sealing jobs in the county is now under way. With the permission of the district engineer of railways, the council has reduced the abruptness in the approaches to the level crossing on the Gropers Bush-Waimatuku main highway at Waimatuku. The result has been a considerable improvement for road traffic.”

The report was adopted, and it was decided to ask Mr Davis to contribute half the cost towards the filling-in of the ditch in front of the Wreys Bush hotel and the diversion of the creek. There were present at the meeting: Crs W. B. Hopcroft, A. Roy, E. K. Sim, B. C. Horrell, D. D. Macdonald, H. J. Pinckney, D. Teviotdale and A. Gould.