WYNDHAM

Southland Times, Issue 23768, 16 March 1939, Page 13

WYNDHAM

TOWN BOARD MAIN HIGHWAYS SEALING At the monthly meeting of the Wyndham Town Board there were present: Crs S. Harper (chairman), A. A. Wilson, T. K. Clarke, A. T. Heydon, C. G. Davey, S. Clarke and H. Hunter. The chairman briefly welcomed Cr Heydon to the table. Cr Heydon replied. . The chairman said he had made inquiries from the county representative about the road to the beach at Fortrose and had been informed that the County Council already had the matter in hand. Consideration of the fire-fightmg scheme was held over till next meeting pending further information coming to hand. The Southland County Council wrote advising that it was unable to make any reduction in the board’s estimated allocation of £912 18/- towards the cost of reconstructing the bridge at Menzies Ferry. The Public Works Department, Invercargill, wrote about the board’s desire to complete the sealing of the main highways in the town within the next two years. The length was stated to be about two miles and a-half. The Main Highways Board was in sympathy with the proposal, but would prefer the whole of the work to be completed in one contract next season. This would involve the preparation of proposals as soon as possible so that the contract could be let and any preparation work required done during the winter. If the board was likely to experience any difficulty in. financing its quarter share of the sealing, either from loan or revenue, the Main Highways Board would be prepared to consider lending it its share over a short period. The chairman said the letter was the result of the Main Highways Board’s recent visit to the town. The distance quoted was on the high side, as he considered it would be under a mile, the portions to be done being from Ferguson Brothers’ stables to the show grounds in Balaclava street and from the Balaclava intersection to McLauchlan’s corner in Ferry street. As would be noted the Highways Board wanted the work completed in one contract next year, and' this would mean they would have to make a start with the preparatory . work almost immediately. Any difficulty in the cage of finance would be met by the Highways Board by way of a loan over a number of years. He thought they should secure an engineer to prepare plans straight away, as he understood the contractors would be bituminizing near Edendale next year and if they had their preparations made the contractors could do the work while in the district. On the previous estimate the cost to the board should not be more than £2OO. Cr Hunter said the previous work had cost about £9OO a mile. There was less than a mile to be done now. The chairman said they should notify the Highways Board that it was intended to proceed with the bituminizing. They received a £3 for £1 subsidy on the work, which included all expenses incurred, including surveying. Cr Wilson said it would be a good idea to have the stretch in Redan street between Balaclava and Alma streets surveyed, with a view to having it done at a later date. The chairman agreed with this, remarking that most of the heavy traffic now came down Redan street, and Cr Hunter also supported the proposal. Cr Heydon suggested bituminizing the whole of the intersection on Balaclava street fronting Burns Brothers’ garage as this would cost only a little more, but Cr Hunter pointed out that they would not get a subsidy for anything done off the main highway. It was finally decided that Mr E. G. Wilson, Gore, be asked to prepare an estimate of the work required on the main highways in Balaclava and Ferry street arid also the portions of Redan street mentioned and that portion of Alma street from Redan street to Ferry street. ' The chairman was authorized to call a meeting of citizens to discuss holding a demonstration for the physical fitness campaign. The Finance Committee was instructed to go into the question of extra remuneration for the town clerk because of extra work entailed with the unemployment and report to next meeting. The chairman reported that men on unemployed work would cease at the end of the month, by which time it was hoped to have practically all the paths in the town concreted. Cr Wilson referred to the bad state of the paths in the business area of Balaclava street. These had been topdressed recently, he said, but were in a very rough state and needed some attention. Cr T. K. Clarke said he would not favour top-dressing the paths again. They should aim at having them concreted. The chairman said the cost of this would be beyond them at present. Other streets needed re-laying first. It was pointed out that the paths were uneven and had been top-dressed with coarse gravel. This would be hard to level out. No action was taken. Cr Heydon was appointed to fill the vacancies on the Hall Committee and the Reserves Committee. GORE RETURNED SOLDIERS At a meeting of the executive of the Gore Returned Soldiers’ Association the secretary (Mr G. L. Gerken reported that the financial membership of the association now stood at 474, compared with 453 last meeting night and 493 at the same period last year. In the competition between the West Otago and Mataura Sub-Associations, West Otago was leading with 75 ’financial members, compared with Mataura’s 48. One new member was elected. Those present at the meeting were:— Messrs T. F. Rusbridge (chairman), J. McDonald, A. L. McDowell, E. J. Columb, A. C. Steel, M. Green, R. Jones, F. M. Murray, P. R. Stewart, C. M. Wilson, J. Adams and G. L. Gerken (secretary).