WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23828, 27 May 1939, Page 4

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL

IMPROVEMENTS TO ROADS REQUESTS RECEIVED FROM RATEPAYERS Before vacating the chair at the statutory meeting of the Wallace County Council, Cr W. B. Hopcroft thanked members for their assistance and cooperation. He also thanked the engineer, clerk and staff for the courteous and obliging maimer in which they had carried out their duties. Cr W. J. A. McGregor, who .was appointed chairman for the ensuing year, congratulated Cr Hopcroft on the manner in which he had carried out his duties. Other officials elected were: Chairman of Finance Committee, Cr B. C. Horrell; signing officers, Crs A. Gould, H. J. Pinckney and B. C. Horrell; representative on Main Highways District Council, Cr W. B. Hopcroft. The ordinary meeting of the council was then held. Mr H. Popham, Orepuki, applied for the grazing rights of part of Surrey street to Falls Creek from Dudley street. He offered 5/- a year.—lt was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the member and engineer with power to act. . Mr R. Muldrew, secretary of the Tuatapere School Committee, wrote asking that the footpath be extended to the northern end of the school ground. He stated that the road at this point was fairly low-lying.—lt was decided that the request be granted. The Automobile Association (Southland) wrote asking whether some improvements could be made to the parking arrangements at Riverton Rocks, as there was considerable congestion every week-end, frequently to .the annoyance of property owners. Attention was also drawn to the quantities of rubbish and tins which were allowed to accumulate. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the engineer, in collaboration with the inspector, with power to act. Mr E. A. Curran (Waipango) wrote asking the council when some action would be taken to erect the new bridge for which die ratepayers had been agitating for years. He stated that the Waipango road was the worst in Southland. If the council did not take action immediately he intended to write to the Minister of Transport.—lt was decided that the writer be informed that plans had been sent to Wellington. . . Mrs E. Feaver (Otautau), applied for the grazing of part of the roadline running parallel with George street from the old slaughter house to the first roadline on to George street. It was decided that the member and engineer attend to the matter. Messrs W. M. Barker and C. W. Lay (Orawia) asked the council to give them some assistance by doing a little ditching and also to clean out the ditches already on the roadline leading and adjacent to sections 137. 132, 133, 134, 135 and 136, in the Waiau riding.— It was resolved that the writers be informed that the matter would be attended to. Mr A. W. L. Dickson (Blackmount) asked that the road leading to his property be attended to immediately ,as it was just a mud track at present. The writer said that this road was promised two years ago.—lt was decided to inform the writer that a contract had been let and that the contractor be urged to carry out the work. Mr E. Moseby (Nightcaps) drew attention to the bad state of the Night-caps-Ohai road, and asked that it be attended to.—lt was resolved that the writer be informed that the road is being attended to. The secretary of the Mossbum branch of tiie Farmers’ Union wrote asking the council to appoint a ranger for the Mossburn district to keep stock off the roads.—The council did not approve of the appointing of a ranger, but it was decided that' the matter would be attended to by the traffic inspector. Mr R. Robinson (“The Keys,” Lumsden) drew'attention to the road leading into his property. He stated that one mile of the road had been graded 12 months ago, and he requested that a Government grant be applied for to get the road gravelled and finished.— It was decided to apply for a Government grant of £2 for £l. The chairman was appointed to attend the conference of the New Zealand Counties Association on July 26. It was decided to make a donation of £3/3/- to the Crippled Children Society. Cr Sim was appointed to represent the council on the Southland Progress League, and it was resolved to make a donation of £lO towards the funds of the league. ENGINEER’S REPORT The engineer (Mr J. G. C. Baker) reported as follows: The weather has continued dry and road surfaces are, with one or two exceptions, up to their usual standard for this time of the year. Small sealing jobs in various parts of the county and in the Riverton borough and the Otautau Town Board were completed on May 2. The provision for maintenance by the contractor is, however, still in force. The plans and specifications for the proposed new reinforced concrete bridge over the Pourakino river have been completed and forwarded to the Public Works Department. Tenders will be called as soon as possible. Cr B. C. Horrell has decided to make and metal the steep, side-cutting down the terrace to give access for owners of fishing. craft at Pahia to the foreshore if a Government grant can be secured on a £2 for £1 basis. As a result of Mr W. A. Ott’s application for motor-car access from the adjoining metalled roadway to his section frontage at the Rocks, Cr Hopcroft met Mr Ott on the ground and explained that it was the council’s policy to regard work of this nature as the responsibility of the property owners. The report was adopted.