WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23988, 1 December 1939, Page 12

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL

ROAD FROM CLIFDEN TO MANAPOURI minister disagrees with PROPOSAL

At the monthly meeting of the Wallace County Council at Otautau, Mr J. S. Dick, secretary of the Southland Progress League, forwarded a reply from the Minister of Public Works about the Clifden-Manapouri road. Mr Semple .said he had agreed to obtain a report on the position particularly from the Wallace County Council’s proposal to spend £4245 in forming and metalling a “light” road. Additional infonnation had been gathered, and the Minister said it did appear that it might not be altogether advisable to proceed with such a small expenditure. Generally he felt that the best manner of viewing the proposal was as a national _ work.He regretted he could not see his way to agree to the proposal. Cr McGregor said he was quite in accord with the Minister that this work should not be proceeded with when die country was at war, but he hoped that it would be kept in mind as a national work later on. The Haast Pass road wafe another job which should, have been suspended long ago, as it was a tremendous waste of money. Cr McGregor considered that settlers in the backblocks deserved better access but they could not get the money to keep the bridges and roads in order. . Cr Sim suggested that in view of the dangerous state of the bridges on the Wairaki-Blackmount road and the certainty of deviation or variation of the present road taking place the attention of the Public Works Department be drawn to the urgency of the traffic requirements of the road, and that it be asked to make an inspection and report on the state of the bridges in

that locality. ’ A resolution to that effect was car- ( Mr William Todd, Pukemaori, drew attention to the fact that the pipe in ■ the culvert through the road nearest his gate was too small, and asked that a larger one be put in. It was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the member and engineer.. LORRY PERMIT Mr H. McDonald, Tuatapere, applied for a permit from the council to run a loaded lorry on the Blackmount road. It was decided that the request could not be complied with, Cr Korrell stating that transport was a big item in that area, and the bridges were not strong enough to carry it. On the other hand it was the business of the council to provide roads that would carry traffic and a comprehensive scheme m regard to bridges would have to be gone into as they were in an indifferent state everywhere. Cr McGregor said they were endeavouring to make the bridges last as long as possible. This road, he said, should have been a main highway, but the Government had refused the request and the council could not take the risk. It seemed the height of; stupidity to put concrete bridges on a road which was not’going to be a publie one, and settlers in the backblocks were being penalized on this account. Mr W. Pearce, board’s representative, No. 18 District Highways Council, acknowledged the letter of the council advising that Cr Sim had inspected the Waiau river bridge and favoured the construction of the footway on the south side. The writer stated that there had been considerable correspondence about the site, and representations had been made by several parties with a view to having the footpath on the 'north side. He said that apparently the matter was reviewed principally in regard to the safety of school children, and it was considered that with the footway on the south side, children would have to pass the entrances to the dairy factory, which was thought to be .more dangerous than crossing the road. The weight of opinion in Tuatapere, so far as he could judge, favoured the north side, and consequently he would be pleased to know if Cr Sim would agree to this course being adopted. Mr R. Muldrew, secretary of the Tuatapere School Committee, forwarded a petition, signed by 200 residents, stating that the better side to erect the I bridge was definitely on the north side. Cr Sim agreed to the proposal conditional on no counter-petition of greater weight coming forward, and stated that the council was anxious to 1 do what was the wish of the majority 1 of the people. 1 The application of Mr A. J. Neas, ; Happy Valley, to have the ditch along * the road cleaned out was left to the member and engineer to deal with. Mr F. Shearing, Waipango, applied . for permission to cut a right-of-way in the off road near his property. It was I resolved that the engineer deal with • the matter, in consultation with Cr ' Hopcroft.

DANGEROUS BRIDGE Cr Roy stated that the surfaceman had informed him that the Hamilton Burn bridge was in a dangerous state, and the engineer was directed to make an inspection and report to next meeting. The chairman was authorized to confer with the Nightcaps Town Board, the Otautau Town Board and the Riverton Borough Council about the nomination of a successor to the late Miss H. L. Hunt on the Southland Hospital Board. The chairman, Cr Horrell and the engineer were appointed to wait on the Public Works Department about the bridge at Colac and the Rurikaka culvert. , The resident engineer, Public Works Department, Invercargill, notified that the request of the council about the work on the Wallace County section of the Lorne-Riverton State highway being done by the council’s grader had been agreed to in the meantime, but notified that after the completion of the reconstruction contract the department would probably take over the grading with a view to keeping the road in true shape prior to sealing. It was resolved that the letter be received. . Mr W. Pearce, the boards representative No. 18 District Highway Council, notified that at a meeting of the Main Highways Board the delegation of powers to the Southland and Wallace counties had been formally revoked in connection with the Lorne-Riverton State Highway. The letter was received. , , , Mr McConnochie, Nightcaps, drew attention to the state of the clay road from the bridge to Knox’s, as this was his only outlet to the paddocks leading to Morley village. It was decided to advise the writer that the grader would put the road in order in the meantime and that a grant would be applied for for the work. Mr D. J. Wesney, acting secretary, Automobile Association (Southland), wrote stating that his committee had discussed the very bad corrugations on the road between Flaxy Creek Junction and Manapouri. As there was likely to be a considerable amount of tourist traffic in that district during the Christmas holidays he asked if it would be possible to have a grader put over the road before the season began. It was decided that the writer be referred

to the Public Works Department, as the road was under its control. CENTENNIAL SUBSIDY Mr W. F. Sturman, secretary, Southland Provincial Centennial Council, forwarded a letter from the Mimster of Internal Affairs, about a resolution adopted by the council, suggesting that for the reason that the country w now at war the Government extend the closing date for the receipt of applications for the centennial subsidy. The Minister stated that as initial applications for the subsidy need not be lodged before March 31, 1940, andt that further applications may be lodged a additional funds were raised up w

March 31, 1941, it was not necessary to consider an extension of the period at th The of Transport wrote stating that the question of heavy traffic fees on farmers’ trucks was at P ra ?" net under the consideration of tne Government, and he was endeavouring to arrange for an early decision. : It was decided to make a donation ot £3/3/- towards the cost of running the Southland Children’s Health Camp. It was resolved to ask the Kyver , Borough Council to legalize Bickley-s road in order that the grant of £ZUU may be spent.

ENGINEER’S REPORT The engineer, Mr J. G. C. Baker submitted the following report: bmee last meeting the weather has continued mild, and road conditions are therefore as usual or normal for this time of the year. . “On November 2 the chan-man (.cr W. J. A. McGregor) and Cr. Pinckney interviewed the Public Works Department about the following matters: (1) The arrangement between the department and the council for allowing the working of the council’s Waimatuku riding motor-grader on the Thorn-bury-Riverton section of the State highway now under construction by the Main Highways Board, and a letter from the Public Works engineer explains the position; (2) the matter or crushed gravel costs. In this matter I have made out a separate report with schedule of costs. . “On November 27 I accompanied the Public Works engineer in an inspection of parts of the west bank of the Oreti river at Stag Creek from opposite Walker road, where the river is now breaking on to the main highway, thence up stream for some 2J miles to the tree and willow protection work done by Mr Carran, and the engineer recommends a 50-chain flood bank and willow planting opposite Walker road; willow planting and repairs to existing flood bank opposite Mr Nelson’s stable, and further willow planting at Carran’s tree and willow, work further up. The willow planting at this latter place is also to be extended some eight chains at the down, stream end. I estimate the cost of this work at £5OO, and plans and specifications will have to be prepared and approved by the department before the work can be started. The scarifying work is proceeding on various parts of the Night-caps-Ohai section of the Winton-Ohai main highway, and a large amount of over-size stone has been removed. “The contract for the erection of the Pourakino river bridge has been let to the Butler Construction Company. The contract is for the bridge only. The cpntracts for the approaches will be arranged later. Bath road, at its junction with the main highway adjoining the Jacob’s river bridge at Gummies Bush, has been raised, and guard rails are to be erected as a guide for traffic. Filling for this work was got by improving the bend on the main highway opposite Howell street, Danieltown.” The report was adopted. , The chairman extended the season’s greetings to the councillors, the staff and the Press, these being reciprocated ; by Cr Tevidtdale and Mr G. B. Burns • (clerk). ; Those present at the meeting were: I Crs W. J. A. McGregor (chairman), : E. K. Sim, A. Roy, D. D. Macdonald, : A. Gould, H. J. Pinckney, D. Teviot- ! dale and B. C. Horrell.