LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 6

LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

YESTERDAY’S MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Levels County Council was held in Timaru yesterday. Present—Messrs T. B. Garrick (chairman, R. G. Oleland, I). Grant, CL D. Selbie, C. E. Kerr and T. W. Brosnahan. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT.

The chairman said the Council had ended its financial year with a credit balance, which lie, thought was very satisfactory, considering all the expenditure that had had to be met. The position was a longway bettor than had been anticipated. Tho debit balance on March 2 stood at £I6OB/0/5, interest on overdraft during the month amounted to £169/2/6, and other amounts brought tho total debit to £l9Ol Ss 2d. The cash received during the month amounted to £4150/17/4, anti this gave them a credit of £2249/9/2. Accounts to lie passed that day totalled £1737/7/3, and when these were paid, the credit would be £512/1/11. The principal items in the receipts for the month were; Main Highways Board £2lOl 0s lid; Government grants £450; Geraldine County Council (upkeep) £lO3/15/10; Waimate County Council (upkeep) £156/16/1; rates £333/9/7; heavy traffic license fees £554/10/8; drivers’ license fees £I2S/10/-; dog registration fees £67/15/-; .deposits £lO/10/-; rents £7/13/9; interest on overdue rates £36/15/6. The chairman further reported that he had inspected Agnew's ford, [.where a grave mistake had been [ made at some time. It seemed to him that the only thing to do was.to turn the water hack, as suggested by their engineer. Mr Maze (chairman of the Pleasant Point Town Board) had asked him if the Council would sell their old stable at the Point. Mr Garrick said he thought they might have the pound, stables, yard, and cottage valued and get an offer for the lot. The pound was not used more than about three times a year, and as they had a new shed and a new stable, it seemed to him 'hut they might as well sell the ohi one. The 'County Clerk (Mr F. E. Whitehead) said the law made it compulsory to have a pound in the district, and this being so, it was decided that the chairman should inter- : view Mr Maze with a view to ascertaining whether tho Town Board would take over the pound and all - the old buildings, as they stand.

BROOKLAND’S HILL. Mr F. Langboin (chairman of the Main Highways Hoard) wrote approving of the Council’s proposal for a 3 3ft roadway deviation at Brookland’s Hill, Pareora, with guard rails. The work could not he treated as a major deviation, and the Board’s subsidy would be £1 for £l. Mr Kerr said that the Highways Board were hoarding their money, and in this matter they had pone hack on their word. They had held tho work up and caused the Council to lose money over it. • Mr Selbie: “Too much shuffling.” The Chairman suggested that they should write to the Highways Board informing them that if they would not give a subsidy of 30/- for 20/the Council could not go on with the work. 1 It was decided to adopt this course. Mr Langbein also wrote approving of the Council’s proposals for bitumen sealing between Kingsdown Church and Brookland’s Hill, provided tho Council submitted samples of Rcsinex and bitumen, and supplied him with an amended schedule. The chairman said that Hie work was in progress; and Mr Kerr said that a good job was being made of it. LOWER PAREORA BRIDGE. With regard to the lower Pareora bridge, tho chairman of the Main Highways Board wrote that progress I with the erection of the •mow bridge] did not appear to be rapid. The next move rested with the controlling County Council, or with the several Councils concerned in the matter. Application, should he made to the Minister of Public Works to set lip a Commission to assess the proportions in which the cost of the new bridge should he borne by the authorities concerned. The Council’s solicitors (Raymond, .Raymond and Campbell) advised that it is fov tho Highways Board to make the first move, and not the County Council. Tho County Clerk had written asking the Board to definitely settle the Question as to who is responsible for the allocation of the costs in connection with the erection of the new bridge. He also brought under notice the present dangerous condition of the bridge. The Council had for many months been most anxious that the work should be proceeded with, and was now being blamed for its apparent apathy in regard to the long delay. He asked that the matter be given immediate attention. The chairman said it seemed as if they were never going to get any further with tho matter. Other members concurred, and the hope was expressed that the Highways Board will no longer delay the matter. CORRESPONDENCE. The Department of Health asked the Council to increase their contribution to the salary of the district health inspector, from £54 to £BO per annum. It was decided to offer £64 per annum. Ten. Seadown ratepayers wrote asking that Hie back Swamp road be widened so that two vehicles could pass on it. It was decided that the matter be referred to the County engineer, for a report at next meeting. Mr A. W. Cargill, Waitawa, Levels, applied for permission to raise water for drinking, by wind-mill, from the w a t e r - r a c e. —Agreed to. The Town Clerk, Timaru, wrote asking the County Council to increase from 2/G to 3/6, the charge for testing motor drivers.—Agreed to. Mr R. Wisely, Cave, wrote asking for a heavy traffic bridge over the creek leading to his homestead and offering £3 0 towards the cost. It was decided to ask Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., whether a Government subsidy could be obtained. The Mt. Cook Motor Company wrote inviting the chairman, deputy--chairman and engineer to be the Company's guest 3 at the Mt. Cook Hermitage, from Saturday. April 30, to Tuesday, May 3. With the idea of promoting an open .discussion- on back country roads, and in the hope of getting further assistance froin the /Government, in making ' tourist routes more attractive, they were asking representatives of Levels, Wattaki, Mackenzie, Vincent and Lake counties to .meet and discuss, the matter. ~ .. It was decided-to accept the invitation. SPEEDING-. A discussion took place concerning speeding in the county. It was said that the practice had reached a 1 dangerohs stage and that it should

he stopped. A proposal was made that the Council’s road ranger should he asked to act also as an inspector to check speeding', but it was considered that he already has sufficient to do, and no action was taken in the. matter. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr T. Black) reported in detail on work done throughout the county during the month; on work requiring to he done, and on contracts in hand. Referring to the tar-sealing of the main South road, the engineer reported that after a delay caused by a misunderstanding concerning material to be used on the first coat, the work of tar-sealing that portion of the main South road between the Kings-

down Church and Brookland’s Hill had been proceeded with. A strip of 47 chains by 13 feet 6 inches wide was laid up to Saturday last. The crushed gravel appeared to be absorbing the distilled tar very satisfactorily, but owing to the lateness

of the season and the difference between a gravel and a metal founda-

tion much more brush work was necessary. It all depended on the weather whether the bitumen coat would be spread before the winter. With regard to Wai-iti road, he suggested that a surface coat of fine gravel be. spread say one _ inch in thickness by thirty feet wide. Tins should make the road last another two seasons, but provision would then have to bo made for a new coat of metal spread at the rate of 30 cubic yards to the chain. The mat-

.er of cither remetalling or repairing ;he Fairview road would also have ,o be considered early this season as

the road at present required breaking up and rolling, and when that was done the matter of re-surfacing with gravel, or a new metal coat would have to he decided. Some 15 0 cubic yards of repair gravel would he required on Paddyfield road when the carting of the gravel for Foley’s contract was completed,_ several of the steeper gradients being worn to the clay. The old bridge over Dairy Creek at Twentvman’s was now past the patching stage. Three new girders 18ft x 12in x 4in, and 21 new planks 14ft x Sin x 4in, were now

required. It was decided to ask the engineer to report on the need foi shingling the Beaconsfield fiat and Brassell’s road; that tenders he called for shingling the road between the Totara church and the Totara school; that tenders he called for the work on Wai-iti road; that tenders he called for work on the Fairview road; that the work on Paddyfield road be given to C. Foley at schedule rates; that Dairy Creek bridge work be done; that tenders be called for 1100 bushels of oats, delivered at Pleasant Point; that the Landsborough hill work he done as soon as possible; and that a start should be made with the Sutherlands Creek deviation work. GENERAL. A long discussion took place on a proposal that the Council should purchase a new grader. Eventually it was decided to get more information for next meeting of life Council. An offer was received for the Council’s property at Highfield. It was decided to call tenders for the property and to have it valued by Mr H. F. Morton. A slaughter-house license waa granted to Hr S. Priest. Otipua. The road ranger reported having impounded forty hc-ad of stock dining the month. Accounts were passed for payment and the Council rose.