WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20511, 1 September 1936, Page 3

WAIMATE

COUNTY AFFAIRS MEETING OF COMMITTEE Tiie monthly meeting of the Waimate Cninty Council was held yesterday. Present—Crs. J. Bitchener (chairman), W. Lindsay, A. N. Hayes, H. Max Whatman, R. Sinclair. J. J. Dickson, N. A. Rattray and A. S. Elworthy. An apology was received from Cr. H. B. S. Johnstone. A motion of condolence was passed with Cr. Lindsay and his family in the loss of his brother. Chairman's St .tement The chairman reported that with the county clerk and the district engineer (Mr T. G. Beck) he had inspected the Redcllff reserve of three acres which the Council had been asked to sell to the Public Works Department on which it was proposed to erect a caretaker’s cottage. They had asked the Department for £5O, the Department to bear all cost of surveying and fencing. Mr Beck had agreed to recommend the offer to his head office. The chairman said he thought the arrangement suggested would be most satisfactory to the Council. On the same day they had met the Waihao Water Race Committee, and Mr Beck, for the Public Works Department, had e greed to the suggested alteration in the contract price. The speaker said the arrangements made with the Public Works Department would be most satisfactory to the Water Race Committee.

Mr Bitchener said he had attended the meeting of the committee in Christchurch in regard to the centennial of New Zealand and the opinion there seemed to be that the most suitable form of commemoration would be to make additions to the Christchurch Museum. The chairman concluded that the tree-planting scheme at Hunter was going ahead miraculously, and already from six to seven acres had been planted. The report of the committee in regard to the sale of the reserve at Redcllff was approved. Finance The chairman of the Finance Committee reported that the debit balance at the bank in August, 1936, was £1762/17/6, compared with a debit in August, 1935, of £447/2/8. The accounts presented totalled £5017/3/10, and the receipts since last meeting amounted to £2305/13/4. In the Lower Waihao Water Race account, the credit balance at the bank in August, 1936, was £585/12/11, as against a credit in August, 1935, of £532/2/9. The accounts presented totalled £25/7/6, and the receipts since last meeting amounted to £3O/9/7.

Lower Waihao Water Race The Lower Waihao Water Race Committee reported that the supply in the races had been well maintained. The contractor was using the water race plough with good results. A broken bridge over the race near the Valley road had been repaired. Riding Works It was decided'that the engineer report on the dangerous comer on Scott’s Road, Lower Pareora riding, and also on Lhe matter of widening a narrow portion of the Bluecliffs Road.

It was agreed that the Council regrade 50 chains of grass road in the Makikihi riding and make certain other movements.

Cr. Whatman paid a tribute to the members of Deep Creek riding for the improvements effected on the Waimate Gorge Road. Regarding Pike’s Point Road, Waihao riding, Cr. Sinclair said it was not up to the standard of the roads in the county, and he suggested that something be done to improve it. He complained that mounds on the road made it dangerous to motorists. Members generally agreed that something should be done. The foreman said the Council might be able to reduce the mounds and concrete over the top of the pipes. It was resolved to ask the Employment Board for assistance In effecting improvements on the roads. Cr. Elworthy reported that the bitumen on the Main Road near the Pareora bridge was showing signs of wear.

Cr. Lindsay said the Council had at

one time talked of crushing the metal for the county roads instead of riddling the shingle from the riverbeds. He suggested that the engineer investigate the matter on his return.

Regarding the filling of the position of the Douglas surfaceman in the Waihao riding, it was left to the chairman and Cr. Whatman to arrange for its temporary filling.

Cr. Sinclair reported on the matter of a dangerous bridge on the Main South Road. He said repairs should certainly be carried out, and added that the rain put round Morven township was causing trouble to some farms further down. He asked if anything could be done to ameliorate the position.

Cr. Whatman reported that he had been a member of a deputation which had interviewed the Minister of Public Works in regard to the proposed drain at Morven, and the deputation had received a very satisfactory reception. Correspondence. The Commissioner of Transport write advising that the Minister of Transport had directed that steps je taken to further one of the main objects of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, namely, the unification of motor traffic throughout the country, and a copy of the county’s bylaws in force relating to motor traffic was requested to be forwarded. It was also stated that a re-issue of the Motor Vehicle Regulations, also regulations relating to other forms of traffic.

The clerk explained what action he intended taking, and approval of the Council was expressed. The Temuka Borough Council wrote in regard to fire-fighting equipment, stating that the Council was desirous of disposing of two hand reels, and asking if they would be of any use to any of the townships in the county. —Received.

Mr J. W. Armstrong, Hunter, wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the condition of the roadside on Peter’s Creek Road and also the Daledew Road cutting. It was decided that the engineer he asked to report on the matters. Mr H. Emslle, Springbrook, asked permission to continue a ditch for six chains along the road at the side of his paddock to deal with water which now ran over his land.

It wa resolved that the engineer make an inspection. The Canterbury Progress League wrote intimating that a conference of all bodies interested in tree-planting would be held at Christchurch tomorrow, with a view to instituting a progressive policy of afforestation for Canterbury. The County Clerk was appointed to represent the Council at the meeting. When the tenders for oil supplies came up for consideration, several members referred to the excessive amount of oil used by the Council during the year, and it was suggested that consideration of the tenders be deferred until the next meeting, when it was hoped that the county engineer would be able to make a report on a scheme that would obviate the leakage, which one member described is serious.

The suggestion was adopted. Mr Dickson brought up the matter of painting the roadmen’s cottages, and it was resolved that the engineer make a report on the matter. Permission was granted to Mr A. Aubrey, Waihaorunga, to plough along the roadside on the Top Road, subject to the work being done to the engineer’s satisfaction.

PERSONAL Miss Helga Kirby, Christchurch, is spending a holiday with Mr and Mrs J. A. Kirby, Waimate. Mrs W. Baker, senr., of Waltuna, had the misfortune while chopping some sticks, to cut off the first finger of her hand. She was attended by Dr. Shackleton and is now progressing satisfactorily. Messrs S. Cox (president) and F. Nash (treasurer) represented the Waimate Acclimatisation Society at a jubilee of the Ashburton Society, which was celebrated by a dinner at Ashburton on Saturday evening. Mr J. Hynes, Waimate, has received notice of his appointment to a position in the Civil Service in Wellington.

GOLF The following is the draw for the sixth bogey round to be played by the members of the Waimate Ladies’ Golf Club to-day: Mrs Healey and Mrs Leslie, Miss O. Cameron and Mrs Carleton, Miss Herstlett and Miss Brownlie, Miss Jones and Mrs Fraser, Mrs Rattray and Mrs Rickman, Miss H. Cameron and Miss Stevens, Mrs Dyer and Miss Cochrane, Mrs Ruddenklaj and Mrs P. Grant, Mrs Barclay and marker.

Procters, The Opticians, Christchurch, will be making their next professional visit to Waimate on Friday, 18th September, when they may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Royal Hotel. Appointments can now be made by ringing the Royal Hotel. 'Phone 15. ....