GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 3

GERALDINE

ROADS AND BRIDGES INVESTIGATION PROMISED BY BOARD Members of the Main Highways Board commenced their tour of South Canterbury by hearing deputations from the Geraldine County Council and the Geraldine Borough Council at the Presbyterian Hall yesterday. The chairman of the County Council (Mr K. Mackenzie) presided, the Mayor, Mr B. R. Macdonald being associated with him.

On behalf of the Council and the County residents, Mr Mackenzie extended a cordial welcome to the Highways Board members. The Mayor of Geraldine said that his Council wished to ask if the Board would make that portion of the present main highway which ran through the Borough a State highway. The Council felt that it was only right that that should be done, as a very large portion of the through traffic would go through the town in spite of the fact that in the near future the Rangitata-Wir.chester State highway would be completed. Other boroughs, such as Temuka, would remain on the line of the new State highway, but Geraldine would be at a dead end and would be cut off altogether. In supporting the Borough’s claim, the Deputy-Mayor, Mr J. R. Lf ck, said that the Mayor had put the position very clearly. Geraldine did not wish to be left off the State highway, and although a fair number would use the new deviation, there would still be a considerable amount 01 traffic through the Borough which would be faced with the maintenance of the road. If his Council did not take the opportunity to make representations in the matter, it would be said that they were not watching the interests of the ratepayers. He could endorse all that Mr Macdonald had said, and could assure the Board that they were much concerned as to what would happen in the future. Cr. A. J. Bell remarked that the position was pretty serious both from a business and the ratepayers' point of view, and to him it appeared either a matter of a highway or by-way! A Negative Reply In replying to the representations the deputy-chairman of the Board (Mr A. J. Baker) said that at its meeting on Wednesday the Board had given very full and careful consideration to the request. The Board’s decision, and the Minister's decision, was that, aS It had been agreed to establish the Rangitata-Orari-Winchester deviation as a State highway, it had no intention of declaring the portion of the present main highway within the Geraldine Borough as a State highway, nor would it be possible to do so. Although the Board sympathised with Geraldine and district, as to some extent traffic would be diverted from Geraldine, nevertheless, the Board had to deal with transport requirements in the largest sense. It was quite Impossible to accede to the request, and that decision would be formally conveyed to the Borough through the Member for the district. Manse Bridge Question Mr Mackenzie said that the principal matter the County desired to bring before the Board was the question of the replacement of the Manse Bridge over the Temuka River at Temuka. The matter had been mentioned to the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, during hie recent visit to South Canterbury, and no doubt he had passed the request on to the Main Highways Board. The bridge was only a footbridge which had been built many years ago, and it was only wide enough to take one or two sheep at a time. The time had now come for repairs, and the County Council felt that it would be far better io demolish it and erect an adequate bridge. The settlers had made representations in that direction several years ago, but, as the Council had a heavy paving programme to face, It bad not been in a position to take any action at that time. Now that the paving programme had been paid for, the Counci' felt that if assistance could be secured from the Board, it would go an with the erection of a new bridge, although it would probably be necessary to raise the necessary money by way of loan. The road was not a highway. The next matter brought forward by Mr Mackenzie was the question of banking at Cooper’s Creek, which crossed, not only the highway to Peel Forest, but also the present main highway, and thus the matter should prove of Interest to the Board. Flooding was a frequent problem in the winter after heavy rains. The Council would also like the Board to consider declaring a five mile section on the Woodbury Road, and a three mile section of the Temuka Tow. Belt to Clandeboy-', main highways. They really should be part of the highways as there was conslder-

able foreign traffic up through Woodbury and also through Clandeboye to the fishing huts at the mouth of the Rangitata. The Mayor of Geraldine said that he would like to thank the members of the Board for the careful consideration they had given to the Borough’s request, although he was considerably disappointed at the answer. However, they would not allow the matter to rest, but would keep on pegging away .'.ntil they got their way. Board Taken to Task Cr. A. J. Bell: It seems peculiar to me. We put our case before you as a jury, but you had made your decision before you came here! Mi Mackenzie (tc Cr. Bell): You put your case to the Minister, wl o, no doubt, has handed >t cn to the Board. The Board has met since then. The matter has not been fixed in your absence cr anything like that. Cr. Bell: Why allow us to speak at all We could have kept our mouths shut instead of making fools of ourselves. Mr Mackenzie: That is net the position at all. Cr. Bell: The decision was made before the Board arrived here, and that is the point I do not like about it. Mr Mackenzie: That is not quite the way—

Cr. Bell: You threw cold water on our ideas from the start. Mr Mackenzie: You are not being quite fair. We knew quite well that the Board would not declare the County portion of the present main highway as a State highway. When we considered the matters we intended to place before the Board, we decided that a request on those lines would not be reasonable, and that is why we did not pursue it further. Cr. Bell: Well, you know more than we did. The Board’s Reply Mr Baker said that the Board had considered all the spects of the case on more than one occasion, and there had not been one phase cf the question which had not been investigated thoroughly. “It is a fact,” he continued, “that we spent quite a time at our meeting on Wednesday discussing this further application by the Geraldine Borough Council, and the decision is as I have already indicated.” In regard to the Manse Bridge Mr Baker said that subsequent to the matter having been brought before the Minister, the District Engineer had been instructed to investigate and submit a report to the Board. It was possible that the Board might recognise that the proposal should be given a certain measure of support. The Board noted with pleasure that the Geraldine County Council was prepared to meet its portion of the cost. In view of the fact .that the bridge had to be replaced, the Board would consider what priority could be given after it had investigated their engineer’s report on the matter.

In regard to banking at Cooper’s Creek Mr Baker remarked that It looked as if the settlers as well as the County Council and the Board might be involved, in a minor degree. Further data was required and he would ask the district engineer to undertake a preliminary investigation and submit a report, and if they could get something going it was desirable that the matter be attended to.

In reply to a question when the sealing of the Cain’s Road link to Geraldine would be completed, Mr Baker said that it would be in about eighteen months’ time.

Mr J. R. Lack, who intimated that he was not speaking on behalf of the Borough Council, asked if the Board’s engineer could spare the time to investigate the possibility of the erection of a stock bridge over the Peel Street crossing of the Waihi. Mr Baker replied that the matter was a new one to the Board, and he was afraid it was outside their sphere of action as the road concerned was not a main highway. However, the Board could arrange for a report to be made. Mr Mackenzie then expressed the thanks of the County Council to the Board for receiving the deputation, as did Cr. Bell for the Borough Council. Members of the Board and the Borough Council were then the guests of the County Council at luncheon at the Crown Hotel. Members of the Board inspected the Peel Street crossing of the Waihi River before proceeding to Temuka. “TUDOR ROSE” The pageant of English history marches across the screen in gallant guise in the film-story of Lady Jane Grey, “Tudor Rose,” a GaumontBritish Picture at the Municipal Theatre to-night at 8.15. It is historical drama depicting the turbulent events following the death of Henry VIII and culminating in the tragic execution of Lady Jane Grey on Tower Green. Convincingly staged against colourful backgrounds, with a gripping undercurrent of Court intrigue and grim beheading episodes, the subject magnificently achieves the atmosphere of the

times. There will be splendid variety supports. Mr Roy Pye, late of Ashburton, will take over the business formerly known as Williamson’s, hairdressers and tobacconists, next Monday. Miss Frances Williamson will carry on her hairdressing business. Mr J. Cross will give an address in the Mission Hall, Peel Street, at 7 o’clock to-morrow evening. Owing to the Health Department’s restrictions, the address by Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., at the Hilton Hall, to-night, has been postponed. Procters, the Opticians, Christchurch, wish to announce that Mr, A. H. T. Rose, F.S.M.C., F. 1.0. (London), who has just arrived from England to join their firm, will be visiting Geraldine personally and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel on Wednesday, .March 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can now be made by ringing Mr Morris Williams, Chemist, 'phone No. 61