GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20850, 5 October 1937, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

MANSE BRIDGE AT TEMUKA BUILDING DELAYED The monthly meeting, of the Geraldine County Council held yesterday was attended by the chairman, Mr K. Mackenzie. and Councillors F. R. Flatman, T. Lyon, A. Bisdee, A. M. H. Bain, R. Brodie, C. Ley, and J. Acland. The chairman reported that no advance had been made yet in regard to the new bridge over the Temuka River at the Manse Crossing. Nothing could be done until the section of the new route of the highway had been gazetted and the proposed meeting of the District Highways Council had accordingly not been held for that reason. The Ashburton County had agreed to expend £2O on the Ben McLeod Road, and that road would be put to hand straight away. A new truck is to be purchased on terms to be arranged by a committee comprising the chairman and Messrs Acland and Flatman. Improved Finances Cr. Flatman, chairman of the Finance committee, reported that receipts since last meeting totalled £872/12/-. The debit balance was £4098/3/10, as compared with £5339/8/3 at the corresponding meeting last year. ‘ The debit balance after payments that day was £5341/9/2. There was a credit in the River Board account of £293/19/6. The tender of Mr J. Downes (Temuka) to supply 1400 dog collars at £55/7/6 was accepted. On the motion of Crs. Flatman and Bisdee it was .agreed that the chairman be allowed his expenses in Connection with his visits to Wellington regarding the DownslandS Water Supply scheme, the Council to be reimbursed if possible from the Supply Scheme’s finances later. Peel Forest Petition 'Thirty-eight residents and ratepayers of Peel Forest petitioned the Council to have the portion of the road from Horsefall's Road to the Peel Forest Memorial tar sealed. The chairman: I am sorry we cannot do this just now. Cr. Ley: We have no funds available for this purpose at present. Cr. Acland: Cars go through the Peel Forest township at between 40 and 50 miles an hour. Even if a sectioh of 300 or 400 yards were asphalted it would make a big difference. The Council agreed that when laying bitumen on sections of the highways in various parts of the County, the area at Peel Forest would be considered. * Correspondence Advice that it Was the local body’s duty to attend to the upkeep of. St. Andrew's signs at level crossings over railways was received in a letter from Mr P. H. Morley, District Engineer of ■Railways at Dunedin. The Main Highways Board's representative, Mr F. Langbein, forwarded a circular memorandum dealing with Various main highway matters, in which he referred to main highway bridges and longitudinal planking. The County Engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner) said that there were 13 bridges within the County, of a total length of 2115 ft., and with an average width of 12ft. 4in. If the longitudinal decking were removed it would make a very rough job, and smoothing off would have to be done or else the bridge surfaces would have to be bitumenlsed. Mr Bremner was asked to submit a report on the cost of the work required by the Highways Board. The application of Mr G. T. Rae (Clandeboye) for a supply of willowwood was referred to the engineer. In connection with a crossing at Mr Mallinson’s in the Kakahu-Te Moana Water Supply District it was decided to adhere to the Committee's decision. The application of Mr Wm. McLeod, care of the Orari Gorge Estate, for a culvert across the road a few chains below his residence was referred to the engineer. . River Board Rates The following rates were struck in the several river districts for the year ending March 31, 1938:—South Orari, class A sd, class B l-Bd, special l-Bd. Upper Orari and Waihi, class A id, class B l-12d. Waihi Special Loan District 1 l-Bd. Rangitata Island, class A Id, class B Id. The District Railways Engineer, Dunedin, who acknowledged the Council’s letter in regard to protective work on the Rangitata River, advised that it was anticipated that the protective work being carried out by the Railways Department would be completed this week. The Department’s leading hand in charge of the work had been advised that, if considered necessary, he might engage two teams for a couple of days. It was not proposed to grant a subsidy towards the cost of the work being Carried out by the Council. Mr Morgan J. Lewis, Winchester Road, recalled that he had written some time ago asking to have repairs made to the present embankment on his property, and also to have the embankment continued from Mr Ellis’s property to the writer’s, as the river did considerable damage at that point. The Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that the Land Board had resolved to cancel the existing occupation license in the name of A. S. Gray, part opihi Riverbed, as he Was not residing in the district. A fresh occupation license had now been granted to Mr Geodge Gray on a year to year tenancy, and he had been granted permission to cut timber on the area provided that the same was used solely for his own purposes and that every care was taken to see that the riverbed was kept clear of branches and other debris. With regard to grazing tenancies granted in the Opihi Riverbed, the Commissioner forwarded a Copy of a memorandum from the county Engineer (Mr C.E. Bremner) In which he definitely stated that the Opihi Riverbed, near Pleasant Point, Was not In any of the Council's River District areas, and in consequence the River Board had no jurisdiction. In view of this memorandum and following applications from the Occupation License holders concerned, permission had been granted in several cases for the right to cut timber on the riverbed areas provided that the timber cut was to be used solely for their own private purposes and not sold commercially.

The Commissioner asked for the Board’s comment on the matter. It Was decided to claim for the remainder of the account. The Commissioner of Crown Lands. Mr N. C. Ketisingtoh, Christchurch, who wrote in regard to Mr C. A. Cribb, Winchester, acknowledged the Board’s letter and noted the position in regard to the old water course. The River Board had power to remove any obstruction from an old water-course, eVen if it had been closed temporarily. In the circumstances, he requested that further consideration be given to the matter, and that the River Board look to its powers in connection with this matter. It was decided that the chairman (Mr it. Mackenzie) and Councillor Flatman and the Board’s engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner) should inspect the locality.