TO START SOON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 253, 6 August 1937, Page 6

TO START SOON

CLEARING THE RIVER-BED. DECISIONS OF COUNTY COUNCIL. STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN. Details of the discussion with the Minister of Employment about the clearing of the willows from the Ashburton river-bed to provide fork for unemployment men were explained by the chairman (Mr F. Frampton) in bis statement to members at the meeting of the Ashburton County Council today. He indicated that the work would start shortly. There were present at the meeting Messrs F. Frampton W. G. Gallagher, J. Carr, H. J. Crothers, S. P. Taylor, O. A. Campion, J. Bland, D. J. Morrow, J. Lambie and H. C. B. Witheli. The chairman’s statement read: “The Minister visited Ashburton on Tuesday and discussed with local bodies his offer to pay wages of £4 per week i for men from the register of unemployed who are given employment by local bodies,” the chairman said. “He approved of the Council’s proposal to employ the men in clearing willows from .the bed of the Ashburton River, and also, as Acting-Minister of Public Works, authorised Mr T. G. Beck to define the fairway of the river for one mile above and one mile below the Ashburton Traffic Bridge. It is expected that a start will be made with the work within a few days. “The conditions of employment are: 1. The men must be paid award rates of wages, i.e., 16s 6d per day, of which the Government will pay 16s. The men will become the employees of the Council and be subject to the same control as ordinary employees. 2. The men must be paid by the Council, and claims for a refund of the Government proportion must be made, in a similar manner to the No. 5 Scheme. 3. The Council must cover the men against accidents and pay the premium. 4. The Council must provide all tools and pay transport costs, if any. 5. The men will be selected by ballot, and the work will be for a period of four months. The Council will have the right of discharging men whose work and conduct is unsatisfactory. Methven Sewerage Scheme. “The Government subsidy offered for this work is 45s per week for married men, but as a higher subsidy had beeu offered for similar work elsewhere, I took the opportunity of making a request for an increased subsidy,” the chairman continued. “The Minister was sympathetic, and willingly consented to increase the subsidy to 50s, This will remove the doubt which existed as to the completion of the work within the amount of the loan which was authorised.” In his report the engineer (Mr H. A. Vezey) stated:— Water Supply.—Ashburton - Rakaia: Snow and heavy frosts early in the period caused an interruption in the supplies from the foothills. The A Main in Methven was completely frozen for a distance of 20 chains and some flooding occurred before the ice was removed. A fresh in the North Branch on July 13 and 14 caused a slight break in the boulder bank at the Auxiliary intake, but repairs were soon effected and a full supply restored. The crushing plant is still located on VVakanui Road. The output for the period was 3,645} c. yds., delivered as follows:—M.H. Ashburton - Wakanui, 2517 o. yds., M.H*. Beach Road-Halta-tere, 200 c. yds.; Wakanui Road, 616} c. yds; Seafield Road, 98 c. yds ■ Motor and Stock bridges, 22 c. yds.; Ashburton Saleyards, 10 c. yds.; Sales, 182 c. yds. Ashburton-Rangitata. The heavy frosts at the beginning of the period caused a great deal of blocking in the South Ashburton Main. The main gates were completely blocked with ice, and the steel flume over the Hinds River was also blocked. Axes and grubbers were used to free the obstructions and every endeavour was made to keep the supply running. Further difficulties were caused by the freed ice blocking junctions and The Hinds Gorge supply lias been more than sufficient. Owing to an excess of water the Terrace race has been cut off. The Limestone supply has been eased down also. The Mount Somers race was fcadly frozen and the Terrace race was completely blocked. Both races are now running at normal level. The Cracroft and Klondyke races have continued to deliver full supplies for their districts. The annual cleaning of fords throughout the Rangitata, Coldstream and Westerfield districts has been completed. Maintenance cf a Road. The question of the maintenance oi the ltangitata Gorge Road on the south side of the Rangitata River and in tlie Ashburton County was discussed between tlie Council and representatives of the Geraldine County Council this afternoon. The deputation comprised Messrs Iv. Mackenzie (chairman) and H. J. D. Aciand. Mr Mackenzie said liis county had spent a good deal of money on the road in question and tlie traffic from the Mesopotamia Station ail went over it, while the rates went to the Ashburton County. Geraldine County felt that it had something of a right to ask for some of the rates to be diverted to it, as Sir William Nosworthy, the only ratepayer conce’/ied, objected to Ills station being included in Geraldine County. Ashburton had to send repair men 50 or 60 miles to do work on the road. There was a ferry reserve on an island in the Rangitata River that should be transferred to the Geraldine County, the revenue to be used for river protection purposes only. One of the troubles was the extra traffic now going to the ice-skating area, which had caused much damage lately. Mr Aciand said the road was in a terrible state at present, and unless

something was done soon, it would be impossible for any traffic to use the road at all. The chairman said the road was that section from Forest Creek to Peel Forest. The two councils might easily come to an arrangement whereby the Geraldine Council maintained the road at the Ashburton Council’s expense. . Mr Mackenzie said that the repair of the road would cost at least £IOOO. It was stated that the ferry reserve produced £l2 a. year in rates. The question was discussed in committee after the deputation retired. It was stated later that the Council had decided that the Engineer should confer with the Geraldine Engineer in regard to Geraldine doing the work on the western extremity of the road and Ashburton paying for it ; that a sum of £2O a year should ho offered to the Geraldine County for maintenance of tlie other portion, and that the Countil could not agree to part"with the lorry reserve.