TOUR OF COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20490, 8 March 1932, Page 7

TOUR OF COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

UPPER WAITAKI DISTRICT. ROADS AND BRIDGES INSPECTED. TO TB« PRESS.) , OAMAKU, March 5. Last niglit members of the Waitaki County Council returned to Oamaru after a tour of the Upper Waitaki and lakes districts. They covered a distance of over 500 miles in four days, gaining first-hand information as to the needs of back-country settlers. They adjusted, through meeting in conference the Mackenzie County Councillors, the question of contributions to the upkeep of roads. The trip ended with a stay at the Hermitage, where the councillors were the guests of Mr E. L. Wigley. The tour was made possible by Mr A. Mclnnes (chairman of the Waitaki County Council), at whose invitation the councillors and others made the trip. During the course of the > tour a memorial tablet to the memory of Mr T. A. Munro, a former member for the Ahuriri riding, was unveiled, and three bridges recently erected by the Public Works Department were dedicated. Certain requests of settlers in connexion with roads and county reserves- were heard. Dansey's Pass Bridge. The party left Oamaru on Tuesday morning, and proceeded via Maerewhenua to inspect the new Dansey's Pass bridge and the damage caused by the recent floods. After applications to the Government a free vote of £6OO was obtained for the Pass bridge, and tho present substantial structure is of two 30ft' spans of rolled steel joists and wooden superstructure. About two miles further up the Pass road. what, is referred to as the double ford had for a long time been a source of annoyance to motorists, but this has now been obviated by putting a cut through the bank and by diverting the stream, so that the Dansey's Pass road on the Waitaki side is now well bridged, andis a good summer i-oad. The return trip was made via Duntroon and thence to Waitaki Hydro, where the party was shown over the hydro-electric works. The nature of the undertaking can be fully realisedon seeing the completed portions of the dam, the completed gower-house building with its big crane, and huge surgechambers and foundations. At the head of the lake to be formed by-the dam the concrete abutments and piers of the new bridge, to serve the settlers on the north side of the river, are now. completed, and the task of placing the large steel girders in position is being pushed ahead. * Experimental Plantation. A stay was made for the night at the Omarama Hotel, and early next morning the journey was resumed, - the nrst call being made at the experimental tree plantation a short distaneo away. The trees were planted about 18 years ago by the Forestry Department, and control has since been vested in the Waitaki County Council. .Many of the species are making excellent growth under conditions involving frosts of exceptional severity and periods of drought. A system of irrigation has been responsible for the

splendid growth of pastures, plants, and trees in the district-, but tho Btruggle for existence under such adverse conditions as those reigning at the experimental plot makes the issue one of greater importance, as indicating what is possible of accomplishment in the locality. Memorial Tablet. Overlooking Lake Ohau a large gathering of relatives, friends, and councillors from Waitaki and Mackenzie stood with heads bared while Mr Mc.Tnncs unveiled a memorial tablet to Mr T. A. Munro. The tablet was the gift of Mr C. R. Hoad, and its simplicity of design is in quiet keeping with the memory of the man it is to perpetuate, as Mr Munro was unobstrusive but effective in all his dealings. The new Temple and Maitland bridges, that serve many runholders and make safe the round trip via Lake Ohau to the Hermitage, were also visited and officially opened. The bridge spanning the Maitland river was named after Mr Munro, and the one over the Temple river the E. L. Wigley bridge. Numerous minor inspections having been made, an d a thorough' survey of the district administered having beefa completed, the car headed for Mt. Cook, and the Hermitage was reached in good time. After luncheon the members of. the party were fitted out with the necessary paraphernalia and driven to the Bali Hut by Miss Jean Hunter, who thereby earned the distinction of being the first woman driver to take a' service bus over the route. Mt. Tasman, Mt. Harding, and the, Minarets were to be seen. A conference with members of the Mackenzie County Council, at Fairlic was held, and Oamaru was reached in the evening'.