PENINSULA COUNTY

Evening Star, Issue 19781, 3 February 1928, Page 8

PENINSULA COUNTY

meeting of council The members of the Peninsula County Counui held their monthly meeting yesterday. Those present were—Crs H. Macandrew (chairman), J. J. Malcolm, W. Stewart, D. J. Robertson, 11. Morrison, Miller, J. T. Irvine, and W. J. LeW ' S ‘ CORRESPONDENCE. The stores manager of the Post and Telegraph Department wrote stating that the department had for disposal approximately forty tons of 7/11 galvanised steel strand wire in various grades, from good second-hand quality to badly-rusted wire, suited to reinforcing.—Received. Messrs .Wilma n and Black wrote drawing attention to the state of the Camp road leading to their properties, and asking that repairs be effected while the weather was fine.—Referred to inspector and the member for the riding for report. Mr Joseph Cross wrote stating that at the bottom of Burns Hill, on the Portobello side, the road was in a dangerous state. Overhanging trees and a large box thorn bush completely blocked the view of motorists just when they accelerated to ascend the hill. Also, Canadian thistles should be cut at the same place; and there was also a dangerous spot at the point opposite Mr T. Harwood’s property, where two cars in passing could hardly avoid colliding. In addition, a. water trough at Mrs Ka a hit’s was off its stand.—lt was derided that the matters be attended to. A letter was received from the secretary of the Portobello and Broad Bay Ratepayers’ Association ashing if the council "would grant the free use of the committee room in the Coronation Hall for meetings to be held in the evening of the last Thursday of each month.— Permission was granted at the rate of £1 a year for the use of the committee room.' on the understanding that it should bo given up in the event of its being required for other purposes, the council room to be made available. Mr J. R. Marks, the board’s representative on the District Highways Council, wrote enclosing a copy of a circular received from the Main Highways Board in connection with the width of minor structures. It stated that occasionally small reinforced concrete bridges or culverts up to a 12ft span were designed and built with handrails or paiapets. In such cases it had often been the custom to make the width of the roadway the same as for larger bridges—namely, 12ft for one-lane traffic and 18ft for two-lane traffic. In many cases, particularly in tfafc country, it was- undesirable in the interests of safety to curtail the width of small structures. In designing and approving of such minor structures (up to a 12ft span) it was to be noted that a width of structure should be provided equivalent to the trafficable width of the adjacent formation.—Received. Mr Marks, as district engineer for the Public Works Department, wrote asking for details of the land required by the council for street widening purposes. He also wished to ascertain whether the council was agreeable to paying compensation for the value of the land required and of the cost of the necessary reconstruction of the buildings thereon. —It was decided that the information be supplied, but that councillors were not agreeable to paying compensation or for reconstruction. A further communication came from Mr Marks advising that the resolution which the council had passed when applying for a grant of first metalling or gravelling did not quite cover what the department required. He would be glad if the following resolution_ would be passed:—“That this council will set aside each year a sum sufficient to Keep the section, of road to be metalled and maintained to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department without calling on the Government for assistance.” It was suggested that when this resolution was passed it should be made to cover ail first metalling or gravelling grants, so that the council's engineer 'might, when forwarding proposals, state that the council had passed such a resolution, and thus save delay when dealing with the proposals. —The resolution was passed. Mr G. A. Harlow wrote stating that the recommendation of the health inspector in regard to waste water running on to Mrs Harlow’s property had been given effect to shortly before the holidays, and he asked that tiro water be diverted before the wet weather set in.—Referred to the inspector for a re port. A letter was received from Mr L. 0. Beal, who forwarded also an amended plan of Mr Stott’s proposed sub-divi-sion at Macandrcw’s Bay. It was asked if the council could see its way to consenting to forgo the metalling of the road line opposite allotments 6 and 7. It was decided to forgo the metalling of the road provided _ a small reserve was loft for the council. A letter was received from Mrs A. M. Tyrell, who stated that her house at Macandrew’s Bay had been unoccupied since 1927, and asked for a reduction in rates for this year.—The matter was left to tho secretary for report at the next meeting. GENERAL. Cr Morrison brought up the_ question of having a surfaceman appointed for the Otago Heads riding. He said they had no surfaceman in the riding, and no money.—lt was left to the inspector and Cr Morrison to appoint a surfaceman for the next few months. The state of the road on both sides of Burns Hill was also referred to by Cr Morrison, who stated that the road was worn right clown to the heavy rock, thus making it. difficult for the cartage of loads. The state of the road was deplorable, and he urged that a coating of rotten rock be put on it.—The matter was referred to the inspector. Cr Malcolm said that something should be done in regard to cutting hack the lupins on the side of the road in the Otago Heads riding. At present the buses of the Peninsula, Motor Services could not pass without being badly scratched.—lt was resolved that they should be cut. the council’s inspector (Mr S. G. Paterson) submitted an application by Mr Thomas for permission to build a motor garage. Mr Paterson said that ho had' inspected the site, which lay on the shore of Papamii Inlet, just outside Mr M'Lelland’s property, and would be on the line of the road to Wickliffo Bay, should the council decide at any time on the present route, —the application was declined. Dir J. A. Riddle applied to have a road made to his property at Wickliffe ■Ray _The matter was referred to the inspector for report. Out of twelve applicants, Mr John geaton, of Portobello, was appointed dog tax collector for the council. Mr J. Moir’s tender for the supply of dog collars at was accepted. Altogether, three tenders were received. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector (Mr Paterson) reported as follows on the work done on the county roads during January;— Tomahawk Riding.—The cutting on the Tomahawk road has been metalled and the metalling blinded, and general repairs and maintenance work done. Highcliff Riding.—Screenings have been'laid on the worst portions of the highway, and blinded with quarry dust. North-east Harbor Riding.—2l7 cubic yards of screening have been spread on the Beach road, and attention given to water tables and culverts. Broad Bay Riding.—l 94 cubic yards of Uin metal from Anderson’s Bay have been spread and blinded, and a commencement made with the cleaning out of the water tables. Portobello Riding.—Rock has been quarried from Lewis’s quarry-, and the metalling brought up from Gill’s Corner to Burns’s Hill. Rock for re-

pairing sea walls has been quarried at Hooper’s Inlet. ' Sandymount Riding.—Chiefly maintenance work has been done during the period. General. —Contracts have been prepared for the majority of the Government grants, and are now awaiting approval by the Public Worke Department. The crusher was received from the Waikouaiti County Council on the 24th. The crusher jaws are badly worn, and require renewing before the machine is put into commission. New side plates are also needed at an early date. The report was adopted.