MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1925, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEETING. FRIDAY, .11 I.Y 24ti,. 'flic Executive of No 12 .Main lliglivviivy District met at the Public Works Office. G vermouth, at 7.43 o'clock. Present : Me-srs Walltiiison (Resident Engineer) in the chair. Archer t Duller County). Bell ’(lnaugahua Cininty),Higgins (Grey County), Evans (Westland County). Mr T. R. Ciiesterman, County Cliairman. Westland, was also li resent. Regarding salary for the clerk (.Miss Ashton) to the Council, the Public Service Commissioner reported adversely. The matter was referred to the meeting ol representatives at Wellington next Tuesday.

Tlie cla-silicatiun of main highways in the di-triet was I,rough! forward, and it was resolved to classify the main roads as second class roads (limiti'il to eight tons), except where certain bridges reduced the limit of ]oad-

The Chairman stated it would lie necessary for the County Councils to hare their reads classified also in tonus i.i tlie heavy traffic regulations, namely. first class roads, ten ton tons limit ; second class roads, eight tons limit: third class roads four tons limit; and fourth class roads. 21 tons limit.

Mr Evans moved it be a suggestion when tk ■ regulations are lieing amended to introduce another class of -ix tons, or raise the third class to five tons limit, as the difference in weight carrying capacity between second am! third class roads was too groat. Mr Higgins seconded.-- Carried.

The 'Highway-- Board asked the Chairman for a report as to f ile list ol level railway crossings on the main highways and the cost of eliminating same. The Chairman's reply indieam! that tlm o.stimaiei! cost involved would he £121.000. The Tavvcn Conniy. Canterbury, asked nip,pint to a request for tile Highways 'Board to take over tbe Arthur's I’a—-Springfield road. The opinion was exon-sed that tbe matter was one outside the local DistrictCouncil, and no recommendation was uiaile. Tlie Highways Board delegated the care, control and management of sections of tbe main highways to Councils

where the mad passed through County territory, and the road was being upkept by tbe Council under subsidy.

The Board notified a conference at Wellington uexl Tuesday to consider matters affecting the main highways scheme for the Dominion. The Chairman (Air Vatkinson). and Air Higgins (Grey) were deputed to represent the No 12 district.

In reference to the point raised by Ibe Highways Board that the four Councils in No 12 district should eontribute a larger sum to the upkeep of ill.- main highway? in the respective di-uieis, the liuller. Inangabiia. Grey and West land Counties forwarded lengthy replies giving reasons why the sug-

gested increase slmnlil not take place, ami also statin;.; inability to r-ontributi an additional sum.

Tlie s; ai eiiii-i ll of rate ■ < olh I from iM'opeii I-. - froiiiing the main highways was ns follows : Bulf'-r , .. eii-'O lua ugahua Gn-v ... . 893 Wo .i laud 923 The Chairman Mated Iron, (he statis-!j-S of 11; - local h "lies lie bad r uupited lb - following statement : Puller Coil lit v Mileage. 103'.: iota! i outribni 1'» 1 1 £ y "'!; per mile. £8 Is Id. fnanenliun C.uiulv Mileage, 40: lota! r-eul n- l ul ion. £3O; per mile. 10s fid. Grey CGuniv Mileage. 33,1: total i-i,lii ribui ion. £413; iter mile. £l2 9s 7d. Westland Cnmily Mileage. 152.1; total eonl l ib::lion. £193; per mile. v£! -"is Id. Roller (-iinrv Capital value £1 .- P.T7.497 ; unimproved value. £110.291; rate of unimproyed value, lijil ; rale on eaoital value, 2(d. Inangabiia County Canital value. £050.052: mi improved value. £229.035; rale of unimproved value. s',d; rale on capital value I.S5d. Grey C’oimty—Ca,,i'al value. £679.676; ui,in,prow* I value. £355.2-12: rale on capital value. 2d. West land County- Capiial value. £331.610; uninmroved value. £535.95!); ra les on capi lal value. I .ft!. Coni ribtn ion to Main Highwavs laken on capital value; Buller Com,tv, .2026: I naiiv.ebiia. .fill; Grev. .117: West land. .055. Tbe st a t emeu i of the local bodies were received, and as an outcome of the ilisellssinii. Mr Arebi-r moved that the reports be furnished to (lie Highways Board with a tvenmnu’iiditi ion that the enii ribut ion of £BSO by the Butler Counii lie redueeil to a more equitable numunt. 'l'be molioii was not seconded. The ( liriirmaii slated Dial while there was some inequity, be did not Ibiuk the Council should pick on 1," one district before another. After further discussion. Mr Evans moved that Ihe reports from Ihe local bodies be referred to the Highwavs Board pointing out ihe inability ol the budies to c.-oil rikule an additional sum. and that .Messrs Watkii.son and Higgins who would be iu Wellington next week lie aul bo'-ised to discuss the matter furl her w ith the Board, and repiv-s-oii ihe eo-e of i'e local I,.,dies. MiBell seconded. The motion was carried. .Mr Archer dissenting.

Er.i|iiirv regarding iho main highway c.-.liaiales c!i( ited Ihe fact that all the boroughs but one bad forwarded applic;ll i; ns IP- sip .side graills towards main roads passing through the borough

Mr Evan- ashed if il would he pcssih! •to pro I with the expenditure of any highways works io-w a; a means of relieving uneinrdr.vtu"!!!. He mepti iped l in* Walaroa deviation and St aI - ford bridge for which votes had been made. Tho Chairman stated the plans for the Wal.aroa deviation luid now been approved, and he would endeavour while in Wellington next- week to obtain authority lor the work, 'flic plans for Sin (ford bridge, owing l't tlm cost exceeding t!i“ vote had not been tippraved. It was suggested this matter .should also be brought he fore the Highways Board for final approval. 'Hie oiiest io:i of improving I he solely of i raflic meet iic: on the Buller Cargo road was brought up by a letter from the Westport Borough Conned. The matter was discussed, and various, diflii allies pointed out. Ihe matter of fixing m number of road signs at dangerous points was c'lisidoi't'd tho most edci-ahV ai lies slag". Th • Buller rope 'mutative asked In' cspsidcral ion I > meet th.e charge to ho i-n-",-.d hv ihe Railway Denartmeut nokeeo of the Buller river railway bridge, which, carried a good of. main highway traffic, hv way Hi" 1 , .-ho,. Road. The Chairman pointed mu the Highways Board inain- ■ joed the Buller tmm and ohl road, and could not undertake iho maintenance of both routes. The meeting closed at 0.10 p.m.