MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL No. 12

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1928, Page 6

MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL No. 12

MONDAY. DlX'liM'liUlt 17i!i. The ( (jini'.'il mot at 7..'’>o lun. Pro—Messrs T. A. Johnston (Chairiiian). Ponel! (Ihdier), .1! ie.jj.ins (lai'y), ( 'aytoil ilnung.ihuakvaii.s (.We.-u----in lid). The mi autos of the previous meeting were coniirmed.

ST AI EM ENT OF WORKS IN HAND AT 17i.ii DECEMBER.

Since the last meeting of the District Highways Council, the Alain Highways Board lias issin d authority for the following works. Some are completed; the majmiiy arc under cmr-.truction ; hut jn some instance,-; the work has been postponed until ai;er the holidays, and in other eases ihe commencement will depend on the date of delivery oi material lor the const ruction. On the 300 miles of Alain and Secondary iiighwavx, llie increased arti v jiv with regard both t<i cunstruetnm and to maintenance work is reflected in the general improvement u! the ! I igh ways. WESTPORT -lx Ail \AIEA AIAiX IIiGHWAY. -\! d j Din;:i Karuim a Seelion. Pfo-Wnrl-.5.. wid-mting. L'23o i, I.- ailing i’aii ’'iuv. n lull : Alussen’s bridge: Aiokiliinni River bridge, repair .work com pi led, en-tmg approximately L'1200: I.i 1 1!;• Wanganui rivei bridge. West-port • .Moi.ihiuui Sctioii, Buller Count v. | !ond damage. £303: Twins creek bridge, ceinpleled : renewal of eulverls. £703. AYestpoi’t—Nelson Alain Highway. Bulh’r Gorge, widening at corners and providing passing places; maintenance of bridges, £2;)0; renewal of culverts. £.',00: extern-ion of Stott’s Bluf! wall; lulllc Crag wall extension; widening, at Ben'.; creek bridge; Whiieclili'F creek bridge; Dublin Terrace bridge; Nine .Mile creek bridge, renewal of deck system, compfeted : Ten Aide creek bridge; Twelve Mile creel;

I NANG AMU V .! BATTII >X - AYAH 10 A! AIN HIGHWAY.

limiigaiiua .lumlioii -Rei'fton Seelinn. CiilVei’i renewals. C2OOF bridge

maiiilciuinee. £::UO-; im]iron'imuit at Cronaduu School: improvements to mad near Yorkev’s creek.': l Further improvements In he dealt -with next year; Barry’s creek bridge; completed. Reel ton- Big Cmv Section.—Wid-

ening Reel ton Saddle • metalling and imiirnvement s. south side n| Reid ten '-hoi !!(’; bridge repairs, culverts, aim urn!--(live work. o: cencri’te arch .advert. Taipoili; Stonev creek hrnlgc; Uln'-kvater 1 ridge repairs; protei-tive works nr-i’i’' Png Grey river, completed: Eilrgeralll’s overflew bridge. . p;,, i.ivv - ITram:d>an Section. Grey f'-oui: I y.... Igi iiiv bridge repair-.; '.i, .ora Fridge siirvev completed. and plans in. hand for new bitidge ; IRdfln'idge. Omnin. tender accepted for ■ rcci inn; repairs ;<• Big Grey bridge, contract' iut: w idening etc.. Pama-'j’ai’.m.'i!-'in sect ion;- improvement, -.'prlog crock railway crossing: •iwprovu’ients ;vi Arnold bridge MIL works c'liiinleled. > 1 Tarnmaknu -floss Seel ien. - 1 Ru's”1,,,.. creel; bridge, M’".p|ei ed; deviation at Taramak.ui Bridge. approvci; i iV ;> iiing Railway Depart incut’s o.i-cii : widening I’d ween Waimea ;I -1 < 1 Stafford; I'eife at Conk'*-' corner. R.WS--AVnilio Se-i Toil. All bridge site:-; have been snivoyed- widenuig. lantlm . hill : widening. Alount I' 1 ’ 1 '" coles; Shilov creek bridge. eomv.loi o'l : Waiaren- doviafioo. no.arlv eompleiod : Ba P’oot-sino creek Fridge. materuib: t-iie ; \’ilie’s Vr”'’tr bridge. matm-Rds o.i’d'U'od : IRH d-'-k’s creek bridge, c, ; .’lci’ia|e order'd; M- D-’n’ild's creek firii! ye. materials c.vd'g’od ; Matta-na bridge flood damage. mi"i(eel; v e woiL M--Cnlloegh’s crock bridge, material; ordered. AVestuorl (Weymouth (' oil'd; Road. Culverts. bridging, metalling. and with mi tig. Authority received lor e.vciiiJii mo of £!!>.!)7U in a period of two years. a-s under;—GroymoethPunakniki. LhO-Ibo: I* ox River- ( hariosioM. £!>,ol’); ( hurlestou-M estport, C 3.200. ' 1 ?es’it *lll Aiarnia Repairs to branch bridge. Arthur's Pass - Kumarn. Alain Ilighway.—Rocky creek' bridge, completed; () {j ra river hrid re. repairs completed: Weiniiii ailii bridge, repairs completed. Brunner Borough. .'lmprovements to Highway. Authority lor issued. Bi tinner Borough to contribute CoU. (1 re v urn ut li Borough.—Ta r-sealing maintenance’ proposals for Alawlmra. <)uay and f’oliden bridge projiared by Borough Engineer, and apiu'ovod by Main Highways Board. J.ake Kanieri Road.—Widening.

PLANT. The following plant has been purchased by thi' Ala.in Highways Board on the hire-purchase system:—Bulb r County.—Two .leaning-wlme! graders, one offset hitch, one five-tone roller wiih scarifier and grader attachment. AVcstland County.—One tractor. lmnigahiia County.—One thirty cwt. tip-lorry. The Chairman said a large amount of work was in hand. Of late he had passed over about 300 miles of main road, and speaking generally found tin' roads in very satisfactory order. The members concurred in the views expressed, as far as their respective districts were concerned.

Air Clayton noted an improvement in Brunner Borough, and Air Evans said the improvements on the Alain South Road, including those in bridging, were appreciated, and wore expected to facilitate this season’s tourist traffic. The Chairman said the West Coast got- iis fair share. Air Higgins said the £20,000 for the coastal road was a sails factory expenditure. The purchase of plant fur local bodies was referred to. Air Powell said Duller County was well pleased with tlieii purchases. Air Higgins stated it was cheaper to buy through the Highways Boaul than through the agents. Regarding lmfintcnance (ail '’highway:-; ever the holidays it was pointed out with fair weather, the roads would continue in good order as the heavy traffic would lie off the roads for a period. The members said the increase in highway subsidy was very acceptable. Complimentary' remarks wore passed as to tin’ operations of the Board. Regarding a suggestion to dispense with heavy traffic foes, the reply of the Westland County was read and approved. On the motion of Air Higgins it was resolved to protest against any remission of foes unless some adequate substitute were provided in other revenue.

The District Engineer slated road signals should la: maintained. It was necessary When roads were under rcnair tn-have proper signals, including the exhibition of red flags at danger points. The matter of additional highways va- deferred for the annual estimates.

\ long discussion regarding traffic •lisped ion ensued. The Chairman said Traffic Inspector SI ess had raised a point as to the car •iM-d by him for visiting the various parts of the Boards area, as he had not a car for his own exclusive use. Mr Evans said it 'seemed a matter for :h“ Grey County Council, which was the collecting body. Air Higgins sail l he had no knowledge ol the details of 1 lif .arrangements in operation. Air Powell said Duller Council was not satisfied with the position, considering ;| did nd receive enough attention. M'o-tland had had a reduction in the ■l arge. He thought the County C’oun- • iis. not this Council, should adjust the limiter. Air Clayton said the Gisi ric' was. too wide for one inspector. Mr Evans said good work was done in traffic regulation .and in saleguarding lifo. Air Dowell said the rapid increase of vehicles was making the job bigger. The Board discussed the matter in Committee wiih Inspector El°xs, after which if was resolved that "he Clnirii'.;- n interview Mr Keating (Grey Conn I v Clerk) on the subiect. Air Evans referred to the clearing o l ' ihe Highway drain. Arahura road, near Quinn’s creek. The mailer was Inferred for a renort. "Regarding road expenditure’ the Iw 1 - rj neer staled C13.M00 had been spent j goo Fnbru'i rv last in No. 12 District on highways. Mi' Evans said tliey might look into the question of eight-ton malls carrying heavier loads, and the Chairman said that it eou.ld Iv a remit for 'he Hiehw.uvs Conference to he held early in rhe X“\v Year, Air Evans a.Eed if there were any 'if'el 1 hooil nf securing a grant Irom ifin petrol tax for such by-roads with heavy traffic. Mr Pow“U said that the high fees on beavv vehicles mi<dit “ripple thi’ milling industry. Other members said without the fens the Iona! bodies might he crippled. The Chairman said (he conference next year would deal with the eefrol fax revenue, as there would he heavy oxoendifure next year.

Air Powell moved a hearty vote ot thanhs to their new Chairman for hiwork since coming to this district which had been very satisfactory, and likewise to the Board’s staff and to the press for their assistance durin 1 ' the past year. The motb’i: was seconded by Mr Higgins and carried.