LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL

Lake County Mail, Issue 21, 15 October 1947, Page 5

LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting New Awards New rates of wages affecting the mechanic, truck drivers, angledozer drivers and labourers, which came into force on October 1, and an increase in the foreman’s salary will entail the council in an additional expenditure of £162 11s 3d for the remaining six weeks of the current financial year it was stated at the meeting of the council held on Thursday last. Engineer’s Report The Engineer’s report for the month showed that grading, gravelling and patch gravel had been carried out in the county. Water tables and culvert work had been done on the Mt. Judah road (Glenorchy) and on the Skippers highway and Closeburn road. The angledozer had completed levelling work for the Wanaka Islands Domain Board and the Upper Clutha A. and P. Association. The new surfaceman had commenced work in the Garston district. The engineer’s proposed programme of work covered grading of the main highways in the Arrow riding. Complete permanent repairs to Gibbston back road; grade and clear watcrtables and culverts on the Crown range road. The Queenstown-Wanaka main highway will be graded. In the Greenstone riding general maintenance will be carried out on the Glenorchy-Paradise highway. The surfacing of OxburnRees bridge section will be completed and holes filled in on portion of Paradise road. In the Kingston riding the gravel gang will commence surfacing the Garston district roads and instal culvert agreed upon, also continue with water tabling and ditching. In the Wanaka riding grading will be done on main highways, the Glendhu-Wanaka road improved and a 48-inch diameter culvert installed at Timber Gully, near Cardrona nursery. Attention will be given to main highway between Cardrona and Crown Range. In a supplementary report the engineer stated that six i2in culverts each 16ft long are required on the Cecil Peak road at an estimated cost of £4l. In company with Cr Bryant, the Routeburn road was inspected. Carried out in heavy rain, the inadequacy of culvert and drainage was shown in a marked degree. In his opinion patch work would be uneconomical and expenditure should be curtailed until the road receives a thorough overhaul. It was advised that certain trees on the road be removed and overhanging branches cut back. Out of a discussion on the engineer’s proposals tor work during the month, it was recommended that the watertables at Rocky Point on Fitzpatrick’s road bo attended to; that a fresh ditch be formed in waterway opposite Cr McLean’s property; that attention be given to water tables on Skippers and Chard’s roads; that the grade of main highway leading past D. Sutherland’s property be reduced. The engineer was instructed to make a survey of the Routeburn road and report as soon as possible; to have repairs made to Tobin’s track. He was also instructed to proceed with the installation of culverts on Cecil Peak road. The clerk was instructed to make enquiries re the control of the Arrow river bridge leading to Tobin’s track. Authority was given to purchase £2OO worth of pipes for culvertiug. The proposed programme of work was approved. Bucklerburn Bridge The Mines Department advised that it had no knowledge of any proposals to erect a temporay traffic bridge over the Bucklerburn at the site of the present bridge in the gorge. The department was of the opinion that the cost of this bridge could not be justified from the viewpoint of access to the scheelite mines, but that as it might have some merit as part of the proposed QuecnstownGlenorchy road, the P.W.D. might consider the proposal in anticipation of the construction of the road at some later

date. In the meantime the position could be met by maintaining the existing bridge and constructing a deviation at a cost of £330 and proposed that this cost be allocated as follows: Lake County Council £OO, P.W.D. roads £lO4, Consolidated Fund vote (mines) £IOO. It was understood that this proposal was agreed to and the Public Works Department was arranging to have the work carried out. It was resolved to send a copy of correspondence to the roads clerk and intimate that the council is in favour of the proposal to put a bridge over the gorge in the Bucklerburn. General The Air Department sent an application for a tempoi’ary landing field at Glenorchy and asked that certain improvement be carried out before licensing same. It was resolved to write to Mr T. L. Macdonald, M.P., asking him to further the matter. The Main Highways Board advised that it was agreed to provide the council with a £4 for £1 subsidy on the Skippers highway and a similar rate of subsidy on the Glenorchy-Paradise highway as from September 1. Received, and it was decided to ask for consideration for the Queenstovvn-Wanaka and the Wanaka-Haast highways. The Transport Department advised approval had been given of the classification of roads in Lake County. List of roads concerned appeared in the Now Zealand gazette. —Received. The New Zealand Counties’ Association forwarded a copy of the amended draft for the Forest and Rural Fires Bill, Attention was directed to certain new sections. —Received. Continued on page 10.