WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 May 1925, Page 5

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of (he Waimea County Council was held to-day. There were present : Crs. I’. Rest (Chairman), T. llewetson, A. Drummond, H. G. Berryman. <>. C. Wilkinson, A. A. Kotiyon. G. Maemahon, J. Confer, and if. Tuimirlift.

RANK BALANCES

Following bank balances were shown

OVERSEER’S REPORT The report of the overseer setting out in detail the work of the month was read and dealt with. Arising therefrom it- was resolved to draw the. attention of the Automobile, Association to, the fact that the telephone has not yet been removed from the cottage on Takaka Hill. ENGINEER’S REPORT

The Engineer reported inter aliar Wangamoa .Riding;. The Main. Highways Board has paid into the .County Fund Account. £62 10s, being the Council's portion of the £250 which was held back on account of crushed metal standing on private property. Metal has been quarried for patching the main highway in Happy Valley. Arrangements have been made for gravel for patching Maitai Valley road.

Stoke Riding: Owing to weather conditions the bitumen work at Stoke had to close down. To date 32 chains hava been completed. A concrete culvert should be nut in at the approach to the post office; cost about/£36. A start has been made to scarify and grade the Bishopdale road. It will not. be possible to make a smooth surface of this portion of the road, owing to the presence of large stones j but a great improvement will be' effected. Regarding the slip on Bishopdale Ilill, it was stated that a rock and tile -. drain,,.kvould overcome the difficultv; estimated cost £97.

Wai-iti Riding: If the Council approves .of; the.estimates for (footpaths in Wakefield the work will be gone on with immediately,- , , v Motupiko Riding: Rians and proposals for Rocky Creek bridge, Tophouse wood, were submitted to- the, Public - \yorks Department for, approval. and ope set has been returned, approved ■ arid 1 tedders may be invited for carrying out the work- As to Brewerton’s Gully, he recommended that the Council do riot object to Mr Coleman filling liis fence line. ... ... , ~

Wangapeka Riding: An inspection of the site of the proposed bridge to give access to Mr Faulkner’s property, and estimate cost of erecting light traffic suspension bridge, labour only,' at £250. •' Ilovcdale Riding: The plans of the Pearse River bridge, are-- approaching completion, and it was hoped to submit, them to the Public Works Department for approval during next week. It was also hoped to have the survey made and plans completed during this month of the Pearse to Baton road.

Appleby Riding: The contractor has made :f start with' Hie construction ,of the Redwood’s Valley stream bridge. Cr. Maemahon said the Council could be congratulated on the excellent, job made of the portion of the Stoke road laid down in bitumen.' As regards .the culvert at the post office, it- was very necessary. He ■ considered the Postal Department should contribute towards the cost; and lie moved that, the Engineer interview the Chief Postmaster with this end in view.;

The motion was canned. -\ « o On the motion of Cr: Berrymari.vit. was resolved to ask the Railway De : partnient to do the concrete work -in* Nqrcis ! Gully.

It- was resolved, on the motion, of Cr. llewetson, that, the Engineer visit Cheviot.to inspect a loading elevator: Cr. . Cordcr said that if a. suitable .machine could be obtained it would be of, great, benefit.to the county. : Cr. Drummond considered , that •a. grader 1 was required-for the. Wangapekaand Motupiko Ridings. This was the only’ wav in- which the . water-tables could, be kept clear, and the. roads graded,. . He .moved to this, effect. i ■Seconded by Cr. Berryman.

In supporting, Cr. Hewelson was of opinion that if the . grader was required in other riding it should be available. ‘Cr, Corder agreed that- it was essenr tial to have another grader, and possibly another, one on.,top of that; but pointed out. that it was a matter of„£ s. d. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES Cr: Corder brought up the matter of heavy traffic fees, and moved a certain 'resolution thereon. Cr. Berryman, who seconded the motion pro forma, moved an ..amendment that the Council take action forthwith to collect the heavy traffic fees as gazetted. The clerk: That means you will want an inspector. The Engineer said that probably £6OO or £7OO would be collected yearly in fees. If a conscientious inspector was appointed and he made it his business to see that lorries and other vehicles were not overloaded, it would mean a considerable saving to the roads. After some further discussion Cr. Cordef’s -motion was amended to read as follows, and carried unanimously:— '“That the District Highways Council No IL be-informed that as the Government Las fixed the license fees for heavy traffic, it- is not- now necessary for the Council to draft license fees as recommended bv the conference, of local’ bodies • and that the. Council forthwith take action to collect heavy traffic fees as gazetted on March 26, 1925. EROSION AT APPLEBY BRIDGE The Engineer reported that ift. company with the District Engineer, ho 1 ad reccntlv inspected the river erosion n . Applebv bridge. Very considerable , work' wa= now required, as a good deal of damage bad resulted since his previous inspection. About £4OO would be required, of which the Council would probable have to find two-thirds. There was also the question of extending the bridge. - The chairman said the matter was.a very .serious one. Consideration was deferred until the next meeting.

Wa imoa County Fund Ac. £ 415 7 d. 4 Jil'illgf'S & Plant Loan Ac. 2693 2 7 Contract! )V& Deposits Ac. 46 7 0 Interost. on Loan No. 3 21 8 4 Interest. on Loan No. 4 15 3 2 Interest Oil Loan No. 5 51 16 7 Interest (HI Loan No. 6 91 16 4 Interest on Loan No. 7 29 7 9 Interest on Loan No. 8 0 0 4 Interest on Loan No. 9 .4 1 10 Land Fund Thirds Ac. 491 0 4 Workers' Dwellings Loan Ac. 307 11 8