TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17686, 25 July 1919, Page 2

TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL

Tho following is the Engineer's report for July:— A number of circumstances hare combined to reta«l road and bridge work. In the early part of the montli the weather was bad. A fall of snow was followed by warm rain, and the low-lying lands of East Taieri were first flooded by the Silverstream and Owhiro, and subsequently by back water from the laicri River. The areas subject to Hooding from the Waipori River were also inundated. On the Lower Taieri there was, however, practically no ecour, and the roads were not to any extent damaged, but at Strath Taieri the river further eroded tho banks at the Cottesbrook bridge to such an extent that protective work cannot longer be delayed. The restriction of the railway service urder the coal-saving time-table put a stop to railage of timber from Southland and South Otago, whence tho county was deriving its supply, so that bridge-repair works have been hindered. A stop was also made to all railage of motal at the season of the year when it is customary to effect maintenance repairs, and the curtailment of the carriage of goods on the rail-way has diverted a gpsat deal of extraordinary traffio to tho roads. Moreover, tho shortage of coal from other mines has led to an increased output from local pits and the cartage of this over roads not built for heavy traffio has been th-3 cause of material damage. Ihe contract for tho delivery of metal in North and East Taieri has been completed, the metal for the Mosgiel to Muir's road bomjj carted from the quarry instead of r t ded + I* , P o33^l © to proceed with the Jiaikorai metal contract, so the contractor was given the delivery of metal for the Main South road, Mosgiel, to Cullen's and 175 yards have been delivered to date Ihe total output from the Mosgiel quarry

during the month was 490 tons. Tho gravol coDtraot at Whare Flat was held up by the weather, and only 46 yards have been delivered since last report. The works carried out by day labour include the formation of tbs Silverstream \ alloy road, clearing sheep track on the (jladfield Extension road, reinstatement and drainage of road at the slip on Stevenson's Hill, repairs to metal on M'Dsod and Miller's road, Outram Riding, and on Centre road, North laien, repairs to Brighton road ■with schist metal and gravel, formation and gravelling of a section of Centre road, Strath 'i'aieri, between Clark's Creek and Eraser's; gravelling of the balance of the Oottes-brook road to the bridge, and gravelling of the approach to the West iaieri bridgs. The carpenters have finished the concrete and shifting at the Gordon road ; bridge, and have nrepared the superstructure as far as stock timber will go, but there is no possibility at present of obtaining the tiiriuor lor the double deck 'i.wo bridges across the Owhiro, on iihand's rood ana Giadiieid road, have also been repaired, and strengthened. Cr Findiay ami tno engineer report regarding the application of Mr D. Leishman lor a road to Salisbury Riding, that tho surveyed road does not oonnect with Salisbury, but crosses the railway above the tunnel on the south side of the station. Wo do not think a connecting road can bo obtained by negotiation, and as tho council is not being asked to maintain the road used by the other colliery, we aro not prepared to recommod the taking of a road unless tho Mines Department takes the matter up and arranges lor tho cost of work, Cr Scott and the engineer report regarding the application of Mr M'Dowell for opening up of road to his property at Flagstaff, that the road ia partly in the city partly in the Takri, and partly a boundary road, and ia overgrown with gorso and broom. It has apparently been formed at ono time, but is in worse condition on that account than if never touched. It ig asked that steps be taken to have the noxious weeds cleared, that a zig-zag track be formed to the south boundarv of tihe property and tho 'boulders on road broken over for metal. Tho length of road is 20 chains city, five chains boundary road, and 35 chains Taieri. They also recommend with regard to road to Mr W. Stewart's section 79, block VI, Dunedin and East Taieri, that a pitched ford across tho oreek will meet present requirements. With regard to Mr Alexander's reqnost regarding a road to his back sections and a ditch on the Brighton road, they recommend that the road be attended to, but refer tho matter of clearing the ditch to tho council for instructions, as it is customary for many ditohes similarly situated to be cleared by the landowners interested. Mr Matheson and the engineer roport with regard to requisitions from tenants of Glaclbrook Settlement. Mr Palmer's allotment is No. 275, and he as'-s permission to maintain gates across the unformed road for 12 months. "Wo recommend that tho application bo granted on the nsual conditions recardinjr tr?tr>s across roads- Mr Cottoroll's aJlotmcnt is No. 31S. and he has no water on tho section, but has arr.-ingod -with Mr Rohorts to obtain a f-npplv from n. crook on the opposite side of rond. and tho council's consent is asVrd to tli'S propoaal. Thp Commissioner of Oown T-ands is nj»TT'"a.Mr> provided the water is d'wihargod to a diteh at the north-oast bormdarr of aTtotrrw-nt. but we Khink thnt fho council shon'd trivo consent, only if tnn water is carried in a pipo with a shtit-off valvo at thp delivery end, so that thero "will bo no overflow.