MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19474, 8 May 1925, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

NO. IT, DISTRICT COUNCIL. A meeting of the No. 17 District Highways Council was held in tho Public Works Department’s offices yesterday. There were present: Messrs D. R. Jack (Clutha County Council), H. M. Driver (Bruce County Council), R. G. Cotton (Tuapeka County Council), W. Blackie (Taicri County Council), and E. F. Evans (Government nominee). Mr Evans was elected chairman. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Cotton handed in his resignation, and in so doing explained that there was no main highway in his riding. The Chairman expressed nis regret at Mr Cotton’s decision, and a motion of thanks for his past services was carried. HIGHWAY BOARD’S GRANTS. The following authorities were received from the Public Works Department, Wellington, being the Main Highways Board’s subsidies for maintenance for different periods:—Dunedin-lnvercargiil highway (Taieri County), £511; same highway (Clutha County), £232 and £l5O 19e Id for two periods; Mosgiel Junotion-Middlo-march highway (Taieri County), £465; subsidy towards cost of fencing unsafe bridges in .the Manuka Gorge. £25; OlarksvilleClyde highway (Bruce County). £llß 12s: same highway (Tuapeka County), £lB6 11s and £94 7s 6d for two periods; Rae’s Junc-tion-Edievalo highway (Tuapeka County), £7 7s for two months; and for commencing renovations to tho Catlilift River bridge (Beaumont), £SOO. MAIN HIGHWAYS. Mr Driver moved, and Mr Jack seconded —“That it be a recommendation to tho Main Highways Council that the BalcluthaTuapeka road bo declared a main highway.”—The motion was carried. The Clutha County Council wrote .recommending that the following roads be declared man highwaysßalclntha-Macleu-nan road, Gore to Tapanui road, via Waikoikoi, and Waikaka to Kelso road.—Mr Jack moved, and Mr Cotton seconded — “That the council forward the recommendations to the Main Highways Board with its approval.”—Tho motion was carried. LOVELL’S FLAT BRIDGE, In connection witii the new Lovell’s Flat bridge, the plans showed that it would cost £IOOO to erect, instead of £BOO, upreviously expected,—Mr Driver said that his council was not aware of the extra cost, but as the erection of the bridge was in its own interests he thought tho council would find tho extra money. Tho bridge was on the Main South road, and there was considerable heavy traffic. It was really not safe for such heavy traffic, and the erection of a now bridge was an urgent necessity.—On the motion of Mr Driver, seconded by Mr Cotton, it was decided to urge the Main Highways’ Board to carry oat the work as soon as possible. THE EXHIBITION AND ROADS. A letter was received from the Taieri County Council making application for a special grant of £2OOO on the animal estimates to meet extraordinary traffic during the period of the Exhibition.—Mr Blackie contended that as the traffic would bo very heavy during the Exhibition period tho Tifieri Council’s application; was a reasonable one.—The Chairman said that the only method of obtaining such a grant would bo to ask the Main Highways’ Council to set up special legislation to meet cases of that kind, or to have the road declared a Government rood. —Mr Blackie remarked tliat they did not want the road declared, a main road.—Mr Driver said that hi»--council was of opinion that the Highways’ Board should make a special grant to local bodiee which wore affected in this manner, so that the roads could be put in proper order before and during tho Exhibition. Tho local bodies had already subscribed to the funds of the Otago Court at the Exhibition, and the increased traffic on the roads would mean that the counties would have an increased expenditure on maintenance. —Mr Jack moved, and Mr Blackie seconded— “ Thai application bo made to tho Main Highways Board for a special grant to the No. 17 Highways Council in view of tho very heavy traffic during the Exhibition period.”—The motion was carried. MANUKA GORGE BRIDGES. Several letters were received in connection with the Manuka Gorge bridges.—The District Council had assessed tho iuapeka Council at £167, but that body had replied that it could not contribute more than £loo.—Tho Bruco County Council was agreeable to pay two-thirds of’ £SOO (£334) towards renewing tho Manuka Gorge bridges, provided tho other local bodies contributed the remaining one-third. —Tho Lawrence Council wrote that its levy, of £33 was too high, and considrod that £lO was a more equitable amount—The Roxburgh Borough Council wrote slating that it could not assist in the matter as it had expended £25 on those bridges last year and required all its funds for its own purposes.—A letter was also received from tho Main Highways Board, enclosing tho following resolution; —“That tho local authorities bo informed that, failing acceptance of the board’s offer to contribute £I6OO towards the estimated cost of £2OOO to improve tho Manuka Gorge section of tho ClarksvilleClydo highway, tho board would proceed to carry out the work and claim on them for one half tho cost in terms of section 19 of the Main Highways Act.”—The Chairman explained that ho had advised tho Board that tho balance required amounted to £56, and if the local liodies would contribute that sum among themselves tho work of repairing the bridges could bo gone on with.—After some discussion it was decided to leave the matter to i Messrs Driver and Cotton, wilh a view to raising the necessary £55, as if that could be done tho work could bo proceeded with. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Taieri County Council in connection with the portion of the Dunedin-lnvercargiil main road which ran through tho county, and pointing out that owing to tho greatly increased motor traffic the upkeep was considerably greater than had been the case in previous years. Consequently an unduly heavy burden had to bo borne by the council. —In reply to the Green Island Borough Council on tho same matter, tho Main Highways Board wrote stating that at its meeting on April 18 it had declined to approve of the declaration of the road through Green Island as a main highway.—The matter v/as hold over till the result of the deputation in Wellington was ascertained. In response to a resolution from tiro council the Main Highways Board wrote stating that it had prepared a series of questions and answers dealing with roadmaking for the benefit of road overseers.— Tho Chairman remarked that this meant that the board had practically given effect to tho council’s suggestion.—The letter was received. GENERAL. It was decided to ask the Main Highways Board to forward a definition of the term "reconstruction’’ when dealing with roads. After some discussion it was decided to recommend to local authorities that they instruct their engineers to prepare tho annual estimates for maintenance and construction early in April of each year.—The estimates were then considered and approved.