The Reporter

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 2, 14 April 1894, Page 9

The Reporter

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL. Friday, Aphid 13. The monthly meeting was attended by Mr T. Green (the Chairman), and Crs Hast, Ward, McQueen, Dunlop, Fraser* MeCallura, Hamilton, and Raymond. D. Yorke and McDonald, Hedgehope, applied to have a ditch cut along the road between sections 120 and 87, so as to give them fan outfall.—Engineer to report. A number of settlers petitioned for works on the Mataura-Dunsdale road.—Engineer to report. T. Todd and Sons, Waikiwi, claimed LlO for damages sustained through an overflow caused by a defective culvert in front of their tile works.—Left in the hands of the member for the riding. W. Martin and R. VV. Jones appeared as a deputation from the Invercargill Cycling Club, and asked the Council to modify bylaw 37, so as to make it press less hardlj- on bicyclists. A letter on the same subject was read from the New Zealand Cyclists’ Alliance (Christchurch) who suggested that the bylaw should be repealed. Mr Martin pointed ont that under the bylaw all the responsibility was thrown on a bicyclist in the event of his meeting a horseman or driver of a vehicle He suggested that the bylaw should be altered, so as to require a rider or driver to signal by raising his hand when he wished a bicyclist to dismount. The Club would have no objection to road-racing being prohibited, as they now possessed a track, and it might also be stipulated that the speed must not exceed cigl.t miles an hour. Cycling was a pastime now indulged in by a good number of people, and a large amount of money was invested in the industry. He was not aware that a bylaw of such a character was in force elsewhere. As a rule, a horseman or driv3r of a vehicle was in a better position than a bicyclist to know whether his horse was likely to shy at a passing bicycle and could signal accordingly. In some cases where he had dismounted he had been asked to re-mount, people stating that they wished to get their horses used to the machines, while in other cases attempts had been made to force him off the road. He might also call attention to the fact that the law regarding the carrying of lights after nightfall was frequently broken by drivers of vehicles. The Club had no desire to contravene the laws in any way and endeavoured to check anything of the kind. — Mr Jones also supported the request for a modification of the bylaw.—The deputation having retired, a discussion followed. Reference was made to the fact that bicyclists frequently ignored the safety and convenience of pedestrians by stealing up behind them without warning, and Cr. Dunlop gave a graphic recital ef his experiences on the Bay Road, when a rider on a high machine, with a bundle of reeds about ten feet long strapped to his back, suddenly loomed up behind his trap —an apparition so fearsome that with a restive horse serious consequences might have ceourred. —Cr. McQueen moved, and Cr. Raymond seconded, the appointment of a committee to investigate, suggest a modificacation of by law 37 and report to the Council. —Cr. Hast proposed, and Cr. Dunlop seconded, that the Cycling Alliance be informed that the Council cannot see its way to alter the by-law.—On being put the amendment was carried only the mover and seconder and Cr. Ward voting for the motion. Sew Hoy asked the Council to make the road from Nokomai railway station to Nokomai Creek passable for day traffic. —No funds available, the Engineer stating that there was a road from Parrawa to the Nokomai river. If; was intimated that notice had been served on the owners of section 27, block 1, Invercargill Hundred, requiring them to clear the Park drain of certain obstructions It was decided to apply to J. McCrostie for the cost of damage caused by his traction engine to a bridge on Lincoln road, New River. It was intimated that a sum of £l5O had been granted by the Government for work on the Wallacetown-Waimatuku Flat road. J. Stevenson and two other settlers at Waianiwa applied for a refund of £5 subscribed by them for a ditch in Dudley street. —Granted, the Council to have no further responsibility in the matter. A. McKenzie, dog-tax collector, forwarded a list of defaulters.—Fourteen days’ grace allowed, cases unsettled then to .be placed in the hands of the police. Sophia Kidd, Winton, applied for a slaughtering license. —Left in the hands of the Chairman and member for the riding. Accounts amounting to L 1940 3s 4d were passed for payment.