WALLACE COUNTY

Southland Times, Issue 21095, 29 May 1930, Page 2

WALLACE COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From Our Correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Wallace County Council was held at Otautau yesterday when the following councillors were present: Messrs W. T. James (chairman), Stroud, Horrell, Blatch, Fowle, Hopcroft, Linscott, Buckingham and McGregor. Before commencing the business the chairman referred with regret to the death of Councillor Cody. It came as a shock when they knew that he had passed away, realizing that they had lost a wise councillor and a congenial friend. Councillor Cody entered the council in' 1914 as member for Wairio riding, which at that time was in a bad way, financially and otherwise, but by his wise and judicious management it was to-day one of the best ridings in the county. He had not only served the riding well, but had worked in the interests of the county as a whole, occupying the position of chairman on two different occasions. They mourned his loss, but were somewhat compensated by the fact that he died in harness, beloved by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He moved a motion of sympathy with the relatives in their bereavement, and asked them to stand in silence as a mark of respect. Ip vacating the chair Councillor James thanked members for their co-operation during the year, which they could rightly claim to have been a successful one. The rates in a number of ridings had been reduced, and the roads were in fairly good order. The county as a whole was in credit to the extent of £12,000. He congratulated the staff on the efficient manner in which they had carried out their duties, and trusted the same happy relations which had existed would be experienced by his successor.

Councillor James also took the opportuntunity to extend a hearty welcome to Councillor Stroud, and congratulated him on being elected by such a large majority. He trusted he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, and wished him a successful term of office.

In reply Councillor Stroud said he took the position with some diffidence, and asked for the whole-hearted support of members of the council in order to enable him to carry out his duties. On the motion of Councillors Hopcroft and James, Mr F. J. Linscott was appointed chairman for the ensuing year at the usual remuneration. Councillor Linscott suitably returned thanks for his election. Councillor McGregor, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the retiring chairman, said Councillor James had carried out his duties with considerable ability, and everything had worked smoothly during the past year.

Councillor McGregor was appointed chairman of the Finance Committee, members paying a tribute to the excellent manner in which he had officiated in that capacity last year.

The chairman was appointed to represent the council on the Main Highways Board. Monthly Meeting.

The monthly meetirtg of the council was then held.

Mr E. A, Carron, Waipango, a«ked that the road leading to his property be formed and gravelled. He again wrote asking that the road leading through his property be closed.—Member and engineer to look into the matter.

Mr C. Dickson, Colac Bay, drew attention to the state of Ward—Lake road, and asked that some improvement be, effected. —Left in the hands of engineer. Mr A. Kelly, North Riverton, drew attention to the fact that the sides of the Jacobs River bridge adjoining Waimatuku and Pourakino ridings wfere very open and unsafe for small children owing to so much motor traffic passing. He asked that they be netted or wired to give some protection. —Request granted. Messrs Officer Bros., Thornbury, asked that a culvert on Flints Bush—Thornbury road be lowered to give them an outlet for a drain. —Left in the hands of the member and engineer to inspect when in locality. Mr, John Fisher, clerk, Otautau River Board, advised that the board accepted the offer of the council to subsidize on the £ for £ basis, the share of the council not to exceed £lO, for protective work on the Bayswater side of the Aparima river, near the Double Cabbage Tree. He also fidvised that the work was being carried out under the supervision of Messrs F. J. Collie and G. D. Low, members for the subdivision. Mr J. S. Dick, secretary, Southland Motor Association, directed the attention of the council to the dangerous nature of a corner near King’s flaxmill on the Pukemaori—Otautau road, and suggested that steps be taken to improve the safety for vehicular traffic by widening the corner.— Left in the hands of the member and engineer, with power to act. Mr S. A. Murrell, Manapouri, asked to what extent the council was prepared to provide access to run 427, Waiau riding, known as “Duncraigan.”—No money available.

Mr Robert W. McCreath, manager for Messrs Birch and Co., sawmillers, Tuatapere, advised that the road leading to the mill was in a very bad state of repair and needed top-dressing urgently. He asked that the matter be put in hand immediately.—Resolved that the amount contributed by applicants be spent on the road. Mr E. Thomas, Pukemaori, asked permission to erect a car shed on the roadline at Birss and Sim’s sawmill.—Granted during the pleasure of the council. Mr D. Robertson, secretary, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Ohai, drew attention to the fact that the branch had collected £l7 as the result of Poppy Day, and this amount would be augmented to about £34 in Invercargill. As the council had promised to subsidize this to the extent of £ for £ and employ returned men in the Ohai district, the amount ‘“available would be £6B. He asked if work could be found in Ohai immediately for three applicants.— Money accepted, to be devoted to maintenance of footpaths in Ohai. Mrs J. Nisbet, Wairio, . applied for the right .to graze on Russell street, between Sections 7 and 17, and between Sections 8 and 16, Wairio Village, as it was an unused road. —Left in the hands of the member and engineer, with power to act. Mr J. W. Martin, Ohai, on behalf of the Ohai Presbyterian Church, requested permission to shift a hut from Milton street, Ohai, to Birchwood. —Granted, under the usual conditions.

Mr W. Pearce, the boards’ representative, No. 18 District Highways Council, wrote stating that at a meeting of that council a resolution had been passed recommending the Southland and Wallace County Councils to provide for superelevation and "widening of curves on primary highways where required, as early as possible. It was suggested that much of this work could be carried out during the course of ordinary maintenance, but past experience did not encourage the belief that satisfactory results would be achieved if the matter was left too much in the hands of the surfaceman. —Left in the hands of members and the engineer. Mr H. D. Atkinson, secretary, New Zealand Counties Association, advised that a conference of delegates would be held during the forthcoming session of Parliament on Wednesday, July 2, 1930.—The chairman was appointed delegate.

Mr C. G. Lucas, clerk, Whatakane County Council, advised that the following resolution had been passed by his council: “That the Government be urged to increase the petrol tax to such a figure that would enable it to completely finance all future maintenence and construction costs on all primary highways in a permanent manner.” He asked for the co-operation of the council by making representation to the member of Parliament along the lines indicated. —lt was resolved that the council was pre pared to support an increase up to 2d per gallon provided this increase was handed over to the county to be spent on county roads.

Mr J. S. Dick, secretary, Southland League, wrote stating that the annual meeting would be held on Wednesday, June* 19, and asked to be advised of the delegates appointed. The annual conference with members of Parliament would also be held

the same day.—The chairman was appointed delegate. Order Paper. Councillor Hopcroft moved that the following amounts be voted for expenditure in Pourakino riding: M.H. Riverton-Otau-tau, maintenance (£2 for £1), £4O; M.H. Gropers Bush-Waimatuku (£2 for £1), £9; total, £49. Councillor Linscott moved that the following amount be voted for expenditure in Waimatuku riding: Government grant, Haywood and McLean road (£ for £) £5O. Councillor Buckingham moved that the following amounts be voted for expenditure in Otautau riding: Gladfield road, £75; Bayswater road, £5O; total £125. Councillor McGregor moved that the following amounts be voted for expenditure in Wairaki riding: Government grant, Blackmount road, £ for £, £5O; M.H. Ohai-Ora-wai, construction of Bull Creek bridge (£2 for £1), £88; total, £l3B. Councillor Fowle moved that the following amount be voted for expenditure in Waiau riding: Government grant, Marshall road, £ for £, £35. Councillor Blatch moved that the fol'owing amount be voted for expenditure in Mararoa riding: Beer and Macauley road, maintenance, £lOO. Engineer’s Report.

The engineer (Mr J. G. C. Baker) reported that since last meeting the matter, excepting the last week, had been very dry and mild, and fair progress was made with the remaining uncompleted jobs. The contractor was now at work on the Kenny Creek and' Sheepwash Creek bridges on the Wreys Bush-Mossburn main highway and was making good progress. In connection with the Otautau River Board’s proposed tree and willow protective work along the east bank of the Jacob’s river adjoining the north side of the Double Cabbage Tree ford, on April 24 Councillor Buckingham inspected the river at this place and decided to subsidize the board’s work to the extent of £ for £up to £lO. The swing bridge over the Pourakino at T. Guise's had now Bfeen raised two feet, and a little more clearance given the small craft that use the river. The District Highways Council held a meeting in Invercargill on the 21st inst., the business being the annual review of main highways. In view of the main highways circular on the matter, only a very small mileage of new main highways was recommended, the council’s share being made up of Riverton to Rocks, two miles (mostly in Riverton Borough), Hillis to Thornbury one mile, and Drummond-Heddon Bush road from junction with the Argyle-Tuatapere main highway near Calcium northwards to junction with the Winton-Ohai main highway at Heddon Bush 11 miles, or a total of about 14 miles, of which four miles of the latter were a boundary road with the Southland County Council.—Adopted. General. If was resolved that the electric lighting of streets in the Ohai special area be agreed to, the cost to be met by the striking of a special rate. The county clerk was granted leave of absence to allow him to attend the conference of Institute of County Clerks. It was resolved that the engineer inspect the road bridge at Riverton in compliance with the Riverton Borough Council’s request. It was resolved that the following resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Public Works: “That in the opinion of this council the Government appropriations that have not been effected through a county council in any district should not be set up as a reason for refusing a county's application for grants which carry county subsidies when th'le Government works are carried out opening tourist roads and other works of little or no consequence to such a county.”