WAIAPU COUNTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 12

WAIAPU COUNTY

WANDERING STOCK PQUNDKEEPER’S REPORT BULLGRADER SUBSIDY TOWNSHIP SEWERAGE (Spurial to the lloralil.) TE PUIA, this day. At the monthly meeting of the Waiapu County Council held in Te Puia there were present: The chair-, man, Cr. D. W. W. Williams, and Cr?., J. Busbv, H. IT. Fairlie, M. Hyland, H. M. Jackson, F. R. JefTerd, F. Manuel, H. Te Rapu, and O. T. Williams.

Six months’ leave of absence was granted to Cr. R. Cl. Sherwood Hale, who had taken up an appointment with the Air Force.

T!ic chairman referred to the death of Mr. W. O'Ryan, a former clerk and engineer to the council, and the council carried a motion of condolence.

The poundkeeper at Tokomaru Bay Mr. P. A. Carroll, wrote replying to the council’s instructions regarding stock wandering on the State highway south of Tokomaru Bay,

The council had previously received a complaint from the Main Highways Board about the large number of stock endangering traffic on the highway, and Mr. Carroll had been asked *.o make more frequent patrols of the area. In his reply, Mr. Carroll advised that he had made three trips over the section complained of, one of which was at night. Only one horse had been found at large. This horse he stated, had strayed because part of the fence had been pulled down by labourers on the highway to facilitate construction work, and had not been put up again. The poundkeeper also stated that a fence on another sector had been dismantled by Highways’ Board employees and not re-erected. He thought that it was unfair, under these circumstances, to impound stock and charge the owners with impounding fees. . The council resolved that the Highways Board be advised of the poundkeeper’s remarks. Shingle Dump Mr. Wi Clarke, Tolaga Bay, wrote asking when the council proposed to clean up the shingle dump on his property at the Three Bridges. The county engineer stated that the dump had been used by the council prior to the Public Works Department taking over the use of it.—The council resolved that the district engineer be asked if the Public Works Department would be prepared to assist the council to clean up the site. The district engineer wrote advising that the Main Highways Board had agreed to increase the rate _(>'■' hire for the council’s bullgrader tor subsidy purposes from £3 12s to £3 'Gs per day, thus making the hourly rate 9s Gd instead of 9s as was first decided upon. —The county cloi k stated that the new rate offered was still inadequate to cover operating costs. The department, he said, based its rate on the estimate that the life of the bullgrader would be seven years, whereas he thought that five years would be the economic life of f he machine, especially as it was used in the worst parts of the Coast. He also explained that the cost of fuel bad increased—lt was decided to ask die department to increase the rate o. hire for the bullgrader. Ruatoria Stock Route A discussion took place regarding .he possibility of providing a stockroute through Ruatoria township. 11 was stated “that now the township roads were being tar sealed, it was desirous to have a stock route, and '.he council left the matter to the engineer and Cr. Jackson to investigate and report back to the council. Mr. J. Todd, on behalf of Mr. .1. Lloyd, requested the right to graze the gravel reserve in Tokomaru Bay. and in return offered to fence the area. —The council decided to grant the use of thd reserve to Mr. Lloyd during the pleasure of the council, providing Mr. Lloyd carried out fencing operations to the satisfaction o' the county engineer. The sanitary inspector reported as follows:— “During various inspections matters generally in the county have been found to be fairly satisfactory. It is noted that at Tokomaru Bay some of the drains from houses discharge on to or near to the beach. This "has been the case for many years, apparently, but I have not neard of any nuisance arising therefrom. However, a close watch of the area will be kept during dry weather. Engineer's Report The report from the county engineer, Mr. A. K. Gilmour, stated:— “Tokomaru-Mata Highway. The crossing over the Pauariki Stream has. been causing trouble again to motor drivers. Steps are being taken to try and improve this crossing. "Mangakino-Wai-o-matatini Higliway. —A small wash-out on the northern up-stream side of the Mangakinc bridge at the abutment wing has ‘aken place. Groynes will be built at each of the wings to prevent this occurring again. The wings are too short to protect the fillings from small floods.

“Tapuaeroa Highway. Damage was caused to the groyne netting lence erected at the Mangaowaiata Stream during the last heavy rain. This was due to scouring and lowering of the stream bed.

* “Main Highways Construction. - Mangakino-Wai-o-matatini Highway, reconstruction and scaling of Ruatoria township: Most of the foundation work has been completed on the roadway and footpaths. All of the verandah posts with the exception of one. have been removed. Tenders are being called for the construction of the kerbing and channelling. “District Roads Maintenance.—The heavy rain during the month did not cause any extensive damage to the roads. On the Tapuaeroa road, the Mangapoi Stream washed over the groyne and partially filled up the stream bed at the bridge, and caused a wash-out on the road, but the stream is still flowing under the bridge, and the road is still open for traffic.

“In connection with street lighting at Ruatoria, the following people would be prepared to supply current for the following number of lights: Mr. Burton, two lights; Akers Bros., one light; Mr. T. H. Reedy, one light: Mr. Hayden, two lights.”