PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 January 1925, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinary meeting of the Patea County Council yesterday there were present: Cra Gibbs (chair), W. G. Belton, W. Scown, Alexander, H. Sutherland, McDonald and W. H. Watkins. A letter from James Bros., Ngamatapouri. drew attention to the state of their road, Ngamatapouri to Ivapara.—lt was agreed to refer the matter to the engineer.W. Filham, Kakaramea, writing of the l'oads next his place, said he was the only user, and asked permission to close tlie roads and lease the land.— The chairman said this might be done, but it is understood a gate must be supplied. Mr H. Boyer, Kauahapa, Waverley, referring to a loan of £2OOO carried by a meeting of settlers two years ago, said that if the money could not be secured from the department the council might try to raise it otherwise. He asked also that the council do work to the value of unexpended rates, about £7O, on the road, in, view of the approach of winter. —Received. A request was received for tar-seal-ing at the Manntahi Dairy Factory. — It was decided that the work be taken in hand and carried out similarly to Alton and Whemiakura. —The chairman remarked that it was 'a very excellent scheme to tar the approaches to dairv factories.

It' was resolved that the engineer be instructed to get out a list of native lands on which rates were payable, and consult with the riding members with a view to collection.

Referring to the financial position, the clerk said that the overdraft was £9837 and accounts to be paid £I4OO, total £10,237. The limit was £12,500, and subsidy to come £IBO0 —£14,300. There was therefore £3OOO to come and go on. A request for extra wages was made by settlers for work done on their roads for the county.—lt was resolved that only the current rate be paid. The chairman said they should be pleased with th© amounts sent forward by the Highways Board, for maintenance. It was to the benefit of the council to expend as much as possible this year so as to get more next year. Grants for maintenance were received as follow from the Main Highways Board: Carlvle S.D., VII. and VIII., £43 14s 6d;‘ Carlyle S.D., 11., and Hawera S.D., XV., £l4 7s; Wairoa S.D., VI., £IOO 5s 8d; Wairoa, VIII., £ls 10s 6d; Manawapou road and bridge, £371 19s lid. A request for oltL pipes for Waitotara was granted, the engineer stating that he had some old pipes on hand. in connection with the Waitotara Valley bridge, the Department of Public Works acknowledged an undertaking by the council to pay £2OOO as soon as received. They stated that there was due also an additional sum of £166 13s 4d, and asked for this to be sent.

Referring to the motor lorry regulations, the chairman said that it would be advisable to have a conference of all local bodies under the No. 8 Council, and on his motion it was agreed to communicate with the chairman of the council. The chairman said he would endeavour to see Mr Ball in Stratford and see what They wei - e doing in No. 7 district.

A separate rate of Id in the £ in the Ngutmvera and Moumahaki districts, which was levied at last meeting of the council, was duly confirmed. The weekly half-holiday was fixed for Saturday, it being understood that any districts which wished another day could apply for their own day. The surfacemen in the whole Patea district wer© instructed to impound any straying stock. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported : —Alain Road and General. —Generally throughout the county only poor progress has been made during this period owing to the exceptionally heavy weather that has been experienced. On the Moumahaki length practically all the earth-' works are completed and the bitumen work is now progressing. This work should be completed now at the end of the first or second week in February, depending on the weather and metal supplies. Owing to the general programme having been delayed, I would suggest that the council further consider the future programme with, a view to getting as much of the work for which main, highway subsidy is drawn completed before the end of the financial year. On the 11th ult. a heavy slip came down on the Manawapou for which extra labour had to he engaged. Lockhart has made good progress on the Patea Hill. The survey work is ahead on the Waverley racecourse deviation (proposed) and on the Wheniiakura Hill. I propose getting both these works ready so thac the council can let the earthwork contracts on them during the winter. I have made enquiries, and as I can get a telephone connection to tlie Whenuakura, cottage for less than £5 per year I recommended that I be empowered to have this done.

Gtoia West.—The earthworks, contract on the Alton Gorge is completed satisfactorily, and also, the small extension. Proposals have been sent in to the Public Works Department for metalling on the Makino Road, and X recommend that this be proceeded with. The Alton.- Gorge also, requires metalling, as the new formation lias a few soft and sandy patches in it and is not fit for traffic without metal. The necessary surface work on the lngahape Road has been carried out. The grader from the main road at Monmahaki is moving up. to-day and wilt commence oh Pearce’s and Dwyer’s Road and then carry out the improvement to- the Makino .Hill on the Hurleyville side. Otoia. East.—There is little to report in the district. General surfacework has been carried out. The metalling on the Jvaharoa- under the loan scheme, which was to have been resumed in the New Year, had to be postponed owing to the shortage of metal supplies. The filling to the Patea station is progressing well, the culvert having been completed. Waverley Riding.—The bottom course of metal on, Bleu ner-has sett ’ s Hill has been completed and the lorry has completed on the Kohi. A new surfaceman to be resident in the Kohi has been engaged and has commenced work. On the 11th ult. a slip came down in the Kohi Gorge. Moumah'aki.—Repairs have had to be carried out on the Ngutuwera, Waikare and Omata bridges. In the former case one whole snail had to he rebuilt. A shoot has been fixed up on the end of the culvert near the Waitotara School. The work on the frontage of the Waitotara Domain has

not yet been, carried out owing to weather conditions and shortage of labour. Pipes have been, carted up for the Mangaone and Woraweraonga, Rbads. and Mangawhio Roads. These have only as yet been, partly,. attended to owing to labour shortage. Kapara Riding.—A party of three men, have been started up on Wialdiei* Road, and they will go on to the Puraroto Road later. Tenders if or the Ahiaroa loan, works, have been advertised, and it is hoped to, get these works going at the beginning, of February. A large wash-out of a filling has been reported from the Moeawatea Valley, but so, far I have not inspected this. The plains of the R.awliitiroa bridge have been submitted, and I hope to have this work, under way at an early date.

The engineer, amplifying his report, said that the programme was backward because of the wet weather in December. He said with four days in the week it was impossible to, push ahead. In addition to that metal supply was stopped at Piaekakariki, and ais soon, as that was resumed Belmont broke down. He proposed that a®. .soon ,a,s Moumah.aki district was completed he would continue with P'atea Hill and get on to tar-sealing in the north. He feared he would not he able, to tackle the extra work for the Waverley Town Board. The chairman, agreed, and it was formally resolved that, owing to the lateness of the season, the county do its own work before taking on, outside work. A surfaceman (O’Neill') has commenced in place of Stevens (resigned). The

gradgr lias now commenced on Symes’ and Brewer’s Road. Proposals have been forwarded for grant works metalling on the main valley road- at Ng’utuwera.. - Various slips and washouts have taken place on block IV.