PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 June 1925, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETIN G. The monthly meeting of the Patea County Council was held yesterday, when there wefe present: Crs. Jas. Gibb s (chair), W. G. Belton, D. Sutherland, It. G. Scown, R. R. Taylor, W. H. Watkins, W. Back and G. H. Alexander. MASSEY MEMORIAL. Sir Francis Bell wrote asking the council’s cooperation in raising funds for the erection of a monument to the late lit. Hon. W. F. Massey. Cr. Belton thought that the matter was something more than a mere party affair, and for that reason he thought it might be advisable to make a donation out of the council funds. He thought that if subscription lists were taken 'round the matter would resolve into a party one. After considerable discussion it was decided that take round subscription lists in their respective ridings, and that a subscription list be opened at the county office. DANGEROUS CORNERS. The South Taranaki Automobile Association wrote pointing out that two cornel’s on the road through the Manawapou gorge required widening. The council agreed that such was the case, hut instructed the clerk to reply stating that the matter was being given attention, and asking if the association was prepared to contribute towards the cost. In connection with the same stretch of road the chairman reported that Mr. Hamilton had given his consent to the council planting poplars o n his property immediately below the road on the Patea side of the Manawapou gorge, thus enabling a solid foundation to be built up, on which spoil could be tipped with a view to widening the road. HARBOUR. BOARD’S REQUEST. Mr. A. T. Christensen, chairman of the Patea Harbour Board, waited on the council and asked that the council contribute £25 towards the cost of snagging the river above the Patea bridge. " He pointed out that the pi'es of the old brkfge had been left in the river by the contractor, thus resulting i n large logs lodging in that part. The council decided to grant £2O towards the cost. RELIEVING FINANCIAL STRAIN. Cr. Sutherland' moved that the council, revoke the. special order passed by the council in 1917, declaring the road between the Manawapou bridge and Waitotara bridge a main road. In moving the motion, Cr. Sutherland said that although it might be at first thought that the motion.was a' revolutionary one;She felt jiistified in moving in the direction indicated as lie considered that such action was the only way in which both ends could be made to meet in the Kapara riding’s finances. He did not see why Kapara should pay a high rate for the main road ’while hack roads remained Idocked by slips. Cr. Watkins seconded the motion.

The chairman, in opposing the motion, pointed out that each county had to maintain it s main roads for the benefit of outside traffic, and if Kapara was relieved of its liability towards the main road, the rest of the County would have to find the. whole of the county’s share-of this up-keep. After considerable, discussion a division was taken, the voting being: For, Crs. Belton, Alexander, Sutherland, Back, and Watkins; against, Crs. Gibbs, Taylor, -and Seown.GENERAL BUSINESS. Messrs Chesswas and' A'nnabell weregranted’ permission to erect telephone fines to their properties. Applications by Messrs He gin both am and Bartlett ‘ for slaughter-house licenses were granted. Mr. Highland was granted permission to erect a motor shed on the side of the Ngutuwera Road, subject to the engineer’s approval. The council decided to clear gorse off the county sections. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The country engineer (Mr. King) reported as follows : T “Main Road and' General: Vorks generally for the past period have been carried out with difficulty owing to the weather. The grouting of the Patea hill has • been completed. A further two miles of sealing has been carried out north of Patea, the whole of this, road now being in good condition. The sealing plant has been moved, to do • the section lie tween Honeyfield’s and Besley’s. but up to the present nothing has been done on this length. r ... . “Otoia West: —Work in this riding lias been mainly confined to the metalling of the Alton gorge. On this work only poor progress has been made, owing to weather conditions, and about 4 chains have been grouted. At Manutahi a portion of the metalling at O’Sullivan’s corner has been carried out. Two trucks of she!] rock have been spread on Geary’s frontage. The metal for Foreman’s Road has come to hand and been carted out, but Has not been spread to date. “Otoia East: —Metalling on the Kaharoa Road has bee n resumed. The length along Southcombe’s frontage to the foot of the hill has been completed (bottom course), a small length on Baker’s Road and a few chains continuing along the Rakaupiko Road. Elsewhere in this district surf ace work, watertabling, etc,, has been, carried out. “Waverley Riding:—General surfacework in this riding, has beeen carried out on the Kohi, Karahake, Kohi, Bush, Tower, Beach and Station Roads. “Moumahaki Riding:—The metalling on Block VIII .and Warner’s Road has been completed. Shel| rock has also come to hand for Para (O’Reilly’s) hill, but has not been carted to the site owing to the weather having broken. The grader has finished in the uoper portion of the Riding and is now engaged in blinding the new metal in the valley. On Parson’s Road (Waitotara .Station Road) most- ofthe metal has come to- -hand, and the contractor lias promised me to be upby the middle of this week to cart and spread it. The contractor for the Motoroa bridge is to commence to- : morrow. “Kapara Riding:—General surfacework, etc-., lias been carried out in this riding. Good progress ha s been made with the tunnel at James’ creek. 'This has been driven right through on a. small size and the contractor (Webb) is now deepening and widening it.” I The report was adopted.