PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 October 1925, Page 6

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, At the ordinary meeting of the Patea County Council there were present: Crs. J. Gibbs (chair), W. G. Belton, J. R. Taylor, R. S. Scown, W. Back, McDonald, W. H. Watkins, A. Pearce, Alexander, and Sutherland. ENGINEER’S REPORT. This was as follows: — Main Road and General. —Persistent bad weather has considerably held up work during tho last month. The widening of the road at tho wash-out near the Whenuakura bridge is nearly complete. Grading has been continued, as weather conditions permitted, between the Wavorlev racecourse and Moumahaki, and is now practically complete. On the Waverley racecourse deviation all the formalities have now been taken in connection with the taking of the land required. The’ fencing material is all on order and the fencing will be proceeded with as soon as it comes to hand. Tenders for tho formation have been called, closing at to-day’s meeting. Re metal for the whole county, to date no metal has come from Ivakarailci, and as we shall be requiring a very largo quantity this year, I am now endeavouring to arrange anottier supply to supplement the Kakaraiki supplyOtoia West. —Work in this district has been confined to lifting the metal from the old road across tho Alton Gorge and carting the same to Huiley, Petch, Central Ball and Hunter Roads. Otoia East.—There is little to report from this district. General surfacework has been carried out. Waverley Riding. —Twenty trucks of pit metal have come to hand and been spread on the deviation road and on boundary road (Cave’s Hill). Metal is also coming to hand for metalling on Wvbournc’s Road, and this work is in hand. General surface-work has been attended to on the Ivolii and Ivarahakc Roads and on the Mataimoana Road. Moumahaki Riding.—A bad wash-out has occurred on the block IX hill. Ihe Little Saddle is also in bad order on tho Waikarc side. The surfacemen have been engaged on their lengths and an extra man has been put on the Waikarc length to assist in getting it in passable condition. Kapara Riding. —Several slips have come down on the Ivaimanuka Saddle and on the Lower Waitotara Valley Road, but these roads are reported as open for traffic. Surface-work has Jbccn carried out on the Puraroto, Kapara, Waitotara A’alley and Kaimanuka Hill Roads.

Tenders .for deviation at Waverley racecourse were received, and it was decided to accept the tender of Mr. Vincent at 13s 4tl. There was one other tender received.

Mr. Collier (Moumahaki) asked for improvements to flat’ opposite his farm by putting a culvert or deepening'the drain. He would be willing to deliver pipes if the council would put them in position. —The matter was left to the riding members and engineer with power to act. Mr. Robert Bremer waited on the board to ask if the council would metal a few chains between the Opaku and Hukitere Roads. He said it was one of the worst pieces in the county and was a work which would benefit the whole of the settlers of Otauto.—lt was decided this should be held over. Messrs. Halliwcll, Spratt, Thomson and Hoi'nor wrote asking what the attitude of the council would be in regard to Mr. Aruon’s claim. —The matter was left in the hands of the chairman and engineer. i The committee dealing with representation of Taranaki at the South Seas Exhibition wrote asking for a nominee to be appointed to a meeting to bo held in Stratford this week. —The letter was received.

The Cherrvbauk Metal Company forwarded quotations for sand, road metal, concrete .metal and crushed metal. It advised that it hoped to be able to supply crushed metal by November I.—• The letter was received. The Christchurcii City Council forwarded a resolution of protest against, proposed restrictions on local bodies' powers in raising money for local purposes, the opinion being that the local bodies know best their own needs, and that a board should be established to find local bodies’ loan requirements to stabilise and equalise interest rates and charges on loans. —No action was taken. The Under-Secretary of Public Works wrote in regard to motor lorry regulations and heavy traffic license fees, that he believed the difficulty referred to should disappear after the working of regulations for the first year, when full particulars of the operation of motor lorries should be available.

The Public Works Engineer, Stratford, advised that it was intended to in.sert an additional clause-under section 7 of the lorry regulations to provide for use of the motor lorry with the maximum load it was licensed to carry, weighing not more than six tons. He reminded the council to consider the clause when roads were being classified. —lt was decided to fall into line with what was done by the Highways’'Council No. 8.

The Main Highways Board, Wellington, advised by circular that local bodies would need to exercise care to see that metal for use on main highways was dumped on highways reserve, and that no subsidy would be paid on metal stored on private property. They were urged also to sec that such supplies of metal used only on main highways. \

The town clerk, Wanganui, wrote, in regard to allocation of heavy trafficfees, that iit was agreed an the conference in March that fees should be all remitted to the Wanganui City Council, which would make distribution in proportions to respective local 'bodies as fixed by the court. This matter was discussed at some length, the chairman saying he was of the opinion that more should be collected before a. remittance was sent forward. The clerk said lie had notified all lorry owners twice, but could get no satisfaction.

It was resolved that the clerk and the engineer he empowered to take steps to secure immediate collection of all fees due under heavy traffic regulations and that then fees he forwarded to Wanganui as collected.

The Receiver of Land Revenue, New Plymouth, advised the lodgment in bank account of £6O 9s 3d, thirds accrued in the Patea district.

Mr T. El. Roberts, of Patea, advised that he had filed thirty-six applications to the Aotea Maori Land Board for liens on native blocks concerned so that the 1923-24 rates may not be wholly lost, seeing that proceedings must be instituted within two years.

In connection with the Piraumii Bridge Loan of £2OO, the superintendent of the State Advances Office wrote advising that the only procedure necessary would be the making of a special rate.

It was resolved that necessary repairs between the gorge and the main road be done >ais early as possible. Accounts were passed for payment and the council then rose. ■-