PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 November 1927, Page 3

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. WORK OR ~THE, MONTH. Tiie chairman (Mr J. Gibbs) presided at the monthly meeting of the Rate,a County Council yesterday, and there were also present; Councillors W. G. Belton, 11. Scown, AV. Alexander, W. Back and AY. H. Watkins. The clerk (Mr W. P. Shelld) and engineer (Mr G. W. King) were in attendanceENGINEER’S' REPORT.

The engineer’s report stated:— The mam road party have completed the grouting of tlie length of the Wiienuakura Hill at present authorised by the, Highways Board. The roller has now moved and made a start on Burke’s Gorge length, after which it is proposed to proceed to Alanutahi, Gorge to complete the length there in hand. Metal shoulder work and grading up the sides has been carried out on thp length between Waverley and the Racecourse, and this length of road its now in good order. Extra metalling on the sides has also been carried out south of Waverley. The grader (No. 2) has arrived, and has a scarifier attached and has been put Into commission. The machine is working very well, and after a, few improvements havo been effected this machine will be very satisfactory. This grader lias carried out some work near the Manutahi factory, but has been mainly art the Otoia West district. Final arrangements have now been made for metal supply from Kajiuni by Air Commemer. Mr Johnston lias commenced carting metal. Tlie southern team of four horses lias been satisfactorily disposed of.

Otoio A Vest.—Tlie surfaceman has carried out tlie usual maintenance work on the various roads. The No. 2 grader has been working on Geary’s. Hamilton’s and the Taumaha Roads, and has now moved up the Ball Road, where it is proposed to do the Hurstliouse AVest, Clifford, Upper Ball and Wilford RoadsOtoia East. —As reported at last meeting, the re-metalling and scarii’ywork on the Onaku Highway has been completed. Tlie surfaceman on the upper part has been engaged on the various roads. On the Chinaman’s Road towards the foot of the hill some sand has been carted out and spread—thi« work is not complete and will he gone on with as circumstances: permit. AA r averley Riding.—The No. 1 grader has completed the: round of tins Kohi and Ivarahake Roads, and has now moved off to Ngutuwera. Elsewhere in the riding there is nothing special to report, surface work having been carried out on thie various roads'.

Aloumahaki Riding.—The grader lias commenced in this riding, where it is proposed to work up the Valley Road and put it all into shape. Kapara Riding.—AA 7 ork in this riding has been mostly concentrated on grading, and good work has been carried out. The road has been cleared up to Kapara. Prices for carting bridge timber no to tlie Tawlii.ti bridge have been invited. PETROL TAX.

A re."/ution war carried approving of the Petrol Tax Bill, on the motion of the chairman. Cr. Belton said that a,s the chairman was going to AVellington on county matters, he should interview Air Dickie, ALP., and consult him about- tlie position of the county. He said he was not against the petrol tax, but wanted to have the- position of counties such as Patea given (consideration. Hie .said they had tarred their reads 'out of revenue and would have to continue to pay, although their roads were completed. He also considered that gome allowance should be made where counties have shown enterprise as against those where work was not so forward. The engineer stated that the Department was making three thousand miles more of secondary highways.

The chairman said he understood about 25 per cent, was going to secondary highways.

Cr. Belton ,said that the Taranaki counties were the most progressive, and others would be getting money after these counties have completed their road,s. He suggested that the chairman should discus® the question with the member for the district. In order to make the position of the county clear, it was resolved that the council support the principle of the petrol tax. but considered that an exemption should be made for all tractors used solely on the farms. AA’AITOTARA VALLEY.

The clerk of the Wa.itotaira County Council wrote stating that an agreement was to bo drawn up between Patea. and Waitotara- in regard to the maintenance of the Lower Waitotara Vat'ey Road and advising that a draft would he forwarded for perusal by the Patea Council. Messrs Cra wsha.w and Boyde, of Puao, wrote objecting to being rated for the loan proposed to be raised for, this road.

Mr F- R. Pearce also objected, on the ground that information was not given him as to how the metalling estimate was arrived at, and also that the! shell rock deposits were not investigated, and in addition that as the roa_d ends several miles from his place, it would bo of no benefit to him, and that the road is nob warranted by the production per acre of the area. Mr T. Alexander agreed to the loan, provided access were given to his. property by moans of a bridge wide enough for ordinary wheeled traffic. The Department of Puh'iic Works would not consider a light bridge, and it must bei one able to carry heavy traffic, said the chairman. There was a diversity of opinion, and the initiaton of a bridge scheme must come from the setters. They could not, hold up the scheme unless, the objections were too .strong. The engineer .said the settlers would be forced to come round to a separate loan. It would be better to pay a larger rate and get the work finished in fifteen years.

The chairman endorsed the idea of a. separate rate, and said that the work could be started at on or. Gr Belton drew attention to the fact that on part of this road there was an amount of £7oo‘ accrued thirds on the Lower Waitotara. Valiev Road, and suggested that they should endeavour to get a grant with a county subsidy. It would be a part of the big scheme, and if the Government would subsidise C2 for £l. the thirds and the subsidy coil'd be spent on. this part of the road, from the Waitotara bridge, inland. GENERAL. The engineer said in reply to the chairman that he proposed to do part of the road -up the Manutahi Gorge towards the dairy factory. The chairman said he would not like to see anything done to militate against the factory and the settlers. He suggesti?d that they should) tar about eight feet and leave the rest metalled for the use of horse traffic. Mr .T. M. Sullivan, Rangitatau, Waitotara. wrote asking that the engineer should come and inspect the bridge which gives the only access to his farm, and which is badly damaged and needs repairsIt was resolved, to inform the ratepayer that no work could be done in that, locality until rates had been paid in full.

Tt was agreed to conform to the “two minutes’ silence” at 11 a.m, on Armiis-

bice Day, November 11, as instructed oy His Aiajesty the King through the Prime Minister. Aleasris Res© Bros, wrote in regard to a road, proposed to give access to their i >i-ope rty tn.ro ugH MatemaM-, stating that they ‘ considered they should not he brought under the rate for metalling unless tiiey have proper access. They would agree to keep fencing on their boundary in good order, hut they understood the Public Works would pay the cost of survey. It was agreed that the chairman interview tlie Minister at Al eilington in regard to the amount said to, be authorised for grant for the Department for the road, and that the engineer examine the position and consult later with the chairman on his return Mm Wellington. The Highways Board Council No. 8 wrote in reference to a dangerous corner on the AAaitotara Hid, and asked the county to erect a barricade of two rails to safeguard the travelling public. The point as to whether the county would Ire responsible for damages in the event of a,n accident for putting such a fence across the corner was discussed. “It would not last very long l , sail'd Gr. Belton, “for someone would carry it away, with damage to mudguards, etc.” . “If a motorist was oommg down so fast,” said the chairman, “that he did not recognise the corner, he would break down such an obstruction. The board could delegate its powers to the council, but would it assume tlie responsibility in caise or an accident p” It was resolved that the question of liability should he, taken up by the council before anything were done. Mr AV. Potts, Aloumahaki, drew attention to the water lying on his road boundary and the overflow on to his yardis, and a ski’d that the council provide pipes to take away the water front his paddocks. If they would find the p ipes he would do the work. Cr. Alexander said that hte considered something should be done and that it would be money well spent. _ Some discussion ensued as to the liability of tlie council in regard to storm waiter going over on to a man’s property.— It was resolved that, the matter being not urgent, tlie riding members and engineer examine the position and report to the next meeting. The AVaver ley Town Board wrote to say that, as the county had the electric power, they should pay half the cost, as stated in their letter of September 12. As no charges had been made that did not belong to a petition for merging with the AVanganui-Rangitikai) Electric Power Board. It was agreed that the South Riding members meet the chairman of the Town Board on Friday and discuss the matter, and report to next meeting of the council. On the motion of the chairman, ft was resolved to spend the sum of £lO5 on the Clifford Road —the: settler® having subscribed £35 and the county paying £2 for each £l—so soon a© circumstances would permit. It was agreed, on the motion of the chairman, to accept Mr Commerer’s offer to supply large metal at 8s 6d per cubic yard tip to 8000 yards on trucks at Kapuni railway station. Tlie chairman said Or. Taylor had suggested offering 8s 3d, but he did not, approve of pushing a man down to the last threepence. Formal application was made to the Lopal Bodies’ Loan Board for the securing of a. loan of £10,200 for the \A r aitotara Valley Road. In regard to dedication of the Hursthouse Road deviation (Taumaha), after some discussion it was left to the next meeting.