COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 January 1929, Page 10

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

..pat Hi A COUNCIL MEiETS.

Crs. J. Gibbs (chair), W. G. Belton, R. fc>. bcown, J. R. Taylor, W. Alexander, W. Back, W. Johnston and W. i±. Watkins were present at- yesterday’s meeting of the Batea County council. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer's report was as under: Main Road and General. —The work on the Manutahi Gorge has made slow progress owing to the holidays and the consequent stoppage of metal supplies. This work is now, however, nearing completion. The length from the Manutahi Factory to the Manutahi Hotel has been resealed. General repairs throughout the main road, i filling potholes and grading up the shoulders were carried out in preparation for the holiday traffic. An inspection of the Whenuakura bridge revealed the fact that the bridge was in very bad order, and I have made arrangements to have same repaired without delay. In any case the repairs can only be relied upon to prolong the life of the bridge not more than six years, and the council will shortly have to consider the question of a new bridge. It is intended to carry out the metalling required on Williamson’s hill, and the plant will then go on the Whenuakura factory road and on the length from the foot of the Whenuakura hill to the Whenuakura bridge. By the time the job are completed it is hoped that the repairs to the Whenuakura- bridge will he complete to enable the plant to proceed to the southern end of the county. Ot-oia West. —Scarifying and metalling the Lower Ta-umaha Road is being proceeded with. Metal for metalling four chains near the Manutahi Hall is on order, also metal for five chains .on the Spence Road . and to complete the extra three chains in the Otoia Gorge, Metal on the Hunter Road has been blinded. Otoia East. —The grader lias been working on the Otauto and Opaku Roads. The small length of metal authorised on the Chinaman Road lias been done. The side-road metalling at present authorised will be carried out when the plant -and main road party are in the district. Waverley Riding.—Aramoho crushed pit metal is on order fox* metalling the .Karahake Road (1) near the Karahake bridge—six chains, (b) near Janes—three chains, (3) patching metal over the foot of the Karahake hill, (4) five chains Olliver’s Road, (5) four chains Pepper’s Road. H. Peachy has returned and commenced the work oix the Karahake Road, and the portable whare has been taken there for his use. The Karahake bridge is in very bad order, one cap being badly smashed and some of the decking in ft very rotten condition. I recommend that this bridge be overhauled. One hundred and- fifty feet of nine-inch pipes have come to hand, and ax*e being cai-ted out to the Mataimoana Road. The next metalling works in hand will be from the '"W’averley station, and will include repair metalling for the Waverley beach highway and metal for the various side l-oads. Moumahaki Riding.—A total of over 300 yards of crushed pit metal has been spread on the "Waitotara station highway-, and on the Waitotara beach road a shoi-t length has been metalled. The new culvert lias been put in and also an outfall drain cut at one. place. The washout near the Waitotara Hotel and the shoot at the end of the culvert near the Waitotara School have been attended to. Fifteen-inch pipes for the foot of Block VHI have come to hand at Moumahaki, and will be caitod out and put in at an eai-ly date. Kapara Riding.—Proposals for the total of 73 chains on the Lower Waitotara Valley Road have been submitted to the Public Works Department, and as soon as these are approved tenders will be called for the supplying and carting of the metal. Metalling -under last year’s programme is now complete. The widening and improving on the road between Sexton’s and Kaimanuka- under four contracts has made very fair progress. Culverts for this length have arrived and ai-e being carted out on to the work. One hundred and fifty feet of nine-inch pipes have also come to hand to he used where required in this riding. In l-ely to a- question, the engineer said that the council could he assured of an ample simply of metal for requirements for the season. There had been a certain amount of delay during the holidays.GENERAL. Special orders striking special rates on Henson Road and Motui-oa were confirmed. It was mentioned that the rate in the former area was Id and in the latter Jd _ for one year. It was i-esolved that notice be given that the penalty of 10 per cent on rates unpaid he imposed after February 4 next. Mr D. C. Jarvis wrote asking that the engineer make an estimate of the cost of repairs to Manawhi© Road, and it was agreed that this he done as requested. The work covers repairs and drainage from the Omata to the (foot of the- big saddle, and a. grant is to he asked from the Government, Mr. R. Blake asked to have the road leading to his property at Waverley metalled in the worst places, where lorries caused damage. The matter was referred to the "Waverley riding representatives for a report to next meeting. The Public Works Department wrote with regard to access to Messrs Annabell’s property at Mangapapa. They had asked the department to assist financially in providing access, and the department replied that an access via Upokonui Road was desirable. . The Minister suggested that the matter be referred to the Native Trustee, seeing that the land in question was native leasehold. The council suggested that Mr. Annabell meet the Minister when he visits the district at an early date and discuss the whole matter with him.

Cr, "Watkins reported that Mr. F. Besley complained that gorse had not been properly grubbed near his land at Whenuakura.

The work had been done in 1922, said tile chairman, and it was a very long time to elapse before bringing the matter forward. The question arose out of some land exchanged with Mr. Besley for a deviation of the road, and the grubbing had been well done at the time, in the opinion of the engineer. It was resolved to ask Mr. Besley to wait on the council at next meeting and fully discuss the matter. It was agreed to scarify part of the Ball Road near Hurleyville, where the metal was much above the sides of the road. Cr. Taylor said that it was not due to the metal having been “cambered” too much, but that the loose earth at the sides had blown and drifted away by the action of the wind and the rain.

In regard to the matter of access to property at Makakaho stream, where access was desired by the owner, it was agreed to Avrite to the parties concerned and say that the chairman and the engineer would interview them shortly.

■iw—»i iiwi— ■torn w—wiiMinin —— mm g—ai In l-eply to a question by Cr. Taylor, it was resolved to metal parts of the Manawapou Road at O’Sullivan’s coiner and a bad part near Mr. Taylor’s property. Messrs McPhei*son, Plone, and Hopliinson, of the Kolii Road, waited on tho council in regard to work authorised by the* council. Mr. McPherson said that four chains had been agreed to, and they wished tho council to extend this to o$ chains, because they had the promise- of a rural delivery, which" might be endangered if the work was not done. Vehicles got stuck there at present after bad weather. —After some little discussion the council agreed to the request, the work to be done by May, so that the extra amount could ce included in the next year’s estimates. TRANSFER OF VOTE. Cr. Belton made reference to the separate rate on the Moturoa Road, and said there w-as a vote of £2OO for the Ridge Road which would not be needed now. He suggested that application be made to the Public "Works Department to have the latter transferred to the Moturoa Road. On his motion, seconded by Cr. Alexander, it was resolved to make the required application. Cr. Belton added that the money would not be required on the Ridge Road because the work w-as provided for by the item Matemate £3OO (on account of £600). ACCOUNTS. The accounts for the month w-ere passed and the council adjourned.