COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 March 1929, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

WORK FOR FEBRUARY. The work of the Hawera "County Council was reviewed at the monthly meeting held to-day, there being present: Crs J. B. Murdoch (chair), T. A. Winks, W. Rothery, G. Williams, A. G. .Larcom, E. A. Washer Had T. Walsh. EXGINE ER ’ S RE PORT.

The engineer reported as under: The Austin, Boylan and Ketemarae Roads have all been widened and grouted with bitumen, and the sealing coat is nearly completed. The road is 18ft wide from the Normanby town boundary t-o the Eltliam County boundary. The widening of the Main South Road at the Riverdale factory will be finished early next week; the grouting has been hung up this last week on account of unsuitable weather.

The following roads have had bituI men surfacing done on them: Manawa.pou, Whareroa and Denby. All the roads that are metalled in Whakamara have been coated with tar or road oil, and some of them will need a second coat this season, and this will be attended to as soon as the weather is suitable. The metal has been laid on Scott’s hill, and will be grouted as soon as possible. The gorse has been grubbed on the Mawhitiwliiti Road opposite to the plantation, and some has been cut on the inside on account of it getting the better of some of the trees. A start has l>een made with the metalling of tbc Tempsky Road; there are about 60 cabins to do. As the hills at the Inaha are very weak they had to be done before the. flat was commenced, adding about 20 chains to the job. The plans and specifications for the Mangatoki bridge have been approved by tire Highways Board, and the steel has been ordered. As this will take about two months to arrive, the work will have to he hung up in the meantime.

Proposals for the metalling of the Morea and Makino Roads were sent into the Public Works Department and were turned down, as it was stated that the roads were not wide enough at the preset ntime. The question has never cropped up before when. Public Works grants have been applied for and granted on the above roads. It is a very serious thing for the county, as it means that all the back country roads are cut out of any grant for metalling, and if the roacls were made to the width required it would cost an enormous amount of money and the county would he slipping for years to come.

All the bitumen that was purchased lias been used, and another' 85 tons have been purchased on the chairman’s instructions. RANGER’S REPORT. The comity ranger (Mr E. P. Grant) in his first report stated that lie had visited some of the roads and found them fairly clear of stock, only one bull and one horse being found on them. He had served notices on a number of owners to cut blackberry ancl gorse. B.OUTiI. ROAD CROSSING.

I lie Highway Board s lepreseutative ou No. i council wrote enclosing copies ot letters sent to the Hawera .borough Council and Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association in regard to the elimination of the level crossing at Hawera, stating that no explanation had been received from-the Railway Department as to the apparently higii cost of the bridge, ana adding that it was evident the total cost would considerably exceed the amount upon which contributions from local bodies were based. These contributions would bo £220 eacli and the balance would be made up by the High wavs Board and the Runway Department. it was stated that the uridge cost £3013, and the county council’s work cost £1722. The cost, therefore, exceeded the estimate bv £238.

Tiie chairman said it seemed a large amount lor a bridge to cross a react, with the concrete piers, hive per cent, on tlie estimate was to be collected each Item tiie county jam mil and the borough council and the Local Bodies’ Association from heavy traffic ices. The county council had to get the amount (£225) from the borough council. BOUNDARY ROAD. In regard: to the boundary road between tiie county and borough, the engineers had suggested that each Uociy should take over an equal section of the Waihi Road- and each do the work over which they have control. — It was decided to rescind the present agreement, and a new agreement would be drawn up providing that each body should have an equal portion of the boundary road, on the-lines suggested by the.engineers. FINANCE. The financial statement as at February 28 gave these particulars: Rates collected, 4;10,045; arrears, £35; penalties, £i2 lls 7d—a total of .-CL-O.tKU; special rates CIOS, sundries £O3. Public Works for Pa tea swing bridge £OOO —a grand total of £11,193. FIRE BOARD AGREEMENT. The clerk advised that the agreement between the lire board and the county council had been drafted and submitted to the county solicitor, who had suggested a new draft altogether. The chairman said that a document was required to hold the-fire hoard to its undertaking. The new draft was approved and instructions were given to two councillors to affix tho seal of the county and their signatures.