EGMONT COUNTY

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 12 October 1932, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTY

AIEIETING OF COUNCIL

GENERAL BUSINESS DISCUSSED

Matters in connection with the administration of the affairs oi the Egmont County were discussed at the montiilv meeting of the council held at Opinako on Tuesday. There were present: Ci's. W. C. Green (chairman), J. Yomiig, E. G. Holmes, A* J. Lilley, J. S. Tosland, G. Gib,son, El. A. Collins, . S. R. Farquliar and T. Willcox. Prior to its ordinary meeting, the council held a .special meeting when an order was passed declaring the Omaha Road from the Puniho to the Newall Roads and the Warea-Newall Road from, the Alain South Road and thence along t-he latter road to the Omahu Road, main roads. This order will take effect from April 1, 1933. The county engineer (Air J. G. AlcIvor) advised that the following work had been carried out during the past month : “Main South Road. —Ranking and water-tabling have been attended to and a fair amount of draining lias been clone near Oaonui. The AVaiteika stream bridge is being chipped and painted. Ihaia. Roach —A little draining and cold'patching have been done. Kahui Alain Road-—Sixty-five chains of drain have been cleaned and deepened, a few chains of roacl re,metalled and 24 yards of .shingle used for a running coat., “South Riding.—On the Stratford R,oad watertable.s and drains have been cleared and metaL blinded. \\ irenui Road lias been patched towards the Kiri Road. Patching and watertabling have, been clone on Nopera, Kiri, and AVatino Roads. A culvert has been placed on the Pa tiki Road, and watertables cleared. “Central Riding.—One hundred yards of pit metal were used patching the AViremu, Road, and ISO yards, on the Airawhata Rload below the AA iremu Read. Patching lias .been clone on the Namu, and Upper and Lower Kina Roads, drains cleared and a culvert replaced on the Lower Arawhata, The Opourapa, Road has been patched, graded and rolled. Maintenance shingle i has been carted to Kina, Arawhata and, j AA'itiora Roads. I “North Riding—Tipoka, AYarea, Newall and Okahu Roads have been graded, blinded and rolled. A wooden culvert on the Newall Road collapsed and was replaced with ISin. pipes. Patching and .blinding have been done on the Upper Panhaka. and Puhina Roads. The AVaiweranui bridge on the Okaliu Road has been repaired temporarily. “General.— The unemployed camps are now filled and work has started on the Kaweora, AViremu and Ihaia Roads. A further 18Q yards of pit metal was used on the Arawhata lloacl near the camp- The crusher is at work on the AViremu Road, and it has been necessary to hire a truck to cart metal. Fifty-five feet of concrete pipes were made at the depot.” The ranger (Air AA r . AVeaver) reported that the following stock had been seized on the roads; 2d cows, five weaners, two hulls and one horse. Two horses and one bull had been impounded.

The committee set up to confer with the Taranaki County Council regarding repairs to the Puniho Rload, reported that after driving over the roacl it was agreed that 40 chains above the factory should be remetalled. It was considered that it would be most satisfactory to open up a, pit alongside the road on Air G. Goodwin’s property, whence all metal required for the roacl could be crushed. With reference to the metalling of some 12 chains on the Lower Puniho, it was agreed to contribute up to £ls.

The reports of the engineer, ranger and committee were received.

DOGS AVORRYING SHEEP

The Kairanga, County Council wrote asking the Egmont County Council’s support for representations to the Minister suggesting that the registration fee for sporting dogs should be. increased to £1 or £2 per annum. This, it was considered, would stop the trouble of such dogs worrying sheep. Councillors, stated that there were few sporting dogs in the county and the position did not have a great local effect. After some discussion it was decided that no action be taken. The chairman, Or. Green, commented on the difficulty of differentiating between ■sporting and other dogs. The Taranaki. Hospital Board notified that the hospital rating on the county for the year would be £2624. The amount was made up by maintenance £2092, capital £532. ■ Some discussion took place concerning the hospital rate for the year- Members regretted the increased rating at a time when the council was endeavouring to reduce its burden upon ratepayers. However, it was agreed that the increase was unavoidable and in no way the fault of the Taranaki Hospital Board. Jt was agreed that the rate be paid in monthly instalments. MARKING OF ROADS The Taranaki Automobile Association wrote that at a recent meeting of the association committee, it discussion took place oil the question of painting the road with white lines at corners as a guide to traffic. This practice was certainly appreciated by motorists throughout the country, but the Automobile Association’s service officer pointed out that where a curve in a- road leads on to % one-car bridge, the painting of the roadway might create a. source of danger rather than safety. The association’s committee, therefore, suggested that in such cases it might be wiser not to paint the road at all. The suggestion was put forward for the council’s consideration. it was stated that no such marking had been done on roads in the county. The Opunake Electric Power Board wrote that the cost of installing and maintaining a light near the junction of the main highway and Kabul Road at Rah-utii would he £8 IDs for the installation and an annual charge of £3. Consideration was deferred.

The clerk reported that a total of £1352 4s; had been received from the Government as a subsidy on rates. The following were the subsidies for the various ridings: Oeo, £366 11s 4d; Opun, £3lO 41 9dj RaUiotu, £358 19s 8d ; Nowall. £31.6 8s 3d. The allocations would ho : North l riding, £449 3s 8d ; contrnl, £156 13s stl; south, £4-16 Ss l()d.