PATANGATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 234, 10 September 1924, Page 3

PATANGATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. (Own Correspondent.) Tile monthly meeting of the above was held at Waipukurau yesterday. Present; Messrs. C. Pattison (chairman), J. D. Ormond, R. H. White VV. Johnstone, T. Butler, E. W. Nairn M. Ryan, E. P. Wilder and S. Lang! ley. & A special meeting was held prior to the usual mooting, at which a special order authorising the sale of a section at Omakere to the settlers as a site for a church was carried on the motion of the chairman and Cr. Butler. Correspondence was dealt with a s under:— The postmaster at Otano drew attention to the unsatisfactory state of many of the county party, telephone linos in the district and suggesting reconstruction where necessary. The lines were constructed jointly by the council and the settlers concerned.— It was resolved to call a meeting of the subscribers to consider the matter The Central Hawke’s Bay Power Board requested the council to remove trees on the routes of the power lines, and it was decided to ask the owners of the adjoining properties so affected to remove the trees.

The District Highway? Council forwarded a schedule indicating responsibilities, to be undertaken by th© council In the matter of engineering and surveying on highways.—Received.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands approved of the route of the main road tnrough Porangahau. The question of payment for the survey was a difficult one to settle whether it should be paid by the council or the natives concerned.—The matter was left in the hands of Overseer Sidwell to report. The Department of Health forwarded a letter regarding the adoption of the plumbing and drainage by-laws drawn up by the department.—lt was de* cidcd to hold the matter over. Messrs. Stratford Bros, applied for compensation for two totara stringers used in the reconstruction of the Puaimu bridge.—The engineer was instructed to confer with the claimants. The Public Works ' Department authorised the expenditure of £46 under the Main Highways Act on the Dannevirke-Waipukurau road. — Received.

Mr. A. Collins (Otane) applied for compensation for damage done to his property du© to the. subsidence of shingle in the county quarry on the road.—Cr. White said that this was the result of someone undermining the fence and causing the damage.—The council decided to erect a notice prohibiting unauthorised persons from the pit, and Mr. Collins to be informed that the council is not responsible. The pay sheets—general £2055, loan £lo77—were passed for payment.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The newly-appointed County Engineer (Mr J. C. McLauchian; liirmsned his first report on the outside activities of the month;—ln the Eparaima Riding an inspection of the bulk of the roads had been made and the Wanstead is in the most unsatisfactory state of uny of the main roads. The surfaceman on the Blackhead road is being dispensed with, and one of the main road men will carry on any necessary repairs for the pi esent. The roads in the Patangatu Riding are generally in good order and for the past two weeks the grader has beer, engaged in raking in metal. In the Oert> Biding, with the oxepetion of the Coast road from Elsthorpe, the roads are ini good condition, any deficioneos being made good'by tho Ford truck service, and the surfacemen. The main road in the Tamumu Riding is badly in heed of metal, and it is anticipated that a i start will be made with this work; at an early date. Steady progress is being mad© with the Patai.gata Bridge, and it is expected that this work will be completed at about the end of October. Temporary repairs have been effected to the decking of the Waipukurau Bridge.