COUNTY AFFAIRS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 46, 6 February 1928, Page 9

COUNTY AFFAIRS

WAIPUKURAU COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. The first monthly meeting of the \\ aipukurau County Council for 1928 was held on Saturday. There were present: Councillors A. C. Russell (chairman), M. Tansey, B. J. McCormick, J. H. Kibblewhite, W. T. and W. J. Edgecombe, A. W. Elliott, and L. M. Monckton. Correspondence was dealt with as under:— J. C. Nicholls, “Braeview,” wrote asking the Council to re-iorm one mile of roadway.—Acceded to, tenders to be called. The Department of Health advised that to bring the country into line with the Patangata and Waipawa counties, on a uniform basis of <<• per head of population, the contribution of the Council £l9 10s) as pre viousiy fixed, would need to be in creased to £2B.—On. the motion o. Cr Kibblewhite it was resolved th. the Council could see no reason foi ihe increase of 100 per cent., amthat the previously arranged amount be offered. The Main Highways Board advised as to the width of minor bridges and culverts being desirably equal to the widtli of the adjacent formation, and the Council viewed the intimation sympathetically. The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded a Gazette notice as to the travelling allowances of councillors being payable at the rate of 8d pei mile counted both ways, and on the motion of Cr. Tansey tne regulation was adopted for County application. HOWARD BEQUEST. N.Z. Farmers’ Union advised in regard to the election of an advisory board in connection with the administration of the Howard Estate. A copy of the recently-carried Howard Estate Act was forwarded. Cr. Tansey remarked that lull use is not being made of the research information at present available in New Zealand and he questioned whether the proposed further efforts would be ver v serviceable. The Chairman and Ct. Monckton were of the opinion that practica rather than theoretical knowledge was essential. On the motion of Cr Kibblewhite a meeting of delegates was favoured, and Crs. Monckton and Tansey were re-appointed as representatives ol the council. RAILWAY CROSSING. The Minister of Railways (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) has acknowledged receipt of a copy of the resolution passed by the waipukurau Count;* Council apropos the need lor sale guarding tne Ruatinawha street rail way crossing, \\ aipukurau. The reply was on similar tones to that forwarded to the \\ aipukurau Borough Council and Hawke s Bay Automobile Association, to the effect that the Department had earlier offered to subsidise to the amount of £3,106. the construction ol an overhead bridge, or arrange for a crossingkeeper subject to the Borough Coun cil paying half uhe cost. The following reply, by the chan man, was agreed upon:—“That the Prime Minister's reply to the request .■s .-.aleguarding traffic at the Rua taniwha street crossing is considers unsatisfactory by the Council, th< suggestion of eliminating the crossing by an overhead bridge and purchase of land for another crossing r beyong logical reason. The cost o this work would amount to about £S,(M.H), and the interest and sinkiiit fund on this amount would equa. 150 iK’r cent, over other methods o' protection. 1 might say. strong in dignation exists in this district against the action of the Government. As the dangerous crossing is on the main highway ol the East Coast of the North Island, the Government and Main Highways Board have a plain duty before them. As Minister of Railways, I wish to draw your attention to the. excessive rate of speed of the south express on entering the station, and over the crossing, which greatly aggravates the position. A terrible accident is due. No blame can be attached to motorists approaching from the south as visibility is totally obscured. There s no possibility ol lo.nl bodies agreeing on contributions, as the onus of safety is on yourself and the Government you preside over.” TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted for supplying limestone (40(1 yards) for Robinson’s road, and 209 yards of river shingle for the Lowei Gorge road: E. Treleavcn (£125). and A. Beattie (2/8} per yard) respectively.