PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 11 October 1922, Page 5

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

. The ordinary meeting was , held at xatea on juiesday. There were present : Crs. bibbs (cnair), Taylor, Belton iiooper, Scown, Hurley, McDonald, and YV atkins. REPAIRS TO ROADS.

The chairman asked what was being done ,ie central Eall Road. He considered that the best procedure was to grade and give a coating of top soil or clay. This would suffice for a year. With regard to lower Ball Road he suggested putting some blinding on, getting soft stuff from the sides of the road.

The engineer said that the formation of the road was ATamoho metal on top and Belmont on the bottom. He considered shingle would be satisfactory to use.

The chairman said that the road actually required tarring, but they could not afford it at oresent. With regard to the part of "Ball Road from the post office to the faetoTy, which had been tar-sealed with some material that was left over when another portion had been done, the chairman said this required re-sealing, and if done with bitumen and chips would keep good for some years. Bitumen, he added, where used was standing well. He preferred this, but would make an experiment over eighteen chains of road with bitumen and chips, which the plant could do in a-few hours.

The engineer was authorised to do some tarring work at the public schoo] and to charge the whole actual cost to the school, as tentatively arranged by the chairman.

In response to a complaint made by the borough about the county plant cutting up the track by the Town Hall, it was resolved that the engineer take steps to do the work in question. The question of improvement to that part of the main road between Manutahi Hotel and Ball Road was brought forward, and it was agreed that as the work was urgently required the troad should be scarified and then filled up with pit metal. This would make it satisfactory for the time and tarring could be done later.

The engineer reported having arranged for some metal and tarring work to be done later. He remarked-that Paekakariki metal cost 11s lOd at Ball Road, and Belmont Is more, and that one was as good as the other.

i SETTLERS' GOOD EXAMPLE. With a view to making improvements at a bad part of the road near Waverley, called Blemierhassett's hill, Mr. Tennant waited on the council on behalf of the settlers to propose that if the county would provide two teams and waggons, with drivers, five of the sett-' lers would put in a week to do something towards improving the grade of the hill. They considered, said Mr. Tennantj that this,would effect an improvement, and that at some future time they could do more to the hill. The chairman said the position was that the teams were very busy and. might not be available at once. N '■ Mr. Tennant said that as shearing would commence! shortly the sooner they got the teams the better. It would suit them to get the work done straight away. The 'chairman said the teams were at present "up to their eyes" at Patea West, and metal must be moved as it came to hand, but he was very keen to help those who would help themselves and who took off their coats tohelp one another. The engineer said he considered it could be managed without interfering with the county work. He pointed out the magnitude of the job, and frankly said he was sceptical about the value of the work. He considered a deviation was the only solution, and that would not be available for years. He, however, wished to give them every chance, and would do all in his power to help. Cr. Watkins said there were two full of big holes, and if ploughed and taken down there would be an imrjTovement. The chairman said he had been ove-r the road and believed that it would' he^ possible to gradually improve theMll. The straight road had served tie district for many years. Cr. McDonald said that possibly they should get the teams on at once without any hindrance, as it was a good' time to do the work. On the chairman's motion it was decided to leave the matter of improving Blennerhassett's hill in the handsof the riding member and the engineer. Arrangements would be made to billet and look after the drivers. ENGINEER'S CAR. The chairman reported that the car i was in a bad state and would probably Ibe a much greater expense than had I been the case previously. The engineer I would like the council to get a better 1 class of car, so as to lessen the strain? of driving over rough back roads. His own idea was to get another caT simij.lar to the one in use and get an allowance for the old one. After some discussion it was resolved that a sub-committee consisting of Crs. Belton Taylor, and Watkins be set upto go into the matter and to report to the next meeting.

GENERAL.

Advice was received that flood damages amounting to £96 16s Id had been paid into the county account by the Public Works Office, Stratford. A reply from the Minister of Public Works in reference to representation made by Mr. Belton re erection of James creek bridge. The Minister said that the matter was not one of urgency, and that a temporary crossing at the slip is sufficient for present purposes. Mr. C. J. Wray wrote about a small section in Kakaramea township, asking who was the occupier and other particulars. The section was owned by his late father, Mr. C. A. Wray, S.M. —The matter was attended to by the clerk. The secretary of the Pearson Blind Fund wrote in* cordial acknowledgment of the donation of £8 made personally by councillors last month. Advice was received that a steameris to load jarrah in December at-Bain-bury, W.A. The Council were asked' if they wished tc order supplies.—lt : was reported that it did not require any at present. i -State Advances Department advised they have made application for precedent consent of Governor-General forrasing of loan of £100 for Lower Ball! road. i A number of transfers applied for were ordered to be put through in theusual way. Applications were made for erection of private telephone by W. G. Beltou(Ngutuwera), J. S. Pearce (Whenuakura), V. E. Mason (Waverley), Brewer Bros, and Alexander Bros. (Manga- '• whio). —These were granted, subject tethe usual conditions, to be done to theengineer's approval. It was reported that F. E. McCarthy had done nothing towarSts clearing gorse off his road frontage, despite repeated notices.—lt was resolved tha* the riding member and the engineer

go into the matter to ascertain tin* council's posiLiou.

He uiirus ironi sections &v .Nuku--maru, tne Commissioner or drown lianas act vised that tnese nud maimy been expended on vv aitotara v ane> road arm where tiie balance or £74 had been expended.—liesoived that tiie clerk ana engineer go into the matter and report.

A councillor reported that some stray horses iiad been on the county roaus for some years.—The chairman said they should take the matter in hand. —us the expense or impounding was not justified it was resolved to make enquiries as to the owner and get the nuisance removed.

in the case of a claim for grazing county horse's, it was resolved that in all such cases details of fees claimed be supplied where the county stock are concerned.

A wash-out on Maben road was reported by the chairman, below Alexander's and above RockelPs, and it was resolved that the engineer look into the matter witli a view to improvement.

In regard to the "raising of loans for special areas, the chairman said the procedure was to fix the rating area, and if a petition secured the requisite number of ratepayers the rate could be decided on; if not, a poll would have to be taken.

Accounts as per list were passed for payment.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

Main Road and,' Genera roller has completedl re-roUmig the length between the Opaku Road and tiie i'atea bridge and has now moved to the lower and upper Ball -Road. The bitumen for the special wprk at Derrett's and th© one mile peg has arrived and been carted to the site. The work of lifting the bank and cutting off the corner at the bottom of the Manutahi (jbrge has been nearly completed and the new work is now being metalled. Otoia West—The work of renewing the Ball Road between the railway and th© gorge has been commenced, and while the roller is on this work I recommend that the work be continued across the I Alton Gorge, as the gorge is now m bad order. New metalling work, according to the schedule of works has been carried out on the Hunter Road, whifiti is nearly complete, and the next work to be gone on with is the Hursthouse Road. Work as required has been done on the Ingahape Road, where \L6 9in. pipes are required. On the lower Ball Road loan works the metal has been rolled and the pit metal for blinding is coming to hand and being spread, and as soon as it is all on the road the roller will again be put over it. Otoia East—There is no special work to report in this district outside ordinary maintenance work, which has been carried out.

Waverley Riding—The metalling on the Kohi factory hill and the Parahake Roads is complete. Metal is now com. ing to hand and being spread on the Waitangi Road. The next works in the Waverley riding to be proceeded with are the metalling of Boyer's Hill, Karahake Road, Cave's Hill and at Granthams; also earthworks on the Boundary Road will be put in hand. The contractor on the Waitangi Road tunnel culvert is making good progress. It is intended to commence grading works with the tractor at an early date, but it is impossible at present without employing extra, labour, as both the surfacemen are engaged on metalling works.

Moumahaki Riding—The Omata Road contract has been completed, inspected by the Public Works Department overseer and passed. The present Omata road bridge has been inspected and if a bridge at a • higher level were required a new bridge would have to be built at a cost of £130. The present bridge is sound, and, as I understand that the greatest trouble is the inability of school children to pass during times of flood, I would suggest that the council consider building a footbridge on a higher level. On the Waikare length of the Mangawhio Road 6 9in. pipes are required and I recommend that a small drainage matter in the Waitotara township adjoining Mr. Simuson's store be attended to.