POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9489, 12 May 1913, Page 7

POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHEf MEETING

The usual monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held at Pohangina on Saturday, ©resent: Crs. Brown (chairman), Howie, Burne, Smart, Port, Smith, and Knight. CORRESPONDENCE.

The following letters wer e Uealt with: From G. N. Ewing, Table Flat, calling attention to the condition of Limestone Bend, and other roads. —Engineer reported matter attended to.

From Wanganui Education Board, thanking Council for donation of £ls in aid of Technical School at Pohangina.—Received. From H.M., Trade Commissioner, asking for return of motor cars and cycles icgistered in county.—Decided information to be given. From Win. S. Romley, Utuwai, asking Council to erect nearer road on property fronting Makiekie road. From E. Webb, Apiti, as to payment of wages.

From Under-Secretary, Department ol Lands and Survey, that matter of cutting totara timber on Government reserves at Piripiri was being considered.—Received. From District Engineer, Wellington, suggesting that to test the foundations hoies be excavated at Pohangina bridge. Piripiri.— To be informed holes cannot be executed. RESOLUTIONS.

The following resolutions were carried: The Council levied by special order the rate on the rateable value of the Piripiri special district to provide interest and sinking fund on the l<;an of £750 for the bridge at Piripiri foru, tlie term of loan being years.

A similar rate w.as also levied on the Tamaki riding for the purpcec of providing tlie interest and 6inkng fund on the loan at £7OO for the bridges at Digger's and Centre creeks.

That the motion fixing Cr. Knight's travelling expenses at 20s bo aVncnded tc 30s per meeting.—Crs. Brown and Howie. That the Clerk's action in appointing Mr J. Fisher as ranger b G confirmed.—Crs. Port and Smart.

That Mr J. Fisher act as day and night ranger from 19th inst—Crs. Port and Smart.

That Mr W. T. Romley bo granted permission to place his fence on the road, subject to approval of the engineer.—Crs. Howie and Smith. That the Government be asked to reopen the lower road thrbugh the totara reserve for. traffic—Crs. Knight and Smart. CENERAL.

The Chairman brought up the question of obtaining a man with knowledge of concreting work to assist the engineer during the coming season. The Engineer stated that the matter referred to was one that was bound to come in time. The work would require a man who had no home ties, as he would have co move about the country freely. At times he had to attend to correspondence, and if tied to a concrete job he had to let the correspondence stay. The man would have to be capable, at, a great deal of responsibility would fall on him.

Cr. Howie considered that a request should come from the Council to Mr H. Sinclair, who had a thorough knowledge jf such work. Ho was a ton of the engineer and the speaker knew they could jet no better man. The said that though Mr H. Sinclair was his son, if appointed, he would have to carry out the work to his ■satisfaction, and he had no hesitation in saying that his eon was a very capable man at. the work.

Doubt was expressed at Mr Sinclair being able to put in the time. The matter was left in abeyance. MELTON BLOCK ROAD.

•The clerk reported he had been informed if a deputation wore appointed to wait on .ho Oroua County Council the latter Council would join in endeavouring to obtain this road.

Tho Engineer stated that as far as the present track was concerned it was not tho place for a road; it should be further in a direct line to Ashhurst. The Chairman, Cr. Port and the Engineer were appointed to wait on the Oroua County Council on the matter. It was decided on tho motion of Crs. Smart and Knight, that a grant of £lO. amount of rent from unused roads in the .'ohangina township, be '• made to the Pohangina Domain Board. ..,« ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The Engineer (Mr D. Sinclair) reported for the month as follows: Mangaone Riding.—Roads all in fair order with a few exceptions. Those about Raumai where required have received a coat of river metal and put in good order. These repairs are now done up on the Valley road as far as the foot of the hill, and will be continued on up the Zigzag road, which requires patching on the full length. Other roads will receive attention as the teams work round the riding. Some of the roads are soft from the recent rain, "specially where the metal is fine. The proposed new works in this Vidinrr are limited for the next year, on account, of the present and prospective liabilities. It is proposed to put in one new concrete culvert near Stanton's, and a small one near

the south end of the riding on the main road, if funds will permit. The one at Stanton's wili be apportioned between this and the Pohangina riding. It will have U> receive" attention next summer.

Pohangina Riding.—The roads are all in very fair order, although some of them will require attention before long. It is the intention To have the drays on the To Awa roads in two or three weeks' time. Other small matters out there will receive attention at the same time. Provision is made in the estimates for the year «», spend about £SO out there and a like sum on the top of the Praneh road, which needs widening and other repairs with metal. The roadman is now clearing the drains in the township. It is intended to charge the half cost of the concrete culvert at Stanton's to this riding, as it is on the division line.

Coal Creek Riding.—The roads are in good order, although very little has been spent lately in repairs. The roadman is now giving the roads more attention. The provision made in the estimates for the next year is rather limited, on account of the small rate and the increase in the fixed charges. After providing for the ordinary repairs the riding will pay the half cost of painting the Makoura bridge, which is intended to have done next summer. It is the intention to have traffic battens placed on the full length of the Parson's Ford bridge, the cost to be defrayed from the small balance of the loan Money.

Mangapikopiko Riding.—Road's are in fair order with the exception of Mangapiko, Makoura, and Read's roads, which :i is intended to improve this year, also some improvement on Gibson's road. A sum of £SO is allocated towards the renewal of what is known as the Black bridge. This is to form part of the cost of a new bridge in the near future. There is also a sum on the estimates for what is known as Watson's Track. If the Government grant is to be utilised then a £1 for £1 will have to be provided this year. Other items are absorbed in fixed charges and general maintenance. Umutoi Riding.—Roads are all in very fair order. The slips on the Makoura have all been removed, and partly on the Tunipo road. After making provision in the estimates for the year for Ihe general maintenance, and fixed charges, provision has been made for painting the, Makoura and Ngaputahi bridges, and a further sum to be spent in the near future in deviating the road on Didsbury's hill. The subsidence on the Makoura road is to be filled up to a more uniform grade, with spoil from the point just above it.

Tamaki Riding.—Tho roads on the whole are in fair order. Repairs are being done on the Takapari and Main roads, and others will receive attention in turn. The new concrete bridge over the Koniwa stream is not as far advanced as it should have been; the heavy rain of last week caused a flood in the stream which carried away all the fake timber work on the arch, and this will cause some delay, as the water in the stream is now high with the continuous rain on the hills. This makes it difficult to get the timber work replaced; however, it will be fixed up again as soon as possible. Some little protection work will have to be done at the end of two of, the bridges to prevent the scour. After making provision for tho fixed charges and general maintenance there is little that can be spent on new work for the next year. In looking over the rough estimates it can be seen how the money available is proposed to be spent, although many small items are not mentioned, which will have to receive attention a 6 time goes along.

Awahou Riding.—The roads being lately repaired, they are all in very good order. The roadman is attending to all that is required at present. The more important works to receive attention are the completion of the filling at Palmer's bridge, >nd

one new large concrete culvert to take the place of the small bridge at Cauldwell's. The annual willow-planting will be done as before in conjunction with the Tamaki riding. As the necessary tools are now obtained, the Pohangina bridge will now be screwed up, and the cost charged to the two ridings. Other small matters will receive attention.

The treasurer (Mr D. P. Jones) reported that the bank balances on the Ist instant 6tood as follows: —Countv fund account, cr., £2llO 12s 8d; loans account, cr., £73 5s 9d; imprest account, cr., £ls; cemetery account, cr., £5 15s. The balances at the riding accounts on the same date were as follows : Awahou, cr., £l9O 18s 9d ; Coal Creek, £lO3 13s lid; Mangaone, cr., £U6 18s 4d; Mangapikopiko, cr., £332 7s 3d; Pohangina, cr., £177 lis 7d; Tamaki, cr., £93 3s 8d; Umutoi, cr., £4OO 143 3d