KAIRANGA COUNTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1038, 10 June 1924, Page 5

KAIRANGA COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held to-day, Cr S. H. Lancaster presiding. Others present were: Crs Small, Hopcroft, Batchelar, Moody, Anderson, Cheetharn Mildon and D. Collis. BANK BALANCES. The treasurer presented the following statement of the bank balances in the various accounts. The items appended are credit balances: County fund account £1862 2s, Foxton line loan ill 17s Bd, Rangitikei line loan £4ll 8s iOd. Napier road loan £ll Is Bd. Taonui riding culverts Joan £l9B 13s 6d, Mangaofie riding culverts loan £537 16s 4d, Fitzherbert riding culverts loan £282 14s, Taonui riding cottage loan £122 19s Mangaone riding cottage loan £36 6s 7d, No. 4 line loan £9B 7s Id Fitzherbert bridge approach £9l 19s 9d, Fitzherbert East road deviation loan £l 3s Id. Kahuterawa road loan £155 13s Bd, KairangaBunnythorpe road Mangaone riding loan £455 2s 7d, Taonui riding road improve-, ment loan £635 Is 3d, Linton Domain Board £2B 55.LOAN MONEY. The total amount of loan money under which the council is working, the amount spent to dale and the balances remaining, are as follow : Taonui riding culverts loan, amount raised £3250 drawn £3250, expended £3062 5s 6d, balance £lB7 14s 6d; Mangaone riding culverts loan, £3250, £3250 £3250. balance nil; Fitzherbert riding culverts loan £5250. £3250, £2967 6s; £2282 14s (£2OOO of this loan has not yet been raised although authorised); Taonui cottage loan £3OOO, £3OOO, £2877 Is, £122 19s; Mangaone cottage loan, £3OOO, £3OOO £2963 13s sd, £36 6s 7d; No. 4 line loan, £IOOO. £IOOO £9Ol 12s lid, £9B 7s Id; Kahuterawa road loan £650, £650, £494 6s 4d, £155 13s 6d; Fitzherbert bridge approach loan £450, £450. £383 4s 3d; £66 15s 9dj Napier road loan £4OOO, £4OOO, £3988 18s 4d, £ll Is 6d; KairangaBunnythorpe road loan £2150. £2150. £1676 Is sd, £473 18s 7d; Rangitikei line loan £7600 £7600. £7219 0* Bd. £3BO 19s 4d; /''"( zherbert East road deviation loan £1650, £650, £1064 13s 3d (a sum of £IOOO au : thorised has not yet been raised); Taonui riding road improvements loan £3700, £3700. £3247 Is sd, £452 18s 7d. RANGER'S REPORTS.

The Awapuni ranger reported that during the month 81 head of stock had been impounded. The Fitzherbert ranger reported having impounded 45 head of stock irl the same period. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr Wright) in his monthly report stated (inter alia): "All the concrete work in connection with the Stony Creek bridge has been completed. Boxing is now being removed and handrails plastered. Approaches have been filled in and the road/ at this point is being widened and lowered to the level of the new bridge. The deck will be covered with two inches of tarred stone chips before the bridge is opened to traffic, which should be at the present week. Fitzherbert riding: A new pipe culvert has been put in on Scott's road. Piles for use in new bridge at the foot of Bryant's hill, Fitzherbert East road, have been purchased and are now in use as stringers in temporary bridges at cuttings on Aokautere road contract. The roads throughout the county are now in very fair order fcr this season of the year. A considerable amount of grading has been carried out more particularly in the Mangaone riding, where nearly every road in the riding has been trimmed in and grass on flanks cut back. Our own teams, with trucks, have carried out necessary patching, only one hired team being employed on this work for portion of the month. Tar work on Foxton line has been patched where weak places had developed. "The rodeeking Oi the Awahuri bridge has been proceeded with, fair progress being made. Several of the joists which were decayed have been renewed and others strengthened by spiking a length of hardwood to sanfe. It has been found that a number of thrust blocks supporting the main struts are badly decayed and these will have to be renewed. This will entail supporting the trusses by means of studs or pile's blocks are being l renewed. I arranged with the engineers of contributing local bodies to make an inspection and all agreed that the work must be done as soon as possible. In the meantime a support has been placed under a truss that had commenced to sag. A supply of jacks has been obtained and arrangements made to proceed with this work duriflg the coining week. The decking of the Awapuni bridge recently renewed had been brought up to uniform level with pre-rr.ixed tar, sand and chips.

"A full list of plant,, with particulars as to ownership, estimated present value, has been prepared for use in connection with proposed depreciation account. Unfortunately a breakdown occurred to the tarsprayer due to the chain driving pump coming off the sprockets. This is now being repaired when urgent tarring will be proceeded with. The large grader is being overhauled with a view to using it with the new tractor when purchased." The report was received. CORRESPONDENCE.

From the State Forest Service asking for samples of maire thrust blocks for inspection by the entomologist for the purpose of ascertaining causes of decay. The request arose out of the engineer's report on the decayed condition of the thrust blocks of the Awahuri bridge.—lt was decided to comply with the request. From a Wellington engineering firm stating that it was practically soldout of its stock of tractors, and had only ofie type available. The council was requested to advise the firm if it would purghase the tractor mentioned. A demonstration of the tractor would be given if desired on June 24.—Received. From the. Manawatu Drainage Board asking the council to remove about two feet of concrete under the bridge over Morris's creek, and agreeing to pay half the cost provided the total expenditure did not exceed £5. —Resolved that the work be carried out as proposed. From A. R Buchanan, drawing attention to the condition of a drain which, in rainy weather, did not absorb surplus water from one of his paddocks. He requested that the drain pipes be lowered a further 18 inches which, if done, would improve matters. —Permission was granted to the writer to do the work under the engineer's supervision. From the secretary of the Tiakltahuna School Committee* soliciting the (support of the council in Improving the local school grounds. The capitation had never exceeded £2O par annum. A programme of work had been drawn up to cost £65, and it was hoped to collect £2O to £25 in subscriptions. As the money would eir.rv a pound for pound subsidy, the conij.>litrce hoped the proposal would meet with the council's support.—Resolved that tho

writer be informed that the matter will bo kept in view. From P. Pedersen, Kauwhata. drawing attention to the bad state of repair of the boundary fence dividing his property and Milson's line. Repairs were asked for, the writer agreeing to pay half the cost. The engineer reported that Hie work was how being done. GENERAL. Accounts totalling £4095 103 6d pere passed 'for payment.