POHANGINA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1076, 24 July 1924, Page 3

POHANGINA COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

Tho monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held Yesterday, when there wero present: Crs. 'll, W. Smart (chairman) F. W. Arbon, S. J. Strahan, W. Howell, A. Brooking, W. T. Pratt and T. E. CVaine.

CORRESPONDENCE, From the lion. D. H. Guthrie, acknowledging receipt of a letter from the council in reference to foot and mouth disease, and advising that ho was conferring with the Minister for Agriculture -on the matter. — Received.

From the Department of Agriculture, acknowledging a. letter from the council regarding foot and mouth disease, and forwarding a copy of a letter sent by the Minister to the Horowhenua* County Councd on the matter. The letter in question set out the precautions being taken by the Department to prevent the introduction of the diseaso into the Dominion. — Received.

I'rom the chief postmaster, Wellington, in reply to the counoil’s letter asking that the mails from Pohangina to Raumni, arriving at Aah hurst in the afternoon, should be despatched by the late train, and stating that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays a mail was sent to Palmerston by a train leaving Ashhurst at 7.30 p.ni. Tins mail included all correspondence from Pohangina', Rauinai, [Utuwai and the rural delivery. On the alternate da vs mails from Pohangina and Raumai (which were very small) were not sent by tile train but went forward the following morning at 10 o’clock. This was a good service and the best that could be done without, increasing the long hours at present worked by the Ashhurst postal staff. — Received.

I 1 rom llie Feilding Borough Council, forwarding a report on repairs to the Kivvitea bridge, and stating that- the timbers generally wore fairly sound, the chief exception being a 26ft, lund span at the_ I" eilduig end of the structure. This could be replaced by an embankment or shortened by about eight feet. Decking thrustblocks and hand railing required repairs, and the total cost would be about £250. —It was decided that the council pay share of the cost of repairs. From the Department of Agriculture, advising that the application of W. McKay, of Apiti, for a renewal of a slaughterhouse license would be considered. —Received ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr D. Watson) reported, inter alia, as follows: Owing to the inclemency of the weather during • tile month of Juno it has been difficult to make anything more than indifferent progress in carting metal. Of late years most of the metal for the roads is taken from private property and a considerable sum of money is paid out in royalty. If land Where suitable metal is available could bo acquired for this purpose a saving in time and money would be effected. As time permitted I have gone further into the matter of inspecting some of the bridges, but to complete this work un extension of time is required. On request from the settlers at Parson’s Ford, Councillor Strahan and myself visited the locality and met Messrs Parsons and Bartlett to confer on some means of gaining access to the road, as the approach to the bridge over the Oroua river has long since been washed away and leaves them in un isolated position as far as the bridge is concerned. It was decided tliut a temporary suspension bridge should be erected for tne time being, until work of a more permanent nature could be effected. In accordance with instructions

I have had the gaps in the Ferry road plantation filled in with willows. Several direction boards, have been painted and will bo erected at an early date. The stone crushing plant lias been loaned to Air .Broadbelt and I have shifted it to Unnitoi North road, where it is crushing boulders. Since making application to the Public Works Dcnartment for a subsidy on the cost of installing concrete culverts, the work has all been inspected by an officer from the department, and a progress payment of £SOO has been lodged to the credit of (he county fund account. Awahoti Riding.—2so cubic yards of riverbed metal have been carted and spread on tho main Valley road and No. 4 lino. About a mile of the disused end of No. 1 line has been trimmed up and the watertables cleared out. Coal Creek riding:4oo yards of metal have been carted and spread on the Ridge road, and about 500 yards stripped -and got ready for carting. Two hundred and forty yards were carted on London’s road, tho watcrholes cleaned out.and the overhanging scrub cutback, but as the roads are getting too soft for carting any more at present-. I have shifted the motor truck and the horses and dray to Pohangina. Mangaone riding: A small amount of metal lias hern carted and spread on tho main road, and a good quantity got ready for carting on tho Valley road. In Mangapiko, Tamaki and Ur.mtoi ridings, the usual road maintenance work has been attended to. Pohangina riding: A small amount of -metal has been spread on tho main road between the junction of Mangaone riding and tho township, and a fair amount got ready for carting on Galvin’s hill, where I purpose starting the motor truck carting. As the metal wo are taking is in Mr Galvin’s property, some r.nangement should be made with him in regard to paying royalty or an exchange with a small adjoining section. To obviate the risk of any cattlo falling over tho high faco of metal he has erected a fence himself.

Tho report was adopted, it being decided that the engineer have necessary res pairs effected to the footbridgo at Parsons’ fortl and that ho report on the condition of Denton’s road. TREASURER’S . REPORT.

The report of theatre Usurer disclosed the position of the haul; balances to be as follows: —County fund account, dr. £1453 12s Id; Mo. 1 loan account cr., £46 5s sd; loan account, cr., £2 Is lOd; cemetery account, cr., £55 4s 9d; total, dr. balance, £1349 10s Id. Receipts were set out as follow; Cush in hand, £1 Os 7d; rates, Awahou riding, £95 16s; Coal C'reok riding, £l2 15s; Mar.gaone riding, £1 15s 9d; Mangapikopiko riding, £39 8s sd; Pahangina riding, 2s lOd; LTnutoi riding, £42 9s 7d; Coverninent grant, ££CO; dog' tax, 10s; royalty, £4 14s 6d; driving and pound fees, £2; South British Insurance Company, £22 10s; exchange, 45,; rent of reserve, £2l 7s 6d; total, £744 14s Bd.—The report -was adopted. GENERAL.

Tho stock ranger reported having impounded for the month 17 cows, nine horses and three pigs, and collecting fees totalling £l. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Arbon, it was decided that for the year ending March 31, 1925, a hospital and charitable aid rale of one-seventh of a penny in tho ]>ound be struck on the capital rateahlo value. The rate would bo for the period commencing on April 1, 1924, and ending on March 31, 1925. Mr C. M. F. Short, Awahou North, was granted a lease of the four aero metal reservo adjoining the Awahou school. Accounts totalling £IOBB 3s were passed for payment.