KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 188, 14 July 1925, Page 8

KAIRANGA COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held this morning, when there were present: Councillors J. Batchelar (in the chair), P. ,T. Small, D. Collis, J A. Cheethum, M. A. Moody, P. Mildon, C. Anderson, W. R. Ilopcroft and R. A. Mercer. GENERAL. The Awapuni ranger reported that he had impounded 232 head of stoclj during the past mouth, fees received being £8 7s. The Fitzherbert .ranger reported that he had impounded 194 head. The 6tulement of bank balances as at July 14 was as follows, all the amounts, with the exception of the first, being credit: County fund account, £lO9 Is lOd; Foxfon lino loan, £SB 6s; Rangitikei line loan, £33 15s 2d; Tao.iui riding culverts loan. £IOO 12s 3d; Mangaone riding culverts, £1 19s 6d; Fitzhcrbert riding culverts loan, 12s 2d; Taonui riding cottage loan, £l3 18s 9d ; Fitzhcrbert East road deviation loan, £6B 17s 5d ; Kahuterawa road loan, £139 8s 6d ; Kairanga-Bunnythorpe. road Mangaone riding loan, £lB2 13s 9d; Linton Domain Board, £33 15s; Fitzherbcrt West waterrace management, committee, £142 3s lid; Kairanga-Bunnythorpe road, Taonui riding loan, £l9 12s 9d.

Councillor Small reported on the negotiations with regard to the installation of electric light at Longburn, and it was decided that the engineer take the necessary steps to have three lights installed as soon as possible. The following transfers were notified: Fitzherbert riding: J. H. Gilchrist to J. A. Woodley, 195 acres 38.1 jxfies; A. Smith to Mrs B.‘L. lliley, 165 alr 32p; .Tames McGill to A. Saunders, 77a 2p; James McGill lo A. Saunders, 146 a 3r 37p; S. I. Rawsou lo Harrison and Lett, 265 a. Mnngaono riding: W. P. Olsen to P. and Mrs AI. Anderson. 19a 32p; J. A. Russell t<> Palmer-toil North Borough Council, 38a lr 24]>; ('. Svenson to D. Reicidcnbacli, 22a 3r 38p. Taonui riding: F. K. Pearce to E. ('. Pearce, 264 a 35p; E. W. J. Collins to Newbury 11 all Committee. 17.2 p; S. Sanson estate to R. A. 11. Port, 187 alr 8p; b. Sanson estate to R. A. 11. Port, 10a; J. L. Perrin to Tlios. Saunders, lr; J. L. Perrin to Thos. Saunders, lCr by 165 p; T. Fraser estate to *T. A. Russell, 23a 2r 9p; 1.. Dixon to S Parsons, 339 a; S. R. Lancaster to I). B. McEwen, 40a; S. J. Sanson to G. W. Kilgour, 164 a lr 24p. Ur Small who, with Gi Collis, represented the county on. the deputation to the Prime Minister in connection with the Gorge road, reported on the proceedings, stating that there was every possibility of the deputation’s efforts bearing fruit. It was decided to circularise the headmasters of. all schools in the county, urea with respect to the national memorial to the late Mr Massey. Accounts amounting to £2300 15s 2d wore passed for payment ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr ,T. E. Menzies) reported as tollows on the various works carried out during the month:—Three contrActs have been in hand and art average of 33 daymen employed. The recent wet weather caused a certain amount of damage on all roads, but in the majority of cases they stood up very well, considering the amount of rain and traffic. There lias been no occasion lo hire outside teams to carry out repair work, lint our gravel dumps are being considerably reuuced. Some oi the bridges are getting into rather a laid state und stops should do taken to secure some loan money to carry out urgent renewals. Plans are being prepared for several ol the renewals so that no time will tie lost if money becomes available. The Highway Uoaxu will find half cost of all in main highways, and 1 have applied to the Publio Works Department for £l for £1 subsidies for some not in the main highways, 't he gravelling contract, on the Aouaulere roud deviation has been completed, a total of 609 cubic yards being put on by contract and also a quantity by our own team. This deviation is too soft at present to open for traffic, and i would suggest that it bo kept, cloned for some time yet, depending on weather conditions. Regarding planting the embankment with willows, 1 do not consider that this would be advisable as there is always the danger of the culverts being blocked .by willow roots. These culverts are under,fillings up to 3011. high and if■ they did become blocked the •cost of cleaning them would be very considerable. It may be advisable to grow grass seed on these embankments or to plant toi bushes on them. A considerable amount of patching has been done on most of the roads in the Taonui riding. Jackeylowii road is in a very bad state owing to heavy metal carting during the wet weather. The contractors have been interviewed and have promised to patch the road. As there was a danger of the river encroaching on this road, 1 sent three men and some wire to assist the settlers in protecting it. Foxton line lias been graded in and water tattles and culverts near Knight s oitened up and cleaned. A culvert lias been put in on new formation. Lower Aorangi road, hi the Mangaone riding Itangilikei line lias been graded in several times and some patching done. 'Hie metal contract on Roberts’s line extension is completed, hut the road is too soft to carry any heavy traffic. Several water tables and ditches have been cleaned out, and this work is still in hand. A culvert at the junction of James’s line and Ruff’s road has partly broken in and requires lowering. Pipes have been sent out to repair this. Tuonui-Feilding road has been gravelled lightly for practically the whole length. Patching has been done on several roads, and this will be continued. Gravel lias been graded'in as required on all roads, in the Fitzherbert riding the upper section of Pahiatua track is now being repaired, as it gets into rather a bad state on account of extra traffic during wet weather. The grader tractor outfit has been working on several roads, and is now working on main highways culling down sides and raking in gravel. No 4 line .'has been patched and pipes sent out for culvert repairs. Pipes have also been sent out for culvert renewals on main highways. Some work has been done on the upper portion of Kahuterawa road. No order has yet been placed for a light grader for this riding, but I expect to have all the prices in this week. The culvert at Knight’s, Fitzherbert East road, has been extended. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Palmerstond North Borough Council thanking the county for its proffered assistance in the matter of entertaining the officers and men of the American Ueet on the occasion of their visit here.— Received.

From Linton School Committee expressing its appreciation of the council’s donation of £3O towards school sanitation. —Received.

From Hon W. Nosworthy, Minister of Finance, drawing the council’s attention to the fact that the Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1913, contained provision for joint action by local authorities in respect of loans; also to an amendment passed last session which authorised borrowing by local bodies for main highways purposes. The writer added that it was not practicable at present for the Government to assist individual local bodies furtaer than the funds available in the hands of the various Government lending departments.— Received. From the New Zealand Counties’ Association advising that its executive would confer with the Minister for Internal Affairs, and request him io introduce legislation to remove the present ambiguityin regard to separate riding accounts.- — Received.

From the Acting-District engineer, Railway Department, Wanganui, intimating that he did not regard the Longburn crossing as exceptionally dangerous, and, further, that at this place the speed of trains was restricted to 20 miles per hour, so that- the. risk of collision was slight. Tho crossing could not bo fitted with alarm bells until many other crossings where alarm bells were more urgently needed were, attended to. The writer, in conclusion stated that' the Palmerston North deviation would necessitate a change of position of tho road crossing, and that no doubt this crossing would then bo fitted with automatic alarms. —Received.

.From H. L. "Young, president of. tho Palmerston North Chamber of Commerece, enquiring whether the council would lend its Bupport to the provincial court at tho New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. __Cr. Small strongly opposed the levying

of a special rate for the purpose, or tho making of a donation, and it was decided, after brief discussion, to reply to this effect.

From A. E. Jull, president of the NewZealand Counties’ Association, asking that the council forward particulars of its administration costs. The information was desired because of the effort that was being mnde by the various motor associations to secure tho appointment of a commission of inquiry as to the cost- of administration of tho county councils throughout the Dominion. —Cr. Small expressed tho view that county councils should protest against the impertinence of the motor associations, which had some time back forced the main highways scheme on to county councils, against the wishes of the latter bodies.- —On the motion of Cr. Anderson. it was decided to supply the desired information to tho counties’ conference.

From the Palmerston North Borough Council advising that the sum og £lO 17s 9d was payable by the county as its share of the expenses incurred by the Licensing Committee during the past three years. — Hold over pending enquiries. From tho acting-Publicity Officer, Department of Internal Affairs, advising that a booklet dealing comprehensively with the tourist attractions of tho Dominion would be issued in due coucfie, and that tho information supplied by the council had been noted.—Received.

From tho Ma.uawatu Gorge Road Board of Control advising that a conference of local bodies to discuss the hoard’s finances and to report the result of the deputation to the Prime Minister would be held on Monday, July 20, at Palmerston North.— Crs Moody, Small and Collis wore appointed to attend. From tho Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarding claim for the first quarter’s contribution in connection with tho 1925-26 lovy.—The clerk reported that tho amount had been paid. From tho Kiwitea County- Council enquiring whether it would bo ablo to obtain the use of the council’s road roller and scarifier for a period of about four weeks. —Left in the hands of tho engineer.