KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 135, 8 May 1928, Page 7

KAIRANGA COUNTY

\ MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. BUSINESS OF THE AIONTH. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held this morning, Cr. Jos. Batchelar presiding. There were also present Crs. P. J. Small, AI. A. Aloody. C. Anderson, D. Collis, J. A. Cheetham, It. A. Alerter and W. R. Hopcroft. From Alesjds Jacobs and Grant forwarding plan, prepared for the purpose of a dedication by the Alanawatu Racing Club anil the AValdegrave Estate. • The necessary consent was requested.—Cr. Small moved that the plan bo approved providing that the culverts put in conform to the size required by the county engineer. Cr. Collis seconded and tho motion was carried. » From tho contractor in charge of the erection of the Burke’s Drain bridge at Rangiotu suggesting that a three to one or four to one batter be substituted fo rthe fences on the approach road. —Air Jickell, consulting engineer, opposed the proposal and it was '-decided to abide by the original specifications. From Air C. D. Saunders asking tho council to - help him repair a fence between liis and the council’s property on the bank of the Oroua River as he was troubled by wandering stock. It was decided to assist Air Saunders. From the Alilson School Committee asking for a grant towards the school funds and also extending an invitation for the council to be represeted at the official opening. It was decided to inform the committee that in the past tho council had donated up to £3O to schools for sanitation work, but not for other purposes and that, if the mney was required for that purpose the council would grant it. From the Alain Highways Board stating that in future premiums on accident insurance policies in connection with main highways work would be subsidised. AVhere there was no insurance, the board would not accept anv liability.—Received. From the Public. Works Department forwarding list of additional main highways. Those lying within the county were tho roads from Longburn to Rongotea and Bunnythorpe to Kairanga.—Received. From tho managing-secretary to tho Hospital Board forwarding copies of esitmates and his annual report. The* total increase in the levy to be paid by the council was £733.—Received.

From the Public Works Department pointing out that provision should be made on the estimates for thq,intensive maintenance of wood and steel bridges. —Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer, AJr J. E. Alenzies, reported as follows: —An average of 33 daymen have been employed and four contracts are in hand. The crusher has been -.viorking almost continuously and fine broken metal lias been carted to various roads. A stock of chips is also being accumulated. Taonui Riding: —Material for surfacing Longburn railway crossing is mixed and will be put down this week. The KairangaBunnythorpe Road has been metalled and graded. The motor grader has been over a number of the roads raking in loose metal. Patching is now being done on Foxton Line. The Longburn-Kongotea and Kairanga Bunnythorpe Roads have now been gazetted as main hibhways and all maintenance costs on these roads will be subsidised at the rate of 30s to 20s as from 2nd. April, 1928. The question of subsidisinp construction costs !on these roads is nowbeing considered. The new concrete culvert in Gillespie’s Line is now completed and cleaned up. Alangaone Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out on several roads and a considerable amount of grading has been done. It would bo advisable to call tenders for widening Roberts Line between Boundary Road and Railway Road. ’I Inroad to Wapplington’s is now being formed and gravelled. A new concrete pipe culvert has been/put in at lower end of this road. As soon as the men have completed the culverts at Fitzherbert East a start will be made on Bullocky Creek culvert, Napier Road. Broken metal is being carted to Railway Road. Fitzherbert Riding.—All culvert work at Fitzherbert East should be completed early next week. This work consists of a new Bft. by 4ft. concrete culvert with 18 feet: roadway on main road and. a sft. by 4ft. concrete culvert 14 feet roadway and 20 feet (of threo feet concrete pipe on Forest Hill Road. Those will replace four very old timber culverts which were absolutely done. Alaintenancc metal has been carted on to several roads and the grader has been kept going. Steel for Keeble’s Bridge should arrive at any time now. Tho contractor has commenced the formation of approaches to this bridge. Repair work has been done on Kahuterawa Valley Road above the new bridge, but I have not been able to make the final inspection. Tiritea Road has been patched and graded. Timber for re-decking the bridge on Pahiatua Track is now coming to hand. One lor two stringers on this bridge may require renewal when tho old decking is taken off. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT.

The chairman furnished the following annual report: Permanent surfacing.—During the year the balance of Napier Road has been remetalled and received the first coat of prepared tar and chips and I would strongly suggest improving further lengths on other main highways, especially Rangitikei Line which has only 3/ miles to complete and I think we ought to make a special effort and finish it as the • maintenance is very costly owing to the enormous amount of traffic which it carries continually. I do not suggest a loan, as I think the users of the road should pay and not increase the tax on the ratepayers. With a subsidy from the Highways Board we should be able to carry out this work during the coming year. Maintenance. —The expenditure on maintenance during the year lias not been nearly so great as it was last year. This may be accounted for by the fine weather experienced and the small amount of shinglo necessary to keep the roads in good repair during the later part of the year. In tho Fitzherberfc Riding a fair amount of money has been spent in protection of roads from erosion, and this, we hope, will not be needed again. During the year a fair number of concrete culverts and bridges have beeivput into replace old timber structures that were becoming unsafe for present day traffic. A start was made on the reconstruction of Keeble’s Bridge. In the Taonui Riding two bridges have been constructed and both these have been built out' of riding funds. In tho Mangaone Riding several wooden culverts have been replaced with concrete pipes. During the coining year wo hope to erect three bridges which have been in a bad state of repair for some considerable time and thceo will be erected out of loan money. Plant. —The plant of the county has been well maintained, tho only extra expenditure being a new bitumen sprayer and preheater. Tho motor grader has been doing good work, especially in cutting off corrugations which wore so evident previously. Main Highways.—Wo have now _ completed tho fourth year with the assistance of the Highways Board and had it not been for this board our finances woudl not have been as satisfactory as they are today. The board’s proportion remains the same, namely, £1 10s for £l, but under the new regulations this county should receive more support owing to its proximity to a large borough! During the year the board has -notified us that two roads have been declared subsidiary highways, namely. I.ong-burn-Rongotea and Kairanga-Bunriythorpc, and tho Highways Board will pay 30s in the £1 on maintenance as from 2nd April, 1923. ' , Finance.—The finances of the county are in a very satisfactory condition. In conclusion, I would like to thank you all for tho splendid manner in which you

have assisted me during my term of office and must congratulate members on the interest they have displayed in the working of these respective ridings. _ Great praise is due to Mr Connell and his staff, also Mr Menzies and his staff for their many courteous acts and the prompt manner in which they have responded to all requests for information. I have also to express my appreciation for the services of the press and to the impartial manner in which the business of meetings has been reported. On the motion of Cr Anderson, seconded by Cr Collis, the report was adopted. GENERAL. Cr. Hopcroft reported that good progress had been made with cleaning Sutherland’s drain. It was resolved that the council raise £I9OO for the purpose of renewing bridges and culverts in the Mangaone Riding. It was further decided to levy a special rate of 19/400ths of a penny in the £1 to pay the interest and sinking fund on the loan. The money is to he raised by debentures. The following transfers were approved :—Mangaone Riding:—John AVilliam Wood to Edward Stanley Butt, 2 roods, 21 . perches; Est. F. C. B. Waldegravc to Anna Scheldt, 1 rood. Taonui Riding: Est. H. M, Guthrie to George A. Svlverscn 1 rood. Fitzhefrberfc Riding: D. F. Cameron to W. J. Knipe, 1 rood, 4 perches.