COUNTY COUNCILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 219, 14 August 1928, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCILS

MONTHLY MEETINGS. KAIRANGA COUNTY COUNCIL. The ordinary monthly meeting of tho Kairanga County Council was held this morning when there were present: G’rs. Jos. Batchelar (chairman). D. Collis, Mildon, Chectham, Mercer, Moody, Hopcroft, Small and Anderson. CORRESPONDENCE. From the. Public Works Department exempting portion of Bunnythorpe-Feildihg Road from section 117 of the Public Works Act. —Received. . From interested settlers asking for the Jackeytown Road leading from Tiakitahuna to Kairanga Lino to be opened up throughout its length as a stock route. A bridge would bo required, while about 40 chains needed ploughing as tho land was overgrown with fcscuo. —Tho chairman moved, and Cr. Anderson seconded, that tho road bo opened and that property owners be notified so that they emild fence. This was carried, but the question of putting in a bridgo was held over. APITI-NORSEWOOD ROAD. The Feilding Borough Council wrote stating that it had requested the Government to open tho Apiti-Norsewood Road, and that unemployed men be engaged on the work. Tho writers felt that the opening of the road would be of immense value to tho district, and at the samo time the work would absorb a good many men. The writers enquired if the County Council would be prepared to support the suggestion, and, if so, requested them to notify tho member of Parliament for the district. Cr. Anderson said that the road would provide a short cut to Hawke’s Bay and Taihape, running right through the ranges. It would bo a good thing for residents in that district and he thought that they should support it provided that the council would not be involved in any constructional or subsequent costs. Cr. Small expressed the opinion that the road was no concern of the Kairanga Countv, and there was always tho danger that the county might bo called on to pay part of tho cost. —it was agreed to “receive” the letter. From the Union Bank of Australia, agreeing to give tho advances required.—The secretary pointed out that at present the general overdraft stood at £4280, but as against this credits in special accounts amounted tio £5700. GENERAL.

Tho chairman said that he had mot several settlers regarding the question of exempting portion of Milford Road from the provisious of tho Public Works Act requiring frontages to bo set back 33ft. from the centre of the road, and tho settlers had been against the proposal. It was decided that no relaxation be allowed. The chairman, reporting on the counties’ conference, said that it had been very successful, from the opening day to tho final session. All tho remits dealing with hospitals had been grouped together and thoroughly thrashed out. The chairman of the conference had been of tho opinion that not sufficient use was made of the district highways’ councils. Cr Andorson said that the highways councils should be more frequently convoked. Cr Small expressed tho opinion that personal interviews would greatly facilitate smooth working with the Main Highways Board, which at present would not receive deputations. Much could be accomplished by personal contact where a letter would fail, and if the board wanted to encourage tho councils it ought to make a practice of receiving deputations from them. Another point that the chairman had been pleased to hear was that maintenance subsidies on main highways had been raised to 30s in tho £l, and it was alrnqst certain that the subsidy on bridge maintenance would bo raised to £2 for £l. It was moved by Cr. Mildon that the council write to the District Highways Council for permission to proceed with the construction of the Awapuni bridge this year, and find the cost from next year s revenue. This was second by Cr. COIII3 and carried. It was left to the chairman to interview the Manawatu Racing Club as regards a contribution from the as part of tho extra cost involved in building the bridge six feet wider than would normally bo required, the oxtra width boi/ng to accommodate race traffic. The Health Department wroto suggesting that a by-law bo passed requiring those preparing milk food products to _ obtain _ a license. —It was decided to obtain fuller information. Permission was granted for the erection of a kerbside petrol bowser at tho Milsou Settlement. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer’s report on tho t various works carried out sinco last meeting read as follows: — Gonoral. —An averago of 30 daymen have been employed and five contracts are in hand. Tho crusher is still working, making chips for soaling and fine metal for maintenance work. Rangitikei Lino. —The contract for supply of river gravel is nearly half completed. Owing to tho dry weather it has not been possible to consolidate this gravel, but as Boon as the weathor is suitable another roller-will bo put on. Tho case tractor and grader are mailing up tho road sides to hold the gravel and metal. During tho month a special meeting of the council was held to consider tenders for tho supply of 4000 cubic yards of broken metal for this road. Tho contractor is now getting his plant together for work. Taonui Riding.—Plans, etc.,_ for completion of soaling on Foxton Lino are now being prepared. The road on Karere Road has been fillod in. A 9 inch culvert on Clovorlea Road has been replaced by a 12 inch pipo at the lower level. Portion of the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road has. been ploughed at the siclo so that tho spoil can bo graded up to widen tho formation. Fourteen chains of drain have been dug on lower end No. 4 Lino and water tables cleaned out. A flood gato has been put in whore tho new drain enters tho main dram. The old timber bridge over Burke’s Drain has been dismantled with tho exception of the piles. All material has been carted to the yard at Awapuni. General maintenance work has been carried out on a number of roads. Tho motor grader has been over most of the more important roads. . Mangaone Riding.—Portion of Napier Road beyond Bullocky Creek has been widened with spoil from James Line pit. The gravel on James’s Line, between Napier Road and the new cemetery is now being widened. The formation on this section was widened by tho Borough Council some time ago. A new pipe culvert has been put on this road to replace a timber culvert, A considerable quantity of maintenance metal has boon put out during tho month. . , Fitzherbort Riding.—Rodeckmg of the bridgo on Pahiatua Track is now completed. Three new piles have been put in and the hand rail repaired and painted. Sheathing at tho bridgo on Cliff Road has boon repaired, also handrails on two small bridges on Main Road. A new culvert has been put in on Main Road past Aokautere school, to drain a very low lying portion of tho road. With the exception of some plastering, Keeblo’s Bridgo is now completed. Better progress is being made with tho approaches and theso should soon bo completed. The corner near Bryants Bridgo is now being improved. General maintenance work and grading have been dono on several roads. A new porch has been put on the Aokautcro cottage and general repairs effected to Linton cottage. Metal has been carted to dumps at Linton. Plans for renewal of Lynch’s Bridge havo now been improved and as soon as the necessary authority comes to hand tenders can bo invited for tho work.

A statement of riding expenditure showed that the sums expended up to the July meeting on the various ridings were as follow: Taonui riding, £1327 15s 9(1; Mangaone riding, £955 2s; Fitzherbort riding, £724 Os lid.

HOROWHENUA COUNTY. Tho monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held at Levin on Saturday when there.were present Crs Monk (in the chair). Barber Ryder Bryant, Kilsby, McLoavey, ■ Catlcy and Jensen. Leave of absenco was granted to Li Whyte. CORRES poNDENCE. From Mr A. Seifert, asking for the mof the part of Makerua-Rangitane R P cad which ho Ld constructed.-A resoiu-

tion was passed giving tho engineer authority to approve of tho work, provided that it is to his satisfaction, and subject to an undertaking by .the adjoining owners that it will bo kept .up to tho necessary standard until - Buch time as the road is metalled.

From tho owners of ton properties, asking for tho formation of a special rating district to gravol tho following roads in tho Makorua Plains: —From Makorua railway station, to tho road called tho MakeruaTano Road, 4 miles 57 chains. The road from the presont Okuku Road to junction with tho Makci ua-Tano Road, 1 milo 53 chains; Campbell’s Road (a road leading off from tho Makerua-Tane Road), 1 mile 29 chains; part of Ashlea Road connection, 20 chains: total, 7 miles 79 chains. In a covering letter, Mr A. Seifort stated that a part of tho Ashlea Road connection would bo gravelled by tho interested parties finding cash for this purposo, so that gravelling tho road mentioned in tho petition would mako a complete through system of roads for Makorua lands all properly formed and gravelled. It was mentioned by the writer that, on a previous occasion, tho council had formed a special rating district to road Makorua lands, but tho Loans Board would not agreo to a loan being raised, on tho grounds that the roads to bo formed woro not, through roads and that rates would bo put on land that was already heavily rated. It had now been arranged for all connecting roads to bo completed, which would get over tho difficulty in that respect. It was proposed, tho letter added, to offer another'9oo acres in tho block for sale.—The chairman, in explaining tho readjustment of tho scheme, stated that, while tho rating district had boen extended so that there would bo a through road connecting with tho Rangitano Road, tho area at the southern end had been curtailed. Tho estimate now submitted was £6060, which was about half the sum ostiinated for tho original Bchomo. —The application was referred to the financo committee, with power to 6ubmit tho proposal to tho Loans Board. From Mr F. C. Perry, clerk of tho Waitomo County Council and authorised convener of a conference to launch tho County Clerks’ Association, stating that tho meeting would tako place in Wellington on September 26th. —The chairman remarked that tho movement was not for tho formation of a labour union. Tho Counties’ Conference had agreed that nothing but good could come out of an association such as this. He added that, in connection with tho Power Boards’ Association, there was tho Secretaries’ Association and tho Engineers’ Association, and they did tho principal good, generally speaking, in relation to the working of power .supplies. Tho proposed County Clerks’ Association should make for the better working, of tho councils themselves. Tho suggestion wa3 made that, before a man could take up the position of county clerk, ho should have somo special training or knowledge, and lator that it should be necessary for an applicant to pass some examination boforo being allowed to tako up such work. Tho ability to interpret a statuto seemed to bo ossential as a qualification for a county clerk. He moved that tho clerk bo given authority to attend tho conference. — Tho motion was carried. From Mr A. C. MacDonald, of. Levin, stating that a culvert near his property was too small.—Roferrcd to tho engineer with power to act. ' GENERAL. A resolution was passed making and levying the rates for tho year ending March 31, 1929. On tho recommendation of the works committee, it was decided that tho clerk ascertain from tho Main Highways Board or tho Audit Department if main Highways construction loan moneys could bo legally expended on tar-scaling railway crossings or any portion of tho highway on a maintenance subsidy. It was decided to disposo of an acre of land, the site of a gravel pit on the Ohau West Road.

It was decided to instruct tho registrar of dogs to call only onco on owners of dogs for their registration feo, and if payment was not then made, to issue a summons in accordanco with tho provisions of tho Dog Registration Act, 1908. Tho chairman said ho agreed with tho recommendation of the works committee to that effect. Tho collecting of tho dog tax was expensive, and if the collector had to make more than one visit to a placo to pick up 2s 6d or ss, tho council would experience a loss on tho transaction. There was no onus on the local body to collect that tax. Instructions were advertised to where tho tax bad to be paid and to whom it had to bo paid. It was an owner’s duty to seo that his dog had a registered coliar, and if tho collector did not call then tho owner should tako stops to register tho dog.