RANGITIKEI

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 236, 4 September 1929, Page 8

RANGITIKEI

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) MARTON, Sept. 3. Tho monthly meeting of ltangitikei County Council was held to-day, Air K. W. Dalrymplo presiding. There were present Crs Dalziell, Coleman, Anderson, Pedersen, Doole, Hammond, Brice, Stuart and Belk. The chairman welcomed the new member for Rangntira riding (Air Hammond) who briefly replied. Air Podorscn also was tho subject of congiatulation on his return unopposed for Ruanui riding, which scat lie resigned in order to give tho ratepayers an opportunity of electing another niombcr if they so desired. Letters of appreciation of votes of sympathy passed by tho council in their respective bereavements were received from Airs A. G. Simpson, Airs E. Salt and Airs G. Y. Lethbridge.

The clerk reported that no. further advice bad been received from the Public Works Department or the Alain Highways Board in regard to the proposed new bridge over the Ranngitikei River at Bulls, part of the cost of which would bo borno by tho Rangitikei and Alanawatu Councils. Cr Dalziell and tho engineer were deputed to attend to tho disposal of tho timber of the old bridge at Vinegar Hill and to allot portion of the material to the Kiwitca County Council. Alention was made of tho fact that last year tho council paid out over £7O for birds’ eggs, at the rate of threepence per dozen. Somo members wero of tho opinion that more effective measures wero necessary to deal with tho pest, and it was agreed that small quantities bo not purchased and that the matter of buying bo left in tho hands of the county officials. The price to be paid is to bo the same as last year. Cr Coleman drew attention to the filling in of tho approach to Riddiford’s new bridgo on the Bulls-Alarton Road and it was agreed that at present while the road is settling there is need for caution by motorists. Some additional attention will be given to improving tho width of tho approaches when tho soil settles down further. The need for investigation of charitable aid cases in the county was stressed by Cr Coleman who stated that the officer in Wanganui was too busy to bo able to give time to the cases ill the outlying districts. Tho subject is to receive attention. The Primo Alinistcr, as chairman of the central earthquake relief fund, acknowledged receipt of the council’s donation of £IOO to the fund. The Treasury advised the payment of £625, being part of tho subsidy on last year’s rates. It also forwarded the sum of £6l 10s 3d, being fines collected at the Taihape and Marton Courts. The Public Works Department advised that the sum of £4411 12s 2d had been placed to tho councils credit as subsidies on certain works on main highways. The same department also stated that it had approved of tne subsidy of £1 for £1 on wages of 14s per day, up to £1025, on unemployment relief works. At its last meeting the decided to urge upon the Alinistcr for Transport that regulation 15 of tho Aliotor Vehicles Act be amended so that local authorities could fix speed limits by resolution, with the approval of the Alinistcr, instead of by by-law as at present. The matter is receiving consideration, states tho Alinistcr in reP The Commissioner of Transport advised that the system of fixing local speed limits under tho motor regulations is at present more or less on trial and it is intended to review it after a suitable time. The council had asked that an alteration be made. A copy of the Excavation and Scaffolding Amendment Bill was before tho council and it was decided to protest against its contents insofar as they affect excavation work carried out by local authorities. Some of the members held that the contents were absurd because they enforce that excavations of a greater dimension than five feet shall not be carried out unless under the personal supervision of a registered civil engineer or someone certified by such engineer as capable of supervising such excavations. The five-feet clause was the cause of the protest. With regard to the stated intention of tho Prime Alinistcr to withdraw tho statutory grants of £200,000 and £35,000 to tho Alain Highways Fund, it was decided to ask the member for the district (Air J. T. Hogan) to oppose any such step. One member stated that the Prime Alinistcr had corrected the impression that ho intended to “raid” tho fund, but the council was generally of opinion that should such -a “raid” take place it would have a very serious effect on the operations of county councils. The Wanganui City Council (tho collecting authority) forwarded the sum of £1024 2s lid, being Rangitikei’s share of motor lorry fees for the quarter ended June 30 last. This sum represents about half of the total share. The traffic inspector reported that to date for the current year 1585 motor drivers’ licenses had been issued in the county, the fees being £396 ss, and tho heavy traffic license fees collected to date amount to £6Ol 8s 7d. Tho Taihape Borough Council wrote asking that the county traffic inspector be permitted to control traffic in tho town at

any time he may be in Taihape.. Several councillore pointed out that the inspector already acted in a similar capacity for Alarton borough and this had been tho means of causing some friction between him and some of tho county ratepayers who visited the town. It was ’ said that tho inspector already had enough work to keep him busily engaged in the county alone. It was agreed that tho request be not granted. Considerable discussion took place on a request fnom Taihape Fire Brigade for a donation to their funds. The question was whether such donations should como out of the riding or general funds. The Porewa riding at one time contributed £lO per annum to tho Alarton Brigade, but this was stopped and members held that if the Taihapo Brigade were given a donation out cf the general fund a dangerous precedent would be created. It was pointed out that the council owns property in Taihape, Huntervillo and Alarton, and at length a motion by Cr Belk solved the difficulty—each brigade is to roceivo a donation of two guineas per annum from the genoral fund of the county. A discussion was taken in committee on tho action of a settler in engaging a Alaori to undertako road work without tho authority of tho council. Nino days’ wagos at 15s per day wero involved, and after reviewing tho matter tho council decided to notify all concerned that in future only labour engaged by county officers will bo paid for. Formal objection was lodged by Air J. Boys to tho inclusion of his property in tho proposed special rating area for a loan of £2500 to improve Makohino Valley Road. Complainant said that ho was already paying sufficiently heavy rates. Tho council decided to support tho protest by tho New Zealand Counties’ Association against the setting up of separato highways hoards for tho North and South Islands. The- chairman mentioned that tho protest of the association was moved by a South Island delegate who had stated that not one county in tho South Island was in favour of setting up separato boards. Tho engineer reported on tho progress of general work in the county. Arrangements had boon completed for tho employment of out-of-work inon on several roads in tho county. Several slips had como down on roads in the northern end of tho county during tho month and theso had been cleared. Repairs to Turakina River Bridge above Pukcroa arc in hand. Tho Taihapc-Napior Road, ho stated, although drying up, is very rough. Good progress has been made by tho contractor for reconstruction of tho WangachuTurakina main highway. Tho ICakariki metal mill had worked well during the month, tho result being one of tho best on record. River shingle is being supplied to the Railway Department for the construction of approaches to tho proposod new railway bridgo at Feilding. Tho treasurer reported that, after ■ payments authorised to-day, the statement of account shows a debit balance of £14,627. Authority was given for the purchase of two additional power graders. The proposed alterations to the workshops and offices, at Alarton were approved. The road inspector reported that tho main highway from Bulls to Turakina would be greatly improved with the spreading of further supplies of Kalfariki chips. Tho same were required on the road from Curl’s Bridge to Alarton. Alctal repairs had boon in hand on . roads in tho Bulls district. A large number of macroenrpa trees had been planted at the Bulls protective works. General work had a,so been carried out. Air L. D. Simpson, of Huntorville, was appointed one of the council’6 representatives on Wanganui Hospital Board in place of his late father, Air A. G. Simpson.

A report on the insurance of passenger cars owned by tho council is to be obtained for tho next meeting.