MANAWATU COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 113, 9 April 1930, Page 11

MANAWATU COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCILCORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS The ordinary monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held at Sanson yesterday, Cr. Barber presiding. Also present were Crs. Reid, Boyce, Hunt, Pearce, Perrett and McKelvie. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Public Works Department authorising the extension of the contract for tar-sealing the Awahuri-San-eon highway to include the section over Mt. Stewart. —The engineer stated that the work was not yet under way, but the calling of tenders would not bo necessary, it being just a question of ■arranging a price with the present oontractor. From the same granting a subsidy of £3 for £1 toward the cost of sealing the Foxton-Himatangi main highway, and making recommendations necessary to bring the road into a condition for sealing.—The engineer said he had forwarded the specifications of the workj they had been approved and tenders could be called at any time. Work, however, could not start until there had been some rain, but it was not likely that anything would be done until next summer. The engineer was authorised to proceed with preliminary work on the road. From the same pointing out that somo councils were not paying the attention to the upkeep of wooden bridges that was necessary, and requesting that the matter be given more consideration. —The engineer was instructed to make arrangements for some form of fire fighting appliances to be provided on the Whinokino bridge. From the same asking the council for payment of £4405 3s 9d, being its share'of the cost of the construction of the new bridge at Shannon over the Manawatu River.—The clerk stated that this was the first intimation the council had received of the amount of its share. The council authorised payment. From the Railway Department reporting that bridges on the council’s tramway were in need of repair and recommending that they be attended to. —Referred to the engineer for action. From the district engineer, Railway Department, asking it the council would accept tho dedication of a halfchain strip of land instead of one chain through the railway reserve at Rangiotu as the full chain would involve encroachment on existing buildings which it was desirable should not be disturbed. —Referred to tho engineer to report upon. From the North Island Motor Union protesting against county councils, when road building, in leaving sharp ledges and sudden drops on the main roads without any indication of their presence being given to motorists. — Received.

From the Feilding Borough Council requesting that the council put tho tar-sealing of the Feilding-Awaliuri Road and Stewart’s Line on the schedule of works to bo done in the immediate future. —It was decided to reply stating that these roads would receive attention as soon as the main arterial roads in tho county were completed. From the Foxton Borough Council requesting the council’s support in a move to have the control of the Round Bush at Motuiti vested in the Palmerston North Borough Council, the Feilding Borough Council, the Foxton Borough Council and the Manawatu and Kairanga County Councils. —Deferred in the mean-time to await a report on tho question. • From the Marist Fathers, Highden, asking permission to lower a culvert on Taipo Road to bring it to the dept hof a pipe drain to be put in.— Referred to tho engineer to go into the matter with the Fathers, with power to act. From Dr. E. M. Wyllie, Foxton, requesting tho council to bridge two drains on the unformed portion of Koputaru Road. —Referred to the engineer and Cr. McKelvie. From Mr J Powell, Carnarvon, pointing out that a fire had spread from the county road to his plantation, and asking that he be given compensation for the 26 bees destroyed.— Agreed to, tho council deciding to replace the trees. _ From three Maori settlers at Bulls requesting permission to erect a fence along portion of Wightnnn’s Road.—Refused, a protest having been entered.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer, Mr H. V. Bond, submitted the following report on the county roads: Ridings.—Drains have been cleaned out in Te Rakehou and Pineroa Roads in the Ml. Stewart riding. Culverts have been cleaned in Rakehou, Te Rakehou and Mt. Biggs-Halcombe Roads. Kowliai and Te Rakehou Roads have been graded. In tho Sandon riding drains have been cleaned out in the Sanson township. The following roads have been graded : McDonnell’s, Old River, Richardson’s, Mt. Biggs-Halcombe, Speedy’s, Fagan’s, Gust’s, Ohakea, Fraser’s, Ngaio and Kakariki roads. Two bridges on Taylor’s Line have been repaired and the waterways cleaned out. Drains have been cleaned in Penny’3 ■and Banks-IVaitohi Roads in the Waitohi riding. Grading has been carried out in Taipo, Hammond’s, Penny’s Kopane and Rowe’s Roads. In the Rongotea riding tho fillings on Leen’s Line have been built up on the sides and fences will be erected as soon as material is to hand. Drains have been cleaned on Tompkins’ Line. The following roads have been graded: Sanson’s, Leen’s Bank’s, Jones’s Rowe’s and Banks-Waitohi. The cutting on Riverbanlc Road in the Carnarvon riding has been widened and spoil used for building up tho sides of tire road across the swamp. Drains have been cut back away from the road by the Makowhai Creek. Tho loose metal is being blinded but no appreciable improvement will be noticed until the road has been well watered. The gang has been removed from this work for a few days but will return as soon ms the Bulls Road sealing is completed. Sand ' formation work lias been completed on Flaxmore Road Approximately 60 chains of sand work is nearing completion on Tikorea Road. The metalled portion of this road has been graded. The portion of Lake Road which’ was formed last year is being shaped up and the drains cleaned.- Koputaru Road has been graded. lnl the Kawa Kawa riding wheel tracks in Pyke’s Road have been trimmed in. Milner’s Road has been graded. The lower' portion of Keri Keri Road has been sanded and drains have been cleaned out. Nos. 1,2 and 6 Lines have been graded. Drains are being cleaned on Bowe’s Road. Main Highways. —-All unsealed main highways have been graded and surface metal spread where required. Gorse and lupin have been grubbed on road frontages' to council properties. The Hi .grader with rake attached has been working quite satisfactorily and has been doing very useful work. Side banking is being carried out on Whirokino Road and the Manawatu River

bridge deck lias been repaired. Shoulders have been built up on Fox-ton-Himntangi and Himatangi-R.angi-otu Roads, and the fascining has been repaired. Protection work has been carried out to the Oroua River Bridge on Rongotea-Longburn Road. One mile of Sanson-Bulls Road lias been resealed by the council’s staff and will be completed within a few days. Three : coat sealing work on Sanson-Awahuri highway from Awahuri bridge to Stewart’s Lino has been completed and ihe road surface on Mt. Stewart has been trimmed up, watered and rolled ready for sealing. Specifications for the paving of the Himatangi-Foxton highway have been approved by tire Main Highways Board and tenders are being called immediately for this work. Tramway. —General repairs have been carried out on the track, sleepers and rails are being replaced wliero necessary. The sheep yards at Rongotea Siding have been repaired. All bridges on the track are now being repaired where necessary. Main Drain Road.—The surface metal has been spread for approximately 40 chains on this road. General. —The continued spell of dry weather has had a detrimental effect on the gravel roads in the county. It has been necessary in somo places to grade surplus loose gravel off the surface. —Adopted.

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Tho traffic inspector (Mr W. Berry) reported as follows: —Regarding the signboard for use when the Whirokino Road is blocked by floods, Mr Bond and I have discussed the matter and Mr Bond is having a plnn of the proposed board taken out for tho council’s discussion and approval. Regarding the light for same at night, it will be for the council to decide whether same should be a storm lamp or electric light. I discussed the matter with the Foxton Borough inspector and he is willing to operate the board light at flood time. Building permits to the value of £1059 were applied for and granted during March and fees amounting to £3 collected. During the twelve months April 1, 1929, to March 31, 1930, building permits to tho value of £11,043 3s 4d were applied for and granted. Fines at tho Bulls court amounted to £l3 10s, and at Feilding court £4. —Received.

COUNTY FINANCES. The treasurer (Mr A. K. Drew) made the following report on the county finances: —County fund account, credit, £330 14s 6d; main highways loan account, credit, £2379 19s 8d; loan account, credit, £3275 5s 9d; net credit balance, £598 19s Id. The amounts shown as available for expenditure in the various ridings were as under: — Sandon, £25 i9s 2d; Mt. Stewart, £39 19s 3d; Waitahi, £74 14s 7d; Rongotea, £2 7s 7d; Carnarvon, £l5B 10s sd; Awahou, £45 16s 4d. Over expended: Kawa Kawa, £225 17s 9d. RATE COLLECTOR’S REPORT. Mr A. Anderson, county rate collector, reported as under: —General rates struck for the year ended March 31, 1930, amounted to £13,319 10s lid; collected, £12,793 18s 4d; rebates claimed, £l7l 5s Bd, leaving approx*mately £354 6s lid outstanding. Hospital rates struck amounted to £2963 16s Id; colelcted, £2953 12s 9d; outstanding £55 3s 4d. Special rates struck amounted to £1436 9s 2d; collected, £1417 14s lid; outstanding. £lB 14s 3d. These totals show a small reduction as compared with the amounts outstanding as at March 31, 1929.—Adopted. RATE ROLL ALTERATIONS. The following alterations to tho county rate rolls were authorised: — N. A. and C. J. H. Ross to J. A. Mitchell, lot 3 of sections 310/2, Carnarvon; N. A. and C. J. H. Ross to H. T. Oliver, lots 1 and 4, sections 310/2, Carnarvon; N. A. and C. J. H. Ross to W. H. Gimblett, lot 2, part sections 310/2, Carnarvon; W. H. Stevenson and A. C. E. Mudford, section 18, Tangimoana Ext. ; Sir J. G. Wilson estate to Q. O. Wilson, lot 1, part sections 101/2, 104/6, Sandon township; Sir J. G. Wilson estate to G. H. O. Wilson, part section 66, sections 67/9, and lot 2, sections 108 and part sections 104/7, Sandon township; Sir J. G. Wilson estate to G. H. Wilson, section 65, part section 66, sections 96, 98 and part 97, section 103 and closed road through 96 and 97, Sandon; Dalrymplo and Wilson to R. A. Wilson, lots 2 and 4, Sandon township; Dalrymplo and Wilson and R. W. Wilson, lots 1 and 3, Sandon township; estate J. A. Bailey to Mrs C. B. Tostevin, section 286, township of Sanson; Cattell’s trustees to Mrs O. Marston, section 406, Carnarvon; F. Robinson to W. J. Sliailer, section 163, Carnarvon. GENERAL. The council decided to renew the applications made last year to tho Highways Board in regard to the declaring of subsidiary highways.