KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 May 1930, Page 8

KAIRANGA COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Kairnnga County Council was held this morning, there being present Crs. J. Batchelar (chairman), P. J. Small, W. R. Hopcroft, M. A. Moody, R- A. Mercer, C. Anderson, J. A. Cheetlinm, M. Voss and D. Collis. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The monthly report of tho engineer, Mr J. E. Menzies, stated that twentyfour daymen had been employed and that six contracts were in hand. The crusher at Awapuni had been closed down as sufficient maintenance metal was now available. Foxton Line.—The contractors had now completed 77 chains under the new contract. Men were also employed making up the sides and providing tho superelevation at all curves. Owing to the dry weather it had not been possible to consolidate some of these corners and a section of road near Rangitane Station had been left in the meantime. “Taonui Riding.—lt'will be necessary,” the report continues, “to redeck practically the whole of the Hoiheri Bridge and the necessary timber should be ordered at once. The motor grader has been over severnl of the roads raking in loose metal and cutting off corrugations. A small amount of maintenance work has been done, but nearly all the men are employed on Foxton Line. Work at the junction of Hughes Line and No. 4 Line will be done during this month. “Mangaone Riding.—The second coat of cold bitumen and chips has been applied to the experimental section of Milson’s Line and so far it appears to be quite satisfactory. The footpaths on Sealorth Avenue have been cleared of grass, but next year they will be as bad as ever if something is not done to keep the growth down. Work undor the Mangaone bridges loan is now in progress. Parr’s Road culvert is completed. The foundations arc in on James Line and half Robert’s Line culvert is completed. The team has been employed making up the approaches to the last culvert. One man is now employed water-tabling m the Kelvin Grove area. Patching lias been done on Taonui-Feilding Road and metal carted to dumps for construction work later on. “Fitzlierbert Riding.—Some work has been done on the top section of Tiritea Road to give access to Mr Uonore’s section. Timber has been ordered for re-decking the Upper liritea Bridge as most of the old timber is completely done. Road widening on the main highway is now in progress and should shortly be completed. Tho gravel will then be extended to cover an extra three or four feet. Surveys and plans are now compjeted for trial lines at all proposed deviations on the main highway and these will be submitted to the Highways Board. Maintenance metal is being spread on the Old West Road and the Aokautere team is carting out metal from Tiritea. Tho main roads have been graded several times.” CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT.

Tho chairman submitted his annual report as follows: “Main Highways.—We have now completed the sixth year with the assistance of the Highways Board. The board’s proportion remains the same as last year, namely, £2 for £1 on maintenance and £3 for £1 on special works such as permanent surfacing on Rangitikei and Foxton Lines. I am pleased to report that the Rangitikei Line to the county boundary at Awahuri Bridge has been completed, and as a result we were able to cut down the permanent staff. As regards Foxton Line, the first portion from Longburn to the Half-crown was completed and a contract for the balance to Rangiotu lias been let. No new highways were declared within the county during the year, although application was made for the Milson Line, the Railway Rpad and the Pahiatua Track. A considerable amount of widening and banking of corners on No. 60, Palmerston NorthLevin Main Highway, has been carried out in anticipation of proceeding with permanent work during the coming year. Surveys have been carried out with the object of shortening the route and eliminating the existing bad bends, and it is expected that work in this direction will be commenced during the coming winter, and very satisfactory arrangements with regard to this work have been formulated. “Surfacing.—Re-surfacing of bituminous roads has been carried out to the following extent: Foxton Line, 80 chains; Napier Road, 78 chains; Rangitikei Line, 112 chains. Included in the Napier Road was grouting of approaches to Bullocky Creek Bridge. The cost of sealing worked out at approximately £2 17s 6d per chain over the total length of 270 chains. “Bridges.—Three large bridges were completed during the year, liamely, Derby Creek, Lynch’s and Awapuni Bridges. The bridge over the Knhuterawa Stream is in a very bad state nnd was a source of troublo and danger, it having been repaired twice during the year on account of heavy motor lorry traffic it was called upon to carry in time of flooding of the Levin-Foxton Main Highway. Application for renewal will again be mode this jeai to the Highways Board. The timber portion of Awahuri Bridge is still giving trouble and its renewal will have to bo considered very shortly. This bridge has been shortened bv the removal of the short land span, this being nlled in with spoil and subsequently tarred. A commencement has been made with the erection of Boundary Road Bridge, the cost of which is borne equally by the Palmerston North Borough and this county. The redecking of the first tintea Bridge was carried out during the year and the redecking of the second bridge will be carried out this coming year, the decking being already ordered. , , , “Plant. —The whole of the plant has been maintained in an efficient manner. Two new trucks were purchased during the year. “Maintenance. —The maintenance of the more heavily trafficed roads still continues to increase, especially the non-ljitiirninised main highways, the cost per mile approaching £270 as a maximum. Generally speaking, the gravel roads are now in fair repair, the roads during the summer months requiring more metal than usual owing to the indifferent weather during the Christmas period, the worst features being the corrugations which can only be kept down by continual grading. A large amount of stone lias been crushed and is to be used instead of river gravel and this may overcome corrugation nuisance which is a very difficult problem. “Finance—lt is gratifying to note from the treasurer’s statement that the finances of the county are in a sound condition. There is an amount of £7933 Us Id to the credit of the County Fund Account at the bank, ami although this large credit is mainly due to the amounts to credit S the various plant accounts and tarred roads maintenance accounts xarreu roay r€ h e ved that they C have been enabled to complete tho Rangitikei Line and carry <bounty usual maintenance wor J in aM emout of .ordinary revenue without em barrassing thefinances. It debit pated that there would be a

balance in the riding accounts in view of the rates levied being the same as previous year. However, the aggregate of the balances in the riding accounts is onlv a debit of £2oB 11s 9d as compared with a debit of £8l)J ics lOd which was estimated.” The report was adopted. A statement submitted concerning outstanding rates for the year IJ2J-OU showed that the gros% total unpaid v as £622 2s Bd. . . , , The chairman was congratulated on the contents of his comprehensive report and Councillors expressed pleasure at seeing him back in the chair again with visible signs of returning to good health. PROPOSED AIR PORT. A letter was received from tho Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce requesting the council to apopint two delegates to attend a meeting of ’epresentatives of local bodies to consider the question of establishing an air port in the district. Tho chairman stated that tho matter was only one of interest to business men and not to farmers. Councillors expressed themselves as not being in favour of the proposal on account of expense that the council might be put to. No action would be taken in regard to the appointment of delegates. PETROL TAX. Tho Wlxikatane County Council wrote stating that at a recent meeting of the No. 3 Main Highways District authorities the following resolution was carried: “That the Government be urged to increase the petrol tax to such a figure, which will enable it to completely finance all future maintenance and construction costs on all primary main highways in a permanent manner.” The delegates were unanimous that the heavy and rapidly increasing burden, which is being placed on county ratepayers bad reached a point beyond the resources of the County Councils, and that suctr primary main highway maintenance and construction costs should be entirely financed by the road users. The chairman stated that extra petrol taxation would be reflected back again on to the ratepayers. Or. Small pointed out that the matter had been discussed before, and he moved that the council raise serious objections to any increase in petrol tax. The motion was carried unanimously. FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD. A letter was received from the secretary of the Foxton Harbour Board stating that the council had been requested to make, levy and collect a harbour rate in respect of the rateable properties situate in the county. A statement was enclosed with the letter showing that the total amount to be raised by all the local bodies was approximately £IOOO. It was decided to conform to the request, but at the same tune to lodge a protest, pointing out that no benefit would be received by the ratepayers from the port of Foxton. TOWN PLANNNIG. A letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, stating that arrangements had been made on behalf of the Town Planning Board for a public enquiry to be held at Palmerston North on May 29 for the purpose of hearing evidence from all interested parties to determine tho boundaries of the region, comprising the borough of Palmerston North and surrounding districts. Representatives from the council were requested. The chairman and Cr Anderson were appointed to represent tho council at the enquiry. HOROWHENUA COUNTY. ARATANGATA DRAIN. AGREEMENT WITH SETTLERS. Matters connected with the Aratangata Drain were again belore the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, when an arrangement was made with Mr Andrew Guy in the direction of mutually keeping the drain in order tor tne current year. Mr Guy waited on the board in company with Mr Hewitt, one of 'the settlers interested. The deputation offered to keep the dram clean if the council would contribute £3U a year. The settlers would require to find about £2O. The chairman: Could not the settlers mako some arrangement!' The Manawatu-Oroua River 'Board built the new floodgate and we made a contribution on certain terms. Could they not assume control of this drain!' they are a local body. Mr Guy: We might bo able to arrange that, but time is going on. I do' not know what they want. They are concerned with the banking of the river and the straightening ot it. It is Hardly fair to expect them to take over what may bo the coiuicil’s responsibility. Rather than go to Jaw over the matter we would compromise with you and take it off your liaiids. The county engineer (Mr Brewster) said that when ho inspected the drain at the bridge a few days previously there appeared to be an excessive amount of water coming down into the main drain; it had increased very considerably in the last few weeks. This had apparently happened since the settlers cleaned the drain higher up. He asked Mr Guy if any lagoons were being drained into it. Mr Guy: No; I don't think so.

Mr Hewitt said he did not think that the volume of water was above normal, but after rain it took a long time to go down; it drained a large area. He did not know of any lagoons having been drained into it. There was a good flow there even in the driest summer. Cr. Catley moved that Mr Guy’s offer he accepted for this year. He said that in the meantime it was just possible that the council could mako some concrete arrangement. He intended to move later that a committee be set up to meet tho property-owners and report to the council with a view to a more amicable arrangement for the future. Cr. Gimblett seconded the motion. He favoured the request for £3O from the council, which had been approached on the basis of hundreds before. The motion was carried. COMPLETION OF FLOODGATE. The Manawatu River Board advised that the Aratangata floodgate was completed, and enclosing an account for £IOO, being the amount of the donation promised by the council towards the cost of the work. “Wo should sret in touch with the River Board,” said the chairman. “This is the first official intimation we have had from them. All the rest of the work has been done through Mr Guy. The arrangement was made provided that they constructed the floodgate and took over official responsibility for repairs. We should pass this account subject to that agreement being carried out. ~ ~ On the motion of Cr. Gimblett, it was resolved that the amount be passed, and that the council endeavour to oome to some arrangement for the future maintenance of the floodgate. GRANT REFUSED. When an application from the Levin branch of the W.E.A. for a grant came before the council, Cr. Catley moved that the letter be received. Cr. Gimblett. in seconding, said that the council liad turned down other requests

for donations, and he could not see that this was any more important than the others. The motion was carried. SHANNON HIGHWAY. Cr. Barber said that he understood that the county engineer was not taking over immediately the section of highway constructed to the south of Shannon by the Public Works Department, as it required further attention. The engineer (Mr J. T. M. Brewster) stated that there was a quantity of clay on the road —put there to consolidate it—and the surface had become hard and very rough. A thin coat of loose metal would have to be put over it. otherwise it would become potholed and broken up in a short space of time. He had not yet taken over the section; it was a question whether the department would treat the matter as maintenance or construction. It was hie intention to ask them, when thev had finished the section, to put a coat of metal over it. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer.