COUNTY COUNCILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 245, 15 September 1932, Page 10

COUNTY COUNCILS

POHANGINA COUNTY

CORRESPO'NDENCE AND REPORTS

The monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held at Pohangina yesterday, when Cr. S. J. Stralran presided. Others present were Crs. Howell, Close, Craine, Arbon, McKenzie and W. T. Pratt. Mr J. A. Coup, Utuwai, wrote making an application for a reduction in the rent of a reserve held by him. — The matter was held over pending a review of all reserves.

The Main Highways Board advised that it had been decided to regard the renewal of culverts not exceeding 6ft. square or 6ft. in diameter as maintenance. —Received.

The Public Works Department wrote enquiring whether the council was prepared to go ahead with the construction of a bridge across the Oroua River at Te Awa. —The clerk mentioned that the plans had been sent forward in connection with the work, the counsel having decided to proceed with it. The Public Works Department advised that, apart from sums already authorised, including any unexpended balance brought forward from March 31 last, there was no guarantee of money being available for new road 'or bridge works this year. The letter added that it would be impossible to make any subsidy available unless the council was prepared to find a substantial share of the cost. —Received. Mr T. B. Grotrian, Korewa, wrote making application for the lease of portion of a reserve fronting his pro-perty.-—Mr Arbon remarked that the area was going back steadily. It was decided, however, to postpone making a decision pending the question of reserve leases being considered. The Kiwitea County Council advised that it had agreed to carry out some patching work on the road leading to tho ford at Te Awa.- —Received. The Department of Lands and Survey advised that tho controlling and maintaining of scenic reserves had been vested in the council, although it would not give the council the right to lease any portion without first obtaining tho permission of the Minister in charge of Scenery Preservation. — The chairman and Crs. Arbon, McKenzie and Howell were set up as a committee to inspect the reserves and review tho applications for leases.

The Counties’ Association, in a circular letter, urged that the rebate of 12i per cent, on rates should be continued by tho Government this year. It was explained that Parliament had decided to divert £500,000 from the Main Highways Fund to the Consolidated Fund to help to tide tho country over its financial difficulties. This meant that a further £250,000, which could possibly have been refunded to rural ratepayers this year, had been earmarked to lighten the load of the general taxpayers. —The chairman remarked that it did not appear very hopeful for tho coming year. The scheme had been very helpful to the county in getting in the rates. Cr. Howell pointed out that the imposition of the petrol tax had been agreed to in view of the fact that backblock ratepayers would gain some benefit.

It was decided to lodge a protest against the funds being diverted to other sources.

The Public Works Department wrote, stressing the necessity for more consideration being given to the taking of traffic tallies. —Received, it being considered that no benefit was to be gained from taking tallies in the county. The Cheltenham Co-op Dairy Co., Ltd. wrote on behalf of a number of suppliers for permission to erect a cream stand at Raumai.-—Granted, subject to the site being approved by the engineer. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr Watson) presented the following review on the month’s activities: “Awahou. Riding: The grader ran over the main road and a stare was made to crush and cart metal for the main highway. About 100 yards were put out when the work had to bo discontinued, owing to tho heavy rain some two weeks ago which brought down quite a lot of slips on practically all tho roads in this riding, which entailed a good deal of time and all the labour available in cleaning up and repairing washouts, particularly on Awahou South and No. 3 Line, where the outside of the roads had broken away and had to bo sheeted up with timber and planted with trees to allow sufficient width of road for traffic. Coal Creek: The piles in ono of tho end spans in the bridge over Coal Greek, on Makoura Road, wero found to bo in so advanced a state of decay that they wero of no further use and so have been replaced with a concrete wall. That means that tho abutments, as well as the piers, arc all concrete. Tho docking planks on this bridge should, during the coming summer, be coated with boiled tar and sand. Gravel on the main highway was raked in with the grader. The surfaceman on Ridge Road has been widening out bends and getting gravel ready, for future cartage. Mangaone: The Ashhurst-Po-haugina main highway was trimmed up with tho grader, and has also received a light coat of crushed riverbed metal. A good quantity has been put in stacks at close intervals nlong tho road. Tho FerryRoad, which has only had a small quantity put on, will be treated in the same way before the plant is shifted. A pood quantity of pit gravel on the Taonni-Rau-mai highway and Pollocks Road bus been got ready for carting. The work of grading the roads that was started during the past month will be continued at an early date. Mangapikopiko: Metal on Apiti-Kim-bolton Road was raked in with the grader. Gravel was carted for filling in drains on Norsewood Road, where it was widened out near Coal Creek. A good quantity of gravel for repairing Reed’s Road was carted from Ridge Road by ono of the motor trucks. J Some gravel for repairing about the township was carted by the roadman. Tho reserve situated on Miller’s Road has been fenced off. A double set of 30-in concrete pipes have been put in near the township to replace the old timber bridge, which will be dismantled as soon as the filling has settled down. Some of the old timber will bo useful for repairing another old bridge A shnrp corner on Table Flat Road was cut back, and some dram clearing was done on McNao’s Rond by the permanent roadman. Pohangina: The main road was trimmed up with the grader, and has since received a light coating of crushed metal. The Branch Road, which was partly blocked after the heavy rain, has since been cleared bv men working under the No. 5 scheme. Tamakl: The permanent surfaceman has been engaged cutting back overhanging scrub, widening, and carting rough gravel for filling in deep water channels on tho road through the Totara reserve. Umutoi: A fair amount of gravel was carted by motor truck and stacked on Mb Jliohard and .Makoura roads. The roadman.

with tho use of a horse and dr-ay, has been filling in potholes and repairing weak places in tho road. The roadman in Apiti has been assisted by men under the No. 5 scheme trimming up and opening out water tables on the far end of Table Flat Road. Some of tho corners on Norsewood Road have been widened out and tho metal raked in and hound with clay by men under tho No. 5 scheme, working with tho surfaceman.” —Adopted. TREASURER’S STATEMENT.

Tho following statement was presented by the treasurer (Mr Orgias):— Cemetery account, cr. £44 11s 9d; cemetery deposit account, cr. £6O; loan account, cr. £601; plant account, cr. £1496 19s 8d; county fund account, cr. £2764 11s lid. Riding expenditure:— Estimate, £605 15s, expended £lB4 9s 6d, balance £421 5s 6d. Coal Creek: Estimate £752, expended £203 16s lOd, balance £548 13s 2d. Mangaone: Estimate £763, expended £172 ss, balance £590 los. Mangapikopiko: Estimate £9lB, expended £242 8s 2d, balance £675 11s lOd. Pohangina: Estimate £662 ss, expended £l9l 12s Id, balance £476 12s lid. Tamaki: Estimate £487, expended, £9l 14s 3d, balance £395 os 9d. Umutoi: Estimate £960, expended £552 18s Bd, balance £407 Is 4d. GENERAL. On the motion of Cr. Howell, seconded by Cr. Close, it was decided to strike the following rate for the year:—Awahou, 7-16 din the £; Coal Creek, 5-16 d; Mangaone, 5-16 d; Mangapiko, id; Pohangina, 7-16 d; Tamaki, 9-16 d; Umutoi, jjd. A hospital rate of 11-50 d in the £ was determined upon. The ranger reported having found 48 head of stock on tho highways during the month on his tours of inspection.

OROUA COUNTY. MONTHLY MEETING. The Oroua County Council met at Feilding yesterday afternoon, Cr A. Campbell presiding. Also present were Crs Green, McLennan, Shannon, MacDonald, Greenhow and McElroy. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Main Highways Board, forwarding £Bl 19s 8d and £1259 12s 9d, being refunds of maintenance of main highways.-—Received. From the Public Works Department, forwarding particulars regarding grants for roads and bridges, stating that no money would bo available for these works this year.—The chairman reported that the matter had been attended to ; no charge being made in tiie council’s estimates. From tho Main Highways Board advising that a transfer of the balance in the allocations for main highways maintenance may be arranged.—Received, the chairman observing that the letter contained satisfactory news. From the same department, advising that the renewal of culverts not exceeding 6ft by 6ft shall he regarded as maintenance.—Received. From the same department, forwarding a schedule of wages now paid by the Public Works Department, and advising that main highways claims must bo made on tho basis of these rates.— In moving that the letter he received, the chairman stated that the council would have to abide by tho new regulations. From the same department setting out wages to be paid to men working in the Manawatu Gorge.—Received. From the Unemployment Board, giving details of new arrangement for workers under the No. 5 scheme. —Received. From the North Island Motor Union, asking that countv inspectors shall not wear uniforms.—Tho engineer stated that the council was not affected in this regard, tire letter being received. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, advising that lie had requisitioned for necessary funds for purchase of material for protection works at Almadale.- —Received. From the Ashhurst Cemetery Board, asking for assistance from the council in having paths at the cemetery concreted.—lt was agreed to comply with tho request provided the Pohangina County Council assists.