COUNTY COUNCILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1932, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCILS

POHANGINA COUNTY. ACTIVITIES DURING MONTH. The monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held yesterday, Cr. S. J. Strahan presiding. Others present were Crs. W. Howe It, T. T. Craine, G. M. Arbon and J. McKenzie. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr D. Watson) submitted his report as follows for the month : Awahou. Riding : The permanent surfaceman, assisted by one of the men working under No. 5 scheme, was employed attending to general road maintenance, which was the only work done. Coal Creek Riding: 350 yards of metal were put through the crusher and carted out on the ApitiKimbolton highway. Ridge Road, irom : Hall’s Road to the boundary of the ! riding, has been shaped up with the heavy grader. With the exception of a small amount of gravel required, which at present is being carted by one of the motor trucks, this road, jfrom Pohangina township to Apiti, is lin good order. A start has been made | with a motor truck to cart some fine gravel for London’s Road. Some gravel for repairing was carted by the roadman. About 80 yards of pit gravel were carted and spread on Makoura Road from the creek to the top of the hill. Mangaone Riding: The watertables in places that were very deep, on Zig Zag Road, near the junction of Finnis Track, have been filled in. This work will be continued at a later date by the roadman with the horse and dray , as he is at present employed in clearing gravel in a pit close by in readiness for carting. Metal on the Ashhurst-Bohangina highway has been raked in and some of the overhanging scrub cut back. Mangapikopiko Riding: About 200 yards of rough gravel were put through the crushing machine, and carted and spread on the Apiti-Kimboiton highway ; 416 yards were crhshed and put out on Table Flat, Marten Block, and Nix’s Roads; 78 yards of fine river shingle were carted and spread on Marton Block Hill; 80 yards of pit gravel were also carted and. spread on Ridge Road. Pohangina Riding: About 100 yards of fine river shingle, for repairing Pohangina Valley Road were cartedby the roadman. Gravel on the main road was raked in and watertables attended to. Tamaki Riding: The permanent roadman, with the horse and dray, has been carting gravel for repairing the main highway, and filling in with stones the watertable, which is very deep in places, and so widening narrow parts of the road. Umutoi Riding : A concrete pipe culvert was put in, and a small amount of gravel, for repairing, was carted by the roadman on Makiekei Road. During the absence of one of the permanent roadmen, general maintenance work is being carried on by men working under No. 5 scheme. —The report was adopted. TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer (Mr A. E. Orgias) reported that the credits were £74 9s 4d in the cemetery account, £528 13s 4d in the loan account and £1496 19s 2d in the plant account. The comity fund account was showing a debit balance of £647 0s lOd. Statements of riding expenditure were submitted as follow: —Awahou, estimates £605 15s, balance £316 17s 9d; Coal Creek, estimates £752, balance £369 16s 6d ; Mangaone estimates £763, balance £474 5s lid; Mangapikopiko, estimates £9lB, balance £437 8s 8d; Pohangina, estimates £662 os, balance £3Bl 14s 8d; Tamaki, estimates £487, balance £374 11s 2d; Umutoi estimates £960, balance £290 10s. —The report was received. CONVERSION LOAN SUPPORTED. “The Heavy burden of interest is causing this board and its contributing ratepayers much concern regarding the financial outlook,” stated a letter received from the Otago Electric Power Board. It added that constitutional methods should be employed in obtaining relief, • and the time appeared opportune to approach the Government to introduce a measure for compulsory conversion of local bodies’ loans. The board invited the council to support the proposal. Cr. Howed: What just does that mean; to raise a loan over the whole of local body funds? Cr. Strahan: It means conversion to secure a lower rate of interest. Cr. McKenzie asked if a reduction of the interest on the Piri Piri bridge loan could not be secured. The treasurer stated that the money for that work was advanced under a loan from the State Advances Department, which was protected by legislation. “Earning power has dropped, and tile price of money should drop too,” stated Cr Howell. “This is about the only country still paying high rates of interest. It is a question of repudiation, or a reduction.” The county treasurer said the Government was offering 5 per cent, interest. Cr. Strahan: It is the Government’s business to keep up the price of money. The council decided to give its support to the proposal advanced. STOCK ON HIGHWAYS. A complaint that stock had been grazing unattended daily on the roads near Utuwai was made by Mr R. B. Schulze, who stated that he had suffered a serious accident through striking an animal on the road. He stated that the stock were a distinct menace to traffic. Cr. McKenzie said the complainant had been < driving his caa: ajong when the stock came over a bank suddenly and he had been unable to avoid them. He drove them along and placed them in a paddock to ascertain whose they were, but they had vanished during ,the night. The engineer stated that the practice of allowing stock to stray was prevalent all over the county, and everything possible was being done to check it. : ... The council decided to express its sympathy with the writer of the letter, but to inform him that it did not see what action it could take.

OTHER CORRESPONDENCE. Advice was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands that the grazing of scenic reserves was not looked upon with favour- —Received. The Public Works Department intimated that during the holiday season it was generally found that a greater amount of traffic than usual used the main highways, and in order to both protect the highways and ensure good surface conditions, the board suggest|ed that local authorities arrange for i surfacemen and graders to remain at [work in preference to being granted holiday leave at this particular period. —Received. ' The Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board wrote stating it had been informed by the Electric Power Boards’ Association that it had not the power to make contributions to the cost of ■removal of poles unless it was a specific case, and then it must be made from unauthorised expenditure. —Received. Grazing rights for a small. piece of the county reserve on the Piri Piri side of the Pohangina River, and back-

ing on to his section, were sought by Mr A. E. Billett, who stated that it was the only means by which he could prevent stray cattle from wandering on to his property.—Held over for a mohth pending inquiries. Advice was received that ,at the meeting of representatives of county councils held in Feilding, a resolution had been passed that it be a recommendation that all county main highways within the No. 9 heavy traffic [district be classified to a maximum of third class. —Received. GENERAL.

Fines amounting to £ll 8s lid were reported to have been remitted to the account of the county. Notice was received of the following transfers: —Sections 21 and 14. block 12, Apiti to J. R., W.. and T. Burton; section 51, block 3, Pohangina S.D., to the trustees of estate E. J. Riddiford , section 8, block 16, Apiti S.D., to A\. G. S. and A. E. Romley. Accounts amounting to £Bl6 2s were passed for payment. The chairman extended the season’s felicitations to the councillors, the stuff and the Press, and expressed the hope that the coming New Year would be a more prosperous one.

KIWITEA COUNTY. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Kiwitea County Council was held at Kimbolton yesterday afternoon, Cr. L. T. McLean presiding. Also present were Crs. \V. Hair, F. E. Tappin, J. H. Williamson, T. D. Wood, J. A. T. Brown, W. P. Shaw, F. O. Stack and N. V. Shannon. Correspondence was received as follows : From the Main Highways Board forwarding a copy of the main highway estimates for the year, 1932-33, which showed the council to have received £270 on Jamieson’s Bridge on No. 377 highway, the subsidy being at the rate of £2 for £1. —Received. From the Public Works Department, forwarding copy of a circular with reference to the maintenance of main highways during the Christmas and New Year period.—Received. From the Otago Electric Power Board, requesting the (council’s cooperation in approaching the Government to introduce a compulsory conversion of local bodies’ loans, with a view to obtaining reduced interest charges.—Supported.

From the Treasury Department, asking the council to supply particulars of the amounts held in the land fund account ordinary thirds. —Information to be furnished. From the Public Works Department, advising payment of the subsidy of £9OO 19s 7d for maintenance of main highways from April 1, 1932, to September 10, 1932. —Received. From the Kaiapoi County Council, asking the council to support a move to the Government with a view to having interest charges reduced. — Agreed to support the resolutions. COUNTY FINANCES. At the close of business yesterday the county accounts were shown to be in the following position:—County fund account, dr. £1670 0s Id; employees’ accommodation loan account, cr., £26 9s lid; Haycock’s bridge account, cr., £176 14s lid; Kimbolton cemetery account, cr., £27 3s lOd; land fund account, cr., £249 17s Id; Vinegar Hill bridge account, cr. £69 4s 4d; Waituna cemetery account, cr. £l6 17s lid; Rangiwahia cemetery account, cr., £lB Gs Id. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer for the southern ridings, Mr F. H. Eggers, reported as follows: “Cheltenham riding: All roads, including main highways, have been kept in good order by the power grader plant. The roadman has attended to the usual surface work and cleaning out of watertables. A bridge on the Beaconsfield Valley Road has been improved by renewing the decking with four inch running planking. The constractors completed the contract for the supply and delivery of < maintenance metal of November 21 in a' satisfactory manner. The quantities of maintenance metal carted out were 406 i cubic yards. The contractors have also delivered 46 cubic yards for parking place at the Cheltenham Hall. The total cost of this work amounted to £6 ss, including spreading. Kiwitea riding : The section of the No. 52 main highway has been kept in order by the power grader plant. The contractors delivered 10 cubic yards of maintenance metal on this road. They also delivered and spread 117 cubic yards of maintenance metal on the upper section of the Beaconsfield Valley Road. This road has also been trimmed by the grader plant. The roadman has attended to the work of cleaning out watertables and minor repairs. Waituna riding: On the section of the No. 377 main highway the roadman has been engaged cleaning out watertables and attending to road surface repairs. The road has been trimmed by the power grader. The contractor delivered 100 cubic yards of maintenance metal on the main* highway; 26 cubio yards on Pakihikura Road, and 325 cubic yards on the Kiwitea-Tapuao Road; also 125 cubic yards on this road in the Kimbolton riding. All contracts were completed on December 5. Ongo riding: The section of the No. 377 main highway has been kept in good order by the power grader. Additional quantities of maintenance metal were delivered on this section of highway by the county dump truck. Improvements have been carried out in the nature of earth banking, No. 5 scheme labour being utilised. Williamson’s Road West, Wilson’s Line and Benson’s Dine, and a section of Cheltenham Cross Rond have been trimmed by the power grader plant. The Waituna cemetery has been cleaned up. Kimbolton riding: The roadman has at-

tended to the usual maintenance work; and also assisted with pot-hole repair work in the Kiwitea riding. The work <pf cleaning up the main stroeet in the Kimbolton township has been completed. The main highways have been kept in order by the power gruder plant. With the assistance of some No. 5 relief labour a fair amount of work has been done carting out stripping in Mr Beard’s pit and preparing metal for carting out. Peep-o-Day riding : The roadmen have attended to the usual maintenance work and assisted with metal carting on the section of the No. 52 main highway. In the western section of the riding a fair amount of work has been carried out in the nature of improving and widening sharp bends on the Pakihikura Road. It will bo necessary to effect repairs to a timber bridge on this road at an early date.” —Adopted. RATE POSITION. Mr W. L. Hesseltine, county clerk, made the following repo.rt on the countv rate.s : General. 1932 1933: “ 2 4s 9d, paid and rebate, £2267 15s lid; outstanding at date, DGdu-t os icu. ...- rears (3 years): Outstanding at 0p.. 1 1, 1932, £2094 14s 2d; paid, £459 15s 7d; outstanding to dr> +-> £] r ‘ >l ’“s 7d. Specials, 1932-1933: Struck, £2635 4s 9d; paid and thirds 6s Id; outstanding to date. £2070 ISs Bd. Arrears (3 y oo, '.«t- p...■ -r at April 1, 1932, £573 9s 9d; paid, £143 6s 7d ; outstanding to Ud.e, - jJ 3s 2d. Summary of arrears: General, £1634 ISs 7d; specials, £430 3s 2d; total, £2065 Is 9d.