KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 10

KAIRANGA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of- the Kairanga County Council was held yesterday, when Cr. D. Collis presided. Others present wore Crs Jos. Batchelar, W. it. Tiopcroft, M. A. Moody, It. A. Mercer, C. Anderson, AV. G. Shannon, M. W. Voss and P. G. Mildon. The Palmerston North It.S.A. wrote extending the chairman and councillors an invitation to be present at the Anzav Day services on the 25th inst.— Deceived, the chairman expressing the hope that as many members as possible would attend.

The Tiritea School Committee wrote expressing appreciation of the councils assistance in carting sand, tar and firewood. —Deceived. . _ The Valuation Department advised that the right of lodging an objection to any local rating authority had been extended under Section 3 of the 1933 Amendment Act and that a copy of the notice would be forwarded.—Deceived. Mr G. Atkinson, Makomako, wrote directing attention to the state of the Tararua ltange ridge road.—Deferred to the Pahiatua County Council. Mr C. Petersen, Foxton, made application for permission to cart flax trom Lockwood to Karere station. He was prepared to repair any damage to the roads if allowed tq cart up to 7 tons. —The clerk mentioned that the maximum load on that route was 63 tons. On the last occasion on which flax had been carted it had cost the council £IBO to repair the road. Cr. Mildon doubted whether it was advisable to allow any carting over the road in wet weather.' The matter was left in the hands of the engineer to watch closely. The AVaitomo County Council wiote seeking support to a movement with reference to testing the State Advances Department’s liability for the payment of rates as mortgagee of freehold lands. On the suggestion of the chairman, it was decided to refer the matter to the Counties’ Association for action if considered advisable. The Palmerston North Technical School Committee made application for the annual grant. The writers expressed the hope that the grant would be ‘at least £2o.—Deferred till the year’s estimates are considered. _ The county clerk formally advised that the council’s apportionment of the heavy traffic fees for the quartei was £261 Os Id—Deceived. Mr James Wallace, i< itzherbert, wrote directing attention to the condition of Clifton Doad especially at the last turn before the road reaches the flat, it being contended that the corner was too sharp. —Left in the hands of the engineer to interview Mr Wallace. , The Palmerston North Diver Board advised that subject to the approval of the council, it was prepared to accept a tender for the work required in protecting the banks of the Manawatu River at Stuart’s Bend. —The necessary confirmation was given. Mr G. H. Gallop, Bunnythorpe, wrote asking that the fence fronting his property be placed in its proper position and that the implements in the neighbourhood of his motor shed be removed. The writer further mentioned that unless the council was prepared to pay £2 per year for maintenance, the road could remain closed; otherwise the obstruction across the road must be removed within 14 days. Cr. Anderson considered that it would be preferable for the council to move the fence to its correct boundary, and it was decided to take this course. It was further decided to inform the writer that the existing arrangement for the maintenance of his boundary fence would be cancelled. The Health Department officer reported that no case of infectious disease had been reported in the county during the past three months. An inspection had been made of the Maori kaiangas in the county and improvements effected where necessary. The Fitzherbert ranger reported having impounded 32 head of stock up to April 10, while the Awapuni ranger reported having impounded 20 head during the same period. ENGINEED’S REPORT. The acting engineer (Mr L. O. Pickering) reported on the month’s operations as under: —“The contractors for permanent improvements to the Kai-ranga-Bunnythorpe Doad have commenced the sealing coat and should be finished by the middle of next week. The new formation work on James’s Line should be completed before the next meeting. "The riding truck lias been carting metal from Levin’s pit to Newbury Line, and from the Oroua Diver bank to Milson’s and Cameron’s Lines. Blackberry is being grubbed on the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road and Robert’s Line. The motor grader lias been employed in the re-shaping of scarified roads, and grading in of loose metal from the sides. Tarpatching has been carried out on Napier Doad, Bunnythorpe-Kairanga Doad and Rangitikei Line. Robert’s Line, from Newbury Line to the Westella settlement, has been cut out with the grader and widened. Setter’s Line, from the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road towards the Mangaone Stream, has also been cut out. Fitzherbert: A gang of men has been taken to Hill Top Road, cleaning watertables, over four miles having been cleaned out; 10 chains of a new drain has been dug to divert a small creek, and a large earthenware culvert lengthened; two bad bends have been taken off to improve the visibility. Owing to the scour on Upper Kahuterawa Road, a new ford consisting of large boulders has been constructed. Improvements opposite the Aokautere Hall have been completed. Several springs have developed near Forest Hill Road, one being particularly dangerous adjacent to the metalled road. A new drain has been dug, the pug taken out and replaced with fascines and metal. Two further points have been improved on the Pahiatua Track and new pipes put in to conform with the permanent widening. Gorse has been grubbed on Cliff Doad. The riding • trucks have been patching as required and the motor grader has been kept busy cutting off corrugations and maintaining the roads in general. Taonui: Owing to constant heavy, carting oyer that portion of Foxton Line (running through swampy land) from ‘Half Crown’ to Rangitane, considerable damage lias been done to the sealed surface. Repairs have been continually carried out. A close inspection of the Itangiotu bridge revealed a further sinking of the parapet and extensive cracking of all the beams. This has apparently been the effects of the la-st severe earthquake, and just how long this structure will stand is hard to estimate, owing to the fact that no plans of its design are in existence. The riding truck has been carting metal on to No. 4 Line, Hughes Line and Lockwood Road. The contractor has completed carting metal on to heaps on the LongburnRongotea Road. Fennell is being cut on Foxton and Maxwell’s Lines. Owing to the excessive traffic on special occasions, it was deemed advisable to improve the junction of Maxwell’s and Foxton Lines. The formation lias been brought up to proper levels, the old drain shifted over and piped, and a traffic dome erected. The motor grader has been over more lm-

portaint roads . only. Mangaone: Owing to the uneven cross-fall and rough surface through the exposure of the original boulder foundation, it has been necessary to scarify and reroll several roads in this riding, namely, Newbury, Milson’s au,d Cameron’s Lines. This has been brought about by reason of dry seasons, together with the wearing of the running surfaces, and it is becoming evident that many roads in all the ridings will require a light coating of metal this winter. That portion of Milson’s Line sealed with a cold mixture some three years ago has received its first coat of bitumen and chips.”—■ Adopted. The following rates statement was presented by the clerk (Mr N. I. Nielsen) : Taonui riding.—Arrears at March 31, 1933, £502 12s lid; paid to March 31, 1934, £419 10s lOd; balance, £B3 2s lid. Levied year 1933-1934, £5882 17s 2d; paid to March 31, per cent.), £5410 13s lid; balance, £472 3s 3d; total unpaid, March 31, 1934, £555 6s 2d. Mangaone.-—Arrears at Marcli 31, 1933, £Bl5 L6s 6d; paid to March 31, 1934, £502 11s sd; balance, £313 5s Id. Levied year 1933-1934, £4305 4s 4d; paid to March 31, 1934 (87.8 per cent.), £3783 0s 6d; balance, £522 3s lOd; total unpaid, March 31, 1934, £835 8s lid. Fitzherbert. —Arrears at March 31, 1933, £1127 11s lid; paid to March 31, 1934 £B4l 17s 8d; balance, £285 14s 3d. Levied, year 1933-1934, £4351 16s Id; paid to March 31, 1934 (87.4 per cent.), £3803 5s 8d; balance, £548 10s sd; total unpaid, March 31, 1934, £834 4s Bd. Grand total unpaid, £2224 19s 9d. Rates paid for year 1933-1934 repre-

sent 89.4 per cent, of the total levied. At March 31, 1933, the rates for that year paid rejiresented 86.4 per cent, of total levied. The following statement of bank balances was tabled: —County Fund No. 1 account, cr. £3789 19s 8d; county fund, No. 2 (plant), cr, £BIB7 los 4d; county fund No. 3 (tarred roads), cr. £534 Is 3d; total, £12,511 16s 3d. Loans accounts: Fitzherbert riding culverts and bridges loan, cr. £is 13s 7d; New Fitzherbert bridge loan (includes £3OOO on fixed deposit due 7/5/1934), cr. £3595 14s 7d. Sundry accounts: Linton Domain Board (P. 0.5.8. account), cr. £6O 2s sd; Linton Domain Board (on fixed deposit), cr. £44 10s; Fitzherbert West water race management account (includes £SO on fixed deposit), cr. £Bl 10s 7d. The following transfers on the rate roll were authorised ; —Mangaone riding: C. J. Bonian to Mrs C. J. Boman, 1 acre; S., A. R., J. and G. P. R. Saunders to J. Saunders, 23 acres 2 perches; same to G. P. R. Saunders, 44 acres 2 roods, 27 perches, same to Miss A, R. Saunders, 43 acres 1 rood 8 perches; J. Saunders to G. N. Houghton, 23 acres 2 perches; Miss A. R. Saunders to C. N, Houghton, 43 acres 1 rood 8 perches. Fitzherbert riding; E. C. Green to L. Elliott, 220 acres 16 perches; same to W. L. Elliott, 292 acres 2 roods 9 perches; A. J. Poderin to McLennan and Atmore, 234 acres 1 rood 5 perches. Taonui riding; L. A. Parker to Mrs R. A. Igglesden, 12 acres.