KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 243, 11 September 1934, Page 8

KAIRANGA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. . The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held today. Those present were Crs. D. Collis (chairman), Jos. Batchelar, W. R. Hopcroft, M. A. Moody, R. A. Mercer, C. Anderson, W. G. Shannon, M. W. Voss and P. G. Mildon. The chairman reported that, as decided previously, arrangements had been made for the purchase of a two and a-half ton British truck. The chassis had cost £283 10s and the body was to be made in Palmerston North, being now practically completed. The total cost was £449 9s. The council endorsed the contract. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The acting engineer (Mr L. C. Pickering) reported as follows: —“General: The effects of the recent wet weather are becoming evident, numerous small slips having occurred on all roads in which formation improvements have carried out within the last twelve months. During the early part of the month all gangs were employed clearing slips; for the past three years J. have not seen the surrounding country in a more saturated condition. During the month the Manawatu Drainage Board commenced work with the erection of a stopbank in connection with what is known as Hamilton’s Line protective works. In conjunction with the Public "Works Department the necessary pegs and levels and minor deviations have been set out on section A and part of section B. “Taonui Riding.—As requested by the Highways Board the traffic tal.y at the only point allocated, at the junction of Longburn-Rongotea Road and Foxton Line, was taken and shows an increase over the preceding tallies. The riding truck and shaker machine have been working at Slack s Koacl river beach carting direct to various roads requiring attention. During 1 month a light English truck' was purchased for the banking jobs and should be readv for delivery in a week s time. A length of 24ft. 9in. of concrete pipes has been put in on Lockwood Road. Tar patching on Rangitikei Line has been completed and the gang are now carrying out similar work on toxxon Line y The motor grader lias been over the more important roads. “Mangaone Riding.—A commencement with the super-elevation and banking of Sly’s corner on Nap er Road has been made, over 400 cubic yards of' pit metal and boulders being required to bring it np to the Public Works standard. Fair s Road access has been brought up .to tne correct level, pit metal having spread to expedite the consolidation. A small flood in the Mangaone again filled up the depleted maintenance supply, the county team having been carting out from Mr 0 Hagan s and county properties. The Bunnythorpe gang has been cleaning water-tables and drains, 340 chains having been completed on Milson’s Line, Newbury Line and in Bunnythorpe township. Some 21ft, 6m. of concrete pipes has been put m on Cameron s Line and 24ft. 9m. on Dalton s Road. The truck has been patching as required and carting metal for the Napier Road improvements. The motorgrader has been raking m loose metal from the sides and cutting off corrugations. , “Fitzherbert Riding.—Tha gang at Aokautere has had a busy month cleaning watertables and slips, oJV chains having received attention. A small bridge over the deviated creek through Sutherland’s, Siberia, has been erected to give access to the public road. A commencement with the straightening and reforming of a portion of Millrick’s Line has been made, together with an extension or the pipe culvert. The Linton tf uc k has been continually patching direct from the river beach. The Aokautere truck has patched the Pahiatua Track and Fitzherbert East Road and No. 60 highway. Several dangerous depressions and curves have been banked and shouldered. The realignment of Keeble’s flat is now receiving attention, preparatory to scarifying and re-shaping. The approach to the Linton Hall has been levelled and metalled. The motor grader has been over the more important reads only.” The Manawatu Automobile Association asked for the following information : The amount spent in the year to March 31, 1934, on main highway maintenance; the proportion of that amount provided bv the county and the proportion by the Highways Board; the total number of all vehicles counted during the August traffic census, excluding push bicycles; the number cf miles of main highway in the county. —The information is to be supplied. CORRESPONDENCE.

The New Zealand Counties’ Association asked for the views of the county on heavy traffic license fees, the petrol tax, the tyre tax, drivers’ licenses, annual licenses and Customs duties on imported cars and parts, because of an investigation on the taxation of those items to be carried out. The chairman commented that the taxation from the sources stated was important as a matter of revenue for the council. Crs. Batchelar, Mildon, Anderson and the chairman were appointed a committee to frame replies to the letter. The Commissioner of Transport, replying to a query, said that a license had been granted Mr H. J. Ivirkham to deviate his motor bus service from Rongotea via Gillespie’s Line. The letter said that any interested parties, could have attended the sitting of the authority at which the license was granted. The council could therefore be represented.—The chairnam said Gillespie’s Line was not as good a road as Rangitikei Line. He thought that direct notice should be sent to the council. On the motion of Cr. Mildon, it was decided to ask that direct notice be given to the county as to when the meetings of the authority would be held.

Mr W. L. Elliott, No. 4 Line Fitzlierbert West, asked that metal be put on the road leading to his gate. The metal was needed so badly that at times he had difficulty in obtaining access to his farm.—The engineer said Mr Elliott was a new settler who had taken up the property and the road had not been used for many years and was only a grass road. The metalling would be very costly at that point. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer and the representative of the riding, with power to act. Mr J. L. Nash (Linton), in a letter written on behalf of the Linton branch of the Farmers’ Union, asked that attention be given to the metalling of that part of Scott’s Road, Linton, between the main road and the railway.—The engineer said there was a length of about 90 chains to be done. He suggested attending to a quarter of it each year. Cr. Hopcroft said the work would cost about £175. Cr. Moody suggested that the engineer supply an estimate of the cost. Cr. Hopcroft said the riding could not stand the cost. The work should be done one piece at a time. He moved in that direction, Cr. Moody seconding the motion, which was carried. The engineer said the work would be done as opportunity offered. Mr T. Young (Fitzherbert West) said that he had had to leave a cow on the road when shifting stock to liis present property from Gillespie’s Line

and the cow had been impounded and sold for a shilling. Cr. Batchelar said the ranger had taken the usual procedure before the cow was sold. The council decided that the facts of the case should be ascertained and Mr Young advised accordingly. Mr C. J. Mandeno, secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement, advised that at a meeting of that body a motion had been passed urging that 14s a day be paid the relief workers employed at Hamilton’s bend.—The chairman commented that the letter did not concern the county. The letter was received, it being stated that the County Council was not the employer of the-men. Mr J. Vining, ranger, reported that 24 head of stock had been dealt with during the • month. Mr J. Baldwin, ranger, reported that he had dealt with 86 head of stock. Proceedings had been taken against one owner. The dog registration in 1934 had resulted: 1040 dogs at 2s 6d and 117 at 10s, while the result of the 1933 registration had been 991 at 2s 6d and 110 at 10s. Several owners had refused to register dogs, which were of .various breeds, ranging from Pomeranians to a mastiff. The reports were received, the chairman saying the ranger had full authority to take action against those who would not register their dogs. A schedule of estimates for the Main Highways Board showed an allocation of £9O at £1 for £1 subsidy for the protection of the Awahuri Bridge; £144 at £3 for £1 for the GreatfordWoodville highway; £535 at £3 for £1 for the Sanson-Palmerston North highway ; £1277 at £3 for £1 for the Hima-tangi-Aslihurst, via Palmerston North, highway; £1446 at £3 for £1 for the Levin-Palmerston North, via Shannon, highway; £396 at £3 for £1 for the Longburn-Rongotea highway; £638 at £3 for £1 for the Bunnythorpe-Rai-range highway and £765 for the sealing of the same road at £2 for £l. RATES STATEMENT.

The clerk (Mr N. I. Nielsen) reported that the bank balances were : No. 1 account, £2285 6s 7d (debit); plant account, £10,165 Os 9d (credit), tarred roads account, £4Ol 15s 4d (credit). The estimates for the year for the different ridings and the balances unexpended after the August meeting were as follow : —Taonui riding, £2lßl, £1538 7s 3d; Mangaone riding £3581, £2506 15s 6d; Fitzherbert riding, £2565,. £1896 7s lid. The rates outstanding in the ridings were given as:—Taonui riding, £259 16s 2d- Mangaone, £472 7s sd; Fitzherbert, £649 8s 4d. The total amount unpaid at September 11, 1934, was £l3Bl 11s lid. The total unpaid at March 31 was £224 19s 9d, and the amount paid since then £843 7s lOd. It was decided that no portion of the 10 per cent, penalty for outstanding rates be remitted. The following land transfers were approved: J. Hurley to J. Sullivan, 88 acres, 1 rood; R. de J. Vautier to J. Harrison. 67 acres, 3 roods, 14.4 perches; J. Harrison to Ada Vautier, 67 acres, 3 roods, 14.4 perches; W. M. McSavney to G. T. I. McSavney, 20 acres; C. Herrick to J. A. Sorenson 45 acres, 1 rood. 35.5 perches. SPECIAL MEETING. The council resolved itself into a special meeting for the purpose, of considering the representation of the different ridings in view of the election of the council in May, 1935. The chairman considered that the representations was quite adequate as at present. It was decided that the representation of the ridings should not be changed.