POHANGINA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 247, 16 September 1935, Page 4

POHANGINA COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the. Pohnngina County Council was held at Pohangina on Saturday. Those present were Crs S. J. Strahan (chairman), M. Arbon, J. Mackenzie, J. T. Montgomery, IV. McKay, T. E. Craine, and IV., Howell. CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr L. 15. Green wrote asking if the council intended to take action as to providing access to Section 2, Block 15. Pohangina Survey District.—Left in the hands of Cr Montgomery, who is to make further enquiries regarding the request and report to the next meeting. The Palmerston North Office of the Labour Department advised that there had been several instances recently of local bodies using No. 5 scheme labour [ on works which coukl not be properly I classed as relief work and which should | undoubtedly have been performed at standard rates of pay by full-time employment at the expense of the local body concerned. In order to remove any misunderstanding in that direction, it had to be clearly understood by all employing authorities that in future relief labour was not to be used on any work for which prior approval bad not been obtained from that office.—The letter was received, the engineer (Mr D. Watson) commenting that it did not apply to the Pohangina County Council. The District Engineer of the Public Works Department wrote advising details of the main highway estimates for 1935-36 covering both the construe- | tion and revenue funds. The letter asked for early advice as to all new items. Included in the revenue section was a sum of £l5O (£3 for £1 subsidy) for the Pohangina County section of the Asbliurst-Pohangina main highway, and also £9OO (£3 for £1) for the Pohangina Valley-Apiti main highway.—The engineer said the amounts were less than had been applied for, and the chairman commented that it was unusual to reduce maintenance amounts. This year had been a bad one for wash-outs and slips on the lower sides of the roads. Cr McKay thought the department should be advised of the abnormal season, saying that the amounts granted would, in all probability, not be sufficient to meet the extra cost. Replying to a query, the engineer said lie did not think it would be worth while making a definite protest as all counties had received reduced allocations. The subject was not proceeded with. Disabled Soldiers’ Products (Dunedin) wrote asking for orders for the supply of dog collars.—The letter was received, it being agreed that the organisation should be given the, opportunity to tender at the requisite time. The Government Life Insurance Department advised the sale of its property at Piri Piri to Mr li. A. Clieyne. —Received.

Mrs Smout (Apitß asked that the road to her section should he metalled. —I/eft in the hands of the engineer and Cr McKay.

The Apiti Dairy Company requested permission to build a cream stand, to be used as a dump, at McKenzie’s corner on the Table Flat Hoad. —Left with the engineer, with power to act. The Commissioner of Transport advised that the period for the testing of brakes and lights had been extended to the end of September. The work had been seriously hampered by the unfavourable weather conditions over the whole of the Dominion. —Received. FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The clerk (Mr A. E. Orgias) reported that the credits at the Bank of New Zealand were: Cemetery account, £95 18s 7d; loan account, £579 14s Cd; plant account. £989 7s 4d. The county fund account was £S29 15s (id in credit, which, less accounts for payment, stood at £197 6s sd. Amounts to be received totalled £1727 18s (id, making a total credit of £1925 ss. The clerk also advised the transfer of sections 2 aud 3, block 2. sections 5 and parts of section 9. block C, and the closed road fronting section 9 to

S. T. Richmond (Marlborough) and A. C. Ward (Hawke’s Bay) from J. W. Higgin. Mr D. Watson, the engineer, was appointed the council’s representative on tire Safety First Committee to be set nil in Palmerston North. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The report of the engineer was | adopted, as follows:—Awaboti Riding: Pit gravel was prepared and will be put out on side roads when the weather is more favourable for carting. All inspection of all the bridges on No. 439 highway, between Raumai a nd the Apiti-Kimbolton Road, has been made and a detailed report prepared for submission to the Public Works Department. Slips frequently occurring on most roads in the riding are being attended to. Wash-out gaps in the roads were repaired; some only temporarily, as they are numerous. Coal Creek Riding: To prevent further erosion on the up-stream side of Parson’s Ford bridge, a short length of the riverbank lias been fascined with maerocarpa and willow. I expect to have some macrocarpa trees planted during the next week. Makoura Road and No. 53 highway were shaped up with the grader. A good deal of labour was engaged to clean up slips and repair wash-outs, particularly on No. 53 highway. Mangaone Riding: About 160 yards of fine gravel were put out on Nos. 78 and 439 highways. Both roads were trimmed up with the grader. Tile gravel pit adjacent to No. 438 highway, which was blocked up, is being cleared out and the metal, prepared j for carting. Mangapikopiko Riding: | The main highway roads were trimmed i up with the grader. All other main-1 tenance work has consisted of cleaning I up and letting water off the roads. | Pohangina Riding: A start has been! made in laying down concrete footpaths in the cemetery. Gravel was carted and spread on No. 78 highway and on a portion of the Valley Road above the township. Cemetery and Moa Roads were also metalled. Thirtysix yards for concrete work were dumped at the cemetery. The fence at the pound paddock, which was silted up, was removed and a new one erected in a more advantageous position. Willows have been planted to strengthen the riverbank at To Awa bridge. Tamaki Riding: A start has been made to build the third concrete bridge on No. 439 highway, but the continued wet weather has contributed to the difficulty in excavating for foundations, and retarding the progress of the work. Other work carried out during the month was that of repairing and opening out blocked roads. Umutoi Riding: A concrete pipe culvert was put in and part of Norsewood Road extension was also put in order. Repairs were effected to the fence at the roadman’s cottage. The subsidence in Makoura Road was repaired temporarily, as the roadmen were engaged most of their time cleaning up slips and letting off water. Mt.

Richards Road bridge requires attending to; the decking in particular, is advancing in decay. I would suggest that a move in the direction of having it rebuilt be made. MT. RICHARDS ROAD BRIDGE. Stevens’s bridge, on the Mount Richards Road was briefly discussed, the chairman saying that the Public Works department would not consent to sulrsidising the cost of a culvert to replace the present structure. It appeared that the only matter that would be considered, as the building of a concrete bridge was not practicable, was a rolled steel joist bridge, although he did not like such a structure. Cr. Mackenzie said the subject of the bridge had been “hanging fire” for about four years. He thought that the council should proceed with the proposal formerly advanced bv the engineer, that a culvert should be built. A culvert would be better than a rolled steel joist bridge and the actual cost to the county would be about the same as the .other project when the Government subsidy was considered. The engineer’s estimate was £2BO to £3OO. He moved that the engineer be instructed to proceed with the construction of the culvert.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Arbon and carried. It was agreed that the engineer should submit a report on a gradual subsidence of a section of the Makoura Road near Coal Creek. Several members of the council stressed the necessity for some action being taken.

Comment was made by several councillors regarding the number of stock on the roads and it was decided to request the highways inspector to pay increased attention to the Pohangina County roads.