KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 62, 11 February 1936, Page 8

KAIRANGA COUNTY

COUNCIL BUSINESS. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Kainaiiga County Council was held to-day, when Or D. Collis presided. Others present were Crs M. AV. Voss, A AV. Hamlin, J. Smith, J. E. Russell 1D Lynch, AV. It. Hopcroft and Jos. Batclielar. An apology for absence was received from Cr AV. G. Shannon. Prior to the entry upon the business, reference was made by the chairman to the death of King George, Cr Collis stating that his passing had been not only a national loss, but a personal one. A motion of condolence to the new King, Queen Mary and the members of the Loyal Family was passed fn silence, the members standUlg ‘ CORRESPONDENCE The Palmerston North River Board, writing in reference to the royalty on metal removed from the river foreshore, stated that it was unable to vary the charge.—Cr Batchlar furnisJied an explanation of the position and the letter was received without further comment. Mr H. Hands, Palmerston North, wrote directing attention to the unsatisfactory state of the surface of Hoihae Road and suggesting that the crown be widened before the road is metalled. —The engineer was instructed to place some metal at the point. The Minister of Finance (Hon. AV. Nash) writing in reply to the council’s suggestion that returned soldier settlers in the Kairanga and Cloverlea areas should be entitled to the 12) per cent rebate on rates, stated that a continuance of the subsidy had not been considered by the Government. It was not feasible to pass retrospective legislation to gvant the last year’s 124 per cent rebate of rates to ratepayers who were not engaged exclusively or principally in fanning. “The reply appears to be quite definite,’’ commented the chairman, and the letter was received. The Palmerston North Hospital Board wrote in reply to the council’s enquiry as to the reason for the increase in the council’s levy, explaining that in order to ensure_ that the Government subsidy for hospital maintenance purposes paid to all hospital boards throughout the Dominion was equivalent to the maintenance levies made by all boards, an adjustment was necessnry each year in respect of the previous year’s subsidy, this being necessitated by the fact that when the levy was assessed for each board the total figures for the current year were not available, so the figures for the previous year were used as a basis in the meantime. The amount of this adjustment affecting the board was notified by the Department of Health on March 28 last, after which the levy was made on the local authorities in the board’s district. However, when this board received the approval of its estimates for the current year the amount of the levy and subsidy was adjusted in consequence of some boards refusing to apply general reductions in salaries and wages. The net result, so far as tile Palmerston North Board was concerned, was an increase in the levy on the local authorities, and this was apportioned over the wdiole district in the same way as the general levy.—The clerk mentioned that the increase in the county’s. levy was £55 6s 4d. The chairman added that there was a suggestion to introduce a national insurance scheme which, if operated. would alter local bodies’ levies. Cr Batclielar said the Counties’ Association was in favour of it. Tile letter was received. Miss S. Rodgers, Rangitikei Line, wrote directing attention to the 'amount of blackberry coining from the Mangaone stream. —Leit in the hands of the engineer, to attend to. Mr J. A. Nash, formerly member for Palmerston, wrote expressing appreciiytion of the council’s tribute to lus services during his 17 years as a member of Parliament. —Received. The Counties’ Association, writing in respect to the by-laws prohibiting through droving of stock by way of certain main highways ; pointed out that under the Municipal Corporations Act, municipalities were vested with much wider powers in the matter of regulating or prohibiting stock traffic than was the case with county councils, and the Main Highways Board was of the opinion that the Public AA’orks Act should be so amended as to give road controlling authorities power to prohibit absolutely the passage of stock along certain roads in cases where the circumstances are considered to justify this course, and where other suitable routes were available. —The circular was placed on the table for the perusal of tile members. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The following financial statement was tabled: County fund, No. 1 account, dr., £6464 Ids lid; less lodgments, £3075 11s lOd; balance, dr. £3389 Bs Id; loan account (Fitzherbert bridge), dr. £46 13s 7d, sundry accounts, £134 13s sd. Riding accounts. —Taonui: As per estimates, £3591; expended to date, £ISBB 10s; balance available, £2002 10s. Managone: As per estimates, £3260, expended, £1702 18s 7d; balance, £1507 Is sd. Fitzherbert: As per estimates, £2801; expended, £IO9O 16s Od; balance, £lllO 3s Cd. RATES STATEMENT. Taonui riding.—l 934-35 rates unpaid, £SO 2s 7d,. arrears prior to 193435 unpaid, £72 14s sd. Mangaone: 1934-35 rates unpaid, £45 14s 3d, arrears prior to 1934-35, £l6B 5s Bd. Fitzherbert : 1934-35 rates unpaid, £174 14s Id; arrears prior to 1934-35, £142 2s lid. Total outstanding, £653 13s lid. Year 1935-36 rates struck: Taonui, £6816 18s; paid, £2047 19s 4d; outstanding, £4768 18s Bd. Mangaone, £3602 16s 3d ; paid, £1266 10s ; outstanding, £2337 6s 3d. Fitzherbert: £3977 7s 8d; paid, £1225 14s 2d; outstanding, £2751 13s Od. Total unpaid, £9857 18s od. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr L. C. Pickering) presented the following report on the activities for the month:— “On February 1 the district was visited by the worst hurricane in living memory, with the resultant destruction of dwellings, sheds, plantations, power and telegraph lines. All six county trucks and teams have since the storm started been employed in clearing a track through most roads in an endeavour to assist through traffic. Owing to the number of fallen trees on some roads it was some days before a track could be cleared, and then this was only sufficient for a single vehicle. AVlien all roads have been opened we will return and clear roads to the full metal width. The following roads have received attention:—Napier Road, Foxtoii Line, No. 60 highway, James’s Line, Parr’s Road; Newbury Line, No. 4 Line, Te Matai Road, No. 1 Line, Kairanga-Bunny-thorpe Road, Old AVest Road, Kahutawera A 7 alley, Hewitt’s Road, Te Puna Road and Clifton Terrace. Severe damage to county property was sustained in the demolition of the following;—Large motor grader shed on No. 4 Line; large truck shed, Linton; truck shed, Awapuni; motor grader cover, Aokautere; No. 4 Line tool

shed; Pahiatua Track tool shed; Linton cottage washhouse; water supply tank, Kairanga. In till nearly, a dozen windows of county cottages have been blown in. , “Ridings.—A 7 ery little other than ordinary maintenance has been carried out in all ridings. A commencement of the tarring operations on the Knirangn-Bunnythorpe Road was made, but completion has been delayed by wet weather and the clearing of hurricane damage necessitating the services of all plant and men. Two metal contracts and one bridge contract, let in November, have been completed. Noxious weeds have been grubbed as opportunity has permitted.” . The report was adopted, the chairman and Cr Batclielar referring eulogistically to the manner in which the engineer and liis staff had worked to repair the storm damage and make the roads open to traffic. Mr Pickering remarked that all the credit was due to the men, who had worked from daylight till dark. The ranger (Mr I. Baldwin) • reported having impounded 38 head of stock during the month.—Adopted.