MANAWATU COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 63, 12 February 1936, Page 14

MANAWATU COUNTY

-MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. REPORT ON WORKS. The Manawatu County Council met at Snndon yesterday, Cr. W. E. Barber presiding. Also present were Crs. R. A. Wilson, J. IT. Perrett, W. E. Pearce, D. W. Reid, J. Boyce and A. N. Morcom.

At the commencement of the meeting the following motion was passed “That the Manawatu County Council, on behalf of the ratepayers and residents of the county, places on record the universal and profound sorrow of all on , hearing of the death of His Majesty King George V, and expresses the deepest sympathy with Queen Mary and the Royal Family in their grief; further, that the council declares its devoted lovaltv to His Majesty King Edward VIII.”

A motion expressing the council’s sympathy in his illness was carried in respect of Mr C. J. McKenzie, chairman of the Main Highways Board, and the hope expressed that he would soon be restored to health. CORRESPONDENCE.

From the Public Works Department, advising local bodies that when submitting proposals for work on main highways for approval it was necessary to supply an estimate of the cost in full detail. —Received, the engineer reporting that the instructions had always been carried out in the Manawatu county.

From the Unemployment Board, setting out the particulars of insurance, etc., in respect of relief workers employed in the eradication of noxious weeds. —Received.

From the Department of Labour, stating that it had been decided that No. 5 scheme labour men may be allocated for the restoration of storm damage work, the basis of allocation, etc., being set out. —The council agreed that the move of the board was a good one, but regretted that the announcement had not been made earlier or broadcast so that farmers and others could have availed themselves of the unemployed labour. From the Department of Lands and Survey, advising that sections 51 and 54 in the Ohakea settlement, containing one acre each, had been set aside as metal reserves under the control of the department, but that they were available to the local authority lor obtaining metal. Grazing rights over the sections had been let to Messrs A. J. Simpson and S. W. Ingram resnectively.—Decided to reply advising that the metal on section 51 was worked out and that the council would investigate section 54 and communicate with the department later. From the Sluggish River Drainage Board, agreeing 4o meet the council’s representatives on the Main Drain Road at a date to be arranged with a view to going into details in connection with the stop-bank it ovas proposed to erect. —Decided to meet the board’s representatives on the site on Saturday. February 15, at 10 a.m.

From the Foxton Harbour Board, giving particulars of the differential rate struck bv the board and requesting that the council take stens to collect its share.—Agreed to, the council’s allocation being £202. From the Wanganui Education Board, requesting the council to carry out repairs to the road reserve in front of the Oroua Downs School. — Referred to the engineer. From the Tangimoaana Improvement Society, asking permission to remove the present dressing sheds in the township and re-erect them in a more suitable site on the Domain. —Left in the hands of lbs engineer.

From the Oroua Downs School Committee, thanking the council for the donation of a truck of metal for concrete work at the school.—Received.

From Mr M. Funnell, Oroua Downs, asking whether it would be possible to get a subsidy to carry out the formation of the Downs Rond towards liis property on Kellow’s Line.—Referred to tile engineer for a report on the cost.

From Mrs A. E. Aston, Manawatu Hoads, asking permission to drain water across the county road leading to the beach at the Heads.—" Referred to Cr Wilson and the engineer. RATE ROLL. The following alterations to the rate roll were authorised:—H. J. Ransom to Iris V. Patton, section 6, Tangimoana extension; F. H. Richards/ to Lancelot Thompson, section 384, township of Carnarvon; J. Glover and S. A. Broadbelt to Ronald D. Wickham, section 115, town of Campbell; Shannon Dairy Coy. Ltd. to Maria N. O’Donoghue, pt. lot 41, section 32, Moutoa block; Good Templars’ Hall to Presbyterian Church Trustees, Rongotea, section 96, township of Campbell ; S. N. Managh to Phillip G. Redmaync, secs. 110 and 111, township of Sandon ; V. Li O’Connor to Janies F. MacManus, sec. 268. block T. Moutere S.D. ; Pin Piu TJru to Eva Iv. Riches, pt. sec. 268, block 1, Moutere ; D. H. and J. T. M. Funnel! to J. T. Funnell, pt. sec. 317. township of Carnarvon; Est. M. J. Bennett to A. R., D. E., M. A.. D. M„ and I. M. Mikkelson, M. E. Iverridge and Katbleen Barnes, lot 89, sec. 268, block 1, Moutere COUNTY FINANCES. .

The treasurer (Mr A. Iv. Drew) reported on the county finances as under: County fund account, debit. £11.934 14s 4d ; outstanding cheques, £1852 Os lOd ; gross -debit balance, £13,786 15s 2d. Rate receipts since previous meeting, £1261 Os 9d, being current rates £IOB6 18s Id, arrears £165 12s sd, and penalty £8 10s 3d. Total rates collected, £7148 18s 7d; outstanding, £11.210 Is Id. Total amounts due to council, subsidies, rates, etc., £15,873 14s sd.—Adopted. TRAMWAY REPORT.

The tramway manager (Mr Drew) reported on the tram traffic for the month, as follows:—Eggs, 28 crates; metal, 1245 cubic yards; minerals, 82 tons; wool, 149 bales; merchandise, 17,) tons; and sheep, 1 truck. The accounts show a credit balance of £B6 12s 4d.— Adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

hlr H. V. Bond, county engineer, reP° ( r ( te<l as follows on the month’s work : Main Highways. Construction : Jho contract for the reconstruction and sealing of 5 miles of the Hima-tangi-Sandon section op No. 1 main highway has progressed 'quite satisfactorily and the whole 55,900 sq. yds. of the surface has been treated with the prime coat. Of this road 43,000 sq. yds. were pruned before the Christmas holidays, the remaining portions not being ready for priming. The road was closed to through traffic. A length of 25 chains has been covered with the mix-in-place course and a further 28 chains are now in readiness for mixing. Almost the whole of the metal for this course has been delivered from the Uangitikei River crushing plant and placed in a dump along the train line. The 40 chains of reconstructed road through the llongotea township were finally shaped up and maintained throughout the Christmas period. The prime coat was applied on January 24 and the final seal coat has since been completed. Maintenance: During the time that a portion of the HimatangiSandon lload was closed to traffic, extraordinary traffic was experienced on Campion’s Line and Ohakea Road, and very heavy maintenance wals carried out. Heavy traffic was experienced

throughout the holiday period and extra maintenance work was undertaken on main highways, and more especially on the beach roads. The bituminous surfaces of the Bulls-Sandon and Sandon-Awaliuri main highways have been patched. Traffic signs have been painted on the Himatangi-Rangiotu highway. The curves on the Tangimoana highway have been blinded with clay filler, a.nd surface .metal has been spread where necessary. Surface metal has been spread on Foxton Beach road. The deck of the Whirokino bridge has been repaired and the Whirokino Road patched. Owing to the flooded state of the Manawatu River during the past week this road has been closed to traffic, there being 5 feet of water over the surface at one period. On Monday, the 3rd instant, the Manawatu River at Poplar Road overflowed the Banks, and the flood water was 18in deep on the Foxton-Shannon road for a short period. Surface metal was spread on Rongotea.-Rangiotu main highway and all grass, weeds, etc., have been cut at bridge approaches. Repairs have been carried out to the Oroua River bridge at Kopane. The metal surfaced portion of the Himatangi-Sandon Road has been patched and maintained as well as possible.. Deviation signs were erected on Campion’s and Ohakea Roads and maintenance metal and clay filler were spread. One filling on Campion’s Line was widened and banked. Drains have been cleaned on Mt. Stewart-Awalmri highway and Stewart’s Line. Flood waters damaged the surface of the Feilding-Awahuri highway and repairs have since been car-1 ried out bv the application of metal and clay filler. Weeds, etc., have been cut away from bridge approaches. The bridge on Stewart’s Line has l>een repaired. All metal surfaced highways have been maintained with power graders. “County roads and bridges.—Su-faee metal lias been spread on Rakeliou, Halcombe-Mt. Stewart and Cemetery Roads. Repairs have been effected to one bridge on Fagan’s Line. Heavy maintenance work lias been carried out on Ohakea Road and surface metal lias been spread on Gust’s. Speedy’s and Taylor’s Lines Since the recent hurricane trees and slips have been cleared from Lee’s Line. Fairfield Road lias been cut out with the grader and Taipo Road lias b"en patched. A sand cutting on Pyke’s Line lias been_ widened and the bank fnscined. Kellow’s Line lias been cut out with the grader, and sand blows have been attended to on Downs Road. Surface metal has been spread on Pyke’s. Ivellow's. Downs and Taikoren Roads. The abutment of a small bridge on Pyke’s Road is to be rebuilt- within the next few days. Sand blows have been shifted and repairs effected on Ocean Bea.cb Road. Ivoputaroa Road has been patched. Temporary renairs have been carried out to a b’idge on Kero Tvere Rond, but two new stringers and decking will be put in place as soon a.s opnortunity occurs. Surface metal lias been spread on Moutiti. Ponlar a.nd Spring’s Roads. A small flood-gate on Bowe’s Road has been washed out and repairs will he effected as soon as flood waters recede. “Tramway.-—The metal trucks have l>een repaired and the usual track vnaintonn.noe has l>een carried out. One 30in concrete pipe culvert has been laid .under the track at Telford’s. The Rangitikei River 'crushing plant has been working satisfactorily. and for the months of December and January 1568 c. yds. and 1616 c. yds., respectively, of crushed river metal have been produced ; this is being used for mix-in-place and sealing work. No major damage was done during the recent flood, although the flood level was higher than it has been for several years.” j The report was adopted. 1