KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1936, Page 7

KAIRANGA COUNTY

■ MEETING OF COUNCIL. REPORT ON ROADS. The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held yesterday, those present being Crs. D. Collis (chairman), Jos. Batchelar, W. R. Hopcroft, T. D. Lynch, W. G. Shannon, J. Smith, A. W. Hamlin, F. J. Russell and M. W. Voss. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Opiki branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr G. J. Wilde) advised the council that it was proposed to approach the Minister of Public Works asking that the drawing of plans for the construction of a bridge at Rangitane. over the Manawatu River, be put in hand and requesting the selection of a site. The support of the council was sought. The chairman said that he had been approached and had pointed out that the council’s first concern was the No. 60 highway. In view of the fact that there were a number of bridges in the county which would require attention shortly, and also that the provision of a. bridge as suggested might prejudice the council’s case for the sealing of'the No. 60 highway, it was decided, on the motion.-of Cr. Smith, to take iit> action.

The Safety First Committee (Palmerston North) wrote drawing attention to the fact that a number of cyclists were riding at night without lights.—lt was decided to write to the Palmerston North 6 iff Council drawing- attention to the fact that a number of cvelcs were being ' ridden at night without lights and with 'the back mudguard not painted white. It was also decided that steps be taken to haye a by-law framed compelling cyclists in the county to have the rear mudguards of their cycles painted white. . , ' Another letter was received from the ■Safety First Committee stating that, in some instances, applicants for the renewal of drivers’ licensers had not been in a fit state of health to -be the drivers of motor vehicles, and it was recommended that due regard be paid to that when the licenses were being renewed. A letter was received from Mrs. D. McGregor, conveying thanks for the expressions of sympathy in the loss she and her children had sustained in the death of Squadron-Leader McGregor. -

Mrs I. M. Bridges wrote asking that a part of the road leading to her property on Ridge Road,'* at the iop of the Paliiatua Hill Read, be metalled before the winter. Rales had been paid on the land for the past 21 years. —The matter was left in the hands of Cr. Hopcroft and the engineer to report to the nmt meeting, after inspecting the site. The New Zealand Counties’ Association wrote stating that Section 165 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act provided that an Arbitration Court award would, not apply or effect any county council or road board unless a council or board, or any union on behalf of the employees, made an application to the Court for an award. In an amending Bill now before Parliament provision was made for the repeal of that section. If the council opposed such action it was requtsted that their views should be forwarded so that they c-udd be placed before the Labour Bins f? lu " ’hiittee ■ in Parliament on April lb.—It -was decided to oppose the proposal on the ground that the council had always -paid its employees the 1 üblic Works Department rates. The engineer was- instructed to draw ..up a suitable letter; . . , The Magistrate s Court advised that fines payable to the council fqr the quarter ended March 31 amounted to £33 10s, which sum woiild be forwarded, less the 10 per cent - a<l ‘ ministrative charge. Received. The Manawatu County Council advised that the Kairanga County Council’s share of the cost of the

group traffic inspection scheme for the year 1935-36 amounted to £46 7s 6d. —Received. The ranger (Mr I. Baldwin) reported that 55 head of stock had been impounded during the month. ♦BOUNDARY ROAD SEALING. The Palmerston North town clerk (Mr J. R. Hardie) advised that the ratepayers of Boundary Road East, between Ruahine Street and Vogel Street, had requested the City Council to undertake the tar-sealing of the roadway on account of the large volume of dust which arose daily, and Earticularlv when air pageants were eing held at Milson aerodrome. The City Council wished to know if the County Council was prepared to contribute half the votal cost of the work in the event of the City Council agreeing to defray its portion.—Cr. Smith said the state of the road now gave little credit to anybody, but before any decision was arrived at an estimate of the cost of the work should be obtained. He moved that an estimate be obtained, and the motion was carried. The engineer commented that about 00 chains of the road were affected. COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS. The chairman reported on investigations made into a request by the, Paliqerston North City Council for permission to lay gas mains through the county to the Old People’s Home at Awapuni. It was desired, he said, to serve only the Old People’s Home. — ;The council granted permission for the mains to be laid as requested. Crs. Lynch, Smith and Hamlin reported on the meeting held in Palmerston North at which the declaration of the Makerua Plains Road as a main highway had been discussed. Cr. Lynch said that the meeting had been in accord with the views of the council, that the No. 60 highway should be sealed first. The chairman and other members of .the council expressed satisfaction with the decisions arrived at. Reporting on a previous request by Mr G. G. Hancox, of Palmerston North, to lease a portion of a reserve on the Paliiatua Hill Road, Cr. Hopcroft said that the previous lessee had agreed to the proposal and Mr Hancox was to enter into possession. The council held a special meeting at • noon and passed the necessary measures to confirm a special order striking a consolidated special rate over the whole county in, respect of non-convertible loans. LAND TRANSFERS. The following transfers of land wen advised : —Taonui riding : From R de J. Vautier to E. Scliwamm, 2 acres; A. W. Bearsley to G. Scliwamm 29.7 perches. Mangaone riding: Estate E. Thompson to L. and N. Gore, 2 acres; J. A. Cleland to'J. Scheidt, 1 rood, 32 perches; E. E. L. Deverv to G. G. Cooper, 25 acres 11.5 perches; A. Newton to N. Newton, 2 roods, 26.7 perches. Fitzherbert riding: J. S. and F. E. Beale to F. J. Batchelar, 148 acres. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The report of the engineer (Mr L. C. Pickering) was adopted as follows: -—“Taonui .riding: The contract for the sealing of two miles of the Kai-ranga-Bunnythorpe Hoad, although greatly delayed by unseasonable weather, has been completed. The truck has been carting ineta.l direct from the river beach at Karere to various roads in the riding. Watertables on Foxton Line, Loiigburn-Rongotea Road and Maxwell’s Line have been cleaned. The motor grader has been cutting off corrugations and -ralung.in loose meta.l from the sides. Mangaone riding: Men have been stripping the James’s Line pit, the material being used for the improvement of the approach to Stoney Creek Road at the {unction of Napier Road, and for the building up of the sides of Napiei Road. Blackberries have been cut on Milson’s Line and Kairanga-Bumiy-thorpe Road; also silver popUrs on llangitikei Line and willows on JNap-

ier Road. Several bridge approaches and handrails have been repaired, the damage having been caused by speeding motorists. Benton’s bridge, Milson’s Line, hud the upstream handrail replaced; Awahuri bridge had "repairs carried out; and the approach fence to Mangaone Stream bridge had to be renewed. The team has been carting out metal to dumps and grading as opportunity has permitted. The truck has been employed in metalling and patching by-roads preparatory to wet iveather. Fitzherbert riding: Men have been taken to Hill Top Road ■vliere several corners have been taken off to improve the visibility. The material removed (90 cubic yards) has been.spread on the road. Eighteeninch culvert pipes have been carted up and will be put in this week. Craw’s Road formation lias now been completed and metalling is proceeding as opportunity permits. The drain on Mr .L. E. Anderson’s proper tv, through the swamp, has been cut and a written undertaking from him to maintain it has been received. A fence on Church Hill, Linton, has been constructed, having been put on the road formation as a protection to the travelling pub-lip. Owing to the low state of the Ivahuterawa Stream the opportunity has been taken to construct three groynes. One 24-foot groyne' has been constructed to protect the Fitzherbert water supply scheme’s intake chamber, the other two to protect Hewitt’s Road from erosion. Trucks have been carting out metal from Orr’s beach to a dump on Fitzherbert East Road, 300 cubic yards having been put in the heap, while 50 cubic yards have been put direct on Forest Hill Road. The motor grader has been maintaining the rn-d surfaces, being required most of the time on No. 60 main highway.” .