OROUA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 140, 15 May 1936, Page 4

OROUA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Oroua County Council was held yesterday, Cr O. McElroy presiding. Also present were Crs. W. Greenhow, B. McLeod, T. Green and W. McLennan. The engineer’s report for the month of April was as follows: —Eastern riding : The gravel surfaces are showing considerable improvement as a result of the work of the new grader; the great capacity for work which this machine possesses enables it to complete all roads in a much shorter time than was previously possible, and the result is becoming very apparent in improved running surfaces. Aorangi Itoad and Siberia Road have been repaired with gravel and drains and watertables have been attended to on a number of roads. Owing to unsettled weather conditions the work of applying the seal coat to the three miles of Pohangina Road has been stopped and I now propose to hold this work over until next summer. I am at present crushing the necessary chips with our plant; this operation is proving quite satisfactory and good quality chips are being obtained. The decking of the bridge over Stoney Creek on Buunythorpe-Ashhurst Road has been renewed and the approaches to the Mangaone bridge at Bunnythorpe have been sealed. The work of renovating the footpaths at Bunnythorpe is in progress and the kerbing is being renewed in concrete where necessary. On the road from Menzie’s bridge to Colyton all visible stumps have been removed and the running surface much improved. The work of repairing sealed surfaces has been attended to. Western riding : The trucks have been at work supplying maintenance gravel from Short’s pit. but this work has now been stopped. Gra.vel was supplied as follow: —Stanwav-Halcombe Road, 92 cub. yds.; Waituna Valley, 124; Makino, 132; Wilson’s Line, 308; Feilding-Huntervillc main highway, 216; to ratepayers, 124. The contract for supplying pit gravel on HalcombsKgkariki Road is in progress, 501yds. having been delivered to date, and our trucks are at work sripplying screened creek gravel to provide the loose running surface on this section of road. The contract for building Arapata bridge is in progress. Satisfactory foundations in papa have been obtained and the greater portion of one abutment lia.s been comx>leted. The new grader has taken over the maintenance of Makino and I elidingHunterville Roads and the surfaces have been much improved. An old wooden culvert on Junction Road West collapsed and has been replaced with concrete pipes. Work under No o scheme has proceeded as usual at iialcombe where the cleaning out of the creek running through the township has been in hand. TREASURER'S REPORT.

The treasurer reported : —Total rates outstanding previous three years: Natives, to 31/3/36, £454 Os 2d; Crown £123; European, £417 10s 6d; total, £994 10s 8d; collected European arrears £l2l Is 4u; outstanding May 14, 1936, £873 9s 4d. Riding accounts— Expenditure on maintenance (Western Riding), £l5O 16s 3d; presented for payment (Western riding), £l4l 8s 6d ; expenditure on maintenance (Eastern riding), £B7 5s 3d; presented for payment (Eastern riding) £9O 11s 6d. Bank balance: General account, cr, £4440 3s Id. CORRESPONDENCE.

From the Palmerston North District Free Ambulance forwarding a review of activities of the service and asking for support—Cr Green and the chairman were of the opinion that the Tree Ambulance should not be supported. The Hospital Board sent a nurse with their ambulance and the Free Ambulance did not. The chairman moved that the council receive the leter and a reply to this effect be sent to the Free Ambulance.

From the town clerk (Feilding) giving details of the adjustments of the amount payable by the county on account of interest on loans. —The amount payable was £398 11s, as against £441 previously, said the engineer. From the district engineer, Railway Department, advising that the survey of Sherrard’s Road was now in hand. —Received.

From the Commissioner of Transport asking the council to instruct the traffic inspector to give personal attention to various matters in connection with motor vehicle regulations.—Jteceived. From the Returned Soldiers’ Association drawing attention to the Anzac stamps and soliciting the council’s support.—The chairman said that this matter was worthy of support and it was moved by Cr McLennan that £5 worth of stamps he purchased. Carried. Cr Bruce McLeod, as president of the Feilding branch, said that the local branch did not intend to canvass house to house to further the sale of the stamps. From Mr E. Parsons, Stanway, thanking the council for improving the approach to Stanway Church.—Received. . From Mrs F. E. Desmond, asking that the drain fronting her property on Kimholton Road be cleaned out.— The engineer was instructed to attend to the matter. From Mr W. N. Brewer forwarding a tender for a supply of dog collars.— Accepted. RATE ROLL.

Alterations to tin rate roll were approved as follow: —Joseph Alfred Green to William Charles Small, L. G. Vile to t lie Wellington Diocesan Board, the Wellington Diocesan Board to Anthony Hall, Jessie Gertrude Hogg to August Kregher W. H. Dixon to Christina Jensen, August Herman Johnski to Emil Ferdinand Carl Johnski.