POHANGINA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 149, 26 May 1939, Page 5

POHANGINA COUNTY

COUNCIL BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Poliangina County Council was held on Wednesday. Those present wore Crs. S. J. Stralian (chairman), G. M. Arbon, J. T. Montgomery, P. Jensen, W. McKay, T. E. Craino and W. Howell. Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt, consulting engineers to Hie council, forwarded a preliminary plan and estimate for sealing four and a-quar-ter miles of road from the top of Cowan’s Hill to the Norsewood Road i corner. Tho estimated .cost was £5679 (at £1340 a mile). On ac-Icount-of the application of Main Highways Board subsidies tho cost would lie £335 a mile. Cr. Howell thought that the lengths of road at tho lower end of the county should be sealed also. Cr. McKay suggested that for tiie two areas a loan of £3OUU or £3SU(J should be raised. Application should be made to the Local Government Loans Board now for permission to raise a loan, because it might be some time before the money could bo secured ! 'Hie engineer (Mr D. Watson) thought that permission would be forthcoming for only a section of the proposal, for the lop end of tiie county, and he suggested that application be made m rspect of tiie length between the Apni dairy' factory and Norsewood Road. It was decided to hold the subject over until the estimates are considered. CORRRISSPONDENCE. Tho Bang ol i\ew Zealand advised that the council’s overdrait limit JUurt been fixed at £2soo.— Received. IVlr i. J. Paul (i'oliangaia) advised that tfie road leading ro tfie sclioolfiouse was overgrown and tfie drainage useless. He asked that the matter be attended to. —The road is to be attended to witn a grader. Tfie r'ublie \\ oiks Department wrote asking lor applications lor subsidies to be lodgeu not later tnau June 5. AnoLlier letter from the department called for tiie estimates required lor road subsidies lrom tfie department. Roth letters were received. The district engineer of the PublicWorks Department asked that applications for the declaration of funner lengths of main highways be made ] urgently. It had to be understood that major extensions or connections would require to have very special merit before any recommendation could be made to the Main Highways Board.—Received. Tiie Transport Department advised that the Road Surety Council iiad adopted proposals lor immediate action in regard to motor-cyclists, 'llie proposals were for the imposition ol a 40-mile-an-hour speed restriction for pillion riding, the use of learners’ plates and learners’ licenses for three moutits, to the probationary period there would be no pillion riding allowed and a 40-niiie-an-hour speed restriction would be applied. Another lotLcr from tiie department advised that a supply of learners’ plates would be available shortly.—Received. The Transport Department requested that action bo taken to see that all push cycles were properly equipped with light reflectors, and white areas at the rear. —Received. The Wanganui Education Board wrote stating that, tiie council had given a promise that when the Baumai deviation was completed the old road would be closed and ceded to the Education Board to replace an area taken from the school grounds for the new road. The board asked that this promise be fulfilled. Any objections "by Mr AY. H. Lucas (a settler served by tiie old road) were matters for adjustment between tiie council and Air Lucas. —in view of the position of the council with the Education Board, it was decided that that section of the road on tho southern side of Air Lucas’s house be closed, the remainder to bo left open. Air J. H. AlacDonald (Raumai) made a claim of £4O for land taken from his farm for the Raumai deviation. —Consideration is to be given tho matter at tiie next meeting. Tho .Public Works Department advised that additional subsidies, as requested, would be payable in connection with the Raumai deviation.—Received. The Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarded its financial estimates for the current year. The levy to be met by the council was £1961 os lOd, as against £2049 18s Sd last year.—Received, Cr. Howell explaining that the reduction was caused by the absence, this year, of an overdraft of £9OOO which the board was faced with last year. The Public Works Department advised that cattle stops on public roads should bo constructed to conform with tho grade of the road. —Received and referred to the engineer. Tho Counties’ Association wrote asking for details of tho county insurance figures, as a special committee was investigating the subject with the object of formulating a comprehensive scheme to cover all county council insurance.—Received, the clerk (Air A. E. Orgias) to supply the details. The Wellington Provincial Council of the Centennial Organisation wrote asking for 50 per cent, of the council’s allocation (£4 Bis) to meet current expenses. The sum is to bo paid. Mr L. A. Guy (Apiti) forwarded a letter seeking permission to erect a fence on an old road line, near Norsewood Road.—Left in the hands of the engineer for approval. Mr A. G. Prince, Apiti, asked permission to erect a fence on a new lino on Ridge Road.—Granted, subject to the engineer’s approval. GENERAL. The clerk (A[r A. E. Orgias) made application for an increase in salary and at the closo of a general discussion it was decided to increase it by £SO and that of the engineer by £25 a year. Tiie chairman commented on flood protection work which had been carried out at Parson’s ford and warmly commended the result. He moved that £25 lie paid to Messrs Bartlett Bros., the persons responsible. The motion was seconded by Cr AlcKay and carried. Representations were made by Air R,. E. Cluircher (Apiti) that he bo allowed to use a clay road at Tabic Flat on which traffic was now prohibited. He said ho had purchased a grader and would repair any damage done by him in bringing out timber, for the supply of which he had a contract with the Public Works Department. It was pointed out that other persons used the road and had refused to co-operate with Mr Cluircher in repairing' damage to tho road or to act on tlieir own account. The engineer said logs had been hauled down the road with very bad effects. Therefore ho had prohibited traffic on the road. After a general discussion the council appointed the chairman and Crs Jensen and AfcKay to interview the

parties concerned, the sub-committee to keep in mind ;i suggestion by G’r Howell that a bond be obtained from eacli person using the road before he is allowed to use it. The sub-committee has power to act. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s report was adopted. It stated: —Awahou riding: No. 439 highway w.'is repaired with fine pit gravel and trimmed on several occasions with the grader. Widening was done at the top end of the deviation and it will be metalled as soon as possible in order to give better vehicular access to the church. A good length of drains and watertables have been cleaned out. Coal Creek riding: No. 63 highway was trimmed up with the heavy grader on several occasions and repaired with fine gravel. A number of old planks on the Apiti bridge were removed and replaced with new timber. A start w/v5 made to strip metal on Ridge Hoad in readiness for cartage. An inspection, with the chairman and Cr. McKay, was made of Parson’s Ford with a view to protection work being carried out. Mangaone riding: 208 yards of gravel to repair Pollock’s, Ridge .and Creamery Poads were carted and spread. No. 78 highway was repaired with gravel and frequently raked over with the grader. A reinforced concrete culvert 50ft long by sft 8 inches, square, with head walls, was built on this highway: the temporary bridge was removed and the filling to build up the road which requires further widening w.as taken from a projecting bank nearby. Alangapikopiko riding: The following roads were shaped up by the use of the heavy grader: No. 439 and 53 main highways, Table Flat, Nix and main roads; 440 yards of gravel were carted ia.nd spread on No. 53 highway; 286 yards on No. 439 highway; and 44G yards on riding roads. Gravel required to complete Black Creek Road was also carted. I expect to have Cawood s bridge nvde wider during the coming week. Pohangina riding: An old timber culvert on Cemetery Road was taken up and a start has been made to build a large reinforced concrete culvert to replace it. Some drain cleaning has been attended to about the township. No. 78 highway was repaired with gravel and frequently trimmed up with the grader. A fence has been erected on a dangerous part ol Coulter’s Road. A face of fine gravel has been located within a few chains of Te Awa Road and will lie suitable for metalling roads in this district, particularly Coulter’s Road near the river. Tamaki riding: The heavy grader at present is shaping up No. 439 highway and other roads in this riding. Some narrow places on this highway have been widened; watertables '.and usual maintenance work have been attended to. Umutoi riding: Metal was carted to repair Tunipo and Mill Ronds. The heavy grader has trimmed No. 439 highway and has also made a good job of shaping up I ettigrew’s, Tunipo. Umutoi North And Norsewood Roads. No. 439 highway, Tunipo, Umutoi North and Mill Roads are in very good condition. "With regard to complaints received in connection with the bad condition of the side road off Table Flat, I made an inspection and found it to be considerably damaged as a result of logs .and fivewood being hauled and sledged on it by tractors. I have served notices on those responsible for the damage to desist forthwith. General: The portable whnre provided for the men m connection with the power grader requires a lot of repairing, therefore I would suggest that the purchase of a more modern outfit be considered.