WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 215, 9 August 1940, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

COUNTY AFFAIRS. At the monthly meeting. of tlie Woodville County Council, to-uay, there were present Crs. M. O. Grainger (chairman). W. Galloway, JMabev, O. H. Druce, E.:H. Morgan, H. Sheffield and E. D. Cattanach. Leave of absence was granted Cr G. Peebles. Arising out of the minutes, the chairman reported that he had m company with Crs Morgan and Peebles and the engineer (Mr W. J. Hawkes), inspected the bflidge. which had been the subject of i\ request by Mr Sinclair. The bridge was on Mr Sinclair s property and the council could not., therefore, consider making a gi'aut to assist in its reconstruction. The tallowing details of the roads vote as it affects the Woodville County for the current year were notified by the . district engineer of the Public Works Department : —r (Fail-brother’s access, Oroua to Kiritaki Stream bridge, £400; Oringi road deviation, ..£200; Pahaheka road,. £IBO. All estimates arc on a £ for £ subsidy basis. The roads estimates,, it was stated, had been heavily loaded and care must be

exercised to ensure that the vote uas not over-expended. The amounts might not be authorised unless the work was- of particular urgency or national importance. The Minister ot Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) wrote in connection with the British authorities’ decision to suspend the scheme Tor transferring British chil-dren-to the Dominions. While it ivas the desire of the Government that pieparations should proceed so that everything would lie in readiness when the children eventually arrived, it was proposed to effect some modification _in the arrangements: being made in New Zealand. Local authorities should continue receiving applications, but, instead of forwarding these to tho department, should retain them pending further directions. —The clerk (Mr J. M. Graham) reported that the council had received applications from nine residents to take 11 children. The chairman reported that lie had given permission to Mr B. S. M ade to run a water-pipe across Range Road, subject to the engineer’s approval. The chairman’s action was confirmed. The ranger (Mr T. S. R. Sell aw) reported having impounded three heifers and two cows during the past month.

Traffic Inspector W. E. Yates (Dannevirke), reporting on the control of traffic in the Woodville county during June, stated that about 15 warnings had been issued and two heavy motorvehicles weighed. Close attention had been paid to speeds of vehicles and loads carried bv heavy motor-vehicles. He had found the county roads very free from wandering stock. A similar report covering July stated that -0 warnings had been issued and one heavy vehicle weighed. The chairman pointed out that several councillors had carried out an inspection of the old England’s Hill Road and bad agreed with the engineer that replacement of the bridge was not warranted in view of the new deviation in the vicinity. However, it was intended to construct a safe ford to enable the road to be used as a stock route. The chairman moved, according to notice, the statutory resolution (already advertised in these columns) striking the rates for the ensuing financial year. The clerk reported that the chief traffic inspector (Mr Crawford), accompanied by Mr Yates (traffic inspector) had called at the office to discuss traffic matters. The Transport Department, under Mr Yates, was prepared to take control of traffic within the county if the council desired, without charge to the council—The council adopted the suggestion regarding control of traffic and also agreed that, the , engineer (Mr Hawkcs) and the mechanic , (Mr A. 11. Spademan) should bo appoint- j ed testing officers. (

I . BOROUGH COUNCIL. | The monthly meeting of the Woodville ' Borough Council was held last night. The ' Mayor (Mr It. R. Johnston) presided and there were also present Crs A. Olsson, E. ■ J. Harding, A. H. Hustwick and C'. Forbes. Leave of absence was granted Crs \V. Galbraith, J. T. Horne and J. Sullivan. The Public Works Department, in re- • ply to the council’s letter in connection to the payment to the council on account of the taking of a portion of the come- 1 tery reserve for the Mongamanaia deviation, stated that an area of old read adjoining the reserve was no longer required for road purposes and could be added to the reserve in exchange for the land taken. The department was prepared to do this and wished to be advised if the council desired the exchange to proceed.—The Mayor said he had discussed the matter with a representative of the department a few days ago and had told him he thought the offer would be acceptable to the council. The Mayor moved that the council accept the offer. “It is apparently all wo will get by way of compensation.” said Cr Olsson, in seconding the_ resolution, which was carried. The Valuation Depart-

men!, stated, in reply to the council's inquiry, that no revision of the Woodville borough was contemplated, as owing to the present unsettled conditions the department’s programme had been reduced to a minimum. The audit inspector, it was stated, had reported that the Woodville roll was in a very bad condition. The department offered to rearrange and retype the roll for a fee of £lO 10s. —'The Mayor said that rearrangement of the valuation roll had been provided for in the estimates. It was decided, on the motion _ of Messrs I-lustwicU and Forbes, that this work be put in band as soon as possible. The secretary of the Woodville Salvation Army Band (Mr J. Allottj wrote thanking the council for its donation of £2 2s to the band's funds. A further letter expressed the band’s appreciation of the council’s offer of the use of the old municipal band instruments. The foreman (Mr C. Hardy) reported on general work done. Both reservoirs were full. A culvert in Pollen Street had been rcdecked and 14 chains of footpath formed in Ross Street. Highways had been repaired where necessary. Ihe gas manager (Mr H. I’ctterson) reported that 198.500 cubic feet of gas had been used by consumers during the month. Expenditure totalled £124, as against earnings of £l5O. The ranger (Mr T. S. R. Schaw) reported that he had impounded a horse. In his report the town clerk (Mr D. S. L. Keay) stated that receipts totalled £944 19s lOd, the main items being: Credit balance July meeting, £67 18s 3d; rates, £372 17s 2d; ' sundries. £204 lbs 7d: gasworks, £125 16s 9d; water supply, £lO3 10s; rates arrears, licenses, £2O 7s. Various payments account--1 ed for £527 9s 4d, the credit balance for the August meeting being £417 lCte 6d._ — The Mayor commented that the financial position was considerably better than it had been at the corresponding period of last year. In the absence of the chairman of the reserves committee (Cr Sullivan), the Mayor -reported that an inspection had been made of the site at the old rubbish tip where it had been proposed to carry out a scheme of tree planting, and the '• committee recommended the planting of 150 macrocarpafi. Arrangements were in 1 hand for further trees to be planted in ! Fountaine Square. The report was adopted. Replying lo Cr Harding, the _ Mayor said a riefinito reply front the Woodville i Young Fanners’ Club in connection with its 'centennial tree planting proposals was I expected on Saturday. In reply lo a quos- | lion by Cr Ilustwiek, the Mayor said that the street and footpath improvements loan I provided for the far-scaling of the new | footpaths; in con too of construction and ( proposed to be laid down.