OROUA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 215, 9 August 1940, Page 4

OROUA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. GRANT FOR BRIDGE WORK. At the monthly meeting of the Oroua County Council, yesveroay, Cr A. Campliell presided. Other members present were Crs W. L. McLennan, T. Green, R. Stewart, W. S. Page and A. B. Shannon. The town clerk of Palmerston North (Mr J. R. Hardie) forwarded a reply from the Department of Internal Affairs to the effect that no time limit had been fixed for the acceptance of applications for persons willing to take children evacuated from the British Isles. A letter on the same subject was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, advising that the British authorities had decided to reconsider the decision to transfer British children to the Dominions.

Mr W. Anderson, of Feilding, applied for a refund of 7s as dog tax paid last year, on the ground that he had not received tablets for hydatids disease, for which he claimed he had paid.—Cr Shannon considered that there was justification for the claim, as the person concerned had paid for something he had not received. The chairman said the tablets were to have been supplied by the department, but the council had not received sufficient to meet its requirements. Cr Shannon contended that there was a moral obligation on the part of the council. The chairman said that the council had no authority to make a refund. Several councillors said they had been approached by ratepayers voicing similar complaints. It was resolved that the county clerk advise Mr Anderson of the circumstances which caused the non-despatch of the tablets. It was decided that steps be taken to protect the banks of the Taonui Road drain.

In connection with the patriotic rehabilitation work to be done in Zone E, Cr McLennan was appointed to represent the council with the chairman.

Referring to a letter from the Public "Works Department stating that an amount of £825 had been placed on the Public "Works Estimates for the Waituna Stream bridge, on a £ for £ subsidy basis, the chairman said that it would be recalled that the council had applied for a £2 for £1 subsidy, land it would now rest with the council whether it proceeded with the work. The bridge would cost £I7OO. and the settlers had consented to ntui £l5O. i The position appeared to be that the I work was urgent, and he felt that ' the council should make application for the amount. Cr Shannon thought several of the ratepayers might he prepared to make a larger contribution. Cr Green said the council bad not budgeted for the extra amount now involved. The chairman commented that the j ratepayers had proposed to hold a meeting, hut it had not been held, and he' felt that had the meeting taken place the bridge would have lieen built by now. Tic agreed that, it was desirable that the settlers he given better access to their properties. On flic motion of Cr Green, it was decided to write to the Public "Works Department for authority to proceed with the work, pointing out that it was essential. Tt was decided also thal the ratepayers be approached by Cr Green with a v : ow to securing further contributions. Cr Green ielt that, the council was treating the matter liberally, and said he would do his best to assist it. Tt was stated that there was tin chance of the subsidy being increased

THE FINANCES

8 The treasurer’s statement showed f that the rates outstanding tor the t previous three years were: Natives, v £837 12s 7d ; Europeans, £490 7s 4d; v total, £1333 19s lid. Collected: Euro--1 pean arrears, £315 3s 9d; outstanding. B £lOlB 10s 2d. Rates levied for the current year, £15.502 0s Gd; collected, j £1395 I/'s lOd. Riding accounts.: Expenditure on maintenance, eastern ridS i ing, £BBS 13s. 9d; presented for payment. £309 1 4s; western riding, £B9O 3s Oil; presented for payment, £248 os Id. Bank balance, general account, ’! dr £1251 12s lOd. i In the course of bis report flic ! county engineer (Air R. L. Harding) \ stated that the work of widening and , improving the road at the junction of AVaterslicd and Colyton-Ashhurst Roads ' has been put in hand and good pro- . gross has been made. The turn from 1 the AYatershed Road to the Colyton Road in particular has been much

. improved. The Colvton-Ashliurst Road ’ I from Colyton to the foot of Hansen’s, , Hill has been scarified, re shaped. rolled and re-surfaced with fine crushed : gravel, 458 yards having !>eon used ; for this work. Afangaone Road from Afakino Road to the foot of Redmayne’s Hill has been scarified, large stones removed, and then re-formed and re-surfaeed with fine gravel. This section of the road has also 1/een widened. The rond reserve at tlie deviation on Afakino Road has been I planted. The trees med range from ornamental shrubs and low-growing trees along the frontage near file power lines' to tall timber trees at the back. Referring to the treasurer’s report, j tlio chairman said that it was pleas-j ing that the rates we-o coming in better tlin.n last year. The position was very satisfactory.