KAIRANGA COUNTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 267, 9 October 1940, Page 8

KAIRANGA COUNTY.

SUPPORT FOR HOME GUARD

The Ivairanga County Council met yesterday, tuose present being Crs W H. Hopcroft (chairman), D. Collis, M W. Voss N. P. Nielsen, F. J. Russell P. V. Koehler, W. G. Shannon, T. i). Lynch and J. Batchelar. The district engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the question of a subsidy towards the cost of Craw main drain road had been given full consideration. Even if this road were legalised by the council, it would not be possible for the department to provide any subsidy towards the cost of construction or metalling as it was an internal access road. The chairman, Cr. Lynch and the engineer (Mr L. C. Pickering) were appointed a sub-com-mittee to wait on the Primary Production Council to seek support in obtaining a subsidy for the road, it being contended that it was not an internal access road; it was used almost exclusively as a stock route by the large and closely settled farming districts of Opiki and Makerua, thereby relieving the main highway; it was U6ed as ail ordinary travelling route by settlers in these districts as a short-cut to Palmerston North, aud _ that from tho point of view of national production, the road was of vital importance. J.lie Horowhenua County Council was granted a subsidy for the southern end of the same road. The chairman reported on meetings he had attended in connection with the formation of the Homo. Guard. He said the Kairanga Council would cooperate with Palmerston North, anti sub-committees would be set up in the district. Members expressed- support for the Home Guard movement. In connection with the lighting ot the highway through the Longburn township, Mr J. Wood, chairman of the Main Highways Board, advised that the section of Himatangi-] almerston North main highway within the county was at present under the control of the Main Highways Board and full maintenance costs were being found from the board’s funds. The traffic density was at present not sufficient to warrant assistance from the board toivards the cost of lighting the highway. It would be necessary for the highway to carry a sustained average traffic density in excess of 2500 motor vehicles a day. It was decided to take no action about the lighting at the present time The appointment of Mr P. H. rarland as ranger, with his son as de-puty-ranger, was confirmed. It was reported that the health inspector (Mr S. B. Reed) had written to the Railway Department pointing out that an investigation of the open drain on the main highway near Longburn revealed that the culvert under the railway had apparently collapsed and the water was thus prevented from reaching the main drain on the other side of the railway line. This water had become stagnant and was causing a nuisance and possibly might undermine the railway. This matter was receiving immediate attention by the Railway Department. The health inspector reported that there had been no cases ot infectious disease in the county during the last three months. Numerous visits had been made to Milson in connection with the disposal of waste waters from the various households. The difficulty of dealing with the waste water because of tho heavy clay nature of the soil, was still being experienced, the only solution was a drainage scheme, which unfortunately could not be considered at present. ~ ~ The employment bureau ol the teocial Department.- iu reply to

the council’s request for au extension . of the authority by which it employs] 30 men whose wages are subsidised at the rate of Al 4 a week, advised that the authority might be continued meanwhile. The district engineer of the Public Works Department advised that the department proposed shortly to issue a proclamation taking land for and legalising the access road to the Longburn freezing works. Alter this the length concerned would automatically become a county road under the sole control and management of the council, which would therefore be responsible for future maintenance. Betore the road was formally handed over to the council it was desired to know it the length had been formed and metalleu to the satisfaction of the council. It was decided to object to taking the road over till it was made the standard width. The clerk of the Manawatu County Council (Mr A. K. Drew) forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Manawatu-Oroua llivGi* Board, asking for finality to be arrived at in haying the reconstruction of the ltangiotu bridge over the Oroua River put in hand. The bridge was under the control of tho Kairanga Council, it was said.—lt waa stated that a reply had already been sent to the River Board. Mr C. J. Talbot, president ot the New Zealand Counties’ Association, forwarded a circular saying that the present time seemed opportune to launch an appeal among county councils to make a mass contribution towards assisting in the alleviation ot distress in Britain.—lt was decided to give £lO, the sum requested. Details of the Statutes Amendment Act, authorising local bodies to appoint building inspectors lor fire jfreventiou purposes, and conferring other powers for the same purposes, were received. The clerk reported that 44 Christmas parcels for soldiers had been forwarded to the Zone D of the Patriotic Committee. These had been supplied by various organisations in the county. ' A splendor response had been received, said the chairman, in reporting on the collection of waste metals recently carried out by the council. The organisation of the collection had been a great credit to the engineer (Mr Pickering). Quite a number of loads were gathered and some of the contributors saved the running of the lorries as much as possible. That some of the material left on the roads to; be collected had been rifled was men-; tioned by Mr Pickering. As the lorries could not go round all the roads at first some of the material was left beside the roads overnight, and some of it had disappeared by the next day. The chairman expressed appreciation of' the help given to the appeal by the newspapers and others. '