WOODVILLE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1941, 8 October 1921, Page 3

WOODVILLE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting- of the Woodville County Council, held yesterday, was attended by Councillors J. Murray (chairman), G. D. Macfarlane, J. Elder, C. Baker, M. Grainger, J. D. Galloway, B. Norman and J. D. Ramsden. THE MANGER. The chairman reported that he had made inquiries with a view to replacing- the ranger, owing to complaints that that official was not keeping the roads clear of wandering stock. He had not been able to secure the services of a suitable person, and he believed that the ranger was now doing more satisfactory work. —Councillors did not agree with this view, members declaring that large numbers of stock were still at large on the roads, doing considerable damage to private persons' fences, hedges and gardens.. Cr. Grainger complained of the chairman's inactivity in the matter, resulting in considerable damage being done. He wanted to know why the chairman had not acted on the recommendation of the special meeting held on the 19th ult. and get a new man.—The chairman explained that he had done what he could. It was for the council to say whether the position of ranger was to be advertised.—Cr. Galloway asked for the lists of impounded cattle.—The clerk said that was the trouble. He could not get any. He constantly received complaints from settlers of damage being done by wandering stock. —Cr. Grainger said he was tired of being treated like a "pickpocket" by ratepayers, who asked him why stock were allowed to wander on the roads without, any effort being made to slop the nuisance. —The chairman pointed out that settlers had their own remedy. They should prosecute the owners of the stock. — Cr. Grainger insisted that the chairman should take the responsibility. — Councillors were of the opinion that the roads'provided cheap grazing, even if they were caught and lined. —The chairman .suggested that as he was unable to find a man, Cr. Grainger should undertake the job, but Cr. Grainger refused the position, with the remark that ''one thing he had learned in the awiy was to 'keep his place.' " —Finally, it was left to the chairman to again see the ranger. ROAD ROLLER.

Several reports were submitted on the condition of the road roller offered by the Te KUiti Borough Council and recommending its purchase at £7OO, as a good investment. The chairman stated that, acting on these advices, the Finance Committee had pur chased the roller. —On the motion of Cr. Norman; the action of the Finar.ee Committee was endorsed. CORRESPONDENCE. The Dannevirke Town Clerk wrote re setting up a local committee to deal with any future epidemics that raav occur.—The chairman reported that he, with the Mayor (Mr H. P. Horne), went to Dannevirke and agreed to the formation of a committee for the southern end of Hawke's Bay. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote re the alterations of the boundary between Pohangina and Woodvillc counties that it would not be necessary to take a poll, and that rates already paid could be adjusted. —The, letter was received, and the chairman and members for the riding were authorised to make , the necessary adjustments.

H. F. Toogood wrote re the Mangaatim bridge, and it' a suitable foreman had been engaged for the work. —Cr. Elder spoke on the subject, pointing out that conditions altered since the work had been first proposed, and he thought after the long delay in getting the. work done the leting of a contract for labour was the best plan. The council had all the material now. It was resolved to call for tenders for the completion of the work, at once. The matter was left with the Finance Comnnttee to deal with. It was decided to advertise in several of the leading papers calling for tenders and to obtain Government approval to the proposed alterations in the procedure.

P. Carr wrote asking for progress payment on his contract. It was resolved to leave the matter to the Finance Committee.

C. A. Herbert wrote complaining that his fence on Saddle Road had not been put in order after the teams had been getting metal out. The overseer stated that the fence had been put in order a year ago and he had no knowledge of further repairs needed. II was left to the riding member to attend to the matter. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr G. H. Close) reported that the following work had been done during the past month: — Kumeroa Riding.—Metalling had been done on River, Main and Otawhao Roads, 828 yards having been laid down during the month, which was considered very satisfactory. Woodville Riding.*~Work had been started on the concrete bridge on Conduct's Road. The teams were at work repairing the roads in this riding. Manga-atua Riding.—Repairing had been done on Jackson's, Harding's, Priest's, Harris' and Masterton Roads. One hundred and eighty two and ahalf yards of metal had been put out in this riding during the month. A willow groyne had been put in the Manga-atua stream, by the dairy factory.

Maharahara Riding.—A set of pipes have been put. in on the Copper Mine Road. A groyne had been put in the Kiritaki stream, under the bridge. The. contractor had nearly finished Corby's Road. The ordinary surface work had been done during the month. It would be necessary to patch the main road right through. Cr. Galloway stated that several complaints had been made of the roughness of the metal on the Top Grass Road and the overseer's attention was drawn to the matter.

Cr. Baker drew attention to the danger of having no flags or any danger signals at Conduct's Road, where work was being .done on the new bridge and pointed out the danger that the travelling public were subjected to. —The overseer was instructed to attend to the matter. GENERAL.

Cr. McParlane suggested that several closed roads in the, county should be. utilised as paddocks for the council's teams. Cr. Galloway asked who, in that case, would be responsible for the upkeep of the fences which would most likely be damaged by the horses. The overseer was instructed to report on what roads he considered would be suitable for horse paddocks. Cr. Galloway spoke re the agreement that Maharahara riding should

do certain work in conjunction with Kumeroa riding. The latter riding had done its share and he wanted to know when the work at the Kumeroa was to be taken in hand. The chairman replied that *the work could be done at once if Maharahara had funds to do it. Cr. Galloway maintained that when the arrangements were made Maharahara were in funds. The overseer said that the ford was quite useable. The chairman thought the work could stand over in the meantime. Cr. Ramsden said the road was full of holes. The chairman stated that more money had been spent on the Top Grass Road than had been intended, and he objected to the money for work wanted coming out of the general fund. The matter was held over in the meantime, FINANCIAL. The clerk (Mr J. M. Graham) reported that the bank account showed a debit balance of £2931 8/1, the main road loan account a credit of £3OOO, and the pay sheet amounted to £I2G9 4/4, including £707 6/9 for the purchase of the roller and expenses connected therewith, which would be refunded from the £3OOO main road loan now on deposit at the bank. The pay-sheet was passed. A vote of thattks was passed to Cr. McFarlane for attending the County Council's Conference in Wellington and his account of the work done at the conference. Cr. McFarlane thought that it was a most interesting meeting, as one was enabled to hear the different views expressed by councillors from all over the Dominion.