OROUA COUNTY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2694, 12 July 1923, Page 2

OROUA COUNTY.

COUNCIL'S MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Oroua County Council was held in Fcildins yesterday, lhos c present being Messrs. O. Mcllroy (chairman), J. H. Vincent, T. Green, W. Greenhow, A. Campbell. A letter was received from the Workers' Educational Association requesting financial assistance toward tho movement. —Received. Pertaining to the Main Highways Act a communication was read from the'Main Highways Board dealing with the proposed grouping of counties under the Wellington-West Coast Main Highways Board. There was also a letter from the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, respecting the same matter and forwarding a plan and particulars o the counties proposed to be grouped in so far as it affected Oroua. Ihe chairman said he was prepared to agree with the grouping so long as the Hutt and Arakara counties were left out and ho moved to that effect, suggesting that these counties should be grouped under Wairarapa. Cr. Vincent seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A request from tho Bunnythorpe School Committee that a road be formed and gravelled at the back of the school.—Beft in the hands of Cr. Campbell and the engineer with power to act. The state of a certain street in Halcombe was complained of by a householder, who requested the council to relieve the situation as soon as possible, otherwise a flood was imminent. —Received. The Manawatu Gorge-road Board of Control wrote forwarding balancesheet for the past maintenance year and requesting the council's quota (C<i2 5/-) for the 1023-24 year. Br commenting on the balance-sheet, the chairman referred to the fact that the cost of the maintenance of the road appeared to be increasing, wherea.-> with the improvements that are being carried out, it was thought that the maintenance charges would decrease. He. pointed out that Oroua's share of the improvements was £3200, £llOO of which had already been paid and it was a question whether it would not be advisable to obtain power to raise ■l loan for the balance, and pay it off. On the: motion of the chairman, it was decided to pursue this course. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mangaone Riding: Some gravel repairs have been effected on the Feild-ing-Halcombe and Makino roads. The former has also been trimmed wltn the grader. Rangitawa Riding: Several roads have been trimmed with the grader and the old wooden culvert at the Haleombe railway crossing has been -ep'aced with concrete pipes. I inspected tho hill near Mr. Grantham's propertv and my estimate for regrading to a grade of 1 in 15 Is: Formation, C 80; gravelling, US 15/-: total, £SO IS/-. Raumauga Riding. Makara-road has been trimmed with the grader but the hill near Mr. Callinglianrs properly is m a bad slate, and portion or it will require gravolling. As tilts gravel pit is on the roadside on this hill the work could be put in hand immediately. The concrete pipes for the culverts on Stairway and Makino roads have been delivered and the work of putting them in is in Makino Riding: The Makino-road and portion of Kimbolton-road have been patched with gravel. The central portion on Kimbolton-road stilt remains to be done. This work will be put in hand next week. Reid s Bin c and Pharazyn's road also require some, repairs. _ Taonui Riding: The Feildmg-Asn-hurat-road has been repaired with gravel and is now in good order. Tho heavy motor truck carting poles for the hvdro-electric scheme has considerably damaged Reid's Bine. The Tao-nui-Bunnythrope-road has been trimmed with the grader. Stoney Creek road. Bunnythorpe-road, and Reid's Bine are next to be attended to. Hiwinui Riding.—Reid's Bine near Hiwinui has been badly cut up and the work of effecting temporaiy repairs is now in hand. Watershed road, Which was damaged by the cartin" of gravel to Reid's Line, is also being attended to. A slip at the edge of the metal on the Watershed road has been tilled in and willows planted. Several slips occurred on Siberia-road, but have been cleared sulliciently to allow- traffic to pass. Palmerston-road is badly in need of repairs. I propose scarifying and rolling this road. Together with Cr. Greenhow, 1 inspected the Raukawaroad. The flooding of certain portions of the road will be veiy difficult to prevent without causing additional Hooding of the land on the upper side of the road. The conclusion arrived ■i L . was to advise that a 3ft. concrete culvert b c put in place of the existing ISin. pipe, and that a drain be cut on either side of the road from the foot of McColl's hill to this culvert. Some light gravel repairs arc also required on this road. Otangaki Riding.—Palmerston-road has been repaired, but to make a satisfactory job of this road it will be necessary to scarify the present surface and regravel throughout. Some gravel repairs are now being effected to Pohangina-road. The stringers and decking for repairing the bridge on Bart's road has been delivered to the K' te - <incl the work win be put ln hand at the first opportunity.

TREASURER'S REPORT. Amount of general rates collected ■'SOT 7/5, amount of general rates outstanding at' 31/3/23, £I3SI 9/5, amount general rates collected to July 11 £S97 14/11, amount general rates outstanding July 11, £483 14/6. Hiding accounts: Manga c<ie, cr., PlO5 11/5; Rangitawa, dr., £755 2/7; raumanga, dr., £97 5/2; Makino, dr., £250 6/S; Taonui, dr.. £7OO 3/8; Hlwinui, .dr., £246 19/9; Otangaki, dr., £l4i. 10/8. Bank balances: County fund account', dr., £2238 17/5; interest account,' cr., £G7 IS/3; roadman's cottage loan account, dr., 5/-; machinery

account, ci\, 18/2; Manawatu Gorge loan account, ci\, £33 5/G. RATE ROLL. The following alterations were made to the rate roll: H. Smith to A. M. C. Hansen; 11. Smith to V. A. Phillips; R. H. Millett to C. A. W. Osborne; H. C. Terry to H.M. the King; E. G. Hayncs to Public Trust; Estate of A. M. Bauckham to W. J. Barnes ana W. L. Fitzherbert; Trustees Estate A. M. Bauckliam to A L. Bauckham. The reports of the 'engineer and treasurer wore adopted