KIWITBA COUNTY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2753, 20 September 1923, Page 2

KIWITBA COUNTY.

_ * V""*" MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Kiwitea County Council met yesterday at Kimbolton. those present being Crs. L. T. McLean (in the chair) W. P. Shaw, D. H. McLean, F, o. Stack, A. C. Morton, W. Hair, N. Shannon, and T. D. Wood. '

Prior to the commencement, of the ordinary business of the Council, a special meeting was held to consider the audited balance-sheets for 1922 and 1923, which had been returned by tho Controller and Auditor-General certified to as correct On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr Shaw, it was decided to have printed 50 copies of each balance-sheet. Mention was made of the proposen road into the soldiers' settlement block at Otamakapua, in the Sandon block, when the chairman stated that he had visited tho locality together With the Commissioner of Crown Lands, an engineer of the Public Works Department, and the person who originally owned the land on which the soldiers are settled. There had been some correspondence as to who would be liable for the construction of the road, and, while more of this would be heard later, the chairman stated that the Commissioner of Crown Lands had promised to send along plans of the proposed road for the approval of the Council. Cr. Morton suggested that a special meeting of the Council be convened as soon as the plans arrived, in order that there would not be any delay in pushing ahead with the road. It was a. matter which should not be held up. He also stated that with the exception, of one portion of the road, the proposed thoroughfare would conform to the Council's standard grade. In regard to the conference of representatives of neighbouiing- counties convened by the Oroua County Council for the purpose of formulating a uniform set of by-laws, to be held on September 28, Crs. L. T. McLean (chairman) and C. Stack, were appointed to represent Kiwitea. Ratepayers living on Bltzman's--,-oad, Rangiwahla, wrote directing the Council's attention to the condition of ihe road, and requesting that the Council take steps to have the- thoroughfare widened.—Decided to inform the ratepayers concerned that the Council had no power to accede to ths request, and recommended that the writers permit themselves to be rated for the work. A letter Avas read from The district superintendent, Department of Agriculture, concerning the spread or goats-rue in certain counties. —Received.

It was decided to lake steps to raise a loan of £l5O. being the Council's share of the cost of widening the formation and metalling the approaches to the upper' Kawhatau and Hikurmgi bridges. The application of Mrs. H. A. Hall, of Ruahine, for permission to remove metal from the Council's pit at Ruahine, was granted, subject to the payment of 6d. per cubic yard. It was decided to apply to the Oroya Power Board for a refund of £SO, which was paid by the' Council i'or preliminary expenses before the Board was properly constituted. The Council endorsed the action of the chairman and Cr. Morton in arranging for the sole control* of the Otara metal pit, at 4d. per cubic yard, Mr. \V. J. McCoard wrote complaining about a neighbour's cows and horses being at large day and night on the upper Kawhatau-road.—De-cided to issue one warning to offenders, and if the offence were repeated, to prosecute. A letter was received from the director of the Feilding Agriculture High School, advising that the board of managers had decided to offer a scholarship of £lO for competition by the sons of residents of the Klwitea County,—Decided to thank the boara of managers for the offer. The chairman and Cr. Morton were appointed a committee to enquire into the cost of a new grader.. In view of the fact that many of the road fences throughout the hilly portion of the county were in such a

state that repairs would be necessary in the near future, it was decided to recommend to settlers that when renewing: their road fences, they bring their fence to a point as near to the road edge as possible, in order to stamp out the fern, etc., which afforded such excellent cover for rabbits. Mr. H. Sweet, of Ruahine-road, wrote asking the Council to provide a crossing at the site of the Lagoonroad north bridge, in order to take sheep over the creek. At present it was almost impossible to get across.— On the motion of. Cr. Shaw, seconded by Cr. D. H. McLean, it was decided to defer consideration of the request until such time as the Council’s consulting engineer was able to inspect and report. In connection with the Council’s objection to the inclusion of the Hutt and Makara counties in the Wellington West Highways District, a letter was read from the Main Highways Board, intimating that it had been finally decided not to make any alteration in regard to the grouping.—Received.

The chairman was appointed thfc Council's representative on the District Highways Council.

OVERSEER'S REPORT,

The overseer's report on the various ridings was as follows:

Cheltenham, —The roadman had been attending to surface repairs during the greater part of the mouth. As soon as the grader plant was available it was intended to have most of the roads in the riding trimmed. When the timber for the re-decking of the Cheltenham , cross-road bridge came to hand, it was intended to put the work in hand immediately. The roads were in fair order.

Kiwitca.—Water-tables, culverts and general surface work had received attention, and a section of the Kimbolton Road, Mcßeth's Road, Bryce'3 Line, and a portion of Coulter's Line had been trimmed with the grader. The pioes required for renewing some of the old culverts were now to hand, and they would be put in during the sum. mer. The grader plant should finish trimming most of the roads in the riding in abouf. a week's time. With the exception of a section of Bryce's line and Perry's Road, where metal was required, the roads were in fair order. Waituna.—The . contractor had almost completed the supply and delivery of about 700 yards of metal on the Kiwitoa-Tapuae Road % Arrangements had been made for carting necessary metal on the Mangapipi Road. The work was now completed, IOOJ cubic yards having been delivered at 4/6 per cubic yard. Most of the rough knapping of stones had been done on the Tapuac and Mangapipi Roads, but it was intended to keep a man on this length for ano.thcr month to trim and attend to the new metal generally. Maintenance work on all roads had been attended to.

Ongo—Very little work had been done in the riding during tlio month. The new metal on Wilson's Line was now receiving attention. With the exception of some needed metal the roads in this riding were in very fair order. Kimbolton.—The following roada had been trimmed with the grader during the past month, viz., Meßeth's Line, Forest Road, the Main Road to Apiti Bridge, Knox , Branch, and Ter. race Roads. Some of tho side roads had taken a good deal of labour to. put in order, as they had received very little attention for some years past'. A washout had taken place on Middle Road, and would require about 48 feet at* breastwork. Two timber breastworks would have to be put in on Fowler's Hill, t'o prevent further subsidence. It was intended to have this work done during the present month. Some improvements could be made to one or two sharp bends on this road, which it was hoped to be able to do this summer

Peep-O'-Day.—General maintenance had been attended to. A few mcxre willows had been put in on the slips near the Kiwitea stTeam. The large slip on the Peep-o'-Day Road was settling down fairly well, and it was proposed to have it rib-drained this summer, in order to assist in preventing further subsidence next winter. The road surfaces generally wero In fair order. Pakihikura, —The metal recently with the dump trucks on the Sandon block road had been left in a very unsatisfactory condition, and should be attended t'o immediately. The large stones had been raked out and put on the road aide, and it would be necessary to put some extra labour on to break down the metal and then blind if with clay. The work of ro. pairing the decking on the Takapurau bridge w;is receiving attention. The unmet'alled portion of the Waipuru Road had had some of the worst ruts filled in. The road was badly in need of repair, and as soon as the grader plant was available it was intended to have the work put in hand. The repair metal required for Bryc'c's Hill was now being delivered. Heavy traffc was doing a certain amount of damage to some of the roads

Rangawahia.—The bridgo timber from the sawmill had been delivered, and also about four tons of 9-in cement pipes. The larger sized pipes ordered for this riding were taken to the Sandon blodk in the Pakihikura riding in error, and were put in before the mistake was discovered. The team was doing good work repairing the Te Para Para Road near Mrs Stokes' property. Slips had been off the Oroua Cluff road, and watertables attended to. All roads were in fair order.

Hautapu.—An erosion had t"aken place at one of the groynes recently put in at the Pourangaki bridge, and it was considered it would be necessary to place another groyne further up the stream in order t'o make the present protective work more effective. All available willows had been planted. The Cliff Road was now in want oi maintenance metal, and the work would be attended to as soon as the team was available. The roads were in fair order.

General. —AH bridges over 30 feet had been cleaned for inspection, and all cement pipes ordered for the various ridings were now to hand.—Adopted.