OROUA COUNTY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3345, 13 May 1926, Page 3

OROUA COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Oroua County Council met in Fcilding yesterday, when there were present Councillors A. Campbell, o. McElroy, R. MacDonald, W. Greenhow, W. H. Brewster, W. (McLennan and T. Green. Cr. A. Campbell was elected acting chairman and prior to the commencement of the ordinary business, welcomed Cr. MacDonald. The chairman also offered tho council’s congratulations to Cr. Greeimow on being returned at the top of tnc poll. Cr. Campbell also made, references lo the retirement of Mr. J. 11. ‘Vincent who had represented the Otungakl Hiding for over twenty years —in (act. over since the County was first constituted and paid tribute (to this Councillor's splendid work during his lengthy term of office. He moved, and Cr. McElroy seconded: “that this council place ou record the valued services rendered to the Oroua Council by Mr. J. H. Vincent as councillor representing the ratepayers of the Otangaki Riding for over twenty years and bogs to convey to him the Council’s best thanks and appreciation of that service.” The resolution was carried unanimously. General Business. Cr. A. Campbell was appointed to represent the county on the District Highways Council. Intimation was received from the Highways Board that an order had been placed for a chip crusher with elevator and carriages on behalt of the Council. The agreement for tne hire purchase of this roadmaking machinery between the Board and the Council had been completed. The Council resolved to apply to the Public Works Department tor a grant of £6OO for Ithe formation and metalling of Reureu road leading from Onepuhi up the Rangitikei river, A sum of £4OO was placed on the estimates last year and tho Council are now requesting a further £2OO. A letter was received from tne Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarding the chairman’s report together with tho estimates for 'the current year. The maintenance levy for the Oroua County was notified as £1719 9s lOd as against £1428 9s Ud for tho previous year, while the capital levy showed a reduction from £393 10s 5d last year (to £277 11s lid for the current year. In connection with the Health Department’s demand ror a refund of £BO4, representing overpayment of subsidy on levies collected the following resolution was carried. "That the Council .supports the Palmerston Norith Hospital Board in any protest it may make to the Department of Health regarding the demand for the refund of the sum of £BO4, being alleged overpayment of subsidy on levies.” The Council formally approved of the application for the exemption from widening of a section of the Halcombe-Kakariki road fronting the McLennan estalte. It was decided to forward to the Kairanga County Council for apportionment the heavy traffic license fees collected during the lust financial year. In respond! to tho application of Mr. J. Scheidft, it was resolved to form and metal a small section of road loading to Hie, back entrance of tnc old school at Bunnythorpo.

Tho application of Mr. T. Richardson for work to be done to Arnott street, Fcilding, was left in the lianas of the engineer for action. Permission was granlted Mr. W. E. Vilcs to remove a fence on to roadside on Spur road, Colyton, subject to the work being done to the satisfaction of th.c engineer.

In the matter of drains along the Taonui-Bunnythorpe road, the Kairanga County Council wrote, stating that it had requested its engineer to report. The Council approved of the. application of the Misses Wilson for the transfer of their properties from the Kiwitca County to the Oroua County, such transfer to date from April 1, 1926, and to be carried out without cost, to the Oroua County. Crs. McElroy and McLennan were deputed to inspect tho office of the defunct Halcombc Town Board, with a view to destroying any old correspondence and papers, considered no longer useful

A slaughter-house. license w r as granted tho Wellington Meat Export Company. When discussing tho engineer s report. Or. Green suggested that, the roadmen should be better placed, m order to provide fur more convenient supervision of Ithe roads. The chairman expressed the opinion that such nu alteration by (he Council would tend to encroach upon the work of the engineer and so long as the work on the roads was proceeding satisfactorily. there was no need to alter the existing arrangement.—No action was taken. Committee were appointed as follows: —Finance: Crs. McElroy, Grccnliow and Green; machinery. Cis. Brewster, MacDonald and McElroy. The meeting day for the ensuing year was fixed for the second Wednesday in each month. Accounts amounting to £2,798 3s 4d. including payment of the County's share of the constnujtional work on a section of Aorangi road, amounting to £216 10s ud. were passed for payment. Treasurer’s Report. Tola! general rales outstanding at March 3.1. 1 926. £BOO 17s 3d; arrears collected to date, £lB 0s (id; outstanding, £782 16s !)d. I tiding account.-. —Western riding, £449 :is 3d; Earftern riding, cr., too 12s 2d. Bank balance. —County Fund Account, dr.. £B3O 2s.—Received. Property Transfers. The following alterations to the County rate rolls wore approved: — C. H. and A. M. Thorby to Edwin Marshall; M. J. Flynn to Alfred Sqhaeron; E. G. Hayward to Harry and Bernard Smith: John McLennan deceased to Margaret Annie Harrison, Ivo Harold McLennan, Jessie Gertrude McLennan Annie Eliza McLennan, Grace Harriot McElroy, William Malcolm McLennan

Donald John McLennan and to Douglas Mister McLennan; George Hector Hart to Mary Ann Hart; J. C. Christian to Arthur Marshall; S. G. Perry to Joseph Corpe; F. Allorby to Cyril O. Allorby. Engineer's Report. The engineer reported as follows: Western riding.—The recent wot wealther had enabled good work to be done by grader on (the main highways. All those roads had been attended to and wore now in fair order, although a good deal of fine gravel for surfacing was required on the section of the main road between Fcilding and Halcombe. On the section between Halcombo and Kakariki the men had Peon engaged improving tlie sharp corners. Two old Sft. wooden culverts in Halcombo township required renewing. About 400 yards of gravel had been been carted bo the dump on Junction road, supplies of maintenance gravel had also been carted on to Forgusj son's and ATI. Riggs roads. Drains in the lower Kimbolton road had boon cleaned out. Eastern riding.—All the main highways in the Eastern riding had been trimmed with graders during the wet weather. The, surfacing with fine gravel of Pohangina road had been completed and 'the trucks wore now on the Taonui to Ashhurst section. The construction gang had completed all the culverts on the PalmerstonAshhurst road. The culvert near Mr. Red’s property on the BunnythorpeAshhurst road had been completed, bn'fc not yet opened for traffic. The first section of the culvert on Pohangina road near Mr. Hall's property had been completed, the balance would be put in hand when weather permits. The construction of the section Between Gorge bridge and Manawatn gorge had boon delayed by bad weather but the surface was in fanorder and very little inconvenience had been caused to traffic. Recent heavy rains caused several drains along upper Pohangina road to overflow. These drains were now being cleaned out and improved where possible.—Received.