KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6887, 17 April 1929, Page 9

KAIRANGA COUNTY

Council’s Monthly Meeting The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held yesterday, Cr. Jos. Batchelar presiding. Also present were Crs. P. J. Small, D. Collis, C. Anderson, M. A. Moody, W. E. Hopcroft, J. A. Cheetham, E A. Mercer, and P. J. Mildon. It was decided to refuse the request of Mr J. T. Hill to lease a portion of James Line. The leasing or otherwise of portion of Bailway line was left in the hands of Cr. Anderson with power to act. Tho question of the deposit of tho British Pavements Company for contract work on Eangitikot line was considered, a request being received for the refund of portion of the deposit. It was decided that the work had not progressed far enough for the Council to grant this request. The engineer reported in connection with the proposed footpath at Milson railway settlement, the matter being left in the hands of the councillor for the riding and the engineer with power to act. A request from the Newbury ball committee that the Council tar-.seal the approach to the building was refused. The secretary was instructed to point out that by carrying out this work the Council would be establishing a precedent for all halls in its area. The Council was, however, prepared to donate some metal for the work. Permission was given to the Manawatu drainage board to proceed with the proposed improvements in the Bourke’s drain floodgate at Eangiotn provided that the work be carried out to the satisfaction of tho Council’s engineer. The county ranger reported that a total of 115 head of stock had been impounded during the month. Cr. Moody aisked that the engineer give attention to the road from Kahutarawa to Linton which was in a very bad state and urgently requiring metalling. Reference was also made to that portion of No. 60 highway over the Fitzherbert bridge which was stated to be also in need of attention. The engineer stated that the heavy traffic made it exceedingly difficult to hold this road together, tho maintenance costs having increased from £127 a mile to £165 a mile in 3 years. The chairman stated that he had brought up the matter at tho recent Highway’s Board meeting when he had asked the board to consider bituminising this portion of highway. The board had stated that they would consider His request. Engineer’s Report.

The county engineer, Mr J. E. Menzies reported as follows for the past month:— On Rangitikei line 127$ chains of first course are now complete. The greater portion of this has received tho sealing coat. Progress on this work has been very slow, owing chiefly to stoppages at the plant. One hundred and twenty-five chains of old work were resurfaced with bitumen and chips. Fifteen chains of this received two coats as the old surface was rather weak. The roller is now working ahead of the paving gang, and with the grader are preparing the surface. All hollows will be filled with crushed metal and rolled in. Widening portions of this road will be put on hand as soon as the tractor is available. In the Taonui riding the contractor for the Awapuni bridge has made fair progress. All piles viz:—lß which can be driven before the old bridge is dismantled are now in place. The centre pier is now concreted to a height of nine feet and portion of the south abutment is completed. Work oh footpaths at Awapuni is now in hand; portions of these were in a very bad nato and had to be completely renewed. General maintenance work has been carried out on a number of roads. Kairanga-Bunnythorpe road has been gravelled where the road was widened. In mangaone riding work at Darby cieek is now well in hand. The diversion channel is almost complete and portion of the new road has been formed and gravelled. Concrete abutments for now bridge are also complete to deck level. Work on Henderson’s line (widening at corners) will be commenced this week. A cutting has boon made on James’ line to givo rough access to property there. A new culvort is required over a creek in the same locality and portion of this will be built with old timber from Derby creek. A large amount of grading has been done in this riding during the month. Traffic tallies are being taken on Milson’s line and Railway road. In Fitzherbert riding repairs are now being done on Forest Hill road. It will be necessary to carry out maintenance work on Pahiatua track, as all heavy loads are now being diverted from Gorge to this road. Roads in Fitzherbert East have been graded and edges cut back. Work on Kahuterawa Valley road has now been stopped for tho time being. This road is now generally in good order. Gravel is now being caTted out for maintenance work on Tiritca Valley road. The main road has been graded and is now being patched with gravel. Lynch's bridge is now completed and a very satisfactory job has been made by the contractor. Survey and plans for a new bridge over Kahuterawa Tiver on Main road are now on hand.