Pohangina Valley

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6833, 14 April 1932, Page 9

Pohangina Valley

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL Pohangina County Council met at I’ohangina yesterday when there were present Councillors S. Strahan (chairman), W. Howell, T. Close, T. E. Craino, M. Aroon, W. McKay and J. Mackenzie. Riding Accounts In Credit.

The county treasurer (Mr. A. E. Orgias) presented a ca:h statement for the year ended March 31, 1932. The balance at tho end of March, 1931, was £5930 9s Id which, with receipts for the year just closed, made a total of £17,863 10s Id. The expenditure was £11,030 11s (id, leaving a credit balance at the end of March last of £G232 lSs 7d.

The riding accounts were in credit as follow: Awahou £3-17 Os 9d, Coal Creek £4S2 10s 9d, Mangaone £SJS -iss Id, Mangapikopiko £375 2s -Id, Pohangina £503 8s 4d, Tamaki £214 3s Id, Prnutoi £207 13s 10d. Rates levied for 1931-32 were £0402 0s lOd, while £1429 13s 7d was outstanding a year ago. During the past year £5734 11s 4d of the current rates and £O4B 7s 3d of those outstanding were collected. This left £I44S ios lUd still owing on April 1, 1932. In answer to Cr. Howell, the treasurer stated that uncollected rates were not included in the credit balances of the various ridings shown above. Cr. Close said the ridings were in a better position than they had ever been before.

Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr. D. Watson) reported as follows: — Awahou riding.—A fair amount of repair gravel was carted and spread. Two cement pipe culverts were put in on No. 1 Line. With a view to checking any further scour and with a view to keeping tho stream in its original course, some scrub groynes were put in tho creek below tho bridge at the foot of Church hill. Tho bridgo over this stream, like all the remaining old timber bridges, had been repaired from time to time, but owing to the increase in number of heavy motor lorries and now that under the new heavy traffic regulations multi-axle trucks are allowed to carry 50 per cent, additional weight, it means that this bridge in particular, will require further strengthening. Coal Creek riding.—The road near Parson’s ford bridge was shaped up with gravel, and two ccmcut pipe culverts were put in. Gravel was carted by the permanent roadman for repairing Ridge and Hall’s roads. The loose metal on Kimbolton-Apiti highway was trimmed in and sprinkled with clay. A small amount of river gravel was carted and spread at Ngaputahi. Mangaone riding.—Ashhurst-Fohan-giua and Ferry road main highways were trimmed up with the grader. A good quantity of river gravel for repairing was put out with the motor lorry. Usual maintenance work in other parts of the riding was attended to.

Mangapikopiko riding.—Gravel on the main highway, Makoura and Norsewood roads had been raked in, aud the watertables cleaned out. A start will bo made during tho present week with one of the motor trucks to cart the metal required about the township and Table Flat. Pohangina riding.—A start has been made with the motor lorry lo carl gravel from Coal creek for repairing Pohangina. valley road. Metal on the main highway was trimmed up with the grader, and a start made to clean out some of the drains. A pipe culvert was put, in on Branch road, slips shifted and some of the watertables cleaned

Tamaki riding.—A concrete pipe culvert was put in, and the washout on the main highway, in the Totara reserve, was repaired. At present the watertables arc being cleaned out. Scrub and stone groynes were built to check any further erosion about two or the bridges on this road. Several loads of gravel were carted with the motor trucks for repairing the cop end of Opawa road. Umutoi riding.—The stone crushing plant has been sot up in Mr. Jensen’s pit, and a start to crush and cart the niotal was made. A little over 100 yards was put out during the latter end of the month. The gravel pit on Tunipo road was cleared and the metal got ready for carting for Umutoi north road. The washout on Norscwood road was repaired by cutting back the bank, and so widening the road on solid ground. The short length of fence which was carried away was re-croct-ed in a similar manner.

General. The secretary of the Fcilding R.S.A. advised that a meeting of representatives of Jocal bodies would bo held on Friday to discuss the new Flock House scheme.—The chairman was asked to represent the council. The Pohangina branch of the D.F.U. wrote asking who was responsible for supervising the cutting of blackberry on the eastern side of the river and who was responsible for the cutting of the weed "in reserves. It was reported that as the eastern side of tho river was a rabbit area, it was the duty of.the Rabbit Board’s inspector to supervise the destruction of weeds. As regards reserves, the lessee.

L. A. Guy, Apili, asked the council to consider declaring gorsc a noxious weed in the county. The chairman said the only gorse he knew of was at Utuwai but gorsc should be kept out of the county. Cr. McKay said he had been informed by Mr. Guy that he was troubled with gorse on a neighbouring farm and there was a lot of it. The engineer said he thought gorse was already a noxious weed in tho county as settlers had been warned to cut it. Ho was speaking of years ago. The council decided to make sure of the position by again declaring the plant noxious. Podding Borough Council wrote suggesting the formation of a permanent committee of representatives of each of tho six local bodies in tho ManarvatuOroua Power Board district, to further the proposed amalgamation of Palmerston North with the board. —The council approved of the proposal and clect»d Cr. McKay as its representative.

S. A. S. Hart (Umutoi) wrote asking for a reduction in rent of reserve leased from the council. —Held over till revaluation ligures came to hand. The Department of Internal Affairs advised that the Government proposed to modify the section of tho Counties Act which disqualified ratepayers from voting ou account of non-payment of rates. Tho intention was to confine the disqualification in respect of rates becoming due before March 31, 1930. Received.

T. Haynes (Umutoi) wrote asking for a reduction iu rent of reserve leased from tho council. —Held over till new valuation received. The Commissioner oi Crown Lands approved of the council cutting dead timber in reserves lor firewood on payment of a royalty of 2s per cord. As regards the illegal taking of posts in a reserve, it was thought sufficient punishment had been inflicted by the council seizing the posts. Discussion ensued on the question of .State departments being held liable for rales when occupiers of lands, over which they held a mortgage, defaulted. It was reported that tho Crown would nut take over the liability as its main purpose of lending money was for land settlement purposes and the interest charged left no margin for such further financial obligations as payment of rates. - Private mortgagees were in a different position as the rate of interest. charged was generally higher and the margin of security bigger. While the chairman expressed the opinion that something should be done to alter the position, Cr. How'cl! contended that no action should be taken which would force the Government to increase its interest charges. The matter is to be taken up with Hon. J. G. Cobbc. D. G. Forlong asked for the use of an acre of land adjacent his woolshed, offering to clean the fern and blackberry off it. —Declined as the s-ction was wanted by the council for its own

N. K. Gould and H. E. Strahan (Apiti) wrote seeking the construction of a drain along the boundary fence under No. 5 scheme. The work would benefit the council’s adjoining property.—As the council had other work that could be done under No. 5 scheme, it was decided to try and get a camp established in the district. The council gave brief consideration to the question of planting available reserves with macrocarpus trees, and the matter was held over in the meantime, although it will not be lost sight of. Mr. H. W. Smart was appointed assessor for the council in connection with revaluations of land.