Kairanga County Council

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7106, 15 March 1933, Page 8

Kairanga County Council

BUSINESS AT MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of tho Kairanga County Council was held yesterday, Cr. D. Collis presiding. Also present were: Crs. J. Batchclar, W. It. Hopcroft, M. A. Moody, It. A. Mercer, C. Anderson, W. G. Shannon, M. \V. Voss and P. G. Mildon. Tho Linton branch of the Farmers’ Union wrote drawing attention to tho bad state of the road between Tokomaru and Palmerston North and suggesting that tho road scarilier bo used. • —Tho engineer mentioned that there were a couple of bad patches, whicii he suggested should receive attention. It was decided to advise tho writers that their request would receive attention. A petition was received from settlors of No. 1 lino drawing attention to tho state of the road and suggesting that No. 5 scheme men could be employed to remedy it.—Tho matter is to be looked into.

Tho Manawatu-Oroua River Board advised that it proposed to givo the Sluggish River Drainage Board permission to clear away obstructions and debris under the bridge at Rangiotu that were preventing the full flow of the liver there, but conditionally on tho Highways Board and Manawatu and Kairanga County Councils raising no objection. The Sluggish River Drainage Board would be asked to eo-oper-ato with tho council’s engineer in doing the work, so that thero might be no danger of damaging or affecting tho structure. —No objection will bo raised to tho work being done after consultation with the county engineer. A request from the Palmerston North City Council for an extension of the abattoir district .to include certain freezing works was held over for throe months, the chairman in tho meantime to gather further information.

The Manawatu-Oroua River Board formally advised that it approved of tho council, in conjunction with the Manawatu Drainage Board, repairing the breach in tho bank of the Manawatu river at Hamilton’s Bend, approximating one chain. TIAj board added that, pending the formation of the proposed separate area, no other work was to be undertaken there.—Received.

Mr. A. J. McLcavey wrote drawing attention to trouble with pigs on Napier road as horses were difficult to get past, he stated. —The engineer was instructed to investigate tho position. Financial Matters. The statement of bank balances as at March 14 showed the following figures, all being credit except the first: — County Pund No. 1 account, £2718 10s 9d; County Fund No. 2 account (plant), adjusted to 31/3/32, £7287 15s 4d; County Fund No. 3 account (tarred roads), adjusted to £3l/3/32, £577 7s 4d; Fitzhcrbert riding cuiveyrts and bridges account, £l9 13s 7d; Fitzherbert West water race management account, £46 5s Id; Linton Domain Board (Post Office Savings Bank account), £4B 6s 6d; Linton Domain Board (on fixed deposit, due 8/6/33), £44 10s; heavy traffic fees account (on account of local bodies’ pool), £1435 9s 2d. The statement of riding expenditure as compared with the estimates (accounts for payment at the meeting having been taken into consideration) showed the following balances available:—Taonui. riding: Road maintenance, £llO Ss 2d; bridge maintenance, £2l 10s 2d; plant maintenance, £6 19s Sd (dr.); tarred roads maintenance, £77 14s; total, £202 12s Bd. Mangaonc riding: Road maintenance, £77 9s 9d; bridge maintenance, £ll 17s 9d; plant maintenance, £7 11s 7d (dr.); tarred roads maintenance, £59 2s 7d; new works, £777 0s 7d; total, £917 19s Id. Fitzherbert riding: Road maintenance, £624 0s Dd; bridge maintenance, £27; plant maintenance, £l6 9s lid; total, £667 10s Bd. Tho rate statement revealed the following figures:—Taonui riding, total levied for the current year, £5722 11s Od; total paid, £2955 lSs lid. Mangaone riding: Levied, £4345 12s Sd; paid, £1932 19s 7d. Fitzherbert riding: Levied, £437S 4s Sd; paITT, £1667 8s 6d. The total amount outstanding was £7890 2s Id, representing 45.3 per cent, of the total amount levied. Ten per cent, penalty would be imposed after March 24. For previous years £596 0s 3d was outstanding. Acting-Engineer’s Report.

The acting-engineer (Mr. L. G. Pickerin) reported as follows on the various works carried out during the month; — General: Number of day men employed average 21. Men employed under No. 5 scheme number 165. Three contracts are at present in progress, two of rvhich will be completed before the end of tho financial year. Taonui riding: A gang of men have been employed in screening metal at Karere beach, riding truck carting out same to dumps for future use. Riding truck has, on wet days, been patching and building up sidcj; of both Foxton line and Rangitikci line. A commencement was made with the filling in of breach in James’ bank, Hamilton’s line, but progress has been slow owing to the major portion having had to be carried out with harrows, the settlers’ assistance not having materialised to the extent promised. Fennell and goatsrue have been cut on Waldegrave’s and Gillespie's line. The contractor for carting out of metal on to LongburnRongotea road has to date carted out 285 cubic yards. An inspection of Hoihere bridge reveals extensive decay, and owing to the type of the bridge, repairs will be of a costly nature. Practically all tho decking, which is of rimu, has decayed, and several beams and joists are in a bad state of repair, and timber for same has been ordered. The motor grader has been over more important roads, cutting off corrugations and raking in loose metal from sides.

Mangaone riding: The new formation of James’ line from Cleveley’s line has been proceeded with, six chains having been completed. Men are now working in deep cutting. A new ISft. bridge has been put over Stink creek in conformity with new formation. The old 24ft. span bridge on James’ line near Newbury line has not been shifted to the correct line. Several sets of new

pipes have been put in to replace old earthenware ones, and for widening pur-.

poses. Pipes on Milson’s line across the road near Rowan and Ooxon’s and Wood’s have been taken up and the drain continued along roadside to natural watercourse. The shaker machine has been screening metal o\ O 'Hagan's, Robson’s and Robert’s line, the' county team carting same to dumps, lhc new road formation near Adsett’s has been temporarily stopped, this gang having been shifted to Hamilton’s lino protection work. The remainder of drain through Petersen’s has now been completed. Stripping and screening at James’ line pit has been proceeded with, stripping having been used to fill old pit on Napier road. The truck has been patching where necessary, and the motor grader lias been over emost of the roads in this riding raking in loose metal from sides. Blackberry has been cut on Flyger’s, Milson’s and Robert's lines.

Fitzhcrbcrt riding: Crushing of metal at Kahuterarva bridge has been continued, 590 cubic yards having been put through during the month. A gang of men have been engaged in putting 1 through cutting on Hill Top road. This is now completed and men arc now widening and taking off sharp bends. A bridge which collapsed on this road has now been repaired, and should be safo for many years to come. The widening of bottom end of Pahiatua track has been continued, but during the last two weeks men have been transferred further up repairing and metalling, one and a-lialf miles having received a heavy coating of metal and blinding. The contract for carting out metal at Aokautere has been continueu, 350 cubic yards having ben carted out to dumps. The contractor for supplying at Fitzhcrbcrt bridge commenced during the month, 450 cubic yards having been delivered to date. The decking of the hardwood truss bridge over the upper Kahuterawa stream has received a coat of cold emulsion and chips to counteract the slippery state of the brushbox when becoming wet. The riding trucks have been patching by-roads and carting metal to dumps, and the motor grader has been over tho more important roads. General. The Arvapuni and Fitzherbcrt rangers reported having impounded 49 and 52 head of stock respectively since the council's last meeting. The following transfers were notified: —Mangaone riding: N. G. Hansen to Mrs. L. I, Ooutts, 10 acres, Taonui

riding: «f. and R. Matheson to K. Matheson, 97 acres, 4 perches; Berger Sorenson to David Sorenson, 40 acres. Fitzherbert riding: C. J. Monro to Mrs. N. M. Eliott, 1 acre, 8 perches; A. B. de Malmanchc to C. M. A. Ivebbell, bill acres, 2 roods, 7. perches.