Pohangina County

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7460, 10 May 1934, Page 3

Pohangina County

MEETING OF COUNCIL Pohangina County Council met at Poliangina yesterday', when there were present Crs.':,S. Strahan (chairman), W. Howell, T. Close, M. Arbon, W. T. Pratt and J. Mackenzie. Leave of absence was granted Cr. Craine. The Public Works Department wrote asking for details of road or - bridge construction works that the council desired placed on the estimates. The items should not include anything in the nature of maintenance. The Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarded notification that the levy required from Pohangina Count;/ was £S69 Ss Sd (maintenance) and £96 2s. 6d (capital). Cr. Howell, the county representative on the Hospital Board, reported generally on the administration of the hospital', and concluded by stating that ho thought a more equitable system of basing the levies could be adopted. The chairman; On a population basis as well as valuation. Cr. Howell: Yes. That has been urged by the Counties’ Association. Cr. Mackenzie: But the country members on the board don’t seem to kick much. Cr. Howell: It is really the local bodies w T ho should kick. Cr. Mackenzie: But you represent us. Cr. Howell: Our job is to do tho best wo can with the money. provided, at the same timo conserving the interests of those we represent. Cr. Mackenzie asked for information as to the representation on the board, and when told that, there were about thirteen country members to four Palmerston North members, observed that from what one heard'it seemed to be the other way round. A request was received from the Umutoi Tennis Club asking the council to uplift the reservation over the gazetted half site and have it reserved instead for recreation purposes. If that were done the settlers would he able to lay out much-desired tennis . courts. Mr H. G. Hcmmings notified his willingness to surrender the lease he held over the section so that tho proposal could go forward.— The council decided to acquiro tho fand. Mr S. G. Hemmings (Umutoi) asked for permission to erect a fence near the edge of the road adjacent his buildings as a precaution against fire in the fern and dry grass.—Left to the engineer with power to act. Tiratu Sawmilling Co. forwarded a cheque for £7 Is, being royalty duo for cartage of timber. On tho advice of the engineer the council decided to limit loads to G£ tons during tho winter months., ... Tho Main Highways Board advised in a circular letter that in view of the continued financial stringency there was very little prospect of increasing the present mileage of declared main highways. The health officer reported that in respect of the two cases of scarlet fever admitted to hospital from Pohangina, infection in both instances appeared to have been contracted outside the county. Tho case ■ .of infantile paralysis was at Table Plat, the patient a girl, being taken to hospital. The health of tho county could be regarded as satisfactory. The Valuation Department- advised that by Section 5 of tho amended Act of 1933, local bodies were enabled to take action for tho purposo of minimising the inequality in rating caused by special valuations mado on tho applications of individual owners and by owners giving to the Valuer-Genera! notice to rcduco valuations or to acquire tho properties on behalf of tho Government. The council may, therefore, resolve that the rates leviable by it on its own account for any year, shall be levied on a proportionate part being not less than 75 per cent, of the valuations appearing on the roll'. The transfer of sections GS, 72 and 73, block 9, Pohangina S.D., from P. Tews to E. T. and V. V'. Sinclair, was notified. Mrs A; B. Hazeklino (Apiti) asked for the lease for four years of the section to be given up by Air Stevens. —• Declined, as the council needs -the land for a horse. Mr P. 11. Bailey (Waiata)' asked if the council would be cutting posts for ratepayers this year.—To be put on the list. Settlers of Table Plat wrote asking for attention to Table Flat road from Mr H. Jensen’s hill onwards. —Deferred to the engineer for attention. The treasurer roported that the county fund account was in credit. £1754 10s lid. Cr. Arbon reported tha-t the new groynes placed in Digger’s creek were functioning well and the old stream bed was silting up. Engineer’s Export General'. —During the post month several contracts for developmental works to be done in various parts of (he county under No. 4b scheme have been inspected and reported on. Very satisfactory progress has been made by the contractor in building the concrete bridge at Tc Awa. The piles are -all driven and the ba.so portions of two concrete piers in the stream have been built. The temporary piles were driven and staging erected to carry thorsuperstructure, but progress for a while will unfortunately bo retarded owing to the high flood of last Friday in tho Oroua river having carried away a good deal of preparatory work. Estimates ■of the current ycarls expenditure have been prepared and are submitted for perusal. Separate estimates for majn highways maintenance and bridge constructional work have also been prepared and forwarded to tho department. ' i Awahou Elding.—At a small, cost by removing largo stones and timber obstruction and erecting some scrub to protect the land against , erosion, the course of the creek at. . Church hill bridge has been improved. Some- of the drains on the main highway, were cleaned out. With a little use of cue grader the surface of tho road has been kept in good order. Coal Creek Riding.—The permanent

roadmen only were employed during the month. The grader is at present trimming up the main highway. The other roads are all .in .very good repair. Mangaone Ending. —Sonic fmo gravel was carted by tho motor trucks and spread on Ashhurst-Pohangina and Perry road main highways. An occasional run over -with the grader has checked the corrugations.- Some of the abrupt bends on Zig Zag and Ridge roads havo been cut back and the material made use of to build up the outside. Mangapikopiko Riding.--A start has been made in this riding with the power grader and it is intended, after trimming up the main highways, to have practically all' the roads shaped up. For the past month the surfacemen havo been attending to the cleaning out of water-tables and drains. Poh'angina Riding.—Some fine graiel to. maintain the surface ou tho mam highway was put out by motor truck, and the road was raked over with the grader. Tho .Valley road, about three miles above the • township, was also trimmed up by the grader, and where required fine gravel was spread out. Metal that was 1 put out on To Awn road, approximately 1?0 yards, was for the purpose of puting it in shape. Some of the corners have been cut back and the spoil used to build up on the outside. The road is in good ' shape and has a good surface. Tamaki Ruling.—General road maintenance work only was attended to during the past month. Umutoi Riding.—Most of the roads in this riding are in fairly good repair. Over 1000 yards of gravel, of which 576 yards wero put through tho crusher, were carted, and spread. The additional amount of metal and o-ther proposed work, if carried out during tho present year, should put tho other roads in good order and still provide for a, reduction in t.ho general rate. The council' decided to declare the county roads closed to grazing stock, and applications, are to be called for a ranger. ■ The annual meeting of tho council will bo held on May 23 at 10.30 a.m.