Kiwitea County

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 67, 21 March 1935, Page 8

Kiwitea County

MEETING OF COUNCIL At yesterday’s meeting of the Kiwitea County Council there were present Crs. L. T. AlcLean (chairman), AY. P. Shaw, F, O. Stack, J. A. T. Brown, J. H. AVilliamson, F. E. Tappin, AV. Hair, N. V. Shannon and T. D. AA’ood. Correspondence From the Treasury, advising payment of fines collected in the Alagistrate As Court at Feilding during the quarter ended 31/12/34, amounting to £6 3s 6d.—Received.

From the Treasury, advising payment of the special subsidy of ,12Jpcr cent, on rates levied on farming lands for tho year 1934-35, in terms of section 2S of tho Finance Act (No. 3), 1934, amounting to £1162 Is 4d.—Received.

From the Deputy Valuer-General, AVellington, acknowledging receipt of the council’s application for an advance of 75 per cent, subsidy on general rates for the year 1934-35, and advising that it is not proposed to make an advance at the present time, but the whole amount of subsidy will become duo after June 30 next. Should the council in tho meantime go into bank overdraft, application for an advance must again be made and the position will be reviewed.—Application to be made to the department for the subsidy beforo the 31st inst. From the district engineer, Public AVorks Department, with reference to the classification of main highways. — Held over.

From the acting-Alinister of Labour, forwarding an extract from the New Zealand Gazette, containing a notice as to statutory closing days under the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22. —Received.

From the town clerk, Christchurch, advising that his council, in common with other local bodies which have rating powers, had been placed at a very serious disadvantage through the action of the State Advances Department repudiating liability for rates, and it would now appear that the proposed Alortgage Corporation Bill will further increase the council’s difficulties, as it is apparently the intention that properties covered by tho provisions of the Bill will bo regarded as being in the same category as properties over which the State Advances Office has a mortgage, with the result that a very serious loss is threatened in the rates. The writer further advised that his council had written to the Prime Alinistcr protesting against the passing of any legislation which will have this effect, and had decided to write to every local body throughout the Dominion asking it to support this protest. —Received. Air S. AVaugh, applying for permission to iustal a petrol pump on tho kerbsido in front of his garago at Kimbolton Granted subject to usual conditions. From Air G. K. Carpenter, drawing the council’s attention to a slip on tho Peka road. —Repairs to be carried out. Report on Outside Works Owing to the illness of tlic couuty overseer, tlio clerk submitted a brief summary of the work carried out in tlio various ridings during the past month:— Cheltenham, Kiwitca and Kimbolton. Ridings.—The section of the No. 52 main highway in these ridings has been in a very rough state for some considerable time, but recently tho new standard grader, in conjunction with tho tractor, was given a try-out, in order to see if any improvement could be effected. The result exceeded expectations, the section from Kimbolton to Cheltenham, and vice versa, a distance of 18 miles, being graded in seven hours. From this experiment it is anticipated that, the new grader will be able to cut out the dreaded corrugations, and from now on the highway should be greatly improved for motor traffic. In the Kimbolton riding tho county trucks have delivered 658 cubic yards of maintenance metal-(313 cubic yards on the No. 53 main highway and 345 cubic yards on back roads). A further 275 cubic yards is to bo placed.on Alcßeth’sand John’s roads shortly.

In the remaining ridings the roadmen have been engaged on general maintenance work, Temoval of slips, etc. In tho Hautapu riding, a large number of slips have been removed and the work of forming and widening tho Upper Titirangi road should be completed at an early date. The Upper Beaconsfield Valley bridge has a badly-cracked stringer in

tlic centre of the second span from the south end. The roadman for the Ongo riding has put a torn under tho crack to take the weight until the required material can bo procured to repair the stringer. In the meantime notice boards have been erected restricting heavy traffic to 4 tons gross and a speed-limit of 5 miles an hour. The timber has been ordered and repairs should be effected shortly. Statement of Rates General, 1934-35. —Struck, £4795 7s; paid, £4585 7s 2d (5 per cent, rebate £6S 10s 3d), £4653 17s sd; outstanding to date, £l4l 9s 7d. Specials, 1934-35.—Struck, £2662 Is Sd; paid, £2549 2s 2d (thirds £l3 18s lid), £2563 Is Id; outstanding to date, £99 Os 7d. Hospital, 1934-35.—Struck, £2028 5s 9d; paid, £1965 11s; outstanding to date, £62 14s 9d. Arrears (3 years). —General: Outstanding at 1/4/34, £I2S3 9s 9d; paid, £747 8s; outstanding to date, £536 Is 9d. Specials: Outstanding at 1/4/34, £364 19s Id; paid, £lB6 Ss 3d; outstanding to date, £I7S 10s lOd. Separate (hospital): Outstanding at 1/4/34, £I3G 3s 9d; paid, £SO 11s 4d; outstanding to date, £55 12s sd. Separate (E. P°Board): Outstanding at 1/4/34, £9l 3s Id; paid, £79 Ss 4d; outstanding to date, £ll 14s 9d. Bank Balances County fund (includes £1162 Is 4d special rebate to be refunded), £2613 11s sd; employees’ accommodation special loan, £26 9s lid; ditto (F.D.), £700; Kimbolton cemetery, £lB 10s 10d; land fund No. 2, £96; Waituna cemetery, £26 18s 3d; Eangiwahia cemetery, £S 5s lid. A tender of £6734 3s 6d was accepted for the reconstruction and tar-seal-ing of that portion of No. 52 main highway from Cheltenham to Coulter’s line. Improvements are to be carried out to a culvert in Grammar street.