Administration of Kairanga County

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 291, 9 December 1936, Page 6

Administration of Kairanga County

MONTHLY MEETING OP COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was held yesterday, Cr. D. Collis presiding. Also present were Crs. N. P. Nielsen, F. J. Russell, W. G. Shannon, T. D. Lynch, J. Batchelar, W. R. Hopcroft and J. Smith. “Although tho Main Highways Board has not yet actually classified a State highway between Levin and Palmerston North via Shannon, the board has decided, as from November 1, to find the full cost of maintenance and construction charges (within highway standards) for the section of No. 58 highway in the Kairanga county from the Makerua road turn-off near Kangitane to tho Palmerston North city boundary,” stated a letter from the board. “The section of No. 58 highway from Rangitane to tho Oroua river bridge at Eangiotu will have maintenance and construction charges subsidised as in the past. You have already been notified that the section of No. 58 highway from Palmerston North to the Oroua county boundary was included in the State highway system as from November 1."

The letter was received, the chairman commenting that the council now knew where it stood.

The Manawatu County Council wrote conveying a suggestion by the counties’ traffic inspector that, in view of the approaching holidays and the increase in motor traffic, long gras3 obscuring vision at corners on main highways should be cut back.

The engineer reported that this work Had been in hand for tho past fortnight. “When this association made an offer to recondition the symbolic sign posts on the intersection of main highways in the county," stated a letter from the Automobile Association (Manawatu), “we 'were of the opinion that repainting and rewriting such signs was all that was required. We find, however, that the majority of the signs are in such a condition that it would not bo advisable to repaint them, but rather to erect new boards." Under these circumstances the association asked if the council would pay for the cost of tho timber required, which, after allowing for the Highways Board subsidy, would be in the vicinity of £4. —lt was decided to meet the request of the association in cases where a subsidy could be obtained from the Highways Board, and provided the association uses heart timber.

It was decided that the county office should be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from Thursday, December 24, to Tuesday, January 12. The county clerk reported that so far 20.56 per cent, of the current year’s rates had been paid, as compared with 11.9 per cent, for the same period last year.

Seasonal greetings were extended by the chairman to members, the staff and the Press.

Property transfers notified were as follow:—Taonui riding: E. L. Smith to Mrs. H. T. Mexted, 35a. 2r. 34p. Fitzherbert riding: J. Wallace to B. Powell, 2r. 33.6 p.; Dahl and Prier to E. H. Bowler, 76a. 3r. 22.5 p.; B. H. Collis to A. C. and S. C. Collis, la. 3r. 17p. Engineer’s Monthly Report. The county engineer (Mr. L. C. Pickering) reported as follows on the various works carried out during the past month:— General: The weather in general has been most unseasonable, the cloudburst on tho afternoon of last meeting being of the highest intensity so far recorded in this county. A commencement has been mado with the cutting of grass on all important road junctions. Taonui riding: Several roads in this riding have been cut out as opportunity has permitted and the sods forked off, giving greater road width and better surface drainage. Roads so far completed are Kairanga-Bunnythorpe road, No. 4 line, Hughes line, and Kairanga Settlement road. Noxious weeds on Jackeytown road, Dampney’s road, Riddiford road, Karere road, Walker’s road, Waldegrave’s road and Maxwell’s line have been grubbed. Owing to fallen trees and hedge clippings on Dampney’s road, it has been impossible to eradicate these weeds, and another notice should be sent to offending ratepayers to have all branches, etc., immediately removed. Patching has been carried out on most Numerous complaints regarding surface drainage have been received from Longburn, especially during heavy downpours, such as were experienced last month, but without heavy expenditure on larger storm water conduits, nothing can be done.

Mangaone riding: The contractor for the culvert extension has completed this part of the contract, and a start has been made with the excavation for the foundations of Benton’s bridge. The unfavourable weather has retarded progress on this structure. Although a tender for Milson’s line reconstruction and sealing was accepted last meeting, authority to proceed was only received from tho Public Works Department last week, which has unnecessarily held back the commencement of this work. A further supply of boulders has been collected as a result of screening operations at James’ line pit and will be crushed immediately. Drains have been cleaned out on Milson’s line, Newbury lino and Roberts’ line. The team has been, carting out metal from Hill’s and directly patching the roads. Tar patching of Taonui-Feilding road is now completed, and all the plant has been transferred to Foxton line, where patching will be carried out immediately. Tho trucks have been patching as required. The auto-patrol has been cutting off corrugations and reshaping roads.

Fitzherbert riding: The hill country roads suffered as the result of the cloudburst on. November 10. A tenfoot bridge became completely blocked with broken rock, resulting in the water running down the metal road to a depth of over 12 inches. The intensity of tho rainfall caused slips on private property eventually coming down and I blocking the roads. It took a gang of men the whole week clearing slips and restoring road surfaces. .Owing to the

extra heavy carting of flax over Craw’s bridge, urgent structural repairs have been found necessary and notice of a three-ton limit has been placed on this bridge. Pipes for improvement to Aokautere School frontage have been carted out and will bo laid as oppor-i tunity permits. Metalling of Craw’s road is now practically completed. The graders have been cutting out and widening by-roads, while ■ the autopatrol has been maintaining the main roads.