Pohangina County

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 2

Pohangina County

MEETING Or COUNCIL. A meeting of tlio Pohangina County Council was held at Pohangina yesterday. Present: Councillors 8. J. Strahan (in the chair), W. Howell, T. E. Craino,. W. McKay and J. Mackenzie. Also in attendance were Messrs. 1). Watson (county engineer) and A. E. Orgias (county clerk). Leave of absence was granted Crs. J. T. Montgomery and M. Arbon. Roajd Access. Mr. J. M. Porbos, Uinutoi, wrote asking for immediato attention to be given to his request for improved access to his property. A grant of £2OO had been made by tire Public Works Department for the work, providing the council supervised the work. A letter was also received from tho district engineer, Public Works Department, stating .that a grant of £2OO would be made. As the proposed work was situated a considerable distance from tho nearest 'office of tho department, it was suggested that local men be employed and the wort carried out under the supervision of the county engineer. It anouid be commenced without delay, preferably immediately after the Christmas holidays. The chairman stated that the present intimation was tho first received from the department on the matter. .There nad been no plan drawn up for the work and ho suggested that a survey and estimate was necessary before any start could be made. , Cr. McKay asked if tho council would bo reimbursed for tho engineer’s services and for tho uso of tools. Cr. Mackenzie thought theso costs should be paid out of tho grant. Cr. Howell said the council should not quibble over tho matter of supervision. Tho settler was within his rights in demanding access to his farm, and the Government evidently considered the land was worth the cost of the access. In view of tho fact that the council had received rates from tho property for-.years, ho thought they should assist tho department when called on.

The chairman: We might get our running shoes if we don’t. Cr. McKay suggested that the engineer should prepare an estimate and let the work by contract.

The engineer said that he estimated the cost at £250. The department evidently expected £SO to be provided out of accrued "thirds."

Cr. Mackenzie said that the settlers on Cave road were applying to have that road improved out of the "thirds" available and there would not bo enough m the fund for both. Cr. Craine thought a survey of the work and estimates were very necessary.

The engineer said that the cost of survey would be considerable, and it was by no means sure that the department would accept the council’s plan. The council’s survey of the Church hill deviation had been rejected by the department. A councillor: And after five alternative routes had been surveyed, the route recommended in the first place by the council’s engineer was adopted. It was finally decided that the engineer confer with the district engineer, Public Works Department, and report to the next meeting of the council. The clerk was instructed .to write to Mr. Forbes explaining that the council could not commcnco tne work until authorised to do so by the department. Bridge Construction.

Tho Public Works Department advised that with the advance in the standard of bridge constructon, particularly in respect to reinforced concrete structures, it was desirable that the work be carried out under continuous supervision, by properly qualified men. General approval was now given to the clerk of work’s salary being accepted as part of the cost of bridges for subsidy purposes. —Received. The Public Works Department ad vised that the Main Highways JRwrd desired a report on concrete bridges as well as timber structures. Necessary repairs to timber bridges should bo carried out immediately provided the cost could bo met out of the existing maintenance allocation for tho highway. If additional monetary authority was required, special application would have to be made by the council. The engineer stated that the reports had been forwarded.

Mr. E. J. Harkness, Piri Piri, wrote asking that repairs to a culvert on his road be effected without delay, as lorries were unable to cross it and he desired to get his.wool out. Tho engineer stated that a two-foot pipo culvert would bo required. Cr; Howell said the main point to be considered w r as, was the culvert on the county road or on private property. If the former, it should be attended to but it was quite a different matter if it was 'on private property. Tho engineer said the actual bound ary line was somewhat vague and the culvert appeared to be somewhere near it. Cr. Craine said the council’s duty was

plain. If the culvert was on ti;e surveyed road, it must be repaired or replaced, but if on private property, it was not the council’s duty to do anything to it. He moved that the engineer be instructed to ascertain exactly tho position and act in accordance. This was agreed to. Various Requests.

Tho Manawatu County Council forwarded comments from the traflic inspector’s report, to tho effect that the long grass growing on tho corners on mam highways obscured the view to some extent, being a danger to the motor traflic. it was considered that the grass should be cut back before tho approaching holidays. —The engineer stated that the grass had been kept cut back on ail higuways in the county. Messrs. J. D. and A. V. Cawood, I’. W. Jensen, L. V. bixtus and W. Russel,i, Umutoi, wrote asking that Tunipo track be repaired and metalled.

Cr. btrahan said that tho road was now being settled, and it was the council’s duty to give the settlers reasonable access.

Cr. Mackenzie said that a good portion of the road had never been properly formed and a good deal of money would be required to make a good road of it. lie agreed that something should be done and wondered ir there woro any more Government grants to be lmd.

After discussion, tile engineer was instructed to carry out such work us would give reasonable access. Local Body Amalgamation.

A copy of Local Government (Amalgamation belrcmes) Bill was received irom the Department of Internal Affairs.

Cr. McKay said that a certain amount of amalgamation was desirable. In tho county, there were three rabbit boards which could very well amalgamate or could perhaps be merged into the council. He thought a conference of the boards and the council should bo held.

Cr. Howell stated that amalgamations within the county woro desirable but no one would want to see the county amalgamated with any of the adjoiningcounties.

Cr. btrahan failed to see what saving would be effected by amalgamation. Councillors would have to be retired men to cope with the work. Cr. Mackenzie did not think anything ■would be gained by making tho locaj bodies so big as to be unwieldy. _ ■ The discussion then lapsed. Restoration of Wages.

The Department of Labour, Palmerston Nortn, wrote advising that information had been received that the council had not restored tho wages of its staff to the 1931 level as required by the Act. If tho information was coi rect, the council would be required to restore the rate of wages to the correct legal minimum and pay the arrears which were due from July 1 last. The chairman said that the department had evidently been misled. The wages had been raised to tho 1931 levcj or higher as from June 1 last. Cr. Mackenzie said the present rates wero considerably higher than tho 1933 rates. ~

It was pointed out that tko present into oil wages wus,in operation l'or one month in March, .1931, which was the very month chosen by the department for comparison. The chairman stated that the council had complied with the Jaw in raising increases and the question of hours had been held over pending tho decision oi the Arbitration Court. It was decided to inform the department that the Act had been complied with. General. The Transport .Department wrote in respect to speed limits and allied mai ters, stating that the Minister of Transport (Hon. It. Semple) wished special attention 'to be given reckless or negligent dViving, and that strict compliance with the regulations as pertaining to speed limits was desired; also to the provision that a motorist should be able to stop iu half the visible distance of tile road ahead.

On the motion of Cr. Oraine, seconded by Cr. Howell, it was decided that variegated thistle be declared a noxious weed in the county. It was proposed by Cr. McKay and seconded by Cr. Howell, that the county oilices be closed all day on (Saturdays.— Carried. It was decided that the council offices be closed from December 23 to January 13. The next meeting of the council will be held oil January 14. The county ranger, Mr. M. C. McPherson, reported that during the month IS cows, and seven horses J/.u been impounded. Cr. McKay stated that he had never seen the Apiti township clearer of stock than at present. There was an excellent crop of ryegrass ready for harvesting. The present ranger was certainly doing the job. Cr. Strahaii: He caught the chairman’s horse one day and ho seemed very happy about it.

Engineer’s Report. Awahou riding: Gravel to repair No. 1 and No. 2 lines was carted and spread. The grader was run over No. 439 highway and Awahou south road. It is expected that a start will be made early m tho coming week to widen a narrow length of the main- highway through the Totura reserve. As a very large quantity of idling will be required it is proposed to obtain a fair amount from the south side oi Dundas creek by cutting back tho projecting bank. Coal Creek riding: Two motor trucks aro at present carting and spreading gravel on Ridge and London’s roads. Overhanging scrub on lvidgo road was cut back. Repair gravel was put out at Ngaputahi. while slips and watertables were -also cleaned lip. Timber and ail other material for renovating the roadman’s cottage oil London’s road are to hand, and a start will be made during the week. Gravel on No. 53 highways was raked in.

Maugaone riding: Tho old timber bridgo on No. 438 highway was removed and about 100 yards of gravel was carted to fill over the new culvert and repair the road. Slips were shifted and the road trimmed up with tho grader. The heavy grader is at present shaping up Zig Zag roads. Most

of the flood damage on Finnis ’ road has been repaired. Grading was done on No. 7S highway. Mangapikopiko riding: An additional 041 yards of pit gravel, making a total of 1107 yards, were carted and spread oil tho following roads: No. 439 highway, 310 yards; No. 53 highway, 228 yards; Table Flat road, 251 yards; Makoura road, 114 yards; Ridge road, 10-1 yards, and Marton block, 100 yards. Gravel on No. 53 highway was raked in with the grader. Pohangina riding: No. 78 highway and Pohangina Valley road were trimmed up with the grader. Klips and a good length of waterlable were cleaned out.

Tamaki riding: Klips on No. 439 highway were shifted. A start will be made to widen tho road and cut back a bad projection in tho Totara reserve. Flood damage on Arbon’s road was repaired and some improvements effected to Takapara and Opawo roads. Umutoi riding: Metal was carted and spread cm Tablo Plat road. Metal and filling to repair Makoura road will be put out during the coming week. ML Richard, Makiekie and Makoura roads were shaped up with the heavy graf.ar. Klips blocking Tunipo road were shifted. Treasurer’s Report. Credit at Bank of New Zealand: Cemetery account, £4S 12s Sd; loan account, £443 Is Gd; plant account, £339 Ss Gd; county fund account, £I4GO 13s Gd. Rates levied for year: £735G ISs; collected, £4G7 2s 8d; outstanding, £GSB9 1.5 s 4d; arrears of rates at 31/G/3G, £522 3s; collected, £147 4s sd; outstanding, £374 18s 7d; estimated expenditure, £7432; spent to date, £4553; banfnee. £2879.