Kiwitea County

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 64, 17 March 1938, Page 12

Kiwitea County

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL The Kiwitea County Council met at Kimbolton yesterday, Cr. L. T. McLean (chairman) presiding. There were also present Crs. W. P. Shaw, J. A. T. Brown, D. Couper, W. G. Clapham, J. Beard, F. E. Tappin and W. Hair. Correspondence. The fololwing correspondence was dealt with:— From the Board of Trustees, National Art Gallery, and Dominion Museum, advising that at a conference of local bodies held in Wellington last month it was unanimously decided to support the proposal that local bodies in the Wellington province should make a contribution to the revenue of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum and carillon and requesting the council to agree to make an annual contribution of £lO. —Received. From the Manawatu County Council, with reference to the proposed erection of a memorial on the Mount Stewart site to the pioneers of settlement in the Manawatu and surrounding counties, and requesting this council to appoint representatives to attend a general meeting to bo held at Marton on March 21. —The chairman was appointed to represent the council. From the Receiver of Land Revenue, advising payment of “thirds” accrued to September 30, 1937, amounting to £l2 18s 6d.—Received. From the Commissioner of Transport, advising that it is not proposed by the Government that any change will be made this year in the system hitherto in force for the issue of motor drivers’ licenses.—Received. From Mr. F. H. Eggers and family, thanking the council for its expression of sympathy in their recent sad bereavement. —Received. Treasurer's Report. The treasurer reported on the county finances as follows:—County fund account, credit, £3394 14s 4d; employees accommodation account, credit, £370 15s sd; Kimbolton Cemetery account, credit, £3 Is lOd; Land Fund account, credit, £l7l 11s Od; Rangiwahia Cemetery account, credit, £3 12s 8d; Waituna Cemetery account, credit, £7 19s 3d. Rate Position. The county clerk (Mr. W. L. Hesseltine) reported on the rate position as follows: General rates, struck £8163 3s 9d, paid £8029 16s, outstanding to date £133 7s 9d. Special rates, struck £6582 2s 2d, paid £6177 7s Id, outstanding to date £lO4 15s Id. Arrears (three years), general rates outstanding April, 1937, £265 3s Bd, paid £SO 8s 4d, outstanding to date £2OB 15s 4d; special rates outstanding at April 1, 1937, £215 13s lOd; paid £42 16s Sd; outstanding to date £172 17s 2d. Commenting on the rate position, the chairman said that the position was very satisfactory' indeed, 98.38 per cent, for the total levied having been paid. This was very close to the record collection of 99.25 per cent, for the year 192829. Overseer’s Report. The county overseers (Mr. F. H. Eggers) reported as follows: — Main highways: All sections of main highways have received frequent attention from the grader plants and are in reasonably good condition. Fair progress has been maintained with the carting out of maintenance metal on the No. 377 main highway by the contractors. The usual maintenance work has been attended to by the Toadmen. Roads other than main highways: The two concrete culverts on Bryce’s and Barrow’s lines had been completed by the contractdrs and the approach filling widened and metalled. The contractors had delivered a fair quantity of maintenance metal on side roads in the Ongo riding. Quite a number of side roads in the county had been trimmed and improved by the graders. The clay section of Waipuru road had also been graded and was in a good condition for the delivery of metal. The contract for metalling the 200 chains of the Kawa and Titirangi roads was now completed; the total quantity delivered was 1123 cubic yards. Further trimming of the new metal and breaking down of oversize stones was now in progress and should be completed in about a week’s time. The necessary maintenance -work throughout the county had been attended to by the county roadmen. Attention was drawn to the unsatisfactory condition of a small bridge at Ruahine on the No. 52 main highway. The metalling gang had been engaged in repairing storm damage, carting filling spoil and metal to approaches of

new culverts, as well as attending to minor repair work in various parts of the county. It was intended to continue carting out maintenance metal and clay on a section of the OhingaitiPemberton road, near Otura hill, duping the current week.