Oroua County

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 2

Oroua County

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL The Oroua County Council met at Feilding on Thursday, Cr. A. Campbell (chairman) presiding. There were also present: Councillors A. B. Shannon, B. McLeod, W. McLennan, T. Green. The following correspondence was dealt with:— Minister of Defence, acknowledging receipt of resolution regarding defence. —Received. Messrs. Cooper, Rapley and Rutherfurd, asking that protective works be undertaken along the banks of the Manawatu River fronting section 7, Siberia Estate.—The chairman said that tho erosion taking place was very serious and very difficult to tackle. Certain protective works costing £3OO to £4OO had been carried out, but these had been swept away by the river which had now encroached to within three chains of the road. Tho situation was really alarming and he considered that tho situation should be brought under the notice of the Public Works Department. All were aware that the Government was undertaking a survey of rivererosion throughout the Dominion, and this, in the opinion of the chairman, was a very essential work. He anticipated that the day was not far off when the council would bo faced with an obligation to tackle the problem within its boundaries. Cr. Campbell did not know what could bo done, but suggested that the council inspect the property with a view to considering what measures could be employed to arrest t»e erosion. The council agreed to inspect the property on Fri Say, May 19. Commissioner of Transport, regarding accidents to cyclists and precautions to be taken to avoid same.—The chairman expressed agreement with the proposals, sating that the council iould readily lend its support to the efforts of the Transport Department to safeguard clists. The letter was received.

Commissioner of Transport, advising amendments to motor drivers’ regulation dealing with motor-cyciists and the issue of learners’ plates—“A new regulation and along the right lines, too,” remarked tho chairman. The letter was received.

Wellington Provincial Council of N.Z. Centennial Organisation, forwarding a report on operations and asking for payment of 50 per cent, of Provincial Memorial allocation.—Received.

Medical Officer of Health, asking for payment of half share of building permit fees as arranged. —Agreed to. Archdeacon F. H. Petrie, of the Feilding Anglican Church, forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by the parishioners of Stanway exuressing their appreciation of work done to paths at Stanway cemetery. —Received. Public Works Department, replying to letter regarding Hooding of drain through Mr. W*. Maunder’s property at Ashhurst.—lt was agreed to approach tho Railway Department with proposals for attention to certain culverts adjacent to the property. Rate Roll Alterations. The following alterations were made in the rate roll: E. A. Simpson to A. H. Atkinson; T. R. Vile to I. B. Fraser. Treasurer’s Report. Rates outstanding previous three years, Natives, £746 18s 9d; Crown, £4 2s 2d; European, £498 6s 4d; total, £1249 7s 3d. Collected European arrears, £lO. Riding accounts: Expenditure oh maintenance (Western Riding), £4B 9s sd; presented for payment, £93 9s; expenditure on maintenance (Eastern Riding), £l2l 2s 7d; presented for payment, £153 12s lid. Bank balance: General account credit, £2619 13s Bd. The engineer’s report was as follow: Eastern Riding: The 6in. x 4in. concrete culvert on Siberia Road has been completed and opened for traffic. The work of widening the sealed surface of the road opposite the garage at Bunnythorpe has been put in hand. About 120 cubic yards of crushed gravel have been used in repairing weak places on the Bunnythorpe-Ashhurst Road. The grader has been employed for some time in cutting out watertables and generally widening and trimming up the various roads, the weather conditions being particularly suitable for this class of work.

Western Riding: Good progress has been made with tho contract for reconstruction of two miles of the FeildingHalcombe Road. All cuts and fills have been completed for the full length and have been gravelled and opened to traffic. Tho contractor is now proceeding with the construction of shoulders, drains and water-tables, etc. An outlet drain from the new concrete culvert on Forlong’s Road has been excavated. The No. 2 crushing plant has been in operation at Kakariki supplying gravel for tho construction work on the Feilding-Halcombe Road and also for maintenance of the Kakariki-fialcombe section. Tho grader has been busy cutting out water-tables, etc., on tho various roads.