Pohangina County

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 297, 16 December 1939, Page 3

Pohangina County

MEETING Or COUNCIL A meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held on Thursday. Present: Cra. H. Strahan (chairman), W. Howell, J. T. Montgomery, W. McKay, P. W. Jensen, G. M. Arbon, the clerk (Mr. A. E. Orgias) and the engineer (Mr. D. Watson;. Mr. A. E. Hockley, of Pohangina, sought permission to lay water pipes under the road.—Granted subject to the engineer’s approval. Mr. W. b. Le Quesnc, on behalf of Mr. F. J. G. Gertie, of Apiti, applied for permission to shift a road fence on Ridge Road. —Granted subject to the engineer 's approval. Mr. C. E. Corpe, sawmillcr, of Cunninghams, wrote in connection with log carting over the county road at Table Flat, Apiti, offering to maintain the road from Patterson’s Koad to the bush and to pay a royalty of 3d per 100 feet on all timber carted over the six miles of metalled road to the main highway. Cr. McKay pointed out that the distance was nine miles, not six. He thought the council’s charge of 4id per 100 ft. was reasonable and it would take all the royalty to maintain the road. The proposed charges were reasonable compared with the charges imposed by neighbouring counties, and were estimated to cover the cost of maintaining non-suusidised roads omy. In addition, a fair amount of damage was done to the highways. The clerk reported tnat he had made inquiries from the Kairanga County Council and had received the information that the royalty in that county was 4d per 109 ft. for carting over six to eight miles of non subsidised road. The engineer stated that neither the road nor the bridges were built for heavy traffic. He considered the maximum load should be six tons, iucludiug the weight of the vehicle. Cr. Jensen was of the opinion that 4*d per hundred was light considering the length of road. The council would not be making anyprofit out of the royalty. After further discussion Cr. McKay moved that Mr. Corpe be advised that the council was prepared to accept 4d per 100 ft. royalty for the maintenance of the nine miles of second-class road from Patterson J s Koad to the main highway, such agreement to be subject to the pleasure of the council. Cr. Jensen seconded the proposal, which was carried. With regard to other sawmiliers operating in the county, Cr. Jensen and the engineer were deputed to interview the principals and arrange to have a monthly tally of all timber carted submitted to each council meeting. The Controller and Auditor-General forwarded approval of Cr. McKay supplying gravel to the county. The district engineer wrote agreeing to pay a subsidy on royalty on metal for main highways, but requesting the council to go into the question of purchasing suitable metal pits. The matter was referred to the engineer. Traffic Fees on Farmers* Trucks The Kairanga County Council wrote with regard to the Pohangina County Council’s recent decision not to enforce heavy traffic fees on farmers’ trucks and asking the council to reconsider its decision. It was pointed out that as a result of this decision the remaining

local bodies in the . group would suffer the loss of a share of the revenue. Unless the decision was rescinded, it was quite possible that the councils concerned would have to consider the question of making a re-allocation of the distribution of all heavy traffic license tees in the group. Information regarding the amount of fees collected on farmers’ trucks by the council was also asked for. The clerk reported that ices from farmers’ lorries last year were £27 0s Id. Cr. Howell stated that Pohangina Council should be the last to upset the present arrangements. Pohangina’s share of the pool was greater than the amount collected in the county, and he thought they should do their share in the collecting of such fees. If farmers' trucks were to be exempt, it meant those farmers who had not their own lorries were being penalised for the beuelit of the lew who did. He intended to give notice to move that the previous motion be rescinded. Cr. McKay stated that he had moved the previous motion chiefly because he felt that the whole position should be reviewed nationally. Some counties were enforcing the law and some were not. He was quite sure that farmers would not have gone in for their own trucks had it not been for the abnormal increases in freight charges. The figures .supplied by the clerk sliowed that only a small proportion of trucks paid traffic fees and this applied to business trucks as much as to farmers’ trucks. Cr. Howell’s assertion that tho county received more from tne pool than it paid in to it was due to the fact that practically all the lorries operating in the county paid their fees to a neigh bouring local body. Cr. Strahan said that the farmer was being hit by heavy charges, which were increasing every day, and he considered that he should be relieved of his burden wherever possible. He did not favour rescinding the previous motion as it was time the whole question was reviewed. He would be in favour of a preferential rate for farmers’ trucks. Cr. Montgomery considered that exempting fanners’ lorries was placing a burden on those farmers who had to rely on transport companies. At the close of the discussion Cr. Howell gave notice to move at the next meeting of the council that the previous resolution exenfpting farmers’ trucks from the payment of heavy traffic fees be rescinded. General The Public Works Department advised that the department would pay a subsidy on the council's portion of the cost of removing telephones and telejihone lines. The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded an explanatory circular in regard to the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations, outlining exemptions uuder which local committees organising farewell functions, etc., could be set up subject to the approval of the chairman of the council, which was the controlling authority. Cr. McKay reported that a committee had been set up in Apiti and he made formal application for the council’s approval. The State Advances Corporation forwarded a memorandum covering the procedure in connection with advances to farmers under the Rural Housing Act, 1939. \ It was decided to open a subscription

list for patriotic funds, the chairman, Cr. S. J. Strahan, heading the list with £5. Cr. McKay asked that the grass on the footpaths in Apiti township be cut before Christmas. He made special mention of the manner in which Mrs. Martin (postmistress) and Mr. J. It. Osborne had kept the grass cut on their frontage. It was decided' to write to Mrs. Martin and Mr. Osborne, expressing appreciation of their good work in t. matter. Cr. Howell also referred to the amount of grass on the road, which had become long since tlio roads had been closed to stock. He would like to see the grass cut iu the township. The engineer stated that the long grass was a problem all over the county. It would be too expensive to cut it by hand. A motor was necessary to handle it economically. He would try to get settlers to do some cutting with horse mowers. It was decided that the holidays be the same as last year. The county ranger, Mr. T. Gore, reported that during November the roads had been very clear of stock. In all 20 head of cattle were impounded. Nine shillings in fees were collected, 6s 6d being outstanding. Engineer’s Report Awahou Riding. —An improvement was carried out at an abrupt bend on Awahou youth Road by placing a cement pipe culvert, widening and super-elevating the sharp curve. No. 431) highway has been trimmed up on several occasions with the grader. Watcrtables, etc., were well attended to by the surfaceman. The caterpillar tractor is at present employed at shifting an accumlation of logs which as a result of a flood in the creek were piled against the piers of Whitehead’s bridge. Coal Creek Riding. —yix hundred j yards of gravel were carted and spread by contract on Ridge Road (558) and , Hall’s Road (42). Notices have been erected on the bridge on No. 53 highway over the Oroua River warning drivers of transport vehicles of the unsafe condition of the bridge for loads exceeding 6i tons. Mangaone Riding.—An additional 60 yards of gravel was carted and spread on the recent re-formed portion ot Pollock’s Road. Ridge Road where required was repaired with gravel. No. 78 highway w r as kept in good repair by the use of the grader and maintenance gravel. A fair amount of fascine work was done with heavy inacrocarpa and willows, which has prevented any further erosion of the river bank above Kaumai Bridge. A short length of road was constructed to give access to Mr. Hanlon’s property off No. 78 highway at Raumai. Mangapikopiko Riding.—A good quantity of gravel was carted on Marton Block Road; also a fair amount on Table Plat Road. Gravel on a length of No. 53 and No. 439 highways, Ridge and Makoura Roads was trimmed in with the grader. Owing to the dangerous condition of Cawood’s Bridge the only alternative to closing the road was to re-build immediately, otherwise access to two properties would be cut off. Rolled steel joists and hardwood timber as ordered had arrived, and the new structure was put up without further delay. Pohangina Riding.—One hundred and forty yards of gravel was carted to

repair and improve the alignment of a short length of Pohangina Valley Road. An improvement was effected at a bad curve on Ridge Road by cutting back the high bank to give better visibility. A metal pit has been opened out on Ridge Road and a start been made with the cartage of a sufficient amount to repair tho road where required. Tamaki Riding.—Usual road maintenance work has been attended to. As a result of the heavy rains on tho Ilth instant an extraordinary amount of timber and debris was brought down and lodged against sonic of the bridges and culverts particularly that of Totara Reserve, Duudas and Whitehead’s creeks. It is quite obvious by the amount of timber, etc., that the water has been confined by a large slip that has formed a dam. Indications at Dundas Bridge are that the water had risen to.a height of 30ft. above normal level. An examination will be made as soon as a lot of the rubbish has been shifted to ascertain what damage, if any, more than what appears to be only of a minor nature. Umutoi Riding.—A contract for cartage and spreading of six or seven hundred yards of gravel on Makiekie Road should be completed-during the present week. Makiekie and Mt. Richard Roads have been shaped up by the grader. A start will be made after the holidays to cart, and spread metal where required ou No. 439 highway. A suitable canopy to cover the caterpillar tractor has been built. Treasurer’s Report Cemetery account, credit, £3O I6s lOd; plant account, £846 12s lOd; loan account, £425 4s Bd. County fund account, debit balance £2183 17s lid.